UFC 313 Preview

Alex Pereira batters Khalil Rountree Jr. with a right hand. Credit: MMA Fighting.

The UFC hits the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas with a killer pay-per-view card. From start to finish, this card is filled with top prospects and established finishers all looking for a highlight reel victory this weekend. In the co-main event, we’ll witness a rematch of two outstanding Lightweights when Justin Gaethje faces Rafael Fiziev. In the main event, we finally receive a long-awaited champion and #1 contender matchup when Alex Pereira looks to defend his title against Magomed Ankalaev. Let’s take a look at the fights on the main card.

King Green vs. Mauricio Ruffy

Bobby Green tags Drew Dober with a clean right hand. Credit: Zuffa LLC.

Lightweight Bout

King Green: 32-16-1, 11 KO/TKO, 9 Sub.

Mauricio Ruffy: 11-1-0, 10 KO/TKO, 0 Sub.

Green has won three of his last five fights and has wins over #14 ranked Lightweight Grant Dawson (23-2-1), Tony Ferguson (26-11-0), and Jim Miller (38-18-0). Training at Pinnacle MMA, he is an excellent boxer, picking his opponents apart with quick combinations and damaging straights. He’s rarely in a boring fight, always willing to go to the center of the octagon and exchange blows. Green has been awarded Performance of the Night three times and Fight of the Night four times, backing up his scrappy tendencies. He also has excellent wrestling to supplement his striking, having defended 74% of takedowns attempted on him, and has a solid submission game and top control. He’s efficient both on offense and defense, having landed 53% of his significant strikes attempted and defended 62% of significant strikes thrown at him in the UFC. Green does a great job mixing up his strikes, attacking the head and the body evenly, and throwing the occasional kick to finish a combination.

Mauricio Ruffy cracks James Llontop with a straight left. Credit: MMA Fighting.

Ruffy is on a six-fight win streak and has UFC victories over Jamie Mullarkey (17-8-0) and James Llontop (14-5-0). A lethal, elusive striker, he’s always dangerous and constantly hunting a knockout. He’s highly accurate and favors power to volume, often throwing single shots with knockout intentions. Ruffy has fantastic distance control and head movement, typically staying at range and picking his opponents apart with brutal leg kicks. Training with the Fighting Nerds, he throws everything with impressive speed and is unpredictable, regularly attempting unorthodox strikes without telegraphing. He varies his shots well and will constantly look to draw in his opponents so he can land counterstrikes. Although 80% of Ruffy’s knockouts have come in the first round, he has solid cardio and can carry his power comfortably across 15 minutes. 

#5 Amanda Lemos vs. #7 Iasmin Lucindo

Amanda Lemos fires a powerful left hook at Marina Rodriguez. Credit: Zuffa LLC.

Women’s Strawweight Bout

Amanda Lemos: 14-4-1, 8 KOT/KO, 3 Sub.

Iasmin Lucindo: 17-5-0, 8 KO/TKO, 3 Sub.

Lemos has won three of her last five bouts and has UFC victories over #6 ranked Strawweight Mackenzie Dern (15-5-0), #9 ranked Strawweight Marina Rodriguez (17-5-2), and #13 ranked Strawweight Angela Hill (18-14-0). She is a knockout artist with serious power in her hands and is dangerous anywhere. She throws every shot with power and knockout intentions. Lemos won’t push a crazy pace on the feet, making up for volume with power and accuracy, landing at a 54% accuracy rate. Training at Marajo Brothers Team, she is at her best when she’s controlling the center of the octagon and pressuring her opponent, throwing plenty of devastating front kicks and leg kicks when at distance. She averages just under one takedown landed per 15 minutes in the UFC and has shown a slick submission game, particularly her guillotine. Lemos has secured eight of her eleven finishes in round one and is most dangerous early on.

Iasmin Lucindo unloads a heavy front kick at Karolina Kowalkiewicz. Credit: Ag. Fight.

Lucindo has won four of her last five outings and has UFC victories coming over #9 ranked Strawweight Marina Rodriguez (17-5-2), Polyana Viana (13-7-0), and Karolina Kowalkiewicz (16-9-0). She’s an aggressive striker, always coming forward, pursuing a knockout. She’s very dangerous on the inside and is willing to eat one to land one, often tending to headhunt. Lucindo throws everything in combination and with brutal power, dealing out most of her damage with her punches. She’s landing, on average, over two takedowns per fifteen minutes and has landed multiple takedowns in all her UFC wins. She has solid offense when in top position, possessing heavy ground and pound and a sneaky submission game. Lucindo turned professional in MMA at 14, making her impressively experienced for a 23-year-old.

#13 Jalin Turner vs. Ignacio Bahamondes

Lightweight Bout

Jalin Turner lands a brutal kick to the head of Dan Hooker. Credit: MMA Fighting.

Jalin Turner: 14-8-0, 10 K0/TKO, 4 Sub.

Ignacio Bahamondes: 16-5-0, 11 KO/TKO, 1 Sub.

Turner has won two of his last five fights and has UFC victories over King Green (32-16-1), Uroš Medić (10-3-0), and Jamie Mullarkey (17-8-0). He’s an excellent striker who usually fights in an upright stance and throws everything in combination. He constantly pursues a finish but remains patient, never overextending or telegraphing attacks. He’s a sizeable Lightweight, standing at 6’3”, and uses his length by fighting at range and damaging his opponent without getting hit. Turner has power in both hands and is very fluid on the feet, quickly chaining attacks together and using various strikes. Training at Carlson Gracie Riverside, he’s averaging about one takedown landed per 15 minutes and has an impressive submission game, with three of his four submission wins coming in the first round. Turner is as active on the ground as on the feet and constantly tries to improve position or find a finish.

Ignacio Bahamondes stuns Manuel Torres with a right hand. Credit: MMA Mania.

Bahamondes has won four of his last five bouts and has UFC victories over Trey Ogden (17-6-0), Rongzhu (25-5-0), and Roosevelt Roberts (12-5-0). He’s a flashy striker capable of producing highlight-reel knockouts at any moment. He has excellent kickboxing, constantly switching stances and throwing quick combinations followed by devastating kicks. Bahamondes does a great job remaining composed at range or in the pocket, willing to exchange strikes anywhere. Although he hasn’t landed a takedown in the UFC, he’s defended 85% of them attempted on him and has a slick submission game. Training at Valle Flow Striking, he has shown he has both the cardio and the chin to back up his striking tendencies, allowing him to get into wars and throw with volume. Bahamondes, on average, has landed 79 significant strikes per fight in the UFC and is constantly pushing the pace.

#3 Justin Gaethje vs. #11 Rafael Fiziev

Justin Gaethje lands a stinging left hook on Michael Chandler. Credit: The Fight Library.

Lightweight Bout

Justin Gaethje: 25-5-0, 20 KO/TKO, 1 Sub.

Rafael Fiziev: 12-3-0, 8 KO/TKO, 1 Sub.

Gaethje has won three of his last five outings and has UFC victories over #4 ranked Lightweight Dustin Poirier (30-9-0), #7 ranked Lightweight Michael Chandler (23-9-0), and his current opponent, Rafael Fiziev. He’s one of MMA's most brutal, vicious strikers and is always willing to throw down. Possessing devastating power in both hands, he’s developed into a much more technical, skillful fighter in his promotional tenure. To match his KO power, Gaethje has some of the hardest leg kicks in MMA and throws them constantly. He has a collegiate wrestling background and solid takedown defense but has only landed a single takedown in the UFC and rarely goes to the mat. He’s exceptionally durable and is always willing to eat a shot to land one. Training with Elevation Fight Team, Gaethje has fantastic cardio and is always dangerous, capable of producing both early and late finishes.

Rafael Fiziev launches a body kick at Brad Riddell. Zuffa LLC.

Fiziev has won three of his last five fights and has UFC wins over #10 ranked Lightweight Renato Moicano (20-6-1), Rafael Dos Anjos (32-17-0), and Marc Diakiese (18-7-0). He is a dangerous striker who constantly pressures forward and always pursues a knockout. Averaging about 70 significant strikes landed in his last five outings, he has volume along with power and throws everything in combination. Training at Tiger Muay Thai, Fiziev is highly technical, fights behind his jab, and moves in and out of the pocket quickly without taking much damage. He has very efficient striking and rarely misses shots, but is also defensively sound, possessing excellent head movement and elusive footwork. With a background in Muay Thai and a pro kickboxing record of 39-8, he won’t typically initiate grappling exchanges but has defended 89% of the takedowns attempted on him in the UFC. Fiziev has a massive arsenal of attacks and can land spectacular moves like flying knees and spinning kicks.

(C) Alex Pereira vs. #1 Magomed Ankalaev

Alex Pereira knocks Jamahal Hill unconscious with a devastating left hook. Credit: MMA Fighting.

Middleweight Title Bout

Alex Pereira: 12-2-0, 10 KO/TKO, 0 Sub.

Magomed Ankalaev: 20-1-1, 11 KO/TKO, 0 Sub.

Pereira is on a five-fight win streak and has UFC victories over #2 ranked Middleweight Sean Strickland (29-7-0), #2 ranked Light Heavyweight Jiří Procházka (31-5-1), and #3 ranked Light Heavyweight Jan Błachowicz (29-10-1). He is a former Glory Kickboxing Middleweight and Light Heavyweight champion with a professional kickboxing record of 40-7. He is notorious for having the most devastating left hook in combat sports and loves letting it fly. Pereira has just as brutal kicks to back up his heavy hands, which he’ll often use to find his range before getting into the pocket to throw big hooks and devastating knees. He’s comfortable fighting on the outside of the octagon but is most dangerous when he takes the center and cuts off his opponent. He has shown solid takedown defense and continually improving grappling, but still prefers to keep it standing. Training at Teixeira MMA, Pereira doesn’t move a ton on the feet, occasionally standing straight in front of his opponent, waiting for them to throw something so he can fire back.

Magomed Ankalaev lands a cracking right hook on Thiago Santos. Credit: MMA Fighting.

Ankalaev has won three of his last five outings with a draw and a No Contest and holds victories over #5 ranked Light Heavyweight Aleksandar Rakić (14-5-0), #8 ranked Light Heavyweight Nikita Krylov (30-9-0), and #9 ranked Light Heavyweight Volkan Oezdemir (20-8-0). He holds the rank of Master of Sport in Combat Sambo and is a highly experienced grappler. Despite this, he averages just under one takedown landed per fifteen minutes and is comfortable in a striking battle. Ankalaev is very patient, typically throwing single shots with few combinations, but he makes up for his lack of volume with massive power. He constantly presses forward and throws every shot with purpose, with his pace increasing as the fight continues. Training at Gorets, he does an excellent job of holding the center and often looks to counterstrike. When Ankalaev takes the fight to the mat, he has smothering pressure in top position and will constantly look to posture up and land brutal ground and pound.

Best Bets

Ignacio Bahamondes Moneyline: An outstanding matchup of two exciting Lightweights, this will be a fun one. Each fighter seems to be trending in opposite directions lately, with Bahamondes on a two-fight, first-round knockout win streak. In contrast, Turner is coming off a tough knockout loss to Renato Moicano. Although Turner is a well-rounded fighter, typically one of his most significant advantages inside the Octagon is his height and reach, an advantage he does not possess in this matchup. Bahamondes also has a speed advantage with both his hands and kicks, and is overall the more technical striker. Turner does have an edge on the mat, but Bahamondes has shown solid takedown defense, and I anticipate this fight will primarily take place on the feet. I expect Bahamondes to keep Turner at range with long punches and kicks, deny any takedown attempts, and earn a hard-fought victory.

Justin Gaethje Moneyline: This fight is a rematch, with their first meeting taking place at UFC 286 in 2023. Despite what the current odds may suggest, Gaethje was the victor of their initial matchup via majority decision. Frankly, I’m baffled by Gaethje’s underdog status. While I can appreciate that he’s coming off a brutal knockout loss, he’s facing an opponent he’s already beaten, who’s coming in on short notice. Regardless of the circumstance, Gaethje is a horrible matchup for a fighter like Fiziev, who prefers a more technical pace and to stay at range where he can use his kicks. As he showed in their first matchup, Gaethje stays right in his opponent’s face, pushing a wild pace and never letting his opponent find any groove or comfort. Considering neither has changed their style much since their first fight (and Fiziev is coming in on short notice off an injury), I expect this matchup to play out similarly to the first one. I anticipate it being a bit wilder than the first, probably lacking any feeling out process to start, but I believe Gaethje walks away with another win.

Alex Pereira Moneyline: Finally, we get this long-awaited matchup of top-tier Light Heavyweights. There’s been plenty of build-up and back-and-forth between these two, so it’ll be interesting to see what gameplans these fighters utilize when they hit the cage. While its a safe bet Pereira will fight similarly to his recent performances, it’s tough to know exactly what Ankalaev’s plan is. While it seems obvious that Ankalaev’s best path to victory would be via wrestling, he doesn’t typically focus on takedowns and control time to win fights. Generally, he engages in stand-up battles and only resorts to wrestling when he’s hurt or losing the fight. Regardless of how Ankalaev approaches this puzzle, I believe Pereira has the skills to defeat him. Although we’re all aware of the power in Pereira’s hands, his leg kicks are equally devastating, which we saw Ankalaev struggle mightily with against Jan Błachowicz. He also struggled fighting all five rounds in that matchup, and has only done so twice in his career, while six of Pereira’s last seven fights were scheduled for five rounds. I anticipate competitive early striking exchanges before Pereira denies multiple takedowns, pieces Ankalaev up with his technical kickboxing, and earns yet another defense of his Light Heavyweight title.

UFC Fight Night: Kape vs. Almabayev Preview

Manel Kape lands a stinging left hand on Felipe dos Santos. Credit: MMA Fighting.

The UFC returns to its headquarters at the APEX with a superb Fight Night card. From start to finish, plenty of top-notch fighters are looking to perform on the biggest stage in MMA. In the co-main event, we’ll witness two prolific finishers face off when Cody Brundage takes on Julian Marquez. In the main event, there will be a clash of top-ten Flyweights when the always-entertaining Manel Kape takes on red-hot prospect Asu Almabayev. Let’s take a look at the fights on the main card.

Danny Barlow vs. Sam Patterson

Danny Barlow blasts Josh Quinlan with a brutal left hand. Credit: MMA Fighting.

Welterweight Bout

Danny Barlow: 9-0-0, 5 KO/TKO, 1 Sub.

Sam Patterson: 12-2-1, 4 KO/TKO, 7 Sub.

Barlow is undefeated and has UFC victories over Josh Quinlan (6-4-0) and Nikolay Veretennikov (12-6-0). A highly accurate striker with impressive speed and power, he’s always pursuing a knockout. He’s a lengthy fighter and uses it well, typically holding the center and picking his opponents apart with long straights and kicks. He constantly looks to set up flying knees, attempting them regularly throughout his fights. Barlow throws every shot with power and remains patient, continually looking for openings to do damage. Training at Law School MMA, he has solid cardio, carrying his power and speed across all three rounds and always remaining technical. He fights behind his jab, constantly popping it out before following up with brutal combinations. Barlow is unlikely to take the fight to the mat but has shown solid takedown defense and has an excellent sprawl.

Sam Patterson submits Kiefer Crosbie with a arm triangle choke. Credit: MMA Fighting.

Patterson has won four of his last five fights and has UFC victories over Yohan Lainesse (9-3-0) and Kiefer Crosbie (10-5-0). He’s a well-rounded scrapper who’s always willing to engage and has lethal chokes. He’s a lengthy fighter and uses it well, maintaining solid distance management while throwing long punches and kicks at range. Patterson remains technical on the feet, keeping his shots straight and tight without telegraphing or overextending. Patterson is averaging nearly two takedowns landed per fifteen minutes and transitions with impressive speed in top position. He prefers submissions to ground and pound and can find them incredibly quickly, typically pursuing chokes immediately upon reaching the mat. Patterson has secured half his victories in the first round and has not been past the second round in his last six fights.  

Hyder Amil vs. William Gomis

Hyder Amil lands a cracking left hook on JeongYeong Lee. Credit: MMA Mania.

Featherweight Bout

Hyder Amil: 10-0-0, 6 KO/TKO, 1 Sub.

William Gomis: 14-2-0, 7 KO/TKO 1 Sub.

Amil is undefeated and has UFC victories over Fernie Garcia (10-5-0) and JeongYeong Lee (11-2-0). He’s a vicious, accurate striker that throws every punch with knockout intentions. He’s constantly pressuring forward, looking to unload combinations of heavy hooks and straights. Amil has a solid chin and is always willing to hang inside the pocket in brawl, but also has excellent head movement and counterstriking. Training with the Skrap Pack, he has a purple belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and solid wrestling skills to back up his striking, capable of performing powerful slam takedowns. He pushes a heavy pace from the opening bell, always coming out guns blazing and extending lengthy combinations. Amil is at his most dangerous early on but carries his power throughout, having scored five of his six knockouts in the second round. 

William Gomis lands a perfectly executed spinning kick to the body of Yanis Ghemmouri. Credit: MMA Mania.

Gomis is on a thirteen-fight win streak dating back to 2016 and has UFC victories over Joanderson Brito (17-4-1), Francis Marshall (8-2-0), and Yanis Ghemmouri (12-3-0). He’s a patient, technical striker with a diverse kicking game. He won’t overwhelm his opponent with movement or volume, instead using accuracy and power to land damage. Training at MMA Factory, he’ll often end combinations with kicks and does an excellent job of moving in and out of the pocket without eating shots. He’s a solid wrestler, has fantastic takedown timing, and is very strong in the clinch. He’s patient in top position and won’t put himself in dangerous spots, but he has good pressure and is hard to shake off. Gomis is defensively sound everywhere, having defended 71% of significant strikes and 70% of takedowns attempted on him in the UFC.

Nasrat Haqparast vs. Esteban Ribovics

Nasrat Haqparast prepares to unload ground and pound onto Jamie Mullarkey. Credit: MMA Fighting.

Lightweight Bout

Nasrat Haqparast: 17-5-0, 10 KO/TKO, 0 Sub.

Esteban Ribovics: 14-1-0, 7 KO/TKO, 5 Sub.

Haqparast has won four of his last five bouts and has UFC victories over Jared Gordon (20-7-0), Marc Diakiese (18-7-0), and John Makdessi (18-9-0). He’s a tenacious, powerful striker who’s always coming forward looking to land damage. He fights behind his jab and throws everything in combination, regularly dipping his head before unloading looping hooks and overhands. Haqparast throws every shot with power and is very durable, always willing to eat a shot to land one, but has solid distance management and footwork. Training at TriStar Gym, he won’t often initiate grappling exchanges, often resorting to wrestling if he’s hurt or taking damage on the feet. He has solid cardio, pushing a consistent pace throughout while maintaining his power at all times. Haqparast always pushes a heavy pace, and has landed, on average, about 95 significant strikes in his last five fights. 

Esteban Ribovics cracks Daniel Zellhuber with a right hook. Credit: Yahoo Sports.

Ribovics has won four of his last five outings and has UFC victories over Terrance McKinney (15-7-0), Kamuela Kirk (12-6-0) and Daniel Zellhuber (15-2-0). He’s a heavy-handed scrapper, coming out guns blazing and pushing a heavy pace from bell to bell. He’s constantly looking to close the distance and unload inside the pocket with brutal hooks. Ribovics tends to brawl more as the fight continues, often starting rounds fighting technically and taking more risks as they go on. Training at Kill Cliff FC, he has solid defensive grappling abilities and has proven capable of surviving in deep waters on the mat. Although he won’t typically initiate grappling scenarios, he has heavy ground and pound and submission skills, particularly shoulder locks. Ribovics is always dangerous, especially early on, with five of his seven knockouts coming in the first round.

Cody Brundage vs. Julian Marquez

Cody Brundage brutally slams Zachary Reese to the mat. Credit: MMA Fighting.

Middleweight Bout

Cody Brundage: 10-6-0, 5 KO/TKO, 3 Sub.

Julian Marquez: 9-5-0, 6 KO/TKO, 3 Sub.

Brundage has won two of his last five bouts with one no contest and has UFC victories over Tresean Gore (5-2-0), Dalcha Lungiambula (11-6-0), and Jacob Malkoun (8-3-0). He is a powerful wrestler with solid power in his hands. He’s averaging over two takedowns landed and nearly one submission attempted per fifteen minutes. Brundage is willing to fight on the feet and throws everything with power, often ducking his head to throw counterstrikes. He uses a great variety of attacks and is a creative striker, with him most commonly throwing overhands and hooks. Training at FactoryX Muay Thai, he often shoots early and has solid takedowns, usually securing them quickly. Brundage is exceptionally explosive and unpredictable, holding one-shot knockout power and regularly jumping guillotines.

Julian Marquez exchanges punches with Sam Alvey. Credit: MMA Fighting.

Marquez has won two of his last five outings and has UFC victories over Sam Alvey (34-18-1), Darren Stewart (16-10-0), and Maki Pitolo (15-11-0). He’s a well-rounded brawler who’s always looking to push the action. He’s constantly coming forward, pressuring his opponent, and crashing into the pocket to throw big, looping hooks. Marquez has not attempted a takedown in UFC but is averaging over two submission attempts per fifteen minutes, often finding submissions defensively. He never accepts a position on the ground, always looking to improve and find a finish, usually a choke. Training at the MMA LAB, he tends to headhunt and throw every shot with knockout intentions. Marquez has scored all of his UFC finishes in round two or three and can survive in deep waters.

#6 Manel Kape vs. #8 Asu Almabayev

Manel Kape rains down ground and pound after dropping Ode’ Osbourne. Credit: Zuffa LLC.

Flyweight Bout

Manel Kape: 20-7-0, 12 KO/TKO, 5 Sub.

Asu Almabayev: 21-2-0, 3 KO/TKO, 9 Sub.

Kape has won four of his last five fights and has UFC victories over #13 ranked Flyweight Bruno Silva (14-6-2), Ode’ Osbourne (12-8-0), and Felipe dos Santos (8-2-0). He is a former Rizin Bantamweight champion and is a fantastic, flashy striker. He’s constantly looking to counterstrike, throwing every shot with purpose and deadly accuracy. Kape has excellent distance management, switches stances constantly, and will often blitz in with big shots before returning to range. He has heavy power for a Flyweight and doesn’t telegraph anything, frequently timing his shots when his opponent enters his range. Training at Xtreme Couture, he won’t typically initiate grappling exchanges but has a solid submission game and can be dangerous off his back. Kape takes some time to get going, but once he finds his rhythm, he heats up and lets his hands go.

Asu Almabayev unloads ground and pound onto CJ Vergara. Credit: Athlon Sports.

Almabayev is on a 17-fight win streak and has UFC victories over Matheus Nicolau (19-6-1), Jose Johnson (16-10-0), and CJ Vergara (12-5-1). He’s exceptionally well-rounded, with dominant wrestling and flashy striking. He’ll constantly throw spinning attacks on the feet and can land damage at range or in the pocket. Almabayev has landed 18 takedowns in just four UFC fights and has excellent chain wrestling, able to find takedowns from anywhere. Training at DAR Pro Team, he’s an efficient grappler who never wastes energy or telegraphs his shots or transitions. He has smothering top control, rarely allowing his opponent to throw up any offense as he pursues a finish. Most of Almabayev’s finishes have come after round one, and he tends to heat up as the fight continues.

Best Bets

Barlow vs. Patterson to Not Go the Distance: This is an outstanding matchup to kick off the main card and I’m excited for this fight. Two relative newcomers to the UFC, this is a massive opportunity for either man to establish his name in the promotion with a big win. In a combined 24 career fights, they’ve produced 17 finishes, with 11 coming in the first round. Both have secured finish victories in four of their last five outings, and have similar height, reach, and age. Although both are prolific finishers, they do it differently; Barlow tends to get it done on the feet with his hands, while Patterson has secured most of his finishes with his slick submission game. Ultimately, this will be a battle of who can utilize their gameplan, with each fighter possessing distinct advantages in different scenarios. Regardless of who walks away the victor, I anticipate a wild scrap that does not last all three rounds.

Esteban Ribovics by Decision: This is a matchup of two exciting strikers that’s sure to produce highlights. Although they’re both strikers, they have differing styles and levels of experience. Haqparast is an established veteran, joining the UFC in 2017 and utilizing a heavy-hitting, technical style to take out his opponents. Ribovics is a high-paced, high-volume striker in the UFC since 2023 and has already established himself as a top-notch scrapper after his wild brawl with Daniel Zellhuber. Although Haqparast has a definite advantage in experience, Ribovics presents numerous challenges for Haqparast’s style. Ribovics has a notable edge in hand speed, a massive difference maker for two fighters who put out a lot of punches. Ribovics also has a larger arsenal of attacks, regularly mixing in kicks whereas Haqparast largely favors his hands. Lastly, while Haqparast has solid cardio, he’s yet to face someone with the pace and output of Ribovics, which I expect him to significantly struggle with. I expect Ribovics to outpace Haqparast, outland him, and ultimately wear him down to a decision victory.

Asu Almabayev Moneyline: This is a fascinating matchup of vastly different fighters and an excellent way to close the card. Kape is a true striker with plenty of flashy attacks in his arsenal, constantly looking for highlight reel knockouts. Almabayev is a highly technical, well-rounded fighter with outstanding kicks and smothering wrestling. Kape likely has an advantage over almost anyone on the feet, but unfortunately for him, they don’t call it mixed martial arts for nothing. Almabayev has the top-notch grappling you’d expect from a fighter of his descent, but is also an outstanding striker with impressive speed and range management. Kape showed in his fight with Muhammad Mokaev that if you can take him down, it significantly slows down his wild style. Although Almabayev isn’t quite the pure wrestler Mokaev is, I think that’s to his benefit: Kape has never faced anyone that could put it all together as well as Almabayev, often facing specialists in his UFC tenure. I expect Almabayev to compete with Kape on the feet, but ultimately land multiple takedowns and control his opponent to a victory.

UFC Fight Night: Cejudo vs. Song Preview

Song Yadong fires a head kick at Ricky Simón. Credit: Zuffa LLC.

The UFC hits Seattle, Washington, this Saturday with an outstanding Fight Night card. Filled with exciting matchups throughout, this card will surely deliver plenty of highlights. In the co-main event, we’ll see two top-fifteen Middleweights on the rise go toe to toe when Brendan Allen takes on Anthony Hernandez. In the main event, former champion Henry Cejudo will look to right the ship against the always-dangerous Song Yadong. Let’s take a look at the fights on the main card.

Alonzo Menifield vs. Julius Walker

Alonzo Menifield fires a right hand at Vinicius Moreira. Credit: MMA Mania.

Light Heavyweight Bout

Alonzo Menifield: 15-5-1, 10 KO/TKO, 3 Sub.

Julius Walker: 6-0-0, 4 KO/TKO, 2 Sub.

Menifield has won two of his last five fights with one draw and has UFC victories over Dustin Jacoby (20-9-1), Jimmy Crute (12-4-2), and Paul Craig (17-9-1). He is an explosive striker with serious power in both hands and constantly pursues a finish. He throws constant looping shots and overhands and can do damage from anywhere. Menifield has excellent leg kicks and can land damage even when moving backward, making him always dangerous. Training at Saekson Muay Thai, he’s unlikely to initiate grappling exchanges but can land devastating ground and pound if he secures top position. Of his thirteen finishes, he’s scored ten in the first round and always comes out guns blazing. Menifield is at his most dangerous early on, often fading as the fight continues, and has never scored a third-round finish.

Julius Walker squares off with Bevon Lewis. Credit: Synergy FC.

Walker is undefeated and making his UFC debut. He’s a heavy-handed scrapper with great wrestling abilities. He has a solid chin and is willing to exchange inside the pocket, regularly coming forward to unload heavy, wide hooks. However, Walker is most comfortable on the mat and constantly looks to clinch up and pursue takedowns or throws. Training with Team Fusion, he transitions fluidly from position to position and has solid scrambles and reversals, typically finding himself in top position. He’s constantly working in top position, regularly looking to posture and land ground and pound or find an opening for a submission. Walker has earned three of six finish victories in under two minutes and pushes a heavy pace from the opening bell.

Jean Silva vs. Melsik Baghdasaryan

Jean Silva blasts Drew Dober with a cracking left hand. Credit: MMA Fighting.

Featherweight Bout

Jean Silva: 14-2-0, 11 KO/TKO, 2 Sub.

Melsik Baghdasaryan: 8-2-0, 5 KO/TKO, 0 Sub.

Silva is on an eleven-fight win streak and has UFC victories over Westin Wilson (17-9-0), Charles Jourdain (15-8-1), and Drew Dober (27-14-0). He’s a flashy striker with power in both hands who constantly hunts for a knockout. He starts slow, looking for openings and throwing heavy, single shots. Silva can get wild on the feet, fighting with his hands low, talking trash, and attempting spinning and jumping attacks. Training with Fighting Nerds, he heats up as the fight continues, gradually increasing his forward pressure and output. His best shots are his right straight and lead hook, and he’ll constantly look to set up either. Silva finished eight of his eleven consecutive wins in the first round but is dangerous anytime, anywhere.

Melsik Baghdasaryan fires a kick to the body of Tucker Lutz. Credit: MMA Mania.

Baghdasaryan has won four of his last five bouts and has UFC victories over Tucker Lutz (12-4-0),  Collin Anglin (9-5-0) and Bruno Souza (12-3-0). He is a former professional kickboxer with a record of 9-2 and challenged for a K-1 World Title before coming to MMA. Unsurprisingly, he’s an excellent striker with serious power in his punches and kicks. Baghdasaryan always comes forward and never telegraphs his shots, constantly varying his attacks and going to the head and body evenly. Training at Glendale Fighting Club, what he lacks in volume, he makes up for in power, although he does usually supply his opponent with a healthy dose of leg kicks. He has not attempted a takedown in the UFC and is most comfortable on his feet, but he has shown solid takedown defense. Baghdasaryan is highly defensively sound, rarely absorbs much damage, and has outlanded all his UFC opponents.

#9 (BW) Rob Font vs. Jean Matsumoto

Rob Font batters Cody Garbrandt with a straight right hand. Credit: MMA Fighting.

Catch Weight Bout (140 lbs.)

Rob Font: 21-8-0, 9 KO/TKO, 4 Sub.

Jean Matsumoto: 16-0-0, 3 KO/TKO, 6 Sub.

Font has won two of his last five outings and has UFC victories over #12 ranked Bantamweight Kyler Phillips (12-3-0), Adrian Yañez (17-6-0), and Ricky Simón (20-6-0). He is a hands-first fighter, preferring to do damage with his crisp boxing skills. Training with New England Cartel, he always fights behind his jab, has excellent footwork, and does a great job cutting off the cage. Font throws everything in combination and has fantastic output, averaging about 78 significant strikes landed in his last five wins. He also has excellent hand speed and solid power, tending to heat up and increase his pace as the fight continues. He’s willing to grapple, and averages just under one takedown landed per fifteen minutes, but is at his best when he’s holding the center of the cage and dictating the pace of the fight. Font never gets too wild or telegraphs his shots, constantly moving and looking for different angles to attack.

Jean Matsumoto fires a powerful kick at the head of Brad Katona. Credit: MMA Fighting.

Matsumoto is undefeated and has UFC victories over Brad Katona (16-4-0) and Dan Argueta (9-3-0). He’s a dangerous, well-rounded fighter with impressive power in his hands and a black belt in BJJ. He throws everything with power and in combination but won’t get sloppy, keeping his shots straight and tight. Matsumoto regularly switches stances on the feet and has excellent kicks, constantly mixing them into punch combinations. He’s averaging over one takedown landed per fifteen minutes in the UFC and can find submissions with incredible speed, particularly chokes. Although technical, he’s willing to throw down in the pocket, regularly standing in front of his opponent and unloading hooks and straights. He has excellent cardio and pushes a consistent pace throughout, having already gone five rounds three times in his pre-UFC career.

#9 Brendan Allen vs. #12 Anthony Hernandez

Brendan Allen exchanges blows with Chris Curtis. Credit: Ag. Fight.

Middleweight Bout

Brendan Allen: 24-6-0, 5 KO/TKO, 14 Sub.

Anthony Hernandez: 13-2-0, 3 KO/TKO, 8 Sub.

Allen has won four of his last five fights and has UFC victories over Chris Curtis (31-12-0), Paul Craig (17-9-1), and Andre Muniz (24-6-0). He’s an excellent grappler with a lethal submission game and solid power in his hands. He’s always dangerous, whether on top or his back, constantly attempting submissions and looking to finish the fight. Training at Kill Cliff FC, he’ll throw heavy ground and pound in top position to open submission opportunities, typically pursuing chokes. He has solid striking to back up his grappling and has decent hands and kicks, using more of a boxing style when he’s on the feet. Although he pushes a heavy pace, he has solid cardio and can comfortably go five rounds. Allen has secured eleven of his fourteen submissions via rear naked choke and is deadly if he can find his opponent’s neck.

Anthony Hernandez applies a rear naked choke to Roman Kopylov. Credit: MMA Mania.

Hernandez is on a six-fight win streak and has UFC victories over #13 ranked Middleweight Michel Pereira (31-12-0), #14 ranked Middleweight Roman Kopylov (14-3-0), and JunYong Park (18-6-0). He’s a relentless grappler who’s always working for a finish and gets better as the fight goes on. He throws in combination on the feet and will use his striking to get into the pocket to either pursue a takedown or damage his opponent in the clinch. Hernandez is extremely durable, able to take a beating and still push a consistent pace, and often finds submissions out of seemingly nowhere. Training with MMAGold Fight Team, he has smothering clinch and top control, great takedowns, and extremely dangerous chokes, especially his guillotine. Five of his eight career submission wins are via guillotine, and he often performs his own modified version of the choke. Hernandez is very fluid on the ground and consistently finds a way to get to a safe position, always choosing position over submission.

