Currently undefeated in UFC, both Cat Zingano and Amanda Nunes are vying for a chance to contend for the title when they collide at UFC 178 this Saturday (Sept. 27, 2014) at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. With just 20 professional fights between the two, what must be done for either woman to pull ahead? Read our fight preview and find out!
Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) bantamweights Cat Zingano and Amanda Nunes look to put the division's elite on notice with a win this Saturday (Sept. 27, 2014) on UFC 178 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevade, live on pay-per-view (PPV).
Sporting an undefeated record and coming off a win over Miesha Tate, Zingano is in an excellent position to earn a title shot. Already ranked number one, a successful return after her knee surgery will undoubtedly get Zingano a date with Ronda Rousey.
Also ranked in the top 10, "Lioness" has looked vicious thus far in her UFC career. She's stopped both her opponents via strikes in about six minutes combined. If she can take out "Alpha," it would be huge for her career.
Let's take a look at the keys to victory.
Cat Zingano
Record: 8-0
Key Wins: Miesha Tate (The Ultimate Fighter 17 Finale), Raquel Pennington (Invicta FC 3)
Key Losses: None
Keys to Victory: Zingano is a well-rounded mixed martial arts (MMA) fighter with solid finishing instinct, evidenced by her four knockouts and three submission victories. However, she also has fought at flyweight before, making her one of the smaller woman in the division.
Therefore, she's likely to give up some size to the "Lioness." Considering Nunes' recent success with smashing her opponent from top position, Zingano must be very wary of grappling with her opponent.
That said, Zingano likely has a technical advantage in every area. She simply needs to fight smart and avoid both slugging with Nunes and getting taken down. So long as she follows a solid game plan, it's Zingano's fight to lose.
First and foremost, Zingano needs to circle and move well. If "Alpha" gets backed into the cage, Nunes can force a grappling exchange without difficulty. Worse, Nunes could walk her into punches or force Zingano to brawl with her.
As she circles, Zingano can attack with kicks and long punches. Nunes is not a patient fighter and will come after her, but that will not last forever. Once Nunes begins to slow down, Zingano can go on the offensive. After the first round, Nunes simply isn't as dangerous as she once was, whereas Zingano proved to be dangerous well into the third round against Miesha Tate.
Once she weathers the storm, Zingano is in prime position to earn another finish.
Amanda Nunes
Record: 9-3
Key Wins: Germaine de Randamie (UFC Fight for the Troops 3), Shiela Gaff (UFC 163)
Key Losses: Sarah D'Alelio (Invicta FC 4), Alexis Davis (Strikeforce: Barnett vs Kharitonov)
Keys to Victory: Nunes comes to fight and makes no bones about it. She's finished each of her nine victories, with eight wins coming by way of knockout.
That's both rare and impressive.
"Lioness" uses her aggression and physical gifts well. She wastes little time in charging her opponent with combinations. If her opponent doesn't fall or Nunes doesn't like the way the striking is going, she'll again flurry, lock up a clinch, and look for a takedown.
Nunes' usual game plan of acting like a battering ram is perfect to take out Zingano. As is mentioned above, Zingano is fighting at her natural weight and likely would be at flyweight if the option were available.
That makes her vulnerable to Nunes' whirlwind of offense.
Zingano may have finished Tate, but she was controlled on the ground for the first two rounds. Not only that, but Tate did some serious damage in the first, and she's hardly known for her vicious ground strikes.
Nunes, on the other hand, is known for her ability to punish from top position. If she can throw Zingano down early and secure a dominant position, it's very likely that she could pound out an early win.
Bottom Line: This is a critical fight for the women's bantamweight division.
Zingano rightfully earned a title shot with a win over Miesha Tate in 2013. Though an injury took that opportunity away, she's still highly regarded and considered a legitimate challenger to Rousey's throne. With a win, "Alpha" maintains her position and finally gets her chance to do the impossible.
A loss would be quite devastating for Zingano. She's a clear favorite in terms of odds, but this is not an easy style match up for her. If she makes a mistake and allows Nunes on top of her, she may not return to her feet without assistance. Just like that, any immediate hopes of contending for the title would evaporate.
Though Nunes has less pressure on her, this is a huge opportunity for "Lioness" as well. With a finish -- and if Nunes wins, it will be a finish -- she'd have won all three of her UFC bouts within the distance. In a thin division, that's more than enough to fight for the title.
A loss would not be quite as harmful to Nunes' career, but it would definitely hurt. The last time she faced a top contender in Alexis Davis, she was finished in the second round after gassing badly. She needs to avoid another performance like that if she wants to be taken seriously as an elite fighter.
At UFC 178, Amanda Nunes and Cat Zingano will battle it out in search of a title shot. Who will be the victor?
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