The upcoming UFC event is scheduled to take place at the T-Mobile Center on April 26th, featuring a fight card with several surprisingly good matchups.
Naturally, the main focus will be on the two fighters headlining the Kansas City event on Saturday night.
Some sharp comments from Ian Machado Garry directed at Carlos Prates have only heightened the anticipation for their welterweight striking clash.
Also on the main card, Nicolas Dalby returns for his 14th appearance in the Octagon to face Randy Brown. Dalby rejoined the promotion in 2019.
Known as ‘Danish Dynamite’, Dalby originally debuted in the UFC back in 2015. During that initial period, he fought Darren Till to a draw.
Nicolas Dalby Likens Randy Brown to Jon Jones Before Kansas City Bout
Both Nicolas Dalby and Randy Brown have established themselves as dynamic strikers in the welterweight division, a skillset expected to be on full display this weekend.
Each fighter boasts seven knockout victories, and both are looking to bounce back from recent split decision losses on April 26th.
While Dalby is the older and more seasoned competitor, the most significant visual difference between them in this fight is their size.
Standing 6’3” with a 78” reach, Brown is accustomed to being the larger fighter inside the cage. This will certainly be the case against the 5’11” Dalby.
During his interviews with the media, Dalby discussed the challenges Brown presents and his preparations for this in training camp.
Dalby compared ‘Rudeboy’ Brown’s distinct size and style to Jon Jones, widely regarded as the greatest fighter of all time, who has rarely faced opponents matching his physical advantages.
“He’s very unorthodox in the way that he’s got a frame. His size, his length, he’s kind of like the Jon Jones of welterweight in that regard.”
Dalby later joked that while he could find training partners in Copenhagen to mimic Brown`s style, he couldn`t successfully replicate the eye pokes often associated with Jones using his reach to keep opponents at bay.
“We found a bunch of guys in Copenhagen that were able to emulate his style. We couldn’t emulate the eye pokes, that’s the Jon Jones part I’m talking about. Of course, it’s difficult to. Maybe I should have gotten some safety goggles or something.”
Nicolas Dalby May Need to Turn the Fight into a Brawl Against Randy Brown
Although Nicolas Dalby is known for his agility and good footwork as a striker, closing the distance on an opponent like Randy Brown will always be a tough task.
One key strength the veteran Dalby possesses is the ability to turn a technical striking match into a messy fight, preventing himself from being picked apart from the outside.
In past bouts against fighters like Darren Till, Gabriel Bonfim, and his intense war with Ross Houston in Cage Warriors, Dalby has shown he has the heart to persevere through difficult moments.
He might need to make the fight ugly if Brown is finding success with his sharp boxing and reach advantage, despite Dalby`s extensive preparation for this specific challenge.