#7 Henry Cejudo vs. #8 Song Yadong

Henry Cejudo engages with Merab Dvalishvili inside the pocket. Credit: Los Angeles Times.

Bantamweight Bout

Henry Cejudo: 16-4-0, 8 KO/TKO, 0 Sub.

Song Yadong: 21-8-1, 9 KO/TKO, 3 Sub.

Cejudo has won three of his last five bouts and has UFC victories over former Bantamweight champions TJ Dillashaw (18-5-0) and Dominick Cruz (24-4-0) and former Flyweight champion Demetrious Johnson (25-4-1). One of the most accomplished athletes in MMA, he’s a former UFC double champion (FLW & BW) and former Olympic gold medalist in freestyle wrestling. Unsurprisingly, he’s an excellent grappler, averaging about two takedowns landed per fifteen minutes and possessing smothering top control. Training at Fight Ready, Cejudo has fantastic takedowns and scrambles, seemingly always finding a way to top position. He uses a karate-like style on the feet, holding a wide stance, constantly moving and mixing kicks into combinations. All his attacks are lightning-fast, often using his striking to get into the pocket and grapple. Cejudo has excellent takedown defense, having defended 75% of takedowns attempted on him in the UFC, and is highly fluid on the ground and in the clinch.

Song Yadong prepares to unload vicious ground and pound onto Ricky Simón. Credit: MMA Fighting.

Yadong has won three of his last five outings and has UFC victories over #6 ranked Bantamweight Marlon Vera (23-10-1), Ricky Simón (20-6-0), and Chris Gutiérrez (21-6-2). He’s an excellent technical striker who’s constantly pressuring forward and throwing every shot with knockout intentions. He has significant power in both hands, throws everything in combination, and remains technical throughout the fight, usually fighting behind his jab. Training at Team Alpha Male, Yadong varies his shots well, attacking the head and body evenly and remaining technical at all times. He’s powerful in the clinch and won’t typically pursue takedowns, but he has defended 72% of takedowns attempted on him in the UFC. He’s always willing to eat a shot to land one, regularly marching through punches to close the distance and throw offense of his own. Yadong has be awarded post-fight bonuses in nearly half his fights in the promotion and always leaves it all in the cage.

Best Bets

Jean Matsumoto Moneyline: A classic matchup of rising star and established veteran; I’m looking forward to this fight. Both are highly dangerous strikers with knockout victories on their records, and both push a heavy pace. Ultimately, I think the difference maker in this fight is Matsumoto’s grappling skills. Font has sometimes struggled with his takedown defense, having successfully defended only 44% of takedowns attempted on him in the UFC. Font has also recently struggled in high-paced bouts, which massively benefits Matsumoto’s style. Matsumoto is constantly coming forward and looking to either score a takedown or do severe damage with his hands, and while Font can strike with him, I think the pace will wear him down over the course of the fight. I expect Matsumoto to regularly mix in takedown attempts, land clean shots on the feet, and continue his winning ways in the UFC.

Anthony Hernandez by Decision: One of the closest matchups on the card regarding pure ability, this is an outstanding fight. Although they don’t have identical styles, both have similar skills, with a lethal submission game and dangerous striking. Allen is the more technical of the two, using clean boxing and BJJ to get the job done. Hernandez, on the other hand, has more of a ‘blood and guts’ style, always willing to eat a shot to land one while pushing a heavy pace. Honestly, both of these fighters rose up the ranks at the same time, and I’m surprised this matchup wasn’t made before now. Although I think they’re close in terms of skill, it’s my opinion that Hernandez has fought the tougher competition in the UFC so far. Not that Allen hasn’t faced any adversity, but Hernandez has had to survive in deep waters numerous times and still came out the victor, constantly finding himself in grueling battles. I think Hernandez will push a heavy pace from the opening bell, stay in Allen’s face the entire time, and ultimately walk away with another win.

Song Yadong Moneyline: This is an outstanding fight to cap off a very solid Fight Night card. Easily two of the most exciting fighters in the Bantamweight division, there’s sure to be plenty of highlights created by this matchup. Although this is a classic striker vs. grappler matchup on paper, it’s a bit more complicated than that. Neither man is simply a grappler nor a striker: Cejudo has a very unorthodox, karate-like striking style, while Yadong has proved to be an outstanding wrestler in his own right, both offensive and defensive. Both offer a very unique puzzle for any opponent, so it’ll be fascinating to see how their respective gameplans playout on Saturday night. Since returning from retirement in 2023, Cejuo has struggled significantly when unable to work his wrestling offense, consistently getting pieced up on the feet in his last two outings. Yadong has had outstanding takedown defense in the UFC, and if he can force Cejudo onto his back foot and keep the fight standing, it’ll be a long night for Triple C. I expect Yadong to consistently deny Cejudo’s takedowns, land the cleaner strikes on the feet, and become the third consecutive fighter to defeat Cejudo.

UFC Fight Night: Cannonier vs. Rodrigues Preview

Jared Cannonier fires a head kick at Kelvin Gastelum. Credit: MMA Fighting.

The UFC returns to its headquarters at the APEX this Saturday with an outstanding Fight Night card. There are sure to be highlights created throughout the night, with both the prelims and the main card loaded with outstanding matchups and fantastic fighters. In the co-main event, we’ll see a matchup of talented Featherweights when the surging Youseff Zalal takes on divisional stalwart Calvin Kattar. In the main event, two heavy-handed brawlers will take center stage when the always-dangerous Jared Cannonier faces off against brutally powerful Gregory Rodrigues. Let’s take a look at the fights on the main card.

Rodolfo Vieira vs. Andre Petroski

Rodolfo Vieira secures an arm triangle choke on Armen Petrosyan. Credit: MMA Fighting.

Middleweight Bout

Rodolfo Vieira: 10-2-0, 1 KO/TKO, 9 Sub.

Andre Petroski: 12-4-0, 4 KO/TKO, 4 Sub.

Vieira has won three of his last five fights and has UFC victories over Cody Brundage (10-6-0), Dustin Stoltzfus (16-6-0), and Armen Petrosyan (9-4-0). He is among the most credentialed Jiu-Jitsu players in MMA and has won gold medals at the ADCC, World Championships, AJP Abu Dhabi World Pro, and more. He’s averaging over four takedowns landed per fifteen minutes and is very explosive, able to land takedowns in open space and along the fence. Vieira has a 100% finish rate, and all of his submission wins have been via choke, making him highly dangerous if he gets a hold of his opponent’s neck. On the feet, he uses basic boxing combinations and stays behind his jab, possessing solid power and typically using his striking to set up his grappling. Training with Team Nogueira, he advances with lightning speed on the ground, has heavy top pressure, and powerful ground and pound. Vieira has shown consistent improvement in his striking and is more willing to engage in striking exchanges, but he is still far more comfortable on the mat.

Andre Petroski attempts to lock up a rear naked choke on Wellington Turman. Credit: MMA Fighting.

Petroski has won three of his last five bouts and has UFC victories coming over Josh Fremd (11-6-0), Gerald Meerschaert (37-18-0), and Wellington Turman (18-8-0). He has a background in collegiate wrestling and is landing, on average, nearly four takedowns per 15 minutes. He has excellent offensive grappling, is able to land takedowns in open space, and often times double legs as his opponent throws strikes. On the ground, Petroski transitions quickly and is always pursuing a finish, whether via submission or ground and pound. Training at Renzo Gracie Philly, he has outstanding submissions, particularly chokes, and will regularly pursue them. He throws every punch with power when he’s on his feet, regularly loading up and firing bombs at his opponent. Petroski heavily favors his left hand and constantly looks to close the distance and unload power punches inside the pocket.

Ismael Bonfim vs. Nazim Sadykhov

Ismael Bonfim uncorks a right hand on Vinc Pichel. Credit: Ag. Fight.

Lightweight Bout

Ismael Bonfim: 20-4-0, 9 KO/TKO, 4 Sub.

Nazim Sadykhov: 9-1-1, 6 KO/TKO, 2 Sub.

Bonfim has won four of his last five outings and has UFC victories over Terrance McKinney (16-7-0) and Vinc Pichel (14-4-0). He is an exceptional striker with great technical boxing and fantastic range management. He does an excellent job of varying his shots, attacking the head and body evenly, and constantly pursuing a finish. Bonfim is willing to brawl inside the pocket, has devastating knees, and throws everything in combination. He is extremely explosive and always coming forward, often looking to land countershots. Training at Cerrado MMA, he has great cardio and can throw with power and volume, never gassing himself out or overextending. Bonfim is at his best when dictating the pace and controlling the center of the octagon, searching for counters and fight-ending shots.

Nazim Sadykhov secures a rear naked choke and submits Terrance McKinney. Credit: MMA Fighting.

Sadykhov has won four of his last five fights and has UFC victories over Terrance McKinney (16-7-0) and Evan Elder (9-2-0). He is a well-rounded, heavy-handed scrapper who is dangerous anywhere the fight goes. He has excellent footwork, holding the center of the Octagon while remaining in perpetual motion. Sadykhov remains technical throughout and always pushes a heavy pace, keeping his guard high and punches straight while still throwing with power. Training with Serra-Longo Fight Team, he’s averaging nearly two takedowns landed per fifteen minutes and has excellent scrambles and reversals, typically finding himself in top position following grappling exchanges. He can transition very quickly in top position and can find submissions with impressive speed, particularly chokes. Sadykhov has secured half his finishes in round three and can finish a fight at any time, regardless of how late or early on.

Edmen Shahbazyan vs. Dylan Budka

Edmen Shahbazyan unloads ground and pound onto AJ Dobson. Credit: MMA Fighting.

Middleweight Bout

Edmen Shahbazyan: 13-5-0, 11 KO/TKO, 1 Sub.

Dylan Budka: 7-4-0, 1 KO/TKO, 2 Sub.

Shahbazyan has won two of his last five bouts and has UFC victories over Brad Tavares (20-11-0), Dalcha Lungiambula (11-6-0), and AJ Dobson (7-3-0). He’s a technical kickboxer with significant power and great footwork. He fights behind his jab, favors power to volume, and constantly adds kicks to the end of combinations. He has excellent footwork and distance management and can go in and out of the pocket without absorbing much damage. Shahbazyan has solid offensive grappling, landing, on average, over two takedowns per fifteen minutes, and has brutal ground and pound. Training at Xtreme Couture, he’s always throwing in combination, keeping his opponent on the back foot and seeking a knockout. Eleven of Shahbazyan’s twelve finishes have come in the first round, and he’s at his best early on in the fight.

Dylan Budka fires a right hand at Andre Petroski. Credit: MMA Junkie.

Budka has won two of his last five outings and is looking for his first UFC victory. He’s a powerful wrestler constantly looking to get the fight to the mat. On the feet, he tends to blitz into the pocket with wide, looping hooks, often using his striking to set up his grappling. Budka is a tenacious wrestler, always willing to work for a takedown, whether it’s in open space or along the fence. He’s averaging over two takedowns landed per fifteen minutes in the UFC and has heavy top control, often holding a position and looking for submission openings instead of trying to posture. Training with Demolition Fight Team, he’s also an excellent defensive grappler, possessing outstanding takedown defense and is very strong inside the clinch. Budka pushes a heavy pace throughout the fight, constantly looking to wear down his opponents with his offense.

#10 Calvin Kattar vs. Youssef Zalal

Calvin Kattar lands a brutal left elbow on Josh Emmett. Credit: Zuffa LLC.

Featherweight Bout

Calvin Kattar: 23-8-0, 11 KO/TKO, 2 Sub.

Youssef Zalal: 16-5-1, 4 KO/TKO, 9 Sub.

Kattar has won one of his last five fights and has UFC victories over #12 ranked Featherweight Giga Chikadze (15-4-0), #12 ranked Featherweight Dan Ige (18-9-0), and Andre Fili (24-11-0). He is a technical, patient boxer who fights behind his jab before letting go of brutal combinations with his hands. He pushes an insane pace, having surpassed 100 significant strikes landed in four of his last six fights, and can easily push that heavy pace over five rounds. Training with the New England Cartel, Kattar does a great job of lulling his opponent in by staying patient and not putting out a ton of offense before letting go of big combinations and darting back out to range. While he won’t typically initiate grappling exchanges, he has shown some solid wrestling abilities and has defended 72% of takedowns attempted on him in the UFC. When he finds himself in top position, he has heavy ground and pound and top control. Kattar has proven to be one of the toughest fighters in the UFC, regularly surviving in deep waters, and has a granite chin.

Youssef Zalal lands a brutal, cracking knee on the jaw of Jack Shore. Credit: MMA Fighting.

Zalal is on a six-fight win streak and has UFC victories over Jack Shore (17-3-0), Billy Quarantillo (18-7-0), and Jordan Griffin (18-10-0). Now on his second run in the promotion, He’s a well-rounded fighter with solid wrestling and technical kickboxing. He’s constantly moving, using his footwork to hold the center and keep his opponent on the outside. Zalal has outstanding elbows and knees and won’t get sloppy, never telegraphing attacks. Training at FactoryX Muay Thai, he has excellent wrestling and is averaging over two takedowns landed per fifteen minutes in the UFC. He won’t force anything on the ground, remaining patient and keeping himself in advantageous positions. Zalal has never been finished in his career and is willing to engage the fight anywhere.

#7 Jared Cannonier vs. Gregory Rodrigues

Jared Cannonier stuns Sean Strickland with a stiff right hand. Credit: Zuffa LLC.

Middleweight Bout

Jared Cannonier: 17-8-0, 10 KO/TKO, 2 Sub.

Gregory Rodrigues: 16-5-0, 10 KO/TKO, 3 Sub.

Cannonier has won two of his last five bouts and has UFC victories over #2 ranked Middleweight Sean Strickland (29-7-0), #8 ranked Middleweight Marvin Vettori (19-7-1), and Jack Hermansson (24-8-0). He has fought at Heavyweight and Light Heavyweight in his promotional tenure and carries that Heavyweight power at 185 pounds. He throws everything with fight-ending intentions, constantly pressuring forward and always willing to eat a shot to land one. Cannonier has excellent footwork and regularly switches stances, typically opening up his combinations with his jab. Training at MMA LAB, Cannonier is fantastic at moving in and out of the pocket and usually won’t stay at range for long, often throwing damaging leg kicks when outside of the pocket. What he lacks in volume, he makes up for in power, and his pace increases as the fight continues. Cannonier is unlikely to take the fight to the mat but can land devastating ground and pound if he gets top position.

Gregory Rodrigues lands a stinging uppercut on Christian Leroy Duncan. Credit: MMA Fighting.

Rodrigues has won four of his last five outings and has UFC victories over Junyong Park (18-6-0), Chidi Njokuani (24-10-0), and Brad Tavares (20-10-0). “Robocop” has one of the best nicknames in MMA and some of the most devastating power in the promotion. He fights with a powerful kickboxing style, is willing to engage both in the pocket and at range, and has quick kicks for someone his size. Training at Kill Cliff FC, Rodrigues has knockout ability at all times and can seemingly find finishes from nowhere. He has excellent range management and movement and can land in the pocket and return to range unscathed. He has solid accuracy and volume to match his power, landing significant strikes with 56% accuracy in his UFC tenure. Rodrigues has an excellent chin and is more than willing to eat a shot to land one, regularly getting drawn into wild brawls.

Best Bets

Edmen Shahbazyan by KO/TKO: A matchup of two fighters at very different points of their UFC careers, this will be a fun one. This fight will be Budka’s third UFC appearance since signing in 2023, while this will be Shahbazyan’s twelfth fight in the promotion since 2018. They also have very different styles, with Budka being primarily a wrestler, constantly charging forward and pursuing takedowns. Shahbazyan, on the other hand, is a slick striker who’s constantly looking to damage his opponent with combinations and powerful kicks. Although both excel at their specialties, Shahbazyan is the more well-rounded of the two and the more experienced fighter. Shahbazyan has successfully defended 65% of takedowns attempted on him and has a solid wrestling background to supplement his outstanding kickboxing. Although Budka pushes a heavy pace, I expect Shahbazyan to deny takedowns early, wear Budka down, and ultimately earn a knockout victory.

Kattar vs. Zalal to Go the Distance: An outstanding matchup of two highly entertaining fighters, there are sure to be highlights in this fight. Both of these fighters are highly experienced and durable, and they have similar height and reach, making this matchup far closer than the betting odds may suggest. Despite recent struggles, Kattar is still one of the toughest, grittiest fighters in the UFC, always leaving everything inside the Octagon. Even with these recent losses, he’s still never been legitimately knocked out, with his one KO loss to Arnold Allen being caused by a knee injury he suffered during the fight. Zalal has been on a tear since re-entering the UFC and has won all his last six fights via finish, with four of them via submission. Despite this finishing streak, only three of those wins came in the UFC, and none against someone as durable as Kattar. I expect plenty of entertaining, exciting, striking exchanges and some close wrestling exchanges, but I anticipate this fight going to the judges’ scorecards.

Cannonier vs. Rodrigues to Not Go the Distance: A somewhat shocking matchup of two exceptionally powerful Middleweights, this is a fantastic way to close out this card. In a combined 46 professional fights, these two have combined for 20 knockout victories and 25 total finish victories. Both are well known for their lethal punching power and brawling tendencies, with either rarely appearing in a boring fight. Rodrigues has only been to a single decision in his last six outings, with all his other five fights ending via knockout. Although Cannonier has gone to multiple decisions recently, he hasn’t been matched up with a true brawler like Rodrigues in some time, often fighting slick, lengthy strikers or dominant grapplers. Both also would benefit massively from a finish victory; Cannonier needs to bounce back from two consecutive hard-fought losses, while Rodrigues is fighting a ranked opponent and main eventing for the first time in the UFC. I expect these two to go toe-to-toe from the opening bell, and with the power these fighters carry, it’s only a matter of time until someone is asleep on the canvas.

UFC 312 Preview

Dricus Du Plessis and Sean Strickland both celebrate following their first matchup. Credit: Zuffa LLC.

The UFC heads down under to Sydney, Australia, with a fantastic pay-per-view card. Filled throughout with local talent, powerful finishers, and rising stars, this card is sure to deliver. In the co-main event, we’ll see the powerful grappler Tatiana Suarez receive her long-awaited title shot against the dominant Strawweight champion, Zhang Weili. In the main event, there’s a rematch of epic proportions when the brash fan favorite Sean Strickland faces off again against current titleholder Dricus Du Plessis. Let’s take a look at the fights on the main card.

Jake Matthews vs. Francisco Prado

Jake Matthews stuns André Fialho with a cracking right hand. Credit: MMA Fighting.

Welterweight Bout

Jake Matthews: 20-7-0, 5 KO/TKO, 8 Sub.

Francisco Prado: 12-2-0, 6 KO/TKO, 6 Sub.

Matthews has won three of his last five fights and has UFC victories over André Fialho (16-9-0), Li Jingliang (19-9-0), and Phil Rowe (10-5-0). A member of the UFC since 2014, he initially established himself as a grappler, possessing a black belt in BJJ and averaging over one takedown landed per fifteen minutes. Lately, though, he’s shown a considerable uptick in aggression on the feet, being more than willing to brawl in the pocket. Training at Nexus, Matthews uses technical kickboxing and stays behind his jab, often trying to draw his opponent in so he can counterstrike. He varies his attacks well, has a solid chin, and throws everything with power without loading up. He has power in both hands, superb accuracy, and doesn’t often overreach, typically remaining patient and picking his shots. When Matthews does take it to the mat, he has great takedowns, excellent top control, and throws heavy ground and pound.

Francisco Prado lands a brutal spinning elbow on Ottman Azaitar. Credit: MMA Fighting.

Prado has won three of his last five bouts and has a UFC victory over Ottman Azaitar (13-3-0). He’s an explosive striker who throws every shot with power and is constantly hunting a knockout. He vastly favors power over volume, constantly throwing single shots and naked kicks with KO intentions. Prado tends to headhunt, often blitzing forward to unload looping hooks and uppercuts. Training at Goat Shed Academy, he won’t throw much at range, always looking to close the distance and let his hands go inside the pocket. He does a great job of holding the octagon's center and will constantly look to counterstrike. Prado can do severe damage without much space and has particularly devastating elbow strikes.

Jimmy Crute vs. Rodolfo Bellato

Jimmy Crute fires a head kick at Jamahal Hill. Credit: MMA Mania.

Light Heavyweight Bout

Jimmy Crute: 12-4-1, 5 KO/TKO, 4 Sub.

Rodolfo Bellato: 12-2-0, 7 KO/TKO, 4 Sub.

Crute has won one of his last five outings with one draw and has UFC victories over Paul Craig (17-9-1), Modestas Bukauskas (16-6-0), and Michal Oleksiejczuk (19-9-0). He has heavy hands and kicks on the feet, throwing every shot with power. He does an excellent job of managing distance, often picking his opponent apart at range with various attacks. Crute pushes a heavy pace and always pursues a finish, only seeing the judges’ scorecards once so far in his promotional tenure. He is an excellent grappler, holding a black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, and will often shoot for takedowns early. Training at Greco and Stewie’s House, Crute is averaging nearly five takedowns landed per fifteen minutes and is a tenacious wrestler, often chaining takedowns together. He has excellent top control and transitions quickly on the ground, averaging two submission attempts per fifteen minutes, and has two wins by Kimura in the UFC.

Rodolfo Bellato rains down ground and pound onto Ihor Potieria. Credit: Ag. Fight.

Bellato has won four of his last five fights and has a UFC victory over Ihor Potieria (20-8-0). He’s a heavy-handed scrapper that’s comfortable anywhere the fight goes. He throws every shot with power and often headhunts, regularly closing the distance and firing powerful hooks at his opponent. Bellato can throw with both power and volume but won’t get wild, remaining technical and carrying his power throughout the fight. He heats up as the fight continues, often taking some damage early before letting his hands go. Training with Team Nogueira, he has outstanding clinch striking and can do severe without much space, particularly with his elbows and knees. Bellato has proven exceptionally durable and capable of surviving in deep waters, always willing to eat a shot to land one while constantly pressuring forward. 

Justin Tafa vs. Tallison Teixeira

Justin Tafa blasts Parker Porter with a powerful left hand. Credit: MMA Fighting.

Heavyweight Bout

Justin Tafa: 7-4-0, 7 KO/TKO, 0 Sub.

Tallison Teixeira: 7-0-0, 6 KO/TKO,1 Sub.

Tafa has won three of his last five bouts with one no-contest and has UFC victories over Parker Porter (14-9-0), Harry Hunsucker (7-6-0), and Austen Lane (13-5-0). With a style reminiscent of his inspiration, Mark Hunt, he loves to brawl and has one-shot knockout power. He has an excellent chin and constantly throws bombs, often opening combinations with leg kicks. Training at NTG Fight, Tafa is a patient striker who will look for openings but is willing to eat one to land one. He has never been taken down in the UFC or attempted a takedown, always preferring to keep the fight standing. He has finished all his wins, and when he’s gotten out of the first round in the UFC, he’s averaging 60 significant strikes landed per fight. Tafa has shown he has the cardio to go 15 minutes, but with most of his victories coming in the first round, he’s most dangerous early on.

Tallison Teixeira loads up a right hand and prepares to fire on Arthur Lopes. Credit: Kevin Iole.

Teixeira is undefeated and making his UFC debut following a first-round KO victory on Dana White’s Contender Series over Arthur Lopes (6-2-0). He’s a massive, lengthy striker with serious, one-shot knockout power in his hands. Standing at 6’7”, he uses his length well, often firing kicks and long straights from range before entering the pocket to blast his opponent with hooks and uppercuts. Teixeira fights behind his jab and regularly mixes kicks into combinations but tends to headhunt, constantly pursuing a knockout. He has a black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu but won’t typically initiate grappling exchanges, often remaining on his feet and taking advantage of what’s typically a significant advantage in height and reach. Training with Team Lucas Mineiro, he has a great chin and is willing to brawl on the inside, but he’s also extremely dangerous from range. Teixeira has not seen a second round in his brief professional career and has scored two finishes in 30 seconds or less. 

(C) Zhang Weili vs. #1 Tatiana Suarez

Zhang Weili viciously chokes out Carla Esparza to reclaim the Strawweight title. Credit: MMA Fighting.

Women’s Strawweight Title Bout

Zhang Weili: 25-3-0, 11 KO/TKO, 8 Sub.

Tatiana Suarez: 11-0-0, 2 KO/TKO, 6 Sub.

Zhang has won four of her last five outings and has UFC victories over #2 ranked Strawweight Yan Xiaonan (19-4-0), #4 ranked Strawweight Jéssica Andrade (26-13-0), and #5 ranked Strawweight Amanda Lemos (14-4-1). She pushes a serious pace, both on the feet and the ground, and is dangerous wherever the fight goes. She is arguably the most powerful puncher in the division, made even more hazardous by her accuracy and ability to stay technical while still throwing bombs. Training at Beijing Black Tiger, Zhang varies her strikes well, attacking both the head and body and mixing kicks into combinations. She’s averaging over two takedowns landed per fifteen minutes and will immediately posture up and unload punches if she gets into top position. As she does on the feet, she always looks for the finish on the mat, constantly looking to improve position or find openings for submissions or ground and pound. This Saturday’s matchup will be Zhang’s eighth title fight in just twelve UFC appearances, having exclusively fought the best of the best in her promotional tenure.

Tatiana Suarez submits Jéssica Andrade with a guillotine choke. Credit: MMA Mania.

Suarez is undefeated and has UFC victories over #1 ranked Flyweight Alexa Grasso (16-4-1), #4 ranked Strawweight Jéssica Andrade (26-13-0), and Carla Esparza (20-8-0). One of the most skilled female grapplers in the UFC, she’s a dominant wrestler who’s nearly impossible to shake off. She has excellent takedowns, averaging over six landed per 15 minutes, and has landed multiple takedowns in all of her UFC fights. Training at Millennia MMA, Suarez won’t waste much time on the feet, often throwing kicks at range before closing distance and clinching up. Having defended 100% of takedowns attempted on her in the UFC, she’s seemingly always one step ahead in the grappling department, typically dominating her opponent if she can take top position. She’s extremely defensively sound and rarely takes much damage, landing, on average, about 3 times as many strikes as she absorbs per minute. The Ultimate Fighter 23 winner, Suarez, has the highest top position percentage in UFC women’s Strawweight history at 61.3%, and is rarely put into dangerous spots.

(C) Dricus Du Plessis vs. #1 Sean Strickland

Dricus Du Plessis postures up and prepares to unload ground and pound strikes onto Robert Whittaker. Credit: MMA Mania.

Middleweight Title Bout

Dricus Du Plessis: 22-2-0, 9 KO/TKO, 11 Sub.

Sean Strickland: 29-6-0, 11 KO/TKO, 4 Sub.

Du Plessis is on a nine-fight win streak and has UFC victories over #4 ranked Middleweight Israel Adesanya (24-5-0), #5 ranked Middleweight Robert Whittaker (27-8-0), and his current opponent, Sean Strickland. He utilizes a kickboxing style on the feet, regularly throwing a barrage of kicks from distance, especially to the legs. He has one-shot knockout power, with many of his knockouts seemingly coming from nowhere. Training at CIT Performance Institute, Du Plessis has power in both hands and will often blitz forward to throw big combinations. He throws everything with power and never telegraphs his shots, making him dangerous at all times. He frequently mixes grappling into his attacks, averaging over three takedowns landed per fifteen minutes. When on top, Du Plessis stays patient and won’t force anything, focusing on getting to advantageous positions before throwing ground and pound.

Sean Strickland forces Abus Magomedov to shell up as he throws a combination. Credit: Zuffa LLC.

Strickland has won four of his last five fights and has UFC victories over #2 ranked Middleweight Nassourdine Imavov (16-4-0), #4 ranked Middleweight Israel Adesanya (24-5-0), and #9 ranked Middleweight Brendan Allen (24-6-0). He’s an excellent striker, constantly coming forward and letting his hands go. While he prefers to keep the fight standing, he’s willing to grapple, averaging just under one takedown landed per fifteen minutes. Strickland also has solid takedown defense, defending 77% of takedowns attempted on him in the UFC. He uses a very upright boxing style on the feet, throwing every shot with purpose and in combination. He pushes a ridiculously heavy pace throughout, landing, on average, 151 significant strikes in his last five fights. Training at Xtreme Couture, Strickland tries to keep his opponent on the back foot as much as possible to open up opportunities to land strikes, especially his one-two.

Best Bets

Crute vs. Bellato to Not Go the Distance: A matchup of two well-rounded, heavy-handed fighters who are dangerous anywhere the fight goes; I expect plenty of highlights. In a combined 31 total fights, these two have only been to the judges’ scorecards five times and have produced 16 first-round finishes. While both have proven capable of going a full fifteen minutes, they always pursue a finish and leave everything inside the cage. Both are looking to score significant victories: Crute is looking for a bounce-back win after recent setbacks, and Bellato is looking to establish himself further after an excellent debut outing. With both of these powerful finishers pushing a heavy pace, I’d be stunned to see this go all three rounds. Although it may make it out of the first round, I anticipate an impressive finish victory for one of these fighters on Saturday.

Zhang Weili Moneyline: Zhang looks to earn her fourth title defense in this matchup, while after years of hype and setbacks, Suarez has finally fought her way to a title. While this particular matchup hasn’t been long-awaited, many fans have been waiting for Suarez to realize a title shot since her UFC debut in 2016. Now that she’s finally reached the top, the hype has truly boiled over, with Suarez being the betting favorite despite Zhang’s recent dominance. I’m shocked that the oddsmakers haven’t learned from UFC 311 when Umar Nurmagomedov was a favorite over Merab Dvalishvili; once again, a top-level, dominant champion is the underdog heading into their title defense. Although Suarez is undefeated and has some outstanding statistics to back her hype, this is by far her toughest matchup, with this being her first appearance in the Octagon since 2023 and only her third bout since 2020. Suarez has also never gone five rounds in her career, and this will be her first-ever appearance on the main card of a pay-per-view. Weili has vast championship and main card experience and has been consistently active since joining the UFC, fighting nothing but the best for multiple years. I expect Suarez to struggle with Zhang's pace and strength, and I anticipate Zhang will take full control in the championship rounds if it makes it that far. Ultimately, I expect a victory and another successful title defense for Zhang this weekend.

Dricus Du Plessis Moneyline: Less than a year after their first meeting in Toronto, two of the best Middleweights in the world will clash again. Considering how little time has passed since their first matchup, neither of their styles or skills has changed significantly. Strickland is still a pressure fighter, utilizing volume and constant forward motion to wear down and damage his opponents. Du Plessis is still an unorthodox, unpredictable wildman who can finish the fight from anywhere. While I expect it to be closely contended like the first fight, I anticipate a similar result. Du Plessis has an evident strength and power advantage and has proven to have shockingly good cardio, which are all serious problems for Strickland. Strickland’s usual gameplan relies on his cardio and being able to outpace his opponent, something he struggled with in their first matchup. I also expect more grappling exchanges in this bout, something I believe Du Plessis has a solid advantage in. I expect Du Plessis to weather the early onslaught, withstand Strickland’s pressure, and put an official end to their rivalry with another title defense.

UFC Fight Night: Adesanya vs. Imavov Preview

Israel Adesanya cracks Robert Whittaker with a vicious knee to the head. Credit: Wrestling Observer.

The UFC heads to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, with an outstanding Fight Night card. From start to finish, this card is stacked with top-level talent and trained killers, all looking to add to their highlight reels. In the co-main event, we’ll see a matchup of two high-level strikers when the red-hot Shara Magomedov takes on the always-dangerous Michael “Venom” Page. In the main event, the former Middleweight champion Israel Adesanya will face off against surging contender Nassourdine Imavov. Let’s take a look at the fights on the main card.

Farès Ziam vs. Mike Davis

Farès Ziam blasts Michael Figlak with an impressive head kick. Credit: Yahoo Sports.

Lightweight Bout

Farès Ziam: 16-4-0, 6 KO/TKO, 4 Sub.

Mike Davis: 11-2-0, 7 KO/TKO, 2 Sub.

Ziam has won four of his last five fights and has UFC victories over Jai Herbert (13-5-1), Claudio Puelles (13-4-0), and Jamie Mullarkey (17-8-0). He is a patient, technical kickboxer, constantly feinting and looking for openings to land powerful, straight shots. He’s at his best when he takes the center of the octagon and fights at range, picking his opponent apart with a mix of kicks and punches. Ziam is a capable grappler with a solid submission game, particularly chokes. Training at Kill Cliff FC, he’s very defensively sound, having defended 66% of significant strikes attempted on him in the UFC. He’s proven capable of surviving in deep waters on the ground, regularly getting taken down and fighting back to his feet. Ziam has outstruck his opponent in all of his UFC wins, always pushing a consistent pace throughout the fight.

Mike Davis lands a brutal flying knee on Thomas Gifford. Credit: MMA Mania.

