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LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – SEPTEMBER 11: Angela Hill poses on the scale during the UFC Fight Night weigh-in at UFC APEX on September 11, 2020 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC)
Imago
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – SEPTEMBER 11: Angela Hill poses on the scale during the UFC Fight Night weigh-in at UFC APEX on September 11, 2020 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC)
UFC strawweights Angela Hill and Ashley Yoder come in as the main event preliminary feature bout for UFC Vegas 21. Chiefly, the aforementioned women’s 115-pound fight is a rematch from a July 2017 meeting at ‘The Ultimate Fighter 25’ finale.
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Hill came out as the victor in the first contest and walked away with the decision nod from the judges. The women’s strawweight division is chock-full of talent, and there’s a constant need for new contenders to emerge.
Angela Hill is ranked number 12 in the division overall and Ashley ‘The Spider Monkey’ will be keen to take her place. Furthermore, the title will be contested for in short order, thus leaving an opening to make a statement.
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UFC strawweights: Angela Hill vs Ashley Yoder
‘Overkill’ Hill is on a 2-fight losing streak and her last defeat came in the main event slot to Michelle Waterson in September 2020. Both of Angela’s recent losses came via razor-thin split decisions, thus proving that she’s right there in the mix.
Prior to the string of losses, she was on a 3-fight losing streak and could potentially have been a title challenger right now.
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LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – SEPTEMBER 12: (R-L) Angela Hill punches Michelle Waterson in a strawweight fight during the UFC Fight Night event at UFC APEX on September 12, 2020 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC)
Hill has a high significant strike per minute output coming in at 5.70 and she’s known to be practical with her offense. Furthermore, ‘Overkill’ comes in with a 77% takedown defense rate, which is numerically quite discouraging for Yoder. At her best, Angela Hill is a major problem to deal with, especially if she’s able to dictate range.
Ashley ‘The Spider Monkey’ Yoder: Can she break into the Top-15?
Ashley Yoder bounced back from a 2-fight losing streak with a win in her last fight against Miranda Granger. She’s had her fair share of ups and downs so far with an 8-6 record to boot. However, Yoder believes her time is now and feels like cage experience has given her the tools she needs.
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LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – NOVEMBER 14: (L-R) Ashley Yoder attempts to secure a triangle arm bar submission against Miranda Granger in a strawweight fight during the UFC Fight Night event at UFC APEX on November 14, 2020 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC)
Yoder’s output leaves plenty to be desired, and this could make her overly reliant on a grappling offense. What’s more, she’s never earned a KO/TKO in her entire career. She will have the unsavory task of trying to outpoint Hill, who’s an expert point fighter.
Prediction: Angela Hill to claim a unanimous decision victory
