UFC Fight Night: Hermansson vs. Pyfer Preview

Joe Pyfer slams Abdul Razak Alhassan. Credit: MMA Fighting.

We’re back with yet another Apex card loaded to the brim with excellent matchups. In the co-main event, two featherweights look to put their name in title contention when Andre Fili faces off against Dan Ige. In the main event, one of the hottest rising stars in the sport takes on a well-rounded veteran when Joe Pyfer takes on Jack Hermansson. The entire main card is loaded with killers and fighters looking to establish themselves in the world’s foremost MMA promotion. Let’s take a look at the fights on the main card.

Rodolfo Vieira vs. Armen Petrosyan

Rodolfo Vieira submits Dustin Stoltzfus. Credit: MMA Fighting.

Middleweight Bout

Rodolfo Vieira: 9-2-0, 1 KO/TKO, 8 Sub.

Armen Petrosyan: 9-2-0, 6 KO/TKO, 0 Sub.

Vieira has won three of his last five fights and has UFC victories over Cody Brundage (9-5-0), Dustin Stoltzfus (14-5-0), and Saparbeg Safarov (9-3-0). 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 nearly 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.

Armen Petrosyan lands a kick on Kaloyan Kolev. Credit: MMA Fighting.

Petrosyan has won four of his last five outings and has UFC victories over Gregory Rodrigues (14-5-0), AJ Dobson (7-2-0), and Christian Leroy Duncan (8-1-0). A former professional kickboxer, he held a record of 70-22-1 with 27 knockouts. 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 and attacks the head and body evenly, as well as providing 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 is a highly active fighter, having fought eight times between 2021 and 2023.

Michael Johnson vs. Darrius Flowers

Michael Johnson cracks Justin Gaethje with a right hand. Credit: MMA Mania.

Lightweight Bout

Michael Johnson: 22-19-0, 9 KO/TKO, 2 Sub.

Darrius Flowers: 12-6-1, 7 KO/TKO, 2 Sub.

Johnson has won two of his last five outings and holds victories over #3 ranked Lightweight Dustin Poirier (29-8-0), #13 ranked Featherweight Edson Barboza (24-11-0), and Tony Ferguson (26-10-0). He has been in the promotion since 2010 and is an alumnus of the 12th season of The Ultimate Fighter, with a background in collegiate wrestling. He has fought a who’s who of the Lightweight division and is respected for his well-roundedness and devastating punching power. Training at Kill Cliff FC, Johnson has blazing-fast hands and loves to get into the pocket and throw 4-5 punch combinations. He has power in both hands, with his best weapon being his straights, but he also tends to throw damaging, looping hooks. He has excellent takedown defense, having defended 79% of takedowns attempted on him in his UFC career. Johnson has wrestling ability but only seems to use it when he’s losing on the feet, but he can land brutal ground and pound if he gets on top.

Darrius Flowers finishes Amiran Gogoladze. Credit: Yahoo.

Flowers has won four of his last five bouts, with his most recent win coming on the Contender Series over Amiran Gogoladze (14-3-0). He’s a true brawler, always moving and looking for openings to crash into the pocket and throw bombs. Training at Uprising MMA, he’s constantly looking to set up his right hand, staying at distance before dipping his head and throwing massive shots. Flowers will typically float along the outside of the cage and look for knockout opportunities, never putting out punches just to touch his opponent. Fighting with a true “kill or be killed” style, ten of his nineteen career bouts ended in the first round, and all his losses are by finish. He is willing to grapple and is very powerful in the clinch and top position. Flowers has devastating ground and pound but can get sloppy on the ground, with most of his losses coming by submission.

Brad Tavares vs Gregory Rodrigues

Brad Tavares launches a head kick at Caio Magalhaes. Credit: MMA Fighting.

Middleweight Bout

Brad Tavares: 20-9-0, 5 KO/TKO, 2 Sub.

Gregory Rodrigues: 14-5-0, 9 KO/TKO, 3 Sub.

Tavares has won three of his last five outings and has UFC victories over Krzysztof Jotko (24-7-0), Chris Weidman (15-7-0), and Nate Marquadt (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 constantly moves, never telegraphing or loading up. Tavares varies his shots, attacking the head and body evenly and often chewing up his opponent’s legs with kicks. Training at Xtreme Couture, he has fantastic takedown defense, having defended 82% of takedowns attempted on him in the UFC. He has solid cardio and can push a consistent pace across 15 minutes, using both power and volume. Tavares is at his best when he’s controlling the center of the octagon and the fight's pace. 

Gregory Rodrigues blasts JunYong Park with a right hand. Credit: MMA Fighting.

Rodrigues has won three of his last five fights, with UFC wins coming over Junyong Park (17-5-0), Chidi Njokuani (22-9-0), and Julian Marquez (9-4-0). “Robocop” not only has one of the best nicknames in MMA but also devastating power in his hands. 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 with 55% accuracy in his UFC tenure. Rodrigues has a solid chin and is more than willing to eat a shot to land one, regularly getting drawn into wild brawls.

Robert Bryczek vs. Ihor Potieira

Robert Bryczek lands ground and pound on Samuel Kristofic. Credit: Oktagon MMA.

Middleweight Bout

Robert Bryczek: 17-5-0, 11 KO/TKO, 1 Sub.

Ihor Potieira: 20-5-0, 10 KO/TKO, 6 Sub.

Bryczek has won all his last five fights and is making his UFC debut. He’s a devastating knockout artist on a five-fight 1st-round knockout streak, with ten of his twelve career finishes coming in round one. He utilizes a boxing style, fighting behind his jab and throwing every shot with knockout intentions. Training with Veto Team, Bryczek is constantly pressuring forward, has excellent distance management, and keeps his head off the centerline. He favors power to volume but is exceptionally accurate and varies his attacks well, attacking the head and body evenly. He’s always looking to set up his right hand and is willing to eat a shot to land one. Bryczek constantly throws hooks and overhands, rarely throwing kicks and always hunting a knockout. 

Ihor Potieria lands a right hand on Shogun Hua. Credit: MMA Fighting.

Potieria has won two of his last five bouts and has a UFC victory over Shogun Rua (27-14-1). He’s a wild striker with an awkward style, throwing everything with power and always pursuing a finish. He’s at his most dangerous early on and is yet to see a decision in his promotional tenure. Potieria uses a karate-like stance, keeping his hands low and throwing plenty of single shots and naked kicks. He’s always looking to close the distance and will attack from various angles, often blitzing forward to throw combinations. He has power in both hands and tends to headhunt, throwing lunging straights and overhands while entering the pocket. Potieria always comes forward, often throwing caution to the wind and eating shots to get inside. 

#13 Dan Ige vs. Andre Fili

Dan Ige lands a left hook on Damon Jackson. Credit: MMA Mania.

Featherweight Bout

Dan Ige: 17-7-0, 5 KO/TKO, 5 Sub.

Andre Fili: 23-10-0, 10 KO/TKO, 3 Sub.

Ige has found victory in two of his last five bouts and holds wins over #11 ranked Featherweight Edson Barboza (24-11-0), Nate Landwehr (17-5-0), and Damon Jackson (22-6-1). 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, which he’ll often throw 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 a takedown in seven of his nine victories in the UFC. While Ige won’t often initiate grappling exchanges, he has shown great defensive grappling and is always active on the ground, never staying in one spot.

Andre Fili lands a left hand on Bill Algeo. Credit: MMA Fighting.

Fili has won two of his last five with one no-contest and has UFC victories over Charles Jourdain (15-7-1), Bill Algeo (18-7-0), and Lucas Almeida (14-3-0). He’s a well-rounded scrapper who will engage in the fight wherever it goes. He’s always coming forward on the feet, constantly switching stances and fighting patiently behind his jab. Fili throws in combination, throwing every shot with accuracy and purpose, and possesses devastating kicks, especially to the head. He’s averaging just over two takedowns landed per fifteen minutes in his promotional tenure and is excellent on top. He never telegraphs his attacks and does a great job switching angles, landing damage at range and in the pocket. Fili has solid cardio and won’t get sloppy, pushing a consistent pace throughout the fight.

#11 Jack Hermansson vs. Joe Pyfer

Jack Hermansson rains down ground and pound onto Edmen Shahbazyan. Credit: MMA Fighting.

Middleweight Bout

Jack Hermansson: 23-8-0, 11 KO/TKO, 6 Sub.

Joe Pyfer: 12-2-0, 8 KO/TKO, 3 Sub.

Hermansson has won 3 of his last 5, with wins over #13 ranked Chris Curtis (31-10-0), Kelvin Gastellum (18-9-0), and Jacare Souza (26-10-0). Training at Frontline Academy, he is a well-rounded fighter, willing to engage in exchanges on the feet and the ground. He has power in his hands and a dangerous grappling pedigree, making him dangerous wherever the fight goes. While Hermansson has solid striking, he prefers to take the fight to the mat, averaging over one takedown landed per fifteen minutes. When on the top, he is more likely to pursue ground and pound than a submission but will grab a choke when given a chance. On the feet, he uses a boxing style, often throwing a lot of leg and body kicks before letting his hands go. Hermansson is at his most dangerous early in a fight, having five first-round finishes in the UFC, two being knockouts with three submissions. 

Joe Pyfer chokes out Abdul Razak Alhassan. Credit: MMA Mania.

Pyfer has won all of his last five bouts and holds UFC victories over Alen Amedovski (8-4-0), Abdul Razak Alhassan (12-6-0), and Gerald Meerschaert (35-17-0). He is an explosive striker with one-punch knockout power that constantly pursues a finish. He has solid, technical hands, always keeping his guard high, his shots tight, and never telegraphs. Training at Marquez MMA, Pyfer has excellent head movement and footwork, never staying on the centerline, and can land damage going forward or backward. He has a solid grappling game with great takedowns, smothering top control, and submission ability to back up his brutal ground and pound. He does his best work on the inside with his hands but will throw heavy kicks at range, particularly to the legs. Pyfer has six first-round finishes and has only gone to one decision in his career, as well as only seeing the third round once. 

Best Bets

Michael Johnson Moneyline: If you know anything about Michael Johnson, you know he’s the biggest anomaly in the history of MMA. He’s gone toe to toe with the best and even beaten some of them, but he also has some tough losses on his record. This is an excellent matchup for him stylistically, and he should get the win as long as he can keep his chin tucked.

Robert Bryczek by KO/TKO: Although he’s a debuting fighter, it feels like the UFC is setting this guy up for a push. He’s a wild fighter with a ton of first-round finishes and is fighting a guy who’s much less technical than him and hasn’t seen a third round in five years. Bryczek has crazy power and skill, and I expect him to get it done early.

Joe Pyfer Moneyline: This is easily my riskiest pick. Although Pyfer has torn through every guy the UFC has put in front of him, this is by far his toughest test. I believe Pyfer is well-rounded enough to find a victory, and I feel Hermansson won’t be too keen on striking with him.

UFC Fight Night: Dolidze vs. Imavov Preview

Roman Dolidze lands a left hand on Marvin Vettori. Credit: MMA Mania.

This Saturday, we’ll see multiple fights with significant bearing on their divisions. In the co-main event, two tenured veterans look to climb up the rankings when Renato Moicano takes on Drew Dober. Following this, two quickly rising contenders in the Middleweight division look to move themselves closer to the gold when Roman Dolidze collides with Nassourdine Imavov. Prior to these bouts are a handful of established contenders and rising stars all looking for a landmark victory this weekend. Let’s take a look at the fights on the main card.

Gilbert Urbina vs. Charles Radtke

Gilbert Urbina pieces up Orion Cosce. Credit: MMA Fighting.

Welterweight Bout

Gilbert Urbina: 7-3-0, 2 KO/TKO, 2 Sub.

Charles Radtke: 8-3-0, 3 KO/TKO, 2 Sub.

Urbina has won two of his last five bouts, with his lone UFC victory coming over Orion Cosce (8-2-0). He’s a fast-paced, well-rounded fighter who comes out guns blazing. He throws everything in combination, is highly accurate, and constantly moves. Training at the BMF Ranch, Urbina has landed multiple takedowns in both his promotional outings and uses his striking to set up his grappling. He’ll often land damage in the clinch before pursuing a takedown and advance his position quickly on top. He constantly throws ground and pound, always choosing position over submission and only attempting submissions when they’re presented to him. Urbina is willing to get wild, brawling in the pocket or attempting flashy attacks on the feet. 

Charles Radtke celebrates his victory over Blood Diamond. Credit: MMA Fighting.

Radtke has won all of his last five fights and scored a victory in his UFC debut over Blood Diamond (3-3-0). He’s an aggressive wrestler, always coming forward and looking to wear down his opponent. He throws everything in combination and with power, rarely throwing kicks and doing most of his damage inside the pocket. Radtke will close the distance with his striking and then break down his opponent in the clinch before attempting a takedown. Training at MMA Masters, he has excellent control both in the clinch and in top position and excellent timing on his takedowns. He’s always willing to eat a shot to land one and is constantly looking to land big, looping hooks. Radtke pushes a consistent pace throughout the fight and will gladly wrestle for all 15 minutes. 

Aliaskhab Khizriev vs. Makhmud Muradov

Aliaskhab Khizriev throws a hook at Denis Tiuliulin. Credit: Sports Illustrated.

Middleweight Bout

Aliaskhab Khizriev: 14-0-0, 5 KO/TKO, 5 Sub.

Makhmud Muradov: 26-8-0, 17 KO/TKO, 3 Sub.

Khizriev is undefeated and has a UFC victory over Denis Tiuliulin (10-9-0). He’s a powerful, well-rounded finisher that is dangerous everywhere. He favors power to volume, regularly throwing single shots and naked kicks at range. Khizriev won’t push a wild pace but will systematically break down his opponent with power punches and smothering top pressure. Training at Fight Club Scorpion, he can land takedowns in open space and is constantly working from top position. He’s patient, willing to hold position and land ground and pound until finding an opportunity for a submission. Khizriev’s submission victories are all via rear naked choke, and he finds submissions very quickly if he can reach his opponent’s back.  

Makhmud Muradov lands a right hand on Trevor Smith. Credit: MMA Junkie.

Muradov has won three of his last five outings and has UFC victories over Bryan Barberena (18-11-0), Andrew Sanchez (15-7-0), and Alessio Di Chirico (13-7-0). He’s an explosive, well-rounded fighter who pushes a consistent pace throughout the fight. He has excellent footwork, doesn’t telegraph anything, and throws every shot with knockout intentions. Muradov favors power to volume, throwing lots of single shots, with his best attack being his straight right. Training at Monster Gym, he averages about three takedowns landed per fifteen minutes and does a great job setting up his grappling with his striking. He has heavy top control and has the power to land multiple slam takedowns in one fight. Muradov will remain technical throughout, never brawling in the pocket, landing much of his damage from the outside. 

#7 Viviane Araujo vs. #9 Natalia Silva

Viviane Araujo lands a right hand on Roxanne Modafferi. Credit: MMA Fighting.

Women’s Flyweight Bout

Viviane Araujo: 12-5-0, 3 KO/TKO, 4 Sub.

Natalia Silva: 16-5-1, 5 KO/TKO, 7 Sub.

Araujo has won two of her last five bouts and has UFC victories over #14 ranked Flyweight Andrea Lee (13-8-0), Jennifer Maia (21-10-1), 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 work inside the pocket with her hands. Araujo fights behind her jab and throws every shot with power but doesn’t telegraph. 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 65 significant strikes landed in her last five outings but slows down as the fight goes on. 

Natalia Silva lands a brutal kick on Tereza Bleda. Credit: MMA Fighting.

Silva is on a ten-fight win streak and has UFC victories over #14 ranked Flyweight Andrea Lee (13-8-0), #15 ranked Jasmine Jasudavicius (10-3-0), 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 very 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 92% of takedowns attempted on her in the UFC. Silva pushes a fast pace across the entire fight but will remain technical throughout. 

Randy Brown vs. Muslim Salikhov

Randy Brown lands a jab on Khaos Williams. Credit: MMA Fighting.

Welterweight Bout

Randy Brown: 17-5-0, 6 KO/TKO, 5 Sub.

Muslim Salikhov: 19-4-0, 13 KO/TKO, 2 Sub.

Brown has won four of his last five fights, with wins over Khaos Williams (14-3-0), Francisco Trinaldo (28-9-0), and Bryan Barberena (18-11-0). He’s a lengthy fighter, constantly throwing combinations at range and adding body kicks at the end of his combinations. He’ll often string together long, technical punch combinations without getting wild. Brown has solid power in both hands and particularly devastating clinch striking. Averaging just under a takedown landed per fifteen minutes, he does an excellent job mixing grappling into his striking, often using his length in the clinch to get his opponent to the mat. He has solid control and a slick submission game on the ground, especially his chokes. Training at Kings MMA, Brown is more than willing to eat a shot to land one and can be drawn into a brawl. 

Muslim Salikhov lands a spinning kick on Elizeu Zaleski dos Santos. Credit: MMA Junkie.

Salikhov has won three of his last five outings and has UFC victories over Franciso Trinaldo (28-9-0), Andre Fialho (16-8-0), and Nordine Taleb (15-7-0). 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. If it wasn’t obvious, he’s an incredibly dangerous striker, possessing solid power and excellent skill. 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 73% of 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. 

#13 Renato Moicano vs. #15 Drew Dober

Renato Moicano lands a takedown on Jai Herbert. Credit: MMA News.

Lightweight Bout

Renato Moicano: 17-5-1, 0 KO/TKO, 10 Sub.

Drew Dober: 27-12-0, 15 KO/TKO, 5 Sub.

Moicano has similarly won three of his last five fights and has UFC victories over #8 ranked Featherweight Calvin Kattar (23-7-0), Alexander Hernandez (14-7-0), and Cub Swanson (29-13-0). He’s a grappling ace with an excellent submission game but is more than willing to throw down on the feet. With only four of his fourteen bouts in the promotion going the distance, he fights with a “kill or be killed” mentality. Moicano won’t often waste too much time before shooting in for a takedown, usually securing them quickly and immediately advancing position on the ground. He is dangerous on top, 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 move to a better position, but he is also intelligent and rarely puts himself in danger. On the feet, Moicano has solid speed and power in his hands and loves to throw uppercuts and elbows when in close. Training at American Top Team, he will often pick his shots, waiting for openings to land combinations or attempt a takedown.

Drew Dober lands a stiff left on Rafael Alves. Credit: MMA Fighting.

Dober has won three of his last five fights and has UFC victories over #14 ranked Lightweight Bobby Green (31-15-1), Terrance McKinney (15-6-0), and Nasrat Haqparast (16-5-0). He is an excellent striker with a Muay Thai background and a black belt in Taekwondo. He always stays technical and throws all his punches tight and straight, rarely throwing looping shots. Dober throws everything with knockout intentions and carries his power across all three rounds. Training with Elevation Fight Team, he has excellent head movement and varies his shots, attacking the head and body evenly. He’s willing to brawl in the pocket but doesn’t get sloppy, has solid footwork, and is always coming forward. Dober does a great job of moving in and out of the pocket, throwing kicks at range, and landing damaging combinations in close.

#8 Roman Dolidze vs. #11 Nassourdine Imavov

Roman Dolidze lands a straight left on Phil Hawes. Credit: MMA Fighting.

Middleweight Bout

Roman Dolidze: 12-2-0, 7 KO/TKO, 3 Sub.

Nassourdine Imavov: 12-4-0, 5 KO/TKO, 4 Sub.

Dolidze has won four of his last five outings and has wins over #10 ranked Middleweight Jack Hermansson (23-8-0), Phil Hawes (12-6-0), and Kyle Daukaus (13-4-0). He has a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and Sambo background and is an accomplished grappler outside of MMA. Averaging about two takedowns landed per fifteen minutes, he is most at home on the mat and averages nearly two submission attempts per fifteen minutes. 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 good power in his hands and prefers to counter-strike when on the feet, not moving his feet a ton but always moving his head. Dolidze gets his best work done in the clinch and while exiting the clinch, often throwing power shots inside the pocket.

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

Imavov has won three of his last five outings with one no-contest and has UFC victories over Joaquin Buckley (17-6-0), Edmen Shahbazyan (12-4-0), and Ian Heinisch (14-5-0). 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 over 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

Khizriev vs. Muradov to Not Go the Distance: This is one of the more exciting matchups on the card; both guys are more than willing to throw down in the pocket, and it could be a potentially star-making performance for either fighter. I’d be pretty surprised if this one went all three rounds.

Natalia Silva Moneyline: Silva is the biggest favorite on the main card, and it’s for good reason. Stylistically, she’s a brutal matchup for Araujo, who does nearly all her damage with her hands in the pocket. Silva is fantastic on the outside and very tough to reach, so if Araujo can’t get inside, she’ll likely get picked apart.

Nassourdine Imavov Moneyline: This is probably the toughest matchup to predict on the card; Dolidze likely has the grappling advantage, whereas Imavov has the striking advantage. Dolidze is much more limited on the feet than Imavov is on the ground, not to mention Imavov has excellent takedown defense. I expect this fight to stay standing and Dolidze to get lit up by Imavov’s vastly more technical striking.

UFC 297 Preview

Sean Strickland looks to land a right hand on Israel Adesanya. Credit: BVM Sports.

The first pay-per-view card of 2024 has arrived, and it’s a big one. In the main event, the massively popular champion Sean Strickland will attempt his first title defense against the red-hot Dricus Du Plessis. In the co-main event, a new Women’s Bantamweight champion will finally be crowned when established veteran Raquel Pennington takes on the rapidly rising Mayra Bueno Silva. The entire main card is filled out with ranked fighters and exceptional matchups, all vying for a bonus and a chance to establish their name on the biggest stage in MMA. Let’s take a look at the fights on the main card.

#4 Arnold Allen vs. #9 Movsar Evloev

Arnold Allen lands a right hook on Dan Hooker. Credit: New York Post.

Featherweight Bout

Arnold Allen: 19-2-0, 7 KO/TKO, 4 Sub.

Movsar Evloev: 17-0-0, 3 KO/TKO, 4 Sub.

Allen has won four of his last five bouts with UFC victories over #7 ranked Featherweight Calvin Kattar (23-7-0), #10 ranked Lightweight Dan Hooker (23-12-0), and #12 ranked Featherweight Sodiq Yusuff (13-3-0). He is an excellent technical striker, possessing serious speed and power in his hands and a solid arsenal of kicks. He has some of the best striking defense in the UFC, only absorbing about three significant strikes per minute on average, with a significant strike defense percentage of 61%. Allen throws beautiful combinations, rarely throwing single shots, and often mixes in head and body kicks at the end of his combinations. He throws everything with substantial power but remains accurate, allowing him to push a heavy pace across an entire fight. Training at BKK Fighters, he averages over one takedown landed per fifteen minutes and seems equally comfortable on the ground as he is on the feet. Allen is seemingly never in the same place, constantly moving and attacking from different angles, which makes him incredibly elusive.

Movsar Evloev lands a flying knee on Dan Ige. Credit: MMA Fighting.

Evloev is undefeated and has UFC wins over #13 ranked Featherweight Dan Ige (17-7-0), Diego Lopes (23-6-0), and Nik Lentz (30-12-2). He’s an excellent grappler, holding the rank of Master of Sport in Greco-Roman wrestling. He’s averaging nearly five takedowns landed per fifteen minutes and has landed multiple takedowns in six of his seven promotional appearances. Evloev has excellent top control and always remains technical, constantly throwing ground and pound and looking to wear his opponent down. Training at American Top Team, he has solid power in his hands and is defensively sound, absorbing less than three significant strikes per minute. He moves in and out of the pocket excellently and never keeps his head on the centerline, often dropping his head and blitzing forward to throw combinations. Evloev has excellent cardio and averaged about 72 significant strikes in his last five fights. 

