UFC 270: Previewing Ngannou vs. Gane and Moreno vs. Figueiredo 3

The UFC’s first pay-per-view event of 2022 is upon us, and it’s serving up two top-grade title fights that will likely serve up very different matchups on fight night.The main event has captured the imagination of hardcore MMA fans, with reigning UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou set to face former teammate and training partner Ciryl Gane, who now holds the interim version of the heavyweight title.It’s a bout that pitches Ngannou directly against his old team, and the coach who set him on his path to UFC stardom, Fernand Lopez. But that backstory is only part of the narrative ahead of Ngannou’s title defense. The Cameroonian is also on the final fight of his current UFC contract, and has been very public in his demands for his next fight deal. In short, he wants more money, plus he wants to be able to box, with a bout against WBC heavyweight champion Tyson Fury seemingly within reach. But relations between Ngannou’s camp and the UFC appear somewhat frosty, with the fighter repped by a rival organization, CAA, to the UFC’s owners, Endeavor.While there’s intrigue, history and a contractual situation surrounding the main event, the co-main event looks much more straightforward, with Brandon Moreno looking to make the first defense of his flyweight title in a trilogy fight against the man he defeated to win it, Deiveson Figueiredo.It’s a fight that could provide plenty of fireworks, and one that could produce one of the fights of the year.On this week’s show, we preview both title fights, as well as offer an under-the-radar fighter to watch ahead of fight night in Vegas. We also take a look back at Calvin Kattar’s brilliant performance to defeat Giga Chikadze in the main event of UFC Vegas 46 last weekend.Enjoy the show! This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thebritpack.substack.com This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit simonheadsport.substack.com