Spain's Joel Álvarez faces Ukraine's Yaroslav Amosov at UFC 328 in Newark, in his second foray into the welterweight division. The fight, part of an event headlined by Chimaev and Strickland, will air in the early hours from Saturday to Sunday at 1:00 AM on MAX. Álvarez has described his preparation as an emotional roller coaster, emphasizing the importance of disconnecting to maintain calm and focus ahead of this appointment.
Technical strategy: distance control and fatigue management 🥊
To overcome Amosov, Álvarez must apply precise distance control, using his reach to avoid the Ukrainian's takedowns. Fatigue management will be key, as the welterweight pace demands calculated energy expenditure. The use of straight body shots and level changes can wear down Amosov, while the Spaniard must guard his defense against linear attacks. An approach based on patience and counterattacking seems the most solid path to securing his first victory in the new division.
The emotional roller coaster: with stops at the couch and the fridge 🍕
Álvarez says his preparation has been an emotional roller coaster. In other words, between sparring sessions he has had time to wonder whether to order a pizza or watch a series to disconnect. Because, of course, staying calm before fighting a former Bellator champion is achieved by watching episodes of El Hormiguero, not through transcendental meditation. Let's hope the fridge hasn't played a trick on him and he arrives at the right weight, without needing an express trip to the bathroom.