Davis has won four of his last five bouts and has UFC victories over Viacheslav Borshchev (8-4-1), Mason Jones (14-3-0), and Natan Levy (8-2-0). He’s a well-rounded, powerful fighter who can finish the fight anywhere. He’s constantly pressuring forward, fighting behind his jab, and throwing every shot with power without telegraphing. Davis is averaging nearly three takedowns landed per fifteen minutes in the UFC and is dangerous on the mat, with excellent submissions and brutal ground and pound. Training at Fusion X-Cel, he has great takedown entries and timing and can bring his opponent to the mat in open space or the clinch. He’s very fluid on the ground, transitioning between positions effortlessly, and has outstanding top and back control. Davis has secured most of his finished after round one, pushing a consistent pace throughout and remaining dangerous at all times. 

Said Nurmagomedov vs. Vinícius Oliveira

Said Nurmagomedov fires a head kick at Douglas Silva de Andrade. Credit: MMA Fighting.

Bantamweight Bout

Said Nurmagomedov: 18-3-0, 4 KO/TKO, 6 Sub.

Vinícius Oliveira: 21-3-0, 16 KO/TKO, 2 Sub.

Nurmagomedov has won four of his last five outings and has UFC victories over Douglas Silva de Andrade (29-6-0), Cody Stamann (21-8-1), and Muin Gafurov (20-6-0). Don’t let the last name fool you; he’s a kick-first striker who loves to throw flashy, spinning attacks. He prefers power to volume and can produce a flash knockout anytime. Although Nurmagomedov throws some unorthodox attacks, he always remains composed, keeps his guard high, and uses excellent footwork. Training at DagFighter, he’s averaging over one takedown and one submission attempted per fifteen minutes and sets up his grappling with his striking. Unsurprisingly, he has a wrestling base and is highly dangerous with both his ground and pound and submission game. Nurmagomedov does a fantastic job of evenly varying his shots, attacking both the head and body.

Vinícius Oliveira lands a brutal flying knee on Bernardo Sopaj. Credit: MMA Fighting.

Oliveira has won four of his last five fights and has UFC victories over Ricky Simón (20-6-0) and Bernardo Sopaj (12-3-0). He’s a vicious, elusive striker with serious power in his hands and an unpredictable arsenal of attacks. He utilizes a very unorthodox stance and movement style, keeping his hands down and relying on his head movement and footwork to avoid damage. Oliveira typically remains at range, keeping his head off the centerline before entering the pocket to unload wild, looping hooks. Oliveira never telegraphs his next move, sometimes picking his shots and staying at range and other times extending long punch combinations punctuated with heavy kicks. Training with Sombra Team MMA, he won’t typically initiate grappling exchanges but has shown outstanding takedown defense in the UFC and will not accept a position on his back. Thirteen of his sixteen knockouts have come in the first round, and he’s most dangerous early on, carrying his power throughout but often reducing his pace and footwork as the fight continues. 

#4 Sergei Pavlovich vs. #9 Jairzinho Rozenstruik

Sergei Pavlovich unloads brutal ground and pound onto Curtis Blaydes. Credit: MMA Fighting.

Heavyweight Bout

Sergei Pavlovich: 18-3-0, 15 KO/TKO, 0 Sub.

Jairzinho Rozenstruik: 15-5-0, 13 KO/TKO, 0 Sub.

Pavlovich has won three of his last five bouts and has UFC victories over #5 ranked Heavyweight Curtis Blaydes (18-5-0), #11 ranked Heavyweight Tai Tuivasa (15-8-0), and #10 ranked Heavyweight Derrick Lewis (28-12-0). One of the most destructive punchers in the sport, he comes out guns blazing, on the hunt for a knockout the second the fight begins. He tends to fight behind his jab and throw in combination, constantly pressuring forward. Pavlovich never throws kicks, always looking to close the distance and let his hands go inside the pocket. Training at American Top Team, he doesn’t need much space to do significant damage and throws everything with bad intentions. He has one-shot knockout power, with all fifteen of his knockouts coming in round one. Pavlovich has left the first round once in his last ten fights and always pushes a heavy pace from the opening bell.

Jairzinho Rozenstruik tags Augusto Sakai with a powerful left hook. Credit: Zuffa LLC.

Rozenstruik has won three of his last five outings and has UFC victories over #11 ranked Heavyweight Tai Tuivasa (15-8-0), #14 ranked Heavyweight Shamil Gaziev (13-1-0), and Alistair Overeem (47-19-0). He is a former professional kickboxer with a record of 76-8, with 64 wins by knockout. Nine of his thirteen career knockouts have come in the first round, and he’s at his most dangerous early on. Training at American Top Team, Rozenstruik is an excellent counter-striker who looks to draw his opponent into the pocket so he can land big shots with his right hand. He has one-shot KO power but can string together long combinations if he lets his hands go. He has solid takedown defense and has defended 75% of takedowns attempted on him in the UFC, always preferring to keep it standing. Rozenstruik has excellent hand speed for a Heavyweight, throws everything with power, and regularly mixes kicks into the end of combinations.

#14 Shara Magomedov vs. #15 (WW) Michael Page

Shara Magomedov lands a stinging right hand on Michal Oleksiejczuk. Credit: MMA Fighting.

Middleweight Bout

Shara Magomedov: 15-0-0, 12 KO/TKO, 0 Sub.

Michael Page: 22-3-0, 13 KO/TKO, 3 Sub.

Magomedov is undefeated and has UFC victories over Bruno Silva (23-12-0), Antonio Trocoli (12-5-0), and Michal Oleksiejczuk (19-9-0). He’s a devastating, diverse striker with a fantastic arsenal of kicks. He’s constantly moving and switching stances, never remaining in one spot for long and moving in and out of the pocket efficiently. Magomedov is excellent at range, peppering his opponent with lead leg attacks before blitzing in to throw bombs. Training at GOR MMA, he rarely initiates grappling exchanges, often accepting position on his back and throwing strikes. He regularly looks to land spinning attacks, particularly elbows and backfists. Magomedov has scored three finishes in less than a minute and always comes out guns blazing.

Michael Page lands a devastating reverse elbow on Kevin Holland. Credit: MMA Fighting.

Page has won three of his last five fights and has a UFC victory over Kevin Holland (26-13-0). Arguably the biggest star in Bellator history, he held a record of 17-2 in the promotion in his decade-long tenure. One of the most dangerous kickboxers in the sport, he has a fantastic arsenal of flashy kicks and flashier celebrations. Training at London Shootfighters, Page is in perpetual motion, keeping his hands down and his stance wide, looking for openings to land devastating kicks or combinations. He never telegraphs his attacks, constantly changes his target, and has fantastic distance management. He won’t typically pursue grappling exchanges but has solid takedown defense and submissions. With 13 finishes in the first round, Page is most dangerous early on.

#2 Israel Adesanya vs. #5 Nassourdine Imavov

Israel Adesanya stuns Marvin Vettori with a cracking uppercut. Credit: Zuffa LLC.

Middleweight Bout

Israel Adesanya: 24-4-0, 16 KO/TKO, 0 Sub.

Nassourdine Imavov: 15-4-0, 6 KO/TKO, 4 Sub.

Adesanya has won two of his last five bouts and has UFC victories over UFC Light Heavyweight champion Alex Pereira (12-2-0), #4 ranked Middleweight Robert Whittaker (27-8-0), and #7 ranked Middleweight Marvin Vettori (19-7-1). He is one of the best technical strikers in MMA and a former professional kickboxer with a record of 75-5 with 29 wins by knockout. Throwing with both power and volume, he’s landed, on average, about 87 significant strikes in his last five fights. Adesanya is highly elusive, rarely taking substantial damage, and is constantly moving and keeping his head off the centerline. Training at City Kickboxing, he has excellent footwork and is comfortable at range and inside the pocket, able to land damage from anywhere. He has a tremendous variety of kicks and does a great job of varying his attacks, always making his strikes highly unpredictable. Adesanya’s last twelve fights were for gold, making him not only prepared for five rounds but highly comfortable in the spotlight.

Nassourdine Imavov sends Jared Cannonier reeling with a left hook. Credit: MMA Mania.

Imavov has won three of his last five outings with one no-contest and has UFC victories over #8 ranked Middleweight Jared Cannonier (17-8-0), #9 ranked Middleweight Brendan Allen (24-6-0), and #10 ranked Middleweight Roman Dolidze (14-3-0). He utilizes a fluid kickboxing style on the feet, fighting behind his jab and throwing every shot with power. He constantly comes forward and has excellent distance management, and although he favors power to volume, he won’t telegraph shots or get wild. Imavov has excellent takedown defense and averages just under one takedown landed per fifteen minutes. He advances position exceptionally quickly on the mat, constantly raining down ground and pound and wearing down his opponent. He won’t force submissions, typically focusing on landing damage, but will pursue chokes if the opportunity is presented. Imavov has excellent technical skills but can get emotional in the cage and be drawn into a brawl.

Best Bets

Sergei Pavlovich by KO/TKO: An excellent matchup of two top-ten Heavyweight strikers, there’s sure to be fireworks in this fight. In a combined 41 fights, the two have produced 28 knockout victories, with 24 coming in the first round. Both fighters have little interest in grappling, and I expect this fight to play out entirely on the feet. While Rozenstruik is the more experienced and technical striker of the two, Pavlovich has unbelievable punching power. Although Pavlovich hasn’t looked outstanding in his last two appearances, he largely seemed to struggle when his opponent stayed in his face and pushed a high pace. This is the antithesis to Rozenstruik’s fighting style, who spends plenty of time and range and will not constantly force the action. I believe that when given a chance to control the pace and find his range, Pavlovich will return to his winning ways and score another brutal knockout victory.

Vinícius Oliveira Moneyline: This is a matchup of two fascinating, unorthodox fighters. Oliveira has a wild striking style, constantly keeping his hands down and unloading wild, looping hooks inside the pocket. Nurmagomedov breaks the typical Dagestani mold, often preferring to stand and utilize his kickboxing instead of takedowns and control time. Although Nurmagomedov has the ability to grapple, it’s by no means his first option, and Oliveira has shown excellent takedown defense in his brief promotional tenure. Oliveira has the advantage if the fight stays on the feet, and if he can deny takedowns, it will wear on Nurmagomedov’s gas tank. Assuming he can keep the fight standing and on the front foot, I anticipate and impressive victory for Oliveira on Saturday.

Israel Adesanya Moneyline: A top-five matchup of Middleweights, this is an outstanding fight to close out this card. Admittedly, I’m a bit surprised at how close the odds are. Although Imavov is an excellent, well-rounded fighter, Adesanya has fought for nothing but titles since 2019, with this being his first appearance on a Fight Night since his third-ever fight in the UFC. Despite recent losses, Adesanya is still among the best in the world at 185 pounds and has faced nothing but the absolute best competition since realizing a title. Imavov is on a solid win streak but has never faced a striker anywhere near this caliber, and despite having five-round experience, has never fought at a championship-level pace. Ultimately, I think Adesanya will prove too much for Imavov, and he’ll finally put himself back into the win column.

UFC 311 Preview

Islam Makhachev blasts Dustin Poirier with a brutal right hand. Credit: Yahoo Sports.

The UFC visits the Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California, with a fantastic pay-per-view card. From top to bottom, the card is filled with hot prospects, established veterans, and outstanding matchups. In the co-main event, we’ll see a long-anticipated matchup of dangerous grapplers when Bantamweight champion Merab Dvalishvili defends his belt against Umar Nurmagomedov. In the main event, we’ll witness a short-notice matchup on just a day’s notice when the always-game Renato Moicano takes his shot at gold against dominant Lightweight champion Islam Makhachev. Let’s take a look at the fights on the main card.

Kevin Holland vs. Reinier de Ridder

Kevin Holland earns a stoppage victory over Santiago Ponzinibbio. Credit: Zuffa LLC.

Middleweight Bout

Kevin Holland: 26-12-0, 13 KO/TKO, 9 Sub.

Reinier de Ridder: 18-2-0, 4 KO/TKO, 12 Sub.

Holland has won two of his last five fights and has wins over #6 ranked Welterweight Joaquin Buckley (21-6-0), #13 ranked Middleweight Anthony Hernandez (13-2-0), and Michael Chiesa (20-7-0). A wild scrapper who’s comfortable anywhere the fight goes, he’s always dangerous and constantly pursuing a finish. He’s an aggressive striker, throwing everything in combination, and is always willing to brawl. Holland does a great job of moving in and out of the pocket without taking much damage, but he has no problem hanging in close to exchange on the inside. Training at Travis Lutter BJJ, he tends to throw kicks at range, using his legs to set up his hands, often throwing kicks naked or at the start of a combination. He holds a black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and has a slick submission game, possessing particularly lethal chokes. Holland is one of the most active fighters in MMA, having fought 23 times in the UFC since 2018, and has earned eight post-fight bonuses in his promotional tenure.

Reinier de Ridder submits Vitaly Bigdash with an impressive inverted triangle choke. Credit: MMA Fighting.

De Ridder has won three of his last five bouts and has a UFC victory over Gerald Meerschaert (37-18-0). He’s a former ONE Championship Middleweight and Light Heavyweight champion and is an outstanding, dangerous grappler. He has an awkward striking style, remaining upright, fighting behind his jab, and throwing kicks at range before closing the distance. De Ridder is powerful in the clinch and constantly looks for body lock and trip takedowns, often from the opening bell. He has heavy top control and is continually attacking and improving in top position, fluidly moving from position to position. He has black belts in Judo and BJJ and uses ground and pound to wear down his opponent and create submission openings, typically pursuing chokes. De Ridder pushes a consistent pace throughout but has found eight of his twelve submissions in round one and is most dangerous early on. 

#6 Jailton Almeida vs. #7 Serghei Spivac

Jailton Almeida rains down ground and pound onto Danilo Marques. Credit: MMA Fighting.

Heavyweight Bout

Jailton Almeida: 21-3-0, 7 KO/TKO, 13 Sub.

Serghei Spivac: 17-4-0, 7 KO/TKO, 8 Sub.

Almeida has won four of his last five outings and has UFC victories over #9 ranked Heavyweight Jairzinho Rozenstruik (15-5-0), #10 ranked Heavyweight Derrick Lewis (28-12-0), and Shamil Abdurakhimov (20-8-0). One of the most dominant grapplers in the Heavyweight division, he’s a powerful wrestler who loves to ragdoll guys bigger than him. He won’t waste much time on the feet, typically shooting in and landing a slam takedown immediately. Almeida is very fluid on the ground and has excellent top control, making it nearly impossible for his opponents to escape. Training at Gãlpao de Luta, he’s finished all his victories and has 11 wins via rear naked choke, making him extremely dangerous if he gets to his opponent’s back. He has vicious ground and pound and is always working for a finish, constantly advancing position, and never overcommitting to anything. Almeida has absorbed, on average, 5 significant strikes per UFC fight and rarely takes much damage.

Serghei Spivac unloads brutal shots onto Jairzinho Rozenstruik. Credit: MMA Mania.

Spivac has won four of his last five fights and has UFC victories over #8 ranked Heavyweight Marcin Tybura (26-9-0), #10 ranked Heavyweight Derrick Lewis (28-12-0), and #11 ranked Heavyweight Tai Tuivasa (15-8-0). He’s a powerful wrestler with brutal ground and pound and excellent top control. He’ll usually shoot in early, more often than not earning the takedown, having landed at least three takedowns in nearly all his UFC wins. Spivac rarely leaves fights up to the judges, with ten first-round finishes in his career and nine of his twelve bouts in the promotion not going the distance. Training with the Polar Bear Team, he has a diverse submission game but will look to land ground and pound before chasing a submission. He’s always looking to land damage on the ground but won’t force anything, being more than willing to hold half guard and work from there. While Spivac usually won’t spend much time on the feet, he has heavy hands and will throw right overhands until closing the distance and pursuing takedowns.

#2 Jiří Procházka vs. #3 Jamahal Hill

Jiří Procházka batters Aleksander Rakić with brutal ground and pound. Credit: MMA Fighting.

Light Heavyweight Bout

Jiří Procházka: 30-5-1, 26 KO/TKO, 3 Sub.

Jamahal Hill: 12-2-0, 7 KO/TKO, 0 Sub.

Procházka has won four of his last five bouts and has UFC victories over #5 ranked Light Heavyweight Aleksander Rakić (14-5-0), #9 ranked Light Heavyweight Volkan Oezdemir (20-8-0), and #11 ranked Light Heavyweight Dominick Reyes (14-4-0). He’s an elusive striker with a unique style and serious power. He has excellent head movement and footwork, never remaining in one spot long and constantly attacking from different angles. Procházka never telegraphs his strikes, always keeping his hands down and throwing every shot with fight-ending intentions. Training at Jetsaam Gym Brno, he’s always coming forward but won’t get sloppy, remaining patient and looking for openings to land strikes. He won’t typically look for takedowns but has solid pressure on top and a great submission game. Procházka hasn’t been to a decision since 2016 and has secured a finish in his last twelve wins with eleven knockouts and one submission.

Jamahal Hill lands a stinging jab on Thiago Santos. Credit: MMA Mania.

Hill has won four of his last five outings and has UFC victories over #10 ranked Light Heavyweight Johnny Walker (21-9-0), Glover Teixeira (33-9-0), and Thiago Santos (22-13-0). He’s a bruising striker with one-shot knockout power who’s constantly pressuring forward. He’ll often look to counterattack, drawing in his opponent before unloading brutal, looping hooks. Hill is accurate, landing 54% of the significant strikes he’s attempted in the UFC, and he throws every shot with purpose. He’s never shot a takedown in the UFC but has defended 73% of them tried on him and has excellent striking in the clinch, especially his knees. Training at Black Lion Jiu-Jitsu, he does a great job of mixing in kicks at the end of combinations, possessing perilous leg and head kicks. He’s earned four post-fight bonuses in nine UFC appearances and always leaves everything inside the cage.

(C) Merab Dvalishvili vs. #2 Umar Nurmagomedov

Merab Dvalishvili lifts up Henry Cejudo and carries him before a slam takedown. Credit: Yahoo Sports.

Bantamweight Title Bout

Merab Dvalishvili: 18-4-0, 3 KO/TKO, 1 Sub.

Umar Nurmagomedov: 18-0-0, 2 KO/TKO, 7 Sub.

Dvalishvili is on an eleven-fight win streak and has UFC victories over #1 ranked Bantamweight Sean O’Malley (18-2-0), #3 ranked Bantamweight Petr Yan (18-5-0), and #7 ranked Bantamweight Henry Cejudo (16-4-0). He has monstrous cardio, relentlessly pursuing takedowns and landing big flurries on the feet. He’s incredibly durable, always willing to eat a shot to land one, and is constantly pressuring forward. Dvalishvili can easily wrestle for five rounds, averaging over six takedowns landed per fifteen minutes in the UFC. Training with the Serra-Longo Fight Team, his constant wrestling threat helps to mask his striking, often coming forward with powerful hooks and big combinations. He never stops moving on the feet or the ground, constantly looking for a better position or opening to land a shot. Always looking to overwhelm his opponents, Dvalishvili lands, on average, nearly twice as many significant strikes per minute than he absorbs.

Umar Nurmagomedov shoots for a double leg takedown on Cory Sandhagen. Credit: Marca.

Nurmagomedov is undefeated and has UFC victories over #4 ranked Bantamweight Cory Sandhagen (17-5-0), Nate Maness (16-3-0), and Sergey Morozov (19-5-0). He’s a technical, well-rounded fighter with big power in his hands and dominant wrestling. He’s constantly switching stances and throwing lead leg attacks, always moving and never staying in one spot for long. Training at the American Kickboxing Academy, Nurmagomedov has fantastic takedowns and top control, often landing takedowns in open space and quickly advancing position. He’s averaging over four takedowns landed per fifteen minutes and remains patient in top position, always looking for openings to land ground and pound or grab a submission. He has devastating power in his hands and can produce a flash knockout at any moment. Six of Nurmagomedov’s seven submissions have been via rear naked choke, so he’ll regularly look to take his opponent’s back.

(C) Islam Makhachev vs. #10 Renato Moicano

Islam Makhachev submits Thiago Moises with a crushing rear naked choke. Credit: EssentiallySports.

Lightweight Title Bout

Islam Makhachev: 26-1-0, 5 KO/TKO, 12 Sub.

Renato Moicano: 20-5-1, 2 KO/TKO, 10 Sub.

Makhachev is on a fourteen-fight win streak and has UFC victories over #1 ranked Featherweight Alex Volkanovski (26-4-0), #2 ranked Lightweight Charles Oliveira (34-10-0), and his current opponent, Arman Tsarukyan. He is a commanding wrestler who wastes little time taking it to the mat and pursuing a finish. Training at AKA, he prefers grappling but is a solid striker, landing 59% of his significant strikes while defending 61% of those attempted on him. Makhachev averages over three takedowns landed per fifteen minutes, using the now-famous Dagestani style of controlling and dominating his opponent against the cage. He relentlessly pursues a finish from top position and can easily control an opponent for five rounds. He has top-notch cardio and can grapple or strike for twenty-five minutes, never truly being out of a fight. Makhachev has secured a finish in seven of his last eight fights and seems to improve constantly.

Renato Moicano stuns Drew Dober with a cracking left hand. Credit: MMA Mania.

Moicano has won four of his last five fights and has UFC victories over #10 ranked Featherweight Calvin Kattar (23-8-0), #12 ranked Lightweight Benoît Saint Denis (13-3-0), and #14 ranked Lightweight Jalin Turner (14-8-0). He is a grappling ace with an excellent submission game but is more than willing to throw down on the feet. With only five of his seventeen bouts in the promotion going the distance, he always fights with a “kill or be killed” mentality. Moicano is dangerous in top position, especially if he takes his opponent’s back, with all his career submissions coming via rear-naked choke. He’s aggressive on the ground, always trying to improve to a better position, but is also intelligent and rarely puts himself in danger. On the feet, he has solid speed and power in his hands and loves to throw uppercuts and elbows when in close. Training at American Top Team, he often stays patient and picks his shots, waiting for openings to land combinations or attempt a takedown.

Best Bets

Jiří Procházka Moneyline: An outstanding matchup of two former UFC Light Heavyweight champions, there’s sure to be fireworks. Although both are dominant strikers, they utilize different styles, with Procházka utilizing his elusiveness and unpredictability to damage his opponents, while Hill is more orthodox, focusing on volume and power. Both are exceptional knockout artists, but Procházka is vastly more experienced, possessing 22 more fights on his record, and has faced a greater variety of opponents, even before he came to the UFC. Until his two title fights, Hill has not faced outstanding competition and has only been a professional since 2017, compared to 2012 for Procházka. Procházka also has the more diverse striking style of the two, regularly throwing kicks and spinning attacks, while Hill primarily uses his hands to do damage. Procházka has only lost to Pereira in the UFC, so despite those tough losses, they’re against the best Light Heavyweight in the world. I expect him to use his footwork to elude the power shots of Hill, batter him with combinations, and earn a victory.

Merab Dvalishvili Moneyline: A title fight between two outstanding grapplers; this is a very tough fight to call. Nurmagomedov has shown exceptional skill in the UFC, proving to be highly well-rounded and dangerous anywhere, but he has never faced another grappler of this caliber. Dvalishvili is a relentless wrestler who seemingly never gets tired, always pushing a heavy pace. We’ve never seen Nurmagomedov have to push a pace like that in a fight before, and while I wouldn’t say he has bad cardio, he did slow down in the later rounds against Sandhagen. Although Nurmagomedov may have a striking advantage in this matchup, I don’t expect much time spent on the feet in this fight. I’m anticipating constant grappling exchanges and relentless takedown attempts from Dvalishvili. If he can keep the pressure up, I expect Nurmagomedov to slow as the rounds continue and for Dvalishvili to break him with his output, ultimately securing another title defense.

Islam Makhachev by KO/TKO: This matchup is exceptionally late notice, being made Friday morning after Arman Tsarukyan had to pull out due to injury. Even with a whole training camp of preparation, Makhachev is one of the most dangerous and complex fighters against which to compete. With just a day's notice, Moicano is stepping in to fight for the belt and has an incredibly daunting task ahead of him. Moicano is exceptionally tough and an outstanding grappler but has never faced an opponent nearly as well-rounded as Makhachev. Makhachev has proven he can finish a fight anywhere, anytime, and seems to improve after every fight. While Moicano has the grappling ability to compete with Makhachev, I can’t imagine this fight will get to the mat. I expect Makhachev to stalk him down early and unload combinations until earning the knockout victory.

UFC Fight Night: Dern vs. Ribas 2 Preview

Mackenzie Dern unloads ground and pound onto Xiaonan Yan. Credit: Ag. Fight.

The UFC returns to the APEX in Las Vegas with its first Fight Night card of 2025. An excellent card throughout, there are plenty of outstanding matchups, rising prospects, and established names, all vying to earn another victory in the premier MMA promotion. In the co-main event, two well-rounded, dangerous veteran scrappers go toe-to-toe when Santiago Ponzinibbio takes on Carlston Harris. In the main event, a rematch of two top-tier Strawweights hits the Octagon when Mackenzie Dern faces off against Amanda Ribas. Let’s take a look at the fights on the main card.

Punahele Soriano vs. Uroš Medić

Punahele Soriano cracks Duško Todorović with a right hand. Credit: Zuffa LLC.

Welterweight Bout

Punahele Soriano: 10-4-0, 6 KO/TKO, 2 Sub.

Uroš Medić: 10-2-0, 8 KO/TKO, 2 Sub.

Soriano has won two of his last five fights and has UFC victories over Duško Todorović (12-5-0), Oskar Piechota (11-3-1), and Miguel Baeza (10-4-0). He has devastating power in his hands and can produce a flash knockout, with seven of his ten wins coming in the first round. He’s at his most dangerous inside the pocket, throwing massive hooks and letting his hands go. Soriano occasionally mixes in kicks when he leaves the pocket, mainly to the head or body. He’s constantly coming forward and pressuring his opponent, keeping them moving backward while he throws bombs. Training at Xtreme Couture, he loves to headhunt on the feet but has also shown some solid wrestling to complement his striking. Soriano started his career as a Heavyweight, spent his first 7 UFC fights at Middleweight, and possesses serious power now at 170 pounds.

Uroš Medić stuns Omar Morales with a brutal right hook. Credit: MMA Fighting.

Medić has won three of his last five bouts and has UFC victories over Matthew Semelsberger (11-8-0), Omar Morales (11-4-0), and Tim Means (33-17-1). He’s a powerful kickboxer with great footwork and excellent kicks. He does an outstanding job varying his shots, attacking the head and body evenly while remaining technical. Medić throws everything with power but doesn’t telegraph; often, mixing kicks in at the end of combinations. Training at Kings MMA, he favors power to volume but has solid cardio and can push a consistent pace across fifteen minutes. He’s highly accurate, landing 60% of the significant strikes he’s attempted in the UFC and can produce a flash knockout at any time. He won’t typically initiate grappling exchanges but will not accept position on his back and will pursue submissions. Medić has only seen the third round once and has not been to a decision, with eight of his twelve fights ending in round one.

Christian Rodriguez vs. Austin Bashi

Christian Rodriguez lands a stinging right hand on Raul Rosas Jr. Credit: MMA Fighting.

Featherweight Bout

Christian Rodriguez: 11-2-0, 3 KO/TKO, 4 Sub.

Austin Bashi: 13-0-0, 3 KO/TKO, 5 Sub.

Rodriguez has won four of his last five outings and has UFC victories over Raul Rosas Jr. (10-1-0), Isaac Dulgarian (7-1-0), and Cameron Saaiman (9-2-0). He’s a well-rounded scrapper with excellent counterstriking and a slick submission game. He’s constantly pressuring forward, looking to draw punches out of his opponent to land counterstrikes. Rodriguez always looks to close the distance, regularly throwing step-in elbows and knees. He’s averaging over one takedown landed and over one submission attempted per fifteen minutes and is a solid grappler. Training at Roufusport, he has excellent transitions and reversals on the ground, constantly placing himself in an advantageous position. Rodriguez has consistently been matched up with other top prospects, with three of his promotional victories coming over undefeated fighters. 

Austin Bashi stares down his opponent on Dana White’s Contender Series. Credit: Yahoo Sports.

Bashi is undefeated and making his UFC debut. He’s an exceptionally well-rounded prospect, holding a black belt in BJJ and a background in wrestling and Muay Thai. He remains technical throughout, keeping his punches tight and straight while maintaining solid footwork and distance management. Bashi fights behind his jab and does an excellent job of mixing kicks into combinations without telegraphing. Training at Warrior Way Martial Arts, he has excellent takedowns, can land them in open space and along the fence, and is willing to work to get the fight to the mat. He’s extremely fluid on the ground, effortlessly transitioning between positions, and can find submissions with impressive speed. Bashi can produce impressive finishes but has solid cardio and will push a consistent pace from bell to bell. 

Chris Curtis vs. Roman Kopylov

Chris Curtis lands a punishing right hand on Kelvin Gastelum. Credit: MMA Mania.

Middleweight Bout

Chris Curtis: 31-11-0, 17 KO/TKO, 1 Sub.

Roman Kopylov: 13-3-0, 11 KO/TKO, 0 Sub.

Curtis has won two of his last five fights with one no-contest and has UFC victories over #6 ranked Welterweight Joaquin Buckley (21-6-0), #9 ranked Middleweight Brendan Allen (24-6-0), and Rodolfo Vieira (10-2-0). He is a veteran of the sport, having started his pro career in 2009, and is an excellent technical boxer on the feet. He has one-shot knockout power in both hands and varies his strikes well, attacking the head and body evenly. Training at Xtreme Couture, Curtis is an excellent counter-striker and will often dip his head before returning fire with a barrage of hooks. He throws everything in combination and is at his best when he stays behind his jab and pressures forward, controlling the fight's pace. He’s shown great patience and doesn’t overexert himself on the feet, but he has a solid chin and is willing to eat a shot to land one. Curtis has shown excellent takedown defense and has denied 82% of takedowns attempted on him in the UFC, and he also possesses a purple belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.

Roman Kopylov blasts Claudio Ribeiro with a lethal head kick. Credit: Yahoo Sports.

Kopylov has won four of his last five bouts and has UFC victories over Alessio Di Chirico (13-7-0), Claudio Ribeiro (11-5-0), and César Almeida (6-1-0). He’s a sniper on the feet, using precision and power to dismantle his opponents. He won’t use a ton of footwork but is constantly feinting and drawing reactions out of his opponents, opening up opportunities to land strikes. Kopylov does an excellent job of varying his shots, attacking the head and body evely, and often mixing kicks into punch combinations. He never telegraphs shots or loads up but throws everything with devastating power and can produce flash knockouts anytime. Training with Raty Team, he’s unlikely to initiate grappling exchanges, but he has fantastic takedown defense and has defended 87% of takedowns attempted on him in the UFC. Kopylov is exceptionally explosive, often touching his opponent with single shots before unleashing huge combinations.

César Almeida vs. Abdul Razak Alhassan

César Almeida fires a front kick at the head of Dylan Budka. Credit: MMA Mania.

Middleweight Bout

César Almeida: 6-1-0, 4 KO/TKO, 0 Sub.

Abdul Razak Alhassan: 12-6-0, 12 KO/TKO, 0 Sub.

Almeida has won four of his last five outings and has UFC victories over Dylan Budka (7-4-0) and Ihor Potieria (20-7-0). A former professional kickboxer, he held a record of 47-8-2 with 27 wins by knockout. He’s an outstanding striker, remaining accurate and technical while throwing every shot purposefully. Almeida varies his shots well, attacking the head, legs, and body while mixing kicks into combinations without telegraphing. Training at Teixeira MMA, he carries his power throughout the fight and has excellent counterstriking and head movement. His best shot is his straight right, and he’s most comfortable controlling the center of the octagon and the pace of the fight. Almeida won’t usually initiate grappling exchanges but has shown continued improvement on the ground and will land brutal ground and pound if in top position.

Abdul Razak Alhassan lands a devastating left hook on Niko Price. Credit: Esther Linn/MMA Fighting.

Alhassan has won two of his last five fights with one no contest and has UFC victories over Niko Price (16-8-0), Alessio Di Chirico (13-7-0), and Claudio Ribeiro (11-5-0). He is an explosive, dangerous striker who prefers power to volume and is always coming forward. He constantly throws looping shots and hooks, often loading up and hunting for the one-shot knockout. Alhassan has a dangerous kicking game, usually throwing them without setup and with massive power. All his professional wins have come via finish, with eleven coming in round one. Training with Elevation Fight Team, he has a black belt in Judo, is very strong in the clinch, and can land throws and trips when in close. Alhassan averages just under one takedown landed per fifteen minutes but is usually comfortable keeping the fight standing.

Santiago Ponzinibbio vs. Carlston Harris

Santiago Ponzinibbio lands a lunging right hand on Miguel Baeza. Credit: MMA Fighting.

Welterweight Bout

Santiago Ponzinibbio: 30-8-0, 16 KO/TKO, 6 Sub.

Carlston Harris: 19-6-0, 5 KO/TKO, 6 Sub.

Ponzinibbio has won one of his last five bouts and has wins over Neil Magny (29-14-0), Miguel Baeza (10-4-0), and Alex Morono (24-11-0). Training at American Top Team, he is an impressive striker with serious power, using various unpredictable attacks to get the job done. He has a black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and a solid submission game but is unlikely to take the fight to the mat. Ponzinibbio remains technical throughout the fight and is comfortable fighting at range and in the pocket. Averaging about 70 significant strikes landed per fight in his last five bouts, he has a great chin, solid cardio, and can push a consistent pace across 15 minutes. An established veteran, He has been a pro since 2008 and is comfortable in any position. Fifteen of Ponzinibbio’s 22 career finishes have come in the first round, so he’s very dangerous early on.

