Preview: UFC on ESPN 47 Prelims

Light Heavyweights

Modestas Bukauskas (14-5, 2-3 UFC) vs. Zac Pauga (6-1, 1-1 UFC)

ODDS: Bukauskas (-200), Pauga (+170)

It may not be that entertaining in practice, but perhaps one of these two light heavyweights can show some new wrinkles and move up the ladder. Bukauskas initially came to the UFC in 2020 with a solid amount of hype, owing to a highly successful regional career, but it was a bit unclear how “The Baltic Gladiator” would fare moving up a level. Bukauskas certainly was a solid enough prospect, but a lot of his approach revolved around using his size and physical gifts to survive against less talented opposition, eventually finding a way to a finish through sheer attrition. Once he made it to the UFC, he struggled to separate himself from opponents at more athletic parity, culminating in a one-sided loss to Khalil Rountree that saw “The Ultimate Fighter” graduate blow apart Bukauskas’ knee. He has since made a full recovery, and after racking up a few wins on the regional scene, Bukauskas got the call back from the UFC as a late replacement in February and outpaced Tyson Pedro for a decision win. Bukauskas has improved a bit on the margins, but this was still another fight that essentially came down to his ability to stay consistent and allow his opponent to implode. He will look to stay undefeated in his UFC comeback against Pauga, another fighter whose greatest strength seems to be his consistency. A former football player, Pauga is a late comer to mixed martial arts but has impressed by that standard thus far. A career light heavyweight, he was one of the better talents on the 2022 heavyweight season of “The Ultimate Fighter” before losing in the final to Mohammed Usman. Pauga can do a little bit of everything in unspectacular fashion and has at least shown an ability to fight behind a correct approach. While it was ugly to watch, his last win saw him grind out and completely neutralize a dangerous striker in Jordan Wright. Bukauskas is a bit more potent, but also more reliant on his opponents going away, and it does not seem likely that Pauga is going to oblige. The pick is Pauga via decision.

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