VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. – Spike Carlyle might be giving up quite a bit of height and reach, but thinks his upcoming matchup plays in his favor. Carlyle (8-1 MMA) makes his promotional debut Saturday at UFC on ESPN+ 27 in Norfolk, Va., against fellow debutant and Dana White’s Contender Series contract winner Aalon Cruz (8-2 MMA). Cruz secured his UFC contract with a devastating flying knee. But Carlyle, who’s known for his aggressive style and high finishing rate, is confident that stylistically, he’ll have the upper hand. “Aalon is tall, rangy, and I watched some footage from his last loss (and) another win, so I’ve studied him,” Carlyle said
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