Preview: UFC Fight Night 196 Prelims

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Bantamweights

NR | Jonathan Martinez (13-4, 4-3 UFC) vs. NR | Zviad Lazishvili (8-0, 0-0 UFC)

ODDS: N/A

Martinez has slowly been making his way up the bantamweight ladder, even if it has been a frustrating ride. He was a relatively blank slate heading into his 2018 UFC debut, but he has wound up developing a patient style centered around staying at range and picking his spots for bursts of violence. Against the right opponents, Martinez can look quite sharp, but there are fights where that approach just does not click at all. He was frustratingly patient in a split decision loss to Andre Ewell early in 2020, and Martinez’s last fight saw him get clipped by Davey Grant for a second-round knockout. After a bunch of reshuffling, Martinez looks for a rebound against a Georgian newcomer. Lazishvili was briefly under contract last month before an injury took him out of a different late-replacement spot, and he is worth bringing back. Since a four-year hiatus from the sport during which he relocated stateside, Lazishvili has proven to be an interesting wrestler and grappler, earning the Legacy Fighting Alliance bantamweight title after just two fights. He represents an interesting challenge for Martinez as a dedicated grinder, particularly as a clear stylistic changeup from the Factory X’s last few slated opponents. However, the bet is that Martinez can do enough to survive on the mat while clearly making up the difference as the superior striker with the more proven gas tank. The pick is Martinez via decision.