Carlston Harris pops Christian Aguilera with a jab. Credit: MMA Fighting.

Harris has won three of his last five outings and has UFC victories over Impa Kasanganay (18-5-0), Jeremiah Wells (12-4-1), and Jared Gooden (23-10-0). He has serious power in his hands, utilizing an efficient kickboxing style with devastating kicks to match his punches. Along with his power, he’s exceptionally fast, both in his footwork and strikes, and always pursues a finish. Harris has a slick submission game to back up his striking and solid takedown defense. Training at Renovocao Fight Team, he loves anaconda and d’arce chokes, regularly sprawling on a takedown and locking in either choke. He can find a finish anywhere, often securing submissions via defensive grappling, rarely shooting for takedowns. Harris has only gone to a decision once in his last ten fights and fights with a “kill or be killed” attitude.

#6 Mackenzie Dern vs. #8 Amanda Ribas

Mackenzie Dern attempts an armbar on Angela Hill. Credit: Zuffa LLC.

Women’s Strawweight Bout

Mackenzie Dern: 14-5-0, 0 KO/TKO, 7 Sub.

Amanda Ribas: 13-5-0, 4 KO/TKO, 4 Sub.

Dern has won two of her last five fights and has UFC victories over #3 ranked Strawweight Virna Jandiroba (21-3-0), #11 ranked Strawweight Loopy Godínez (12-5-0), and #13 ranked Strawweight Angela Hill (17-14-0). Easily the most credentialed grappler in the Strawweight division, she’s won gold medals at the ADCC World Championship, World Jiu-Jitsu Championship, European Championship, and more. Training at RVCA, she’ll do whatever she can to get the fight to the mat, including pulling guard or jumping for submissions while standing. Dern has excellent top control, transitions quickly, and never puts herself in bad spots on the ground. She tends to headhunt on the feet, often blitzing forward to throw combinations. She’s willing to eat a shot to land one and has decent power in her hands, but she usually uses her striking to close the distance and set up a takedown. With six of her seven submission wins coming in round one, Dern is at her most dangerous early on.

Amanda Ribas blasts Luana Pinheiro with a brutal spinning kick. Credit: MMA Mania.

Ribas has won two of her last five bouts and has UFC victories over #3 ranked Strawweight Virna Jandiroba (21-3-0), #9 ranked Flyweight Viviane Araújo (13-6-0), and her current opponent, Mackenzie Dern. She is a technical Muay Thai striker who is constantly moving and fighting behind her jab. She has fast, accurate hands and excellent clinch striking, damaging her opponents with flurries of elbows and knees. Everything Ribas throws is straight and tight, never overextending or throwing looping shots. Training with the Ribas Family, she has excellent footwork and throws a solid variety of strikes to the head and body. She has black belts in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and Judo and averages about two takedowns landed per fifteen minutes. Ribas is an excellent defensive grappler, successfully defending 85% of takedowns attempted on her in her UFC tenure.

Best Bets

Uroš Medić Moneyline: An intriguing matchup of two dangerous strikers, neither of whom likes to leave the fight up to the scorecards. In a combined 26 fights, they have produced 18 finishes, and Medić is yet to see a decision in his career, only reaching the third round once. While both are explosive and have impressive power, Medić is the more technical, well-rounded striker, using a variety of punches and kicks to get the job done. Soriano typically relies on his hands to finish the job, occasionally mixing in takedowns and ground and pound. Although he won’t usually take it to the mat, Medić has proven a capable grappler and won’t usually spend much time in bottom position before getting back to his feet. Although Soriano may have an edge in punching power, especially since he recently moved down in weight, Medić is the better all-around fighter. If he can take the early power shots from Soriano, I expect him to secure another victory this weekend.

César Almeida by KO/TKO: Another striker vs. striker matchup; this will be a meeting of two fighters with incredibly different styles. Alhassan favors power to volume, constantly unloading massive bombs and hunting for a highlight-reel knockout. Almeida is much more technical, utilizing clean counterstriking and technique to damage his opponents. Alhassan, on paper, has a significant grappling advantage, considering he’s a Judo black belt, but he rarely takes the fight to the mat and typically prefers to stand and throw. While Almeida may not have an extensive MMA career, he is a highly experienced kickboxer and will give problems to absolutely anyone on the feet. Unless Alhassan abandons his typical striking gameplan and forces a grappling match, he’s in for a long night against a taller, longer opponent. If Almeida can keep the fight standing, I expect him to catch Alhassan when he’s swinging wildly and earn another knockout win in the UFC.

Mackenzie Dern Moneyline: A rematch from 2019, these fighters faced each other early on in their UFC tenure and will now meet again in a main event. Their first meeting was Dern’s third UFC fight and Ribas’ second, with both firmly establishing themselves in the time since. Since their first meeting, it seems Dern has undergone the most evolution between them and, to some extent, out of necessity. Dern was a pure grappler at the start of her promotional tenure, not possessing much in terms of striking outside of natural power and a solid chin. Ribas proved Dern’s lack of experience in their first fight, where she repeatedly failed to take the fight to the mat and was badly outstruck on the feet. Now, six years later, Dern has significantly refined her striking while retaining her solid chin and grappling skills. Ribas' style has largely remained the same, utilizing her Muay Thai on the feet and occasionally resorting to Judo throws and trips to take the fight to the ground. I expect a much more competitive fight with exchanges on the feet and on the mat, but I don’t expect the same outcome. If Dern can overcome the early striking onslaught from Ribas, she should be able to slow down Ribas’ pace, bring it to the mat, control the fight, and get the win.

UFC Fight Night: Covington vs. Buckley

Joaquin Buckley connects with a devastating head kick on Andre Fialho. Credit: MMA Fighting.

We have arrived at the final UFC card of the year, taking place at Amalie Arena in Tampa, Florida. You’ll find exciting matchups and excellent fights throughout, from start to finish. Two high-paced brawlers go toe-to-toe in the co-main event when Cub Swanson takes on Billy Quarantillo. In the main event, we’ll see a top-ten matchup of Welterweights when perennial title contender Colby Covington takes on the red-hot Joaquin Buckley. Let’s take a look at the fights on the main card.

Navajo Stirling vs. Tuco Tokkos

Navajo Stirling lands a cracking jab on Phil Latu. Credit: ESPN.

Light Heavyweight

Navajo Stirling: 5-0-0, 4 KO/TKO, 0 Sub.

Tuco Tokkos: 10-4-0, 6 KO/TKO, 2 Sub.

Stirling is undefeated and making his UFC debut. He’s a dangerous, talented kickboxer with impressive knockout power. He always remains technical and composed, fighting in an upright stance and constantly pressuring forward. Stirling will constantly fire kicks at range and mix them into combinations without telegraphing. Training at City Kickboxing, he throws everything in combination and is very accurate, throwing every shot with purpose and knockout intentions. He won’t push a heavy pace but puts out solid volume, slowly breaking down his opponents over the course of the fight. Stirling has finished all but one of his professional fights but has solid cardio and can fight comfortably across three rounds.

Tuco Tokkos fires a front kick at Ty Gwerder. Credit: Cageside Press.

Tokkos has won three of his last five fights and is looking for his first UFC victory. He’s a well-rounded scrapper who’s always willing to throw down in the pocket. He has heavy hands and is in perpetual motion, never staying in one spot long before blitzing in to throw wide, looping hooks. Tokkos is a solid grappler, possessing a black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, powerful takedowns and slams, and heavy top pressure. Training at Kill Cliff FC, he’s comfortable on the feet but will occasionally pursue early takedowns, typically inside the clinch. He favors power to volume and is a great counter striker, regularly catching opponents with punches as he exits the pocket. Tokkos won’t push a heavy pace but is at his most dangerous early on, with six of his eight finishes coming in round one. 

Adrian Yañez vs. Daniel Marcos

Adrian Yanez lands a brutal body punch on Randy Costa. Credit: MMA Mania.

Bantamweight Bout

Adrian Yañez: 17-5-0, 11 KO/TKO, 2 Sub.

Daniel Marcos: 16-0-0, 8 KO/TKO, 0 Sub.

Yañez has won three of his last five bouts and has UFC victories over Davey Grant (15-7-0), Tony Kelley (8-3-0), and Vinicius Salvador (14-7-0). He’s an excellent technical boxer who pushes a consistent pace and always pursues a knockout. He fights behind his jab, throwing everything with purpose and accuracy but never loading up. Yañez constantly presses forward, throwing from different angles and varying his attacks. Training at Metro Fight Club, he has not attempted a takedown in the UFC but has a black belt in BJJ and has defended 100% of takedowns attempted on him. He always throws in combination, typically doing most of his work with his hands, rarely throwing kicks. Yañez has been awarded five post-fight bonuses in just eight UFC appearances and is never in a boring fight. 

Daniel Marcos blasts Saimon Oliveira with a right hand. Credit: MMA Fighting.

Marcos is undefeated and has UFC victories over Davey Grant (15-7-0), John Castaneda (21-7-0), and Saimon Oliveira (18-5-0). He’s a powerful, accurate striker who’s always coming forward. He has excellent distance management and footwork, regularly moving in and out of the pocket without taking much damage. Marcos always remains technical, keeping his punches tight and straight while never telegraphing or overextending. He has particularly dangerous knees and will constantly mix them into combinations, both to the body and head. Training at American Combat Gym, he won’t typically initiate grappling exchanges but has shown solid takedown defense and is strong in the clinch. Marcos has serious power in his hands and tends to increase his pace as the fight continues, scoring five of his eight knockouts after round one.

Vitor Petrino vs. Dustin Jacoby

Vitor Petrino loads up a ground and pound elbow on Marcin Prachnio. Credit: MMA Fighting.

Light Heavyweight Bout

Vitor Petrino: 11-1-0, 7 KO/TKO, 1 Sub.

Dustin Jacoby: 19-9-1, 12 KO/TKO, 1 Sub.

Petrino has won four of his last five outings and has UFC victories over Tyson Pedro (10-5-0), Marcin Prachnio (17-8-0), and Modestas Bukauskas (16-6-0). He’s an explosive fighter with devastating power and great grappling. He’s constantly coming forward, typically headhunting and throwing single shots, with enough power in both hands to produce a one-shot KO. Training at CM System, Petrino is at his most dangerous early on, constantly throwing overhands and hooks, favoring power to technique. He is averaging nearly four takedowns landed per fifteen minutes and can be a bit of a panic wrestler, resorting to grappling when he’s losing the striking exchanges. He has heavy top control and brutal ground and pound, averaging about one submission attempted per fifteen minutes. Petrino has surprisingly decent cardio and can push a consistent pace throughout the fight.

Dustin Jacoby cracks Ion Cutelaba with a devastating left hook. Credit: MMA Fighting.

Jacoby has won one of his last five fights and has UFC victories over Da Woon Jung (15-6-1), Michael Oleksiejczuk (19-9-0), and Kennedy Nzechukwu (14-5-0). He is a former professional kickboxer with a record of 18-8-0, spending time in the premier kickboxing promotion Glory. His experience is visible in his fighting style, possessing excellent footwork and movement, as well as a great variety of attacks. Jacoby is effective both at range and in the pocket but tends to stay at distance where he can use his arsenal of kicks and combinations. Training at FactoryX Muay Thai, his hands seemingly never stop moving, and he is always feinting or throwing punches. He has solid output for a Light Heavyweight but also has excellent cardio, never overexerting himself and keeping the same pace for all 15 minutes. Jacoby is willing to grapple and will occasionally shoot for a takedown but primarily prefers to keep it on the feet where he’s most dangerous.

#9 Manel Kape vs. #13 Bruno Silva

Manel Kape stuns Felipe dos Santos with a left hook. Credit: MMA Mania.

Flyweight Bout

Manel Kape: 19-7-0, 11 KO/TKO, 5 Sub.

Bruno Silva: 14-5-2, 6 KO/TKO, 4 Sub.

Kape has won four of his last five bouts and has UFC victories over Ode’ Osbourne (12-8-0), Felipe dos Santos (8-2-0), and David Dvorak (20-6-0). He is a former Rizin Bantamweight champion and is a fantastic, flashy striker. He’s constantly looking to counterstrike, throwing every shot with purpose and deadly accuracy. Kape has excellent distance management, switches stances constantly, and will often blitz in with big shots before returning to range. He has heavy power for a Flyweight and doesn’t telegraph anything, frequently timing his shots when his opponent enters his range. Training at Xtreme Couture, he won’t typically initiate grappling exchanges but has a solid submission game and can be dangerous off his back. Kape takes some time to get going, but once he finds his rhythm, he heats up and lets his hands go.

Bruno Silva digs a front kick to the body of Cody Durden. Credit: MMA Junkie.

Silva has won four of his last five outings and has UFC victories over Cody Durden (17-7-1), Tyson Nam (21-14-1), and JP Buys (9-6-0). He’s a well-rounded, explosive fighter who’s dangerous anywhere, anytime. He’s in perpetual motion, regularly firing kicks from range before dipping his head and crashing into the pocket to unload hooks and overhands. Silva varies his attacks well and throws everything with impressive speed and power. He’s a BJJ black belt and is landing, on average, over two takedowns per fifteen minutes in the UFC. Training at American Top Team, he’s dangerous on the mat, possessing excellent submission defense, scrambles, and chokes. He’s earned Performance of the Night bonuses in all his last four wins and always leaves everything inside the cage.

Cub Swanson vs. Billy Quarantillo

Cub Swanson lands a stinging left hook on Daniel Pineda. Credit: Yahoo Sports.

Featherweight Bout

Cub Swanson: 29-14-0, 13 KO/TKO, 4 Sub.

Billy Quarantillo: 18-6-0, 8 KO/TKO, 5 Sub.

Swanson has won two of his last five fights and has UFC victories over #2 ranked Lightweight Charles Oliveira (35-10-0), #4 ranked Lightweight Dustin Poirier (30-9-0), and Darren Elkins (29-11-0). Training at Bloodline Combat, he is a UFC mainstay supplying fans with exciting fights for over a decade. He’s an excellent striker known for throwing powerful, looping hooks, devastating leg kicks, and constant forward motion. Swanson has a diverse arsenal of attacks and excellent footwork, remaining elusive throughout the fight. He is a black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and a solid wrestler, often mixing in grappling with his striking. Although capable on the ground, he’s most comfortable on the feet and is more often defending takedowns than pursuing them. Swanson is tied for the most post-fight bonuses in Featherweight history with 10 and always puts on a show.

Billy Quarantillo pops Damon Jackson with a powerful left hand. Credit MMA Junkie.

Quarantillo has won two of his last five bouts and has UFC victories over Gabriel Benitez (23-13-0), Alexander Hernandez (15-8-0), and Damon Jackson (23-8-1). He’s a well-rounded scrapper with fantastic cardio and is always willing to throw down. He’s relentless on the feet, always coming forward, throwing leg kicks, and staying behind his jab. Quarantillo is averaging over one takedown landed and one submission attempted per fifteen minutes in his promotional tenure. Training at Gracie Tampa South, he’s a black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and strong off his back and top position with excellent scrambles and reversals. He improves as the fight continues and carries his power across all fifteen minutes. He’s landed, on average, 76 significant strikes in his last five fights and constantly pushes the pace.

#6 Colby Covington vs. #9 Joaquin Buckley

Colby Covington attempts a rear naked choke on Jorge Masvidal. Credit: MMA Fighting.

Welterweight Bout

Colby Covington: 17-4-0, 3 KO/TKO, 5 Sub.

Joaquin Buckley: 20-6-0, 14 KO/TKO, 0 Sub.

Covington has won two of his last five outings and has UFC victories over Rafael Dos Anjos (32-17-0), Robbie Lawler (30-16-0), and Jorge Masvidal (35-17-0). He’s an excellent grappler with exceptional wrestling and top-tier cardio. He’s constantly pressuring forward, fighting behind his jab and throwing in combination. Covington favors volume to power, landing, on average, about 93 significant strikes in his last five fights. Training at MMA Masters, he’s a tenacious wrestler willing to work for takedowns and is very hard to escape from once he’s in top position. He always chooses position over submission and will constantly rain down ground and pound, using a methodical pace to break down his opponents. Covington uses his cardio expertly, reaching the final round in all his last 12 fights.

Joaquin Buckley lands a brutal right hook on Alex Morono. Credit: MMA Fighting.

Buckley has won three of his last five bouts and has UFC victories over #11 ranked Welterweight Stephen Thompson (17-8-1), #14 ranked Welterweight Vicente Luque (23-10-1), and Nursulton Ruziboev (34-9-2). He is a highly aggressive striker with serious power in both hands. He perpetually moves and pursues a finish, throwing every shot with bad intentions and often mixing in kicks at the end of combinations. Although Buckley throws every shot with power, he does his best work with his kicks, never telegraphing them and constantly throwing them from different angles. Training at Murcielago MMA, he throws everything in combination and pushes a frantic pace, willing to throw wild attacks like flying knees or spinning kicks. His UFC finishes have all come in round 2 or later, so he gets increasingly dangerous as the fight continues. He’s averaging nearly two takedowns landed per fifteen minutes and has decent takedown defense, but he’s most effective on his feet.

Best Bets

Yañez vs. Marcos to Go the Distance: This is an exciting matchup of two excellent strikers. Both are constantly coming forward and willing to engage inside the pocket, always willing to eat a shot to land one. Yañez favors a boxing-heavy style, staying in his opponent’s face with constant pressure and volume. Marcos has a Muay Thai style, utilizing plenty of knees and strikes inside the clinch to supplement his punching combinations. Although undefeated, Marcos has not faced a fighter the caliber of Yañez in the UFC, while Yañez has already fought ranked competition. Both are durable and capable of going three rounds, and I expect a solid back-and-forth throughout the fight. I anticipate a consistent pace throughout, but ultimately, I expect this fight to go to the judges’ scorecards.

Billy Quarantillo Moneyline: A fantastic matchup of two exciting fighters, this fight will surely create highlights. Although not fighting with identical styles, they have similar skill sets and brawling tendencies. Both are black belts in BJJ with excellent submission games and are dangerous strikers, so this fight could play out anywhere. While both push a heavy pace, Swanson is 41 years old and has been in numerous wars across his illustrious UFC career, and has thus absorbed much more damage over time than his opponent. Swanson has also proven much more susceptible to submission losses; although Quarantillo lost his last fight via submission, this was his first loss of the kind, while half of Swanson’s 14 losses came via submission. Ultimately, Quarantillo has youth and a heavier pace on his side, and I expect him to use both to secure a victory on Saturday.

Covington vs. Buckley Over 2.5 Rounds: An intriguing matchup of two vastly different fighters, it’s hard to know what to expect. Buckley is on the best run of his career, riding the momentum of a six-fight win streak that saw three wins by knockout. On the other hand, Covington is coming off his worst UFC performance in a title challenge against Leon Edwards, with his last victory coming over Jorge Masvidal in 2022. Despite recent history, Covington’s style is one Buckley has not faced in his UFC tenure: a pressure-based, tenacious wrestler who’s always coming forward. On paper, Covington has the tools to give Buckley significant issues, but we have no idea what version of Covington will show up on Saturday night. One thing has been sure in both of these men’s fights, and that’s them reaching later rounds: Buckley’s last ten fights have seen at least a second round, whereas Covington’s reached the final round of his last 12 outings. Regardless of the winner or how this fight plays out, I expect at least three rounds of action.

UFC 310 Preview

Alexandre Pantoja connects with a stiff jab on Brandon Moreno. Credit: Zuffa LLC.

The UFC returns to the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas with an outstanding pay-per-view card. Full of fantastic matchups, established veterans, and quickly rising stars, this card is sure to deliver. In the co-main event, a highly anticipated matchup of red-hot undefeated fighters occurs when Shavkat Rakhmonov takes on Ian Machado Garry. In the main event, we’ll witness Flyweight champion Alexandre Pantoja defend his title against the debuting former Rizin champion Kai Asakura. Let’s take a look at the fights on the main card.

Nate Landwehr vs. Choi Doo-ho

Nate Landwehr cracks David Onama with a right hand. Credit: MMA Fighting.

Featherweight Bout

Nate Landwehr: 18-5-0, 9 KO/TKO, 2 Sub.

Choi Doo-ho: 15-4-1, 12 KO/TKO, 1 Sub.

Landwehr has won three of his last five fights and has UFC victories over David Onama (13-2-0), Ludovit Klein (23-4-1), and Darren Elkins (29-11-0). He is a true scrapper who’s always coming forward and engaging the fight wherever it goes. Although he loves to brawl, he’s very defensively sound, always keeping his guard high and tight and his head off the centerline. Landwehr fights behind his jab, constantly looking for opportunities to crash into the pocket and land combinations. He is willing to mix it up, averaging one takedown landed and one submission attempted per fifteen minutes. He’s more than willing to eat a shot to land one and is at his best in a dogfight, controlling the center and pushing the pace. Landwehr has earned four performance bonuses in his last five UFC appearances and always leaves everything inside the cage.

Choi Doo-ho cracks Bill Algeo with a right hand. Credit: MMA Mania.

Choi has won one of his last five bouts with one draw and has UFC victories over Bill Algeo (18-9-0), Thiago Tavares (22-10-1), and Sam Sicilia (17-11-0). He is a dangerous striker with impressive speed and power in his hands. He returned from a three-year layoff in 2023 and has utilized a more well-rounded, technical style, mixing takedowns and submission attempts with his striking. Choi fights behind his jab and favors power to volume, typically firing low kicks before closing the distance and unloading short combinations. Training with Busan Team, he tends to headhunt and has solid counterstriking, regularly looking to slip punches and land shots of his own. He’s strong in the clinch, has excellent submission defense, and has solid top pressure. Choi has earned five bonuses in eight UFC fights and is a Hall of Famer, with his fight with Cub Swanson being inducted into the Fight Wing of the UFC’s Hall of Fame in 2022.

#13 Bryce Mitchell vs. Kron Gracie

Bryce Mitchell secures the second Twister submission in UFC history on Matt Sayles. Credit: MMA News.

Featherweight Bout

Bryce Mitchell: 16-3-0, 0 KO/TKO, 9 Sub.

Kron Gracie: 5-2-0, 0 KO/TKO, 5 Sub.

Mitchell has won three of his last five outings and has wins over #14 ranked Featherweight Dan Ige (18-9-0), #15 ranked Featherweight Edson Barboza (24-12-0), and Andre Fili (24-11-0). He is a high-level grappler, averaging over three takedowns landed and nearly two submission attempts per fifteen minutes in the UFC. He usually gets the fight to the mat quickly, possessing a wrestling background and a black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. Mitchell has excellent top control on the ground and always pursues a finish, whether ground and pound or a submission. Training at Barata MMA, he’s most dangerous early on, with eight of his nine submission victories coming in round one. On the feet, he constantly moves, cuts off the cage well, and shows decent power in his hands. Mitchell has one of three wins in UFC history via the rare twister submission and can produce submissions from anywhere and any position.

Kron Gracie loads up a left hand on Cub Swanson. Credit: MMA Fighting.

Gracie has won three of his last five fights and has a UFC victory over Alex Caceres (21-15-0). A decorated BJJ practitioner, he’s a former ADCC and European champion with Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu victories over MMA fighters such as Beneil Dariush, Gilbert Burns, and Shinya Aoki. He has an unorthodox striking style, fighting behind his jab and constantly looking to close the distance or clinch up. Gracie has a solid chin and is willing to eat one to land one, but is at home on the mat. He’s dangerous in top and bottom positions, capable of finding submissions from anywhere with impressive speed. Training at Kron Gracie Jiu-Jitsu, he’ll look to get the fight to the ground by any means necessary, including pulling guard. Gracie found 24 of his 29 professional BJJ matches by submission and has produced four first-round submission victories in MMA.

#2 Ciryl Gane vs. #3 Alexander Volkov

Ciryl Gane stuns Jairzinho Rozenstruik with a stiff jab. Credit: MMA Fighting.

Heavyweight Bout

Ciryl Gane: 12-2-0, 6 KO/TKO, 3 Sub.

Alexander Volkov: 38-10-0, 24 KO/TKO, 4 Sub.

Gane has won three of his last five bouts, with wins over #7 ranked Heavyweight Serghei Spivac (17-4-0), #9 ranked Heavyweight Jairzinho Rozenstruik (15-5-0), and his current opponent, Alexander Volkov. He is one of the most technical strikers ever seen in the Heavyweight division, using efficient, brutal Muay Thai to damage his opponents. Training at the MMA Factory, he has an excellent arsenal of attacks, all of which he can throw with power and do severe damage. Although Gane has established himself as a striker, he’s also an excellent grappler with two submission wins in the UFC, one coming via heel hook. He has solid takedowns, wrestling, top control, and lethal ground and pound. He’s willing to exchange in the pocket but is also excellent at range, throwing plenty of high and low kicks and crisp combinations with his hands. Gane, on average, lands more than twice as many strikes per minute as he absorbs and has excellent volume to match his power.

Alexander Volkov cracks Marcin Tybura with a left hook. Credit: Sportskeeda.

Volkov has won four of his last five outings and has UFC victories over #4 ranked Heavyweight Sergei Pavlovich (18-3-0), #8 ranked Heavyweight Marcin Tybura (26-9-0), and #9 ranked Heavyweight Jairzinho Rozenstruik (15-5-0). He is a lengthy, technical striker who’s comfortable fighting at range or inside the pocket. He has solid footwork and head movement, tending to skirt along the outside of the cage while picking his opponents apart. Volkov is highly accurate and throws everything with purpose, always keeping his shots tight and straight. His best weapons are his front kick and right straight, and he’ll constantly look to set up both. Training with Strela Team, he’s powerful inside the clinch and uses his length very well, making him particularly hard to take down. Volkov possesses classic heavyweight cardio; he carries his power across all 15 minutes, but his pace decreases as the fight continues.

#3 Shavkat Rakhmonov vs. #7 Ian Machado Garry

Shavkat Rakhmonov brutally submits Geoff Neal. Credit: MMA Fighting.

Welterweight Bout

Shavkat Rakhmonov: 18-0-0, 8 KO/TKO, 10 Sub.

Ian Machado Garry: 15-0-0, 7 KO/TKO, 1 Sub.

Rakhmonov is undefeated and has UFC victories over #10 ranked Welterweight Stephen Thompson (17-8-1), #11 Welterweight Geoff Neal (16-6-0), and Neil Magny (29-14-0). He is in perpetual motion, constantly pressuring forward, but stays patient and never telegraphs his shots. He’s outstruck all of his UFC opponents and, on average, has only absorbed about 20 significant strikes per fight in his promotional tenure. Rakhmonov holds the rank of Master of Sport in Combat Sambo and MMA and has finished all his professional fights, with only two of those bouts seeing a third round. He is an excellent grappler with great takedowns, clinch striking, and a slick submission game. All his submission wins have come via a form of choke, and he can produce a quick finish if he finds his opponent’s neck. Training at Kill Cliff FC, Rakhmonov is a highly technical fighter but also will throw some flashy strikes, particularly a devastating spinning heel kick.

Ian Garry lands a stinging jab on Gabe Green. Credit: Action Network.

Garry is undefeated and has UFC victories over #11 ranked Welterweight Geoff Neal (16-6-0), #15 ranked Welterweight Michael Page (22-3-0), and Daniel Rodriguez (18-5-0). He’s an excellent striker with a very fluid style, constantly moving and bouncing on his feet with an almost karate-like stance. He’s highly accurate, having landed 55% of the significant strikes he has attempted in the UFC, and remains patient, always looking for openings. Garry fights behind his jab and has excellent distance management, typically controlling the center of the cage and forcing his opponent to the outside. He has a deadly kicking arsenal and uses them to do significant damage at range, never telegraphing and constantly mixing kicks into punch combinations. Training at Chute Boxe, he holds a black belt in Judo and has solid takedown defense but rarely initiates grappling exchanges. Garry benefits from a slower, more technical fight, yet to be pulled into a knockdown, drag-out brawl.

(C) Alexandre Pantoja vs. Kai Asakura

Alexandre Pantoja exchanges blows with Brandon Moreno. Credit: MMA Fighting.

Flyweight Championship Bout

Alexandre Pantoja: 28-5-0, 8 KO/TKO, 10 Sub.

Kai Asakura: 21-4-0, 13 KO/TKO, 3 Sub.

Pantoja is on a six-fight win streak and has UFC victories over #1 ranked Flyweight Brandon Royval (17-7-0), #2 ranked Flyweight Brandon Moreno (22-8-2), and #6 ranked Flyweight Alex Perez (25-9-0). He’s a fast starter and an exceptionally well-rounded fighter with solid power in his hands. He’s constantly pressuring forward, throwing everything in combination, and varying his strikes well, attacking the head and body evenly. Pantoja transitions incredibly quickly on the ground and always looks for a finish, typically preferring submissions to ground and pound. Training at American Top Team, he’s never looking just to touch his opponents, always throwing power shots with knockout intentions. He is willing to eat a shot to land one and can get drawn into brawls in the feet, often swinging wildly in the pocket. Pantoja is impressively calm in deep waters and can find a finish anywhere, any time.

Kai Asakura catches Juan Archuleta with a right hook. Credit: Rizin FF.

Asakura has won four of his last five fights and is making his UFC debut. A former Rizin Bantamweight champion, he’s a powerful, well-rounded scrapper who pushes a heavy pace throughout. He has serious power in his hands and particularly dangerous knees, constantly varying his attacks between the head and body. Asakura often looks to counterstrike, using his distance management and head movement to catch his opponents as they enter the pocket. He throws everything with power and in combination but remains elusive and won’t telegraph his shots. Training at Japan Top Team, he has excellent takedown defense and scrambles, often finding himself in top position after grappling exchanges. Asakura is at his best when he’s controlling the pace and the center of the cage, but he is willing to brawl and has a solid chin.

Best Bets

Nate Landwehr Moneyline: Arguably one of the most pure-action matchups on the card, this fight will surely produce highlights. Although both are exciting fighters, they have rather different styles; Landwehr tends to use his pace, volume, and pressure to wear down opponents, whereas Choi favors power and accuracy. Despite the difference in styles, both are always willing to hang in the pocket and brawl, which always makes for an exciting fight. Choi likely has the power advantage, with the cardio advantage going to Landwehr. I anticipate lots of high-pace, wild exchanges inside the pocket, a pace that will ultimately benefit Landwehr. As the fight continues and the pace remains high, Choi is likelier to slow down and lose power, while Landwehr’s pace typically increases as fights continue. Assuming Landwehr can survive the early power shots, I expect him to wear down Choi and earn another impressive victory.

Shavkat Rakhmonov Moneyline: An extremely high-profile matchup of undefeated rising stars, this is a fascinating fight. There are plenty of similarities between these fighters on paper, with similar records and similar UFC opponents, but ultimately, they’re very different fighters. Garry has proven his ability as a striker but has become more cautious lately, mainly resorting to his grappling in his last appearance against Michael Page. Even in his UFC fights where he didn’t take it to the mat, he’s been comfortable using a slower-paced, risk-averse style. Alternatively, Rakhmonov has not seen the judges’ scorecards in his UFC tenure, scoring finishes in all his appearances and always pushing a wild pace. While fighting slow and technically isn’t necessarily a bad style, Garry will likely not have the option to do so in this matchup. I expect Rakhmonov to always stay in his face, forcing him to constantly engage on the feet or the ground. Regardless of where the fight ends up, if Rakhmonov stays on his front foot and controls the pace, he will take Ian Garry’s 0.

Alexandre Pantoja by Submission: A fight with plenty of questions around it, Asakura comes into this matchup as a relative unknown for casual fans. Pantoja is a highly underrated champion, oddly catching flak from fans for having a “boring” style despite consistently entertaining performances. He’s pushed a wild pace in his three fights for gold, landing, on average, 115 significant strikes per fight. Asakura is exceptionally dangerous and powerful, capable of producing flash knockouts in multiple ways. While well-rounded, Asakura is most comfortable on his feet, where he can control the distance and the pace. Pantoja is seemingly comfortable anywhere and has never been finished in his professional career. While Asakura is willing to brawl, he has proven hittable, regularly absorbing big shots in recent fights and having had two KO losses in the last five years. Asakura does have excellent takedown defense and likely will be able to keep it standing early, but as the fight goes on and his energy decreases, I expect Pantoja to start landing takedowns and controlling Asakura on the mat. Once in top position, Pantoja is incredibly dangerous and will constantly hunt for a finish, and I anticipate him securing a submission and earning another successful title defense.

UFC Fight Night: Yan vs. Figueiredo Preview

Petr Yan picks up and prepares to slam Sean O’Malley. Credit: Marca.

The UFC heads to Cotai, Macau, for the first time since 2014 with an outstanding Fight Night card. This card is packed full of exciting fights and fascinating matchups all sure to create highlights. In the co-main event, we’ll witness a fight with significant bearing on the Women’s Strawweight title picture when Tabatha Ricci faces off against Yan Xiaonan. In the main event, we’ll see a top-five Bantamweight matchup when former UFC champions Petr Yan and Deiveson Figueiredo go toe-to-toe. Let’s take a look at the fights on the main card.

Zhang Mingyang vs. Ozzy Diaz

Zhang Mingyang rains down ground and pound onto Brendson Ribeiro. Credit: MMA Junkie.

Light Heavyweight Bout

Zhang Mingyang: 17-6-0, 11 KO/TKO, 6 Sub.

Ozzy Diaz: 9-2-0, 7 KO/TKO, 2 Sub.

