On Saturday, February 18th, 2023, at the O2 Arena in London, Sam Paterson will make his octagon debut in a match-up against Yanal Ashmov. Broadcast via ESPN+, the fight is centered around being part of the preliminary card’s lineup for UFC 286. Patterson, being the more experienced fighter in the MMA scene, will be looking to kick-start his UFC career with a win.
Standing in his way is the undefeated Ashmov, who will also be looking to continue his rise in the UFC lightweight division. Since the upcoming duel has piqued your interest, here are some pointers to help you decipher preliminary information.
Sam Patterson vs.Yanal Ashmoz: Sam Patterson sets for octagon debut alongside Israel’s Yanal Ashmov
PRO MMA: Lightweight, UFC Men
UFC Fight Night
The O2 Arena, London
Where to watch: ESPN+
Early Prelims: 18 March 2023
Sam Patterson: Sam Patterson faces his first test in the lightweight division.
Sam “The Future” Patterson (10-1-1) is a 26-year-old English mixed martial artist currently competing in the lightweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). He has competed in various promotions, including Fightstar Championship, Brave CF, and the like.
He succeeded in gaining a UFC contract on Danna White’s Contender Series and makes his UFC debut on March 18th on the UFC 286 card in London.
Patterson, a native of Watford and staple of Team Crossface, looks to improve on his impressive 10-1-1 professional record, having most recently handed Vinicius Cenci a rear-naked choke on Dana White’s Contender Series back in August last year.
Just 26 years old, Patterson, who has also competed in the Middle East under the scrutiny of leading promotion Brave CF, also holds victories over the likes of Jordan Miller, Felipe Silva, Ylies Djiroun, Kamil Magomedov, and a submission victory over Irish kickboxing standout Cian Cowley.
Patterson is known for his explosive striking abilities and technical kickboxing skills. His striking arsenal includes devastating kicks, powerful punches, and slick footwork.
His biggest strengths are his striking accuracy and speed. Patterson can also land precise strikes from a variety of angles. His speed and footwork allow him to create an opening for his attacks; however, he is not as efficient at grappling as he is at striking.
He is also comfortable fighting at range and is able to use his footwork to avoid his opponent’s strikes. His striking and accuracy make him a dangerous matchup for anyone in the UFC’s lightweight division.
Yanal Ashmoz Will Sam Patterson be too much to handle for Yamal Ashmov?
Yanal Ashmoz is a 27-year-old mixed martial artist from Israel who currently competes in the lightweight division of The Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC).
Ashmoz goes by the fight moniker ‘Red Fox’ and remains undefeated in his professional MMA career with a record of 6-0. Ashmoz last fought under the FPL banner, competing as part of the 2022 Challengers, before signing for the UFC on December 29, 2022.
Ashmoz remains undefeated in his professional MMA career, and in his last fight, he secured a victory over Dennis Hughes via unanimous decision. He is known for his aggressive fighting style, which is characterized by excellent hook attacks and an iron chin.
He is not afraid to engage in brawls and often absorbs significant amounts of punishment in his fights. Ashmoz also has a solid ground game and has shown good takedown defense.
However, Ashmoz’s style can also be his downfall, as he sometimes leaves himself open to counterattacks and can become reckless in his pursuit of a finish.
Prediction
Both fighters are in great form, each having a good run of wins. Patterson is a more experienced, highly technical striker with excellent footwork and striking accuracy, while Ashmov prefers to attack with devastating hooks and is not scared to engage in a brawl.
Patterson’s defense has a lot of room for improvement, and Ashmov will be looking to take advantage of that. Patterson and Ashmov are both worthy opponents. and it is difficult to predict which of the fighters will win. In this classic striker vs. striker match-up, Ashmov is likely to take advantage of Patterson’s weak defense.
On the other hand, Patterson’s lethal kicks and massive reach advantage make him a very dangerous opponent who can finish off the match at any time, making him the slight favorite in this match-up.