#14 Chris Curtis vs. Marc-Andre Barriault

Chris Curtis cracks Kelvin Gastelum with a right hand. Credit: MMA Mania.

Middleweight Bout

Chris Curtis: 30-10-0, 17 KO/TKO, 1 Sub.

Marc-Andre Barriault: 16-6-0, 10 KO/TKO, 1 Sub.

Curtis has won two of his last five fights with one no-contest and has UFC wins coming over #7 ranked Middleweight Brendan Allen (23-5-0), Rodolfo Vieira (9-2-0), and Joaquin Buckley (17-6-0). 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 92% of takedowns attempted on him in the UFC, and he also possesses a purple belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. 

Marc-Andre Barriault lands a left hand on Julian Marquez. Credit: DraftKings Network.

Barriault has won three of his last five fights, with UFC victories coming over Julian Marquez (9-4-0), Jordan Wright (12-5-0), and Eryk Anders (15-8-0). He’s a striker, preferring to get the job done with his hands, stay in the pocket, and brawl. He has solid power in both hands and 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 throws equally as big shots as he does on the feet, rarely pursuing a submission. 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.

#13 Neil Magny vs. Mike Malott

Neil Magny looks to lock in a choke on Robbie Lawler. Credit: MMA Mania.

Welterweight Bout

Neil Magny: 28-12-0, 7 KO/TKO, 4 Sub.

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

Magny has won two of his last five fights and has wins over former UFC Welterweight champions Robbie Lawler (29-16-0) and Johny Hendricks (18-8-0), as well as #8 ranked Welterweight Geoff Neal (14-5-0). He is in his 11th year in the promotion, and his experience shows in the cage, as he’s seemingly comfortable everywhere. He’s tall for the division and uses it well, staying at distance on the feet and picking his opponents apart with his punches. Magny’s best weapon is his cardio; he can and has gone 25 minutes and always pushes a heavy pace, constantly touching up his opponents or working for takedowns. Training at Elevation Fight Team, he is excellent at using his length inside the clinch, often landing knees and elbows and scoring takedowns. Averaging over two takedowns landed per fifteen minutes, his most straightforward path to victory is to take it to the mat, which he usually does. Magny stays technical across the entire fight, never overexerting himself or putting himself in significant danger.

Mike Malott throws a left hook at Mickey Gall. Credit: DraftKings Network.

Malott is undefeated in his last five bouts, with his UFC victories coming over Mickey Gall (7-5-0), Adam Fugitt (9-4-0), and Yohan Lainesse (9-2-0). He is 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. He also does an excellent job of entering and exiting the pocket, often able to land and return to the outside before his opponent can return fire. Training at Niagara Top Team, he’s a solid grappler with good wrestling and tremendous pressure on top. Similar to his striking, Malott stays technical and patient on the ground, looking for openings and quickly advancing position. 

#2 Raquel Pennington vs. #3 Mayra Bueno Silva

Raquel Pennington looks to land a right hand on Ketlen Vieira. Credit: MMA Fighting.

Women’s Bantamweight Title Bout

Raquel Pennington: 15-9-0, 1 KO/TKO, 4 Sub.

Mayra Bueno Silva: 10-2-1, 1 KO/TKO, 7 Sub.

Pennington has won all of her last five outings and has UFC victories over #4 ranked Bantamweight Ketlen Vieira (14-3-0), #5 ranked Bantamweight Irene Aldana (15-7-0), and #7 ranked Bantamweight Pannie Kianzad (17-7-0). She’s a well-rounded scrapper with excellent boxing and cardio. Averaging 79 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. 

Mayra Bueno Silva lands a knee on Montana De La Rosa. Credit: MMA Fighting.

Bueno Silva has won three of her last five fights with one no-contest and has UFC victories over Wu Yanan (12-6-0), Gillian Robertson (12-8-0), and Mara Romero Borella (12-9-0). She’s a wild, well-rounded fighter in constant pursuit of a finish. She’s perpetually coming forward on the feet, often throwing single shots and naked kicks with serious power. Bueno Silva varies her shots well, attacking the head and body evenly and typically setting up her offense with leg kicks. Although she won’t usually land many takedowns, she averages nearly two submissions attempted per fifteen minutes and is very dangerous on the ground. Training at American Top Team, she has heavy top pressure and never accepts position, always looking to advance and find a submission. Bueno Silva prefers power to volume, throwing plenty of looping shots and loading up on her punches. 

(C) Sean Strickland vs. #2 Dricus Du Plessis

Sean Strickland throws a kick at Krzysztof Jotko. Credit: The Ringer.

Middleweight Title Bout

Sean Strickland: 28-5-0, 11 KO/TKO, 4 Sub.

Dricus Du Plessis: 20-2-0, 9 KO/TKO, 10 Sub.

Strickland has won three of his last five fights and has UFC victories over #1 ranked Middleweight Israel Adesanya (24-3-0),  #10 ranked Middleweight Jack Hermansson (23-8-0), #11 ranked Middleweight Nassourdine Imavov (12-4-0). 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 84% of takedowns attempted on him in the UFC. He rarely pursues submissions, typically resorting to ground-and-pound when on top. He uses a very upright boxing style on the feet, throwing every shot with purpose and in combination. Training at Millenia MMA, 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. 

Dricus Du Plessis throws ground and pound at Robert Whittaker. Credit: The Wright Way Network.

Du Plessis has won all of his last five bouts, with his UFC victories coming over #3 ranked Middleweight Robert Whittaker (25-7-0), Derek Brunson (24-9-0), and Darren Till (18-5-1). He utilizes a kickboxing style on the feet, often 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 often mixes grappling into his attacks, averaging nearly 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. 

Best Bets

Arnold Allen Moneyline: This is arguably the best matchup on the card. Evloev is undefeated, and Allen was undefeated in the UFC until his most recent loss to Max Holloway. I think that loss is part of why Allen ended up a decent-sized underdog, even though he matches up exceptionally well here. I think he will outpace Evloev on the feet and has the grappling to keep it standing, so I’ll take Allen in this fight.

Raquel Pennington Moneyline: Another underdog I don’t fully understand, Pennington has vastly more experience and a much better resume than Bueno Silva. Pennington has lost exclusively to former champions in her UFC tenure, and I believe this is finally her chance to reach the top of the mountain after over a decade in the promotion. Although she’s certainly at a power disadvantage, she’s much more well-rounded, technical, and better prepared for a five-round fight.

Sean Strickland Moneyline: The build-up to this fight has been very bizarre. Initially, it seemed the beef was serious between these two until this week when they were shown making up and embracing each other on Embedded. Knowing emotions won’t be a primary factor in the cage, I’m far more confident in Strickland’s ability to get the job done. He’s vastly more technical than Du Plessis and has a much better gas tank, so I could see a decision or finish victory for the People’s Champion.

Bonus Bet: Chris Curtis by KO/TKO: This is a fun matchup of two guys who want to go in there and throw down. Barriault is better than many people give him credit for, but Curtis is much more technically skilled and well-rounded. I expect these two to meet in the middle and that Curtis will be the one left standing.

Fight Night: Ankalaev vs. Walker 2 Preview

Johnny Walker attempts a flying knee on Anthony Smith. Credit: MMA Fighting.

After a month of waiting, the first card of 2024 has finally arrived. We’ll see two hotly-contested rematches at the top of the card: Ankalaev vs. Walker and Nicolau vs. Kape. Jim Miller returns to add to his record-setting 42 UFC fights against Gabriel Benitez. Preceding this are two excellent up-and-coming matchups, and a fantastic undercard. Let’s take a look at the main card for this Saturday’s fight night.

Phil Hawes vs. Brunno Ferreira

Phil Hawes lands an elbow on Deron Winn. Credit: MMA Fighting.

Middleweight Bout

Phil Hawes: 12-5-0, 8 KO/TKO, 2 Sub.

Brunno Ferreira: 10-1-0, 7 KO/TKO, 3 Sub.

Hawes has won two of his last five outings and has victories over Kyle Daukaus (13-4-0), Nassourdine Imavov (12-4-0), and Jacob Malkoun (7-3-0). With a background in collegiate wrestling, his easiest path to victory is grappling, averaging over two takedowns landed per fifteen minutes. Training at Kill Cliff FC, he is very powerful, often landing slam takedowns, and hard to shake off when he’s in top position. Hawes never stops punching when he gets the fight to the mat, preferring a ground and pound finish to submissions. He has shown an increased willingness to strike lately but a tendency to panic wrestle if he gets caught with a big shot. On the feet, he stays patient and fights behind his jab; what he lacks in volume, he makes up for in accuracy and power. Hawes has shown marked improvement in his striking, now throwing head kicks and beautiful short elbows on the inside.

Brunno Ferreira exchanges blows with Leon Aliu. Credit: Insiders Betting Digest.

Ferreira has won four of his last five bouts and has a UFC victory over Gregory Rodrigues (14-5-0). He is an explosive striker with one-shot knockout power. He’s constantly feinting, switching stances, looking for openings, and attacking from different angles. Ferreira has finished all ten of his wins, with just two of his career outings seeing a second round. Training at Evolucao Thai, he prefers power to volume and has excellent head movement and big-time power in both hands. A true brawler, he often throws out risky maneuvers like Superman punches and spinning kicks. Ferreira is willing to grapple and usually takes the fight to the mat via vicious slam takedowns before unleashing hellacious ground-and-pound. He’s very active on the ground and will never accept a position, constantly trying to advance and secure a finish. 

#13 Ricky Simon vs. Mario Bautista

Ricky Simon lands a right hand on Brian Kelleher. Credit: MMA Mania.

Bantamweight Bout

Ricky Simon: 20-4-0, 6 KO/TKO, 4 Sub.

Mario Bautista: 13-2-0, 3 KO/TKO, 6 Sub.

Simon has won three of his last five fights and holds UFC victories over #2 ranked Bantamweight Merab Dvalishvili (16-4-0), Raphael Assuncao (28-10-0), and Ray Borg (16-5-0). He’s a tenacious wrestler, always willing to work for a takedown and nearly impossible to shake off. He averages about six takedowns landed per fifteen minutes and has lightning-quick level changes. On the feet, Simon constantly moves, feints, and switches stances, never keeping his head on the centerline. Training at ATT Portland, he never loads up on shots and throws everything with accuracy and purpose. He can land slam takedowns in open space and is excellent in the clinch, often chaining takedown attempts together. Simon is constantly pursuing a finish and advances position very quickly on the ground, often finding submissions with impressive speed. 

Mario Bautista lands a left hand on Da’Mon Blackshear. Credit: MMA Fighting.

Bautista has won all of his last five fights and has wins over Miles Johns (14-2-0), Brian Kelleher (24-15-0), and Da’Mon Blackshear (14-6-1). He’s incredibly quick and dangerous on the feet, easily 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 nearly three takedowns landed per 15 minutes and has landed at least one takedown in his last five 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, winning three of his last four appearances by first-round submission. 

Jim Miller vs. Gabriel Benitez

Jim Miller celebrates after knocking out Jesse Butler. Credit: MMA Fighting.

Lightweight Bout

Jim Miller: 36-17-0, 7 KO/TKO, 19 Sub.

Gabriel Benitez: 23-11-0, 9 KO/TKO, 10 Sub.

Miller has won four of his last five fights and has UFC victories over #1 ranked Lightweight Charles Oliveira (34-9-0), 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 25, the most fights in promotional history with 42, and the second-most finishes with 17. 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 is constantly pursuing a finish. 

Gabriel Benitez lands ground and pound on Charlie Ontiveros. Credit: MMA Fighting.

Benitez has won two of his last five outings and has UFC victories over Jason Knight (23-8-0), Clay Collard (24-11-0), and Charlie Ontiveros (11-8-0). He’s a powerful striker who constantly throws in combination and favors his kicks. He fights behind his jab and never telegraphs his shots, keeping all his attacks technical and straight. Benitez won’t often attempt takedowns but has a slick submission game and a dangerous guillotine choke. If he ends up in top position, he’ll rain down devastating ground and pound until he secures a finish. Training at the American Kickboxing Academy, he’s willing to brawl in the pocket but is at his best when controlling the center and coming forward. Benitez does an excellent job of evenly varying his shots, attacking the head, body, and legs evenly. 

#5 Matheus Nicolau vs. #6 Manel Kape

Matheus Nicolau throws a front kick at Matt Schnell. Credit: MMA Mania.

Flyweight Bout

Matheus Nicolau: 19-4-1, 5 KO/TKO, 5 Sub.

Manel Kape: 19-6-0, 11 KO/TKO, 5 Sub.

Nicolau has won four of his last five bouts and has UFC victories over #9 ranked Flyweight Matt Schnell (16-7-0), #10 ranked Flyweight Tim Elliot (21-13-1), and his current opponent, Manel Kape. He’s highly well-rounded, has a great gas tank, and stays technical throughout the fight. He’s incredibly quick and has fantastic counter timing, often darting in and out of the pocket without absorbing damage. Nicolau constantly varies his shots and attacks from different angles, never telegraphing his next move. Training at Nova Uniao, he’s averaging over one takedown landed and nearly one submission attempted per fifteen minutes. He’s extremely active on the ground, never accepting a position and constantly pursuing a submission. Nicolau is highly skilled on top and off his back and can force wild transitions and scrambles.

Manel Kape lands an uppercut on Zhalgas Zhumagulov. Credit: MMA Fighting.

Kape has won three of his last five fights and holds UFC wins over #14 ranked Flyweight David Dvorak (20-6-0), Ode’ Osbourne (12-6-0), and Zhalgas Zhumagulov (15-9-0). He is a former Rizin Bantamweight champion and has been facing the best of the best for the last seven years of his career. 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 serious power for Flyweight and doesn’t telegraph anything, often timing his shots when his opponent enters his range. Training at AKA Thailand, 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.

#3 Magomed Ankalaev vs. #7 Johnny Walker

Magomed Ankalaev lands a right hand on Ion Cutelaba. Credit: Yahoo Sports.

Light Heavyweight Bout

Magomed Ankalaev: 18-1-1, 10 KO/TKO, 0 Sub.

Johnny Walker: 21-7-0, 16 KO/TKO, 3 Sub.

Ankalaev has won three of his last five fights with a draw and a No Contest and holds victories over #6 ranked Light Heavyweight Nikita Krylov (30-9-0), #9 ranked Light Heavyweight Volkan Oezdemir (19-7-0), and #10 ranked Light Heavyweight Anthony Smith (37-19-0). 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 will often keep it on the feet. Ankalaev is very patient and often throws plenty of single shots, 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 holds the center well and often waits for openings or chances to counter before letting his hands go. When Ankalaev takes the fight to the mat, he is tough to shake off and throws vicious ground and pound until he finds a finish.

Johnny Walker throws a head kick at Thiago Santos. Credit: Yahoo Sports.

Walker has won three of his last five fights with one No Contest and has wins over #8 ranked Light Heavyweight Khalil Rountree Jr. (14-5-0), #10 ranked Light Heavyweight Anthony Smith (37-19-0), and #11 ranked Light Heavyweight Ryan Spann (21-9-0). With 18 knockouts in the first round, he’s clearly at his most dangerous early on. Over time, he becomes more technical, preferring to stay at range, primarily using his kicks to land damage. Walker is constantly moving and using feints and is at his best when moving forward and leading the fight, often struggling when put on the back foot. Despite initially being known for his recklessness, he doesn’t seem to have any interest in getting into brawls and is much better off in a technical kickboxing match than a wild scrap. Training at SBG Ireland, he is enormous at 6’6”, even for a Light Heavyweight, and uses his size and reach to keep out of his opponent’s range and land strikes. Although Walker won’t typically take it to the mat, he has a 100% takedown success rate and a solid submission game.

Best Bets

Hawes vs. Ferreira to Not Go the Distance: While I’m not confident enough to pick a winner, both have massive power and tend to get reckless on the feet. I’d be shocked if the judges end up involved in this one.

Jim Miller by Finish: In case you didn’t know, Jim Miller is the man. There’s no objectivity in this pick, but he’s been hot lately and deserves a quick victory so he can fight at UFC 300. He is a considerably better grappler than Benitez, so it could be a short night at the office.

Magomed Ankalaev by KO/TKO: After a flukey end to their first matchup, I’m sure both guys are ready to throw down. I think Ankalaev is much more skilled and well-rounded, and it seemed the first fight was going his way before the bogus stoppage.

Forgotten UFC Champions

Hoyce Gracie wins the first-ever UFC tournament. Credit: The Independent.

In the history of the UFC, there have been 123 total undisputed champions across the men’s and women’s divisions, 2 Super Fight champions, and 21 tournament champions. In 2023 alone, we’ve seen titles exchange hands six times. With such a rich championship history, it’s understandable how a few champions may have been forgotten over time. Some champions’ names faded with time, while others tarnished their legacy to the extent of being forgotten. Today, we’ll review seven champions whom modern-day UFC fans have overlooked, whether or not they deserve to be.

Dave Menne

Dave Menne defeats Carlos Newton. Credit: John McCarthy.

The UFC’s first-ever Middleweight champion, Menne, is a 60+ fight veteran who fought worldwide in promotions such as the UFC, Bellator, Rings, Shooto, and Cage Rage. Menne’s career spanned from 1997 to 2012, but he was crowned UFC champion in 2001 when he defeated Gil Castillo by Unanimous Decision. Menne truly fought a who’s who of fighters in the 2000s, with victories over Chris Lytle, Carlos Newton, and everyone’s favorite Speedo-wearing fighter, Dennis Hallman. While not finding victory against these opponents, Menne also fought Murilo Bustamante twice, Josh Koscheck, Jake Shields, and Matt Hughes, among others.

Evan Tanner

Evan Tanner lands a knee on Kendall Grove. Credit: MMA Fighting.

Evan Tanner is arguably one of the most interesting characters in the sport’s history, being the third-ever UFC Middleweight champion and still the only Texas-born champion in the promotion’s history. With a wrestling background, Tanner taught himself Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu through instructional tapes, making his grappling and submission prowess extremely impressive. Tanner won the vacant UFC Middleweight title at UFC 51 via a first-round TKO victory over David Terrell, dropping the strap in his next fight to Middleweight great Rich Franklin. Tanner has victories over Ikuhisa Minowa, Shannon Ritch, Phil Baroni, and two over Robbie Lawler. He was also the first American to win Pancrase’s Neo-Blood tournament in 1998 in only his second year as a professional fighter, defeating future UFC fighter Justin McCully by technical submission. Tanner fought at Middleweight and Light Heavyweight, reaching #1 contender status in both divisions at separate points, along with his Middleweight title victory. Tanner was known for being a wanderer, often adventuring into the woods for days at a time. In 2008, Tanner embarked on a solo trip into the California desert and, unfortunately, would never return. His body was recovered by search and rescue teams after his friends reported him missing.

Renan Barao

Renan Barao lands a spinning kick on Eddie Wineland. Credit: MMA Mania.

Renan Barao is a bit of an outlier on this list, having competed in the UFC as recently as 2019, yet is still relatively unknown to casual fans. Barao is best known for his ridiculous 32-fight win streak, with 7 of those wins coming in the UFC. Many of the victories during his win streak came on the Brazilian regional scene, giving him a reputation as a can crusher. Upon entering the UFC, Barao would pick up wins over WEC veterans Brad Pickett and Scott Jorgensen, earning himself an interim title shot against Urijah Faber while undisputed champ Dominick Cruz was injured. Barao would become the UFC interim Bantamweight champion after comfortably beating Faber over five rounds and would defend his interim belt twice, being the only UFC fighter to do so. Eventually, he was promoted to undisputed champion following a TKO victory over Eddie Wineland and would defend the undisputed title once, rematching Urijah Faber. The part of Barao’s story that most people are familiar with is his wild, upset loss to TJ Dillashaw, with Barao being as high as a -800 favorite before the bout. This would launch Dillashaw’s career while simultaneously killing Barao’s; he’d bounce back with a Performance of the Night victory over Mitch Gagnon in his next fight, but it wouldn’t last. After this, Barao would win only 1 of his next eight fights, leading to his release from the UFC.

Maurice Smith

Maurice Smith lands a head kick on Mark Coleman. Credit: The US Sun.

The second-ever UFC Heavyweight Champion, Maurice Smith, is the only person on this list who has been inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame. Before his MMA career, Smith had an extensive kickboxing career with a record of 53-13-5. Smith is best known for his upset title victory over Heavyweight champion Mark Coleman, but he also has wins over Minoru Suzuki, Tank Abbott, Rick Roufus, and Marco Huas twice. Smith is one of the first fighters to cross-train disciplines, working with the legendary Frank Shamrock and Tsuyoshi Kohsaka to form their own fight team, The Alliance. With Smith, an experienced kickboxer, and Shamrock, a grappling specialist, their relationship was mutually beneficial, with both finding greater success after beginning to train together. Smith fought just about everywhere you could in the early days, with bouts in the UFC, Pride, Pancrase, K-1, Strikeforce, Rings, and more. Despite not having the best record at 14-14, Smith’s contributions to the sport are undeniable, and he was the first striker to truly find success in the UFC at a time when grapplers dominated.

Sean Sherk

Sean Sherk lifts up Evan Dunham for a takedown. Credit: Tracy Lee, Yahoo! Sports.

Sean Sherk is the second-ever UFC Lightweight champion, beating Kenny Florian to win the vacant title in his Lightweight debut. Sherk had spent the rest of his career at Welterweight, even challenging Matt Hughes for the title at UFC 42, a bout he went on to lose by unanimous decision. He contended for both the Lightweight and Welterweight titles in his career, making him one of the first UFC fighters to compete for two belts. Sherk would defend his Lightweight title once, defeating Hermes Franca, but would test positive for PEDs after the fight and was stripped of the title. Franca would also go on to test positive for PEDs, making this one of the most infamous title bouts in the promotion’s history. Sherk has wins over Nick Diaz, Manny Gamburyan, Evan Dunham, and Karo Parisyan twice, and also has my favorite nickname of all time, “The Muscle Shark,” made hilariously ironic by his drug test failure.

Murilo Bustamante

Murilo Bustamante with Dana White and Lorenzo Fertitta. Credit: Zuffa LLC.

The second-ever UFC Middleweight champion, Bustamante, defeated Dave Menne via TKO to win the belt. He would successfully defend the title once, submitting Matt Lindland, then vacating the title after signing with Pride. Bustamante would not experience the same success in Japan, losing his first three bouts in the promotion, given it was to top-tier competition in Quinton “Rampage” Jackson, Dan Henderson, and Kazuhiro Nakamura. Bustamante is also an accomplished grappler with numerous medal-winning performances in both the World Jiu-Jitsu Championships and the Brazilian National Championships. Although he only had four fights in the UFC, his impact is still felt, as he was one of the first genuinely well-rounded fighters with excellent boxing to back up his BJJ pedigree. He continues to contribute to the sport today, establishing the famed Brazilian Top Team gym in 2000 and continues to train fighters there today.

Nicco Montano

Nicco Montano celebrates after winning the Women’s Flyweight title. Credit: MMA Mania.

Montano, the first UFC women’s Flyweight champion, was awarded the belt after defeating Roxanne Modafferi to win season 26 of The Ultimate Fighter. Montano would never defend this belt, which has earned her a reputation as the worst UFC champion. After several surgeries, Montano was scheduled to defend her belt against future champion Valentina Shevchenko at UFC 228. There were rumors that Montano entered fight week 20 pounds overweight, and the fight was ultimately canceled when Montano was hospitalized due to complications relating to her weight cut. After ten months of waiting, the UFC finally stripped Montano of her title and scheduled Valentina Shevchenko to face Joanna Jędrzejczyk for the vacant belt. Montano would remain on the sidelines until 2019, when she fought Julianna Pena, losing via unanimous decision, and would then be released from the promotion. There’s not much to say about Montano; she went from being a fan-favorite TUF winner to being utterly hated in 10 months. Unfortunately, she will always be remembered as the worst UFC champion.

