Stephanie Egger vs Irina Alekseeva 4/29/2023 Previews, Tips and Expert Picks
Stephanie Egger is a skilled athlete who boasts an impressive judo record. She made the transition to mixed martial arts in 2016 and made her UFC debut in 2020. Since then, the 34-year-old has earned a respectable 3-2 record. In 2022, she fought three times, losing only once by submission to Mayra Bueno Silva in August. Egger has earned one performance of the night award in the promotion for her submission of Jessica-Rose Clark.
In comparison, Irina Alekseeva won three fights in just two months before suffering a defeat against Liliya Kazak in December 2019. She was inactive until her Bellator debut in October 2020, where she defeated Stephanie Page in a grueling battle. The 32-year-old Russian fighter, who is also known as the “Russian Ronda,” has a background in judo and sambo. Despite her grappling background, she has displayed striking ability with her powerful punches and decent body kicks. Alekseeva has won Russian and European gold medals at Sambo Worlds and is a three-time silver medalist at the Russian Judo Championships.
On Saturday, Egger and Alekseeva will face off in a highly anticipated 135-pound matchup. Egger stands at 5’6″ with a reach of 68″ and boasts a record of 11-3, while Alekseeva stands at 5′ 8 ” with a reach of 66″ and has a record of 4-1. Stephanie Egger, with a record of 8-3, had a short-notice UFC debut against Tracy Cortez, which unfortunately ended in a decision loss, breaking her three-fight winning streak. However, she managed to bounce back and win three of her next four fights in the Octagon, with all of those victories coming via stoppages. One of these stoppages was an armbar finish of Jessica-Rose Clark, for which she received “Performance of the Night” honors.
Stephanie Egger vs Irina Alekseeva 4/29/2023 Previews, Tips and Expert Picks
Egger’s professional MMA record shows that she has an even number of submissions and knockouts, with four each. Irina Alekseeva, on the other hand, started her professional MMA career with a bang, winning three fights in two months. Unfortunately, she suffered a loss to Liliya Kazak in Dec. 2019, after which she went on a 22-month hiatus before making her Bellator debut, which she won by grinding out a tough victory over Stephanie Page. The 32-year-old fighter, known as “Russian Ronda”, has a background in both judo and sambo, and her record stands at 4-1. She is known for her powerful punches and body kicks, and the upcoming bout against Egger will mark the end of her 18-month layoff.
In the last 18 months, a lot can change in the world of mixed martial arts. However, based on their previous performances, it seems that Irina Alekseeva may struggle against Stephanie Egger in their upcoming bout. While Alekseeva has an impressive background in judo, Egger seems to be the better clinch artist and a much bigger threat to submit her opponent.
Although Alekseeva has some power in her boxing and decent body kicks, it is unlikely that she can avoid being overpowered by Egger inside the cage. Egger has proven herself to be more effective in close-range combat, which is Alekseeva’s preferred style, and Alekseeva doesn’t seem to have any other effective strategies. Overall, it’s likely that Egger will either submit Alekseeva or knock her out in the first two rounds.
Event: UFC Women’s Bantamweight
Date : Saturday, April 29, 2023,
Time : Preliminary Card (ESPN2, ESPN+ at 4 p.m. ET)
Main Card (ESPN+ at 7 p.m. ET)
Location : UFC Apex in Las Vegas, Nevada
Where to watch : ESPN2/ESPN+
Prediction : Egger via second round submission