Zhang is on a ten-fight win streak and has a UFC victory over Brendson Ribeiro (16-7-0). He is a prolific finisher with dangerous power in his hands. He comes out guns blazing, constantly pressuring forward and looking to close the distance to let his hands go. Zhang is always hunting a knockout and willing to brawl but remains technical, keeping his shots tight and straight without telegraphing. He’s strong in the clinch and has a strong takedown game, regularly looking to posture up and land brutal ground and pound when in top position. Training at Xinjiang Fight Gym, he has excellent chokes and will pursue them even when standing, and he has secured five of his six submissions via rear naked choke. Zhang has produced all of his finishes in the first round and has only been to one decision in his career.

Ozzy Diaz unloads punches onto Bevon Lewis. Credit: Zuffa LLC.

Diaz has won four of his last five fights and is making his UFC debut. He’s a heavy-handed brawler who’s always willing to engage. He’s a bit of a slow starter, using his footwork and distance management to find reads and openings early on. Diaz fights behind his jab, throws everything in combination, and is always willing to eat a shot to land one. Training at California MMA, he’s very durable and has solid cardio, often surviving early onslaughts and turning up the pressure when his opponents begin to slow. He won’t typically initiate grappling scenarios but has solid getups and clinch striking. Diaz has never been to a decision in his career and pushes a consistent pace throughout the fight. 

#8 Volkan Oezdemir vs. #10 Carlos Ulberg

Volkan Oezdemir exchanges blows with Bogdan Guskov. Credit: MMA Junkie.

Light Heavyweight Bout

Volkan Oezdemir: 20-7-0, 13 KO/TKO, 2 Sub.

Carlos Ulberg: 11-1-0, 7 KO/TKO, 2 Sub.

Oezdemir has won three of his last five bouts and holds victories over #5 ranked Light Heavyweight Aleksander Rakić (14-5-0), #9 ranked Light Heavyweight Johnny Walker (21-9-0), and #14 ranked Light Heavyweight Bogdan Guskov (16-3-0). He has a background in kickboxing and held a 5-0 record professionally before entering MMA. While he primarily uses his hands and fights in the pocket, he has powerful kicks, particularly devastating leg kicks. Despite his phonebox-fighting style, Oezdemir stays relatively composed, typically returning to the center of the octagon and resetting after attacking. Training at Allstars Training Center, he has a solid chin and is willing to eat a shot to land one, but he also possesses good head movement. He occasionally initiates grappling exchanges, primarily preferring to remain on the feet, and has denied 80% of takedowns attempted on him in his UFC career. With 14 finishes in the first round, Oezdemir earned the nickname “No Time” and is at his most dangerous early on.

Carlos Ulberg tags Alonzo Menifield with a brutal left hand. Credit: MMA Fighting.

Ulberg is on a six-fight win streak and has UFC victories over #15 ranked Alonzo Menifield (15-5-1), Da Woon Jung (15-6-1), and Nicolae Negumereanu (13-2-0). He’s an accurate, technical striker with excellent power and speed. He remains patient and technical throughout, floating on the outside, looking for openings, and throwing everything straight and tight. Training at City Kickboxing, Ulberg will often lure his opponent into a slower pace before exploding with huge shots. He fights behind his jab, has excellent distance management, and is in perpetual motion. He won’t usually initiate grappling exchanges but is capable on the mat and has solid defensive grappling. Ulberg has only been to a single decision in his UFC tenure and constantly pursues a finish. 

Wang Cong vs. Gabriella Fernandes

Wang Cong cracks Victoria Leonardo with a right hand. Credit: MMA Junkie.

Women’s Flyweight Bout

Wang Cong: 6-0-0, 2 KO/TKO, 2 Sub.

Gabriella Fernandes: 9-3-0, 3 KO/TKO, 2 Sub.

Wang is undefeated and has a UFC victory over Victoria Leonardo (10-7-0). She’s a former professional kickboxer, holding a record of 8-0-1, and is a lethal striker. She’s constantly pressuring her opponent, blitzing forward to unload combinations while remaining technical throughout. Wang has excellent timing, regularly tagging her opponents with shots just as they enter the pocket. Training at the UFC PI Shanghai, she has an outstanding arsenal of kicks, typically throwing with her lead leg from range and constantly damaging her opponent’s legs and body. She won’t normally initiate grappling exchanges but will land brutal ground and pound from top position and has a decent submission game, particularly chokes. Although young in her MMA career, Wang has faced UFC-caliber opponents before, holding wins over Wu Yanan in MMA and Valentina Shevchenko in kickboxing.

Gabriella Fernandes fires a right hook at Carli Judice. Credit: Ag. Fight.

Fernandes has won three of her last five outings and has a UFC victory over Carli Judice (3-2-0). She’s an aggressive scrapper who’s constantly pursuing a knockout. She’s constantly moving and dipping her head before blitzing forward to unload hooks and overhands. Fernandes is willing to eat one to land one and is very durable, regularly walking through punches to land her offense. Training at MMA Masters, she comes out guns blazing at the start of every round, constantly throwing caution to the wind, remaining aggressive at all times, and often headhunting. She has a brown belt in BJJ and is willing to grapple, occasionally pursuing takedowns, but is more comfortable and skilled on the feet. Fernandes is at her most dangerous early on in the fight, pushing a heavy pace before slowing down as the fight continues.

Song Kenan vs. Muslim Salikhov

Song Kenan lands a brutal uppercut on Callan Potter. Credit: MMA Junkie.

Welterweight Bout

Song Kenan: 22-8-0, 9 KO/TKO, 9 Sub.

Muslim Salikhov: 20-5-0, 13 KO/TKO, 2 Sub.

Song has won two of his last five fights and has UFC victories over Rolando Bedoya (14-4-0), Ricky Glenn (22-9-2), and Derrick Krantz (24-12-0). He’s a dangerous striker with heavy hands and kicks. He throws everything with power, typically firing kicks at range before closing the distance to unload combinations. Song has good distance management and footwork but is durable and willing to eat a shot to land one. Training at Beijing Black Tiger, he’s most comfortable on his feet but is strong in the clinch and has great scrambles on the mat. He’s at his most dangerous early on, his pace slowing as the fight continues, but he carries his power throughout. Song has found 13 of his eighteen finishes in round one and can produce a flash knockout anytime. 

Muslim Salikhov fires a spinning kick at Li Jiangliang. Credit: MMA Fighting.

Salikhov has won two of his last five bouts and has UFC victories over Franciso Trinaldo (28-9-0), Andre Fialho (16-9-0), and Santiago Ponzinibbio (30-8-0). He holds the rank of Master of Sport in Wushu Sanda (Chinese kickboxing) and a pro kickboxing record of 185-13 with 76 wins by knockout. He’s an incredibly dangerous striker, possessing solid power and excellent technical skills. Salikhov has an impressive arsenal of kicks, particularly his array of spinning attacks that he loves to throw. Training at Berkut FC, he’s also very defensively sound, having defended 63% of significant strikes attempted on him in his promotional tenure. He is willing to grapple and averages just over one takedown landed per fifteen minutes, typically raining down devastating ground and pound when in top position. Salikhov is highly experienced and very tough to put away, always coming forward and looking to do damage throughout the fight.

#2 Yan Xiaonan vs. #10 Tabatha Ricci

Yan Xiaonan stuns Jéssica Andrade with a left hand. Credit: MMA Fighting.

Women’s Strawweight Bout

Yan Xiaonan: 18-4-0, 8 KO/TKO, 1 Sub.

Tabatha Ricci: 11-2-0, 1 KO/TKO, 3 Sub.

Xiaonan has won two of her last five outings and has UFC victories over #4 ranked Strawweight Jéssica Andrade (26-13-0), #6 ranked Strawweight Mackenzie Dern (14-5-0), and #13 ranked Strawweight Angela Hill (17-14-0). She has excellent technical kickboxing skills and throws everything in combination. She regularly opens combinations with a lead leg attack, typically a sidekick. Xiaonan never telegraphs her strikes, often keeping her hands down and throwing from her hip. She’s defended 62% of takedowns attempted on her in the UFC and won’t typically initiate grappling exchanges but has solid top control and ground and pound. She’s proven to be highly durable and capable of surviving in deep waters on the feet and the ground. Xiaonan lands, on average, about 75 significant strikes per fight in the UFC and pushes a consistent pace throughout.

Tabatha Ricci secures a double leg takedown on Polyana Viana. Credit: MMA Fighting.

Ricci has won four of her last five fights and has UFC victories over #12 ranked Strawweight Gillian Robertson (15-8-0), #13 ranked Strawweight Angela Hill (17-14-0), and Tecia Pennington (14-7-0). She’s a speedy, well-rounded scrapper who holds black belts in Judo and BJJ. She’s in perpetual motion on the feet, never staying in one spot for long while constantly peppering her opponents with shots. Ricci throws everything in combination, has great distance management and head movement, and regularly mixes kicks into combinations, particularly to the legs. She’s averaging about three takedowns landed per fifteen minutes and has excellent timing, able to secure takedowns in open space and the clinch. Training at Paragon BJJ, she’s always working in top position, constantly advancing while staying safe and not putting herself in dangerous positions. Ricci has landed at least one takedown in all her UFC victories and always looks to take the fight to the mat.

#3 Petr Yan vs. #5 Deiveson Figueiredo

Petr Yan lands a damaging uppercut on Song Yadong. Credit: MMA Fighting.

Bantamweight Bout

Petr Yan: 17-5-0, 7 KO/TKO, 1 Sub.

Deiveson Figueiredo: 24-3-1, 9 KO/TKO, 9 Sub.

Yan has won two of his last five bouts and has UFC victories over #4 ranked Bantamweight Cory Sandhagen (17-5-0), #8 ranked Bantamweight Song Yadong (21-8-1), and #11 ranked Bantamweight José Aldo (32-9-0). He’s a very well-rounded fighter and is highly dangerous at all times. He has excellent technical striking and does a great job of mixing kicks into combinations, never telegraphing his shots. Training at BK Arkhangel Mikhail, Yan never slows down, always pursuing a finish and throwing with maximum power and speed. He can push a crazy pace for 25 minutes and has fantastic cardio, whether grappling or striking. He has excellent takedowns and top control, constantly throwing brutal ground and pound. Yan has faced nothing but the best in his UFC tenure, with about a third of his bouts in the promotion being for a title.

Deiveson Figueiredo lands a front kick to the head on Marlon Vera. Credit: Yahoo Sports.

Figueiredo has won four of his last five outings and has UFC victories over #2 ranked Flyweight Brandon Moreno (22-8-2), #6 ranked Bantamweight Marlon Vera (23-10-1), and #9 ranked Bantamweight Rob Font (21-8-0). He has devastating power in his hands, constantly unloading brutal combinations onto his opponents. He used this power to tear through the Flyweight division, holding the most knockdowns in Flyweight history with 11, and is tied for the most finishes at Flyweight, with 7. Training with Team Figueiredo, he is willing to engage in the fight anywhere, has a solid guard on the bottom, and is highly dangerous in top position. He moves impressively fast on the mat, often securing submissions with blinding speed. He quickly closes the distance on the feet and can land severe damage without much space, usually with his hands. Figueiredo constantly pursues a finish but has solid cardio and can comfortably go 25 minutes if needed.

Best Bets

Zhang Mingyang by KO/TKO: An exciting fight between two UFC newcomers, this is a matchup of striker vs. striker. While both prefer to keep it standing, they utilize very different styles. Mingyang is a high-paced, pressure-based fighter, while Diaz relies on his cardio and volume to get the job done. Frankly, upon watching Diaz’s fights, he uses a very Homer Simpson strategy at the start of fights: he tends to hang back, playing defense and letting his opponents gas themselves out before really letting his hands go. Although Diaz has faced decent competition on his way to the UFC, he’s mostly fought at Middleweight, with this upcoming bout being just his third appearance at Light Heavyweight. Considering that Zhang has brutal power and pushes a heavy pace from the opening bell, Diaz’s typical strategy will likely be to his detriment. While he’s proven durable in the past, I don’t think he’ll be able to endure the constant onslaught of Zhang.

Oezdemir vs. Ulberg to Not Go the Distance: Yet another striker vs. striker matchup on a card full of them, this will surely be a banger. Ulberg is on an impressive run of finishes, with four knockouts and one submission in his last five fights. Oezdemir, following a handful of unfortunate losses, has returned to his finishing ways, producing two first-round stoppages in his last two outings. While both have grappling skills, I expect this fight to primarily play out on the feet, where they’re both most dangerous. In a combined 39 professional fights, the two have produced 24 finishes, with 20 of them coming in the first round. With how dangerous both men are, if they choose to stand and slug it out, I can’t imagine the exchanges going on for too long before someone is sleeping on the canvas.

Yan vs. Figueiredo to Go the Distance: A matchup of two former champions is an excellent way to close out this card. Both are extremely high-level and well-rounded, comfortable anywhere the fight ends up. While both have numerous impressive finishes, they’ve also proven durable and capable of pushing a heavy pace across five rounds. Yan has never been finished in his professional career and has been in several wars now, as well as title fights. Figueiredo has only been finished by his foremost rival, Brandon Moreno, and has looked even more powerful and dangerous since moving up to 135 pounds. I expect this fight to have a bit of everything, from explosive striking exchanges to wild scrambles on the mat. Regardless of where either man takes the fight, I believe both are too tough and too skilled to be put away.

UFC 309 Preview

Jon Jones fires a kick to the head of Rashad Evans. Credit: MMA Mania.

The UFC takes centerstage at Madison Square Garden with an outstanding pay-per-view card. There are plenty of exciting matchups filled with veterans, prospects, and rising stars all looking to score a win on the sport’s biggest stage. In the co-main event, we’ll see a rematch of epic proportions when perennial contender Charles Oliveira squares off again against the always-dangerous Michael Chandler. In the main event, two of the most legendary fighters in UFC history will go toe-to-toe for gold when Heavyweight champion Jon Jones looks to defend his strap against Stipe Miocic. With top-notch fights spread throughout the card, we’ll look at a handful of preliminary bouts and the entire main card.

Prelims

Jim Miller vs. Damon Jackson

Jim Miller exchanges blows with King Green. Credit: MMA Junkie.

Lightweight Bout

Jim Miller: 37-18-0, 7 KO/TKO, 20 Sub.

Damon Jackson: 23-7-1, 4 KO/TKO, 15 Sub.

Miller has won three of his last five fights and has UFC victories over #2 ranked Lightweight Charles Oliveira (34-10-0), Clay Guida (38-21-0), and Donald Cerrone (36-17-0). He's among the UFC's most well-respected, well-rounded, and accomplished fighters. He has the most wins in UFC history at 26, the most fights in promotional history at 44, and the second-most finishes at 18. Miller varies his shots excellently, attacking the head and body evenly and possessing devastating leg kicks. He’s excellent at timing counterattacks and will eat a shot to land one. He’s averaging over one takedown landed and nearly two submissions attempted per fifteen minutes. Training at Sussex County MMA, Miller has excellent top control and constantly pursues a finish. 

Damon Jackson tags Alexander Hernandez with a right hand. Credit: MMA Mania.

Jackson has won two of his last five bouts and has UFC victories over Pat Sabatini (19-5-0), Charles Rosa (16-8-0), and Alexander Hernandez (15-8-0). He’s a dangerous grappler with excellent chokes and solid hands. He pushes a heavy pace from the opening bell, always moving and throwing every shot straight and tight. Jackson regularly dips his head and enters the pocket, throwing heavy straights. He’s averaging over two takedowns landed per fifteen minutes and is a powerful wrestler capable of impressive slams. Training at Fortis MMA, he advances position quickly on the ground and has excellent control. Jackson has nine wins via rear naked choke and is constantly hunting for his opponent’s neck.

Chris Weidman vs. Eryk Anders

Chris Weidman knocks out Anderson Silva with a stunning left hook. Credit: New York Post.

Middleweight Bout

Chris Weidman: 16-7-0, 6 KO/TKO, 4 Sub.

Eryk Anders: 16-8-0, 9 KO/TKO, 1 Sub.

Weidman has won two of his last five outings and has UFC victories over former champions Anderson Silva (34-11-0), Vitor Belfort (26-14-0), and Lyoto Machida (26-12-0). He’s a well-rounded veteran with fantastic wrestling, technical boxing, and excellent cardio. He’s a patient striker, constantly feinting and throwing out his jab to draw reactions out of his opponent. Weidman has outstanding punches with his lead hand and will remain technical throughout the fight. Training at Longo-Weidman MMA, he’s averaging over three takedowns landed per fifteen minutes and is a tenacious grappler. He has great chain wrestling, heavy top pressure, and is constantly looking to advance position and posture up. Weidman holds the UFC Middleweight record for takedowns landed with 43 and has landed at least one takedown in all his victories in the promotion. 

Eryk Anders looks to land ground and pound on Darren Stewart. Credit: Tuscaloosa Thread.

Anders has won two of his last five fights and has UFC victories over Gerald Meerschaert (37-18-0), Kyle Daukaus (15-4-0), and Jamie Pickett (13-11-0). He’s a powerful, heavy-handed striker who throws everything with bad intentions. He’s constantly looking to land power shots, regularly dipping his head before unloading hooks and overhands. Anders rarely throws kicks, preferring close distance, get into the pocket, and let his hands fly. Training at the MMA LAB, He is averaging nearly two takedowns landed per fifteen minutes and will often shoot early. If he takes the fight to the mat, he’s tough to shake off, has heavy ground and pound, and will constantly look to posture up and land ground and pound. Seven of Anders’ ten finishes came in the first round and he’s most dangerous early on.

#13 Jonathan Martinez vs. Marcus McGhee

Jonathan Martinez lands a brutal head kick on Cub Swanson. Credit: Zuffa LLC.

Bantamweight Bout

Jonathan Martinez: 19-5-0, 9 KO/TKO, 2 Sub.

Marcus McGhee: 9-1-0, 8 KO/TKO, 1 Sub.

Martinez has won four of his last five bouts and has UFC victories over Cub Swanson (29-14-0), Said Nurmagomedov (18-3-0), and Adrian Yanez (17-5-0). He’s an excellent striker with a diverse kicking game. He constantly throws with his left leg, often opening combinations with kicks and throwing everything with power. Martinez varies his shots well, attacking the head, body, and legs while remaining technical throughout. Training at MTZ Fight Club, he can land damage at range or in the pocket, possessing brutal elbows and knees. He won’t typically initiate grappling exchanges but has solid top pressure, ground and pound, and takedown defense. Eight of Martinez’s nine knockouts have come after round one, and he heats up as the fight continues.

Marcus McGhee fires a right hook at Gaston Bolaños. Credit: Ag. Fight.

McGhee is on a five-fight win streak and has UFC victories over Gaston Bolaños (8-4-0), Journey Newson (10-5-0), and JP Buys (9-6-0). He’s a dangerous striker with big-time power and solid grappling. He’s highly explosive but remains technical throughout, throwing his shots straight and tight without telegraphing. McGhee has great footwork and head movement and is constantly coming forward and pressuring his opponent. Training at the MMA LAB, his striking sets up his grappling, and he has excellent takedown timing and defense, having defended all takedowns attempted on him in the UFC. In top position, he’s capable of producing quick submissions but also has heavy ground and pound. Six of McGhee’s nine finishes came after the first round and he tends to heat up as the fight continues. 

Main Card

Mauricio Ruffy vs. James Llontop

Mauricio Ruffy blasts Jamie Mullarkey with a stiff uppercut. Credit: MMA Fighting.

Lightweight Bout

Mauricio Ruffy: 10-1-0, 10 KO/TKO, 0 Sub.

James Llontop: 14-4-0, 7 KO/TKO, 1 Sub.

Ruffy is on a five-fight win streak and has a UFC victory over Jamie Mullarkey (17-8-0). A lethal, elusive striker, he’s always dangerous and constantly hunting a knockout. He’s highly accurate and favors power to volume, often throwing single shots with knockout intentions. Ruffy has fantastic distance control and head movement, typically staying at range and picking his opponents apart with brutal leg kicks. Training with the Fighting Nerds, he throws everything with impressive speed and is unpredictable, regularly attempting unorthodox strikes without telegraphing. He varies his shots well and will constantly look to draw in his opponents so he can land counterstrikes. Although 80% of Ruffy’s knockouts have come in the first round, he has solid cardio and can carry his power comfortably across 15 minutes. 

James Llontop fires a jab at Malik Lewis. Credit: MMA Junkie.

Llontop has won three of his last five outings and is looking to score his first UFC victory. He’s a gritty scrapper who’s always willing to eat one to land one. He fights behind his jab and throws every shot with power, never looking just to touch or establish range. Llontop typically looks to close the distance and let his hands go in the pocket but has damaging kicks, particularly to the legs. Training at Team FFC, he favors power to volume and will constantly load up, dip his head, and blitz forward to unload looping hooks and overhands. He has solid cardio and can push a consistent pace comfortably across 15 minutes. Llontop has found half of his finishes after the first round and is always dangerous.

#9 Viviane Araujo vs. #11 Karine Silva

Viviane Araujo digs a front kick to the body of Andrea Lee. Credit: SACAS.

Women’s Flyweight Bout

Viviane Araujo: 12-6-0, 3 KO/TKO, 4 Sub.

Karine Silva: 18-4-0, 8 KO/TKO, 9 Sub.

Araujo has won two of her last five fights and has UFC victories over Andrea Lee (13-10-0), Jennifer Maia (22-10-1), and Alexis Davis (21-11-0). She’s a powerful scrapper who’s always coming forward, looking to land damage. She’s at her most dangerous early on, doing most of her damage inside the pocket with her hands. Araujo fights behind her jab and throws every shot with power but doesn’t telegraph or load up. Training at Cerrado MMA, she’s averaging nearly two takedowns landed per fifteen minutes and is very explosive, able to land slam takedowns in open space. She advances quickly on the ground, constantly working and pursuing a finish. Araujo is averaging about 60 significant strikes landed in her last five wins but tends to slow down as the fight goes on.

Karine Silva pursues a leg lock on Ketlen Souza. Credit: Zuffa LLC.

Silva is on a nine-fight win streak and has UFC victories over #14 ranked Flyweight Ariane da Silva (17-10-0), Maryna Moroz (11-6-0), and Ketlen Souza (15-4-0). She is a dangerous submission artist with solid power in her hands. She’s in perpetual motion on the feet, constantly feinting and opening combinations with kicks. Silva throws everything in combination and has excellent clinch striking, often using it to set up her grappling. Training with the Gile Ribeiro Team, she’s averaging nearly four takedowns landed and over two submissions attempted per fifteen minutes. She has excellent takedown entries, transitions quickly in top position, and can wrap up submissions seemingly in the blink of an eye. Silva has found six of her eight submissions in round one and has only seen the second round twice in her last nine fights.

Bo Nickal vs. Paul Craig

Bo Nickal secures a rear naked choke on Cody Brundage. Credit: MMA Mania.

Middleweight Bout

Bo Nickal: 6-0-0, 2 KO/TKO, 4 Sub.

Paul Craig: 17-8-1, 4 KO/TKO, 13 Sub.

Nickal is undefeated and has UFC victories over Jamie Pickett (13-11-0), Val Woodburn (7-2-0), and Cody Brundage (10-6-0). He is a former three-time NCAA D1 collegiate wrestling champion who is very comfortable in the Octagon despite his inexperience in MMA. Unsurprisingly, he is an excellent grappler who will shoot early and secure an advantageous position very quickly. Nickal transitions at lightning speed on the ground and pursues submissions immediately once the fight hits the mat, using excellent top control to secure a finish. Training at American Top Team, his constant wrestling threat makes him very unpredictable on the feet. He has solid power in his hands and good distance management. Nickal has yet to see a third round in his short career and has produced three finishes in less than a minute.

Paul Craig locks in a brutal triangle choke on Jamahal Hill. Credit: Zuffa LLC.

Craig has won one of his last five bouts and has UFC victories over #1 ranked Light Heavyweight Magomed Ankalaev (20-1-1), #3 ranked Light Heavyweight Jamahal Hill (12-2-0), and #6 ranked Light Heavyweight Nikita Krylov (30-9-0). He’s one of the most accomplished grapplers in the UFC, holding the UFC Light Heavyweight record for triangles with four and the second most Performance of the Night bonuses ever, with 8. He’s a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt and is comfortable anywhere on the ground, whether on his back or on top. Training at Higher Level Martial Arts, Craig is highly experienced and always remains calm and technical on the ground, never rushing or putting himself in dangerous spots. On the feet, he tends to throw kicks at range and looks to close the distance and get the fight to the mat. He finds submissions quickly on top and bottom and is very tough to get away from on the ground. Craig is highly durable and can find submissions even in the deepest waters.

#2 Charles Oliveira vs. #7 Michael Chandler

Charles Oliveira launches a body kick at Arman Tsarukyan. Credit: RingSide24.

Lightweight Bout

Charles Oliveira: 34-10-0, 10 KO/TKO, 21 Sub.

Michael Chandler: 23-8-0, 11 KO/TKO, 7 Sub.

Oliveira has won three of his last five outings and has UFC victories over #3 ranked Lightweight Justin Gaethje (25-5-0), #4 ranked Lightweight Dustin Poirier (30-9-0), and his current opponent, Michael Chandler. He’s an exceptionally well-rounded fighter with bricks for hands and deadly submissions. He utilizes technical, crisp Muay Thai on the feet to batter his opponents. Oliveira is averaging over two takedowns landed and nearly three submissions attempted per fifteen minutes. He has solid wrestling skills, can land takedowns in open space, and will advance position incredibly quickly. Training at Chute Boxe, he has proven his ability to stay calm in deep waters, regularly getting dropped in his fights only to come back and find a way to win. Oliveira has only gone to a decision twice in the last decade and always pushes a heavy pace. 

Michael Chandler puts Tony Ferguson out cold with a brutal front kick. Credit: MMA Junkie.

Chandler has won two of his last five bouts and has UFC victories over #6 ranked Lightweight Dan Hooker (24-12-0) and Tony Ferguson (26-11-0). He is a former three-time Bellator Lightweight champion who entered the UFC in 2021. He’s exceptionally well-rounded, pushes a heavy pace, and is comfortable anywhere the fight goes. Chandler is an excellent wrestler with powerful takedowns, landing, on average, over two takedowns per fifteen minutes in the UFC. He’s incredibly dangerous in top position, possessing brutal ground and pound and particularly lethal chokes. Training at Kill Cliff FC, he’s just as dangerous on the feet as he is on the ground, having excellent power in his hands and a great chin. Chandler pushes a heavy pace at all times and is always pursuing a finish, only seeing the judges twice in his last ten fights.

(C) Jon Jones vs. #8 Stipe Miocic

Jon Jones drags Ciryl Gane down to the mat. Credit: MMA Fighting.

Heavyweight Title Bout

Jon Jones: 27-1-0, 10 KO/TKO, 7 Sub.

Stipe Miocic: 20-4-0, 14 KO/TKO, 1 Sub.

Jones is (technically) undefeated, with one DQ loss, and has UFC victories over #2 ranked Heavyweight Ciryl Gane (12-2-0), #12 ranked Light Heavyweight Anthony Smith (38-20-0), and #13 ranked Light Heavyweight Dominick Reyes (13-4-0). One of the most well-rounded fighters of all time, he’s comfortable and dangerous anywhere the fight goes. He does a great job of controlling the center of the cage and varies his shots constantly, attacking both the head and body evenly. Training at Jackson’s MMA, Jones has some of the most devastating elbows in the sport, both on the ground and the feet, and never telegraphs his attacks. He averages nearly two takedowns landed per fifteen minutes, has heavy top control, and brutal ground and pound. He has a solid submission game, particularly his guillotine, which accounts for five of his seven submission wins. Jones has not been in a non-title fight since 2011 and has excellent cardio, capable of pushing a consistent pace across 25 minutes. 

Stipe Miocic lands a stinging left hand on Daniel Cormier. Credit: The New York Times.

Miocic has won three of his last five outings and has UFC victories over former UFC champions Daniel Cormier (22-3-0), Francis Ngannou (18-3-0), and Fabricio Werdum (24-9-1). One of the most accomplished Heavyweights in UFC history, he holds multiple records in the division, including the most title defenses (3), most finishes in title fights (4), and most post-fight bonuses (9). He’s a highly well-rounded fighter with excellent technical boxing skills and efficient wrestling. Miocic fights behind his jab and remains technical throughout, remaining patient and looking for openings. He has knockout power but won’t load up or telegraph his shots, often drawing his opponents into counterstrikes. Training with the Strong Style Fight Team, he’s averaging over one takedown landed per fifteen minutes and has heavy top pressure, rarely letting his opponents out from under him. Although most of Miocic’s finishes have come in the first round, he’s exceptionally well-experienced and can easily fight for 25 minutes.

Best Bets

Nickal vs. Craig to Not Go the Distance: Before any explanation, I’ll clarify: I believe Nickal wins this fight, but he is such a massive favorite it’s not worth betting on. With that established, I have complete confidence regardless of the winner; the judges will not be involved. Although Nickal has had a relatively brief MMA career, he’s made quick work of most of his opponents and has only left the first round once. While much more experienced, Craig has only been to a single decision in his career, with all of his victories coming via finish. Although a matchup of two grapplers can sometimes lead to a long, tedious, stalemate-filled fight, neither of these fighters is that kind of grappler. Both constantly pursue a finish and regularly throw caution to the wind. While I expect some extended grappling exchanges, I don’t anticipate this one going to the scorecards whatsoever.

Charles Oliveira Moneyline: An exciting rematch that not many fans expected to be run back; regardless of the outcome, this fight will be fantastic. Both fighters are skilled anywhere the fight goes, both are durable, and both push a wild pace. In the three years since their initial meeting, both have gone on very interesting journeys. Despite losing his title, Oliveira has remained at the top of the division and continued taking on the best Lightweights in the UFC. Meanwhile, Chandler has not fought in two years, forced to take a massive layoff while chasing the ever-elusive fight with Conor McGregor, which has yet to materialize. Not to say that he hasn’t been training in that time, but taking two years off during the back half of your career is never ideal. Now, at 38 years old, he hasn’t won a fight since beating Tony Ferguson in 2022, a win that has not aged well. Although Oliveira is coming off a hard-fought loss, he’s shown no signs of slowing down and has still looked sharp after his loss to Makhachev. Ultimately, there’s no way of knowing where Chandler is coming into this fight; we know he’s always in immaculate physical condition, but we don’t know whether his skills have dulled in his time away. With all this uncertainty, I’m confident that Oliveira will secure another victory against his fellow Lightweight contender.

Jon Jones by Submission: Many fans aren’t too happy with this matchup, and for good reason. While no one would deny the incredible legacy of Miocic, he hasn’t fought in three years and is coming off one of the most brutal knockout losses in recent memory. On top of that, he’s 42 years old and hasn’t fought in front of a crowd since 2019. Although Jones has by no means been the most active fighter, he has fought and won in the last year and a half, and looked impressive doing it. Stipe is a well-rounded fighter, but is at his best on his feet, using his boxing and footwork. I expect Jones to engage in the striking early on, before ultimately securing takedowns and taking the fight to the mat. Once the fight is down there, I expect Jones to immediately pursue a finish, similar to what he did against Ciryl Gane. I can see this fight both lasting a few rounds or ending quickly, either way, I expect Jones to get it done via submission.

UFC Fight Night: Moreno vs. Albazi Preview

Brandon Moreno lands a stinging left hook on Alexandre Pantoja. Credit: MMA Fighting.

The UFC heads to Rogers Place in Edmonton, Canada, with an exciting Fight Night card. There are plenty of fantastic matchups throughout, all filled with fighters looking to score a highlight victory in front of a packed crowd. In the co-main event, we’ll witness a top-five matchup of women’s Flyweights with possible title implications when Erin Blanchfield takes on Rose Namajunas. In the main event, we’ll see another top-five matchup, instead of men’s Flyweights, between former champion Brandon Moreno and the red-hot Amir Albazi. Let’s take a look at the fights on the main card.

Mike Malott vs. Trevin Giles

Mike Malott drops Adam Fugitt with punches. Credit: Insiders Betting Digest.

Welterweight Bout

Mike Malott: 10-2-1, 4 KO/TKO, 6 Sub.

Trevin Giles: 16-6-0, 6 KO/TKO, 5 Sub.

Malott has won four of his last five fights and has UFC victories over Mickey Gall (7-6-0), Adam Fugitt (10-4-0), and Yohan Lainesse (9-3-0). He’s dangerous on the feet with a solid kicking game and one-shot knockout power. He’s highly technical and accurate, throwing every shot with purpose and plenty of power. Malott has excellent footwork and typically throws in combination, supplying his opponent with a healthy dose of hooks and overhands. Training at Niagara Top Team, he’s a solid grappler with great wrestling and tremendous pressure on top. He’s landing, on average, about three takedowns per fifteen minutes and has a dangerous submission game, particularly chokes. Similar to his striking, Malott stays technical and patient on the ground, looking for openings and quickly advancing position. 

Trevin Giles fires a left hand at Preston Parsons. Credit: MMA Junkie.

Trevin Giles has won two of his last five bouts and has wins over #9 ranked Middleweight Roman Dolidze (14-3-0), Preston Parson (11-5-0), and James Krause (28-9-0). He is an aggressive boxer on the feet, constantly looking to explode forward with huge, hook-heavy combinations. He has good power in both hands and seemingly never puts punches out there to touch his opponent, throwing every punch with fight-ending intentions. He’s a talented grappler, averaging over one takedown landed per fifteen minutes, and has solid top control. He will typically resort to ground and pound but has submission ability and will pursue chokes. Training at W4R Training Center, he relentlessly pursues the finish and is willing to engage in the fight anywhere to find it. Giles always leaves it all inside the Octagon, with just 23% of his professional fights going the distance.

