“Time flies when you’re having fun,” according to an age-old saying. While some people are out in search of the perfect present to fit underneath the tree this holiday season with only three weeks left until Christmas, MMA‘s top promotion, the UFC, has a holiday rush of its own going on.
Before going on a three-week winter break, Dana White and his staff have two more shows to hold. It starts this coming Saturday with the final pay-per-view event of 2024, UFC 310. T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, NV is the site for the last PPV before the calendar turns.
Live coverage begins with the early prelims at 6 pm ET/ 3 pm PT on UFC Fight Pass throughout the world and ESPN+ inside the United States of America, followed at 8 pm ET/ 5 pm PT on ESPN2 and ESPN+ with late prelims. Main card action caps the night at 10 pm ET/ 7 pm PT on ESPN+. All told, barring any 11th-hour postponements, UFC 310 features 14 fights.
Weidman Meets Anders in Featured Early Prelim Saturday Night
Our focus on this day is the featured bout in the early portion of the undercard this weekend. It’ll be a contracted catchweight affair at 195 lbs. pitting former UFC Middleweight Champion Chris Weidman (16-7 MMA, 12-7 UFC) against Eryk Anders (16-8, 1 NC MMA, 8-8, 1 NC MMA.)
These two men were originally scheduled to square off inside the famed UFC Octagon three weeks ago at Madison Square Garden in New York City during UFC 309, before the latter withdrew from the event right before the fight was to have taken place (illness.)
Fighter Comparison and Betting Odds
Heading into the card this weekend, Weidman stands as the taller man at 6-foot-2, compared to the 6-foot-1 frame of Anders. The former owns a three-inch reach advantage (78 inches to 75 inches) over the latter, who has a 1 1/2-inch leg reach advantage (43 1/2 inches to 42 inches).
Currently, the oddsmakers have this one listed as a pick-’em, with both fighters having -110 odds. If you plan on betting on this or any other fight this weekend, please wager responsibly.
Dissecting The Fighters: Chris Weidman
Chris Weidman enters UFC 310 on Saturday night having gone 2-3 over the course of his last five fights. Prior to the originally-scheduled contest against Anders on Nov. 16 in New York, he scored a technical unanimous decision victory over Bruno Silva (23-12 MMA, 4-6 UFC) in the third round on March 30 of this year when the fight was called due to eye pokes that dropped Silva to the mat.
In the months that followed the contest, Silva made an effort to appeal the original result before the New Jersey State Athletic Commission, one that was rejected this past June. As far as Weidman is concerned, the March 30 fight was his first time getting his hand raised since August of 2017.
Weidman Can Knock People Out
Numerically speaking, four of Weidman’s bouts have finished by way of strikes, including his fight against Mark Munoz in 2012. During the second round of that contest, after executing a takedown, Weidman scrambled to assume side control before landing some ground and pound shots, only for Munoz to escape. His opponent’s victory was ill-fated, however, due to Weidman landing an elbow and finishing Munoz on the ground.
As long as one crisp elbow lands, Weidman is in good shape on Saturday.
Looking at Eryk Anders
In the other corner, Eryk Anders has posted a mark of 2-3 in his own right over his last five bouts. Back in March, he bested Jamie Pickett (13-11 MMA, 2-7 UFC) during UFC Vegas 87 on ESPN+. Winning hasn’t been a habit for him of late, however.
Anders hasn’t experienced a sustained winning streak in MMA since he won 10 in a row at the outset of his professional career, so can he stay in the win column this Saturday night.
“Ya Boy” Aggressive on the Ground
Anders can be an explosive fighter if and when the contest reaches the canvas. A little more than two years ago, “Ya Boy” traveled to Orlando to face Kyle Daukaus, turning up the heat in round two.
Upon absorbing a kick to the leg at the start of the period, Anders landed a barrage of punches in the clinch before fighting off a Daukaus takedown attempt, chopping away with head shots. After the ref ordered Daukaus back up, Anders uncorked a left hand to wobble him again.
Another burst of ground and pound spelled the end of the bout. If Eryk Anders can put Chris Weidman down, it’ll be his world and we’re all living in it.
Final Thoughts
Don’t let the placement of this bout fool you. The UFC 310 featured prelim looks to be an entertaining three rounds (or less) of action.
Prediction: Eryk Anders by Second-Round Knockout.
