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UFC Fight Night Predictions: Royval vs. Taira - Cory McKenna vs Julia Polastri Preview

On October 12, 2024, UFC Fight Night: Royval vs. Taira at the UFC APEX in Las Vegas, NV will feature an exciting women's strawweight bout between Cory McKenna and Julia Polastri. Both fighters are looking to solidify their standing in the division, with McKenna aiming to bounce back from a recent submission loss and Polastri looking to rebound after a tough decision loss to Josefine Knutsson. This matchup promises to be an intense battle of styles, with both competitors bringing different strengths into the octagon.

As always, KingPin Pro is your #1 source for MMA predictions and analysis. Check out my Tafa vs Sharaf Article Prediction for more fight breakdowns from this event.

 

Fighter Backgrounds

Cory McKenna

Cory McKenna, known as “Poppins,” hails from Wales and fights out of Team Alpha Male. With a professional record of 8-3-0, McKenna is a versatile fighter with victories by both knockout and submission. Standing at 5'3" and fighting at 115 pounds, McKenna has shown promise in her UFC career. Her last fight ended in a first-round submission loss to Jaqueline Amorim in March 2024, but McKenna has the skill set to bounce back quickly. Notable wins include a unanimous decision victory over Cheyanne Vlismas and a submission win against Miranda Granger.

McKenna is known for her grappling and ability to control the pace of the fight on the ground. Training under the guidance of UFC veterans at Team Alpha Male, she has continuously sharpened her wrestling and submission skills. McKenna’s tenacity and aggressive style make her a dangerous opponent in the strawweight division.

Julia Polastri

Julia Polastri, fighting out of CWB Fighter in Brazil, brings an impressive record of 12-4-0. Known by her nickname “Psycho,” Polastri is a fierce competitor who has earned multiple wins by knockout and submission. Standing at 5'2", Polastri uses her compact frame to generate power in her strikes and has been effective in finishing opponents. However, she is coming off a unanimous decision loss to Josefine Knutsson at UFC Fight Night in June 2024.

Polastri’s biggest strength lies in her aggressive striking, as evidenced by her four knockout victories. Additionally, she’s no slouch on the ground, with a solid submission game. She’ll look to impose her will early against McKenna, aiming to avoid the takedowns and grappling exchanges that have proven to be troublesome in past bouts.

Fighting Styles and Strengths

Cory McKenna

McKenna is a well-rounded fighter with a focus on grappling and ground control. Her wrestling, combined with an aggressive submission game, allows her to dictate where the fight takes place. While she’s capable on the feet, McKenna’s biggest threat comes from her ability to secure takedowns and work for submissions, as seen in her submission victory over Miranda Granger.

In her fight against Cheyanne Vlismas, McKenna showcased her ability to pressure her opponent and control the pace of the fight. She'll need to employ a similar strategy against Polastri, who presents a different set of challenges with her striking.

Julia Polastri

Polastri is primarily a striker with knockout power, but she has shown versatility in her ground game as well. Her aggressive style makes her dangerous in exchanges, and she has the ability to end fights quickly, as seen in her knockout win against Jessica Delboni. Polastri will need to keep the fight standing and use her striking to fend off McKenna’s takedown attempts.

While Polastri’s submission game is solid, she has struggled against opponents with strong grappling skills, such as Jasmine Jasudavicius and Josefine Knutsson. Polastri’s path to victory lies in her ability to land heavy strikes early and prevent McKenna from dragging the fight to the ground.

Recent Performances and Fight Analysis

Cory McKenna

McKenna’s last fight against Jaqueline Amorim didn’t go as planned, as she was submitted in the first round. However, McKenna has shown resilience in the past, bouncing back from losses with improved performances. Her submission victory over Miranda Granger in 2022 highlighted her ability to adjust and implement a ground-heavy game plan, something that could be crucial against Polastri.

McKenna’s ability to mix up her striking and grappling gives her multiple pathways to victory. Against Polastri, she’ll likely look to secure takedowns early and avoid prolonged striking exchanges where her opponent excels.

Julia Polastri

Polastri is coming off a tough decision loss to Josefine Knutsson, where she struggled to deal with Knutsson’s range and control. Prior to that, Polastri had an impressive run, including a submission win over Patricia Alujas on Dana White’s Contender Series. Polastri’s best performances come when she can dictate the pace with her striking, and she’ll look to do the same against McKenna.

Polastri’s key to success will be avoiding the takedown and keeping the fight standing, where she can use her power and aggressive striking to outwork McKenna.

Odds and Betting Information

Fighter	Odds
Cory McKenna	-160
Julia Polastri	+130

McKenna enters the fight as the favorite with odds of -160, while Polastri is the underdog at +130. McKenna’s grappling and UFC experience give her the edge, but Polastri’s striking makes her a live underdog in this matchup.

Keys to Victory

Cory McKenna

• Use Grappling to Control the Fight: McKenna’s grappling is her strongest asset. If she can secure takedowns and maintain top control, she can nullify Polastri’s striking.
• Push the Pace: McKenna needs to pressure Polastri early and force her into defensive grappling exchanges. The more time Polastri spends defending, the less time she has to utilize her dangerous striking.

Julia Polastri

• Keep the Fight Standing: Polastri’s best chance at victory is on the feet. She needs to avoid McKenna’s takedowns and use her superior striking to wear her down.
• Land Early Power Shots: Polastri has knockout power, and landing early could set the tone for the fight. She should aim to hurt McKenna in the opening exchanges and force her onto the back foot.

Prediction