Matt Frevola takes on Arman Tsarukyan in a catchweight bout at UFC 257. Although both men were scheduled to face different opponents, developments over the past few hours worked out perfectly for both men to face each other at UFC 257. 

Frevola was scheduled to take on Ottman Azaitar, who was removed from the bout and cut from the UFC for breaching COVID safety protocols. 

Arman Tsarukyan was set to take on Haqparast, who withdrew from the fight following an illness. Tsarukyan came in two-pounds over the lightweight limit of 155-pounds and will forfeit 20% of his purse for this fight. 

Read: UFC 257: Khalil Rountree Jr vs Marcin Prachnio- Prediction and analysis 

Matt Frevola and Arman Tsarukyan accept short-notice replacement fights at UFC 257 

Matt Frevola made his UFC debut on Dana White’s Contender Series with a submission win over Jose Flores in August 2017. ‘The Steamrolla’ is currently 2-0 in his last two fights. Most recently, he secured a split decision win over Luis Pena in October 2019. 

Tsarukyan on the other hand succumbed to a loss in his UFC debut against Islam Makhachev. He has since bounced back impressively and is 2-0 in his last two fights. Most recently, he secured a unanimous decision win over Davi Ramos in July 2020. He will be looking to secure his third straight win against a formidable opponent in Frevola at UFC 257. 

‘The Steamrolla’ is an impressive striker and has landed a mind-boggling 4.69 significant strikes thus far in his UFC career. However, he has absorbed a concerning 6.44 significant strikes in return. Frevola has averaged 1.88 takedowns per 15 minutes and 0.94 submission attempts in the same time frame.

Arman is also an impressive striker who has landed 3.36 significant strikes per minute and absorbed just 1.56 in return. The Russian fighter has averaged 1.34 takedowns per 15 minutes. 

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Going into the fight, Frevola will have to tighten up his defense. Absorbing 6.44 significant strikes per minute against a fighter like Arman is a recipe for disaster. However, if ‘The Steamrolla’ is able to take the fight to the ground, he might find more success there. 

Prediction: Arman Tsarukyan via T/KO