UFC Fight Night: Paige VanZant and Michelle Waterson promise an exciting Sacramento showdown

This weekend’s UFC Fight Night, in Sacramento, California, will serve up four main card bouts with two of Team Alpha Male’s most recognisable faces appearing in what will be another fast-paced and entertaining night of mixed martial arts. The main event will pit two of the UFC’s fastest rising female stars against each other as Michelle “The Karate Hottie” Waterson looks up the rankings from her number 11 spot to take on Paige VanZant for her 7th ranked position. Neither fighter likes to give an inch and both have a variety of skills they are confident in using.

VanZant had already made a lot of noise in the Octagon, winning her first three bouts, including a very impressive performance last year over veteran Felice Herrig, at UFC Fight Night: Machida vs. Rockhold. Her stock rose considerably though, when she appeared on popular American TV show, Dancing with the Stars, having considerable success and eventually finishing in second place. In her next two fights however, she went 1-1, losing to a tough and aggressive Rose Namajunas just over a year ago, who was on excellent form that evening. She rebounded with a dramatic knockout over Bec Rawlings in August, and is now set to face a talented Karate specialist with a diverse ground game, in her team’s hometown.

Michelle Waterson came onto the radar of most MMA fans during her time in the all-female show, Invicta FC. She arrived there with a record of 9-3, dropped to atom weight (105lbs), and went on to beat UFC veteran Jessica Penne for the division title in April 2013. As well as fierce fighting skills and a determination to do damage, her movie star looks and martial arts skills could see her step into the film industry if she decides on seeking an alternative source of income. With the UFC world title in reachable distance for a lot of these ladies, it’s no surprise why a former champion is focused on a competitive career, at least for the time being.

A fight like this will surely be very competitive, with VanZant and Waterson both known for their tenacity. I see VanZant trying to force the kicking specialist into a boxing match and using her trademark Team Alpha Male scrambles to stay away from the submission skills of “The Karate Hottie”. With eight submissions on her record, Waterson will be confident at most ranges, but if she gets drawn into a close-quarter battle it could be a long night. VanZant shocks many people when she steps into the Octagon smiling like the newly crowned prom queen before going to war for 15 minutes in a Rock-em Sock-em type brawl.

There is a lot to be gained for both athletes, but at this stage in their career and with their level of popularity, a loss wouldn't be a massive setback. This tells me that both women will throw caution to the wind and deliver the fight that people are expecting, especially as they are sitting at the top of the card inspired by last weekend’s thrilling UFC 206. The stakes are slightly higher further down the card as VanZant's mentor and the founder of Team Alpha Male, Uriah Faber, will make his last walk to the Octagon. His opponent is another fan favourite with an all-or-nothing style: Brad “One Punch” Pickett.

Having campaigned in the UFC for some time and, before that the WEC, both Pickett and Faber are very familiar with one another. Already photographed smiling together poolside at the host hotel, this is not a battle of egos for status in the division. This is a battle between two gladiators of the lighter weight classes, that have helped spread the popularity of MMA around the world, and want to feel that glory one last time. Faber is obviously determined to go out on a win in front of his hometown fans. Brad Pickett is desperate to get back in the win column after a disappointing night in Manchester at UFC 204, where he was submitted in the first round by Iuri Alcantara.

The beauty of this contest is the amount of experience these two guys bring to the Octagon. Pickett has stepped into 37 professional contests, while Faber has 43 under his belt. That is a massive amount of knowledge to draw on. Many, many training camps spent refining technique and many opportunities to learn after disappointing performances. There is no question that these two gentlemen are in the twilight of their career, with Faber opting to bow out now, but there is also no doubt that they have a lot of fight left in them. This could easily steal the Fight of the Night award.

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The co-main event between “Super” Sage Northcutt and Mickey Gall is at the opposite end of the spectrum, as these two enthusiastic young men are hoping to be considered legends one day by the men that precede them on the card. Northcutt is a unique phenomenon and one that I have not quite yet figured out myself. He is talented, athletic, and extremely clean-cut. He is almost too perfect if that’s possible. He fell at an awkward hurdle the UFC set in front of him in his first welterweight bout, against Bryan Barberena at the start of the year, but if anything that made him more popular. The loss humanised him to the fans that were still on the fence and it tested the durability of his grin, which never faltered.

His ever-ready smile is strangely juxtaposed with his considerable skills as a fighter. At just 20 years old and with eight wins in nine bouts, he is still in the beginnings of his career. His potential is obvious, and if he can fulfil it then the UFC will be picking up the teenage girl, boyband-loving demographic in the coming years. He is as parent-friendly as prize-fighting gets and is the antithesis of his opponent, Mickey Gall. At only 3-0, Gall is clearly the underdog in terms of experience, but has felt a pressure that few have at this point in their career.

In his last bout at UFC 203 he welcomed famed pro-wrestler, CM Punk into a career in MMA, and less than half a round later had already handed him his first defeat. The bout garnered much interest and Gall stepped up to the challenge. He defeated Punk in a lopsided affair and picked up his third first round victory. Then, on the microphone in his post-fight interview, situated somewhere between TV-inappropriate language, he yelled, “I want WAR!”. The kid is tenacious and he most definitely has my attention. The question as to which one of these polar-opposites will be left standing at the final bell is as intriguing and unshakable as Northcutt’s smile.

Watch UFC Fight Night: VanZant vs. Waterson live on BT Sport 2 from 10pm GMT on Saturday, December, 17th or catch the Early Prelims on UFC Fight Pass from 8:30pm GMT