Devin Clark will fight Kennedy Nzechukwu on the preliminary card of UFC 288. The light-heavyweight fight is scheduled for 3 rounds and will present the fighters an opportunity to show off their skills to the fans.
Kennedy Nzechukwu is coming off a win over Ion Cutelaba in his last fight. Due to Derrick Lewis vs Sergey Spivak being canceled, the bout between Nzechukwu and Cutelaba was promoted to the main event in November 2022. It lasted two rounds and Nzechukwu got the win at the 1:02 minute mark when he landed a flying knee. While the prelims spot seems like a downgrade for Kennedy, the slot generally has a wide range of fans tuning in to witness the action before a PPV.
Nzechukwu vs. Clark
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Devin Clark, on the other hand, beat Jung Da-un in his last bout in February 2023. However, he has only two wins and three losses in his last five contests. While he has wins over Alonzo Menifield, William Knight, and Mike Rodríguez, Clark has lost to elite fighters whenever he took the next step in his career.
Devin fell short against the likes of Jan Błachowicz, Aleksandar Rakic, Ryan Spann, and Anthony Smith. So who wins between Clark and Nzechukwu this weekend? Let’s find out.
UFC 288: Kennedy Nzechukwu vs Devin Clark, Stats
| Stats | Kennedy Nzechukwu | Devin Clark |
|---|---|---|
| Wins | 11 | 14 |
| Losses | 3 | 7 |
| Height | 1.96 m | 1.83 m |
| Division | Light Heavyweight | Light Heavyweight |
| Reach | 210.8 cm | 190.5 cm |
| Age | 33 | 33 |
Nzechukwu vs Clark: Fight Breakdown
Devin Clark has an MMA record of 14-7 with 4 KO/TKOs and 1 submission win. He made his UFC debut in July 2016, against Alex Nicholson. He has a UFC record of 8 wins and 7 losses. According to UFC Stats, Clark employs a grappling-heavy approach. He lands 2.36 takedowns per fight and only manages 2.91 strikers per minute. He also absorbs 2.71 strikes in return, which contributes to his 3 KO losses.
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Kennedy Nzechukwu, on the other hand, has an MMA record of 11-3. He made his UFC debut in March 2019, following a stunning win over Dennis Bryant at Dana White’s Contender Series. All 3 of his professional losses have come in the UFC. He has lost to Paul Craig, Jung Da-un, and Nicolae Negumereanu. Hence, the last two wins over Karl Roberson and Ion Cuțelaba were crucial for his UFC run.
In contrast to Devin Clark, Kennedy Nzechukwu is much more of a striker. He lands 4.63 strikes per minute and secures 0.74 takedowns per contest. While his offensive grappling may not be as good, Nzechukwu does hold 80% takedown defense. Hence, it is a classic striker vs grappler fight, which has the promise to be an immensely entertaining bout.
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On paper, Kennedy Nzechukwu seems to be the favorite as he has less mileage. Clark’s chin is also questionable, which works out in Kennedy’s favor.
