Preview: UFC on ESPN 48 Prelims

Lightweights

Guram Kutateladze (12-3, 1-1 UFC) vs. Elves Brener (14-3, 1-0 UFC)

ODDS: Kutateladze (-600), Brener (+450)

Kutateladze has been one of the UFC’s most intriguing prospects when he has actually made it to the cage, so it is a positive development to see him step in and take a fight here. The “Georgian Viking” was highly regarded when the UFC picked him up in 2020, but it was still a shock when his debut saw him upset the much more highly touted Mateusz Gamrot, winning the narrow decision over his fellow newcomer in an even fight. Kutateladze was impressively able to keep up with Gamrot’s high-paced and relentless wrestling game in a way that few opponents have. Add in his powerful striking, and Kutateladze looked every bit the well-rounded talent ready to make the charge up the ladder. However, rather than build on that momentum, Kutateladze faded out of view due to a long injury layoff, returning nearly two years later to take on Damir Ismagulov in June 2022; and much like the Gamrot fight, Kutateladze matched a high-level opponent every step of the way, only this time the narrow decision went in Ismagulov’s favor. At worst, the Georgian looks ready to hang on the fringes of the lightweight rankings, but he just needs to prove he can stay healthy enough to keep taking fights and showing off his wares. He figures to be able to do so against Brener. The 25-year-old Brener is a fun fighter but did not particularly stick out as a UFC-ready prospect when the promotion picked him up as a late replacement in February. Even so, the Brazilian managed to author a stunning upset in his UFC debut against Zubaira Tukhugov, controversial as it was. Tukhugov fought lackadaisical enough to let Brener hang around for three rounds, and while he still clearly won the fight in the eyes of most observers, the judges rewarded his counterpart’s aggression and gave him the nod. Kutateladze figures to be much more mindful in terms of pouring offense on Brener and should win this handily as a result. The main question centers on whether or not Brener’s durability allows him to survive all 15 minutes. The pick is Kutateladze via second-round knockout.

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