UFC 296 Preview

Leon Edwards knocks out Kamaru Usman with a head kick. Credit: MMA Fighting.

Unfortunately, the final UFC card of the year has arrived, but thankfully, it’s loaded from top to bottom with killers. Perpetual title contender Colby Covington challenges Leon Edwards for his Welterweight belt in the main event. In the co-main, Alexandre Pantoja pursues his first title defense in a rematch with Brandon Royval. Big names and up-and-comers litter this card, which should be fireworks from start to finish. Let’s take a look at the fights on the main card.

Tony Ferguson vs Paddy Pimblett

Tony Ferguson blasts Anthony Pettis with a left hook. Credit: Yahoo Sports.

Lightweight Bout

Tony Ferguson: 26-9-0, 13 KO/TKO, 8 Sub.

Paddy Pimblett: 20-3-0, 6 KO/TKO, 9 Sub.

Ferguson has not won any of his last five fights and has wins over former UFC Lightweight champion Anthony Pettis (25-14-0), #11 ranked Lightweight Rafael Dos Anjos (32-15-0), and #11 ranked Featherweight Edson Barboza (24-11-0). He is one of the sport's most beloved and respected fighters, going on a 12-fight win streak between 2013 and 2019. “El Cucuy” is well known for his unique style, moving awkwardly on the feet and doing odd things like throwing imaginary sand at his opponent. Ferguson has an excellent jab and solid boxing and is always willing to engage on the feet, fighting with a “kill or be killed” mentality. He has fantastic grappling, possesses solid wrestling, and has one of the best submission games in the sport. With all 8 of his career submission wins coming via some form of choke, he’s especially dangerous with unorthodox submissions, particularly the d’arce choke. Ferguson is highly experienced and comfortable where the fight ends up.

Paddy Pimblett throws a jab at Jared Gordon. Credit: MMA Fighting.

Pimblett has won all of his last five fights, with his UFC victories coming over Jared Gordon (20-6-0), Kazula Vargas (12-5-0), and Jordan Leavitt (11-3-0). He is a very aggressive striker, always throwing everything with power and using a variety of wild kicks. He throws in combination and is willing to brawl in the pocket, often blitzing forward and swinging wild hooks. Training at Next Generation UK, Pimblett is an excellent grappler, and in his promotional tenure, he’s averaging about one takedown landed and over two submissions attempted per 15 minutes. He has excellent takedowns and advances position quickly on the ground, always looking to find a finish. He’s very creative on the ground and is one of the most dangerous men in the sport to have on your back, as he will often quickly wrap up chokes. Six of Pimblett’s nine career submissions are rear naked chokes, and he also has two flying triangle wins, so if he can get a hold of his opponent’s neck, the fight is practically over. 

#5 Shavkat Rakhmonov vs. #6 Stephen Thompson

Shavkat Rakhmonov chokes out Geoff Neal. Credit: MMA Fighting.

Welterweight Bout

Shavkat Rakhmonov: 17-0-0, 8 KO/TKO, 9 Sub.

Stephen Thompson: 17-6-1, 8 KO/TKO, 1 Sub.

Rakhmonov is undefeated and holds UFC wins over #8 ranked Welterweight Geoff Neal (14-5-0),  #13 ranked Welterweight Neil Magny (28-12-0), and Alex Oliveira (25-15-1). He is in perpetual motion, constantly pressuring forward, but stays patient and never telegraphs his shots. He’s landed about double the strikes he’s absorbed in his five fights with the promotion, on average only eating about 21 significant strikes per fight. Rakhmonov holds the rank of Master of Sport in Combat Sambo and has won every fight of his career via finish, with only a single bout going to a third round. He is an excellent grappler with great takedowns, clinch striking, and a slick submission game. All eight submission wins have come via some choke, so they're in serious trouble if he gets a hold of 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.

Stephen Thompson lands a head kick on Kevin Holland. Credit: MMA Weekly.

Thompson has won three of his last five bouts and has UFC victories over #8 ranked Welterweight Geoff Neal (14-5-0), #9 ranked Welterweight Vicente Luque (22-9-10), and #12 ranked Welterweight Kevin Holland (25-10-0). He’s a karate-style fighter who provides his opponents with a steady dose of lead leg attacks and straight punches. He has excellent footwork and distance management, constantly moving and changing stances while keeping his head off the centerline. Training with Team Upstate Karate, Thompson is highly accurate and never telegraphs strikes, throwing swift kicks and frequently attacks from different angles. Although he has an excellent arsenal of kicks, he possesses equal power and speed in his hands, often blitzing forward to unload combinations. Although he’s most comfortable in a technical kickboxing bout, he’s willing to get dirty and engage in the pocket. Thompson has an excellent chin and great cardio, making him a formidable opponent from bell to bell.

(C) Alexandre Pantoja vs. #3 Brandon Royval

Alexandre Pantoja lands an uppercut on Brandon Moreno. Credit: MMA Fighting.

Flyweight Title Bout

Alexandre Pantoja: 26-5-0, 8 KO/TKO, 10 Sub.

Brandon Royval: 15-6-0, 4 KO/TKO, 9 Sub.

Pantoja has won four of his last five outings and has UFC victories over #1 ranked Flyweight Brandon Moreno (21-7-2), #6 ranked Flyweight Manel Kape (19-6-0), and his current opponent, Brandon Royval (15-6-0). He is a highly well-rounded fighter who tends to be a fast starter 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 exceptionally 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 extremely calm in deep waters and can find a finish anywhere. 

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

Royval has won three of his last five fights and has UFC victories over #4 ranked Flyweight Kai Kara-France, #5 ranked Flyweight Matheus Nicolau (19-4-1), and #9 ranked Flyweight Matt Schnell (16-7-0). He’s a well-rounded scrapper who pushes a crazy pace from bell to bell. Training at FactoryX Muay Thai, “Raw Dawg” has been awarded four bonuses in just seven bouts in the promotion, proving he leaves it all in the cage every time. 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 is always coming forward. He’s more than willing to brawl and has shown an excellent ability to recover from being hurt. Royval’s wild striking game often sets up his grappling, allowing him to land on top or find a submission. 

(C) Leon Edwards vs. #3 Colby Covington

Leon Edwards lands a left hook on Rafael Dos Anjos. Credit: Yahoo Sports.

Welterweight Title Bout

Leon Edwards: 21-3-0, 7 KO/TKO, 3 Sub.

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

Edwards has been undefeated since 2015 with one no-contest and has UFC wins over #1 ranked Welterweight Kamaru Usman (20-4-0), #9 ranked Welterweight Vicente Luque (22-9-1), and #11 ranked Lightweight Rafael Dos Anjos (32-15-0). He is a very polished striker, holding the sixth fastest finish in UFC history with his 8-second KO in his second UFC fight, and is dangerous across all 25 minutes. He has excellent volume striking, outlanding eight of his last ten opponents, averaging about 75 significant strikes landed per fifteen minutes. Edwards has excellent takedown defense and is most comfortable on his feet, but he has rounded out his skillset and is willing to grapple. Averaging over one takedown landed per fifteen minutes, he has heavy ground and pound and holds a black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. Training with Team Renegade, he throws every shot with purpose and won’t overextend, remaining technical throughout the fight. Edwards has gone five rounds in four of his last five bouts and is more than prepared to go to war again.

Colby Covington cracks Jorge Masvidal with a straight right. Credit: The Washington Post.

Covington has won two of his last five bouts and has UFC victories over #11 ranked Lightweight Rafael Dos Anjos (32-15-0) and former UFC Welterweight champions Robbie Lawler (30-16-0) and Tyron Woodley (19-7-1). 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 about 120 significant strikes on average in his last five fights. Training at MMA Masters, he’s a tenacious who’s wrestler willing to work for takedowns and is very hard to escape 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 always makes great use of his cardio, reaching the final round in his last 11 fights. 

Best Bets

Ferguson vs. Pimblett to Not Go the Distance: While I and every other MMA fan hate this fight, it’s happening anyway. I cannot bring myself to pick Paddy over Tony, so I’ll take it not to see the judges instead.

Pantoja Moneyline: It took a lot of deliberation to reach this pick: admittedly, I’m a big Royval fan. Upon rewatching their first fight, I believe this will be much closer than many expect. Ultimately, I think Pantoja will be too strong and skilled for Royval and will successfully defend his title.

Edwards Moneyline: Easily the toughest pick to make on this entire card; there are a lot of moving parts here. Colby has no wins over ranked Welterweights and hasn’t fought in a year, while it’s public knowledge Leon wanted nothing to do with this matchup. Ultimately, I think Leon proved in his fights with Usman he’s capable of competing with high-level wrestlers, and if it stays standing, Colby has a lot of holes in his striking game. This fight will likely be very close, but I believe Edwards has the skill to walk away with the victory and the belt in tow.

UFC Fight Night: Dariush vs. Tsarukyan Preview

Beneil Dariush lands ground and pound on Charles Oliveira. Credit: MMA Mania.

This Saturday, one of the most stacked Fight Night cards this year hits the cage. In the main event, two Lightweights face off with title implications when Beneil Dariush and Arman Tsarukyan collide. In the co-main, two more Lightweights looking to get their names in the title conversation face off in Bobby Green and Jalin Turner. Preceding them are former title holders, contenders, and various savages, all looking for a dominant victory. Let’s take a look at the fights on the main card.

Punahele Soriano vs. Dustin Stoltzfus

Punahele Soriano cracks Dusko Todorovic with a left hand. Credit: MMA Fighting.

Middleweight Bout

Punahele Soriano: 9-3-0, 6 KO/TKO, 2 Sub.

Dustin Stoltzfus: 14-5-0, 2 KO/TKO, 5 Sub.

Soriano has won two of his last five fights and has UFC victories over Dusko Todorovic (12-4-0), Oskar Piechota (11-3-1), and Dalcha Lungiambula (11-6-0). He has devastating power in his hands, with all his wins but two coming in the first round. On the feet, he’s at his most dangerous in the pocket, throwing massive hooks and always letting his hands go. Soriano occasionally mixes in kicks when he leaves the pocket, mainly to the head or body. He constantly moves forward and pressures his opponent, keeping them moving backward while he throws bombs. Training at the excellent 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 and still possesses that power at 185 pounds.

Dustin Stoltzfus lands a takedown on Dwight Grant. Credit: Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC.

Stoltzfus has won one of his last five bouts and has a UFC victory over Dwight Grant (11-6-0). He’s a solid wrestler with good power that’s always willing to engage in the pocket. On the feet, he won’t rush, favoring power to volume and tending to throw kicks at range. Stoltzfus has decent distance management and is always coming forward, often using his striking to close the distance and pursue takedowns. He’s averaging nearly two takedowns landed per fifteen minutes and is capable of brutal slams. Training at Frankers Fight Team, he advances quickly on top and has solid top pressure, not 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.

Clay Guida vs. Joaquim Silva

Clay Guida throws a knee at Michael Johnson. Credit: MMA Fighting.

Lightweight Bout

Clay Guida: 38-20-0, 6 KO/TKO, 15 Sub.

Joaquim Silva: 12-5-0, 7 KO/TKO, 3 Sub.

Guida has won two of his last five bouts and has wins over #10 ranked Lightweight Rafael Dos Anjos (32-15-0), former UFC Lightweight champion Anthony Pettis (25-14-0), and Nate Diaz (22-13-0). He is one of the sport's most respected and beloved fighters, holding the fourth most bouts in UFC history at 35 and the fifth most fight time at 6:44:36. He’s always moving awkwardly, never telegraphing his shots, and always throwing in combination. Training at Team Alpha Male, Guida tends to blitz forward and unleash combinations, often dipping his head and throwing looping hooks and overhands. He’s willing to eat a shot to land one and can push a heavy pace across all fifteen minutes, still possessing excellent cardio and a granite chin. He’s an outstanding wrestler, averaging over 3 takedowns landed per fifteen minutes, and is relentless, always willing to work to get the fight to the mat. Guida has the third most takedowns landed in UFC history and constantly looks to elevate his opponent for a damaging slam.

Joaquim Silva lands a flying knee on Jesse Ronson. Credit: MMA Fighting.

Silva has won two of his last five fights and has UFC victories over Jared Gordon (20-6-0), Jesse Ronson (22-12-0), and Reza Madadi (14-6-0). He uses a traditional Muay Thai Style, constantly moving and feinting and always keeping his hands high. He throws every punch with power but won’t telegraph his shots, always favoring power to volume. Silva has heavy kicks along with his hands, often mixing them in at the end of combos or throwing them at range. Training at Evolucao Thai, he does an excellent job changing up his shots, attacking the head and body evenly. A contestant on TUF 4 Brazil, he has solid head movement and distance management, not typically remaining in one spot for long. Silva has a black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, but with just one takedown landed in his eight-year tenure, he’s unlikely to take the fight to the mat. 

#9 Sean Brady vs. #11 (MW) Kelvin Gastelum

Sean Brady lands a takedown on Michael Chiesa. Credit: MMA Mania.

Welterweight Bout

Sean Brady: 15-1-0, 3 KO/TKO, 4 Sub.

Kelvin Gastelum: 18-8-0, 6 KO/TKO, 5 Sub.

Brady has won four of his last five outings, with his best wins coming over #14 ranked Welterweight Michael Chiesa (18-7-0), Jake Matthews (19-7-0), and Court McGee (22-12-0). He is an excellent grappler averaging nearly 3 takedowns landed per fight in his UFC career, 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. All of Brady’s submission wins have come via some kind of choke, so the fight is basically over if he can get a hold of his opponent’s neck. On the feet, he utilizes a boxing style, not moving his feet much but throwing constant feints with his hands. While he definitely prefers to take the fight to the mat, he won’t get desperate for takedowns and is willing to engage on the feet. The majority of Brady’s finishes have come after round one, showing he heats up as the fight goes on.

Kelvin Gastelum launches a left hand at Chris Curtis. Credit: Yahoo Sports.

Gastelum has won two of his last five fights and has victories over former UFC Middleweight champion Michael Bisping (30-9-0), Chris Curtis (30-10-0), and Jacare Souza (26-10-0). He’s a well-rounded fighter that’s highly durable and comfortable wherever the fight goes. He’s constantly moving and feinting on the feet, never staying in one sport or keeping his head on the centerline for long. Gastelum is willing to eat a shot to land one and has solid power, throwing every shot in combination and with purpose. Training at Fight Ready, he’s averaging one takedown landed per fifteen minutes and has a black belt in BJJ. He has heavy ground and pound and dangerous chokes, with three of his four submissions coming via rear naked choke. Gastelum has earned eight bonuses in his ten-year promotional tenure and is never in a boring fight, win or lose.

#8 Rob Font vs. #2 (FLW) Deiveson Figueiredo

Rob Font rains down ground and pound on Marlon Moraes. Credit: Essentially Sports.

Bantamweight Bout

Rob Font: 20-7-0, 9 KO/TKO, 4 Sub.

Deiveson Figueiredo: 21-3-1, 9 KO/TKO, 8 Sub.

Font has won two of his last five fights with wins over #13 ranked Bantamweight Ricky Simon (20-4-0), Adrian Yanez (16-4-0), and former Bellator Bantamweight champion Sergio Pettis (23-6-0). He is a hands-first fighter, preferring to do damage with his crisp boxing skills. Training at 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 128 significant strikes landed in his last five bouts. He also has excellent hand speed and solid power, tending to heat up and increase his pace as the fight continues. He can grapple and averages about one takedown landed per fifteen minutes, but he 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; he constantly moves and looks for different angles to attack.

Deiveson Figueiredo lands an uppercut on Brandon Moreno. Credit: MMA News.

Deiveson Figueiredo has won two of his last five with one draw, with wins over #1 ranked Flyweight Brandon Moreno (21-7-2), #7 ranked Flyweight Alex Perez (24-6-0), and Joseph Benavidez twice (28-8-0). He possesses unusual power for his size, throwing devastating hooks and kicks, often to the body. 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 grappling scenarios, has a solid guard on the bottom, and can do significant damage from the top when not pursuing the submission. Figueiredo has a black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and seems to find submissions out of nowhere. He quickly closes the distance on the feet and can land severe damage without much space, usually with his hands. Before his trilogy with Moreno, Figueiredo finished seven of his ten UFC bouts and always looks to close the show early.

#12 Jalin Turner vs. #13 Bobby Green

Jalin Turner lands a head kick on Dan Hooker. Credit: MMA Mania.

Lightweight Bout

Jalin Turner: 13-7-0, 9 KO/TKO, 4 Sub.

Bobby Green: 31-14-1, 11 KO/TKO, 9 Sub.

Turner has won three of his last five outings, with his best wins coming over Brad Riddell (10-4-0), Jamie Mullarkey (17-6-0), and Josh Culibao (11-2-1). 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. 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 two wins by submission in his last five fights. He’s as active on the ground as on the feet and constantly tries to improve position or find a finish. Turner is a huge lightweight, standing at 6’3, and uses his length by fighting at range and damaging his opponent without getting hit. He has excellent speed and power in both hands and has shown solid cardio, making him dangerous at any time.

Bobby Green lands a right hand on Drew Dober. Credit: MMA Mania.

Green has won two of his last five outings with one draw and has wins over Tony Ferguson (26-9-0), Lando Vannata (12-7-2), and Grant Dawson (20-2-1). Training at Pinnacle MMA, he is an excellent boxer, picking his opponents apart with quick combinations and damaging straights. He is rarely in a boring fight, always willing to go to the center of the octagon and exchange blows. Green has won 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 has landed 52% of his significant strikes and has defended 62% of strikes thrown at him, making him a relatively efficient striker. 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.

#4 Beneil Dariush vs. #8 Arman Tsarukyan

Beneil Dariush throws a jab at Mateusz Gamrot. Credit: DraftKings Network.

Lightweight Bout

Beneil Dariush: 22-5-1, 5 KO/TKO, 8 Sub.

Arman Tsarukyan: 20-3-0, 8 KO/TKO, 5 Sub.

Dariush has won four of his last five bouts and holds victories over #6 ranked Lightweight Mateusz Gamrot (23-2-0), Tony Ferguson (26-9-0), and Diego Ferreira (18-5-0). He is one of the most well-rounded fighters in the UFC, holding black belts in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and Muay Thai. He is more than willing to brawl on the feet, regularly getting into slugfests and hanging in the pocket to land big shots. Training at Kings MMA, Dariush will throw kicks when at range and also has some solid knees in the clinch. Averaging about two takedowns landed and one submission attempted per fifteen minutes, his easiest route to victory is likely grappling, possessing excellent top control and wrestling. He will shoot for takedowns in the open but stays patient on top, never putting himself in compromising positions. Dariush also has excellent takedown defense, defending 80% of takedowns attempted on him during his nine-year UFC tenure.

Arman Tsarukyan throws ground and pound at Joaquim Silva. Credit: MMA Fighting.

Tsarukyan has won four of his last five outings and has UFC victories over PFL Lightweight champion Olivier Aubin-Mercier (21-5-0), Matt Frevola (11-4-1) and Damir Ismagulov (24-3-0). He has crisp kickboxing on the feet, throwing plenty of combos, ending with head kicks, and doing a great job moving in to land shots and back out to range. He will mix in some flashy spinning kicks and spinning backfists, staying calm and picking his opponent apart with quick shots and plenty of leg kicks. Training at Khabarovsk MMA and American Top Team, Tsarukyan has a solid wrestling background and is willing to initiate grappling exchanges to land ground and pound and pursue submissions. All 5 of the submissions on his record were via choke, so he is very dangerous if he can get a hold of someone’s neck. He’s highly durable and hasn’t been finished in the UFC despite facing top-level competition exclusively. Tsarukyan, on average, lands twice as many significant strikes per minute than he absorbs and is dangerous at all times.

Best Bets

Soriano to win by KO/TKO: While neither of these guys has the shiniest record, it’s pretty evident Soriano has not only a power advantage but also a better chin. Stoltzfus is coming off a 19-second KO loss, and facing a big-time power puncher, so the odds are not in his favor.

Figueiredo Moneyline: After repeatedly struggling to make 125 pounds, Figueiredo is finally moving up to Bantamweight. Although he’s moving up in weight, I think he’ll still be extremely powerful and explosive. Font is unbelievably durable, so I won’t count on a finish, but I think this could be a triumphant Bantamweight debut for the former Flyweight champion.

Dariush Moneyline: This fight is far closer than the odds might suggest. Despite Dariush being a sizable underdog (+245), I think he matches up extremely well with Tsarukyan. He definitely matches Tsarukyan’s skill on the ground, and I think he has an advantage on the feet. Dariush has the reach advantage and a far more advanced kicking game than his opponent, so if he can stay at distance, I think he can pick him apart.

Bonus Bet: Green by KO/TKO: After yet another struggle at the scales, Jalin Turner just barely made weight, coming in at 156 pounds on his second attempt. Bobby Green is coming off one of the best wins of his career and is looking in peak condition. If Turner’s weight cut was as bad as it appeared, who knows what kind of shape he’ll be in come Saturday. I’m confident that Green will find a finish in this one.

UFC Fight Night: Allen vs. Craig Preview

Paul Craig breaks the arm of Jamahal Hill. Credit: MMA Fighting.

This weekend, two of the highest-level grapplers in the Middleweight division face off when Brendan Allen and Paul Craig collide in the octagon. In the co-main event, a streaking contender in Michael Morales takes on an experienced veteran in Jake Matthews. Preceding this is a bevy of finishers and up-and-coming fighters looking to establish themselves in the premiere MMA organization. Let’s take a look at the fights on the main card.

Luana Pinheiro vs. Amanda Ribas

Luana Pinheiro throws a right hand at Stephanie Frausto. Credit: MMA Fighting.

Women’s Strawweight Bout

Luana Pinheiro: 11-1-0, 2 KO/TKO, 5 Sub.

Amanda Ribas: 11-4-0, 2 KO/TKO, 4 Sub.

Pinheiro is undefeated since 2017 and has UFC victories over Michelle Waterson-Gomez (18-12-0), Sam Hughes (8-5-0), and Randa Markos (11-12-1). She’s aggressive on the feet, looking to blitz into the pocket and land hooks. She throws every shot with power and rarely throws kicks, doing most of her damage on the inside with her hands. Pinheiro has a black belt in Judo and possesses excellent clinch takedowns and throws. Training at Nova Uniao, she’ll often control her opponent in the clinch before taking them down to land significant ground and pound or a submission. She’s averaging nearly three takedowns landed per fifteen minutes and has excellent top pressure. Pinheiro’s seven career finishes came in the first round, making her most dangerous early on. 

Amanda Ribas lands ground and pound on Viviane Araujo.

Ribas has found victory in two of her last five outings and holds wins over #8 ranked Flyweight Viviane Araujo (12-5-0), #8 ranked Strawweight Mackenzie Dern (13-4-0), and Virna Jandiroba (19-3-0). Ribas 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. Training with the Ribas Family, everything she throws is straight and tight, never overextending or throwing looping shots. She has excellent footwork and throws a solid variety of strikes to the head and body. Ribas has black belts in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and Judo and averages about two takedowns landed per UFC fight. She’s an excellent defensive grappler, defending 88% of takedowns attempted on her.

Payton Talbott vs. Nick Aguirre

Payton Talbott lands a right hand on Reyes Cortez Jr. Credit: MMA Mania.

Bantamweight Bout

Payton Talbott: 6-0-0, 5 KO/TKO, 0 Sub.

Nick Aguirre: 7-1-0, 3 KO/TKO, 4 Sub.

