5 contenders for the Fight of the Night award at UFC 272

Could Kevin Holland produce the Fight of the Night against Alex Oliveira this weekend?

This weekend sees UFC 272 take place, and while this major pay-per-view has lost its initially planned co-headliner, it’s still an excellent card overall.

Most importantly, UFC 272 is packed with fights that could produce some genuine fireworks inside the octagon, meaning there are a number of potential Fight of the Night candidates.

Iconic 📸

[ @EdsonBarbozaJr | #UFC272 | Saturday | Live on ESPN+ PPV: ufc.ac/3K36d8R ] https://t.co/OO3b3NmNyh

Which two fighters are most likely to come away with a $50k bonus for the Fight of the Night? It’s hard to say, but there are certainly some likely possibilities.

Here are five contenders for the Fight of the Night award at UFC 272.

#5. Rafael dos Anjos vs. Renato Moicano – UFC catchweight bout

Renato Moicano will be hoping to make the most of a late notice opportunity when he takes on Rafael dos Anjos this weekend

Given that Renato Moicano has taken this bout with Rafael dos Anjos on less than a week’s notice – necessitating the UFC to change it from a lightweight fight to a 160 lb catchweight one – there’s every chance that it could be over quickly.

Moicano could simply be too ill-prepared for an opponent of his compatriot's standard, or he could well catch ‘RDA’ unawares and take him out in the early going.

However, there’s also a chance that this co-headliner could produce something special. Both Brazilian fighters are aggressive to a fault, and given they both possess excellent submission games, neither man is likely to attempt to blanket the other on the ground.

Renato Moicano put the squeeze on him and forces the tap! 👋

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In fact, dos Anjos and Moicano are likely aware that if this fight hits the deck, their grappling abilities will simply cancel each other out.

This means that we could be in for a brawl on the feet, something that both fighters have become accustomed to over the years. Furthermore, given Moicano’s late notice and the possibility that he might get tired, the fight could descend into a sloppy brawl. Things could become even more fun then.

So, while this fight isn’t as good as dos Anjos’ initially planned clash with Rafael Fiziev, there’s still a chance it will produce a Fight of the Night contender.