3Arena, Dublin, Ireland, 25th October, card scheduled to begin at 3:45am AEDST
THE UFC makes its way back to Ireland for just the third time in franchise history for UFC Fight Night 76.
The fight was slated to have Irish native Joseph Duffy facing off against Dustin Poirier, but Duffy sustained a concussion just three days before the event.
The UFC released a statement:
“Due to a medical issue involving UFC lightweight Joe Duffy, the new main event of UFC FIGHT NIGHT in Ireland on Saturday will be a three-round bout featuring hometown hero Paddy Holohan vs. Louis Smolka,” the UFC statement read.
“Having learned that Duffy received a strike to the head during training earlier this week, UFC sent him for medical tests in Ireland for precautionary purposes. The results determined that Duffy suffered a mild concussion and due to the proximity of the fight this Saturday UFC will not permit him to compete.”
The late withdrawal of Duffy opens the door for Irish flyweight Paddy Holohan to headline his first UFC event, facing off against American Louis Smolka.
The UFC Irish crowds have been notoriously patriotic in the past, so Smolka can expect a hostile reception when he takes to the octagon on Sunday.
UFC Fight Night 76 odds:
Paddy Holohan (12-1-1 MMA, 3-1 UFC) $1.91 @ WilliamHill.com.au
Louis Smolka (9-1 MMA, 3-1 UFC) $1.87 @ WilliamHill.com.au
William Hill has the fight almost 50/50, with neither man taking a decisive advantage into the fight in the eyes of the bookies.
The Road to Dublin:
After the late omission of headliner Joseph Duffy, both Louis Smolka and Paddy Holohan were thrust into the spotlight.
American native Smolka believes it is all part of the forever changing landscape that is the UFC.
“It’s been an emotionally rollercoaster,” Smolka said.
“It’s typical fight week, right? A lot of changes happening, people getting injured, whatever – whatever the case may be I’m just ready to go out there and do my job.”
Smolka is taking the situation in his stride and will not change his preparation to the fight, despite moving up the card.
“It’s still the same approach, I’m still the same guy and we’re going to do the exact same thing,” Smolka said.
“But it is nice to be the main event; it’s pretty cool.”
Despite not being one of the highest profile atheletes in the sport, Smolka intends on making a name for himself at UFC Fight Night 76.
“I don’t really know what to tell you. I’m pretty unpredictable – that’s my style. I just do things that you’re not expecting, that you’re not ready for and my entire style. I like to push the pace and I’m here to fight, I’m here to finish.”
The man who will be fighting in front of his home crowd, Paddy Holohan, spoke of the significance of fighting back in his native country.
“The further I go away from Ireland, it feels like the weaker I get. I’ve no problem admitting that.” Holohan said.
“When I travel away from Ireland it’s like the water is different, the food is different.
“When I’m in Ireland I never get sick.”
Holohan believes it was his destiny to move up from the undercard to the main event after the success he has experienced during his time with the UFC.
“I feel it could have been done from the start … I’m happy” Holohan said of moving to the main event.
“I’m excited to be leading the pack … it’s exciting from going to the prelims and blowing the roof off the place to co-headling the main event, I must be doing something right”
Holohan also had no doubts in his mind as to why the UFC moved his bout up to the main event.
“I think Louis Smolka thinks he has something to do with getting that place on the card, but he doesn’t.
He’s co-main event because I’m on the card”
Who will win and why:
Odds provided by Sportsbet.com.au
Winner of the bout: Paddy Holohan $1.91
Number of rounds: Under 2.5 $2.50
The new main event for Fight Night 76 sees Ireland’s Paddy Holohan facing off against American Louis Smolka in a flyweight battle in 3Arena, Dublin.
The 27 year old Holohan holds a 12-1-1 professional record, with over half of his victories coming by way of submission.
The Irishman has won five of his last six bouts, with his last fight in July going the way of Holohan over Vaughn Lee via decision.
Holohan possesses an unpredictable style which can throw opponents off their game, with a high risk, high reward fight game allowing both the ability to land a killer blow and the capacity to be knocked out.
Louis Smolka’s statistics read surprisingly similar, with a 9-1 professional record; just under half of which came by way of submission.
Smolka’s last fight was also in July, coming by way of decision over Neil Serry.
The American has fantastic length that allows him to keep a distance between himself and his opponent, while possessing a terrific ground game.
The 24 year old is comfortable on his feet or on his back and is a formidable fighter on the rise in the flyweight division.
This bout looms as a true toss of the coin, with both men possessing a wide ranging arsenal of skills and a similar number of fights and experience.
It is tough to go against Paddy Holohan in Dublin though, with a partisan crowd sure to give the home town hero the decisive edge needed to overcome the talented American Smolka.
Other fights on the card
Odds provided by Sportsbet.com.au
Bubba Bush ($1.37) vs. Garreth McLellan ($3.11)
Darren Elkins ($1.67) vs. Robert Whiteford ($2.22)
Cathal Pendred ($2.94) vs. Tom Breese ($1.40)
Aisling Daly ($1.75) vs. Ericka Almeid ($2.07)
Krzysztof Jotko ($2.14) vs. Scott Askham ($1.71)
Jon Delos Reyes ($2.28) vs. Neil Seery ($1.63)
Norman Parke ($1.34) vs. Reza Madadi ($3.08)
Michael Lebout ($5.10) vs. Stevie Ray ($1.17)
Nicolas Dalby ($1.71) vs. Darren Till ($2.14)
