Preview: UFC Paris Prelims

Strawweights

Shauna Bannon (7-1) vs. Sam Hughes (10-6)

Odds: Hughes (-310); Bannon (+250)

Strawweights kick things off in Paris, with both women looking to extend two-fight win streaks into three at the other’s expense. Bannon joined the UFC two years ago with a trophy case full of tae kwon do honors and an undefeated but fairly thin body of work in MMA. In a fairly friendly style matchup against credentialed muay thai transplant Bruna Brasil, Bannon fell by decision and seemed a step behind for most of the fight. Even allowing for the extra leash that Irish fighters sometimes get, she did not appear to have much staying power.

Two fights and two wins later, “Mama B” has at least proven she belongs, outstriking and outhustling Alice Ardelean, then punishing decorated wrestler Puja Tomar with a slick armbar this March. She remains a nimble but low-powered striker with poor wrestling and a very underrated grappling game, but it is all driven by improved conditioning and confidence. If she can get past Hughes on Saturday, she is beyond merely belonging and closer to contention.

As a UFC strawweight, Hughes has exceeded expectations herself, to say the least. Entering the UFC nearly five years ago, “Sampage” was probably best known for being the victim of a “Submission of the Year” inverted triangle by Vanessa Demopoulos, and when she lost her first three bouts in the Octagon, her role as “the other woman in the cage” was practically cemented. A funny thing happened on her way to irrelevance, however: Hughes started winning fights.

Like Bannon, Hughes’ transition did not involve any radical reworking of her skill set, just improved physical tools and the confidence to leverage them. She initially presented as a boxer in MMA, which she still prefers, but as a tough, physically strong strawweight, she has embraced a mean clinch game and some well-timed takedowns. Her clinch game against the fence in particular has helped to compensate for the speed advantage many of her opponents enjoy over her.

That spells good news for her on Saturday, most likely. Bannon is at her best either kickboxing in space, or scrambling when taken down, but Hughes is well equipped to win this fight without spending much time in either of those situations. The pick is for Hughes to grind out a win in a fight where 80% of the action takes place against the cage, and while it is likely to draw a few boos—and a lot of “woos”—from the Paris crowd, there will be no question who was the more effective fighter.



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Bannon vs. Hughes