When you think of an MMA fight night, you generally think of three nights on the weekly calendar. Usually, a fight night will occur on Thursday or Friday in the case of the PFL, Friday in the case of Bellator, or Saturday in the case of Cage Warriors and/or the UFC.
Ordinarily, Sunday is a night off for the sport as the fighters recuperate and rest up to heal from an aggressive week in training camp and the fans get ready for a new week at work beginning the next morning. On this particular Sunday, however, around all of the NFL action and the CFL’s Grey Cup Game, you’ve got fights to watch.
This weekend, the “Sunday Scaries” won’t be there for you. Instead, Anthony Pettis‘ APFC heads to Milwaukee for APFC 9: Milwaukee Fight Night 3.
Championship Doubleheader Begins with Featherweight Tilt in APFC 9 Co-Main Event
It all begins with the APFC 9 co-main event. A new APFC Featherweight Champion of the World is set to be crowned on Sunday night.
Either Motaz Askar (5-1 MMA, 1-0 APFC) or Ty Johnson (12-6 MMA, APFC promotional debut) will become the new king at 145 lbs. The APFC 9 co-main event is an advertised maximum of three rounds at five minutes per round from Milwaukee.
APFC wraps up 2023 with a BANG!!
We’re back in Milwaukee Sunday November 19th for our final show of the year.
15+ fights
Featuring special guest hosts Nate Diaz & CM Punk!
Watch live on UFC Fight Pass. pic.twitter.com/FaMZ1TBxSh
— APFC by Anthony Pettis (@anthonypettisfc) November 6, 2023
APFC 9 Co-Main Event Fighter Comparison
Heading into Sunday’s APFC 9 co-main event, both of these man stand 5-foot-7. Ty Johnson owns a 67.3-inch reach, with no such information accessible for Motaz Askar available at press time.
If you plan on betting on this or any other fight happening this weekend, please wager responsibly.
Motaz Askar Back in the Cage for Second Time in 2023 on Sunday
Motaz Askar enters the APFC 9 co-main event this Sunday having gone 4-1 over the course of his last five fights. At the present time, he’s on a two-fight winning streak.
Both of those wins have come inside the opening round of a fight, including his most recent victory on Sept. 3. On the eve of Labor Day, Askar had a quick night at the office, needing only nine seconds to stop James Pfeiffer (5-2 MMA, 0-1 APFC) with punches.
Sunday’s championship fight is Askar’s second appearance inside the cage this year. He’s had to deal with a number of cancellations of late.
All told, Askar has had to experience three opponent changes in his last two fights, including two changes for this particular card alone. A planned APFC Featherweight Championship fight against Josh Visel (7-3 MMA) was dropped for APFC 9, as was a title fight vs. Calvin Harbaugh (6-5 MMA).
Askar’s Goal: UFC Contract
It doesn’t matter who Motaz Askar’s fighting for the championship. His goals are clearly defined, telling INB Journalism that he wants a UFC deal.
“I’ve been trying to find fights and the only people who accept fights with me are good guys,” Askar said. “That’s fine. Obviously, that’s what I want. When I make it to the UFC, I’m only going to fight tough guys. I’m not going to run into guys who don’t know how to fight.”
With a victory here, Askar will be one step closer toward a UFC deal. Tune in and see what happens.
Ty Johnson Looking to Run Winning Streak to Seven
In the other corner, Ty Johnson has posted a perfect 5-0 record over his last five contests. At the moment, he’s on a six-fight winning streak.
Last time out, he scored a third-round knockout of James Settle (4-5, 1 NC MMA) in July. Johnson is a guy who’s a pretty tough man to beat once the cage door shuts.
Just check out some of his stats: Out of the six fights in his current winning streak, four have come inside the distance, and three of them have happened in the opening round of a fight.
Thus, it stands to reason that he’ll be putting all of his chips to the front of the poker table on Sunday in the APFC 9 co-main event.
Analysis, Film Study, and Prediction
Fight fans have another toss-up in the APFC 9 co-main event on Sunday. Both guys have been known to score the win in devastating fashion, but an edge has to be given to Johnson’s Brazilian jiu-jitsu background.
Motaz Askar Has One-Punch Power
You might want to get back from the refrigerator with your sandwich and drink of choice before Motaz Askar steps foot in the cage on Sunday. If you don’t, well, you might miss the whole fight, as was the case in September vs. Pfeiffer.
Right from the command to fight, Askar teed off with a barrage of strikes and punched his way to a win in nine seconds. In watching the playback of the fight at regular speed, you can see how quick of a fighter Askar really is, so if he comes out like a house on fire in the APFC 9 co-main event, it could be another quick night at the office.
Look for Johnson to Score the Submission
In the other corner, Ty Johnson is a submission specialist. Once he takes an opponent down to the mat, it could only be a matter of time before he forces the guy to tap out and go to sleep.
Jefry Roy found out the hard way in Fighting Force 10. Upon securing the takedown, Johnson hunted for an armbar, and even though it was not to come to fruition, he would not let up.
Johnson softened Roy up in order to apply the torque for a successful rear-naked choke in just over two minutes. He can neutralize Askar if he dumps him.
Final Thoughts
Although this title fight takes place against the backdrop of another NFL Sunday, the APFC 9 co-main event is one that shouldn’t be missed. With no other MMA on the schedule on Sunday, you have no excuses to skip this bout.
Prediction: Ty Johnson by First-Round Submission.