Talbott is undefeated and making his UFC debut following a Contender Series victory over Reyes Cortez Jr. (7-3-0). He is an excellent technical striker who’s constantly coming forward and throwing in combination. At 5’10, he’s lengthy for the division and uses it well, throwing long, straight shots to damage his opponent. Talbott does an excellent job mixing kicks into his combinations and varies his shots well, attacking the head and body evenly. He fights behind his jab and has excellent distance management, using great footwork and head movement to remain unscathed. Training at Reno Academy of Combat, he remains technical throughout the fight and gets increasingly dangerous, with all his finishes coming in the second or third round. Talbott has an excellent chin, tending to eat shots and continue marching forward unphased.

Nick Aguirre throws a right hook at Dan Argueta. Credit: MMA Junkie.

Aguirre has won four of his last five fights and has no UFC victories, coming in off a debut loss to Dan Argueta (9-2-0). A former collegiate wrestler, he’s a solid grappler with great takedowns and a slick submission game. Training at Valle Flow Striking, he’s a large bantamweight at 5’9 but tends to use his length on the ground to find submissions instead of on the feet. Aguirre will shoot in early and looks to finish the fight at all times, constantly throwing ground and pound on top until a submission presents itself. He favors volume to power when striking, regularly throwing looping shots in combination. He has quick kicks, won’t telegraph shots, and will use his striking to close the distance and set up his takedowns. All Aguirre’s submission victories are via choke, so he’s highly dangerous if he can find his opponent’s neck.

Chase Hooper vs. Jordan Leavitt

Chase Hooper throws ground and pound strikes at Felipe Colares. Credit: MMA Fighting.

Lightweight Bout

Chase Hooper: 12-3-1, 4 KO/TKO, 5 Sub.

Jordan Leavitt: 11-2-0, 2 KO/TKO, 6 Sub.

Hooper has won three of his last five fights, with his UFC victories coming over Felipe Colares (10-4-0), Peter Barrett (11-6-0), and Nick Fiore (6-2-0). He is an excellent grappler, holding a black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and a dangerous submission game. He’s averaging over one takedown landed per fifteen minutes, usually using trips and clinch takedowns to get his opponent to the mat. Hooper has excellent top control when on the ground and uses his length well, making him dangerous in nearly any position. Training at Combat Sport and Fitness, he is one of the tallest fighters in the division at 6’1 and has shown steady improvement in his striking, landing nearly 150 significant strikes in his last outing. He’ll often throw kicks at range before blitzing in to unload combinations. Hooper has proved impressively durable and is never truly out of a fight. 

Jordan Leavitt slams Matt Wiman. Credit: MMA Fighting.

Jordan Leavitt has won three of his last five bouts and has UFC victories over Trey Ogden (16-6-0), Victor Martinez (13-5-0), and Matt Wiman (16-10-0). He’s an excellent grappler with heavy top pressure and seamless transitions. He’s hard to escape when on top, typically advancing position quickly and constantly pursuing a submission. Training at Syndicate MMA, Leavitt has excellent clinch control and takedowns, often closing the distance with his striking. On the feet, he’s patient and won’t move a ton, usually throwing kicks at range before moving in with punches. Five of his six submissions have come via choke, and he’ll often jump submissions out of seemingly nowhere. Leavitt is very crafty on the mat, rarely putting himself in bad spots and usually finding a way to reach top position even if he didn’t initiate the exchange.

Michael Morales vs. Jake Matthews

Michael Morales lands a right hand on Adam Fugitt. Credit: Entram Gym.

Welterweight Bout

Michael Morales: 15-0-0, 11 KO/TKO, 1 Sub.

Jake Matthews: 19-6-0, 5 KO/TKO, 8 Sub.

Morales comes into this fight undefeated, with UFC victories over Adam Fugitt (9-4-0), Max Griffin (19-10-0), and Trevin Giles (16-5-0). He’s a technical kickboxer who remains patient and waits for openings to damage his opponent. He throws everything in combination and does a great job setting things up with his jab. Morales often blitzes forward to throw long, devastating hooks and straights, then quickly returns to range. Training at Entram Gym, he’s a solid grappler and very strong in the clinch. He’s also shown great calmness when put in tough spots and great defense off his back. When on top, Morales will typically resort to ground-and-pound in his pursuit of a finish.

Jake Matthews cracks Andre Fialho with a right hand. Credit: MMA Fighting.

Matthews has won three of his last five outings, with his best wins coming over Andre Fialho (16-8-0), Li Jingliang (19-8-0), and Darrius Flowers (12-6-1). Now in his 9th year in the promotion, he had established himself as a grappler, averaging nearly two takedowns landed per fifteen minutes and holding a black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. 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, usually remaining patient. When Matthews does take it to the mat, he has great takedowns, excellent top control, and throws heavy ground and pound.

#10 Brendan Allen vs. #13 Paul Craig

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

Middleweight Bout

Brendan Allen: 22-5-0, 5 KO/TKO, 13 Sub.

Paul Craig: 17-6-1, 4 KO/TKO, 11 Sub.

Allen has won all of his last five outings, with wins over Andre Muniz (23-6-0), Krzysztof Jotko (24-7-0), and Jacob Malkoun (7-3-0). He’s an excellent grappler who can end a fight quickly. When on top, he’ll throw heavy ground and pound to open submission opportunities, typically a choke. Training at Kill Cliff FC, Allen is dangerous whether he’s on top or on his back and is always looking to finish the fight. He has solid striking to back up his grappling and has decent hands and kicks, using more of a boxing style when he is on the feet. He doesn’t see the judges too often but can go three rounds and is willing to leave everything he has inside of the octagon. With four wins via rear naked choke in his last five fights, Allen is lethal if he can get to his opponent’s neck. 

Paul Craig submits Gadzhimurad Antigulov with a triangle choke. Credit: MMA Fighting.

Craig has won three of his last five bouts and has UFC victories over #1 ranked Light Heavyweight Jamahal Hill (12-1-0), #3 ranked Light Heavyweight Magomed Ankalaev (18-1-1), 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.

Best Bets

Payton Talbott by KO/TKO: Although a completely unproven prospect, Talbott looked great on the Contender Series and is facing another inexperienced fighter with no UFC wins. Aguirre has mediocre striking, so if Talbott keeps it on the feet, I expect him to pick up another knockout victory.

Chase Hooper Moneyline: This is a bit of a hilarious matchup, given both fighters’ personalities outside the cage, but I think it will make for an entertaining grappling match. Considering neither is much of a striker, I expect most of this to play out on the ground, where I believe Hooper has the advantage.

Paul Craig by Finish: Craig looked fantastic in his Middleweight debut against Andre Muniz, proving moving down a weight class was the right move for him. I believe he’s a higher-level grappler than Allen and more experienced, and in a fight I expect to play out on the mat, that’s a considerable differencemaker. Regardless of who’s landing takedowns, I expect Craig to find a finish, whether on top or bottom.

UFC 295 Preview

Jiri Prochazka cracks Dominick Reyes with a right hand. Credit: MMA Fighting.

This Saturday, one of the most highly anticipated matchups of the year finally hits the cage when Jiri Prochazka takes on Alex Pereira for the Light Heavyweight title. Two of the most exciting and beloved characters in MMA, it’s a fascinating clash of styles that should be incredible. In the co-main event, two quick-finishers, Sergei Pavlovich and Tom Aspinall, face off for Heavyweight Interim gold. The entire main card is packed with rising stars, important matchups, and trained killers looking to make a name for themselves on the big stage. Let’s take a look at the fights on the main card.

Diego Lopes vs. Pat Sabatini

Diego Lopes attempts a kneebar on Movsar Evloev. Credit: MMA Fighting.

Featherweight Bout

Diego Lopes: 22-6-0, 8 KO/TKO, 12 Sub.

Pat Sabatini: 18-4-0, 2 KO/TKO, 11 Sub.

Lopes has won three of his last five fights, with his lone UFC victory coming over Gavin Tucker (13-3-0). A well-rounded scrapper, 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. 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 often use to set up a submission.

Pat Sabatini lands ground and pound on TJ Laramie. Credit: MMA Fighting.

Sabatini has won four of his last five outings and has wins over TJ Laramie (13-5-0), Tucker Lutz (12-4-0), and Jammal Emmers (19-7-0). He is an excellent grappler with fantastic wrestling and a dangerous submission game. On average, he’s landing nearly four takedowns per fifteen minutes and tends to find takedowns in the clinch, but he can land them in open space. Sabatini has great top pressure when on top and is always working for a finish, often throwing ground and pound to open his opponent up for a submission. Training at Renzo Gracie Philly, he pushes a breakneck pace throughout the fight and is constantly pressuring his opponent on the mat and the feet. When striking, he’s always moving and throws everything in combination. Sabatini has six wins via rear naked choke and is very dangerous if he takes his opponent’s back.

#14 Matt Frevola vs. Benoit Saint Denis

Matt Frevola celebrates after finishing Drew Dober. Credit: MMA Mania.

Lightweight Bout

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

Benoit Saint Denis: 12-1-0, 3 KO/TKO, 9 Sub.

Frevola has won three of his last five bouts and has wins over #11 ranked Lightweight Jalin Turner (13-7-0),  #15 ranked Lightweight Drew Dober (27-12-0), 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, with him currently riding a three-fight KO streak, and he’s extremely dangerous early on.

Benoit Saint Denis is pulled off Gabriel Miranda after knocking him out. Credit: MMA Fighting.

Saint-Denis has won four of his last five outings with victories over Ismael Bonfim (19-4-0), Thiago Moises (17-7-0), and Niklas Stolze (12-6-0). On the feet, he is 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. He 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 Woirin Team Elite, Saint-Denis 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 is always dangerous. A decorated veteran and former Special Forces paratrooper, he’s incredibly tough and has possibly the best chin in the Lightweight division.

#5 Jessica Andrade vs. #7 Mackenzie Dern

Jessica Andrade lands an uppercut on Lauren Murphy. Credit: MMA Fighting.

Women’s Strawweight Bout

Jessica Andrade: 24-12-0, 9 KO/TKO, 8 Sub.

Mackenzie Dern: 13-3-0, 0 KO/TKO, 7 Sub.

Andrade has won two of her last five fights and holds wins over former UFC Strawweight champion Rose Namajunas (12-6-0), #4 ranked Strawweight Amanda Lemos (13-3-1) and #2 ranked Bantamweight Raquel Pennington (15-9-0). 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 and averaging nearly three takedowns landed per fifteen minutes. In top position, she does a great job of controlling her opponent and has devastating ground and pound. 

Mackenzie Dern throws a right hand at Virna Jandiroba. Credit: MMA Mania.

Dern has won three of her last five bouts and has UFC victories over #11 ranked Strawweight Angela Hill (16-13-0), Tecia Torres (13-6-0), and Nina Nunes (11-7-0). 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.

#2 Sergei Pavlovich vs. #4 Tom Aspinall

Sergei Pavlovich lands ground and pound on Curtis Blaydes. Credit: MMA Fighting.

Interim Heavyweight Title Bout

Sergei Pavlovich: 18-1-0, 15 KO/TKO, 0 Sub.

Tom Aspinall: 13-3-0, 9 KO/TKO, 4 Sub.

Pavlovich has won all of his last five fights and has UFC victories over #5 ranked Heavyweight Curtis Blaydes (17-4-0), #9 ranked Heavyweight Tai Tuivasa (15-6-0), and #11 ranked Heavyweight Derrick Lewis (27-12-0). 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 has power in both hands. He’s on the longest first-round KO streak in UFC history with six and has fifteen first-round knockouts in his professional career. Pavlovich hasn’t left the first round in eight fights and has the second-highest significant strikes landed per minute in UFC history at 8.72.

Tom Aspinall throws a right hand at Marcin Tybura. Credit: MMA Mania.

Aspinall has won four of his last five outings with victories over #6 ranked Heavyweight Alexander Volkov (37-10-0), #8 ranked Heavyweight Serghei Spivac (16-4-0), and #10 ranked Heavyweight Marcin Tybura (24-8-0). He’s a well-rounded fighter who’s comfortable anywhere and constantly pursues a finish. He’s a fast starter but won’t get wild, never overextending on his shots and always keeping his head off the centerline. Aspinall has excellent footwork and distance management, absorbing just seven significant strikes per fight on average in his UFC tenure. He has 100% takedown defense and accuracy, can land shots in open space, and advances position very quickly on the ground. Training at Team Kaobon, he’s never been to the third round in his career, with his last four fights not leaving the first round. Aspinall has racked up five Performance of the Night bonuses in just seven UFC fights and has 12 finishes in the first round in his career.

#1 Jiri Prochazka vs. #3 Alex Pereira

Jiri Prochazka lands an overhand on Volkan Oezdemir. Credit: Essentially Sports.

Light Heavyweight Title Bout

Jiri Prochazka: 29-3-1, 25 KO/TKO, 3 Sub.

Alex Pereira: 8-2-0, 6 KO/TKO, 0 Sub.

Prochazka is undefeated since 2015 and has UFC wins over former UFC Light Heavyweight champion Glover Teixeira (33-9-0), #9 ranked Light Heavyweight Volkan Oezdemir (19-7-0), and #13 ranked Light Heavyweight Dominick Reyes (12-4-0). He’s an elusive striker with a unique style and serious power. He has excellent head movement and footwork, never remaining in one spot for long and constantly attacking from different angles. Prochazka 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. Prochazka hasn’t been to a decision since 2016 and is on an 11-fight finish streak, with ten knockouts and one submission.

Alex Pereira drops Sean Strickland with a combination. Credit: MMA Fighting.

Pereira has won four of his last five fights and has UFC victories over UFC Middleweight Champion Sean Strickland (28-5-0), #1 ranked Middleweight Israel Adesanya (24-3-0), and #4 ranked Light Heavyweight Jan Blachowicz (29-10-1). He is a former Glory Kickboxing Middleweight and Light Heavyweight champion with a pro 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 heavy 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 and sometimes stands straight in front of his opponent, waiting for them to throw something so he can fire back.

Best Bets

Frevola vs. Saint Denis to Not Go the Distance: Every fight on this main card is tough to predict, including this one. Both are finishers on solid win streaks, having grappling backgrounds but like to strike; it’s an excellent matchup. While I can’t decide who wins this, I am sure the judges will not be involved.

Tom Aspinall Moneyline: This is an incredibly tough pick. Pavlovich has been an unstoppable marauder in the UFC, but all his opponents have something in common: they’re all relatively slow, stationary heavyweights. Derrick Lewis, Tai Tuivasa, and Shamil Abdurakhimov are all slower-moving brawlers who do most of their work in the pocket. Aspinall is speedy and elusive for a Heavyweight, not to mention a black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. Not only do I think he can avoid Pavlovich’s power, but if he gets it to the mat, he could find an early finish.

Jiri Prochazka Moneyline: This is even tougher than the last pick. Regardless of the outcome, I love both fighters and cannot be disappointed. While I believe they’ll be evenly matched on the feet, Jiri’s grappling advantage could make a significant difference. He was able to control and submit Glover Teixeira in the fifth round, who’s a much higher-level grappler than Pereira. If Prochazka can remain elusive on the feet and tire him out, the opportunity for a takedown will open up, and I don’t know if Pereira can escape from the bottom in that situation.

UFC 294 Preview

Alexander Volkanovski lands a right hand on Yair Rodriguez. Credit: MMA Fighting.

This weekend, the UFC returns to Abu Dhabi for the first time in nearly a year with an explosive card. Featherweight champion steps in on late notice to rematch Lightweight champion Islam Makhachev. Preceding this, former Welterweight champion Kamaru Usman, also on late notice, will move up in weight to challenge red-hot Khamzat Chimaev in a bout to determine the next Middleweight title challenger. Every fight on this main card has significant implications for their weight classes, and each could turn out to be an all-time classic. Let’s take a look at all the main card fights this Saturday.

Said Nurmagomedov vs. Muin Gafarov

Said Nurmagomedov lands a body kick on Raoni Barcelos. Credit: DraftKings Network.

Bantamweight Bout

Said Nurmagomedov: 17-3-0, 4 KO/TKO, 5 Sub.

Muin Gafarov: 18-5-0, 10 KO/TKO, 7 Sub.

Nurmagomedov has won four of his last five bouts and has UFC victories over Douglas Silva de Andrade (29-5-0), Cody Stamann (21-6-1), and Ricardo Ramos (16-5-0). 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 could end the fight with any single strike thrown. Although Nurmagomedov throws some unorthodox attacks, he always remains composed, keeps his guard high, and uses excellent footwork. Training at Xtreme Couture, he’s averaging over one takedown and one submission attempted per fight 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. 

Muin Gafurov squares up to Reece McLaren. Credit:

Gafurov has won three of his last five outings and holds no UFC victories, with this being his second fight in the promotion. He’s a pressure fighter constantly coming forward, throwing looping hooks, and shooting for takedowns. Training at Kaizen MMA, he will often load up on shots and headhunt, always pursuing offense no matter where he is. Gafurov is more than willing to eat a shot to land one and seems at his best in a brawl. He often mixes takedowns into his striking and has excellent top control when on the mat. He can push a very high pace and has a granite chin, having never been finished in his professional career. Gafurov mainly uses his hands but has quick kicks and occasionally throws spinning attacks. 

Ikram Aliskerov vs. Warlley Alves

Ikram Aliskerov celebrates his first-round knockout of Phil Hawes. Credit: Yahoo Sports.

Middleweight Bout

Ikram Aliskerov: 14-1-0, 5 KO/TKO, 5 Sub.

Warlley Alves: 14-6-0, 4 KO/TKO, 6 Sub.

Aliskerov has won all his last five fights and has a UFC victory over Phil Hawes (12-5-0). He’s a well-rounded, technical fighter who pushes a consistent pace and is always dangerous. He never telegraphs his attacks, fights behind his jab, and throws everything in combination. Training with the KHK MMA Team, Aliskerov is a former world champion in Sambo and has excellent top control, typically holding half guard and landing brutal ground and pound. He passes quickly and has impressive reversals, often denying takedowns and ending up on top. He does most of his damage on the inside with his punches but has heavy kicks and well-timed knees. Aliskerov has one-shot knockout power and has finished four of his last five fights.

Warlley Alves lands ground and pound on Nordine Taleb. Credit: MMA Fighting.

Alves has won two of his last five fights and has victories over #2 ranked Welterweight Colby Covington (17-3-0), Mounir Lazzez (11-3-0), and Alan Jouban (17-7-0). He’s a wild, aggressive fighter who always comes out guns blazing. He throws every shot with knockout intentions and often drops his head and blitzes forward to throw big combinations. Training at Rizzo RVT, Alves was the winner of TUF Brazil 3 and is very unpredictable, with a slick submission game to back up his powerful striking. Four of his six career submissions have come via guillotine, so he’s incredibly dangerous if he can get a hold of his opponent’s neck. He pushes a very high pace and slows down as the fight continues, but is willing to eat a shot to land one and is at his best brawling inside the pocket. Alves tends to headhunt and always comes forward, fighting with a “kill or be killed” attitude. 

#2 Magomed Ankalaev vs. #7 Johnny Walker

Magomed Ankalaev cracks Thiago Santos with a right hand. Credit: MMA Fighting.

Light Heavyweight Bout

Magomed Ankalaev: 18-1-1, 10 KO/TKO, 0 Sub.

Johnny Walker: 21-7-0, 16 KO/TKO, 3 Sub.

Ankalaev has won four of his last five fights with one draw and holds victories over #6 ranked Light Heavyweight Nikita Krylov (30-9-0), #8 ranked Light Heavyweight Anthony Smith (37-18-0), and #9 ranked Light Heavyweight Volkan Oezdemir (19-7-0). 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 will often keep it on the feet. Ankalaev is very patient and often throws plenty of single shots, 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 holds the center well and often waits for openings or chances to counter before letting his hands go. When Ankalaev takes the fight to the mat, he is tough to shake off and throws vicious ground and pounds until he finds a finish. 

Johnny Walker chokes out Ion Cutelaba. Credit: MMA Fighting.

Walker has won three of his last five fights and has wins over #8 ranked Light Heavyweight Anthony Smith (37-18-0), #10 ranked Light Heavyweight Ryan Spann (21-9-0), and #11 ranked Light Heavyweight Khalil Rountree Jr. (13-5-0). With 18 knockouts in the first round, he’s clearly at his most dangerous early on. Over time, he’s become more technical, preferring to stay at range, primarily using his kicks to land damage. Walker is constantly moving and using feints and is at his best when moving forward and leading the fight, often struggling when put on the back foot. Despite initially being known for his recklessness, he doesn’t seem to have any interest in getting into brawls and is much better off in a technical kickboxing match than a wild scrap. Training at SBG Ireland, he is enormous at 6’6”, even for a Light Heavyweight, and uses his size and reach to keep out of his opponent’s range and land strikes. Although Walker won’t typically take it to the mat, he has a 100% takedown success rate and a solid submission game.

#1 (WW) Kamaru Usman vs. #4 (WW) Khamzat Chimaev

Kamaru Usman pops Colby Covington with a jab. Credit: MMA Fighting.

Middleweight Bout

Kamaru Usman: 20-3-0, 9 KO/TKO, 1 Sub.

Khamzat Chimaev: 12-0-0, 6 KO/TKO, 5 Sub.

Usman has won three of his last five bouts and has victories over #2 ranked Welterweight Colby Covington twice (17-3-0), #5 ranked UFC Welterweight Gilbert Burns (22-6-0), and #10 ranked Lightweight Rafael Dos Anjos (32-15-0). He is one of the most impressive fighters of this decade, posting four consecutive Welterweight title defenses before being dethroned by Leon Edwards (21-3-0). Coming into the UFC after winning the 21st season of The Ultimate Fighter, he started his career as a dominant wrestler, using smothering pressure and ground and pound to find victories. Usman possesses some of the best defensive wrestling in MMA, having denied 97% of takedowns attempted on him in the UFC. He has added some excellent boxing to complement his wrestling, possessing one of the best jabs in the business and some serious power in his hands. Training at ONX Sports, he is a significant problem anywhere the fight goes, able to find the finish on the feet and the ground with relative ease. Usman has impeccable cardio and can easily push a heavy pace across 25 minutes, let alone fifteen.

Khamzat Chimaev chokes out Li Jingliang. Credit: MMA Fighting.

Chimaev is undefeated and holds UFC wins over #5 ranked Welterweight Gilbert Burns (22-6-0), #13 ranked Welterweight Kevin Holland (25-10-0), and Li Jingliang (19-8-0). He is a prolific finisher, having only absorbed a single strike in his UFC career before the Burns fight. 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, and he’s only gone to one decision, making him constantly dangerous.

(C) Islam Makhachev vs. (C)(FW) Alexander Volkanovski

Islam Makhachev pursues a rear naked choke against Drew Dober. Credit: MMA Mania.

Lightweight Title Bout

Islam Makhachev: 24-1-0, 4 KO/TKO, 11 Sub.

Alexander Volkanovski: 26-2-0, 13 KO/TKO, 3 Sub.

Islam Makhachev has won all of his last five bouts, with wins coming over former UFC Lightweight champion Charles Olivera (33-9-0), #9 ranked Lightweight Dan Hooker (23-12-0), and #15 ranked Lightweight Drew Dober (27-12-0). Like his coach and training partner, Khabib Nurmagomedov, he is a commanding wrestler who wastes little time taking it to the mat and pursuing a finish. Training at American Kickboxing Academy, he prefers grappling but can strike, landing with 62% accuracy on the feet and defending 61% of shots thrown at him. Makhachev averages over three takedowns landed per fifteen minutes and makes his wrestling background very apparent, using the now-famous Dagestani style of controlling and dominating his opponent against the cage. The last place you want to be against him is on the bottom, as he will relentlessly pursue the finish from the top and can easily control an opponent for five rounds if he can’t get them out of there. He possesses top-notch cardio and can grapple or strike for twenty-five minutes, never truly being out of a fight. Makhachev hasn’t lost a fight in eight years and seems to improve and learn from every bout he takes.

