Preview: UFC Fight Night 242 Prelims

Featherweights

Nathan Fletcher (8-1, 0-0 UFC) vs. Zygimantas Ramaska (9-2, 0-0 UFC)

ODDS: Fletcher (-145), Ramaska (+120)

Two recent alumni of “The Ultimate Fighter” clash here after a late scratch from the season finale two weeks ago. It isn’t a surprise that Ramaska got another look coming off the show, as he easily could have wound up winning the featherweight bracket before an injury got in the way. Beyond that, the Lithuanian always brings the violence. A rangy kickboxer, Ramaska fights with constant pressure and volume, an approach that resulted in the best fight of the season against Bekhzod Usmonov. Unfortunately for Ramaska, there’s more to mixed martial arts than striking, but he has typically been solid enough to survive on the mat against better wrestlers, using his long frame and constant activity to frustrate opponents until the fight can get back on the feet. That will be the game plan against England’s Fletcher, who came off well on the show but didn’t accomplish much fighting-wise, losing his first bout to Kaan Ofli, albeit while unknowingly fighting with a broken leg.

Fletcher has faced a decent level of regional competition and found his most success as a crafty grappler who tries to get to his opponent’s back. That could work here, but the read is that Ramaska can once again survive and outlast him, particularly since Fletcher has shown some cardio issues in the past. The pick is Ramaska via second-round knockout.

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Spann vs. St. Preux
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Santos vs. Yi
Amorim vs. Demopoulos
Petroski vs. Hill
Fletcher vs. Ramaska