The MMA Daily

Preview

We got ourselves an intriguing fight in the Middleweight division, as Andre ‘Sergipano’ Muniz takes on Eryk ‘Ya Boi’ Anders. Coming into this fight on a seven-fight win streak and off a spectacular submission victory over Ronaldo Souza, Muniz will look to keep the momentum going. Somehow unranked, Muniz seems likely to have a number next to his name should he win this fight. Meanwhile, Anders finally closed the chapter on Darren Stewart, as he bested the Brit via decision. With three victories in the last five fights, which includes a no contest, Anders seems to have gotten over his three fight losing streak back in 2018 to 2019. 

Prediction

Despite being the early preliminary headliner, this is an important fight in the Middleweight division. Andre Muniz may not be a household name, but he’s quickly climbing up the Middleweight ranks. With seven consecutive wins and an inverted armbar submission victory over Ronaldo Souza, Muniz is on the cusp of fighting the upper tier of the division. An excellent grappler and submission specialist, Muniz looks to get the fight to the mat as early as possible. With little striking skills, Muniz is every sense of the word, a specialist. A good one at that, as fourteen of his eighteen stoppage victories have come via submission. Having never been submitted, Eryk Anders will undoubtedly have to be on high alert in this one. Primarily a striker, the former Alabama Crimson Tide linebacker is explosive and powerful. With eight of his fourteen wins coming via knockout, Anders isn’t one you want to stand around with for long. 

As for a prediction, I’m going with Muniz. While his striking deficiencies are going to get him in trouble one day, I don’t think it happens in this fight. Anders is physically strong and boasts a solid 76% takedown defense. However, despite having an advantage in the striking department, Anders finds himself wrestling or in the clinch way more often than he should. In fact, in Anders’ last seven fights, he has attempted eighteen takedowns, with only three being successful. I would have to think that Anders avoids wrestling and grappling all together. Then again, it’s a constant in his fights, especially when he tires. Something that Muniz will capitalize on, as he will get this fight on the ground one way or another and lock in a fight-ending submission.