Preview: UFC Winnipeg Prelims

For Canadian fans, the good news about the Ultimate Fighting Championship ’s upcoming trek north of the border is that it’s all but a guarantee they’ll be back soon. UFC Fight Night 273 , which goes down Saturday at Canada Life Centre in Winnepeg, represent’s the UFC’s first visit to that city since December 2017 and its first trip to Canada this year. In terms of established name value and immediate rankings implications, UFC Winnipeg is one of the weakest road offerings of the post-Covid era, but that doesn’t mean it’s devoid of interest or relevance.

The 13-fight lineup features most of the promotion’s top Canadians, and the undercard in particular has a focus on new up-and-coming talent, including a pair of debuting fighters and the still-developing Melissa Croden . Add in the return of mulleted fan favorite Tanner Boser , and the makings of a fun evening of prelims are there. Let us get on with the preview for the UFC Winnipeg undercard: Middleweights Julien Leblanc vs.

Robert Valentin BETTING ODDS: Valentin (-130); Leblanc (+110) Quebec’s Leblanc (10-2) makes his promotional debut here against “The Ultimate Fighter” Season 32 finalist Valentin (10-6, 1 NC; 0-3 UFC), who is probably facing his last chance at a first UFC win. The 34-year-old former Samourai MMA middleweight champ is tall (even if he will probably be the much shorter man on Saturday) and aggressive, a southpaw who closes the distance quickly on the feet and unloads with big punches and kicks. He has good power, though he does overswing.

Leblanc is fond of creating collisions in which he can find ways to bring his opponent down with trips and body locks, and he is a capable top position grappler. He is on a long win streak, but most of it has come against very middling opposition; it remains to be seen how he will adapt to foes who aren’t simply overwhelmed by his approach. We may or may not find the answer on Saturday, as Valentin’s post-TUF run in the UFC is practically the definition of “overwhelmed.