Alexander Volkanovski lands a jab on Max Holloway. Credit: MMA Fighting.

Volkanovski has won four of his last five outings and has wins over #1 ranked Featherweight Max Holloway (25-7-0), #2 ranked Featherweight Yair Rodriguez (16-4-0), and #3 ranked Featherweight Brian Ortega (15-3-0). He is an excellent technical striker with serious power in both hands and devastating leg kicks. He’s highly accurate, throws every shot with purpose, and quickly moves in and out of the pocket without taking damage. Volkanovski never telegraphs his attacks and is defensively sound, defending 58% of strikes attempted on him. Although elusive, he’s willing to eat a shot to land one and will brawl inside the pocket. Training at City Kickboxing, he has excellent cardio and is constantly pressuring forward, putting up an average of 137 significant strikes landed in his last five fights. Volkanovski also averages nearly two takedowns landed per fifteen minutes, has excellent wrestling with heavy top pressure, outstanding control in the clinch, and an incredible ability to escape submissions.

Best Bets

Ikram Aliskerov by Finish: This feels like an easier fight they’re giving to Aliskerov to build him up. With previously scheduled bouts against Paulo Costa and Nassourdine Imavov falling through, Alves is a far drop down the ladder from either. I expect Aliskerov to find a finish and find it quickly.

Magomed Ankalaev by Finish: I find it a bit puzzling how Johnny Walker even received this fight; his last win came over Anthony Smith, someone nowhere near the caliber of Ankalaev. You could argue that Ankalaev should be the champion currently after a close draw with Jan Blachowicz. Considering the fact that Walker has been finished in five of his seven losses and by no means has the best chin, I think Ankalaev can get it done before the final bell.

Makhachev vs. Volkanovski to Go the Distance: Although I usually like to have a money line pick for the main event, this is just too tough of a fight to pick one. With Volkanovski coming in on short notice and Islam preparing for a radically different fight, I have no idea what will happen in this fight. I can confidently expect this to go to a decision, mainly based on how closely contended the first fight was.

BONUS BET: Kamaru Usman Moneyline: I’m less willing to categorize this as a “best bet,” as it’s inherently risky, but the odds are just too good not to consider it. Kamaru Usman is rarely if ever, an underdog and seems to be getting counted out by the media already. This is ludicrous, considering he’s the competition he’s already faced and beaten in his career, and if anyone is going to end the Khamzat hype train, it’s Kamaru Usman.

UFC Fight Night: Dawson vs. Green Preview

Grant Dawson finishes off Leonardo Santos with ground and pound strikes. Credit: MMA Fighting.

This Saturday, we receive the gift of another classic striker vs. grappler matchup in Bobby Green vs. Grant Dawson. In the co-main event, two incredibly explosive strikers collide in the cage when Joe Pyfer takes on Abdul Razak Alhassan. The entire Fight Night is loaded with killers, and I don’t expect many of these fights to go the distance. Let’s look at some of the rising stars and established finishers on the main card.

Alexander Hernandez vs. Bill Algeo

Alexander Hernandez lands an elbow on Drew Dober. Credit: Doc’s Sports.

Featherweight Bout

Alexander Hernandez: 14-6-0, 6 KO/TKO, 2 Sub.

Bill Algeo: 17-7-0, 4 KO/TKO, 7 Sub.

Hernandez has won two of his last five bouts and has wins over #4 ranked Lightweight Beneil Dariush (22-5-1), Francisco Trinaldo (28-9-0), and Jim Miller (36-17-0). He is a technical striker who is constantly coming forward and pushing a consistent pace across 15 minutes. He’s very light on his feet and has excellent footwork, never remaining in one spot for long. Hernandez has a solid kicking game and varies his shots well, attacking the head and body evenly. He can land damage in the pocket and at range with devastating knees, elbows, and straight punches. Training at FactoryX Muay Thai, he’s averaging over one takedown landed per 15 minutes and has a black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, but seems to be more comfortable on the feet as of late. Hernandez has seven first-round knockouts and is most dangerous early, tending to brawl more and kick less as the fight continues.

Bill Algeo blasts Joanderson Brito with a jab. Credit: MMA Fighting.

Bill Algeo has won three of his last five fights, with his best wins coming over Joanderson Brito (15-3-1), Herbert Burns (11-4-0), and TJ Brown (17-10-0). He uses a karate-like style on the feet, often keeping his hands down and throwing various strikes to both the head and body. Training at Algeo MMA & Kickboxing, he has decent head movement, hand speed, and solid kick power. Algeo is a black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu with a solid wrestling game to back it up. He’s skilled on his back and on top, willing to throw ground and pound and pursue submissions, with six wins via rear-naked choke on his record. He’s also shown good takedown defense and clinch work, defending 55% of takedowns attempted on him. Algeo also seems to gain confidence as the fight continues but gets less technical and can be drawn into brawls.

Drew Dober vs. Ricky Glenn

Drew Dober unloads punches on Rafael Alves. Credit: MMA Fighting.

Lightweight Bout

Drew Dober: 26-12-0, 14 KO/TKO, 5 Sub.

Ricky Glenn: 22-7-2, 13 KO/TKO, 3 Sub.

Dober has won three of his last five fights and has wins over Terrance McKinney (14-6-0), Alexander Hernandez (14-6-0), and Nasrat Haqparast (15-5-0). He is an excellent striker with a Muay Thai background and a black belt in Taekwondo. He always stays technical and throws all his punches tight and straight, rarely throwing looping shots. Dober throws everything with knockout intentions and carries his power across all three rounds. Training with Elevation Fight Team, he has excellent head movement and varies his shots, attacking the head and body evenly. He’s willing to brawl in the pocket but doesn’t get sloppy, has solid footwork, and is always coming forward. Dober does a great job of moving in and out of the pocket, throwing kicks at range, and landing damaging combinations in close.

Ricky Glenn looks to land ground and pound on Gavin Tucker. Credit: MMA Mania.

Glenn has won two of his last five outings with one draw and holds victories over Joaquim Silva (12-5-0), Dennis Bermudez (17-9-0), and Gavin Tucker (13-3-0). He has a very awkward style on the feet, standing upright and skirting around the outside, looking to draw his opponent in. He’s a technical striker who fights behind his jab, throws straight shots, and often opens combinations with body kicks. Glenn is tough to put away and has solid cardio, able to push the same pace across fifteen minutes. Training at Absolute MMA, he has excellent takedown defense and is active on the ground, never accepting position on top or bottom. Although he won’t often pursue takedowns, he’s comfortable on the mat, has excellent reversals, and can land damaging ground and pound. Glenn has dangerous clinch striking and typically lands elbows and knees when in close.

Alex Morono vs. Joaquin Buckley

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

Welterweight Bout

Alex Morono: 23-8-0, 6 KO/TKO, 7 Sub.

Joaquin Buckley: 16-6-0, 12 KO/TKO, 0 Sub.

Morono has won four of his last five outings and has wins over Donald Cerrone (36-17-0), Tim Means (33-15-1), and Matthew Semelsberger (11-6-0). He is exceptionally well-rounded, holding a black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and Taekwondo. He keeps his guard high and stays technical, 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 is averaging over 70 significant strikes landed per fight in his last five bouts, and he has landed 90 or more significant strikes in a fight six 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. With eleven of Morono’s twelve career finishes coming round one, he’s very dangerous early.

Joaquin Buckley lands a head kick on Andre Fialho. Credit: MMA Fighting.

Buckley has found victory in three of his last five bouts, with his best wins coming over Albert Duraev (16-5-0), Andre Fialho (16-8-0), and his famous KO of Impa Kasanganay (14-3-0). 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 has power in all his shots, he does his best work with his kicks, never telegraphing them and throwing them from anywhere. Training at Finney’s HIT Squad, he throws everything in combination and pushes a frantic pace, willing to throw wild attacks like flying knees and 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 over one takedown landed per fifteen minutes and has decent takedown defense, but he seems most comfortable on his feet.

Joe Pyfer vs. Abdul Razak Alhassan

Joe Pyfer blasts Gerald Meerschaert with a right hand. Credit: MMA Fighting.

Middleweight Bout

Joe Pyfer: 11-2-0, 8 KO/TKO, 2 Sub.

Abdul Razak Alhassan: 12-5-0, 12 KO/TKO, 0 Sub.

Pyfer has won four of his last five bouts and holds UFC victories over Alen Amedovski (8-4-0) and Gerald Meerschaert (35-17-0). He is an explosive striker with one-punch knockout power that constantly pursues a finish. He has solid, technical hands, always keeping his guard high, his shots tight, and never telegraphs. Training at Marquez MMA, Pyfer has excellent head movement and footwork, never staying on the centerline, and can land damage going forward or backward. He has a solid grappling game with great takedowns, smothering top control, and submission ability to back up his brutal ground and pound. He does his best work on the inside with his hands but will throw heavy kicks at range, particularly to the legs. Pyfer has six first-round finishes and has only gone to one decision in his career, as well as only seeing the third round once. 

Abdul Razak Alhassan digs to the body of Mounir Lazzez. Credit: DraftKings Network.

Alhassan has won two of his last five fights and has UFC victories over Niko Price (15-7-0), Alessio Di Chirico (13-7-0), and Claudio Ribeiro (11-4-0). He is a potent, dangerous striker who prefers power to volume and is always coming forward. He mostly 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. He’s won all his fights by finish, with eleven of those wins coming in round one. Training with Elevation Fight Team, he has a black belt in Judo, is very strong in the clinch, and is able to land throws and trips when in close. Alhassan is averaging just under one takedown landed per fifteen minutes but is usually comfortable keeping the fight standing.

#10 Grant Dawson vs. Bobby Green

Grant Dawson applies a rear naked choke to Damir Ismagulov. Credit: MMA Fighting.

Lightweight Bout

Grant Dawson: 20-1-1, 4 KO/TKO, 13 Sub.

Bobby Green: 30-14-1, 10 KO/TKO, 9 Sub.

Dawson is undefeated in his promotion tenure, holding victories over Jared Gordon (19-6-0), Mark O. Madsen (12-1-0), and Damir Ismagulov (24-3-0). He is an excellent grappler and is most comfortable on the mat, often shooting early and quickly landing a takedown. He’s averaging nearly four 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.

Bobby Green lands a left hand on Clay Guida. Credit: MMA Fighting.

Green has won two of his last five outings with one draw and has wins over Tony Ferguson (26-9-0), Lando Vannata (12-7-2), and Nasrat Haqparast (15-5-0). Training at Pinnacle MMA, he is an excellent boxer, picking his opponents apart with quick combinations and damaging straights. He is rarely in a boring fight, always willing to go to the center of the octagon and exchange blows. Green has won Performance of the Night twice and Fight of the Night four times, backing up his scrappy tendencies. Green also has great wrestling to supplement his striking, having defended 74% of takedowns attempted on him, and has a solid submission game and top control. Green has landed 52% of his significant strikes and has defended 62% of strikes thrown at him, making him a rather efficient striker. 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.

Best Bets

Bill Algeo Moneyline: This might be one of my most biased picks; I love Bill Algeo and hate Alex Hernandez. Besides this, I genuinely believe Algeo is a more well-rounded fighter with better skills on the mat and the feet. I’m not sure he’ll find a finish, but I believe he should win this fight.

Pyfer vs. Razak Alhassan to Not Go the Distance: This is self-explanatory. Between these two men, there are thirty fights with twenty-two finishes, with 17 coming in round one. I would be utterly shocked if this went to the judges.

Grant Dawson by Finish: While he may not be the person you think of when you think of prolific finishers, Dawson has finished seventeen of his 20 wins. Green is an underrated grappler, but we’ve seen Dawson dismantle much higher-level guys than him. I don’t think this fight ever should have been scheduled, and it should be light work for Grant Dawson.

UFC Fight Night: Fiziev vs Gamrot Preview

Rafael Fiziev throws a kick at Brad Riddell. Credit: MMA Mania.

This Saturday, we’ll see a tale as old as time in MMA: Striker vs. Grappler, when Rafael Fiziev and Mateusz Gamrot face off and try to insert themselves into the Lightweight title picture. Preceding that, we get another Striker vs. Grappler matchup with bearings on a title picture between Bryce Mitchell and Dan Ige. Rounding out this card are a handful of highly skilled scrappers and finishers looking to add some fireworks to this Fight Night card.

Ricardo Ramos vs. Charles Jourdain

Ricardo Ramos chokes out Eduardo Garagorri. Credit: DraftKings Network.

Featherweight Bout

Ricardo Ramos: 16-4-0, 4 KO/TKO, 7 Sub.

Charles Jourdain: 14-6-1, 8 KO/TKO, 4 Sub.

Ramos has won three of his previous five fights and has UFC wins over Bill Algeo (17-7-0), Journey Newsom (10-5-0), and Aiemann Zahabi (10-2-0). He is a well-rounded yet wild fighter, preferring spinning and jumping attacks to orthodox striking. He favors power over volume, not typically throwing a ton with his hands but putting a lot into the shots he throws. Ramos will come out guns blazing and has eight of his 11 finishes in round one, making him most dangerous early on. He averages nearly three takedowns landed per fifteen minutes and has excellent wrestling, especially in the clinch. Training with Team Alpha Male, he takes the back quickly and constantly pursues chokes, even in standing positions. Ramos isn’t the most accurate striker but can do severe damage if he lands, proven by his two victories via spinning back elbow in the UFC.

Charles Jourdain launches a jumping kick at Nathaniel Wood. Credit: Covers.com

 Jourdain has won three of his last five and holds wins over Kron Gracie (5-2-0), Lando Vannata (12-7-2), and Dooho Choi (14-4-1). He has never been in a boring fight and always leaves everything in the cage. He has excellent kickboxing and uses a solid variety of attacks, often mixing kicks into punch combinations. Jourdain is comfortable in a slower-paced, technical striking battle but also loves to throw caution to the wind and attempt wild attacks like flying knees and spinning kicks. He never telegraphs his shots and constantly attacks from different angles, making him unpredictable. Training at BTT Canada, he holds a black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and is willing to engage in grappling exchanges, although he won’t typically initiate them. Jourdain has found more than half of his finishes after round one and is always dangerous. 

Bryan Battle vs. A.J. Fletcher

Bryan Battle lands a shot on Tresean Gore. Credit: MMA Fighting.

Welterweight Bout

Bryan Battle: 10-2-0, 3 KO/TKO, 5 Sub.

A.J. Fletcher: 10-2-0, 4 KO/TKO, 5 Sub.

Battle has won four of his last five bouts and has UFC wins over Gabe Green (11-5-0), Takashi Sato (16-7-0), and Tresean Gore (5-2-0). He is a diverse striker who’s constantly throwing and looking for openings to land tight, straight shots. Training at Carolina Combat Sports, he has a great 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, often absorbing nearly as many significant strikes as he lands. Although he’s a fast starter, he tends to heat up as the fight continues, with five of his eight career finishes coming in the second round. He is willing to grapple and occasionally pursues takedowns but seems more content doing most of his work on the feet despite having more submissions than knockouts. With two devastating first-round KOs in his last three fights, Battle has proven extremely dangerous on the feet.

A.J. Fletcher submits Themba Gorimbo with a guillotine choke. Credit: MMA News.

Fletcher has won three of his last five fights, with his lone UFC win coming over Themba Gorimbo (11-4-0). He’s a well-rounded, powerful fighter who’s comfortable wherever the fight goes. On the feet, he constantly moves and uses his striking efficiently, never wastes energy, and stays behind his jab. Per 15 minutes, Fletcher is averaging about two takedowns landed and one submission attempt per fifteen minutes in the UFC and holds a brown belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. He is an intelligent grappler who advances quickly and methodically, landing ground and pound whenever he has an opportunity. Training at Gladiators Academy, he tends to set up his grappling with his striking, letting his opponent get comfortable on the feet before shooting in for a takedown. Fletcher has never been finished and has shown he’s calm in deep waters, making him dangerous at all times. 

#8 Marina Rodriguez vs. #12 Michelle Waterson-Gomez

Marina Rodriguez blasts Mackenzie Dern with a right hand. Credit: MMA Fighting.

Women’s Strawweight Bout

Marina Rodriguez: 16-3-2, 6 KO/TKO, 1 Sub.

Michelle Waterson-Gomez: 18-11-0, 3 KO/TKO, 9 Sub.

Rodriguez has won three of her last five fights, with her best wins coming over  #3 ranked Strawweight Yan Xiaonan (17-3-0), #7 ranked Strawweight Mackenzie Dern (13-3-0), and #10 ranked Strawweight Amanda Ribas (11-4-0). She is an excellent striker, using a technical Muay Thai style to batter her opponents. She carries significant power in her hands for the weight class, often landing big shots with her right hand, and has a solid arsenal of kicks. Rodriguez can throw with volume and power, averaging about 79 significant strikes in her last five fights. Training at Thai Brasil, she has excellent hand speed and is averaging nearly five significant strikes landed per minute in her UFC tenure. She never throws single strikes, typically blitzing forward and throwing in combination. Rodriguez rarely initiates grappling exchanges but has shown solid takedown defense and has a purple belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.

Michelle Waterson-Gomez lands a spinning kick on Angela Hill. Credit: MMA Fighting.

Waterson-Gomez has won one of her last five bouts and holds UFC wins over #13 ranked Strawweight Angela Hill (15-13-0), #15 ranked Strawweight Karolina Kowalkiewicz (15-7-0), and Paige VanZant (8-5-0). She holds a black belt in karate, and it’s apparent in her style, using perpetual motion and a steady dose of lead leg kicks. She fights behind her jab and always remains technical, throwing every shot tight and straight. Waterson-Gomez has lightning-quick kicks and mixes them into combinations well, never telegraphing her shots. Training at Jackson-Wink MMA, she’s averaging just over one takedown landed per fifteen minutes in the UFC and is a solid grappler. She has heavy top pressure, a slick submission game, and great defensive wrestling, having defended 72% of takedowns attempted on her in her promotional tenure. Waterson-Gomez has excellent cardio and can push the same pace across 25 minutes, let alone fifteen. 

#10 Bryce Mitchell vs. #12 Dan Ige

Bryce Mitchell lands an elbow on Edson Barboza. Credit: MMA Fighting.

Featherweight Bout

Bryce Mitchell: 15-2-0, 0 KO/TKO, 9 Sub.

Dan Ige: 17-6-0, 5 KO/TKO, 5 Sub.

Mitchell has won four of his last five outings and has wins over #13 ranked featherweight Edson Barboza (23-11-0), Andre Fili (22-10-0), and Charles Rosa (14-8-0). Mitchell is a high-level grappler, averaging over three takedowns landed and nearly two submission attempts per fifteen minutes in the UFC. With both a wrestling background and a black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Mitchell typically gets the fight to the mat quickly. He has excellent top control on the ground and always pursues a finish, whether ground and pound or a submission. Training at Barata MMA, Mitchell has one of three wins via twister in UFC history and is most dangerous early, with eight of his nine career submissions coming in round one. On the feet, Mitchell constantly moves, cuts off the cage well, and shows decent power in his hands. He tends to use feints and technical boxing, but he will throw the occasional flashy kick. 

Dan Ige lands a right hand on Nate Landwehr. Credit: MMA Fighting.

Ige has found victory in two of his last five bouts and holds wins over #13 ranked Featherweight Edson Barboza (23-11-0), Nate Landwehr (17-5-0), and Damon Jackson (22-5-1). He is a brawler with serious power inside the pocket and excellent technical boxing. He uses 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, which he’ll often throw 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 a takedown in seven of his nine victories in the UFC. While Ige won’t often initiate grappling exchanges, he has shown great defensive grappling and is always active on the ground, never staying in one spot.

#6 Rafael Fiziev vs. #7 Mateusz Gamrot

Rafael Fiziev throws a kick at Justin Gaethje. Credit: MMA Fighting.

Lightweight Bout

Rafael Fiziev: 12-2-0, 8 KO/TKO, 1 Sub.

Mateusz Gamrot: 22-2-0, 7 KO/TKO, 5 Sub.

Fiziev has won four of his last five fights and has UFC wins over #11 ranked Lightweight Rafael Dos Anjos (32-15-0), #13 ranked Lightweight Renato Moicano (17-5-1), and Brad Riddell (10-4-0). 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 Kill Cliff FC, Fiziev is highly technical, fights behind his jab, and quickly moves in and out of the pocket 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 90% 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.

Mateusz Gamrot floors Scott Holtzman with a right hand. Credit: MMA Fighting.

Gamrot has won 4 of his last five bouts and has UFC victories over #8 ranked Lightweight Arman Tsarukyan (20-3-0), #12 ranked Lightweight Jalin Turner (13-7-0), and #15 ranked Lightweight Diego Ferreira (18-5-0). He is an incredibly well-rounded fighter and is dangerous wherever the fight goes. On the feet, he’s constantly moving and staying at range, remaining patient, and picking his shots. Gamrot favors power to volume, throwing every shot to finish his opponent. Training at American Top Team, he is averaging over four takedowns landed per fifteen minutes and has defended 90% of takedowns attempted on him. He is a tenacious wrestler, refusing to give up on takedowns and never staying still on the ground, whether on top or bottom. A former KSW champion, “Gamer” has excellent cardio and can push a consistent pace across fifteen minutes.

Best Bets

Bryan Battle vs. A.J. Fletcher to Not Go the Distance: There’s a total of 28 fights between these two men, with a combined seventeen finishes. Both have round-one finishes in the UFC and are coming off finish victories. They’re both very well-rounded and will push a heavy pace, and I expect one of them to go down before the final bell.

Marina Rodriguez by Decision: This is a bizarre fight: Rodriguez defeated Waterson-Gomez via unanimous decision just two years ago. I have no idea how these two even got matched up again, but I’d be shocked to see this play out differently than their first meeting.

Rafael Fiziev Moneyline: This is about as classic of a matchup as exists: striker vs. grappler. Of course, both are well-rounded, but it seems Gamrot has a clear advantage on the ground while Fiziev has a clear advantage on the feet. Fiziev has exhibited fantastic takedown defense in the UFC, and I believe he can keep this fight standing where he’s most comfortable. If Gamrot can’t find a way to take it to the mat, it could be a short night at the office for him.

UFC 293 Preview

Israel Adesanya cracks Marvin Vettori with a right hand. Credit: MMA Fighting.

This Saturday the UFC returns to Australia with an intriguing card. In the main event, Israel Adesanya defends his title against the always-game Sean Strickland. In the co-main event we’ll see two top 10 heavyweights slug it out with hopes of reigniting their title runs. Preceding this fights are a handful of finishers and debuting fighters all vying to make their name on a main card.

Tyson Pedro vs. Anton Turkalj

Tyson Pedro unloads punches on Ike Villanueva. Credit: The Inner Sanctum.

Light Heavyweight Bout

Tyson Pedro: 9-4-0, 4 KO/TKO, 5 Sub.

Anton Turkalj: 8-2-0, 5 KO/TKO, 2 Sub.

Pedro has won two of his last five outings, with his best wins coming over #11 ranked Light Heavyweight Khalil Rountree Jr. (13-5-0) and #13 ranked Middleweight Paul Craig (17-6-1). He is a devastating striker with serious power in everything he throws. He has an excellent arsenal of attacks with particularly damaging head and leg kicks, which he’ll set up with constant feinting and movement. Pedro has great speed for the division and is excellent at using his length, regularly landing damage from distance. While he won’t often initiate grappling exchanges, he is a black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and possesses a solid submission and takedown game. Training at Lions High Performance Centre, he is patient and technical, never rushing in or overextending on his shots. Pedro has excellent knees and varies his shots, attacking the head and body evenly. While he won’t often put out much volume in terms of strikes, he makes up for it with one-shot knockout power.

