UFC Fight Night: Aspinall v Tybura

The main card for UFC Fight Night: Aspinall vs Tybura from the O2 Arena in London is stacked with homegrown talent. Fan favourite Molly McCann will be hoping to reward her army of supporters with a KO finish, and Scotland’s Paul Craig faces a tricky assignment against Brazilian grappling wizard Andre Muniz.

Read on for full tips and analysis

Aspinall v Tybura main event preview

Tom Aspinall

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Marcin Tybura

Molly McCann v Julija Stoliarenko

Molly McCann

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Julija Stolianrenko

Molly McCann (13-5-0) is a UK crowd favourite who will enjoy huge support here in London. She was building a solid winning run until she met Erin Blanchfield in November 2022 and was submitted in the opening round. Blanchfield is considered a future potential champion at 125 pounds and proved a class above McCann. The Brit faces a drop in competition for this match-up and looks to have a big edge in the striking department. She faces the danger of submission if this fight hits the canvas.

Julija Stoliarenko (10-8-2) has fought four times at UFC level with an underwhelming 1-3 record. The Lithuanian has a strong ground game but limited striking skills leave her vulnerable on the feet. Stoliarenko will be hoping to land an early takedown where she can search for her signature armbar finish and avoid the slick boxing of McCann. The underdog will need to control the range in the early stages and take advantage of a favourable height and reach disparity.

Nathaniel Wood v Andre Fili

Nathaniel Wood

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Andre Fili

Nathaniel Wood (19-5-0) is 6-2 since making his UFC debut in 2018 as the reigning Cage Warriors bantamweight champion. Standing just 5’6’’ he will face a huge five-inch height and reach disadvantage in this match-up which may prove a significant handicap if Fili can establish an effective jab. The Brit will need to slip inside and land body locks or ripping hooks to the head and body to avoid the risk being picked apart from long range.

Andre Fili (22-9-0) has a patchy record since 2020 with two wins, three losses, and one no contest with both victories coming via split decision. The American has nine knockouts on his record but only two since 2015 from 15 trips to the UFC cage. Fili will face a hostile crowd, but this may spark him into action, and we give him some chance of springing a London upset.

Andre Muniz v Paul Craig

Andre Muniz

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Paul Craig

Andre Muniz (23-5-0) had a nine-fight win streak interrupted at his most recent appearance when he was choked out by the highly regarded Brendan Allen. The loss must have stung because Muniz is a third degree BJJ black belt with 15 professional wins via submission on his record. The Brazilian is no slouch in the stand-up department and is expected to bounce back and make short work of his opponent here.

Paul Craig (16-6-1) has dropped his last two fights and was most recently stopped in the first round by wild man Johnny Walker. The Scot relies on a grappling-heavy approach, and this appears a very challenging match-up. Muniz appears to have him covered in both the striking and ground game and it will take a phenomenal performance from Craig to beat the odds and emerge with the spoils.

Jai Herbert v Fares Ziam

Jai Herbert

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Fares Ziam

Jai Herbert (12-4-1) is coming off an embarrassing draw against Ludovit Klein after being deducted a point for repeated groin strikes in the third round. Prior to that contest, he was 2-3 including a loss to Ilia Topuria who is on the cusp of a title shot versus featherweight champ Alexander Volkanovski. Herbet can get a little reckless in his pursuit of knockouts and is prone to being stopped himself during wild exchanges and has never lost a fight via decision.

Fares Ziam (13-4-0) has built a 3-2 record in his early UFC career with the three wins all coming via decision. He is a much more cautious combatant than Herbert and this fight will be an interesting class of style and strategies. The Frenchman lacks the power of Herbert but looks to have a better grappling game which may come into play toward the end of each round. If Herbert overcommits to his punches the takedown opportunities should arise and Ziam might be able to land a submission win.