On August 2, UFC on ESPN 71 will take place in Las Vegas, headlined by a flyweight bout between Tatsuro Taira and Hyun Sung Park, while the co-main event will feature a lightweight clash between Chris Duncan and Mateusz Rebecki. The card also includes appearances by Andrey Pulyaev, Neil Magny, Esteban Ribovics, and others. TelecomAsia Sport breaks down the most anticipated fights of the upcoming event.
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Tatsuro Taira vs. Hyun Sung Park
Initially, the Japanese fighter was scheduled to face Amir Albazi. However, Albazi pulled out at the last minute due to not receiving medical clearance. South Korean Hyun Sung Park stepped in on very short notice to take the fight.
Tatsuro Taira is currently ranked sixth in the flyweight division, whereas Park is not even in the top 15. This makes the fight a riskier one for Taira but a massive opportunity for Park. However, bookmakers believe Park doesn’t stand much of a chance—not just because of the short notice but also due to his lack of experience. Park has had only three UFC fights, and not against high-level opposition.
Taira, on the other hand, has already proven himself. Take his most recent fight, for example—though he lost by split decision, he held his own against top contender Brandon Royval in a five-round battle. For comparison, Park has only gone beyond the second round once in his entire career. That’s why Taira is expected to live up to the pre-fight predictions.
Likely outcome: Taira wins via technical knockout.
Mateusz Rebecki vs. Chris Duncan
There’s intrigue in the co-main event, where Polish fighter Mateusz Rebecki faces Scotland’s Chris Duncan. In his last outing, Rebecki defeated the well-rounded Myktybek Orolbaiand previously finished the tough Loik Radzhabov with strikes. Duncan’s record tells a different story. Yes, he has a few wins in the UFC, but the level of his opponents is questionable. He was knocked out in Dana White’s Contender Series by Viacheslav Borshchev, who hasn’t exactly excelled in the UFC, and Duncan’s UFC victories haven’t come against particularly impressive names.
However, Duncan does have a size advantage—he's 10 cm taller with a 14 cm reach advantage.
Though Scottish, Duncan prefers to wrestle, even though most of his wins come by technical knockout. In this fight, his key to victory is using his reach and keeping the fight at distance. Wrestling with the shorter Rebecki may not work well, especially given Duncan’s inferior grappling stats—his takedown accuracy is just 43%, whereas Rebecki completes 75% of his takedowns.
Rebecki is the more well-rounded fighter, dangerous both on the feet and on the ground. That’s why he’s the favorite.
Likely outcome: Rebecki wins by decision.
Esteban Ribovics vs. Elves Brener
This lightweight fight promises to be a thrilling and dangerous encounter between two fighters who love to brawl—Esteban Ribovics and Elves Brener.
Brener started his career as a jiu-jitsu specialist, earning most of his pre-UFC victories via submissions. But in the UFC, he’s focused more on striking—he finished Guram Kutateladze and knocked out Kaynan Kruschewsky. Still, his boxing is quite raw—his technique needs refinement, his defense is full of holes, and he absorbs over five strikes per minute.
Ribovics, by contrast, is a more complete fighter. He can strike with combinations, moves well, and incorporates wrestling. But he has the same issue: the Argentine absorbs nearly six significant strikes per minute, which is a dangerous stat.
The real intrigue here isn’t who will be more active, but who will survive the first serious exchange. The stats show both fighters throw a lot and absorb even more—so a quick finish is highly likely.
Likely outcome: the third round won’t begin.
Neil Magny vs. Elizeu Zaleski dos Santos
A battle of veterans awaits in the welterweight division. Neil Magny is a seasoned UFC fighter with an impressive resume but has been on a decline—three losses in his last four fights. Elizeu Zaleski dos Santos, a Brazilian capoeira master with knockout power, hasn’t had much success recently either, recording one win, one draw, and two losses.
Magny has always relied on volume, cardio, and clinch work. But in recent years, his ability to absorb shots has deteriorated (he’s suffered five knockout losses), and his reflexes are visibly fading. Zaleski, despite his age, remains dangerous, with snapping punches and sharp timing. If the fight turns into a clinch-heavy grind, Magny might have a chance to win by decision. But realistically, his durability is no longer reliable. Zaleski still has the tools to finish fights.
Likely outcome: Zaleski dos Santos wins via technical knockout.
Nick Klein vs. Andrey Pulyaev
In one of the prelims, two fighters who recently debuted in the UFC will meet, both eager to stand out among a sea of fresh faces. Nick Klein lost his first UFC fight by knockout to Mansur Abdul-Malik, while Andrey Pulyaev lost a decision to Christian Leroy Duncan.
Klein’s base is wrestling, and he feels more confident there. He’s equipped with solid takedowns and ground control, but he eats a lot of strikes in stand-up exchanges.
Pulyaev, on the other hand, prefers to work from distance. He is significantly taller than his opponent and can outpoint him from range. However, the Russian’s defense is also lacking—he absorbs plenty of shots. In his debut, Pulyaev looked cautious and didn’t fully unleash his offensive potential. It’s still hard to say how well he can adapt to UFC-level competition.
Stylistically, the fight is intriguing: if Klein can get Pulyaev to the mat and control him, he has a strong chance to win by decision.
Likely outcome: Klein wins by decision.
These are the key matchups expected at UFC on ESPN 71. Don’t miss this event—it could deliver plenty of surprises for MMA fans.