Anton Turkalj exchanges punches with Vitor Petrino. Credit: MMA Fighting.

Turkalj has won three of his last five bouts, most recently being a Contender Series victory over Acacio Dos Santos (15-6-0). He is a highly durable grappler willing to engage no matter where the fight goes. Preferring power over volume when striking, he’ll typically throw leg kicks from range before crashing in with punches, usually looking to clinch up. Turkalj has a solid chin and is willing to eat a shot to land one, spending much of his time on the feet brawling in the pocket. Training at GBG MMA, he’ll usually shoot early and has solid clinch takedowns. He transitions quickly on the ground, with particularly fast backtakes, and prefers submissions to ground and pound. Turkalj has great cardio and is willing to work to take it to the mat, landing 11 takedowns in his Contender Series appearance.

Justin Tafa vs. Austen Lane

Justin Tafa lands a left hand on Parker Porter. Credit: MMA Fighting.

Heavyweight Bout

Justin Tafa: 6-3-0, 6 KO/TKO, 0 Sub.

Austen Lane: 12-3-0, 11 KO/TKO, 1 Sub.

Tafa has won three of his last five fights, with his UFC victories coming over Parker Porter (14-8-0), Harry Hunsucker (7-6-0), and Juan Adams (10-5-0). With a style reminiscent of his training partner 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, so he prefers to keep it on the feet. He has finished all of his wins, and in UFC fights that left the first round, he averaged 80 significant strikes landed. Tafa has shown he has the cardio to go 15 minutes, but two of his three career losses have come by decision, so he’s at his best early on. 

Austen Lane lands a body kick on Richard Jacobi (6-1-1). Credit: Zuffa LLC.

Lane enters this fight technically on a six-fight win streak, with this bout being a rematch of his UFC debut, which ended in a No Contest. Lane is a lengthy striker who opens up with a barrage of kicks before blitzing in to unleash combinations. He’s very explosive, throws everything in combination, and spends much of his time in the cage brawling inside the pocket. Training at Bulldog Boxing, he has solid power in his hands and decent cardio, carrying his punching capacity across 15 minutes. Lane is a former NFL player and has finished all his wins, with only two fights in his career seeing a second round. While he won’t typically engage in grappling exchanges, he will throw heavy ground-and-pound if he finds himself in top position. He has shown an ability to survive off his back and will pursue submissions if given the opportunity.

#10 Manel Kape vs. Felipe Dos Santos

Manel Kape finishes off Ode Osbourne with ground and pound. Credit: MMA Fighting.

Flyweight Bout

Manel Kape: 18-6-0, 11 KO/TKO, 5 Sub.

Felipe Dos Santos: 7-0-0, 2 KO/TKO, 3 Sub.

Kape has won three of his last five fights and holds UFC wins over Ode Osbourne (12-6-0), Zhalgas Zhumagulov (14-9-0), and David Dvorak (20-6-0). He is a former Rizin Bantamweight champion and has been facing the best of the best for the last six years of his career. 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 Flyweight and doesn’t telegraph anything, often timing his shots when his opponent enters his range. Training at AKA Thailand, 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. 

Felipe Dos Santos squares up inside the cage. Credit: Tapology.

Dos Santos has won four of his last five fights with one no-contest and is making his UFC debut. He is a wild striker who comes out guns blazing and constantly pursues a finish. He’s always moving and throws every shot with power, but he will put out solid volume and is perpetually coming forward. Dos Santos has a substantial arsenal of kicks and loves to throw jumping attacks like jumping switch kicks and Superman punches. He has an excellent chin and spends much of his cage time in the pocket, throwing looping shots and devastating knees. Training at Chute Boxe, he has grappling abilities and a great takedown game but seems more comfortable on the feet. Dos Santos is most dangerous early on and is at his best in a sloppy, drag-out brawl.

#6 Tai Tuivasa vs. #7 Alexander Volkov

Tai Tuivasa goes to finish off Greg Hardy with ground and pound. Credit: ESPN.

Heavyweight Bout

Tai Tuivasa: 15-5-0, 14 KO/TKO, 0 Sub.

Alexander Volkov: 36-10-0 24 KO/TKO, 3 Sub.

Tuivasa has found victory in three of his last five outings and holds UFC victories over #10 ranked Heavyweight Derrick Lewis (27-11-0), former UFC Heavyweight champion Andrei Arlovski (34-22-0), and Stefan Struve (33-13-0). He is the true embodiment of a brawler, always willing to eat a shot to land one and slug it out in the pocket. He’s more technical than he often appears, staying patient and fighting behind his jab before letting go of some massive right hands. Tuivasa has solid head movement and good distance management but won’t throw much at range before closing the distance. Training at Lions High Performance Centre, he has heavy leg kicks and one-shot knockout power, able to finish the fight from seemingly anywhere at any time. He’s at his most dangerous early, with 12 of his fourteen KOs coming round, only seeing two decisions in his pro career. Tuivasa can land immense damage without much space, particularly elbows and knees. 

Alexander Volkov unloads a right hand on Jairzinho Rozenstruik. Credit: ESPN.

Volkov has won three of his last five fights and has UFC victories over #11 ranked Heavyweight Marcin Tybura (24-8-0), #12 ranked Heavyweight Jairzinho Rozenstruik (13-5-0), and #13 ranked Heavyweight Alexandr Romanov (17-2-0). He is a lengthy, technical striker who can land damage at range or inside. He has solid footwork and head movement, tending to skirt along the outside of the cage and 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, which he’s constantly looking to set up. 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 keeps his power across all 15 minutes, but his pace decreases as the fight continues. 

(C) Israel Adesanya vs. #5 Sean Strickland

Middleweight Title Bout

Israel Adesanya lands a devastating knee on Robert Whittaker. Credit: MMA Fighting.

Israel Adesanya: 24-2-0, 16 KO/TKO, 0 Sub.

Sean Strickland: 27-5-0, 11 KO/TKO, 4 Sub.

Adesanya has found victory in 4 of his last five outings and has wins over #2 ranked Middleweight Robert Whittaker (25-7-0),  #3 ranked Middleweight Jared Cannonier (17-6-0), and #3 ranked Light Heavyweight Alex Pereira (8-2-0). He’s one of the best technical strikers in MMA and has proven to be virtually unstoppable on the feet. Able to throw with power and volume, he averaged about 84 significant strikes landed in his last five fights. Adesanya is elusive and rarely takes substantial damage, always moving and keeping his head off the centerline. Training at City Kickboxing, he has excellent footwork and can fight both in the center of the octagon or slide along the outside. He has a tremendous variety of kicks and does a great job of varying his attacks, making it very hard to tell what he’ll throw next and where. Adesanya’s last ten fights have been for gold, making him not only prepared for five rounds but highly comfortable in the spotlight.

Sean Strickland pieces up Abus Magomedov. Credit: MMA Mania.

Strickland has won three of his last five fights, with wins over #9 ranked Middleweight Jack Hermansson (23–8-0), #12 ranked Middleweight Nassourdine Imavov (12-4-0), and Uriah Hall (18-11-0). He is best known for his striking prowess and lack of a filter in interviews. While he prefers to keep the fight standing, he often mixes some grappling with his striking, averaging just over one takedown per 15 minutes. Strickland also has solid takedown defense, defending 85% of takedowns attempted on him in the UFC. He rarely pursues submissions, typically resorting to ground-and-pound when on top. He uses a very upright boxing style on the feet, constantly moving forward and throwing combinations. Training at Millenia MMA, Strickland tries to keep his opponent on the back foot as much as possible to open up opportunities to land combinations, especially his one-two. 

Best Bets

Justin Tafa to win by KO/TKO: I might as well not mince words, I think Austen Lane is a bit of a can. Not that Tafa is a worldbeater by any means, but if you’re going to brawl with Justin Tafa, you better have solid hands and an even more solid chin. I don’t think Lane has either of those, and I think Tafa will put him away.

Tuivasa vs. Volkov to Not Go the Distance: With 38 knockouts between the two of them and very contrasting styles, it would be a shock to see this go to the judges. Regardless of who wins this fight, it won’t be by decision.

Israel Adesanya by KO/TKO: As much as I and everyone else would enjoy an upset, I just don’t see it happening. While I think Strickland is tough enough to go five rounds, I think Adesanya is fired up and looking for a finish this weekend after all of Strickland’s antics this fight week.

UFC Fight Night: Gane vs. Spivac Preview

Ciryl Gane blasts Tai Tuivasa with a right hand. Credit: MMA Fighting.

The UFC makes its second trip to Paris this Saturday, with yet another card headlined by Heavyweight Ciryl Gane, this time taking on Serghei Spivac in an excellent matchup of contrasting styles. In the co-main event, former UFC Women’s Strawweight champion Rose Namajunas comes up to Flyweight for the first time to facing surging contender Manon Fiorot. To compliment these bouts is a bevy of debuting fighters and established scrappers, all vying to make a name for themselves on the biggest stage in MMA.

Morgan Charrière vs. Manolo Zecchini

Morgan Charrière lands a body kick on Perry Goodwin. Credit: La Sueur.

Featherweight Bout

Morgan Charrière: 18-9-1, 10 KO/TKO, 3 Sub.

Manolo Zecchini: 11-3-0, 9 KO/TKO, 1 Sub.

Charrière has won three of his last five bouts and making his UFC debut. 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.

Manolo Zecchini lands a head kick on Sufiev Karomatullo. Credit: MMA UK.

Zecchini has found victory in four of his last five outings and is also making his UFC debut. An explosive striker, he’s constantly moving and pressing forward and is willing to eat a shot to land one. He’s always pursuing a finish, providing his opponent with a steady dose of looping shots and heavy leg kicks. Despite his aggression, Zecchini is elusive and has excellent distance management, but he can sometimes get pulled into brawls. Training at Jackson-Wink MMA, his kicks are his best weapons, often damaging his opponent from range before blitzing in to throw combinations. He won’t often initiate grappling exchanges but has shown great takedown defense and solid clinch control. Zecchini has nine first-round finishes and has only gone to two decisions, fighting with a true “kill or be killed” attitude. 

William Gomis vs. Yanis Ghemmouri

William Gomis lands a kick on Jarno Errens. Credit: Flipboard.

Featherweight Bout

William Gomis: 12-2-0, 6 KO/TKO, 1 Sub.

Yanis Ghemmouri: 12-1-0, 3 KO/TKO, 4 Sub.

Gomis has won 11 straight bouts since 2016 and has UFC victories over Jarno Errens (13-5-1) and Francis Marshall (7-2-0). 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. When in top position, he’s patient 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 81% of the strikes and 71% of the takedowns attempted on him. 

Yanis Ghemmouri lands a head kick on Bair Shtepin. Credit: La Sueur.

Ghemmouri is on a nine-fight win streak dating back to 2016, with this being his UFC debut. A former champion kickboxer in France, he’s a powerful, technical striker who loves to counterstrike. Although he doesn’t move much laterally, he constantly switches stances and tends to lean back to avoid shots before returning with hooks. Ghemmouri favors power to volume, throwing lots of fast, looping shots and doing a lot of damage with his lead hand. Training with the Bulgarian Top Team, he has a solid takedown game but will panic wrestle when hurt, sometimes putting himself in bad spots. When on top, he has excellent pressure and lethal chokes, holding a standing guillotine win on his record. Ghemmouri’s pace will increase as the fight continues, constantly switching his stance and attacking from different angles. 

#9 Volkan Oezdemir vs. Bogdan Guskov

Volkan Oezdemir drops Jimi Manuwa with a left hand. Credit: Bleacher Report.

Light Heavyweight Bout

Volkan Oezdemir: 18-7-0, 12 KO/TKO, 1 Sub.

Bogdan Guskov: 14-2-0, 12 KO/TKO, 2 Sub.

Oezdemir has won two of his last five fights and holds victories over #13 ranked Middleweight Paul Craig (17-6-1), #4 ranked Light Heavyweight Aleksander Rakic (14-3-0), and Ovince Saint Preux (26-17-0). He has a background in kickboxing and held a 5-0 record professionally before entering MMA, which shows in his style. While he primarily uses his hands and fights in the pocket, he has powerful kicks and particularly devastating leg kicks. Despite his phonebox-fighting style, Oezdemir stays relatively composed, usually 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 a takedown defense percentage of 86% in his UFC career. With 12 finishes in the first round, Oezdemir earned the nickname “No Time” and is at his most dangerous early on.

Bogdan Guskov lands a right hand on Alireza Vafaei. Credit: La Sueur.

Guskov has won four of his last five bouts and is making his UFC debut. He’s a heavy-handed striker who comes out guns blazing. He has heavy forward pressure and always looks for a knockout, throwing every shot with fight-ending intentions. Training at GOR MMA, Guskov will throw the occasional kick but does most of his damage in the pocket, fighting in a phonebooth. He has power in both hands but is seemingly always looking to set up his right, constantly unleashing devastating overhands. He has 11 finishes in the first round and has only gone to one decision, as well as only seeing the third round twice in his career. Guskov tends to headhunt and is willing to eat a shot to land one, but he has good head movement and darts in and out of the pocket very quickly.

Benoit Saint Denis vs. Thiago Moises

Benoit Saint Denis damages Ismael Bonfim from his back. Credit: MMA Mania.

Lightweight Bout

Benoit Saint Denis: 11-1-0, 2 KO/TKO, 9 Sub.

Thiago Moises: 17-6-0, 3 KO/TKO, 8 Sub.

Saint-Denis has won four of his last five outings, holding UFC wins over Ismael Bonfim (19-4-0), Niklas Stolze (12-6-0), and Gabriel Miranda (16-6-0). He’s constantly pressuring forward on the feet, unleashing heavy kicks and throwing bombs. He throws everything with fight-ending intentions, often using his striking to get inside and pursue takedowns. He 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 Woirin Team Elite, Saint-Denis 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 is always dangerous. A decorated veteran and former Special Forces paratrooper, he’s incredibly tough and has possibly the best chin in the lightweight division.

Thiago Moises cracks Bobby Green with a jab. Credit: MMA Fighting.

Moises has won three of his last five outings and holds UFC victories over Michael Johnson (22-19-0), Bobby Green (30-14-1), and Alex Hernandez (14-6-0). He’s a slick grappler with excellent wrestling and dangerous submissions. Training at American Top Team, he has solid power in his hands and kicks but won’t often waste much time before shooting for a takedown. Moises is very active on the ground, has excellent top pressure, and advances position very quickly. He’s intelligent with his ground and pound, only throwing when he’s postured up and never getting too wild. He does an excellent job of getting to his opponent’s back, where he’s most dangerous, and finds submissions, especially chokes, with lightning speed. Moises tends to absorb more damage than he dishes out, making it imperative for him to find early takedowns. 

#3 (FYW) Manon Fiorot vs. #2 (STW) Rose Namajunas

Manon Fiorot lands a stiff right hand on Mayra Bueno Silva. Credit: MMA Fighting.

Women’s Flyweight Bout

Manon Fiorot: 10-1-0, 6 KO/TKO, 0 Sub.

Rose Namajunas: 12-5-0, 2 KO/TKO, 6 Sub.

Fiorot is on a 10-fight win streak, with her UFC victories coming over #3 ranked Bantamweight Mayra Bueno Silva (11-2-1), #5 ranked Flyweight Kaitlyn Chookagian (18-5-0), and #9 ranked Flyweight Jennifer Maia (21-9-1). She is an efficient, karate-style fighter with serious power and speed. She uses her lead leg excellently, constantly throwing side and head kicks with no tell. Fiorot is in perpetual motion and has solid output, but is very accurate and throws everything purposefully. Training with the Boxing Squad, she has excellent footwork and effortlessly moves in and out of the pocket. On average, she lands more than double the strikes she absorbs and has defended 71% of the strikes attempted on her in the UFC. Fiorot has landed at least one takedown in all of her UFC wins, has excellent wrestling, and will rain down devastating ground and pound when on top.

Rose Namajunas knocks out Weili Zhang with a head kick. Credit: ESPN.

Namajunas has won three of her last five outings and has wins over former UFC Strawweight champions Jessica Andrade (24-12-0), Joanna Jedrzejczyk (16-5-0), and Zhang Weili (24-3-0). She’s a well-rounded fighter with a solid kickboxing game and excellent Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. Training at 303 Training Center, she has sneaky power, a sturdy chin, and has proven her ability to go five rounds without slowing. Holding black belts in both Taekwondo and Karate, Namajunas has very educated feet and crisp boxing. Averaging nearly two takedowns 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 seven bouts have been for titles against some of the fiercest competition in the sport, making her prepared for nearly anything. This will be Namajunas’ first venture to Flyweight after spending her whole career at Strawweight. 

#2 Ciryl Gane vs. #7 Serghei Spivac

Ciryl Gane lands a big right hand on Alexander Volkov. Credit: MMA Fighting.

Heavyweight Bout

Ciryl Gane: 11-2-0, 5 KO/TKO, 3 Sub.

Serghei Spivac: 16-3-0, 7 KO/TKO, 7 Sub.

Ciryl Gane has won three of his last five bouts, with wins over #8 ranked Alexander Volkov (36-10-0), #6 ranked Tai Tuivasa (15-5-0), and an interim Heavyweight title win over #10 ranked Derrick Lewis (27-11-0). 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 MMA Factory, he has an excellent arsenal of attacks, all of which he can throw with power and do severe damage. While Gane has become known for his striking, he also has solid grappling, holding two submission wins in the UFC, including a heel hook. He’s a well-rounded grappler with solid takedowns and top control who can do significant damage with his ground and pound or turn to his submission game. 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. The first significant French star to break through in the UFC, Gane will have the crowd behind him come Saturday.

Serghei Spivac applies a rear naked choke to Augusto Sakai. Credit: Action Network.

Spivac has won four of his last five fights and has UFC victories over #10 ranked Heavyweight Derrick Lewis (27-11-0), Aleksei Oleinik (60-17-1), and Carlos Felipe (12-2-0). 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 all his UFC wins but one. Spivac rarely leaves fights up to the judges, with ten first-round finishes in his career and seven of his ten 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. 

Best Bets

V. Oezdemir vs. B. Guskov to Not Go the Distance: Both men could benefit massively from a knockout here; Oezdemir needs a solid win to turn this recent skid around, and Guskov would firmly establish himself with a win over a veteran. Both have a plethora of first-round finishes, and I expect a high pace slugfest.

Benoit Saint Denis by Finish: Saint Denis is riding a huge wave of momentum following his massive upset victory over Ismael Bonfim. Combine that with a French crowd fully behind him and an opponent who tends to get overwhelmed on the feet, and I think it’s a perfect recipe for a finish victory.

Ciryl Gane by KO/TKO: While plenty of people hesitate to bet on Gane after Jon Jones destroyed him, they don’t need to be. While he doesn’t usually face grapplers, this is a big jump down from the guys he has faced lately. Not that Spivac isn’t a solid fighter, but he certainly isn’t Jon Jones or Francis Ngannou. I expect a big bounce-back victory here for Gane in front of his home crowd.

UFC 292 Preview

Sean O’Malley lands a stiff right hand on Kris Moutinho. Credit: MTN Sports.

This Saturday, a big-time pay-per-view hits the TD Garden in Boston with two title fights at the top. Two divisive figures, Aljamain Sterling and Sean O’Malley, face off for the Bantamweight strap in a heavily anticipated matchup. In the co-main event, two heavy-handed scrappers, Zhang Weili and Amanda Lemos, fight for the women’s Strawweight title. Preceding them is a night filled with top contenders and rising stars, making for an excellent event. Let’s take a look at this weekend’s main card.

#6 Marlon Vera vs. #10 Pedro Munhoz

Marlon Vera lands a devastating head kick on Dominick Cruz. Credit: MMA Mania.

Bantamweight Bout

Marlon Vera: 20-8-1, 8 KO/TKO, 8 Sub.

Pedro Munhoz: 20-7-0, 5 KO/TKO, 8 Sub.

Vera has won four of his last five fights, and has wins over former UFC Lightweight champion Frankie Edgar (23-11-1), former UFC Bantamweight champion Dominick Cruz (24-4-0), and #2 ranked Bantamweight Sean O’Malley (16-1-0). Vera is an experienced veteran with a diverse striking game and a granite chin. In his last five fights, he has absorbed, on average, about 134 significant strikes and 159 total strikes; something made utterly absurd by the fact that he won four of those bouts. He gets better as the fight continues and can land damage inside or at range, with some particularly dangerous clinch striking. Vera stays technical across five rounds and regularly switches stances, holding power in both hands but never telegraphing or loading up. He supplies his opponent with a constant dose of kicks, constantly throwing various attacks with his legs, all with heavy power. He has a black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and is excellent in top position, possessing some brutal ground and pound. Vera has dangerous BJJ and can submit people, but he has become more of a striker in recent years. 

Pedro Munhoz submits Rob Font with a guillotine choke. Credit: MMA Mania.

Munhoz has wins in two of his last five outings with one no-contest and has wins over former UFC Bantamweight champion Cody Garbrandt (13-5-0), #7 ranked Bantamweight Rob Font (20-7-0), and #15 ranked Bantamweight Chris Gutierrez (19-4-2). He is a well-rounded fighter with devastating power in his hands and excellent BJJ. He throws every shot with power, often dipping his head to unleash brutal overhands. Munhoz is constantly coming forward and is fantastic at controlling the center of the octagon. Training at American Top Team, he does a great job mixing in kicks without telegraphing, often throwing numerous heavy low kicks. Holding a black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and a brown belt in Judo, he’s very dangerous on the ground. Munhoz has heavy top control, devastating ground and pound, and excellent submissions. 

Da’Mon Blackshear vs. Mario Bautista

Da’Mon Blackshear submits Jose Johnson with the just the third-ever twister in UFC history. Credit: Yahoo! Sports

Bantamweight Bout

Da’Mon Blackshear: 14-5-1, 2 KO/TKO, 9 Sub.

Mario Bautista: 12-2-0, 3 KO/TKO, 6 Sub.

Blackshear has victories in three of his last five outings with one draw and has UFC wins over Luan Lacerda (12-3-0) and Jose Johnson (15-8-0). He’s making a record-tying 7-day turnaround, fighting on short notice this Saturday after pulling off just the third twister submission in UFC history last week. He’s a technical striker who does a lot of work with his lead hand and leg, throwing a bevy of jabs, uppercuts, and front kicks. Blackshear has great clinch striking and throws everything in combination, preferring volume over power when it comes to punching. Training at KO Zone, he has a black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and is averaging nearly two takedowns per fifteen minutes in the UFC. He’s visibly calm and experienced on the ground and has a solid wrestling game, able to land takedowns in open space. Blackshear is excellent at executing back takes and has a dangerous submission game if the opportunity presents itself.

Mario Bautista works to secure a rear naked choke against Guido Cannetti. Credit: MMA Mania.

Bautista has won four of his last five fights and has wins over Miles Johns (13-2-0), Brian Kelleher (24-14-0), and Benito Lopez (10-2-0). He’s incredibly quick and dangerous on the feet, able to easily move in and out of the pocket. 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 nearly three takedowns per 15 minutes and has landed 68% of the takedowns he’s attempted, showing his excellent and efficient wrestling. He’s as quick on the ground as on the feet, transitioning and passing at lightning speed. Bautista has heavy top pressure and will find submissions in the blink of an eye, winning his last three appearances by first-round submission. 

#11 Neil Magny vs. #13 Ian Garry

Neil Magny performs a takedown on Daniel Rodriguez. Credit: MMA Mania.

Welterweight Bout

Neil Magny: 28-11-0, 7 KO/TKO, 4 Sub.

Ian Garry: 12-0-0, 7 KO/TKO, 1 Sub.

