Preview: UFC Fight Night 239 ‘Tuivasa vs. Tybura’

Women’s Bantamweights

#10 WBW | Macy Chiasson (8-3, 6-3 UFC) vs. #6 WBW | Pannie Kianzad (16-7, 5-4 UFC)

ODDS: Chiasson (-245), Kianzad (+200)

With the UFC increasingly open to rematches, the promotion runs back “The Ultimate Fighter” final from 2018 in this encounter. That fight saw Chiasson swamp Kianzad and score a second-round submission in a performance that still seems instructive five-plus years later, even though the latter is likely the more improved fighter during that time. That loss fell in line with a continuous issue throughout Kianzad’s career. She has done well to bring herself back from the brink after nearly flaming out as a prospect about a decade ago, but “Banzai” has found it difficult to be at her best in the face of physicality and pressure. She has added enough strength to win a grind where she could not before, and she has proven to be a sharp striker when given the time and space to work. However, given Kianzad’s complete lack of finishing ability, there are times when she finds herself unable to dig herself out of a hole from the jump, as was the case against Brazilian mauler Ketlen Vieira in July.

Meanwhile, Chiasson has shown more flashes of high-level potential in the years since her UFC debut, though there has been little in the way of consistency. Absolutely massive even at featherweight, Chiasson looked excellent in her first few UFC fights while running over her opposition, after which she hit a clear wall. Against better competition willing to stand up to her pressure, Chiasson has wound up in some sloppy grinds and usually been the first one to fold. Add in that her technical improvements have taken some of the edge off her aggression and that some added muscle puts her ability to cut to bantamweight in doubt—Chiasson’s last successful cut to the bantamweight limit was in 2021—and the vibes are not exactly great for “The Ultimate Fighter” winner at the moment, even if she seems poised to make a run up the division if everything clicks. With that said, Chiasson was successful enough as a bully the first time around that it is hard to pick Kianzad, even though the Swede figures to be a harder out in the rematch. The pick is Chiasson via decision.

Jump To »
Tuivasa vs. Tybura
Battle vs. Loosa
Nzechukwu vs. St. Preux
Dulgarian vs. Rodriguez
Chiasson vs. Kianzad
Meerschaert vs. Barberena
The Prelims