Preview: UFC on ESPN 63 ‘Covington vs. Buckley’

Bantamweights

Daniel Marcos (16-0, 3-0 UFC) vs. Adrian Yanez (17-5, 6-2 UFC)

ODDS: Marcos (-180), Yanez (+150)

Yanez should be well-off going forward, as he has established himself as a must-watch fighter even in a deep division, but he could use some big performances to prove he can reach contender status. Yanez’s rise through the ranks was absolutely electric. Slick and aggressive as a boxer, Yanez engaged in firefight after firefight, kicking his UFC career off with five straight wins, four via knockout. That set up Yanez for some big tests in 2023, but he unfortunately passed neither of them. Rob Font had enough durability and firepower to beat Yanez in a head-on affair, while Jonathan Martinez took advantage of his lack of defense and chopped him down via leg kicks. Yanez rebounded by crushing Vinicius Salvador earlier this year—a result that was much-needed but expected—but now it’s back to a tough fight in the form of an underrated Peruvian in Marcos.

The UFC’s bantamweight division hardly needs another standout fighter, but Marcos is lurking as someone to watch, transforming from afterthought to actual prospect in the three-year layoff preceding his Contender Series win in 2022. Marcos’ matchmaking in the UFC has been a bit chaotic, owing to constant opponent and date changes, but he has impressed each time out as a diverse and thoughtful striker, capable of pouring on the pressure or staying back to potshot his opponents. That might make him the smarter pick despite his lack of name value. Given how the Martinez fight went for Yanez, it’s easy to see Marcos getting away with a more patient and elusive game plan. However, Yanez also has the most firepower of any Marcos opponent to date. It feels a bit risky, but that’s enough to give the Texan the benefit of the doubt in what figures to wind up as yet another tough war at some point. The pick is Yanez via decision.

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Covington vs. Buckley
Quarantillo vs. Swanson
Kape vs. Silva
Petrino vs. Jacoby
Marcos vs. Yanez
Stirling vs. Tokkos
The Prelims