Magny has won three of his last five fights and has wins over former UFC Welterweight champions Robbie Lawler (29-16-0) and Johny Hendricks (18-8-0), as well as #8 ranked Welterweight Geoff Neal (15-4-0). He is in his 10th year in the promotion, and his experience shows in the cage, as he’s seemingly comfortable everywhere. He’s tall for the division and uses it well, staying at distance on the feet and picking his opponents apart with his punches. Magny’s best weapon is his cardio; he can and has gone 25 minutes and always pushes a heavy pace, constantly touching up his opponents or working for takedowns. Training at Elevation Fight Team, he is excellent at using his length inside the clinch, often landing knees and elbows and scoring takedowns. Averaging over two takedowns landed per fifteen minutes, his most straightforward path to victory is to take it to the mat, which he usually does. Magny stays technical across the entire fight, never overexerting himself or putting himself in significant danger.

Ian Garry lands a head kick on Daniel Rodriguez. Credit: TalkSport.

Garry is undefeated and has UFC victories over Daniel Rodriguez (17-4-0), Song Kenan (18-7-0), and Gabe Green (11-5-0). 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 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 Kill Cliff FC, he holds a black belt in Judo and has solid takedown defense but rarely initiates grappling exchanges. Garry benefits from a slower pace, technical fight, having never been dragged into a knockdown, drag-out brawl. 

(C) Zhang Weili vs. #5 Amanda Lemos

Women’s Strawweight Title Bout

Zhang Weili submits Carla Esparza with a rear naked choke to win the Strawweight title. Credit: MMA Fighting.

Zhang Weili: 23-3-0, 11 KO/TKO, 8 Sub.

Amanda Lemos: 13-2-1, 8 KO/TKO, 3 Sub.

Weili has found victory in three of her last five outings and has wins over former UFC champions Joanna Jedrzejczyk (16-5-0) and Jessica Andrade (24-12-0), as well as #10 ranked strawweight Tecia Torres (13-6-0). Weili pushes a serious pace, both on the feet and the ground, and is dangerous wherever the fight goes. Weili 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 Fight Ready, Weili varies her strikes well, attacking both the head and body and mixing kicks into combinations. She is willing to grapple, averaging over two takedowns landed per fight, and will immediately start punching away if she gets on top of her opponent. Like she does on the feet, Weili always looks for the finish on the mat, transitioning quickly and throwing devastating ground and pound. She has a brown belt in BJJ and won her last bout via rear naked choke, so she has submission ability but is more likely to try to drive her opponent’s head through the canvas.

Amanda Lemos submits Michelle Waterson-Gomez with a guillotine choke. Credit: MMA Fighting.

Lemos has won four of her last five fights, with wins over #9 ranked Strawweight Marina Rodriguez (16-3-2), #13 ranked Strawweight Michelle Waterson-Gomez (18-11-0), and Montserrat Conejo-Ruiz (10-3-0). Lemos is a knockout artist, having eight first-round finishes in her career, with three coming in the UFC. She has crazy power for the division in both hands and has knocked people out with her jab. Lemos won’t push a crazy pace on the feet, making up for volume with power and accuracy, landing at a 57% accuracy rate. Training at Marajo Brothers Team, Lemos 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 over one takedown landed per 15 minutes in the UFC and has shown a slick submission game, particularly her guillotine. If she does end up in top position, she’ll often rain down ground and pound until securing a finish.

(C) Aljamain Sterling vs. #2 Sean O’Malley

Aljamain Sterling rains down ground and pound on Petr Yan. Credit: MMA Mania.

Bantamweight Title Bout

Aljamain Sterling: 23-3-0, 3 KO/TKO, 8 Sub.

Sean O’Malley: 16-1-0, 11 KO/TKO, 1 Sub.

Sterling comes into this fight with a nine-fight winning streak, with wins over former UFC bantamweight champion Petr Yan twice (16-5-0), former UFC double champion Henry Cejudo (16-3-0), and #4 ranked bantamweight Cory Sandhagen (17-4-0). Sterling is an excellent grappler, possessing fantastic wrestling and a lethal submission game. Sterling has smothering top control, often using ground and pound to set up his submission attempts. To back up his grappling, Sterling has solid kickboxing on the feet, with great speed in both his hands and his kicks. Sterling has the cardio to push a furious pace for all 25 minutes, whether on the feet or the ground, averaging about 74 significant strikes landed in his last five fights. Training at Serra-Longo Fight Team, Sterling averages two takedowns landed per 15 minutes, along with about one submission attempt, so his most accessible path to victory is rather apparent. 

Sean O’Malley finishes Jose Quinonez with ground and pound. Credit: Zuffa LLC.

O’Malley has won 4 of his last five outings with one no-contest and has wins over former UFC Bantamweight champion Petr Yan (16-5-0), Raulian Paiva (21-5-0), and Thomas Almeida (22-5-0). O’Malley is known for his wild striking style, throwing out a variety of spinning and flying kicks seemingly at will. Averaging over seven significant strikes landed per minute, O’Malley is always pursuing a finish, holding six KO victories in the UFC. O’Malley rarely engages in grappling exchanges, preferring to stay at range and pick at his opponent with long punches and kicks. Beyond his arsenal of flashy attacks, his most dangerous weapon are his straight punches, often putting them at the end of combinations and regularly resulting in knockdowns or knockouts (see O’Malley vs Wineland). O’Malley has had a meteoric rise to the title, with only one significant test in Petr Yan on his journey to the belt. 

Best Bets

Blackshear vs. Bautista to Not Go the Distance: This one is pretty cut and dry; Blackshear is fighting on a week’s notice coming off two consecutive finishes, while Bautista has finished his last three fights in the first round. I’d be utterly shocked to see this one go to the judges.

Ian Garry by KO/TKO: Although I’m by no means the biggest fan of Ian Garry, I do believe he should finish Magny, and relatively quickly. Magny is his toughest test so far, but if Garry can keep it on the feet, it should be a foregone conclusion.

Zhang Weili by Finish: Weili is truly one of the most vicious, well-rounded fighters in all of MMA, and I don’t believe Lemos has faced anywhere near this level of competition before. Besides Marina Rodriguez, Lemos really hasn’t been faced with top-level competition in the UFC, and I think Weili makes easy work of her.

UFC Fight Night: Luque vs. Dos Anjos

Vicente Luque cracks Mike Perry with a left hand. Credit: MMA Fighting.

This weekend, two well-rounded Welterweights square off in the octagon. Preceding them is a main card packed with future contenders and consistent finishers. Let’s take a look at this weekend’s main card.

Josh Fremd vs. Jamie Pickett

Josh Fremd submits Sedriques Dumas with a guillotine choke. Credit: Zuffa LLC.

Middleweight Bout

Josh Fremd: 10-4-0, 4 KO/TKO, 4 Sub.

Jamie Pickett: 13-9-0, 9 KO/TKO, 0 Sub.

Fremd has won three of his last five bouts, with his sole UFC victory coming over Sedriques Dumas (8-1-0). He is a patient boxer who fights behind his jab and picks his shots. He has heavy kicks but often throws them naked, not typically putting them in combinations. Training at FactoryX Muay Thai, Fremd’s best weapon is his left hand, often damaging his opponent with jabs and lead hooks. While he fights at a relatively slow pace, he does pick up his volume and urgency as the fight goes on, making him more dangerous the longer a fight goes for. He is willing to grapple and has solid offensive wrestling, able to land takedowns in open space and along the fence. Fremd isn’t too aggressive on top, focusing on advancing his position instead of doing much damage. He has the power to finish a fight, but his tendency to throw single shots often works against him. 

Jamie Pickett blasts Joe Holmes with a left hand. Credit: Cageside Press.

Pickett has victories in two of his last five bouts, with his UFC victories coming over Joseph Holmes (8-4-0) and Laureano Staropoli (12-5-0). He often comes out slow, taking time to find his range and timing before engaging. He primarily throws straights, usually only throwing hooks when he’s in the pocket, and often blitzes forward with big combinations. Pickett has solid cardio, picking up the pace in the later stages of the fight when his opponent begins to fade. He is willing to grapple but mainly seems to do so when he’s losing the striking battle and is more than keen to clinch against the cage for long periods. Training at Port City Sports Performance, he is a lengthy striker who’s at his best when controlling the center of the octagon and using his reach. “The Night Wolf” has a solid arsenal of kicks, particularly at range, but favors his hands more, often throwing out naked kicks with no setup.

A.J. Dobson vs. Tafon Nchukwi

A.J. Dobson lands a right hand on Jacob Malkoun. Credit: Zuffa LLC.

Middleweight Bout

AJ Dobson: 6-2-0, 3 KO/TKO, 2 Sub.

Tafon Nchukwi: 6-3-0, 4 KO/TKO, 0 Sub.

Dobson has won three of his last five fights with a win on Dana White’s Contender Series over Hashem Arkhagha (6-1-0). He’s a well-rounded fighter who comes out guns blazing, often exchanging strikes on the inside or shooting for a takedown at the start. On the feet, he has a very upright stance and throws a lot of single shots with good power and speed in his hands. Dobson remains technical across the fight, keeping his shots straight and tight and using his length well. His best route to victory is through his wrestling, currently holding 80% takedown accuracy in the UFC and wild, heavy ground and pound. He has excellent top control and is very urgent on top, constantly pursuing a finish. Dobson has good cardio and can push a heavy pace across 15 minutes. 

Tafon Nchukwi lands a body kick on Azamat Murzakanov. Credit: Doc’s Sports

Nchukwi has wins in two of his last five outings, with UFC victories over Mike Rodriguez (12-7-0) and Jamie Pickett (13-9-0). He’s an explosive, powerful striker who throws every shot with fight-ending intentions. He won’t spend much time at range, landing most of his damage with punches on the inside. Nchukwi has serious power in both hands and constantly throws bombs, supplying his opponent with a steady dose of hooks. He’s extremely dangerous in the clinch, able to land damage and generate significant power from in close. He also has solid wrestling and great takedowns, typically landing devastating ground and pound when on top. Nchukwi has fought at both Middleweight and Light Heavyweight in the UFC, showing that his power translates to both divisions.

Polyana Viana vs. Iasmin Lucindo

Polyana Viana locks in a submission on Mallory Martin. Credit: ESPN.

Women’s Strawweight Bout

Polyana Viana: 13-5-0, 5 KO/TKO, 8 Sub.

Iasmin Lucindo: 14-5-0, 8 KO/TKO, 2 Sub.

Viana has won three of her last five fights and has UFC victories over Jinh Yu Frey (11-9-0), Mallory Martin (7-5-0), and Emily Whitmire (4-5-0). She’s at her most dangerous early on and has scored four first-round finishes in her promotional tenure. She’s a bit flat-footed on the feet but has solid power, speed, and a devastating right straight. Viana throws everything in combination and is willing to engage on the inside. She has a hazardous submission game and is very comfortable off her back, often finding submissions when taken down by her opponent. She transitions extremely quickly and never telegraphs her moves, seemingly finding submissions out of thin air. Viana constantly pursues a finish on the ground and often throws vicious elbows until securing a submission.

Iasmin Lucindo lands a right hand on Yazmin Jauregui. Credit: Zuffa LLC.

Lucindo has victories in four of her last five appearances, with her lone UFC victory coming over Brogan Walker (8-4-0). 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 went professional at 14, making her impressively experienced for a 21-year-old. While she’s at her best holding the center and controlling the pace, she has grappling abilities and a solid takedown game. Although primarily a boxer, Lucindo sometimes gets flashy, throwing spinning kicks and backfists. 

#13 (LHW) Khalil Rountree Jr. vs. #14 (HW) Chris Daukaus

Khalil Rountree Jr. throws a jab at Karl Roberson. Credit: MyMMANews

Light Heavyweight Bout

Khalil Rountree Jr.: 12-5-0, 8 KO/TKO, 0 Sub.

Chris Daukaus: 12-6-0, 11 KO/TKO, 0 Sub.

Rountree has won three of his last five outings and has victories over #15 ranked Light Heavyweight Dustin Jacoby (19-7-1), Eryk Anders (15-8-0), and Modestas Bukauskas (15-5-0). 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 a 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.

Chris Daukaus rocks Shamil Abdurakhimov with a hook. Credit: MMA Fighting.

Daukaus has victories in two of his last five fights and holds wins over Shamil Abdurakhimov (20-8-0), Aleksei Oleinik (60-17-1), and Rodrigo Nascimento (10-1-0). Training out of Martinez BJJ, he possesses excellent speed for a heavyweight, using his crisp boxing to overwhelm his opponents with volume and power. He rarely takes the fight to the mat but possesses solid clinch work, a black belt in BJJ, and good defensive wrestling. Daukaus, unlike many heavyweights, relies on his output instead of his strength to get finishes. He throws everything in combination and is constantly coming forward, looking for a finish. He won’t throw many kicks, often spending much of his cage-time fighting in a phone booth. Daukaus is willing to eat one to land one and loves to brawl, but this hasn’t been the best strategy lately, with three KO losses in his last three fights.

Cub Swanson vs. Hakeem Dawodu

Cub Swanson lands ground and pound on Daniel Pineda. Credit: ESPN.

Featherweight Bout

Cub Swanson: 28-13-0, 13 KO/TKO, 4 Sub.

Hakeem Dawodu: 13-3-1, 7 KO/TKO, 0 Sub.

Cub Swanson comes into this fight with three wins in his last five fights, with notable victories over #1 ranked Lightweight Charles Oliveira (32-8-0),  #3 ranked Lightweight Dustin Poirier (28-7-0), and Darren Elkins (28-11-0). Training at Joel Diaz Training Camp, he is a UFC mainstay supplying fans with exciting fights for nearly two decades. He’s an excellent striker known for throwing thunderous, looping hooks, devastating leg kicks, and constant forward motion. Swanson will often charge forward to throw big combos, mainly hooks, and straights, but also has a great kicking game and will throw various attacks with his legs. “Killer” Cub also has a black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and will occasionally mix in wrestling, but he has been submitted seven times in his career and will mostly keep the fight standing. 

Hakeem Dawodu lands a body kick on Zubaira Tukhugov. Credit: MMA Fighting.

Dawodu has won three of his last five bouts, with his best wins coming over Michael Trizano (11-3-0), Zubaira Tukhugov (20-6-1), and Julio Arce (18-6-0). He is an excellent counter-striker, utilizing a sharp kickboxing style to damage his opponents. He does a great job mixing up his strikes, evenly attacking the head, legs, and body with various punches and kicks. Training at Champion’s Creed MMA, Dawodu possesses one of the more impressive kicking arsenals I’ve seen, particularly with his low kicks, attacking from different angles to deal severe damage to the legs and body. He occasionally throws flashy attacks, but he has excellent fundamentals and keeps his striking technical throughout the entire fight. “Mean” has struggled on the ground in the past, getting taken down nine times by Movsar Evloev (17-0-0), and has no interest in taking the fight to the mat, only clinching when he’s hurt. 

#10 (WW) Vicente Luque vs. #9 (LW) Rafael Dos Anjos

Vicente Luque submits Tyron Woodley. Credit: MMA Fighting.

Welterweight Bout

Vicente Luque: 21-9-1, 11 KO/TKO, 8 Sub.

Rafael Dos Anjos: 32-14-0, 5 KO/TKO, 11 Sub.

Luque has found victory in three of his last five bouts and holds wins over former UFC Welterweight champion Tyron Woodley (19-7-1), #3 ranked Welterweight Belal Muhammad (23-3-0), and #12 ranked Lightweight Jalin Turner (13-7-0). He is a heavy-handed striker who throws everything with power while remaining accurate. He fights behind his jab and throws everything with purpose, never telegraphing shots or wasting energy. Luque has excellent low kicks and does a great job mixing them into combinations. He’s able to lead the dance or counter strike but loves to brawl and will eat a shot to land one. He holds black belts in BJJ and Luta Livre and has extremely dangerous chokes. Although Luque won’t often chase takedowns, he regularly finds himself in top position due to knockdowns. 

Rafael Dos Anjos lands an elbow on Renato Moicano. Credit: MMA Fighting.

Dos Anjos has won three of his last five fights and has wins over former UFC Welterweight champion Robbie Lawler (30-16-0) and former UFC Lightweight champions Anthony Pettis (25-14-0) and Benson Henderson (30-12-0). A former UFC Lightweight champion himself, he has been in the UFC since 2008 and is one of the most experienced veterans in the sport. He has heavy hands and kicks on the feet and is constantly pressuring forward. Dos Anjos is very technical and accurate and often uses his striking to set up his grappling. Averaging about two takedowns landed per fifteen minutes, he has excellent timing and usually gets his opponent to the mat in open space. He has fantastic top control and excellent ground and pound, never putting himself in bad spots and always choosing position over submission. Dos Anjos is a 4th-degree Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt with excellent cardio, making him always dangerous, no matter where the fight goes.

Best Bets

Khalil Rountree Jr. by KO: Rountree Jr. is one of the most vicious strikers in the entire 205-pound division, and with Daukaus moving down in weight, this could be a real problem for him. Not to mention, Daukaus is coming off three straight KO losses and facing yet another powerful striker.

AJ Dobson Moneyline (+125): Despite a rough start in the UFC, Dobson has serious potential. He’s lengthy and well-rounded, able to present issues for his opponents on the feet and on the ground. I think he could blow through Nchukwi, but he’ll need to use his wrestling to do so.

Vicente Luque Moneyline (+105): Calling this a best bet is probably silly, but I love Luque and I can’t pick against him here. RDA is a true legend and deserves the respect he receives, but his bout with Rafael Fiziev showed he can be outstruck still and I think Luque has the ability to do that. I also think Luque’s grappling abilities are slept on, and if RDA gets lazy with his takedowns, he could find himself getting choked out.

UFC Fight Night: Strickland vs. Magomedov

Sean Strickland throws a right hand at Nassourdine Imavov. Credit: BVM Sports.

In an unusual matchup, we’ll see top middleweight contender Sean Strickland take on Abus Magomedov in his second UFC bout. Beyond that, the main card is packed with finishers and rising stars like Ismael Bonfim, Michael Morales, and Grant Dawson. This card very well could be a big showcase for future talent; hopefully, we won’t see much involvement from the judges.

Brunno Ferreira vs. Nursulton Ruziboev

Bruno Ferreira lands a knee on Gregory Rodrigues. Credit: Zuffa LLC.

Middleweight Bout

Bruno Ferreira: 10-0-0, 7 KO/TKO, 3 Sub.

Nursulton Ruziboev: 34-8-2, 12 KO/TKO, 20 Sub.

Ferreira is undefeated and is making his second promotional outing following an upset KO victory over Gregory Rodrigues (13-5-0). He is an explosive striker with one-shot knockout power. He’s constantly feinting, switching stances, looking for openings, and attacking from different angles. Ferreira has finished all ten wins, with just two of his career outings seeing a second round. Training at Evolucao Thai, he prefers power to volume and has great head movement and big-time power in both hands. Although patient, he will throw out risky maneuvers like Superman punches and spinning kicks. He is willing to grapple and often takes the fight to the mat via vicious slam takedowns before unleashing hellacious ground-and-pound. He’s very active on the ground and will never accept position, constantly trying to advance and secure a finish. Ruziboev makes his promotional debut on an eight-fight win streak, with all those wins coming via first-round finish. On the feet, he throws a lot of single shots but with plenty of power and loves to throw flashy spinning kicks. He’s always pressuring forward and will often pursue takedowns early, often using his wild offense to set up his wrestling. Ruziboev has a dangerous submission game and can finish the fight on top and his back. He’s highly active on the ground and never stops moving, but he is much more of a wild man than a technician and can put himself in bad spots. Training at Renzo Gracie Philly, he’s always looking to finish the fight, often choosing not to defend takedowns to pursue a kimura instead. Ruziboev has heavy ground-and-pound and is excellent at changing grappling positions, especially reversing position from bottom to top. Ferreira is the favorite at -182, making Ruziboev the +147 underdog. This is a tough fight to predict since neither has much, if any, UFC experience. I will take under 2.5 rounds; I’d be surprised to see this go to the judges. As for a winner, I’ll take Ferreira. He has vastly more technical striking and is a capable grappler, so if Ruziboev can’t get the fight to the mat early, it might be a short night.

Picks: Under 2.5 rounds, Ferreira -184

Ismael Bonfim vs. Benoit Saint-Denis

Benoit Saint Denis throws a jab at Gabriel Miranda. Credit: MMA Mania.

Lightweight Bout

Ismael Bonfim: 19-3-0, 9 KO/TKO, 4 Sub.

Benoit Saint-Denis: 10-1-0, 2 KO/TKO, 8 Sub.

Bonfim enters this bout on a 13-fight win streak, with his UFC debut victory coming over Terrance McKinney (13-5-0). Bonfim is an exceptional striker with great technical boxing and fantastic range management. He does a great job of varying his shots, attacking the head and body evenly, and constantly pursuing a finish. He’s willing to brawl inside the pocket, has devastating knees, and throws everything in combination. Bonfim 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. He has a solid chin and has never been knocked out but typically won’t take much damage, using his footwork and head movement to remain unharmed. Bonfim is at his best when dictating the pace and controlling the center of the octagon, searching for counters and fight-ending shots. Saint-Denis has won four of his last five outings, holding UFC wins over Niklas Stolze (12-6-0) and Gabriel Miranda (16-6-0). On the feet, he is 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. He 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 Woirin Team Elite, Saint-Denis 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 is always dangerous. A decorated veteran and former Special Forces paratrooper, he’s incredibly tough and has possibly the best chin in the lightweight division. Bonfim is the biggest favorite on the main card at -320, with Saint-Denis returning a +250 underdog. These odds speak much more to the hype behind Bonfim than a gap in skills. While I believe Bonfim has a massive advantage on the feet, Saint-Denis is super durable and hard to finish, so Bonfim could be in trouble if he ends up on bottom. Bonfim has the striking skills and takedown defense to get it done, so I’ll take him moneyline. I’m hesitant to take under 2.5 rounds with Saint-Denis’s adamantium chin, but I think it’s worth the risk.

Picks: Bonfim -320, Under 2.5 rounds

Ariane Lipski vs. Melissa Gatto

Ariane Lipski wrenches on a kneebar on Luana Carolina. Credit: ESPN.

Women’s Flyweight Bout

Ariane Lipski: 15-8-0, 6 KO/TKO, 3 Sub.

Melissa Gatto: 8-1-2, 2 KO/TKO, 4 Sub.

Lipski has won two of her last five bouts and holds wins over JJ Aldrich (11-6-0), Mandy Bohm (8-2-0), and Luana Carolina (8-4-0). She is a classic Muay Thai striker with constant forward pressure, great clinch striking, and always throws in combination. She does an excellent job of varying her shots, often opening combos with a body jab before attacking upstairs. Lipski has great footwork and typically holds the center of the octagon, keeping her opponent on their heels. Training with Team Nunes, she remains technical across all 15 minutes and often looks to counter-strike, waiting for her opponent to open up before unleashing combinations. She’s willing to grapple and has great defensive wrestling, with 73% takedown defense and a fantastic ability to reverse attempts and land on top. She has solid top pressure on the mat and will focus on position over submission, rarely putting herself in harm’s way. Lipski is at her best in a technical striking battle where she can hold the center and control the pace. Gatto has won three of her last five outings with one draw and has UFC victories over Victoria Leonardo (9-6-0) and Sijara Eubanks (8-7-0). She’s a grappler who will shoot in early and often uses her excellent clinch control to secure takedowns in close. On top, she remains patient and technical, mostly focusing on submissions and not throwing much ground-and-pound. Training at MSP, Gatto is lengthy and makes great use of it on the mat, easily transitioning between positions and controlling her opponent. She’s very dangerous off her back, perpetually pursuing a finish and moving from position to position. She’s rather uncomplicated on the feet, largely throwing 1-2 combos and leg kicks. She has some decent power in her hands but usually won’t spend much time at distance. Gatto is the favorite at -230, with Lipski the +190 underdog. This fight will be decided by who does their specialty better; if it stays standing, Lipski has an advantage, while Gatto has the upper hand on the mat. I think Lipski is the more well-rounded fighter and has great takedown defense, so I’m taking her moneyline and over 2.5 rounds.