Marc-Andre Barriault vs. Dustin Stoltzfus

Marc-Andre Barriault fires a head kick at Eryk Anders. Credit: Insiders Betting Digest. 

Middleweight Bout

Marc-Andre Barriault: 16-8-0, 10 KO/TKO, 1 Sub.

Dustin Stoltzfus: 15-6-0, 2 KO/TKO, 6 Sub.

Barriault has won two of his last five outings and has UFC victories over Julian Marquez (9-5-0), Jordan Wright (12-5-0), and Eryk Anders (16-8-0). He’s a brawler, preferring to hang in the pocket and get the job done with his hands. He has solid power in both hands and regularly mixes in damaging leg kicks in his constant pursuit of a finish. When the fight hits the ground, Barriault has shown decent top control and heavy ground and pound, constantly looking to posture and rain down shots. He has solid defensive wrestling, having defended 67% of takedowns attempted on him in the UFC. Training at Kill Cliff FC, he has impressive cardio and can push a heavy pace, averaging about 95 significant strikes landed in his last five victories. Despite this, Barriault still seems to favor power over volume, throwing every shot with fight-ending intentions.

Dustin Stoltzfus secures a blast double-leg takedown on Dwight Grant. Credit: Zuffa LLC.

Stoltzfus has won two of his last five fights and has UFC victories over Dwight Grant (11-6-0) and Punahele Soriano (10-4-0). He’s a solid wrestler with impressive power who’s always willing to engage in the pocket. He won’t rush on the feet, favoring power to volume and tending to throw kicks at range. Stoltzfus has good distance management and is always coming forward, often using his striking to close the distance and pursue takedowns. He’s averaging over two takedowns landed per fifteen minutes and is capable of brutal slams. Training at Xtreme Couture, he advances quickly on top and has solid top pressure, rarely letting his opponent out from under him. Stoltzfus has heavy ground and pound and a slick submission game, holding a victory via twister on his record.

Caio Machado vs. Brendson Ribeiro

Caio Machado lands a damaging kick to the body of Mick Parkin. Credit: MMA Junkie.

Light Heavyweight Bout

Caio Machado: 8-3-1, 4 KO/TKO, 2 Sub.

Brendson Ribeiro: 15-7-0, 9 KO/TKO, 6 Sub.

Machado has won three of his last five bouts and is looking for his first UFC victory. He’s a heavy-handed brawler with a solid grappling background. He’s a fast starter, getting his hands going immediately, typically unloading with looping hooks and overhands. Machado throws every shot with power and constantly comes forward and attacks, often using his striking to reach the clinch. Training at FKP MMA Vancouver, he has excellent takedown defense and can defend shots along the fence and in open space. He advances quickly in top position, constantly looking to posture up and rain down ground and pound. Although Machado is always willing to brawl, he has two wins by armbar in his last five appearances and can finish the fight anywhere. 

Brendson Ribeiro brutally finishes Bruno Lopes with ground and pound. Credit: Zuffa LLC.

Ribeiro has won three of his last five outings and is looking to score his first UFC victory. He’s a wild scrapper with solid power and dangerous submissions. He throws everything with power, fighting behind his jab before unloading long, looping hooks. He has heavy kicks and throws them constantly, regularly mixing leg kicks into combinations. Training at Brazilian TKO, Ribeiro is an explosive grappler and can land powerful takedowns even when on the back foot. He can survive in deep waters on his back, has solid scrambles and reversals, and has heavy pressure in top position. He stays patient on top, not putting himself in bad spots while looking to land ground and pound. Ribeiro has found four of his six submissions via guillotine and will regularly pursue chokes if it hits the mat. 

#11 Derrick Lewis vs. Jhonata Diniz

Derrick Lewis lands an incredible flying knee on Marcos Rogerio de Lima. Credit: MMA Fighting.

Heavyweight Bout

Derrick Lewis: 28-12-0, 23 KO/TKO, 1 Sub.

Jhonata Diniz: 8-0-0, 7 KO/TKO, 0 Sub.

Lewis has won two of his last five fights and has UFC victories over #3 ranked Heavyweight Alexander Volkov (38-10-0), #5 ranked Heavyweight Curtis Blaydes (18-5-0), and #8 ranked Heavyweight Marcin Tybura (25-9-0). Famous for his kill-or-be-killed approach, he is arguably the most powerful puncher in the Heavyweight division. Training at Silverback Fight Club, he has a unique, patient style, often going from 0-100 in the blink of an eye. Along with his punching power, Lewis has a surprising arsenal of flashy attacks, particularly jumping kicks and flying knees. He doesn’t often initiate grappling exchanges and is well known for his non-technical wrestling style of “just getting up,” but he can do severe damage if he gets to top position. He’s incredibly resilient and is never truly out of a fight, especially since he only needs to land one clean shot to find a finish. Lewis is the record holder for UFC knockouts with 15 and looks to add to that number every time he fights.

Jhonata Diniz cracks Karl Williams with a stiff left hook. Credit: Zuffa LLC.

Diniz is undefeated and has UFC victories over Karl Williams (10-2-0) and Austen Lane (13-5-0). He’s a former professional kickboxer with a record of 29-7 and fifteen knockout wins. He throws everything with power and can produce a knockout with a single clean shot. Diniz constantly presses forward and cuts off the cage well, often closing the distance to unload hooks. He remains technical throughout and varies his shots well, attacking the head, body, and legs. Training with the Santa Fe Team, he throws bombs but won’t telegraph and does an excellent job of mixing kicks into combinations. Diniz has six first-round knockouts in MMA and eight in kickboxing and is most dangerous early on.

#3 Erin Blanchfield vs. #5 Rose Namajunas

Erin Blanchfield stuns Jessica Andrade with a straight right hand. Credit: MMA Fighting.

Women’s Flyweight

Erin Blanchfield: 12-2-0, 2 KO/TKO, 4 Sub.

Rose Namajunas: 14-6-0, 2 KO/TKO, 6 Sub.

Blanchfield has won four of her last five bouts and has UFC victories over #8 ranked Flyweight Jéssica Andrade (26-13-0), Miranda Maverick (16-5-0), and Molly McCann (14-7-0). She’s a well-rounded fighter, possessing excellent technical kickboxing and fantastic grappling. Having started training Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu at the age of 7, she has a black belt and is visibly experienced and highly comfortable on the ground. Blanchfield is tough to shake off, has excellent control, and often seems one step ahead of her opponent on the ground. Training at Silver Fox BJJ, she has excellent wrestling and averages about two takedowns landed per fifteen minutes in her UFC tenure. She is constantly advancing position when she does get it to the mat. She works behind her jab on the feet and usually throws in combination. Blanchfield has a solid arsenal of kicks and throws all of them quickly, and she has some especially dangerous high kicks.

Rose Namajunas lands a damaging right hand on Weili Zhang. Credit: MMA Fighting.

Namajunas has won three of her last five outings and has UFC victories over Strawweight champion Zhang Weili (25-3-0), #8 ranked Flyweight Jéssica Andrade (26-13-0), and #10 ranked Flyweight Amanda Ribas (12-5-0). She’s a well-rounded fighter with a solid kickboxing game and excellent Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. Training at Genesis Training Center, she has sneaky power, a sturdy chin, and has proven her ability to go five rounds without slowing or getting sloppy. Holding black belts in both Taekwondo and Karate, Namajunas has very educated feet and crisp boxing. Averaging over one takedown landed per 15 minutes, she is willing to engage in grappling exchanges and has great top control to complement her excellent submission game. Six of her last ten bouts have been for titles against some of the fiercest competition in the sport, making her prepared for nearly anything. She’s been awarded six bonuses and has five finishes in the promotion, almost always leaving everything in the cage.

#2 Brandon Moreno vs. #3 Amir Albazi

Brandon Moreno chokes out Deiveson Figueiredo. Credit: MMA Fighting.

Flyweight Bout

Brandon Moreno: 21-8-2, 5 KO/TKO, 11 Sub.

Amir Albazi: 17-1-0, 5 KO/TKO, 9 Sub.

Brandon Moreno has won three of his last five fights and has UFC victories over #1 ranked Flyweight Brandon Royval (17-7-0), #4 ranked Flyweight Kai Kara-France (25-11-0), and #5 ranked Bantamweight Deiveson Figueiredo (24-3-1). Training at Brazilian Warriors BJJ, he uses crisp boxing and extended combinations to damage his opponents. He remains patient and looks for openings but is more than willing to throw down and brawl in the pocket. Moreno has excellent top control and a slick submission game on the mat, particularly chokes. He also has excellent takedown defense, often working out of challenging positions and returning to his feet. He has fantastic cardio and can easily push a consistent pace across 25 minutes. Moreno has earned seven performance bonuses in his promotional tenure and is never in a boring fight. 

Amir Albazi lands a glancing uppercut on Kai Kara-France. Credit: MMA Mania.

Albazi is on a six-fight win streak and has UFC victories over #4 ranked Flyweight Kai Kara-France (25-11-0), Alessandro Costa (14-4-0), and Malcolm Gordon (14-8-0). He is a well-rounded fighter who’s most comfortable on the mat. He’s landing, on average, three takedowns and over one submission attempted per fifteen minutes and is a dominant wrestler. Training at Xtreme Couture, Albazi has excellent takedowns and is very hard to shake off, always staying active and pursuing a finish on top. He’s also dangerous on his back and advances position very quickly on the ground. On the feet, he uses technical boxing, constant forward pressure, and great head movement to damage his opponent. Albazi makes excellent use of feints and doesn’t telegraph his shots, always fighting behind his jab and usually holding the center of the cage.

Best Bets

Machado vs. Ribeiro to Not Go the Distance: One of the more interesting matchups on the card, both men have gone 0-2 in their promotional tenure and are attempting to secure their first UFC victory. Regardless of the fighters, typically, when two fighters are in a position where they’re fighting to keep their job, it’s going to get wild. With that situation in mind, these fighters have twenty-three wins between the two of them, with a combined 17 first-round finishes. I expect both fighters to take plenty of risks, throw caution to the wind, and ultimately, for someone to earn a finish along with their first UFC win.

Lewis vs. Diniz to Not Go the Distance: If you’re familiar with Lewis, you probably know how most of his fights end. Lewis has only seen the judges scorecards once in his last ten outings, and you know every time he’s in the octagon, somebody is going to sleep, one way or another. His opponent, Diniz, has only gone to decision a single time in his brief career and earned all but one of his knockouts in the first round. Typically, the only scenario where Lewis goes to a decision is when facing a grappler, and Diniz is a former professional kickboxer, so I don’t anticipate many takedown attempts from him. While I have no idea who will take this one, I’m highly confident somebody will be getting knocked out.

Brandon Moreno Moneyline: As usual, I admit my bias as a massive fan of Brandon Moreno. Regardless, I do believe he wins this fight. Albazi is an excellent, well-rounded fighter and offers an interesting puzzle at Flyweight, where there aren’t a ton of dominant wrestlers. Although he’s run through a few UFC opponents, he struggled significantly against top contender Kai Kara-France, especially with his grappling, landing just one of his nine attempted takedowns. While Albazi did win this fight by split decision, he absorbed 99 significant strikes and was even taken down twice, exposing cracks in his armor. Although Moreno has a different style to Kara-France, he’s a much more skilled grappler than KKF and also an excellent striker. While I believe Moreno can match Albazi on the ground, he has a definite advantage on the feet, where I think he can outpace and overwhelm him. I expect Moreno to deny Albazi’s takedowns, push a heavy pace, and put himself back into the win column.

UFC 308 Preview

Ilia Topuria blasts Josh Emmett with a brutal right hand. Credit: Sports Illustrated.

The UFC returns to Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi, UAE, to host another outstanding pay-per-view card. The entire card is filled with numerous exceptional matchups and exciting scrappers, all looking to climb the ladder of their respective divisions. In the co-main event, we finally get the long-awaited matchup between perennial title contender Robert Whittaker and the seemingly unstoppable Khamzat Chimaev. In the main event, we’ll witness the newly crowned Featherweight king Ilia Topuria look to defend his gold against all-time great and former champion Max Holloway. Let’s take a look at the fights on the main card.

Shara Magomedov vs. Armen Petrosyana

Shara Magomedov lands a wild spinning kick on Antonio Trocoli. Credit: MMA Mania.

Middleweight Bout

Shara Magomedov: 14-0-0, 11 KO/TKO, 0 Sub.

Armen Petrosyan: 9-3-0, 6 KO/TKO, 0 Sub.

Magomedov is undefeated and has UFC victories over Bruno Silva (23-11-0), Antonio Trocoli (12-4-0), and Michal Oleksiejczuk (19-9-0). He’s a devastating, diverse striker with a fantastic arsenal of kicks. He’s constantly moving and switching stances, never remaining in one spot for long. Magomedov is excellent at range, peppering his opponent with lead leg attacks before blitzing in to throw bombs. Training at GOR MMA, he rarely initiates grappling exchanges, often accepting position on his back and throwing strikes. He regularly looks to land spinning attacks, particularly elbows and backfists. Magomedov has scored three finishes in less than a minute and always comes out guns blazing.

Armen Petrosyan stuns AJ Dobson with a cracking right hand. Credit: Zuffa LLC.

Petrosyan has won three of his last five fights and has UFC victories over Gregory Rodrigues (16-5-0), AJ Dobson (7-3-0), and Christian Leroy Duncan (10-2-0). A former professional kickboxer, he held a record of 70-22-1 with 27 wins by knockout. He’s an excellent technical striker who possesses both speed and power. Training at Academy MMA, Petrosyan has great timing and accuracy with his strikes, often able to land shots and slip out of the pocket without taking damage. He does a great job mixing kicks into his combinations, attacks the head and body evenly, and provides opponents with a steady dose of leg kicks. He’s not likely to initiate grappling exchanges but has shown a solid ability to get off his back and return to his feet, where he’s most comfortable. Petrosyan pushes a heavy pace throughout the fight and has outlanded all his UFC opponents.

#12 Lerone Murphy vs. #14 Dan Ige

Lerone Murphy fires off a head kick at Edson Barboza. Credit: Unanimo Deportes.

Featherweight Bout

Lerone Murphy: 14-0-1, 7 KO/TKO, 0 Sub.

Dan Ige: 18-8-0, 6 KO/TKO, 5 Sub.

Murphy is undefeated and has UFC victories over #15 ranked Featherweight Edson Barboza (24-12-0), Douglas Silva de Andrade (29-6-0), and Gabriel Santos (11-2-0). He’s a well-rounded scrapper with solid power in his hands. He’s in perpetual motion, regularly feinting and staying at range before blitzing in with looping hooks and overhands. Murphy is patient on the feet, constantly looking for openings before firing combinations with no tell or load-up. He is averaging over one takedown landed and nearly one submission attempted per fifteen minutes. Training at Manchester Top Team, he’s strong in the clinch, never accepts position on the mat, and has excellent scrambles. Murphy’s striking sets up his grappling and vice versa, and he’s never predictable inside the cage.

Dan Ige cracks Diego Lopes with a left hook. Credit: Fighters Only.

Ige has won three of his last five bouts and has UFC victories over #15 ranked Featherweight Edson Barboza (24-12-0), Andre Fili (24-11-0), and Damon Jackson (23-7-1). He is a brawler with serious power inside the pocket and excellent technical boxing. He has great footwork and constantly varies his attacks, going to the head and body evenly. While Ige primarily uses his hands to land damage, he also possesses powerful kicks, often throwing them naked or at the end of combinations. He throws every shot with power and deadly intent and has one-shot knockout ability. Although more known for his striking, he has a black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and has landed at least one takedown in seven of his ten victories in the UFC. Ige has also shown great defensive grappling and is always active on the ground, never staying in one spot for long.

#1 Magomed Ankalaev vs. #5 Aleksandar Rakić

Magomed Ankalaev brutally drops Johnny Walker with a punch. Credit: MMA Mania.

Light Heavyweight Bout

Magomed Ankalaev: 19-1-1, 11 KO/TKO, 0 Sub.

Aleksandar Rakić: 14-4-0, 9 KO/TKO, 1 Sub.

Ankalaev has won three of his last five outings with a draw and a No Contest and holds victories over #6 ranked Light Heavyweight Nikita Krylov (30-9-0), #8 ranked Light Heavyweight Volkan Oezdemir (20-7-0), and #9 ranked Light Heavyweight Johnny Walker (21-9-0). He holds the rank of Master of Sport in Combat Sambo and is a highly experienced grappler. Despite this, he only averages about one takedown landed per fifteen minutes and is comfortable in a striking battle. Ankalaev is very patient, typically throwing single shots with few combinations, but he makes up for his lack of volume with massive power. He constantly presses forward and throws every shot with purpose, with his pace increasing as the fight continues. Training at Gorets, he does an excellent job of holding the center and often looks to counterstrike. When Ankalaev takes the fight to the mat, he has smothering pressure in top position and will constantly look to posture up and land brutal ground and pound.

Aleksandar Rakić attempts an impressive flying knee on Anthony Smith. Credit: Zuffa LLC.

Rakić has won two of his last five fights and has UFC victories over #12 ranked Light Heavyweight Anthony Smith (38-20-0), Devin Clark (14-9-0), and Thiago Santos (22-13-0). He’s a powerful, technical striker with excellent distance management and footwork. He’s constantly looking to draw a reaction out of his opponent and land counterattacks. Rakić favors power to volume, regularly throwing single shots and naked kicks from range. Training at American Top Team, he remains technical throughout, never telegraphing shots or getting sloppy. He’ll often lunge forward and throw long, heavy, straight shots before returning to distance and throwing kicks. Rakić has seven first-round knockouts and can produce a flash finish anytime.

#3 Robert Whittaker vs. #13 Khamzat Chimaev

Robert Whittaker lands a powerful right hand on Kelvin Gastelum. Credit: CGTN.

Middleweight Bout

Robert Whittaker: 27-7-0, 11 KO/TKO, 5 Sub.

Khamzat Chimaev: 13-0-0, 6 KO/TKO, 5 Sub.

Whittaker has won three of his last five bouts and has UFC victories over #6 ranked Middleweight Marvin Vettori (19-7-1), #7 ranked Middleweight Jared Cannonier (17-8-0), and #10 ranked Middleweight Paulo Costa (14-4-0). He is an excellent, technical striker in perpetual motion, constantly bouncing and throwing everything in combination. Utilizing his karate background, he has fantastic lead leg attacks and throws all his shots tight and straight. Training at Gracie Jiu-Jitsu SG, Whittaker varies his shots well, attacking the head and body evenly and never overextending or getting sloppy. He’s elusive, never staying in one spot for long, and always keeps his head off the centerline. He does an excellent job mixing kicks into combinations, making them extremely hard to predict or see before they land. Whittaker has great cardio and remains composed throughout, easily able to push a heavy pace for 25 minutes.

Khamzat Chimaev looks to take the back of Kevin Holland. Credit: Zuffa LLC.

Chimaev is undefeated and has UFC victories over #2 ranked Welterweight Kamaru Usman (20-4-0), #8 ranked Welterweight Gilbert Burns (22-8-0), and Kevin Holland (26-12-0). He is a prolific finisher, having only absorbed a single strike in his UFC career prior to his meeting with Gilbert Burns. He has one-punch knockout power, is willing to eat a shot to land one, and is exceptionally well-rounded. Training at Allstars Training Center, Chimaev is a powerful wrestler, using devastating ground and pound and heavy top pressure to punish his opponent on the mat. He’s a lengthy fighter and makes excellent use of it, often landing power shots at range and using his striking to set up his wrestling attack. He’s never been taken down in the UFC and averages nearly four takedowns landed per fifteen minutes, almost always dictating where the fight occurs. Eight of Chimaev’s eleven finishes have come in the first round, but he’s also shown solid cardio, making him always dangerous.

(C) Ilia Topuria vs. #2 Max Holloway

Ilia Topuria puts Alexander Volkanovski out with a flurry of punches. Credit: The Independent.

Featherweight Title Bout

Ilia Topuria: 15-0-0, 5 KO/TKO, 8 Sub.

Max Holloway: 26-7-0, 12 KO/TKO, 2 Sub.

Topuria is undefeated with UFC victories over #1 ranked Featherweight Alexander Volkanovski (26-4-0), #8 ranked Featherweight Josh Emmett (19-4-0), and #13 ranked Featherweight Bryce Mitchell (16-3-0). He uses a boxing style on the feet, staying composed and fighting behind his jab while evenly mixing up his attacks between the head and body. He has big-time power in both hands and can produce flash knockouts anytime. Training at Climent Club, Topuria is an excellent grappler, holding a black belt in BJJ and landing, on average, nearly two takedowns per fifteen minutes. He has fantastic wrestling, regularly using double-leg takedowns to bring his opponent to the mat before looking to advance position or land ground and pound. He does a great job of staying aware of any submission attempts thrown his way while often pursuing submissions of his own, typically chokes. No matter where the fight goes, Topuria will relentlessly pursue a finish by any means necessary.

Max Holloway calls for Justin Gaethje to meet him in the midde. Credit: The Ringer.

Holloway has won four of his last five outings and has UFC victories over #3 ranked Lightweight Justin Gaethje (25-5-0), #4 ranked Featherweight Yair Rodríguez (16-5-0), and #6 ranked Featherweight Brian Ortega (16-4-0). One of the most respected fighters in the sport, he’s a fantastic striker capable of astronomical volume. He pushes a heavy pace and remains technical throughout, fighting behind his jab and never wasting energy. Holloway has excellent distance management and footwork, remaining in perpetual motion and landing damage without receiving much in return. Training at Gracie Technics, he has a solid submission game and has defended 84% of takedowns attempted on him in the UFC, but he rarely goes to the ground. He’ll constantly look to counterstrike, slipping his opponent’s attacks before landing his own. Holloway has a granite chin and has never been knocked down in the UFC, always coming forward and engaging the fight wherever it goes.

Best Bets

Murphy vs. Ige to Go the Distance: Although the entire main card is excellent, this matchup has not received the attention it deserves. Both men have proven their ability to put on bangers, especially recently, and both are coming off of highly entertaining fights. On top of their abilities to produce great fights, they’ve proven highly durable; Murphy is undefeated, and Ige has never been finished. They’re both very well-rounded, and this fight could end practically anywhere, but considering the toughness and technicality of these fighters, I expect it to go all three rounds.

Robert Whittaker Moneyline: I will be entirely honest: I am not a fan of Chimaev whatsoever, thanks to his ridiculous antics and constant need to pull out of fights. Beyond my dislike for him, though, I genuinely believe Whittaker has the tools to defeat him. While he’s well known for his excellent striking and punching power, his grappling is often underrated. Across 22 UFC fights, Whittaker has defended 82% of takedowns attempted on him and has beaten prolific grapplers such as Jacare Souza, Yoel Romero, and Derek Brunson. He has also now had two full training camps specifically for Chimaev due to the previous cancellation of this matchup, so I’m sure he’s been wrestling non-stop. Whittaker is the more technical striker of the two, and if he can survive the early onslaught and keep the fight standing, he has a distinct advantage on the feet. Whether through his grappling or his striking, I believe Whittaker will be the first man in MMA to defeat Chimaev.

Topuria vs. Holloway to Go the Distance: After much thought, I cannot pick a winner in this fight. I love both fighters and believe they are truly the best in the world at 145 pounds. Both have distinct advantages in this matchup, and both have looked unbeatable as of late. While these fighters don’t have much in common, one thing they share is exceptional durability. While Holloway’s chin practically has its own UFC legacy, Topuria has also shown an incredible ability to eat shots and recover, particularly in his fight with Jai Herbert. Holloway hasn’t been finished since his UFC debut in 2012, and Topuria is undefeated. Not many things about this matchup are predictable, but I’m confident this fight goes all five rounds.

UFC Fight Night: Hernandez vs. Pereira

Anthony Hernandez rains down vicious ground and pound onto Edmen Shahbazyan. Credit: Zuffa LLC.

The UFC remains in Las Vegas to host another outstanding Fight Night card from the APEX Center. The card features plenty of excellent fights and is filled with hot prospects, rising stars, and established veterans, all looking to prove themselves on the biggest stage in MMA. In the co-main event, we’ll witness a matchup of top-fifteen Bantamweights when divisional stalwart Rob Font takes on the red-hot Kyler Phillips. In the main event, two excellent scrappers look for their chance to move up the Middleweight ladder when Anthony Hernandez faces off against Michel Pereira. Let’s take a look at the fights on the main card.

Darren Elkins vs. Daniel Pineda

Darren Elkins fires a left hook at TJ Connelly. Credit: Zuffa LLC.

Featherweight Bout

Darren Elkins: 28-11-0, 9 KO/TKO, 6 Sub.

Daniel Pineda: 28-16-0, 9 KO/TKO, 19 Sub.

Elkins has won three of his last five fights and has UFC victories over Michael Johnson (23-19-0), TJ Brown (17-12-0), and Mirsad Bektic (14-3-0). Known as one of the grittiest grapplers in MMA, he uses his toughness and relentless pace to wear down his opponents. He’s landing, on averaging, nearly three takedowns per fifteen minutes and is a relentless wrestler, regularly chaining together takedown attempts. Elkins has heavy top pressure and will constantly look to posture up and land ground and pound. He tends to box on the feet, fighting behind his jab and using his striking to close the distance and set up his grappling. Training at Team Alpha Male, he’s always willing to eat a shot to land one and is easily drawn into a brawl. One of the longest-tenured fighters in the promotion, he holds multiple Featherweight records, including the most unanimous decision wins, takedowns landed, submissions attempted, control time, and top position time.

Daniel Pineda pursues a choke on Tucker Lutz. Credit: MMA Junkie.

Pineda has won one of his last five bouts with one no-contest and has UFC victories over Herbert Burns (11-6-0) and Tucker Lutz (12-4-0). A wild fighter, he has big-time power in his hands and a dangerous submission game. He comes out guns blazing, throwing every shot with power and regularly attempting spinning attacks. Pineda is always coming forward and looking to land bombs, rarely taking any steam off of his shots. He’s averaging nearly two takedowns landed and two submissions attempted per fifteen minutes and is very active in top position. Training at 4oz Fight Club, he’s always dangerous on top and will constantly hunt for his opponent’s neck, with twelve of his nineteen submissions coming via some form of choke. Pineda has finished all 28 of his victories, with seventeen finishes coming in round one, and he’s always dangerous.

Cameron Smotherman vs. Jake Hadley

Bantamweight Bout

Cameron Smotherman prepares inside the cage on Dana White’s Contender Series. Credit: MMA Fighting.

Cameron Smotherman: 11-4-0, 6 KO/TKO, 1 Sub.

Jake Hadley: 11-3-0, 3 KO/TKO, 5 Sub.

Smotherman has won four of his last five outings and is making his UFC debut. He’s a powerful, technical striker who’s always dangerous. He pushes a consistent pace and has excellent cardio, easily carrying his power and speed across three rounds. Smotherman has power in both hands and tends to headhunt, throwing every shot with knockout intentions and never looking just to touch his opponent. He’s most comfortable on the feet but is a competent defensive grappler, possessing solid chokes and is capable of surviving off his back. He can do significant damage without much space, especially with his knees, which he’ll throw regularly. Smotherman has one-shot knockout power and can create a highlight finish at any time. 

Jake Hadley uncorks a left hand onto Cody Durden. Credit: MMA Junkie.

Hadley has won three of his last five fights and has UFC victories over Malcolm Gordon (14-8-0), Caolán Loughran (9-2-0), and Carlos Candelario (8-3-0). He’s a well-rounded fighter with fast hands and dangerous submissions. He fights behind his jab and floats along the outside of the cage, always moving while peppering his opponent with shots. Hadley varies his shots well, attacking the head, body, and legs evenly, never telegraphing or loading up. He’s averaging over one submission attempted per fifteen minutes and has excellent sweeps and reversals, often finding himself in top position when the fight hits the mat. Training at Fearless MMA, he can find submissions with impressive speed and is especially dangerous if he can find his opponent’s neck, with all his submissions coming via a form of choke. Hadley can produce quick finishes but also has solid cardio, carrying his power and speed across all three rounds. 

Charles Johnson vs. Sumudaerji

Charles Johnson blasts Joshua Van with a brutal uppercut. Credit: MMA Fighting.

Flyweight Bout

Charles Johnson: 16-6-0, 7 KO/TKO, 3 Sub.

Sumudaerji: 16-6-0, 13 KO/TKO, 1 Sub.

Johnson has won three of his last five bouts and has UFC victories over Joshua Van (11-2-0), Azat Maksum (17-1-0), and Jake Hadley (11-3-0). He’s a dangerous striker with solid wrestling and submissions. He always throws in combination, constantly mixing in kicks and evenly spreading his shots across the head, legs, and body. He has excellent footwork, regularly switching stances, and has great head movement, rarely keeping his head on the centerline. Training at Murcielago MMA, Johnson is willing to grapple and is a tenacious wrestler who’s capable of defending takedowns and landing his own. He has never been finished and has an excellent chin, always willing to eat a shot to land one. Johnson tends to improve as the fight continues and has scored 60% of his finishes after round 1. 

Sumudaerji tags Malcolm Gordon with a left hook. Credit: MMA Fighting.

Sumudaerji has won three of his last five outings and has UFC victories over Malcolm Gordon (14-8-0), Andre Soukhamthath (14-10-0), and Zarrukh Adashev (4-4-0). He’s a power scrapper with a lethal arsenal of kicks. He’s highly accurate and throws every shot with knockout intentions, typically favoring power to volume. He remains technical throughout, constantly pumping out his jab before unloading heavy kicks. Sumudaerji has excellent distance management but isn’t the most mobile striker, often standing still in front of his opponents while looking to counter-strike. Training at Team Alpha Male, he’s unlikely to initiate grappling exchanges but has solid defensive wrestling and has defended 66% of takedowns attempted on him in the UFC. He carries his power throughout and is always dangerous, but is at his best in a slower, kickboxing-based battle where he can control the center of the Octagon. Sumudaerji always comes out guns blazing, with ten of his thirteen knockouts coming in round one. 

#10 Rob Font vs. #12 Kyler Phillips

Rob Font stuns Cody Garbrandt with a damaging right hand. Credit: MMA Fighting.

Bantamweight Bout

Rob Font: 20-8-0, 9 KO/TKO, 4 Sub.

Kyler Phillips: 12-2-0, 5 KO/TKO, 2 Sub.

Font has won one of his last five fights and has UFC victories over Adrian Yanez (17-5-0), Ricky Simon (20-6-0), and Cody Garbrandt (14-6-0). He is a hands-first fighter, preferring to do damage with his crisp boxing skills. Training with New England Cartel, he always fights behind his jab, has excellent footwork, and does a great job cutting off the cage. Font throws everything in combination and has fantastic output, averaging about 88 significant strikes landed in his last five wins. He also has excellent hand speed and solid power, tending to heat up and increase his pace as the fight continues. He’s willing to grapple, and averages just under one takedown landed per fifteen minutes, but is at his best when he’s holding the center of the cage and dictating the pace of the fight. Font never gets too wild or telegraphs his shots, constantly moving and looking for different angles to attack.

Kyler Phillips launches a head kick at Raulian Paiva. Credit: MMA Fighting.

Phillips has won four of his last five bouts and has UFC victories over #8 ranked Bantamweight Song Yadong (21-8-1), Pedro Munhoz (20-9-0), and Raoni Barcelos (18-5-0). He’s an exceptionally fluid striker with an impressive grappling background. He has excellent footwork and is highly elusive, constantly entering and exiting the pocket without absorbing significant damage. Phillips throws everything in combination, regularly mixing in kicks while continually changing levels and attacking at different angles. Averaging over two takedowns landed per fifteen minutes in the UFC, he’s an accomplished grappler, holding a black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and state championships in wrestling and Judo. He’s impressively explosive and quick, able to throw heavy or commit to strikes without telegraphing. Phillips has excellent cardio and pushes a heavy pace throughout, landing, on average, about 80 significant strikes in his last five fights. 

#13 Anthony Hernandez vs. #14 Michel Pereira

Anthony Hernandez blasts Roman Kopylov with a slicing elbow. Credit: MMA Fighting.

Middleweight Bout

Anthony Hernandez: 12-2-0, 2 KO/TKO, 8 Sub.

Michel Pereira: 31-11-0, 11 KO/TKO, 9 Sub.

Hernandez is on a five-fight win streak and has UFC victories over JunYong Park (18-6-0), Roman Kopylov (13-3-0), and Edmen Shahbazyan (13-5-0). He’s a relentless grappler who’s always working for a finish and gets better as the fight goes on. He throws in combination on the feet and will use his striking to get into the pocket to either pursue a takedown or damage his opponent in the clinch. Hernandez is extremely durable, able to take a beating and still push a consistent pace, and often finds submissions out of seemingly nowhere. Training with MMAGold Fight Team, he has smothering clinch and top control, great takedowns, and extremely dangerous chokes, especially his guillotine. Five of his eight career submission wins are via guillotine, and he often performs his own modified version of the choke. Hernandez is very fluid on the ground and always finds a way to get to a safe position, always choosing position over submission.

Michel Pereira miraculously performs a backflip against Ihor Potieria. Credit: MMA Fighting.

