Fight Preview
In this light heavyweight bout, the powerful yet narrow Pedro takes on the versatile Turkalj. Pedro started out well but eventually faded against Modestas Bukauskas, and Turkalj lost a decision against Vitor Petino.
Pedro (9-4) holds black belts in three different martial arts: Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Japanese Jiu-Jitsu, and Kempo. Five of his victories were via submission and four via knockout, although the Australian is winless in battles that went the distance (1-3). A lifetime ago, Pedro defeated Paul Craig and Khalil Rountree, but he has since been unable to replicate that success.
Turkalj “The Pleasure Man” has what is widely considered to be the best ring name in UFC. However, following his incredible victory against Acaio Dos Santos to earn a UFC deal, Turkalj has struggled mightily, suffering defeats at the hands of the highly ranked Jailton Almeida and Petino.
If you’ve just seen him in the UFC, you may assume he’s a grappler, but in reality, he’s scored five knockouts and only gone the distance twice.
The fight hinges on whether or not Anton Turkalj can keep up with Pedro’s furious speed in the opening round. Their previous bouts showed that Pedro is aiming to end things quickly, while Turkalj prefers to measure his opponents before launching an attack.
If Pedro gets off to a good start, that might spell trouble for Turkalj. But Pedro loses steam after the first round and can’t sustain a victory over three or more rounds. In fact, Pedro has lost all three of his UFC fights that have gone past the first round, the most recent being a knockout loss to Modestas Bukauskas.
Turkalj, who won a contract from the UFC after competing in Contender Series, must now prove he is worthy of keeping it. It’s not terrible that two of his defeats occurred at the hands of Jailton Almeida and the undefeated Vitor Petrino. His strong grappling (6.97 takedowns per 15 minutes) and his ferocious striking on the regional circuit made him a finisher.
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Tyson Pedro vs Anton Turkalj Fight Information
- Date: 09/09/2023
- Time: 10:10 PM ET
- Location: Qudos Bank Arena.
- How to Watch Tyson Pedro vs Anton Turkalj: ESPN+
- Live Stream: BT Sport.com
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