Preview: UFC on ESPN 30 ‘Barboza vs. Chikadze’

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Middleweights

NR | Andre Petroski (5-1, 0-0 UFC) vs. NR | Micheal Gillmore (5-3, 0-0 UFC)

ODDS: Petroski (-550), Gillmore (+425)

Like a lot of his “Ultimate Fighter” castmates, Petroski remains very much on the raw side, but he is definitely a talent to watch. Petroski was in the midst of a promising path up the regional ladder before he got the call to appear on the reality show. While a lot of his game is still a work in progress, Petroski has been able to rely on a powerful wrestling game to control his fights and typically lead him to victory. That was the story in his two fights on “The Ultimate Fighter.” While Petroski’s striking looked obviously improved from even a year or two ago, his best moments came from overpowering his opponents and taking his fights to the mat, which worked against Aaron Phillips but walked him into a submission against Bryan Battle. Petroski gets another chance at a UFC contract against a fellow castmate. Sign up for ESPN+ right here, and you can then stream the UFC, PFL and “The Ultimate Fighter” live on your smart TV, computer, phone, tablet or streaming device via the ESPN app.

Gillmore stepped in on short notice for his lone fight on the season, staying ready as an alternate on his own dime until his services were needed against Gilbert Urbina. Gillmore quickly lost that bout, but his willingness to step up paid off to at least get him this shot. Petroski figures to run into trouble going forward when he cannot outwrestle an opponent, but that should not be the case here. Gillmore has some decent ideas, but he is not much of an athlete and can take a patient approach, which should be enough for Petroski to get a takedown and quickly get the ball rolling to a finish, whether it is via submission or ground-and-pound stoppage. The pick is Petroski via first-round finish.

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