Michel Pereira is on an eight-fight win streak and has UFC victories over Santiago Ponzinibbio (30-8-0), Khaos Williams (15-3-0), and Michael Oleksiejczuk (19-9-0). One of the most unique fighters in the UFC, he’s known for his wild antics within the cage. Training at Overcome Academy, he’s always willing to get wild, throwing open-hand slaps, jumping knees and kicks, and even attempting backflips. Pereira’s unorthodox style makes him both elusive and impossible to predict. He has reigned in his style in recent fights, using a more measured, accurate approach, fighting much more efficiently with improved cardiovascular endurance. He’s averaging over one takedown landed per fifteen minutes, has heavy ground and pound, and a dangerous submission game, particularly chokes. Pereira always pushes a heavy pace and constantly pursues a finish wherever the fight lands.

Best Bets

Hadley vs. Smotherman to Not Go the Distance: In an extremely late-replacement matchup, Smotherman stepped in on just four days' notice to face Hadley. Although he’s making his UFC debut, Smotherman is an excellent prospect who has faced solid competition on the regional scene. He has dangerous power in his hands, is certainly looking to make a statement, and will likely push a heavy pace. Hadley himself is a high-paced fighter, constantly throwing and moving, rarely taking his foot off the gas. Although Hadley is the more well-rounded of the two, Smotherman has the equalizer with his power. I expect both men to meet in the middle and have some wild early exchanges, ultimately leading to someone getting finished.

Charles Johnson Moneyline: These two fighters could not have more opposite career trajectories in the UFC. Johnson had a rough start, losing four of his first six bouts in the promotion before embarking on his current three-fight win streak. Sumudaerji, however, got off to a much better start in the UFC, winning three of his first four outings before ending up on his current two-fight skid of submission losses. Johnson certainly has the momentum advantage going into this fight, but he is also the much more put-together fighter. He’s shown solid grappling both offensively and defensively, great cardio, and impressive durability. Sumudaerji is almost a pure striker, and although he has decent takedown defense, he has struggled severely when put on his back or drawn into brawls. Although Johnson has been content to strike in his recent fights, I expect him to put his superior grappling skills to work in this matchup. While I do expect him to engage on the feet, I also expect him to land multiple takedowns and wear Sumudaerji out en route to another impressive victory.

Anthony Hernandez Moneyline: One of the more surprising fights scheduled recently, this isn’t a matchup many fans expected to see. Both have incredibly different styles, with Pereira being a wild, powerful striker and Hernandez a gritty, tenacious grappler. This matchup seemingly came out of nowhere because of Pereira’s recent opponents, with Hernandez being a significant step up in competition. Although Pereira is about as unpredictable and potent of a striker as possible, Hernandez offers many issues he hasn’t seen much of during his UFC tenure. Hernandez is exceptionally durable, willing to engage anywhere, and has outstanding grappling and submission games, all things Pereira has hardly faced, especially not all put together. I expect Hernandez to survive the wild blitzes of Pereira, smother and slow him down with clinch work and takedowns, and end Pereira’s eight-fight win streak.

UFC Fight Night: Royval vs. Taira Preview

Brandon Royval knocks out Matheus Nicolau with a brutal knee. Credit: MMA Mania.

The UFC comes home to the APEX center with a fantastic Fight Night card. From start to finish, this card is filled with explosive matchups and fighters vying to make their name on the biggest stage in MMA. In the co-main event, we’ll see Middleweight mainstay Brad Tavares faceoff against the always-dangerous JunYong Park. In the main event, the #1 ranked Brandon Royval will take on the red-hot Tatsuro Taira in a fight with possible title implications. Let’s take a look at the fights on the main card.

Daniel Rodriguez vs. Alex Morono

Daniel Rodriguez cracks Kevin Lee with a brutal right hook. Credit: MMA Fighting.

Welterweight Bout

Daniel Rodriguez: 17-5-0, 8 KO/TKO, 4 Sub.

Alex Morono: 24-10-0, 6 KO/TKO, 7 Sub.

Rodriguez has won two of his last outings and has UFC victories over Mike Perry (14-8-0), Tim Means (33-17-1), and Li Jingliang (19-9-0). He’s a technical Muay Thai striker who favors kicks over punches. He remains composed throughout the fight, fighting behind his jab and constantly pursuing a finish without getting sloppy. Training at Xtreme Couture, Rodriguez has great movement and footwork on the feet, attacking from different angles with a variety of strikes. He has exceptionally fast kicks, usually throwing to the legs at the beginning and end of combinations. He’s proven highly durable, regularly surviving in deep waters and finding his way back into fights. Rodriguez is unlikely to initiate grappling exchanges but has solid takedown defense and does an excellent job of getting back to his feet where he’s most comfortable.

Alex Morono connects with a right hook on Donald Cerrone. Credit: MMA Fighting.

Morono has won two of his last five fights and has UFC victories over Donald Cerrone (36-17-0), Song Kenan (22-8-0), and Court McGee (23-13-0). He is an exceptionally well-rounded fighter, holding black belts in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and Taekwondo. He keeps his guard high and remains technical throughout, always fighting behind his jab and throwing in combination. Morono has excellent footwork and head movement, often just getting out of the way of strikes and regularly ducking his head to slip and counter. He has solid cardio and always pushes a heavy pace, having landed 90 or more significant strikes in a fight seven times in the UFC. Training at Fortis MMA, he won’t often initiate grappling exchanges but has a slick submission game and is dangerous on the mat. Morono is very dangerous early, with eleven of his thirteen finishes coming in round one.

Grant Dawson vs. Rafa Garcia

Grant Dawson knocks Leonardo Santos out cold with vicious ground and pound. Credit: MMA Fighting.

Lightweight Bout

Grant Dawson: 21-2-1, 4 KO/TKO, 13 Sub.

Rafa Garcia: 16-3-0, 1 KO/TKO, 8 Sub.

Dawson has won four of his last five bouts and has UFC victories over Jared Gordon (20-7-0), Mark O. Madsen (12-2-0), and Damir Ismagulov (24-3-0). He is an excellent grappler with a lethal submission game, rarely wasting much time before taking the fight to the mat. He’s averaging over three takedowns landed per fifteen minutes in the UFC and has excellent control, especially on the back. Dawson is highly active on the ground, constantly advancing position and pursuing a finish. Of his 13 career submissions, 11 are rear-naked chokes, so he is incredibly dangerous if he can secure his opponent’s back. He throws everything with power on the feet and stays behind his jab, not typically utilizing much footwork. Training at American Top Team, Dawson has decent head movement and rarely absorbs significant damage, but he isn’t the most technical striker and will primarily throw basic combinations.

Rafa Garcia rocks Maheshate with a left hand. Credit: MMA Junkie.

Garcia has won four of his last five outings and has UFC victories over Maheshate (10-3-0), Clay Guida (38-21-0), and Natan Levy (8-2-0). He’s a well-rounded, gritty fighter that’s comfortable anywhere the fight goes. Often at a reach disadvantage, he’s constantly looking to close distance, regularly coming forward with heavy hooks and overhands. Garcia has solid cardio, pushing a consistent pace throughout, and is always willing to engage. Training at Bloodline Combat, he’s landing, on average, over three takedowns per fifteen minutes and has excellent timing, never telegraphing his shots. He’s a grinder in top position, looking to constantly advance and land ground and pound to wear down his opponents. Garcia is always dangerous, especially early on, with five of his eight submissions coming in the first round.

Chidi Njokuani vs. Jared Gooden

Chidi Njokuani unloads brutal ground and pound onto Marc-Andre Barriault. Credit: MMA Mania.

Welterweight Bout

Chidi Njokuani: 23-10-0, 14 KO/TKO, 1 Sub.

Jared Gooden: 23-9-0, 11 KO/TKO, 7 Sub.

Njokuani has won two of his last five fights and has UFC victories over Dusko Todorovic (12-4-0), Marc-Andre Barriault (16-8-0), and Rhys McKee (13-6-1). He’s a patient Muay Thai striker who always keeps his guard high and constantly attacks with his lead leg. He’s constantly moving and feinting but stays composed, regularly looking for openings to unleash combinations. Training at Janjira Muay Thai, Njokuani has excellent knees in the clinch and can land significant damage without much space. He’s very defensively sound, having defended 55% of significant strikes attempted on him. He’s been fighting at the sport's top level for nearly a decade, having spent four years in Bellator prior to joining the UFC. The majority of Njokuani’s knockouts have come in the first round, and he’s at his most dangerous early on.

Jared Gooden fires a jab at Abubakar Nurmagomedov. Credit: MMA Fighting.

Gooden has won three of his last five bouts and has UFC victories over Wellington Turman (18-8-0) and Niklas Stolze (13-7-0). He’s a heavy-handed striker with a dangerous submission game. He fights behind his jab, throws every punch with knockout intentions, and varies his shots well, regularly changing levels and attacking the body. He typically throws tight, straight shots but is willing to brawl and exchange hooks in the pocket. Gooden is active on the mat on his back and in top position, regularly looking to sweep or secure a submission. Training at X3 Sports, he’s particularly dangerous if he can get to his opponent’s back, where he’ll constantly pursue chokes. Gooden is on his second run in the UFC and earned a Performance of the Night bonus in his last appearance. 

Brad Tavares vs. JunYong Park

Brad Tavares lands a brutal front kick to the face of Dricus Du Plessis. Credit: Zuffa LLC.

Middleweight Bout

Brad Tavares: 20-10-0, 5 KO/TKO, 2 Sub.

JunYong Park: 17-6-0, 5 KO/TKO, 6 Sub.

Tavares has won two of his last five outings and has UFC victories over Krzysztof Jotko (24-6-0), Chris Weidman (16-7-0), and Nate Marquardt (35-19-2). He’s an excellent, technical striker, always throwing in combination and keeping all his shots tight and straight. He has great distance management and is constantly moving, never telegraphing or loading up. Tavares varies his shots, attacking the head and body evenly and regularly chewing up his opponent’s legs with kicks. Training at Xtreme Couture, he has fantastic takedown defense, having defended 81% of takedowns attempted on him in the UFC. He has solid cardio and can comfortably push a consistent pace across 15 minutes, utilizing both power and volume in his striking. Tavares is at his best when he’s controlling the center of the octagon and the fight's pace.

JunYong Park connects with a jab on Tafon Nchukwi. Credit: Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC.

Park has won four of his last five fights and has UFC victories over Eryk Anders (16-8-0), Albert Duraev (16-5-0), and Marc-Andre Barriault (16-8-0). He’s a well-rounded scrapper who’s always coming forward and pressuring his opponents. He won’t utilize much movement or footwork, staying right in his opponent’s face and constantly firing his jab. Park is always willing to eat a shot to land one and heats up as the fight continues, unloading more volume and increasing his pace over time. He’s averaging nearly two takedowns landed per fifteen minutes and has a dangerous submission game, occasionally even jumping chokes while standing. He has excellent top control and is always active on top, raining down shots and looking for submission openings. Five of Park’s six submissions are rear-naked chokes, and he’s exceptionally dangerous if he can take his opponent’s back.  

#1 Brandon Royval #5 Tatsuro Taira

Brandon Royval jumps a guillotine choke on Kai Kara-France. Credit: MMA Fighting.

Flyweight Bout

Brandon Royval: 16-7-0, 4 KO/TKO, 9 Sub.

Tatsuro Taira: 16-0-0, 5 KO/TKO, 7 Sub.

Royval has won four of his last five bouts and has UFC victories over #2 ranked Flyweight Brandon Moreno (21-8-2), #4 ranked Flyweight Kai Kara-France (25-11-0), and #7 ranked Flyweight Matheus Nicolau (19-5-1). He’s a wild brawler who pushes a crazy pace and is dangerous anywhere the fight goes. Training with Mile High Militia, “Raw Dawg” has been awarded four bonuses in nine bouts in the promotion and always leaves everything in the cage. Royval is dangerous on top and off his back, always moving on the ground and searching for submissions. He throws everything in combination on the feet and always comes forward looking to do damage. He’s always willing to exchange blows in the pocket and has shown an excellent ability to recover from being hurt. Royval has set multiple Flyweight records in his four-year UFC tenure, including the most significant strikes attempted in a fight, most total strikes both attempted and landed in a fight, and the most head strikes landed in a fight. 

Tatsuro Taira launches into a flying knee on Alex Perez. Credit: Zuffa LLC.

Taira is undefeated and has UFC victories over #6 ranked Flyweight Alex Perez (25-9-0), Jesus Aguilar (11-2-0), and Carlos Hernandez (9-4-0). A dangerous grappler with impressive power, he’s constantly looking to take the fight to the mat and secure a finish. He’s averaging over two takedowns landed and two submissions attempted per fifteen minutes and is very efficient on the ground. Taira has fantastic scrambles and reversals, seemingly always coming out the victor in grappling exchanges. Training at Paraestra Okinawa, he’s highly accurate on the feet, having landed 71% of the significant strikes he’s attempted, always remaining technical. He’ll usually prefer submissions to ground and pound but will unload on his opponent if given the chance. Taira has been awarded three post-fight bonuses in his last five appearances and is always pursuing a highlight victory.

Best Bets

Chidi Njokuani Moneyline: One of the more exciting matchups on the main card; I’d be shocked to see this one go to the judges. With 33 combined finishes between the two, it’s a safe bet someone will sleep. Both seem to have distinct advantages in this matchup, with Njokuani having the striking advantage and Gooden the grappling advantage. Despite this, Gooden is not guaranteed to pursue grappling, regularly getting into brawls on the feet. Njokuani thrives in a firefight, especially when he possesses the reach advantage. While Gooden has serious power in his hands, Njokuani is by far the more polished, experienced striker. I expect Njokuani to weather an early storm from Gooden, keep the fight at kickboxing range, and earn a solid victory.

JunYong Park Moneyline: This is an excellent fight between two very dangerous, high-level fighters. While well-rounded, Tavares definitely prefers to keep the fight standing and is most dangerous on his feet. On the other hand, Park tends to do a bit of everything, willing to engage on the feet and pursue takedowns. Despite Tavares being the more specialized of the two, I believe Park can match him anywhere in terms of technical skill. Along with that, I believe Park pushes the heavier pace of the two, often increasing his volume as the fight continues. I expect Park to wear down Tavares with constant pressure and takedown attempts, ultimately controlling and outpacing him to a win.

Royval vs. Taira to Not Go the Distance: This is an absolutely outstanding matchup, and I expect fireworks. Both are dangerous on the feet and the mat and push a heavy pace. Royval is rarely in a bad fight and always fights with a “kill or be killed” mentality, with just three of his last ten fights going the distance. Although Taira made his debut just two years ago, he has proven to be a prolific finisher and has only seen the third round twice in the UFC. They both offer very distinct challenges for each other as well; Taira has never fought someone as wild or well-rounded as Royval, while Royval has struggled with dominant grapplers like Pantoja. This is an incredibly tough fight to predict the winner, but I’m comfortable saying this does not last 25 minutes. There will be a finish to this fight, whether by knockout or submission.

UFC 307 Preview

Alex Pereira stuns Israel Adesanya with a right hook. Credit: Yahoo Sports.

This Saturday, the UFC brings a fantastic pay-per-view event to the Delta Center in Salt Lake City, Utah. The card is filled with established names, rising stars, and top-notch matchups. In the co-main event, we’ll see Women’s Bantamweight champion Raquel Pennington attempt the first defense of her title reign against the always dangerous Julianna Peña. In the main event, the most dominant striker in MMA, Alex Pereira, will defend his Light Heavyweight title against a heavy-handed marauder, Khalil Rountree Jr. Let’s take a look at the fights on the main card.

#2 Ketlen Vieira vs. #3 Kayla Harrison

Ketlen Vieira lands a damaging right hand on Holly Holm. Credit: Zuffa LLC.

Women’s Bantamweight Bout

Ketlen Vieira: 14-3-0, 2 KO/TKO, 4 Sub.

Kayla Harrison: 17-1-0, 6 KO/TKO, 7 Sub.

Vieira has won three of her last five fights and has UFC victories over #8 ranked Bantamweight Holly Holm (15-7-0), #11 ranked Bantamweight Miesha Tate (20-9-0), and Pannie Kianzad (17-9-0). She’s a dominant grappler with solid power in her hands who’s constantly coming forward. She holds black belts in Judo and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and is very defensively sound, holding the highest takedown defense percentage in UFC Women’s Bantamweight history at 92%. Vieira has excellent takedown offense as well, capable of securing them in open space or along the fence, and has heavy pressure in top position. Training at Nova Uniao, she’s patient on top, always choosing position over submission and never putting herself in dangerous spots. She prefers submissions over ground and pound, regularly pursuing chokes even when standing. Vieira has landed a takedown in all her UFC victories but one and always looks to take it to the mat.

Kayla Harrison fires a kick at Holly Holm. Credit: Yahoo Sports.

Harrison has won four of her last five bouts and has a UFC victory over Holly Holm (15-7-0). She is a former two-time Olympic gold medalist Judoka and a two-time PFL Women’s Lightweight champion. She is exceptionally powerful and explosive, especially in the clinch, where she has excellent throws and trips that she regularly uses to get the fight to the mat. She has heavy, smothering top pressure and is always working to advance position or posture up. Harrison will constantly unload ground and pound onto her opponent to land damage or create submission openings. She stays patient and composed on the feet, throwing everything tight and straight while using her striking to set up her grappling, regularly punching into the clinch. Nine of Harrison’s thirteen finishes have come in round one, and she pushes a heavy pace from the opening bell.

#10 Roman Dolidze vs. #15 (WW) Kevin Holland

Roman Dolidze cracks Marvin Vettori with a stinging jab. Credit: MMA Mania

Middleweight Bout

Roman Dolidze: 13-3-0, 7 KO/TKO, 3 Sub.

Kevin Holland: 26-11-0, 13 KO/TKO, 9 Sub.

Dolidze has won three of his last five outings and has wins over #11 ranked Middleweight Jack Hermansson (24-8-0), #12 ranked Light Heavyweight Anthony Smith (38-20-0), and Phil Hawes (12-6-0). He is an accomplished grappler outside of MMA and has a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and Sambo background. Averaging over one takedown landed and one submission attempted per fifteen minutes, he is most at home on the mat. Dolidze is excellent in the clinch and very hard to shake off, possessing devastating striking in close, particularly knees. Training at Xtreme Couture, he won’t put out too much ground and pound, choosing to focus on advancing position. He has solid power in his hands and prefers to counter-strike when on the feet, not utilizing much footwork but always moving his head. Dolidze gets his best work done without much space, regularly throwing power shots in the pocket while exiting the clinch.

Kevin Holland rains down ground and pound onto Santiago Ponzinibbio. Credit: Zuffa LLC.

Holland has won two of his last five fights and has wins over #11 ranked Welterweight Joaquin Buckley (19-6-0), #13 ranked Middleweight Anthony Hernandez (12-2-0), and Michael Chiesa (19-7-0). A wild scrapper who’s comfortable anywhere the fight goes, he’s always dangerous and constantly pursuing a finish. He’s an aggressive striker, throwing everything in combination, and is always willing to brawl. Holland does a great job of moving in and out of the pocket without taking much damage, but he has no problem hanging in close to exchange on the inside. Training at Travis Lutter BJJ, he tends to throw kicks at range, using his legs to set up his hands, often throwing kicks naked or at the start of a combination. He holds a black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and has a slick submission game, possessing particularly lethal chokes. Holland is one of the most active fighters in MMA, having fought 22 times in the UFC since 2018, and has earned eight post-fight bonuses in his promotional tenure.

#10 José Aldo vs. #11 Mario Bautista

José Aldo unloads an uppercut onto Jonathan Martinez. Credit: MMA Fighting.

Bantamweight Bout

José Aldo: 32-8-0, 17 KO/TKO, 1 Sub.

Mario Bautista: 14-2-0, 3 KO/TKO, 6 Sub.

Aldo has won four of his last five bouts and has UFC victories over #7 ranked Bantamweight Chito Vera (23-10-1), #9 ranked Bantamweight Rob Font (20-8-0), and #11 ranked Lightweight Renato Moicano (20-5-1). Widely considered the Featherweight GOAT, he is a legend of the sport, holding eight victories in title fights and two decades of experience. He’s an excellent technical striker who throws everything with power and in combination. Training at Nova Uniao, Aldo utilizes a mix of devastating leg kicks and punch combinations to batter his opponent. He is one of the best defensive wrestlers of all time and has defended 91% of takedowns attempted on him, dating back to his time in the WEC. He has excellent submissions, heavy ground and pound, and smothering top pressure when the fight goes to the mat. Aldo is one of the most vicious strikers in the history of MMA and is always hunting for a finish.

Mario Bautista blasts Ricky Simon with a brutal left hand. Credit: MMA Mania.

Bautista is on a six-fight win streak and has UFC victories over Miles Johns (15-2-0), Ricky Simon (20-6-0), and Da’Mon Blackshear (14-7-1). He’s incredibly quick and dangerous on the feet, regularly moving in and out of the pocket without taking damage. He throws everything with power, keeps his punches tight and technical, and attacks the head and body evenly. Training at the MMA Lab, Bautista always comes forward, throwing combinations and typically a steady flow of low kicks. He’s averaging over two takedowns landed per 15 minutes and has landed at least one takedown in five of his last six fights. He’s as quick on the ground as on the feet, transitioning and passing efficiently and effectively. Bautista has heavy top pressure and will find submissions in the blink of an eye, possessing four first-round submission victories in the UFC.

(C) Raquel Pennington vs. #1 Julianna Peña

Raquel Pennington cracks Mayra Bueno Silva with a right hook. Credit: MMA Fighting.

Women’s Bantamweight Title Bout

Raquel Pennington: 16-9-0, 1 KO/TKO, 4 Sub.

Julianna Peña: 12-5-0,- 3 KO/TKO, 6 Sub.

Pennington is on a six-fight win streak and has UFC victories over #2 ranked Bantamweight Ketlen Vieira (14-3-0), #6 ranked Bantamweight Irene Aldana (15-8-0), and #7 ranked Bantamweight Mayra Bueno Silva (10-4-1). She’s a well-rounded scrapper with excellent boxing and cardio. Averaging over 84 significant strikes landed in her last five fights, she pushes a consistently heavy pace and always throws in combination. Pennington is a highly accurate striker, remaining technical throughout and throwing every shot with purpose. Training at Altitude MMA, she has excellent clinch control and sets up her grappling with her striking. She’ll often close the distance with her boxing before clinching up and wearing her opponent down with knees and punches. Despite a lack of KO’s, Pennington has sneaky punching power, often touching up her opponents with jabs and straights before throwing with full power.

Julianna Peña tags Amanda Nunes with a right hand. Credit: MMA Fighting.

Peña has won three of her last five outings and has UFC victories over Amanda Nunes (23-5-0), Sara McMann (14-7-0), and Cat Zingano (14-5-0). The winner of the 18th season of the Ultimate Fighter, she’s a high-pace brawler with a dangerous submission game. She’s constantly pressuring forward, throwing everything with power and in combination. Peña fights behind her jab, continually pumping it out before throwing heavy straights and looping hooks. She’s landing, on average, nearly two takedowns per fifteen minutes and advances position very quickly on the mat. She’s also proven defensively sound, remaining dangerous even on her back, and can survive in deep waters. Peña heats up as the fight continues, with most of her UFC finishes coming in round two or three.

(C) Alex Pereira vs. #8 Khalil Rountree Jr.

Alex Pereira knocks out Jamahal Hill with a left hook. Credit: Zuffa LLC.

Light Heavyweight Title Bout

Alex Pereira: 11-2-0, 9 KO/TKO, 0 Sub.

Khalil Rountree Jr.: 14-5-0, 10 KO/TKO, 0 Sub.

Pereira has won four of his last five fights and has UFC victories over #1 ranked Middleweight Sean Strickland (29-6-0), #1 ranked Light Heavyweight Jiří Procházka (30-5-1), and #4 ranked Light Heavyweight Jan Błachowicz (29-10-1). He is a former Glory Kickboxing Middleweight and Light Heavyweight champion with a professional kickboxing record of 40-7. He is notorious for having the most devastating left hook in combat sports and loves letting it fly. Pereira has just as brutal kicks to back up his heavy hands, which he’ll often use to find his range before getting into the pocket to throw big hooks and devastating knees. He’s comfortable fighting on the outside of the octagon but is most dangerous when he takes the center and cuts off his opponent. Pereira has shown solid takedown defense and continually improving grappling, but still prefers to keep it standing. Training at Teixeira MMA, he doesn’t move a ton on the feet, occasionally standing straight in front of his opponent, waiting for them to throw something so he can fire back.

Khalil Rountree Jr. lands a crippling left hook on Anthony Smith. Credit: MMA Mania.

Rountree is on a five-fight win streak and has UFC victories over #12 ranked Light Heavyweight Anthony Smith (38-20-0), Dustin Jacoby (19-9-1), and Modestas Bukauskas (16-6-0). He scored the only oblique kick finish in UFC history when he obliterated Bukauskas’ knee in 2021. He has a background in Muay Thai, but his best weapons are his hands. Rountree will regularly explode forward, swinging massive looping hooks and throwing every shot with fight-ending intentions. Training at Syndicate MMA, he can fight a slower, more technical fight despite his tendency to get wild, but he can gas himself out sometimes in his search for a finish. He’s at his best early on in the fight and when he can control the center of the Octagon, using his forward pressure and crazy power to damage his opponents. Rountree has never landed a takedown in the UFC and rarely initiates grappling exchanges.

Best Bets

José Aldo Moneyline: The King of Rio returns to make his second appearance since his brief retirement, this time against an even more formidable opponent in Mario Bautista. Bautista is exceptionally high-rounded, pushes a heavy pace, and is always dangerous. This fight is an excellent matchup, but I must admit my bias; we’re talking about one of the greatest fighters ever and one of my all-time favorites. Aldo looked excellent in his first fight back against Jonathan Martinez, showing the same speed, power, and exceptional takedown defense he’s had all his career. While Bautista is a great striker, his grappling is essential to his game, possessing at least one minute of control time in all his last five fights. Aldo is arguably the greatest anti-wrestler of all time, having been taken down just ten times across 29 fights under the Zuffa banner. I expect Aldo to outpace Bautista on the feet, deny his takedowns, and earn another impressive victory.

Julianna Peña Moneyline: Easily the most slept-on matchup on the card, there is potential for fireworks in this title fight. Although Pennington won the belt in a relatively dull fight, this generally isn’t the case when she steps into the Octagon, typically pushing a heavy pace and getting into brawls. While Peña is an excellent grappler and will likely pursue takedowns in this matchup, she also has brawling tendencies and loves letting her hands go in the pocket. I would not be surprised if we see wild exchanges early on or even knockdowns. Besides their similarities, Peña pushes the heavier pace and holds the power advantage, a significant issue for Pennington, who tends to wear down her opponents over time with her own pace. I expect Peña to get the better of the exchanges on the feet, secure takedowns, and control Pennington to earn back the title she once held.

Alex Pereira by KO/TKO: Per usual, there’s significant hype around an Alex Pereira title fight, albeit not for the typical reason. Many MMA pundits have questioned how deserving Rountree Jr. is of this title shot, especially with Magomed Ankalaev sitting at #2 in the division on a 12-fight unbeaten streak. Regardless of these criticisms, Rountree Jr. is a dangerous matchup for any fighter at Light Heavyweight, including the champion. Rountree Jr. is incredibly explosive and powerful and has excellent technical Muay Thai to support his aggressive style. Unfortunately for Rountree Jr., he’s facing arguably the most devastating kickboxer in the history of the UFC. Pereira has the advantage in power and striking skill, two things Rountree Jr. often relies on. It’s also doubtful Rountree Jr. pursues any grappling, considering he hasn’t landed a single takedown in his UFC tenure. Ultimately, Pereira does what Rountree Jr. does, but better. I expect Pereira to control the distance and pace, force Rountree Jr. to take chances, and finally, retain his title with another terrifying knockout.

UFC Fight Night: Moicano vs. Saint Denis Preview

Renato Moicano stuns Drew Dober with a stinging left hand. Credit: MMA Mania.

The UFC hits the Accor Arena in Paris, France, with an outstanding Fight Night card. There are fantastic matchups from top to bottom, all filled with fighters looking to earn a highlight-reel victory. In the co-main event, two top-ten Middleweights will go toe-to-toe when #4 ranked Nassourdine Imavov takes on #8 ranked Brendan Allen. In the main event, two devastating Lightweight finishers collide in the octagon when #11 ranked Renato Moicano faces off against #12 ranked Benoît Saint Denis. Let’s take a look at the fights on the main card.

Farés Ziam vs. Matt Frevola

Farés Ziam lands a brutal head kick on Michal Figlak. Credit: Yahoo Sports.

Lightweight Bout

Farés Ziam: 15-4-0, 5 KO/TKO, 4 Sub.

Matt Frevola: 11-4-1, 4 KO/TKO, 3 Sub.

Ziam has won four of his last five fights and has UFC victories over Jai Herbert (13-5-1), Claudio Puelles (13-4-0), and Jamie Mullarkey (17-8-0). He is a patient, technical kickboxer, constantly feinting and looking for openings to land powerful straight shots. He’s at his best when he takes the center of the octagon and fights at range, picking his opponent apart with a mix of kicks and punches. Ziam is a capable grappler with a solid submission game, particularly chokes. Training at Kill Cliff FC, he’s very defensively sound, having defended 65% of significant strikes attempted on him in the UFC. He’s proven capable of surviving in deep waters on the ground, regularly getting taken down and fighting back to his feet. Ziam has outstruck his opponent in all of his UFC wins, always pushing a consistent pace throughout the fight.

Matt Frevola rains down ground and pound onto Genaro Valdez. Credit: Yahoo Sports.

Frevola has won three of his last five bouts and has wins over #14 ranked Lightweight Jalin Turner (14-8-0), Drew Dober (27-14-0), and Ottman Azaitar (13-2-0). He is a wild striker who always comes out guns blazing and pushes a heavy pace from start to finish. He relentlessly pressures his opponents, is always willing to brawl in the pocket, and throws everything in combination with serious power. Frevola tends to headhunt but won’t telegraph his attacks, possessing very fast kicks and one-shot knockout power. Training with Serra-Longo Fight Team, he started his UFC tenure as more of a grappler, averaging over two takedowns landed per fifteen minutes. He has solid top pressure and devastating ground and pound but seems content lately with staying on his feet. All of Frevola’s knockout wins have come in round one and he’s always pursuing a finish. 

Morgan Charrière vs. Gabriel Miranda

Morgan Charrière blasts Manolo Zecchini with a body kick. Credit: MMA Fighting.

Featherweight Bout

Morgan Charrière: 19-10-1, 11 KO/TKO, 3 Sub.

Gabriel Miranda: 17-6-0, 1 KO/TKO, 16 Sub.

Charrière has won four of his last five outings and has a UFC victory over Manolo Zecchini (11-4-0). A bit of an internet celebrity in France, he has accumulated a solid following and is a former Cage Warriors Featherweight champion. Training with Team Chapa Quente, he’s a technical striker with substantial power in his hands and brutal leg kicks. Charrière has excellent footwork and is very defensively sound, never taking much damage and always keeping his head off the centerline. He will remain calm and technical throughout and won’t get pulled into dogfights, typically forcing his opponents to the outside and picking them apart. On the ground, he has great top control and heavy ground and pound, particularly elbows. Charrière has gone five rounds multiple times in his career and has great cardio, often increasing his pace as the fight continues.

Gabriel Miranda viciously chokes out Shane Young. Credit: ESPN.

Miranda has won four of his last five fights and has a UFC victory over Shane Young (13-8-0). He’s a tenacious grappler who’s constantly looking to take it to the mat and find a submission. He uses his striking to set up his grappling, often blitzing into the pocket with combinations before pursuing takedowns. Miranda has excellent top pressure and is always working on the ground, constantly advancing position and attempting submissions. Training at MMA Masters, he won’t force anything in top position, transitioning between submissions while throwing ground and pound to create openings. He moves very quickly on the mat, often taking his opponent’s back with impressive speed. Ten of Miranda’s sixteen submissions have come via choke, and he’ll constantly hunt for his opponent’s neck. 

Kevin Jousset vs. Bryan Battle

Kevin Jousset submits Kiefer Crosbie with a rear naked choke. Credit: MMA Fighting.

Welterweight Bout

Kevin Jousset: 10-2-0, 5 KO/TKO, 1 Sub.

Bryan Battle: 11-2-0, 3 KO/TKO, 6 Sub.

Jousset is on a five-fight win streak and has UFC victories over Song Kenan (22-8-0) and Kiefer Crosbie (10-5-0). He’s a well-rounded fighter with technical striking and a background in Judo. He has an excellent jab and always fights behind it, regularly using it to set up kicks and combinations. Jousset supplies constant leg kicks and pushes a consistent pace throughout, never brawling or getting wild. He varies his shots well and is always dangerous, able to do significant damage at range and inside the pocket. He is a very proficient grappler, holding a 2nd dan black belt in Judo and a purple belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. Jousset is at his best at kickboxing range, controlling the pace and distance of the fight. 

Bryan Battle cracks Gabe Green with a damaging right hand. Credit: MMA Fighting.

Battle has won three of his last five bouts with one no-contest and has UFC wins over Gabe Green (11-5-0), Takashi Sato (16-7-0), and AJ Fletcher (10-3-0). He is a diverse striker who’s constantly throwing and looking for openings to land tight straight shots. Training at Gladiators Academy, he has an excellent variety of kicks and often mixes them into combinations, throwing everything with purpose and accuracy. Battle has great head movement, footwork, and a solid chin, with him regularly marching through punches to get off his offense. Although he’s a fast starter, he tends to heat up as the fight continues, with six of his nine career finishes coming in the second round. He is willing to grapple and occasionally pursues takedowns but seems content doing most of his work on the feet despite having more submissions than knockouts. Battle has produced two brutal first-round knockouts in his last five outings, and he always looks to keep the judges out of it. 

