Molly McCann vs. Julija Stoliarenko Prediction: Can Stoliarenko Make a Statement Against Meatball Molly?
This weekend at UFC Fight Night, Molly McCann takes on Julija Stoliarenko. Can Stoliarenko make a statement against Meatball Molly? UFC expert Ben Rajavuori breaks down this bout.
Ben Rajavuori - July 20, 2023, 3:36 PM EDT
5 minMolly McCann vs. Julija Stoliarenko Prediction: Can Stoliarenko Make a Statement Against Meatball Molly?
The UFC is back in London this weekend, where fans are eagerly awaiting the co-main event clash between Molly "Meatball" McCann and Julija Stoliarenko. While there may be a little bit of sarcasm in that statement, This matchup should bring some good action, as it brings together two fighters with contrasting styles and fortunes. McCann is being put on a stage by the UFC here, as she is in the co-main event, and they have given her an opponent they expect her to beat. As a result, she is a -220 favorite to take care of business on Saturday night.
Molly McCann vs. Julija Stoliarenko Date, Time, Where to Watch
Date: July 22, 2023
Time: 3:00 p.m. ET
Where: O2 Arena (ENG), London, England
Where to Watch: ESPN+
Molly McCann vs. Julija Stoliarenko Prediction
London fans will be excited this weekend to see Molly McCann, the beloved hometown hero from London. McCann has been a standout performer in front of her home crowd, and with the support of the passionate London fans, she'll be looking to get back on track after a tough loss to Erin Blanchfield in the US. Before that setback, McCann had put together a run of three consecutive victories, including two brutal knockout wins over Luana Carolina and Hannah Goldy.
McCann's strengths lie in her striking prowess, without a doubt. She's a brawler with heavier-than-average hands, and she's not afraid to throw wild flurries of overhands, hooks, and spinning elbows to bully her opponents. Her aggressive approach inside the cage has gotten fans on their feet, and she'll be looking to deliver another highlight-reel performance against Stoliarenko.
On the other side of the octagon stands Julija Stoliarenko, a tough fighter from Lithuania. However, the odds seem stacked against her in this matchup. Stoliarenko has struggled to find her footing in the UFC, currently holding a 1-4 record in the octagon. Her most recent outing saw her suffer a first-round stoppage at the hands of Chelsea Chandler.
The concern surrounding Stoliarenko revolves around her ability to make the 125-pound limit safely. She has previously fought at higher weight classes and even experienced issues cutting weight, forcing a fight cancellation in 2021. If she manages to make the weight and step into the cage, this move down will pay off, but if she has a bad cut, it could be devastating. The move down makes Stoliarenko a large flyweight, which can magnify her grappling advantage and strength. However, a bad weight cut will make her questionable chin even weaker. It's a gamble, but at 1-4 in the UFC, Stoliarenko is willing to make the gamble.
Stoliarenko is known for her dangerous armbar submissions, with all nine of her career submission victories coming via armbar. While her striking may not be her strong suit, her jiu-jitsu skills could pose a threat to McCann if she can get the fight to the mat. McCann has shown less-than-stellar takedown defense inside the octagon, so the opportunity will be there for Stoliarenko if she can time her attempts well.
The key to victory for McCann will be to control the center of the cage, utilizing her striking advantage and avoiding Stoliarenko's grappling game. If McCann can keep the fight on the feet and create chaos with her aggressive striking, she will surely hit the mark a lot in this fight and likely even shut Stoliarenko's lights out.
As for Stoliarenko, her best chance at victory lies in getting McCann to the ground, where she can get her jiu-jitsu skills going to search for the armbar finish or potentially another submission. This task may prove to be a challenging one, but McCann has been submitted twice in the UFC, so it is not an impossible one.
Considering all factors, it seems likely that this fight will end in the first round or two. McCann's aggressive nature and powerful striking, coupled with Stoliarenko's desire to finish quickly with her armbar submissions, create a recipe for an early stoppage. Stoliarenko's move down to 125 pounds shows she is "all in" and taking a gamble, and as I said earlier, that gamble either pays off in the grappling department or will expose her chin even more with a bad cut.
At the end of the day, I'm not as high on McCann, and I don't believe she should be a -220 favorite here, even though she has a striking advantage. I'm willing to take a stab on Stoliarenko to find the sub at a good price, but if that doesn't happen, this is surely a McCann KO win. The Oddsmakers knew exactly what they were doing when making this matchup. This is a layup for McCann on the feet, but she has not proven she can grapple at a high level yet.
Molly McCann vs. Julija Stoliarenko Picks
- McCann/Stoliarenko Under 2.5 Rounds -150 is currently the best odds. Click here to see which sportsbook has the best odds for this pick
- .5 Unit Pick: Stoliarenko by Submission +360 is currently the best odds. Click here to see which sportsbook has the best odds for this pick
UFC Odds
