UFC Prague features a flyweight fight between Liz Carmouche and Lucie Pudilova that will secure a spot at the top of the division for the winner.
The UFC will return to Europe on February 23 and will see an important flyweight clash on the main card when Liz Carmouche takes on Lucie Pudilova. The flyweight division, just like almost every new weight class, hasn’t gained stability. This has resulted in the division being pretty much open. That means to get a title shot, you don’t have to be the best in the world, you need to be the best available on the roster.
The limited number of options has made the match between former bantamweight title challenger Liz Carmouche and prospect Lucie Pudilova important. Carmouche enters the Octagon on an all-time high with a win over former top-ranked flyweight Jennifer Maia. If she manages to impress a UFC Prague, she immediately catapults herself to either a title shot or a title eliminator match. Her being one of the two women to have beat the current champion, Valentina Shevchenko, just helps her case further.
Entering on the other side will be Lucie Pudilova. Not only will she be fighting in her country but she will be also be fighting for a golden ticket to the top names of the division. In most circumstances, a one-hit wonder win won’t allow a fighter to hop over the line and become a title contender, however, the flyweight division is very volatile. In these circumstances, a major win not only gets attraction from most fans, it also allows a fighter to get important matchups. If Pudilova manages to secure a win, she will surely enter the short list of title contenders.
Stylistically, Carmouche is at a clear advantage. Carmouche is known for grinding opponents out with her strong wrestling game and has performed well against strikers in past. What makes the fight exciting is Pudilova, who loves to charge in and engage in exchanges. Overall, the fight should see Carmouche walking out with a comfortable decision win. The winner of this match most likely faces Joanne Calderwood.
UFC Prague will be live from O2 Arena on February 23, the event will be live on ESPN+ in the USA, C2V2 in Canada and SONY 6 in India on February 24.
