UFC Vegas 99: Jessica Penne vs. Elise Reed Preview

The highly anticipated UFC Vegas 99 is set to occur at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas on Saturday, October 19, 2024. One of the standout fights of the night features seasoned fighter Jessica Penne facing off against the younger Elise Reed. This matchup is expected to draw significant attention from mixed martial arts enthusiasts.

Jessica Penne enters the octagon with a professional record of 14 wins, 8 losses, and no draws. The 41-year-old fighter competes in the 115-pound weight class, standing at 5 feet 5 inches tall with a reach of 67 inches. Fighting in an orthodox stance, Penne has been known for her grappling skills, as evidenced by her ability to score a takedown 1.32 times every three rounds.

In her last fight, Penne was defeated by Tabatha Ricci via armbar submission during the second round. Throughout that bout, Penne managed to land a total of six significant strikes, reflecting a significant strike accuracy of 24%. Despite her loss, Penne’s proficiency in wrestling is notable, with a takedown accuracy of 21%.

Elise Reed, ten years younger than her opponent at 31, brings a record of 7 wins and 4 losses into the cage. With a height of 5 feet 3 inches and a reach of 63 inches, Reed fights in the same weight category as Penne. Known for her striking skills, Reed connects 2.66 significant strikes per minute at an accuracy rate of 49%, significantly higher than Penne’s 31%.

Reed recently faced Loopy Godinez, resulting in a loss due to a rear-naked choke in the second round. In that fight, Reed was able to land three significant strikes out of thirteen attempts. Her grappling defense showcases a 42% takedown defense rate, which she will likely need to bolster against Penne’s wrestling capabilities.

Another intriguing matchup on the card is between Melissa Martinez and Alice Ardelean. Martinez holds a record of 7-1-0 and fights at 115 pounds. As a southpaw fighter, she is 5 feet 2 inches tall with a 66-inch reach. Her opponent, Alice Ardelean, stands at 5 feet 3 inches with a record of 9 wins and 6 losses. She holds a slight advantage in takedown proficiency, attempting to secure a takedown twice every three rounds compared to Martinez’s once.

In striking terms, Martinez lands an average of 3.00 strikes per minute at 57% accuracy, whereas Ardelean lands 3.80 strikes per minute with a 54% accuracy rate. These statistics indicate a potentially close contest between the two fighters.

The fight night also features the seasoned Michel Pereira against Anthony Hernandez. Pereira, with a notable record of 31 wins, 11 losses, and 2 no contests, is set to enter the octagon against Hernandez, who boasts a record of 12 wins, 2 losses, and 1 no contest. Pereira is known for his striking capabilities, dishing out 5.16 strikes per minute and successfully defending 94% of takedown attempts against him.

Hernandez, at 185 pounds and 6 feet tall, aims to utilize his grappling skills, with a takedown success rate of 49%. He will face a tough challenge against Pereira, who measures 6 foot 1 inch and fights with a 73-inch reach.

As the fighters prepare to touch gloves, analysts are keeping a close eye on these matchups, with Elise Reed being the slight favorite against Jessica Penne at odds of -162.