UFC featherweights Makwan Amirkhani and Kamuela Kirk take to the middle at UFC Fight Night: Rozenstruik vs Sakai. The three-round scrap is a classic veteran vs newcomer match-up that sees Amirkhani put his spot on the line. Chiefly, there’s an interest to see how far Kamuela Kirk can push the 9-fight UFC veteran.

With the absence of Zabit Magomedsharipov for the foreseeable future, a spot in the featherweight rankings is soon up for grabs. Furthermore, the champion not having a high activity rate has given newcomers a chance to work their way up. A signature win can go a long way in bolstering the victor’s profile up the ranks of the 145-pound division.

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UFC Fight Night: Makwan Amirkhani vs Kamuela Kirk

‘Mr. Finland’ came up short in his last outing against the company veteran Edson Barboza back from October. Amirkhani has shown a lot of promise in his run, however, he’s stumbled against the elite fighters of the division. He has three losses in the UFC, all coming to the upper tier that the division has to offer like Arnold Allen and Shane Burgos.

Makwan Amirkhani is an excellent pressure fighter who knows when it’s time to fight at range and use distance. He’s also known for his explosiveness in close range that was showcased in his 8-second KO of Andy Ogle. Amirkhani is able to set up his striking effectively as he’s a terror in the grappling realm when the fight hits the canvas.

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‘The Jawaiian’: Looking to make a splash

Kamuela Kirk is on a two-fight win streak with TKO wins out of the LFA promotion that earned him a spot in the UFC. Chiefly, he had an unsuccessful bid on season 3 of Dana White’s Contender Series back in July 2019. Despite being a newcomer to the UFC, Kirk has faced some stiff competition in Billy Quarantillo and Kevin Croom and isn’t to be taken lightly.

The 27-year-old Siege MMA black belt will welcome a tussle on the ground with Amirkhani. However, ‘Mr. Finland’ has shown that he can let off copious amounts of offense from mount and is a major threat. Not to mention, looking at the way Amirkhani’s stand-up game has evolved, it will be hard to match him, skill-for-skill.

Prediction: Makwan Amirkhani to claim a second-round TKO

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