Taking place at the Footprint Center in Phoenix, UFC 274 will be another explosive event featuring the world’s best fighters. In the first main event of the evening, Women’s Strawweight Champion Rose Namajunas will clash with No. 1 contender Carla Esparza for the title. After that in the main bout of the night, Charles Oliveira defends his UFC Lightweight Championship against former interim champion Justin Gaethje.
As always, SBS has you covered with an overview of each fight, what to expect from each competitor and also, who will be victorious in each bout.
| UFC 274 | The Pick |  |  |  |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oliveira (c) vs. Gaethje | Oliveira | -160 | -160 | -160 |
| Namajunas (c) vs. Esparza | Namajunas | -175 | -175 | -175 |
What to look for from: Charles Oliveira
The holder of multiple UFC records, including most submission victories in the history of the organization at 15, Oliveira is riding a 10-fight winning streak. Recognized as the No. 5 overall contender in the UFC men’s pound-for-pound rankings, the Brazilian champion is gearing up for his second title defense. Oliveira is coming off a submission victory over Dustin Poirier (via rear-naked choke) at UFC 269 and also extended his record for most finishes (18) in UFC history. Moreover, during his last 10 fights, the 32-year old has earned “Performance of the Night” honors an impressive eight times and has won via submission in six of those contests.
What to look for from: Justin Gaethje
In a homecoming to Arizona, Gaethje will have the home crowd behind him. A native of Safford, Arizona and also a two-time Arizona state champion as a wrestler at Safford High, the 33-year old is fresh off a Fight of the Night performance at UFC 268. In his bout against Michael Chandler, Gaethje was able to win via unanimous decision. Clearly one of top fighters in his weight class, Gaethje currently holds a career record of 23-3 and is recognized as the No. 1 ranked fighter in the UFC lightweight rankings. In terms of similar opponents, both Oliveira and Gaethje have fought Dustin Poirier with the former triumphing via submission and the latter losing by way of TKO back in 2018.
Prediction: In what should be an action-packed bout, Oliveira and Gaethje will wage some war when they clash in Phoenix. Though both have some similar wins over the likes of Michael Chandler and Tony Feguson, the champion Oliveira has just been a little more dominant in those contests. Look for the Brazilian to emerge victorious in the desert.
What to look for from: Rose Namajunas (c)
The two-time and current UFC Women’s Strawweight Champion, Namajunas is also the No. 3 ranked competitor in the UFC women’s pound-for-pound rankings. Utilizing a style that emphasizes forward movement with quick jabs and high kicks, Namajunas is known for her advanced striking techniques. In what will be a rematch centered around revenge, Namajunas has not fought Esparza since 2014 when they clashed for the inaugural UFC Women’s Strawweight title which Esparza won via rear-naked choke. Since then, she has gone 9-2 with two championship victories and six Performance of the Night or Fight of the Night matches.
What to look for from: Carla Esparza
Challenging Namajunas for the first time since 2014, the native of Redondo Beach, Calif. is currently on a five-fight winning streak and coming off a win via TKO against Yan Xiaonan in May of 2021. The first UFC Strawweight champion and the No. 2 ranked fighter in the division, Esparza has a strong case for one of the best female fighters of all time. With championship reigns in both the UFC and Invicta FC, the 34-year old is searching for a return to the top of the mountain against old foe Namajunas. Known for her powerful wrestling moves along with an emphasis on Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Esparza is deadly when she gets opponents on the mat and enforces a ground and pound or submission technique on them.
Prediction: A close battle, Namajunas has the edge when it comes to youth and also has gained a ton of experience since falling to Esparza in 2014. Look for her to be victorious in their rematch.
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About the Author
As a devout aficionado of sports, Chris Boline has carved a career within the athletic realm. A skilled scribe, he boasts a decade-long portfolio that encompasses coverage of the NBA G League, the Los Angeles Chargers, football and basketball across the country. Beyond his professional pursuits, Chris is deeply invested in his community and dedicates his leisure hours to serving on boards, collaborating with community organizations, and cherishing the company of loved ones. CURRENTLY Business Development and freelance sports writing RESIDES IN Reno, NV EDUCATION University of Nevada BS and MBA EXPERTISE -Sports writing proficiency in: NFL, NBA, UFC, boxing, golf, and some motor sports -Topical news -Promotional and marketing ideas/updates -Business development Summary Chris Boline serves in a business development sales capacity as his day job. He has previously held sales/marketing positions with The Applied Companies (TAC), KTVN 2 News and the NBA G League’s Reno Bighorns, affiliate of the Sacramento Kings. He is a Reno native and is a member of various community boards including the Nevada Sagebrush Alumni Chapter, NCET and the College of Business Alumni Association (COBAA). Chris graduated from the University of Nevada in 2015 with a bachelors in management and economics and also earned his MBA from Nevada in 2023. More about Chris: Past president of the College of Business Alumni Association (COBAA) 2022-23 Two-time honoree for University of Nevada Alumni Chapter of the Year (Nevada Sagebrush Alumni Chapter, 2017 & COBAA, 2021) 2021 NCET award for Professional Services Organization of the Year with TAC Northern Nevada Human Resources Association 2020 Best Places to Work-Northern Nevada, Second Place with TAC 2016-17 Reno Bighorns MVP from the Sacramento Kings The Nevada Sagebrush editor-in-chief 2013-15 Associated Collegiate Press 2015 Four-year Non-daily Newspaper Pacemaker honoree University of Nevada, Reno College of Business Dean's List honoree (5x) from 2011-2015 Nevada Press Association award for Best Sports Column – Community in 2015 Education
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