UFC 284 main card preview & best bets – Sunday, February 12

The main card for UFC 284 from RAC Arena in Perth is stacked with Australian talent looking to capitalise on the exposure of a rare event down under. Jack Della Maddalena is the highlight, and the youngster brings huge hype into his fight against Randy Brown. The Aussie is being touted as a future middleweight contender after just three fights at UFC level. Jimmy Crute, another local, will be desperate to secure a win after stumbling against some high-quality opposition in recent contests.

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Jack Della Maddalena (13-2-0) v Randy Brown (16-4-0)

Jack Della Maddalena (-333.33) has taken the MMA world by storm since making his UFC debut in January 2021. He punched his ticket via Dana White’s Contender Series and has notched three straight first round knockouts since joining the big league. Maddalena is a sniper, who throws punches with such accuracy and power that his opponents crumble. He is the shortest priced favourite on the main card but this match-up is no walk in the park and represents a big step up in class for the 26-year-old Aussie.

Randy Brown (+260) is a tall lanky athlete who enjoys a huge five-inch reach advantage in this match-up. He is also four inches taller than his opponent and comes in riding a four-fight win streak. Brown does not possess Maddalena’s devastating one punch power but throws a long, solid jab and looks to have an advantage on the mat if he can hold the powerful Aussie down. Brown has recorded five submission wins and owns a brown belt in BJJ. He will be under no pressure as the rank outsider and should relish the opportunity to derail the Maddalena hype train.

Justin Tafa (5-3-0) v Parker Porter (13-7-0)

Justin Tafa (-128.21) is a huge heavyweight who struggles to make the 265-pound limit. His UFC record is patchy but predictable. Tafa either lands a heavy shot early and scores a knockout, or tires badly in the second and third rounds to lose by decision. His defensive game is secondary and limited, but his offense is considered and effective. Tafa’s enormous legs make a stoppage via low kick a real possibility. If he can land some heavy kicks early, the punching opportunities should open up before the necessity of a second round.

Parker Porter (+105) is a journeyman of similar calibre and credential to Tafa. He has shared the octagon with Chris Daukas but has otherwise been matched with other non-ranked heavyweight opponents. He is more able to grind out a decision victory than Tafa and has three submission victories to his credit. If Porter can make it through the first round his should be able to finish the stronger. The question mark is his defence, which is also basic and reliant on toughness rather than skill.

Jimmy Crute (12-3-0) v Alonzo Menifield (13-3-0)

Jimmy Crute (-192.31) entered the UFC in 2018 with a perfect 8-0 record. He quickly racked up a pair of impressive stoppage victories and looked to be an exciting prospect. The hype has dimmed somewhat in recent times with three losses from his last five outings. Crute may have been rushed too quickly through the grades and his last two losses were to credentialled contender Anthony Smith, and current light heavyweight champ Jahamal Hill. Worryingly, both defeats were via first round doctor stoppages. Crute will be desperate to revive his career in front a packed home crowd and might be wise to return to his high quality submission game for this bout.

Alonzo Menifield (+155) is a hard-hitting knockout artist on a two-fight win streak. He also entered the UFC at 8-0 and has taken some time to find his feet at the top level. Menifield has won his last two bouts via impressive first round stoppage and looks to have a striking advantage over Crute. Like the heavyweight bout above, Menifield’s chances appear to hinge on landing big shots within the first five minutes, after which time his winning hopes diminish. Given that Crute has been knocked out early by his last two opponents, this outcome appears a distinct possibility.

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