Mirsad Bektic vs Dan Ige: An Unforgiving Loss Looms For One

Mirsad Bektic vs Dan Ige: An Unforgiving Loss Looms For One

By James Lee

When Mirsad Bektic and Dan Ige face off on the main card of UFC 247 on Saturday, the stakes are extremely high for both. In actual fact, the momentum will only go one way with little chance of the loser ever getting back that same momentum.

For years now, the featherweight division has been one of the sport’s most talented and although both competitors are a by-product of that success, there isn’t enough room at the top for the both of them.

The talent pool is too deep to give a spot for both Bektic and Ige, which makes the contest extremely important.

Bektic began his UFC career with a four-fight win streak, before suffering a devastating defeat to Darren Elkins, after he dominated the majority of the fight against the Team Alpha Male competitor.

He won two more after that, including one over veteran Ricardo Lamas, but was finished in his last contest in July against another TAM fighter in Josh Emmett.

His recovery after the Elkins loss was exceptional, but the Emmett loss must sting. A win would have seen him rise into the top ten of the division, whereas now he finds himself unranked and back to square one.

Ige has had more success as of late and is currently on a four-fight win streak, but has yet to beat anybody of serious note.

Albeit his wins over Danny Henry and Kevin Aguilar were impressive, he requires a substantial step-up before he can make himself welcome and Bektic presents the first step of that.

However, a flood of talent are similarly looking to cement their spot at 145 lbs. Arnold Allen, Sodiq Yusuff, Ryan Hall and Hakeem Dawodu all look like the future of the division, alongside the young flood already at the top of the division in Max Holloway, Brian Ortega, Yair Rodriguez and Zabit Magomedsharipov. There is little room for error and unfortunately one will fall for that in Houston.

Ultimately, the sport and featherweight division is too unforgiving. The loser will struggle to ever regain momentum back which makes this fight one with some of the highest stakes on the pay-per-view card.