Preview: UFC on ESPN 15 ‘Munhoz vs. Edgar’ Main Card

Women’s Flyweights

Mariya Agapova (9-1) vs. Shana Dobson (3-4)

ODDS: Agapova (-1250), Dobson (+800)

She is still a while away from turning into a complete fighter, but Agapova is one of the more interesting prospects on the UFC’s flyweight roster. She was outwrestled handily by Tracy Cortez in her Dana White’s Contender Series showing in 2019, but Agapova rebounded with two performances that showed off her strong offensive repertoire. The UFC signed her earlier this year ahead of the promotion’s slated debut in her native Kazakhstan—plans that obviously did not come to fruition—and Agapova showed out in her debut, as the much smaller Hannah Cifers had little answer for everything she brought to the table. After the fight, Agapova called out Dobson for reasons that are not entirely clear, and the UFC surprisingly decided to put that fight together for this card. Dobson was a raw striker coming off her 2017 run on “The Ultimate Fighter,” and she has not had much momentum in the years since. In fact, she has lost her last three fights. Decision losses to Lauren Mueller and Sabina Mazo were fine enough performances, but she got caught by Priscila Cachoeira for a quick knockout in February that, frankly, figured to mark the end of her time inside the Octagon. However, she gets another chance here, and she could very well crack Agapova, who does not have much in the way of defensive care. Still, Agapova’s length and speed should make it hard for Dobson to get much done, and the Kazakh’s aggressive ground game should also serve her well whenever the fight winds up there. The pick is Agapova via first-round submission.

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