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Women’s Strawweights

Josefine Lindgren Knutsson (7-0, 1-0 UFC) vs. Julia Polastri (12-3, 0-0 UFC)

ODDS: Knutsson (-225), Polastri (+185)

Knutsson finally got the UFC call in September after already proving she was ready for the big time. Knutsson had earned clear wins on both the “Road to UFC” series and the Contender Series but was passed over for a contract both times. Admittedly, Knutsson’s style isn’t the most exciting. She can throw out offense at a decent clip but surprisingly isn’t much of a knockout threat, despite her ability to grind out wins in the clinch. Still, the UFC has signed much worse fighters in the past. At any rate, the company wound up needing Knutsson in the fold just weeks after her win on DWCS, as she stepped in as a late replacement for her UFC debut. Knutsson’s win over Marnic Mann was the same double-edged sword as usual, with the Swede dominating but not finishing. Next up is Polastri, a UFC newcomer. Polastri’s first outing on the Contender Series didn’t go particularly well in 2021, even though that was a bit expected. Jasmine Jasudavicius turned out to be a solid fighter at the UFC level, but beforehand, she was an oversized flyweight facing a former atomweight in Polastri, so it’s unsurprising she controlled their fight at will. Polastri has impressed back down at 115 pounds, fighting with a scrappy game that has overwhelmed her opponents, including her submission win on the Contender Series in September to earn a contract. Polastri’s a credible opponent, but she looks like another fighter that Knutsson can neutralize in her usual style. It might not be pretty, but the pick is Knutsson via decision.

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