William Gomis vs. Joanderson Brito

William Gomis lands a beautiful spinning kick to the body of Yanis Ghemmouri. Credit: MMA Fighting.

Featherweight Bout

William Gomis: 13-2-0, 7 KO/TKO, 1 Sub.

Joanderson Brito: 17-3-1, 8 KO/TKO, 7 Sub.

Gomis is on an eleven-fight win streak since 2018 and has UFC victories over Jarno Errens (14-6-1), Francis Marshall (8-2-0), and Yanis Ghemmouri (12-3-0). He’s a patient, technical striker with a diverse kicking game. He won’t overwhelm his opponent with movement or volume, instead using accuracy and power to land damage. Training at MMA Factory, he’ll often end combinations with kicks and does an excellent job of moving in and out of the pocket without eating shots. He’s a solid wrestler, has fantastic takedown timing, and is very strong in the clinch. He’s patient in top position and won’t put himself in dangerous spots, but he has good pressure and is hard to shake off. Gomis is defensively sound everywhere, having defended 75% of the significant strikes and 81% of the takedowns attempted on him in the UFC.

Joanderson Brito forces Jonathan Pearce to submit to a ninja choke. Credit: MMA Fighting.

Brito is on a five-fight win streak and has UFC victories over Jack Shore (17-2-0), Andre Fili (24-11-0), and Jonathan Pearce (14-6-0). He uses a brutal, highly aggressive Muay Thai style, constantly throwing long and devastating combos in pursuit of a knockout. He throws every shot with knockout intentions, regularly unloading hooks and overhands while mixing in kicks. Training at Chute Boxe JE, Brito is highly explosive and constantly coming forward, always willing to eat a shot to land one. He is a dangerous grappler, possessing an excellent submission game and brutal ground and pound. He can and will take the fight anywhere and doesn’t seem uncomfortable in any position, whether on the feet or the ground. In 21 professional fights, Brito has only been to the judges four times and always pushes a heavy pace.

#4 Nassourdine Imavov vs. #8 Brendan Allen

Nassourdine Imavov lands flush on Joaquin Buckley with a head kick. Credit: MMA Fighting.

Middleweight Bout

Nassourdine Imavov: 14-4-0, 6 KO/TKO, 4 Sub.

Brendan Allen: 24-5-0, 5 KO/TKO, 14 Sub.

Imavov has won three of his last five outings with one no-contest and has UFC victories over #7 ranked Middleweight Jared Cannonier (17-8-0), #10 ranked Middleweight Roman Dolidze (13-3-0), and Joaquin Buckley (19-6-0). He utilizes a fluid kickboxing style on the feet, fighting behind his jab and throwing every shot with power. He constantly comes forward and has excellent distance management, and although he favors power to volume, he won’t telegraph shots or get wild. Imavov has excellent takedown defense and averages just under one takedown landed per fifteen minutes. He advances position exceptionally quickly on the mat, constantly raining down ground and pound and wearing down his opponent. He won’t force submissions, typically focusing on landing damage, but will pursue chokes if the opportunity is presented. Imavov has excellent technical skills but can get emotional in the cage and be drawn into a brawl.

Brendan Allen fires a Superman punch at Andre Muniz. Credit: MMA Fighting.

Allen is on a seven-fight win streak and has UFC victories over #15 ranked Chris Curtis (31-11-0), Paul Craig (17-8-1), and Andre Muniz (24-6-0). He’s an excellent grappler with a lethal submission game and solid power in his hands. He’s always dangerous, whether on top or his back, constantly attempting submissions and looking to finish the fight. Training at Kill Cliff FC, he’ll throw heavy ground and pound in top position to open submission opportunities, typically pursuing chokes. He has solid striking to back up his grappling and has decent hands and kicks, using more of a boxing style when he’s on the feet. Although he pushes a heavy pace, he has solid cardio and can comfortably go five rounds. Allen has produced four wins via rear naked choke in his last five appearances and is deadly if he can find his opponent’s neck.

#11 Renato Moicano vs. #12 Benoît Saint Denis

Renato Moicano unloads brutal ground and pound onto Jalin Turner. Credit: MMA Fighting.

Lightweight Bout

Renato Moicano: 19-5-1, 1 KO/TKO, 10 Sub.

Benoît Saint Denis: 13-2-0, 4 KO/TKO, 9 Sub.

Moicano has won four of his last five fights and has UFC victories over #10 ranked Featherweight Calvin Kattar (23-8-0), #14 ranked Lightweight Jalin Turner (14-8-0), and Drew Dober (27-14-0). He is a grappling ace with an excellent submission game but is more than willing to throw down on the feet. With only five of his sixteen bouts in the promotion going the distance, he fights with a “kill or be killed” mentality. Moicano is dangerous in top position, especially if he takes his opponent’s back, with all his career submissions coming via rear-naked choke. He’s aggressive on the ground, always trying to improve to a better position, but is also intelligent and rarely puts himself in danger. On the feet, he has solid speed and power in his hands and loves to throw uppercuts and elbows when in close. Training at American Top Team, he often stays patient and picks his shots, waiting for openings to land combinations or attempt a takedown.

Benoît Saint Denis rains down ground and pound onto Thiago Moisés. MMA Junkie.

Saint-Denis has won four of his last five bouts and has UFC victories over Ismael Bonfim (20-4-0), Thiago Moisés (18-8-0), and Matt Frevola (11-4-1). A well-rounded scrapper, he’s constantly pressuring forward with heavy kicks and throwing bombs. He throws everything with fight-ending intentions and uses his striking to get inside and pursue takedowns. Saint-Denis is an excellent grappler, holding a black belt in Judo, a brown Belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, and a great variety of submissions on his record. Training at CYFIT, he typically secures takedowns quickly and has heavy top control, always choosing position over submission and rarely putting himself in risky spots. Whether on the feet or the mat, he’s always trying to end the fight and remains dangerous throughout. A decorated veteran and former Special Forces paratrooper, Saint-Denis is incredibly tough and capable of enduring impressive damage.

Best Bets

Bryan Battle Moneyline: A fantastic matchup of two highly skilled fighters, this could be one of the best fights on the entire card. Both are well-rounded but favor striking, with Jousset being a slower, technical kickboxer while Battle is constantly pushing the pace and walking through punches. Although Jousset likely has a grappling advantage, he hasn’t pursued takedowns with much urgency in his last two fights and seems content to strike. This tendency is definitely to the benefit of Battle: not only does he push the heavier pace, but he gets better the longer the fight continues. Jousset is tough and won’t be drawn into a brawl easily, but I expect Battle to keep coming forward and disrupt his timing, ultimately earning a victory.

Nassourdine Imavov by Decision: This is by far one of the toughest matchups on the card to predict. Both fighters have similar styles, sizes, reach, and statistics. Both are well-rounded and willing to mix it up, although Imavov favors striking while Allen favors grappling. Overall, I believe the biggest difference-maker is Imavov’s takedown defense; he’s proven very tough to get to the mat in previous appearances. While Allen is capable on the feet, he’s most comfortable on the mat, and Imavov is the more technical striker of the two. Cardio should be of no concern to either fighter, with both having gone five rounds recently, and both are very tough to finish. Ultimately, I expect Imavov to deny Allen’s takedowns and outpace him on the feet to earn a decision victory.

Renato Moicano Moneyline: A fantastic main event to top off this main card; I expect fireworks from this matchup. Both are well-rounded and dangerous everywhere, especially on the mat. Like Imavov and Allen, both are comfortable fighting anywhere, but Saint Denis favors striking while Moicano favors grappling. Unlike that matchup, though, I believe they’re evenly matched on the feet, and it’s the grappling that will be the difference in this fight. Although both are black belts in BJJ, Moicano is vastly more experienced and has fought a much higher level of talent than Saint Denis. I expect some early exchanges on the feet, but ultimately, I anticipate Moicano getting the fight to the mat and controlling his opponent. Saint Denis is incredibly durable and has never been submitted, so a finish may be hard to come by, but I expect an impressive victory for Moicano.

UFC 306 Preview

Sean O'Malley blasts Marlon Vera with a brutal straight right hand. Credit: Yahoo Sports.

The UFC brings a sporting event to the Sphere in Las Vegas for the first time ever with an excellent pay-per-view card. This card has been stacked from top to bottom with rising stars, established names, and two fantastic title fights, all celebrating Mexican Independence Day. In the co-main event, we’ll see the trilogy bout between defending champion Alexa Grasso and former champion Valentina Shevchenko. In the main event, we’ll see a long-awaited matchup between two heated rivals, Bantamweight champion Sean O’Malley and #1 contender Merab Dvalishvili. Let’s take a look at the fights on the main card.

Ronaldo Rodriguez vs. Ode’ Osbourne

Ronaldo Rodriguez celebrates his victory over Denys Bondar. Credit: MMA Junkie.

Flyweight Bout

Ronaldo Rodriguez: 16-2-0, 7 KO/TKO, 5 Sub.

Ode’ Osbourne: 12-7-0, 5 KO/TKO, 4 Sub.

Rodriguez is on a six-fight win streak and has a UFC victory over Denys Bondar (14-5-0). He’s a well-rounded, technical fighter who’s constantly coming forward and pursuing a finish. He favors power to volume and remains technical throughout, keeping his shots straight and tight while often looking to counter-strike. Rodriguez is highly durable and always willing to eat a shot to land one, regularly walking through punches to land his own offense. He has great scrambles and reversals on the mat, never accepts position on his back, and regularly throws up submission attempts. Training at ADAM Coatzacoalcos, he’s constantly pursuing a finish in top position, throwing ground and pound to open submission opportunities. Rodriguez has 18 pro fights along with 21 amateur bouts, making him highly experienced and visibly comfortable inside the cage despite his young age. 

Ode' Osbourne throws a left hand at Jerome Rivera. Credit: MMA Fighting.

Osbourne has won two of his last five fights and has UFC victories over CJ Vergara (12-5-1), Charles Johnson (16-6-0), and Jerome Rivera (10-6-0). He’s a speedy striker with a diverse attack and a wrestling background. He fights behind his jab, throwing everything in combination and never loading up on shots, throwing every shot with impressive speed. Osbourne has heavy kicks and does an excellent job mixing them into combinations, regularly throwing them to the legs and body. Although he doesn’t move his feet much, he’s constantly feinting and moving his head while looking for openings to land shots. Training at Syndicate MMA, he’s averaging over one takedown landed per fifteen minutes and is strong in the clinch, with solid knees and trips. Eight of Osbourne’s nine finishes have come in the first round, and he’s at his most dangerous early on in the fight. 

Daniel Zellhuber vs. Esteban Ribovics

Daniel Zellhuber cracks Francisco Prado with a damaging jab. Credit: MMA Fighting.

Lightweight Bout

Daniel Zellhuber: 15-1-0, 7 KO/TKO, 3 Sub.

Esteban Ribovics: 13-1-0, 7 KO/TKO, 5 Sub.

Zellhuber has won four of his last five bouts and has UFC victories over Lando Vannata (12-7-2), Francisco Prado (12-2-0), and Christos Giagos (20-12-0). He’s a lengthy striker with excellent boxing, speed, and power. He fights behind his jab, remaining patient and looking for openings to land damaging shots. Zellhuber has solid cardio and will remain technical throughout, pushing a consistent pace and often improving as the fight continues. Training at Xtreme Couture, he has excellent distance management and footwork, typically controlling the center of the cage for most of the fight. He won’t often initiate grappling exchanges, but he has a solid submission game and has defended 94% of takedowns attempted on him in the UFC. Zellhuber is tied for the longest reach among active Lightweights and uses it well, constantly doing damage from range with long punches and kicks.

Esteban Ribovics rushes Thomas Paull after dropping him with punches. Credit: MMA Fighting.

Ribovics has won four of his last five outings and has UFC victories over Terrance McKinney (15-7-0) and Kamuela Kirk (12-6-0). He’s a heavy-handed scrapper, coming out guns blazing and pushing a heavy pace from bell to bell. He’s constantly looking to close the distance and unload inside the pocket with brutal hooks. Ribovics tends to brawl more as the fight continues, often starting rounds fighting technically and taking more risks as they go on. Training at Kill Cliff FC, he has solid defensive grappling abilities and has proven capable of surviving in deep waters on the mat. Although he won’t typically initiate grappling scenarios, he has heavy ground and pound and submission skills, particularly shoulder locks. Ribovics is always dangerous, especially early on, with five of his seven knockouts coming in the first round.

#3 Brian Ortega vs. #13 Diego Lopes

Brian Ortega lands a stinging right hook on Yair Rodríguez. Credit: MMA Fighting.

Featherweight Bout

Brian Ortega: 16-3-0, 3 KO/TKO,O 8 Sub.

Diego Lopes: 25-6-0, 10 KO/TKO, 12 Sub.

Ortega has won two of his last five fights and has UFC victories over #4 ranked Featherweight Yair Rodríguez (16-5-0), #11 ranked Lightweight Renato Moicano (19-5-1), and Chan Sung Jung (17-8-0). He’s a well-rounded fighter with technical striking and a slick submission game. He possesses power and speed in his hands, throwing everything tight and straight and never telegraphing his shots. He has a granite chin and excellent cardio, never going away or slowing down during the fight. Ortega advances lightning-fast on the ground, often chaining submissions together and easily transitioning between them. Training at Huntington Beach UTC, he has flashy attacks to back up his technical skill and can land flying knees and spinning attacks. He varies his shots well, attacking the head and body evenly and regularly landing brutal leg kicks. All of Ortega’s submissions have come via choke, and he is known to have one of the best triangle chokes in MMA.

Diego Lopes stuns Sodiq Yusuff with an uppercut. Credit: MMA Fighting.

Lopes has won four of his last five bouts and has UFC victories over #14 ranked Featherweight Dan Ige (18-8-0), Sodiq Yusuff (13-4-0), and Pat Sabatini (18-5-0). An experienced grappler with impressive striking, he throws every shot with knockout intentions and constantly seeks a finish. He has one-shot KO power on the feet and has excellent accuracy and timing with his hands. Lopes has fast, powerful kicks and tends to get wild with his striking. Training at Lobo Gym MMA, he has a black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and is dangerous anywhere the fight goes. He has a vicious submission game on top and bottom, constantly transitioning and looking for openings. Lopes has excellent ground and pound on top, which he’ll regularly use to create submission openings.

(C) Alexa Grasso vs. #1 Valentina Shevchenko

Alexa Grasso blasts Valentina Shevchenko with a left hand. Credit: MMA Mania.

Women’s Flyweight Title Bout

Alexa Grasso: 16-3-1, 4 KO/TKO, 2 Sub.

Valentina Shevchenko: 23-4-1, 8 KO/TKO, 7 Sub.

Grasso has won four of her last five outings with one draw and has wins over #4 ranked Flyweight Maycee Barber (14-2-0), #9 ranked Flyweight Viviane Araujo (12-6-0), and her current opponent, Valentina Shevchenko. She is an excellent technical boxer who throws everything purposefully and in combination. She’s aggressive but not wild, staying technical and using timing and accuracy to damage her opponents. Grasso has a solid chin and is dangerous inside the pocket but is also defensively sound, having defended 58% of significant strikes attempted on her in the UFC. She holds a brown belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and is always dangerous on the ground. She’s constantly working, looking to posture up and land damage while threatening submissions. Grasso is a volume striker with excellent cardio, pushing a heavy pace throughout and landing, on average, 70 significant strikes in her last five fights.

Valentina Shevchenko lands a damaging jab on Alexa Grasso. Credit: Zuffa LLC.

Shevchenko has won three of her last five fights with one draw and has UFC victories over #1 ranked Bantamweight Julianna Peña (12-5-0), #7 ranked Flyweight Katlyn Cerminara (18-6-0), and #8 ranked Flyweight Jéssica Andrade (26-13-0). She holds black belts in Taekwondo and Judo and the rank of Master of Sports in Taekwondo, Judo, Muay Thai, Kickboxing, and Boxing. One of the best strikers in the sport, she always throws in combination and has excellent power and speed in her hands and kicks. Training at Tiger Muay Thai, Shevchenko does a great job of evenly varying her shots, attacking the head, body, and legs. She’s landed, on average, about four takedowns in her last five fights and has excellent top control, ground and pound, and chokes. She does everything with impressive speed and has excellent distance management, rarely staying in the pocket long enough to get hit. One of the most prolific champions in UFC history, she has the most fight time, title victories, takedowns landed, and knockout wins in the Women’s Flyweight division, along with many other records. 

(C) Sean O’Malley vs. #1 Merab Dvalishvili

Sean O'Malley rains down ground and pound after dropping Aljamain Sterling. Credit: MMA Junkie.

Bantamweight Title Bout

Sean O’Malley: 18-1-0, 12 KO/TKO, 1 Sub.

Merab Dvalishvili: 17-4-0, 3 KO/TKO, 1 Sub.

O’Malley has won four of his last five outings with one no-contest and has UFC victories over #3 ranked Bantamweight Petr Yan (17-5-0), #7 ranked Bantamweight Marlon Vera (23-10-1), and #8 ranked Featherweight Aljamain Sterling (24-4-0). He’s a wild, flashy striker, throwing out a variety of spinning and flying kicks seemingly at will. Averaging over seven significant strikes landed per minute, he’s always pursuing a finish, holding knockout wins in half of his bouts in the promotion. Training at MMA Lab, O’Malley rarely engages in grappling exchanges, preferring to stay at range and pick his opponent apart with long punches and kicks. Beyond his arsenal of flashy attacks, his most dangerous weapons are his straight punches, often putting them at the end of combinations and regularly resulting in knockdowns or knockouts. O’Malley carries his power throughout the fight and can produce a finish anytime.

Merb Dvalishvili carries Henry Cejudo before landing a brutal takedown. Credit: MMA Fighting.

Dvalishvili is on a ten-fight win streak and has UFC victories over #4 ranked Bantamweight Petr Yan (16-5-0), #6 ranked Bantamweight Henry Cejudo (17-5-0), and #10 ranked Bantamweight José Aldo (32-8-0). He has monstrous cardio, relentlessly pursuing takedowns and landing big flurries on the feet. He’s incredibly durable, always willing to eat a shot to land one, and is constantly pressuring forward. Dvalishvili can easily wrestle for five rounds, averaging over six takedowns landed per fifteen minutes in the UFC. Training with the Serra-Longo Fight Team, his constant wrestling threat helps to mask his striking, often coming forward with powerful hooks and big combinations. He never stops moving on the feet or the ground, constantly looking for a better position or opening to land a shot. Always looking to overwhelm his opponents, Dvalishvili lands, on average, nearly twice as many significant strikes per minute than he absorbs.

Best Bets

Ronaldo Rodriguez by Submission: The main card opens with an excellent matchup of two exciting fighters. Both have very different styles and levels of experience, with this being Rodriguez’s second UFC appearance and Osbourne’s tenth. Despite this, I believe Rodriguez has the advantage both on the feet and the ground. Osbourne is an excellent striker but benefits from a slower-paced, more kickboxing-oriented style of fight. Rodriguez is constantly coming forward, throwing bombs, and is willing to eat punches, which will significantly disrupt Osbourne’s style. Osbourne has also proven particularly susceptible to submissions, with three submission losses in the UFC, two of which came in his last two fights. I don’t expect Rodriguez to shoot for takedowns immediately; I anticipate him wearing Osbourne down in striking exchanges before securing a takedown in the clinch or scoring a knockdown. Rodriguez can find submissions very quickly, and I expect him to do so once Osbourne is on the mat.

Alexa Grasso Moneyline: After two fantastic title bouts, we’ll possibly see this trilogy settled on Saturday. Grasso scored a decisive victory in their first meeting, but their second bout was extremely close, resulting in a draw. Although it was incredibly tough to call, after a second viewing, I believe Grasso won that fight, managing to steal the fifth round late in what I believe was a 2-2 fight heading into the fifth. Regardless, it’s impossible to say either woman has a significant advantage in any area; they match up evenly. At most, I’d give Grasso an edge in power and Shevchenko in speed. When things are that tough to judge inside the cage, you must look at the intangibles. Grasso is much earlier in her career and much less established as a fighter and champion. Not to say Shevchenko is complacent, but Grasso is the younger, hungrier fighter. Given this, it’s reasonable to believe Grasso is improving at a faster rate than Shevchenko at this point in her career. I believe Grasso will look even better than in their prior meetings, and I expect her to secure a victory and end their rivalry.

Sean O’Malley Moneyline: Easily the most challenging fight to call on the card; this is a classic matchup of striker vs. grappler. Their styles could not be more opposite, with O’Malley a lengthy, devastating striker and Dvalishvili a high-intensity wrestler. One of the most significant aspects of this fight is O'Malley's height and reach advantage. Dvalishvili constantly looks to close distance and get into the pocket, often using his striking to set up takedown attempts. Dvalishvili is a relatively non-technical striker, typically blitzing forward with a barrage of hooks, overhands, and elbows. Blitzing in on an opponent with the reach advantage of O’Malley is a very hazardous ordeal, let alone considering the knockout power O’Malley possesses. I can’t imagine Dvalishvili will be looking to strike for five rounds, and he will be in serious trouble if he can’t secure takedowns. I expect O’Malley to avoid the blitzes of Dvalishvili and piece him up from distance. Dvalishvili is exceptionally tough and won’t be easy to put away, but whether via finish or decision, I expect O’Malley to retain his title.

UFC Fight Night: Burns vs. Brady

Gilbert Burns cracks Khamzat Chimaev with a left hook. Credit: MMA Fighting.

Another outstanding Fight Night card hits the UFC Apex this Saturday. Excellent matchups and outstanding prospects fill this card from top to bottom. In the co-main event, we’ll see a top-ten matchup in the Women’s Flyweight division when the heavy-hitting Jéssica Andrade takes on the rising prospect Natalia Silva. In the main event, we’ll witness perennial contender Gilbert Burns take on a dominant grappler in Sean Brady. I expect this card to produce plenty of memorable wars and incredible highlights. Let’s take a look at the fights on the main card.

Trevor Peek vs. Yanal Ashmouz

Trevor Peek unloads hooks on Chepe Mariscal. Credit: MMA Junkie.

Lightweight Bout

Trevor Peek: 9-2-0, 8 KO/TKO, 0 Sub.

Yanal Ashmouz: 7-1-0, 4 KO/TKO, 2 Sub.

Peek has won three of his last five fights and has UFC victories over Erick Gonzalez (14-8-0) and Mohammed Yahya (12-5-0). He’s a wild striker who is always coming forward and looking for a knockout. He’ll regularly throw standing hammer fists and throws every punch with maximum power. Peek has heavy leg kicks and solid high kicks, although he usually does most of his damage with his hands. Training at Agoge Combatives, he’s averaging nearly two takedowns landed per 15 minutes in his promotional tenure and has great wrestling despite his brawling tendencies. He’ll constantly blitz forward and unload long combinations, mainly wide hooks and overhands. Six of Peek’s eight knockouts have come in round one, and he always comes out with guns blazing. 

Yanal Ashmouz earns a KO/TKO victory over Sam Patterson. Credit: MMA Junkie.

Ashmouz has won four of his last five bouts and has a UFC victory over Sam Patterson (12-2-1). He’s a well-rounded, heavy-handed scrapper who’s always looking to do damage. He’ll typically float along the outside of the cage, firing heavy kicks to the head, legs, and body before entering the pocket and unloading hooks. Ashmouz has significant power in his hands and remains technical throughout, pushing a consistent pace and never getting sloppy. Training at K-Dojo, he’s strong in the clinch and has solid trips and throws. In top position, he’ll constantly look to posture up and land ground and pound but won’t put himself in bad positions, staying patient and not forcing anything. Ashmouz has produced finishes in the first, second, and third rounds and is always dangerous. 

#11 Matt Schnell vs. #15 Cody Durden

Matt Schnell rains down elbows onto Sumudaerji. Credit: MMA Fighting.

Flyweight Bout

Matt Schnell: 16-8-0, 2 KO/TKO, 9 Sub.

Cody Durden: 16-6-1, 6 KO/TKO, 5 Sub.

Schnell has won one of his last five outings with one no-contest and has UFC victories over Sumudaerji (16-6-0), Tyson Nam (21-14-1), and Louis Smolka (17-9-0). He’s willing to engage the fight just about anywhere, using a technical boxing style on the feet and favoring wrestling in grappling exchanges. He has solid speed and power in his hands, often using his striking to set up his grappling. Schnell excels at capitalizing on his opponent’s mistakes and regularly grabs chokes when defending takedowns. Of his nine career submission wins, seven are chokes, all of which are either a guillotine or triangle. Training at Fortis MMA, he has a black belt in karate, so despite largely boxing when on the feet, he has a kicking game to back up his hands. With nine first-round finishes and four first-round losses, Schnell is extremely unpredictable early on.

Cody Durden fires a jab at Carlos Mota. Credit: Yahoo Sports.

Durden has won three of his last five fights and has UFC victories over Jake Hadley (11-3-0), Charles Johnson (16-6-0), and Carlos Mota (8-2-0). He’s a dominant wrestler with great cardio and technical striking. He’s landing, on average, over four takedowns per fifteen minutes in the UFC and can land takedowns in the clinch and open space. Durden is always working in top position, advancing with impressive speed and constantly threatening with ground and pound and submission attempts. Training at American Top Team, he won’t get sloppy on the feet, throwing everything straight and tight while regularly mixing in body shots. He can do severe damage without much space, particularly with his elbows. He’s averaging over seven minutes of control time in his UFC victories and will always look to get the fight to the mat. 

Steve Garcia vs. Kyle Nelson

Steve Garcia blasts SeungWoo Choi with a left hand. Credit: MMA Fighting.

Featherweight Bout

Steve Garcia: 16-5-0, 13 KO/TKO, 0 Sub.

Kyle Nelson: 16-5-1, 6 KO/TKO, 4 Sub.

Garcia has won four of his last five bouts and has UFC victories over Chase Hooper (14-3-1), Shayilan Nuerdanbieke (39-12-0), and SeungWoo Choi (11-7-0). He’s a heavy-handed striker constantly coming forward and pursuing a knockout. He’s lengthy for the division and uses it well, throwing everything in combination and regularly mixing kicks into his combos. Garcia varies his shots well, attacking the head and body evenly, and constantly looks to enter the pocket and let his hands go. Training at Jackson-Wink MMA, he’s landing, on average, over one takedown per fifteen minutes in the UFC and has heavy ground and pound. He throws everything with power but has impressive speed and technicality, never loading up or telegraphing his shots. Nine of Garcia’s last ten fights did not see a third round, and he’s always pushing the pace.

Kyle Nelson fires a body kick at Fernando Padilla. Credit: MMA Junkie.

Nelson has won three of his last five outings with one draw and has UFC victories over Bill Algeo (18-9-0), Fernando Padilla (16-5-0), and Blake Bilder (8-2-1). He’s a powerful striker who’s always coming forward and never slows down. He fights behind his jab, throwing it with plenty of power, and is efficient with his striking, rarely wasting energy. Nelson does an excellent job of mixing in kicks, constantly throwing leg kicks and sneaking head kicks at the end of combinations. He has solid footwork, regularly cutting off the cage before entering the pocket to unload looping hooks and overhands. Training at House of Champions, he’s landing, on average, over one takedown landed per fifteen minutes in the UFC and is very strong in the clinch. Nelson throws everything with power and excels at landing kicks and counter shots on his opponent while they’re attempting a strike.

#6 Jéssica Andrade vs. #8 Natalia Silva

Jéssica Andrade connects with a brutal right hand on Maycee Barber. Credit: MMA Fighting.

Women’s Flyweight Bout

Jéssica Andrade: 26-12-0 10 KO/TKO, 8 Sub.

Natalia Silva: 17-5-1, 5 KO/TKO, 7 Sub.

Andrade has won two of her last five fights and has UFC victories over #5 ranked Flyweight Rose Namajunas (14-6-0), #5 ranked Strawweight Amanda Lemos (14-4-1), and #6 ranked Strawweight Marina Rodriguez (17-4-2). A former Strawweight champion, she has fought in all three women’s weight classes and is currently ranked in two. A true powerhouse, she’s an explosive striker with some of the heaviest hands in women’s MMA. Training at Parana Vale Tudo, Andrade is always pressuring forward and throwing combinations, constantly pursuing a finish. She has the speed to match her power and throws every shot accurately and purposefully. She’s also an excellent grappler, holding a black belt in BJJ, averaging over two takedowns landed per fifteen minutes, and has devastating ground and pound. Andrade has the most wins, bouts, and post-fight bonuses in UFC Women’s history and is never in a boring fight.

Natalia Silva lands a spinning kick directly on the chin of Tereza Bleda. Credit: MMA Fighting.

Silva is on an eleven-fight win streak and has UFC victories over #9 ranked Viviane Araújo (12-6-0), #14 ranked Jasmine Jasudavicius (11-3-0), and Tereza Bleda (7-1-0). She is a fantastic striker with lightning-fast kicks and excellent footwork. She’s constantly feinting with her hips and switching stances, making her wildly unpredictable. Silva is highly accurate and throws every shot with power and purpose, usually starting or ending combinations with kicks. Training with Team Borracha, she does an excellent job of holding the center, constantly moving in and out of the pocket without absorbing damage. She’s willing to grapple but tends to keep it on the feet, having defended 91% of takedowns attempted on her in the UFC. Silva pushes a fast pace across the entire fight but will remain technical throughout. 

#6 Gilbert Burns vs. #8 Sean Brady

Gilbert Burns blasts Jorge Masvidal with a right hand. Credit: Yahoo Sports.

Welterweight Bout

Gilbert Burns: 22-7-0, 6 KO/TKO, 9 Sub.

Sean Brady: 16-1-0, 3 KO/TKO, 5 Sub.

Burns has won two of his last five bouts and has UFC victories over #9 ranked Welterweight Stephen Thompson (17-7-1), #15 ranked Welterweight Neil Magny (29-13-0), and Jorge Masvidal (35-17-0). He’s a decorated grappler with serious power in his hands and is always pursuing a finish. He’s always moving on his feet, constantly looking to close the distance, dip his head, and unleash brutal overhands. Burns has explosive takedowns, excellent top control, and a fantastic submission game. Training at Kill Cliff FC, he has a granite chin and pushes a consistent pace across all 15 minutes. He favors power to volume, throwing everything with knockout intentions, and is always willing to brawl inside the pocket. Burns is in his tenth year in the promotion and is dangerous wherever the fight goes.

Sean Brady elevates Michael Chiesa for a takedown. Credit: MMA Mania.

Brady has won four of his last five outings and has UFC victories over Kelvin Gastelum (19-9-0), Jake Matthews (20-7-0), and Michael Chiesa (19-7-0). He is an excellent grappler, averaging over three takedowns landed per fifteen minutes in the UFC, and has controlled nearly every opponent he’s faced. Training at Renzo Gracie Philly, he advances incredibly quickly on the ground and remains patient on top, using smothering top control to find submission openings. Four of Brady’s five submission wins have come via some form of choke, so the fight is over if he can get a hold of his opponent’s neck. He utilizes a boxing style on the feet, not moving his feet much but throwing constant feints with his hands. While he prefers to take the fight to the mat, he won’t get desperate for takedowns and is willing to engage on the feet. Most of Brady’s finishes have come after round one, usually heating up as the fight continues.

Best Bets

Steve Garcia by KO/TKO: This is likely the most underrated matchup on the main card; I expect fireworks in this bout. While both fighters are perpetually coming forward and pushing the pace, Nelson is the more cautious, while Garcia is constantly throwing caution to the wind. While taking constant risks isn’t always the best game plan, it benefits Garcia in this matchup. Garcia has the edge in both power and reach, and I expect him to get on the front foot early, regularly blitzing into the pocket with big combinations. If he can keep Nelson moving back, it significantly neutralizes his offense and the takedown threat, allowing Garcia to let his hands go. I expect Garcia to earn yet another highlight reel knockout.

Natalia Silva by Decision: Another intriguing matchup; this is a true test of speed vs. power. While Silva is quick, flashy, and technical, Andrade uses power and aggression to get the job done. While Andrade has turned things around in her last two fights, I think this is an excellent matchup for Silva. Andrade can often be aggressive to a fault, throwing constant overhands and hooks while rushing forward. Silva is far too technical to get drawn into a sloppy brawl, where Andrade does her best work. I expect Silva to remain elusive and avoid the early barrages from Andrade, wear her down with kicks and combos, and earn an impressive victory.

Burns vs. Brady Not to Go The Distance: This is a fascinating matchup with significant implications for the weight class. The winner of this bout will put themselves into the title conversation and much closer to the belt. While both are well-rounded fighters, they’re both world-class grapplers, and that’s what I’m most intrigued about. Neither man has ever been submitted in their professional career, typically holding the grappling advantage in their matchups. While Brady doesn’t hold the same brawling reputation Burns does, often, when two dominant grapplers meet in the octagon, they cancel out on the ground and go to war on the feet. Whether that’s the outcome or we’re treated to a grappling showcase, I’d be surprised to see the judges involved in this fight. Both men push a heavy pace and are looking to earn a highlight victory and move up the rankings, so one way or another, someone is going to sleep on Saturday night.