Preview: UFC Fight Night 182 Prelims

Women’s Strawweights Kanako Murata (11-1) vs. Randa Markos (10-9-1)

ODDS: Murata (-170), Markos (+150)

Murata enters the UFC with some potential to make an impact, and this debut should serve as a strong litmus test for things going forward. Murata came to mixed martial arts as a decorated wrestler, and she has been able to use it, along with her grappling, to dispatch most of her foes, including “The Ultimate Fighter” veterans Angela Magana and Lanchana Green. After coming stateside, it took Murata all of two fights to become Invicta’s strawweight champion, and like many before her, that punched her ticket to the UFC. Markos should be a tough first test, but at this point, it is difficult to bank on anything when it comes to the Canadian. Since her breakthrough run on “The Ultimate Fighter” in 2014, Markos might be the most frustratingly inconsistent fighter on the UFC roster. Others have made less of their talent, but few are as unpredictable from fight to fight as Markos; it seems almost normal that she has alternated wins and losses for nearly her entire UFC career. Wrestling is the most consistent of Markos’ skills, but even in her best performances, she usually gives up a takedown or two if her opponent presses the issue. There is a chance that Murata runs into a physical wall here— the big question for her going forward is whether or not she can take down and hold down a higher level of athlete—but she is worth a flier simply for being the much more focused fighter in her approach. The pick is Murata via decision.

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