Preview: UFC Fight Night 234 Prelims

Lightweights

Tom Nolan (6-0, 0-0 UFC) vs. Nikolas Motta (13-5, 1-2 UFC)

ODDS: Nolan (-298), Motta (+240)

This feels like Motta’s last stand when it comes to his UFC career. Motta was a power-punching prospect worthy of notice going as far back as 2015—he had a stint on “The Ultimate Fighter Brazil—but he had a knack for suffering ill-timed losses on the regional scene, finally making onto the UFC roster in 2020 after a win on Dana White’s Contender Series. Motta figured to at least be solid enough to stick around as an entertaining mainstay, but he has proven surprisingly unsuccessful at the UFC level. He is still as consistent a power puncher as ever, but opponents have constantly been able to time Motta’s strikes and hit him with counters, even scoring some knockouts in the process. Motta seemingly came into his November fight with Trey Ogden looking to fight behind a more patient approach, but that did not accomplish much. Motta just simply got little done against a neutralizing fighter and was on his way to a loss until a refereeing error ended the bout in a no contest. Motta is now badly in need of a victory, but the UFC’s matchmaking has not set him up for success with his latest assignment, as he takes on an Australian newcomer in Nolan.

Still just 23 years old, Nolan was a standout of the 2023 edition of Dana White’s Contender Series, putting in an electric performance in a quick win to earn a contract. It was by far the best win of Nolan’s career, but it looked similar to his most successful outings on the regional scene. “Big Train” is a massive lightweight with some diverse and powerful offense, but at this point, defense seems purely optional. Nolan could run into a loss against someone who can consistently outwrestle him or hit him hard enough for a knockout, and Motta figures to test that latter point. Given Motta’s offensive firepower and shaky durability, this seems to be a race to see which lightweight can knock the other out first. With Motta’s more passive performance in his last fight and Nolan’s youthful aggression, it seems like the UFC newcomer is the likelier bet to land the first big shot. The pick is Nolan via first-round knockout.

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