In UFC’s return to Charlotte, two main event-worthy bouts top packed daytime fight card

For the first time in five years, the UFC returns to Charlotte on Saturday featuring a heavyweight main event.

The Spectrum Center will play host to a full slate of 12 bouts, headlined by ninth-ranked contender Jairzinho Rozenstruik vs. No. 12 Jailton Almeida. Also on the card is a light-heavyweight bout featuring fan favorite No. 5 Anthony Smith, who makes his return to the octagon against No. 7 Johnny Walker in the co-main event.

UFC Fight Night will air on ABC and ESPN Deportes at 3 p.m., with prelims airing on both ESPN and ESPN Deportes at 11:30 a.m.

Rozenstruik vs. Almeida

The stage is set, and Almeida (18-2) has already called his shot.

“I don’t want to leave it to the judges. It won’t happen. As a fighter, Jairzinho is a very dangerous guy, but I’m sure I’ll be able to impose my game,” Almeida said.

Fighting out of Salvador, Bahia, Brazil, Almeida is yet to record a victory via decision and boasts 13 consecutive wins, seven of which by submission. Almeida is currently the betting favorite at -490 odds, according to DraftKings.

In the red corner is Rozenstruik (13-4), fighting out of Paramaribo, Suriname. This bout features a clash of styles, pairing Rozenstruik’s high-level kickboxing against Almeida’s well-rounded grappling game.

Rozenstruik, the self-proclaimed “most dangerous man to walk on earth,” is a knockout artist fighting for the first time in 2023. Twelve of his 13 wins have come via knockout, including victories over former UFC heavyweight champions Andrei Arlvoski and Junior Dos Santos. Nine of Rozenstruik’s knockouts have come in the first round, four in the first 30 seconds.

“When I’m attacking, it’s already too late for my opponent,” Rozenstruik said.

Smith vs. Walker

Saturday’s co-main event could be the most entertaining fight of the day, with both fighters boasting finishing rates of over 94 percent with a combined 35 knockouts. Originally, Smith and Walker were slated to headline the Fight Night, but a switch occurred in April moving Rozenstruik vs. Almeida to the main event.

Smith (36-17), fighting out of Omaha, Nebraska, is known as one of the most explosive fighters in the UFC and is returning from a serious leg injury sustained at UFC 277 in July of 2022. With stoppages against Alexander Gustafsson, Rashad Evans and Mauricio Rua, Smith is looking to add to his resume and score his first victory since September of 2021. In his way is knockout specialist Walker, whose resume includes 17 first-round victories.

Smith, an experienced fighter with a long resume, faces Walker, a young, flashy, up-and-coming fighter. Smith believes that the longer the fight goes, the better chance he has to score his 37th victory.

“(Walker) has one way to win, and I can kind of win wherever. He’s one of those guys that if you just let him drive himself, he’ll run in to something,” Smith said.

There’s a clear tension between the two, with Walker stating, “I don’t know why Smith hates me, maybe because I trained with his former coach. I’ve done nothing to him, yet.”

Fighting out of Dublin, Ireland, by way of Rio das Ostras, Brazil, Walker (20-7) is aiming for his third straight victory in the first round. Walker plans to use his 6-inch reach advantage to end this bout early.

“You know I like to finish fights. It can be the first minute or the last second, I’m going to finish it,” Walker said. “I’m a trained animal. I’ve knocked my best friend out already, so it doesn’t matter, I’m there to work. Whether you’re my best friend or my enemy, it’s the same when the cage closes.”

Notes

▪ Bryan Battle (9-2), a Matthews, North Carolina, native and the winner of The Ultimate Fighter Season 29 will return to action in a welterweight bout against Gabe Green (11-4).

▪ The UFC hasn’t been to Charlotte since 2018, for UFC 27 on Fox.

▪ Welterweight Ian Machado Garry is putting his undefeated record (11-0) on the line in his toughest test yet against Daniel Rodriguez (17-3).

Main card

▪ Heavyweight: No. 9 Jairzinho Rozenstruik (13-4) vs. No. 12 Jailton Almeida (18-2)

▪ Light Heavyweight: No. 5 Anthony Smith (36-17) vs. No. 7 Johnny Walker (20-7)

▪ Welterweight: No. 15 Daniel Rodriguez (17-3) vs. Ian Garry (11-0)

▪ Light Heavyweight: Carlos Ulberg (7-1) vs. Ihor Potieria (19-3)

▪ Welterweight: Tim Means (32-14-1) vs. Alex Morono (22-8)

Preliminary card

▪ Welterweight: Matt Brown (23-19) vs. Court McGee (21-11)

▪ Heavyweight: Karl Williams (8-1) vs. Chase Sherman (16-11)

▪ Bantamweight: Cody Stamann (21-5-1) vs. Douglas Silva de Andrade (28-5)

▪ Lightweight: Natan Levy (8-1) vs. Pete Rodriguez (5-1)

▪ Women’s Flyweight: Ji Yeon Kim (9-6-2) vs. Mandy Böhm (7-2)

▪ Welterweight: Gabe Green (11-4) vs. Bryan Battle (8-2)

▪ Women’s Bantamweight: Jessica Rose-Clark (11-8) vs. Tainara Lisboa (5-2)