NEW FIGHTS ADDED TO UFC 235 INCLUDING FRANKIE SAENZ VS. MARLON VERA

Last week, we got information that UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones was cleared by the Nevada State Athletic Commission to fight Anthony Smith. The UFC created that fight official on the weekend, along with the March 2 event at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada is now a go with all the GOAT looking to defend his name in the primary event.
Besides the confirmation of Jones vs. Smith, a couple other struggles for UFC 235 were revealed over the weekend, and I’ll give my initial thoughts on these new matchups in the current MMA odds and ends.
UFC 235 vs. Marlon Vera, frankie Saenz Because of an accident to Thomas Almeida, veteran Frankie Saenz is stepping up on short notice to fight the surging Marlon Vera in a bantamweight bout at UFC 235. Ariel Helwani of ESPN broke the information. Saenz (13-5) is 5-2 overall from the UFC and is coming from back-end decision wins over Henry Briones and Merab Dvalishvili. At one stage it seemed like he can get cut by the UFC after enduring a three-fight losing skid, but he has bounced back well since then. At age 38, this can be the last chance he has to make a title run.
Vera (12-5-1) is only 6-4-1 from the UFC but he’s fought a high level of competition inside the Octagon and also his record does not do justice to the type of fighter he is. Vera is coming off of back-to-back stoppage wins over Guido Cannetti and Wuliji Buren and at age 26 is starting to really come into his own as a fighter. No doubt Vera will be looking to keep this battle with Saenz on the feet while Saenz will be searching for the takedown. Although Saenz is a crafty veteran and will probably make this fight more aggressive than the line will imply, it is hard to go from the younger Vera and I expect him to be a sizeable preferred for the win.
Charles Byrd vs. Edmen Shahbazyan, UFC 235
Middleweights Charles Byrd and Edmen Shahbazyan are set to clash at UFC 235 as well. This fight is official according to the UFC. Byrd (10-5) had an excellent UFC debut last spring when he filed John Phillips at the first round at UFC Fight Night 127. He was a betting favorite because of his next battle against Darren Stewart at UFC 228, but after a strong first round that he faded badly and has been pumped out. At age 35, Byrd looks to be more of a gatekeeper as opposed to a late-blooming competition that some believed he might be following his successful stint on the Contender Series.
Shahbazyan (8-0) was undefeated heading into his UFC debut with all his wins coming by first-round knockout, but struggled in a split decision win over the aforementioned Stewart. He’d get the nod and at age 21 must find out a lot from that struggle, but he showed a great deal of holes from Stewart that a veteran like Byrd could exploit. I would still have to favor Shahbazyan somewhat just due to the age gap and the knockout energy, but I’ve a feeling that this fight is going to be more aggressive than most want to think.
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