Medkouri vs Neves: A Heavyweight Collision Headlines UAE Warriors 70
When Heavyweights Collide
The main event of UAE Warriors 70 delivers what combat sports fans crave most: two heavyweight finishers, both ascending, both dangerous, meeting at the moment their careers demand a defining victory. On May 8 at Space42 Arena, Badr Medkouri (9-2) of Morocco faces Eduardo Neves (8-3) of Brazil in a contest that could determine the next contender for heavyweight supremacy.
The Red Corner: Badr Medkouri (9-2)
Morocco’s “Dastan” has become one of the most imposing figures in the UAE Warriors heavyweight division. Standing 6’4″ (193cm) and fighting out of France, Medkouri combines his enormous physical frame with technical striking and devastating finishing power. His string of TKO victories has placed him among the most feared heavyweights on the roster.
A UAE Warriors regular since event 49, Medkouri’s trajectory has been consistently upward. Ranked #5 among professional heavyweights in the Middle East and #3 in France, he enters this contest with the confidence of a fighter who knows he belongs at the top of the division.
His game plan is built on pressure and power. He uses his reach to control distance, his footwork to cut off the cage, and his heavy hands to punish opponents who stand in front of him.
The Blue Corner: Eduardo Neves (8-3)
Brazil’s “Bebezao” arrives with credentials that command respect. A former LFA Heavyweight Champion and Dana White’s Contender Series alumnus, Neves represents the new generation of heavyweights: young, athletic, and technically complete.
At just 26 years old, standing 6’2″ (188cm) with a remarkable 78.5-inch (199cm) reach, Neves possesses the kind of physical tools that make heavyweight scouts take notice. His speed, fluidity, and conditioning set him apart from traditional big men, and his championship experience in the LFA proves he can perform when titles are on the line.
Training at CM System / Eduardo Machado Team in João Pessoa, Brazil, Neves has been steadily building toward this kind of opportunity.
How Each Fighter Can Win
Medkouri’s path to victory: The Moroccan needs to use his two-inch height advantage and superior power to impose himself in the early rounds. If he can establish his jab, cut off the cage, and land the heavy shots that have produced his TKO finishes, Neves’ youth and athleticism may not be enough to survive the onslaught. Medkouri is at his most dangerous when he smells blood, and the heavyweight division does not forgive mistakes.
Neves’ path to victory: The Brazilian needs to use his speed advantage and superior reach to keep Medkouri at distance. If Neves can fight behind his jab, use lateral movement to avoid the Moroccan’s power shots, and capitalize on his cardio advantage in the later rounds, he can outwork Medkouri and prove that technical ability trumps raw power. His youth and conditioning could be decisive if this fight goes past the second round.
Why You Cannot Miss This Fight
Heavyweight fights carry a unique electricity because every exchange could end the contest. When both fighters possess genuine finishing power, the tension multiplies. Medkouri and Neves represent two different visions of heavyweight MMA: the imposing power puncher against the athletic, well-rounded champion.
On May 8 at Space42 Arena, UAE Warriors 70 delivers a main event where neither man can afford to blink.
