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UFC Fight Night 102 Albany Lewis Abdulrakhimov
UFC Fight Night 102

It’s Something Old, Something New where we get you up to speed concerning those making their UFC debuts this week and reintroduce you to those coming back from long spells on the sidelines.

This weekend sees us spoiled with two UFC events; UFC Fight Night 102 in Albany, New York and UFC 206 in Toronto, Canada.

Firstly we take a look at the Albany card on Friday night. With plenty of changes to the card, it has enabled many fighters to answer short notice call ups to make their debuts at the event and there is plenty of new talent on show for the MMA scouts among us.

Saparbek Safarov (8-0) – Light-Heavyweight

UFC’s latest Dagestani signing Saparbek Safarov will make his short notice debut, when he replaces the injured Patrick Cummins on a week’s notice, to face fellow Light-Heavyweight Gian Vilante in Albany on Friday night.

The K Dojo Warrior Pride fighter is currently undefeated and with all eight of his victories coming inside the first or second round, he has the killer instinct and finishing power to add excitement to the depleted LHW division.

The Russian is infamously known in his own parts for an ugly clash in 2011 with Polish fighter Tomasz Narkun, as he slapped him twice during their face-off at the press conference, resulting in the Pol refusing to fight him in the M-1 Global event.

 

Brian “The Mantis” Camozzi (7-2) – Welterweight

After winning the RFA Welterweight title against Nick Barnes via a first round submission, Brian Camozzi will look to carry the momentum into his UFC debut against fellow Welterweight prospect Randy Brown.

The younger brother of UFC veteran Chris Camozzi, the 25-year-old trains out of Factory X Muay Thai in his hometown of Denver, Colorado and he was first spotted on UFC YouTube show “Looking for a Fight” when he defeated Kenneth Glenn via first round submission in front of a watching Dana White at RFA 37.

Camozzi has recorded all of his wins within the distance with four submissions and three KO/TKOs and will enter the octagon on the back of a five fight win streak.

 

Gerald “The Machine” Meerschaert (24-8) – Middleweight

At the age of 28, regional journeyman and ten year veteran of the sport Gerald Meerschaert finally comes to the UFC to make his long awaited debut.

Meerschaert has fought in many promotions including Titan FC and RFA, most recently becoming the RFA Middleweight Champion after beating Chase Waldon by first round submission for the vacant title. The Roufusport product hails from Green Bay, Wisconsin and is a long time training partner of UFC Welterweight Champion Tyron Woodley.

After only one loss in his last ten fights, a close split decision loss to Sam Alvey, “The Machine” will look to build on his 17 submission wins when he faces Joe Gigliotti in Albany.

 

Ashley Yoder (5-1) – Strawweight

Former TUF 23 contestant Ashley Yoder arrives in the UFC after previously fighting under the banners of both BAMMA USA and Invicta FC. Her last fight was only three weeks ago with a victory over Amber Brown at Invicta 20 before being signed by UFC.

The 29-year-old Strawweight trains out of Dan Henderson’s gym in Temecula, California and has won four of her five fights by submission, all by armbar. She will have her hands full on her first UFC appearance facing fellow TUF alumni Justine Kish.

 

Shane “Hurricane” Burgos (7-0) – Featherweight

New York native Shane Burgos makes his debut in Albany on Friday after impressing in top UFC feeder promotions CFFC and Ring of Combat. The Featherweight has remained undefeated so far, finishing all seven of his fights and making short work of his opponent having only been out of the first round twice.

The 25-year-old trains at Team Tiger Schullman where UFC Middleweight Uriah Hall got his start in the sport and despite having major back surgery at a young age, has has gone from strength to strength in his short career.

Burgos faces ex-Jungle Fight champion Tiago Trator and will look to add to his tally of four submissions and three KO/TKO finishes to make a statement in the Featherweight division.

 

Ryan Janes (8-1) – Middleweight

Ryan James becomes the first fighter from the Newfoundland region of Canada to step inside the octagon when he makes his debut against undefeated Keith Berish in Albany.

The 35-year-old was a latecomer to MMA after starting to train in the sport at the age of 25 however the talented grappler has not let that stand in his way with seven submission wins and is currently on a seven fight win streak heading into this bout.

This is the middleweight’s third attempt at making his debut after Adam Hunter was flagged by USADA keeping him out of their scheduled bout at UFC on Fox 21 in Vancouver and then Janes was booked against Dongi Yang on the UFC Manilla card before the event was cancelled.

 

JJ Aldrich (4-1) – Strawweight

TUF 23 competitor JJ Aldrich steps in on short notice to make her UFC debut against Juliana Lima after defeating Lynn Alvarez in a dominant unanimous decision victory just three weeks ago at Invicta 20.

The 24-year-old from Denver, Colorado has looked a solid prospect in the Strawweight division whilst with Invicta and her high volume striking and terrier-like tenacity always make her a fun fighter to watch.

Now we look at those returning from long spells away from the octagon and who will want to get back on track and be victorious in Albany.

Frankie Perez (10-2) – Lightweight

After an unexpected and sudden retirement announcement following his 54 second win over Sam Stout at UFC Fight Night 74, many thought Frankie Perez may have walked away for good last summer.

However the talented Lightweight returns to the octagon after some reconsideration and will face top British prospect Marc Diakiese on Friday night across the river from his home state of New Jersey in New York.

Back training at Team Ricardo Almeida, Perez will look to relaunch his career with a victory after going 1-1 so far in his UFC career.

 

Tiago “Trator” Trator (20-5-1 1NC) – Featherweight

Team Nogueira product Tiago Tratos makes a return to the octagon for the first time since September 2015 when he beat Clay Collard at UFC 191.

The Brazilian is an ex-Jungle Fight Lightweight Champion and is 2-1 in his UFC career so far. Originally slated to fight Zubaira Tukhugov on Friday night, Trator will now face Shane Burgos instead of the Russian after he was flagged for a failed drugs test.

 

Keith “Sha Bang Bang” Berish (5-0 1NC) – Middleweight

After blowing out his knee in his UFC debut and tearing both his ACL and MCL in July 2014, Berish is finally fully fit and ready to return to the octagon against Ryan James on Friday night.

Now 31, the former Ring of Combat Middleweight Champion will return in his home state of New York and hope to start afresh after such a lengthy setback. Still undefeated, if Berish puts in a good performance then he still has time to live up to the promise he showed earlier in his career.

 

Be sure to check out the second part of this week’s “Something Old, Something New” when we look at the old and new from Saturday night’s UFC 206.