A1 Combat 12 Co-Main Event Breakdown

While the daytime hours are filled by UFC London, primetime and late night is meant for A1 Combat this Saturday. Urijah Faber"s promotion sets up shop in Wheatland, CA, near the capital city of Sacramento for A1 Combat 12.  Main card action kicks off at 11 pm ET/ 8 pm PT on UFC Fight Pass. Don"t go to bed early or you"ll miss the 12-fight card from Hard Rock Live.

It’s FIGHT WEEK for Urijah Faber’s #A1Combat12
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It goes down this Saturday July 22nd at the Hard Rock Casino Sacramento with Two Titles on the line.
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Doors open at 5pm
Early Prelims [5:30pm PST]
Prelims [6:30pm PST]
Main Card [8pm PST] Live on UFC FightPass
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Get your… pic.twitter.com/iYrkvrDI0c

— Your Girl Drea 👊🏼💥 (@Drea_MMA) July 18, 2023

Championship Doubleheader Begins with A1 Combat 12 Co-Main Event

But why would you want to go to bed early when there are two championship fights at the top of the bill? Strawweight supremacy is on the line in the first half of the doubleheader.

Originally slated to be the A1 Combat 10 co-main event, the Inaugural A1 Combat Strawweight Championship is the focus of the A1 Combat 12 co-main event this Saturday. Undefeated Taylor Mauldin (3-0 MMA, A1 Combat promotional debut) squares off against Laura Gallardo (4-2 MMA, A1 Combat promotional debut.)

As with all A1 Combat title fights, this strawweight confrontation is an advertised three rounds at five minutes per round. Immediately following is the fight for the A1 Combat Featherweight Championship between Andrew Coyne (6-1 MMA, 2-0 A1 Combat) and Ernie Juarez (5-0 MMA, 2-0 A1 Combat.)

A1 Combat 12 Co-Main Event Fighter Comparison and Betting Odds

Entering the A1 Combat 12 co-main event on Saturday night, Taylor Mauldin is the taller combatant at 5-foot-5, compared to Laura Gallardo at 5-foot-1. Gallardo owns a one-inch reach advantage (64 inches to 63 inches) over Mauldin.

As of Friday morning, the oddsmakers have Laura Gallardo installed as a -225 favorite on the money line, with Taylor Mauldin countering as a +163 underdog. If you plan on betting on this or any other fight happening this weekend, please wager responsibly.

Taylor Mauldin"s First Fight in 13 Months is A1 Combat 12 Co-Main Event

Taylor Mauldin has yet to lose in her MMA career. Counting a single amateur bout, she"s posted a 4-0 record all told.

Most recently, she battled Macy Breaux (3-1 MMA) to a unanimous decision win in Fury FC 65 on Fight Pass on June 25, 2022.  Since then, Mauldin has had three fights canceled, including the original booking against Gallardo in April.

How much ring rust is there for her? Will she be able to claim the championship in the A1 Combat 12 co-main event?

Laura Gallardo Aiming to Stop Skid

In the other corner, Laura Gallardo, an alum of The Ultimate Fighter television series, has gone 4-1 in her last five professional fights. Counting the exhibitions on TUF, she"s entering this co-headliner on a two-fight losing streak.

Last time out, she dropped a unanimous decision at the hands of Fatima Kline (4-0 MMA, 4-0 Invicta FC) during the Jan. 18 Invicta FC 51.  Despite her setbacks, Gallardo still hopes to one day wind up in the UFC, as she told James Lynch.

“My goal is to go into the UFC (this year)", Gallardo began. “I want to be in a promotion that has these high-level women and be able to fight against them. That"s my main goal and obviously I have like many goals to get to that."

A win in the A1 Combat 12 main event is a step in the right direction for Gallardo, but Taylor Mauldin is a tough opponent. Only time will tell.

Analysis, Film Study, and Prediction

Stylistically, the A1 Combat 12 main event looks to favor Taylor Mauldin, a wrestler, with Laura Gallardo countering as a karate fighter.

Watch Mauldin"s Ground Game

Given that Taylor Mauldin is a wrestler by trade, her ground game is something to behold. Right from the command to fight in her contest vs. Nadine Mandiau, she landed a kick to the head and expertly transitioned to a takedown.

From there, she took top mount and landed elbows, advancing to a submission hold. While Mandiau reversed position and grappled with Mauldin, the latter quickly regained control of the bout, continually scoring with ground and pound shots and efforting a submission.

Mauldin gave Mandiau no shot to get back up to her feet in the first round. If she"s able to take Laura Gallardo down and keep her down, she"ll be the champion on Saturday in the A1 Combat 12 co-main event.

Look for Gallardo to Wear Mauldin Down

In the other corner, Laura Gallardo can exhaust her opponent"s energy. During round one of her fight against Helen Peralta in Cage Fury in 2021, she started out with some kicks to the body from the clinch, with Peralta returning fire.

This pace continued for the balance of the period, but it was in round two where she escaped from a near-submission, Despite being bloodied, Gallardo scored with some ground and pound late, taking top position.

If Gallardo can weaken Mauldin, she can take the momentum.

Final Thoughts

The A1 Combat 12 co-main event will be a war. Whoever wins the championship will have truly earned it.

Prediction: Taylor Mauldin by Unanimous Decision.