Picks: Lipski +190, Over 2.5 rounds

Max Griffin vs. Michael Morales

Michael Morales cracks Adam Fugitt with a hook. Credit: FanSided.

Welterweight Bout

Max Griffin: 19-9-0, 9 KO/TKO, 2 Sub.

Michael Morales: 14-0-0, 11 KO/TKO, 1 Sub.

Griffin has found victory in four of his last five outings, with wins over Carlos Condit (32-14-0), Song Kenan (18-7-0), and Tim Means (32-15-1). He constantly moves on his feet, often staying at range and throwing low kicks. He tends to favor his right hand, throwing bombs regularly. He doesn’t put out crazy volume but isn’t a slow fighter either, averaging about 59 significant strikes landed in his last five fights. Training with MMAGold Fight Team, Griffin is at his best when he’s throwing first and coming forward. He has one-shot knockout power in both hands and has decent cardio, maintaining his pace throughout the fight. Griffin has a solid takedown game, averaging over one takedown landed per UFC fight, and has good defensive wrestling. Morales comes into this fight undefeated, with UFC victories over Adam Fugitt (9-4-0) and Trevin Giles (16-4-0). He’s a technical kickboxer who remains patient and waits for openings to damage his opponent. He throws everything in combination and does a great job setting things up with his jab. Morales often blitzes forward to throw long, devastating hooks and straights, then quickly returns to range. Training at Entram Gym, he’s a solid grappler and very strong in the clinch. He’s also shown great calmness when put in tough spots as well as great defense off his back. When on top, he’ll typically resort to ground-and-pound in his pursuit of a finish. Morales is the favorite at -250, with Griffin the +205 underdog. This is undoubtedly the biggest test of Morales’ young career; Griffin is an experienced striker who’s only been finished once. I believe Morales has the skills to get the win and quite possibly a knockout as well if he can keep it standing. I’ll take Morales by knockout and under 2.5 rounds.

Picks: Morales by KO/TKO, Under 2.5 rounds

#12 Damir Ismagulov vs. #15 Grant Dawson

Damir Ismagulov exchanges blows with Guram Kutateladze. Credit: Sherdog.

Lightweight Bout

Damir Ismagulov: 24-2-0, 12 KO/TKO, 1 Sub.

Grant Dawson: 19-1-1, 4 KO/TKO, 13 Sub.

Ismagulov has won four of his five preceding bouts, with wins over Guram Kutateladze (12-3-0), Rafael Alves (20-12-0), and Thiago Moises (17-6-0). He is an aggressive striker with excellent range management and head movement. In his UFC career, he’s outstruck all his opponents, averaging about 57 strikes landed compared to about 38 absorbed. He has fast hands, powerful kicks, and constantly pressures forward, often busting his opponent up with his jab. Training at Boets MMA, he varies his shots well, attacking the body and head evenly. Ismagulov has excellent footwork and does a great job of moving in and out of the pocket without taking damage. Ismagulov has great takedowns and excellent top control, constantly throwing ground-and-pound when on top. He has fantastic takedown defense, having defended 75% of takedowns attempted on him in the UFC. Dawson is undefeated in his promotion tenure, holding victories over Jared Gordon (19-6-0), Leonardo Santos (18-7-1), and Julian Erosa (28-12-0). He is an excellent grappler and is most comfortable on the mat, often shooting early and easily gaining takedowns. He’s averaging around three takedowns landed per fight in his UFC career and has great control, especially on the back. He’s very active on the ground, always pursuing a finish. Of his 13 career submissions, 11 are rear-naked chokes, so Dawson is incredibly dangerous if he can get his opponent’s neck. Dawson throws everything with power on the feet and stays behind his jab, often not moving around too much. Training at American Top Team, he has decent head movement and usually doesn’t get hit too much, but he isn’t a very complex striker and will largely throw basic combinations. This is a true Pick ‘em, with both men coming in at -110. These odds make a lot of sense; both are incredibly high level and very well could be in title contention soon. While they stack up pretty evenly, the biggest difference maker will be Ismagulov’s striking. He has a much more technical and evolved striking game than Dawson and can match his grappling, so I’ll take Ismagulov moneyline. I have no idea if there’s a finish in this bout, so I’m cautiously taking over 2.5 rounds.

Picks: Ismagulov -110, Over 2.5 rounds

#7 Sean Strickland vs. Abus Magomedov

Abus Magomedov lands a front kick on the chin of Dustin Stoltzfus. Credit: Zuffa LLC.

Middleweight Bout

Sean Strickland: 26-5-0, 10 KO/TKO, 4 Sub.

Abus Magomedov: 25-4-1, 14 KO/TKO, 6 Sub.

Sean Strickland has won three of his last five fights, with wins over #10 ranked middleweight Jack Hermansson (23–8-0), #13 ranked middleweight Nassourdine Imavov (12-4-0), and Uriah Hall (18-10-0). He is known for his striking prowess as well as for his tendency to talk trash throughout fights. While he prefers to keep the fight standing, he often mixes some grappling with his striking, averaging just over one takedown per 15 minutes. Strickland also has solid takedown defense, defending 85% of takedowns attempted on him in the UFC. He rarely pursues submissions, typically resorting to ground-and-pound when on top. He uses a very upright boxing style on the feet, constantly moving forward and throwing combinations. While Strickland always pursues the knockout, he doesn’t overextend himself, usually remaining technical and composed, even in firefights. Training at Millenia MMA, he tries to keep his opponent on the back foot as much as possible to open up opportunities to land combinations: especially his one-two. Magomedov has won four of his last five bouts, making a splash with a 19-second KO victory over Dustin Stoltzfus (14-5-0) in his UFC debut. He is a lengthy striker who prefers power over volume, typically blasting his opponents with a barrage of kicks. He throws everything with fight-ending intentions and is at his most dangerous early, with 15 of his 20 finishes coming in round one. Magomedov is always pressuring forward and constantly switching stances, dealing damage to his opponent's body and head. He’s willing to grapple and is a solid wrestler, able to land his own takedowns and often reverse ones attempted on him to land on top. Training at UFD Gym, he transitions quickly on the ground and is active on top, always throwing ground-and-pound or pursuing a choke. Although this is his second bout in the UFC, he has big-fight experience, having made a run through the playoffs to the PFL middleweight championship in 2018. Strickland is a slight favorite at -150, with Magomedov the underdog at +125. This is easily the least informed I’ve been on a fighter in a main event, considering people usually don’t get main events in their second fight. Despite this, given Magomedov’s relative inactivity (3 fights since 2018) and lack of promotional experience, I have to give this one to Strickland. I think this fight will have a decently high pace, so I’ll take under 4.5 rounds, but wouldn’t be surprised to see the judges involved here.

Picks: Strickland -150, Under 4.5 rounds

UFC 285

Main Card

Bo Nickal vs. Jamie Pickett

Middleweight Bout

Bo Nickal: 3-0-0. 1 KO/TKO, 2 Sub.

Jamie Pickett: 13-8-0, 9 KO/TKO, 0 Sub.

In this bout, one of the most highly touted UFC prospects makes his promotional debut. Nickal is undefeated in his career, having picked up two wins over Donovan Beard (7-2-0) and Zachary Borrego (4-1-0) on Dana White’s Contender Series. Nickal 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. He 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. While we haven’t seen much of his striking, Nickal has shown solid power in his hands and does a great job using his striking to set up his wrestling. Training at American Top Team, all three of his fights have ended in under 2 minutes, with him holding just 2 minutes and 27 seconds of cage time in his professional career. Pickett has won two of his last five fights, with his UFC victories coming over Joseph Holmes (8-2-0) and Laureano Staropoli (10-5-0). Pickett tends to come out a little slow, often taking time to find his range and timing before engaging. He primarily throws straights, usually only throwing hooks when he’s in the pocket, and often blitzes forward with big combinations. Although he starts slow, he has solid cardio, often picking up the pace in the later stages of the fight when his opponent begins to fade. Pickett is willing to grapple but mainly seems to do so when he’s losing the striking battle and is more than willing to clinch against the cage for long periods. Training at Port City Sports Performance, he is a lengthy striker who’s at his best when controlling the center of the octagon and using his reach. “The Night Wolf” has a solid arsenal of kicks, particularly at range, but favors his hands more, often throwing out naked kicks with no setup. Nickal is the biggest favorite on the card by a significant margin, coming in at -1600, with Pickett returning the +900 underdog. Don’t get me wrong, Bo Nickal should win this fight, but those odds are ludicrous, and I highly suggest staying away from the moneyline. I’m going to take Nickal by submission and under 2.5 rounds.

Picks: Nickal by Sub., Under 2.5 rounds

#7 Mateusz Gamrot vs. #10 Jalin Turner

Lightweight Bout

Mateusz Gamrot: 21-2-0, 7 KO/TKO, 5 Sub.

Jalin Turner: 13-5-0, 9 KO/TKO, 4 Sub.

Two well-rounded fighters collide in the octagon in this matchup. Gamrot has won 4 of his last five bouts, with his best victories coming over #8 ranked lightweight Arman Tsarukyan (18-3-0), Jeremy Stephens (29-20-0), and Diego Ferreira (17-5-0). Like his opponent, he is an incredibly well-rounded fighter and is dangerous wherever the fight goes. When striking, he’s constantly moving and staying at range, remaining patient, and picking his shots. What he lacks in volume, he makes up for in power, throwing every shot with knockout intentions. Training at American Top Team, Gamrot is averaging over four takedowns landed per fight and has defended 90% of takedowns attempted on him. He is an excellent wrestler, refusing to give up on takedowns and never staying still on the ground, whether on top or bottom. A former KSW champion, “Gamer” has excellent cardio, seemingly always moving on the ground or his feet. Turner has won all his last five outings via finish, with his best wins coming over Brad Riddell (10-4-0) and Josh Culibao (11-1-1). 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. Turner has power in both hands and is very fluid on the feet, easily chaining attacks together and using a great variety of strikes. Training at Carlson Gracie Riverside, he’s averaging over one takedown landed per 15 minutes and has an impressive submission game, with three wins by submission in his last five fights. He’s as active on the ground as on the feet and constantly tries to improve position or find a finish. Turner is a huge lightweight, standing at 6’3, and uses his length by fighting at range and damaging his opponent without getting hit. He has serious speed and power in both hands and has shown solid cardio, making him dangerous at any time. Gamrot is the favorite at -220, with Turner the underdog at +180. This fight comes down to who can do their specialty better; Gamrot has the advantage in grappling, whereas Turner has the edge in striking. I believe Gamrot is a significant jump in competition for Turner and will prove too much too soon, and I expect Gamrot to pick up the win. I’m going to take under 2.5 rounds and Gamrot moneyline.

Picks: Gamrot -220, Under 2.5 rounds

#7 Geoff Neal vs. #9 Shavkat Rakhmonov

Welterweight Bout

Geoff Neal: 15-4-0, 9 KO/TKO, 2 Sub.

Shavkat Rakhmonov: 16-0-0, 8 KO/TKO, 8 Sub.

A pair of quickly rising contenders meet in this bout. Neal has won three of his last five outings and holds wins over #4 ranked welterweight Belal Muhammad (22-3-0), #9 ranked welterweight Vicente Luque (21-9-1), and the “Nigerian Nightmare'“ Mike Perry (14-8-0). He has serious power in his hands and throws everything in combination, usually fighting behind his jab. While he is an aggressive striker, he remains technical, keeping his punches tight and straight and his guard high. Neal is defensively sound, has excellent head movement, and has defended 60% of significant strikes attempted on him in the UFC. Training at Fortis MMA, he does a great job of varying his shots and attacking from different angles, but his best punch by far is his left straight. He holds a purple belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and has shown some decent wrestling, with a takedown defense percentage of 85%. Neal has proven to have solid cardio, carrying the same speed and power across all 15 minutes. Rakhmonov is undefeated and holds UFC wins over #12 ranked welterweight Neil Magny (27-11-0), Carlston Harris (17-5-0), and Alex Oliveira (23-13-1). Rakhmonov is in constant motion, constantly pressuring forward, but fights patiently and never telegraphs his shots. In his four fights with the promotion, he’s yet to eat more than 11 significant strikes in a single fight, averaging about one strike absorbed per minute. He holds the rank of Master of Sport in Combat Sambo and has won every fight of his career via finish, with only a single bout going to a third round. Rakhmonov is an excellent grappler with great takedowns, clinch striking, and a slick submission game. All eight submission wins have come via some choke, so they're in serious trouble if he gets a hold of 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. Rakhmonov is a -550 favorite, with Neal the +400 underdog. While not particularly shocked by these odds, I feel like it’s disrespectful to Neal, and I think this fight could be much closer than many expect. Still, I expect Rakhmonov to secure a finish, so I’m taking Rakhmonov by submission and under 2.5 rounds.

Picks: Rakhmonov by Sub., Under 2.5 rounds

(C) Valentina Shevchenko vs. #6 Alexa Grasso

Women’s Flyweight Title Bout

Valentina Shevchenko: 23-3-0, 8 KO/TKO, 7 Sub.

Alexa Grasso: 15-3-0, 4 KO/TKO, 1 Sub.

In this fight, one of the most dominant champions seeks to defend her title again. Shevchenko hasn’t lost in 6 years and holds victories over #2 ranked flyweight Taila Santos (19-2-0), #4 ranked flyweight Jessica Andrade (24-10-0), and #5 ranked flyweight Katlyn Chookagian (18-5-0). She holds black belts in Taekwondo and Judo and the rank of Master of Sports in Judo, Muay Thai, Kickboxing, and Boxing. She is one of the best strikers in the sport, 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 averaged about four takedowns landed per fight in her last five outings and has excellent top control, ground and pound, and chokes. Everything she does is fast, and she is fantastic at managing distance, never staying in the pocket long enough to get hit. In her last five fights, Shevchenko has averaged about 62 significant strikes landed compared to approximately 26 significant strikes absorbed. Grasso has won four of her last five bouts and has wins over #8 ranked flyweight Viviane Araujo (11-4-0), and #12 ranked flyweight Maycee Barber (11-2-0). She is an excellent technical boxer who throws everything in combination and with purpose. She’s aggressive but not wild, staying technical and using great timing and accuracy to damage her opponents. Grasso is willing to eat one to land one and is dangerous inside the pocket, but they also have solid head movement. She holds a purple belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and has landed 57% of the takedowns she’s attempted in the UFC. On top, she’s active and has solid ground and pound, and she found her first win via submission in a first-round victory over Joanna Wood (15-8-0) last year. Grasso is a volume striker with excellent cardio, always fighting behind her jab and setting up her combinations. Shevchenko is a significant favorite at -800, with Grasso, the underdog, at +550. Despite Shevchenko looking rather human in her last outing, I think this will be a return to form for her, and I expect a dominant victory. I’ll take Shevchenko by knockout and under 4.5 rounds.

Picks: Shevchenko by KO/TKO, Under 4.5 rounds

Jon Jones vs. #1 Ciryl Gane

Heavyweight Title Bout

Jon Jones: 26-1-0, 10 KO/TKO, 6 Sub.

Ciryl Gane: 11-1-0, 5 KO/TKO, 3 Sub.

In the main event, we’ll see the GOAT return against one of the most dangerous heavyweights in MMA. Jones is undefeated (excluding his bogus DQ loss), and holds wins over former champions Daniel Cormier (22-3-0), Glover Teixeira (33-9-0), and Shogun Hua (27-14-1). On the feet, he throws everything with power and is excellent at managing distance, absorbing just 36% of strikes thrown at him. He does a great job of controlling the center of the cage and varies his shots constantly, attacking both the head and body. Training at Jackson’s MMA, Jones has some of the most devastating elbows in MMA and never telegraphs his attacks. He stays technical across all five rounds and has proven his cardio, having not been in anything but a title fight since 2011. He averages nearly two takedowns landed per fight and has heavy top control and ground and pound. He is also a great defensive wrestler, having defended 95% of takedowns attempted on him in the UFC. Jones also has excellent head movement and doesn’t often take much damage, on average landing nearly twice as many significant strikes as he absorbs.  Ciryl Gane has won four of his last five bouts, with wins over #8 ranked Alexander Volkov (34-9-0), former UFC heavyweight champion Junior Dos Santos (21-9-0), and an interim heavyweight title win over #11 ranked Derrick Lewis (26-8-0). Gane is one of the most technical strikers we’ve ever seen in the heavyweight division, using excellent Muay Thai to damage his opponents. Training at MMA Factory, he can throw various strikes from punches, kicks, knees, and elbows and throws all those with power. While he’s become known for his striking, he also has solid grappling, having two submission wins in the UFC, including a heel hook. I’d say his wrestling and BJJ are relatively equal; he has solid takedowns and top control and can do a lot of damage with his ground and pound or submit his opponent. 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. Jones is the favorite at -180, with Gane the +155 underdog. Despite a three-year layoff, I still believe Jones should win this fight. Given how Gane was dominated by Francis Ngannou’s wrestling and his admitting to not training between fights, I can’t imagine his wrestling has improved enough to match Jones. I will take Jones by decision and over 4.5 rounds.

Picks: Jones -180, Over 4.5 rounds

UFC 284

Prelims

Josh Culibao vs. Melsik Baghdasaryan

Featherweight Bout

Josh Culibao: 10-1-1, 5 KO/TKO, 0 Sub.

Melsik Baghdasaryan: 7-1-0, 5 KO/TKO, 0 Sub.

An excellent matchup of exciting strikers; this should be a war on the feet. Culibao has won three of his last five outings with one draw and has wins over Seung-Woo Choi (10-6-0) and Shayilan Nuerdanbieke (39-10-0). Culibao is a technical striker who is constantly feinting and moving and throws every shot with power. He tends to throw in combination, with his best punch being his right straight, but he also has a solid kicking game. Training at Igor MMA, Culibao has excellent footwork and head movement, often darting into the pocket to land a combination before returning to range. He is patient and won’t overextend, but he constantly pursues a finish and will often increase his pace as the fight continues. Culibao has shown solid cardio in the UFC, carries the same power and speed across all 15 minutes, and has landed three knockdowns in his four fights with the promotion. Culibao has not attempted a takedown in the UFC but has defended 82% of takedowns tried on him. He holds a purple belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, so he has grappling capabilities. Baghdasaryan has won all his last five outings, with his UFC victories coming over Collin Anglin (8-5-0) and Bruno Souza (10-3-0). Baghdasaryan is a former professional kickboxer with a record of 9-2 and even challenged for a K-1 World Title before coming to MMA. Unsurprisingly he is an excellent striker with serious power in his punches and kicks. Baghdasaryan is always coming forward and never telegraphs his shots and does a great job of varying his shots, attacking 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. Baghdasaryan is very defensively sound, with him, on average, landing nearly double as many shots as he absorbs. He is a very aggressive striker and always pursues a finish, throwing plenty of looping punches and spinning kicks. Like his opponent, Baghdasaryan has not attempted a takedown in the UFC but has exhibited both solid takedown defense (76%) and good clinch striking. Culibao is a very slight favorite at -115, with Baghdasaryan coming in at -105. I expect a finish in this fight, so under 2.5 rounds is a safe bet. Both guys have similar skills and styles, but I think Baghdasaryan is a bit more technical and has an advantage in both power and striking experience, so I’ll take him to win this one by knockout.

Picks: Under 2.5 rounds, Baghdasaryan -105

Tyson Pedro vs. Modestas Bukauskas

Light Heavyweight Bout

Tyson Pedro: 9-3-0, 4 KO/TKO, 5 Sub.

Modestas Bukauskas: 13-5-0, 9 KO/TKO, 2 Sub.

In this bout, two strikers with knockout ability collide in the octagon. Pedro has won three of his last five outings, with his best wins coming over #13 ranked light heavyweight Khalil Rountree Jr. (12-5-0) and #10 ranked light heavyweight Paul Craig (16-6-1). Pedro is a devastating striker with serious power in everything he throws. He has an excellent range of kicks, particularly damaging head and leg kicks, which he’ll set up through constant feinting and movement. Pedro has great speed for the division and is very skilled at using his length, often landing damage from distance. While he won’t often initiate grappling exchanges, Pedro is a black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and possesses a solid submission and takedown game. Training at Lions High Performance Centre, Pedro is patient and technical, never rushing in or overextending on his shots. He has excellent knees and varies his shots, attacking the head and body evenly. While he won’t often put out much volume in terms of strikes, he makes up for it with one-shot knockout power. Bukauskas has won two of his last five bouts, with his UFC victory coming over Andreas Michailidis (13-6-0). He is a technical kickboxer in perpetual motion, always feinting and making great use of his footwork. He has a solid arsenal of kicks and will often do most of his damage from range, only coming inside to let combinations go. Bukauskas throws power in everything but is an accurate striker, throwing every shot with purpose. He is at his best when coming forward and controlling the distance. Training at Gintas Combat, Bukauskas favors a slower-paced, technical kickboxing match and has not attempted a takedown in his UFC tenure. He has defended 100% of takedowns tried on him in the UFC and has an excellent ability to land elbows on opponents shooting in, scoring multiple finishes from that position. Pedro is the -240 favorite, with Bukauskas returning a +200 underdog. Both have similar styles and backgrounds, but I think the most significant difference between them is power and speed, and I believe Pedro has both of those advantages. I’m going to take Pedro by knockout and under 2.5 rounds.

Picks: Pedro by KO/TKO, Under 2.5 rounds

Main Card

Jimmy Crute vs. Alonzo Menifield

Light Heavyweight Bout

Jimmy Crute: 12-3-0, 5 KO/TKO, 4 Sub.

Alonzo Menifield: 13-3-0, 10 KO/TKO, 2 Sub.

Two men who rarely see a second round face off in this bout. Crute has won two of his last five outings, with his best wins coming over #10 ranked light heavyweight Paul Craig (16-6-1), Michal Oleksiejczuk (18-5-0), and my dad, Sam Alvey (33-18-1). 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 has not seen a second round in six fights, and eleven of his 15 fights have ended in round one. 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 fight 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 fight, and has two wins by Kimura in the UFC. Menifield has won four of his last five contests, with his best wins coming over Misha Cirkunov (15-9-0) and Ed Herman (27-15-0). He is an explosive striker with serious power in both hands and constantly pursues a finish. He throws lots of looping shots and overhands and can do damage from anywhere, whether at distance or in the pocket. He has excellent leg kicks and is capable of landing damage even when moving backward, making him dangerous at all times. Menifeld has ten first-round finishes with four knockouts scored with under ten punches landed, proving he’s at his most dangerous early. He averages just under a takedown landed per fight and can land devastating ground and pound if he secures top position. He has heavy top pressure and two first-round submissions, one of which being a von flue choke over Fabio Cherant (7-4-0). Menifield does fade as the fight continues, with all of his finishes coming before the third round and 2 of his three career losses coming via decision. Crute is the favorite at -190, with Menifield the +160 underdog. While Menifield is a serious threat on the feet, I expect Crute to shoot for a takedown early and dominate on the ground. I’ll take Crute by submission and under 2.5 rounds.

Picks: Crute by Sub., Under 2.5 rounds

Jack Della Maddalena vs. Randy Brown

Welterweight Bout

Jack Della Maddalena: 13-2-0, 11 KO/TKO, 1 Sub.

Randy Brown: 16-4-0, 6 KO/TKO, 5 Sub.

Two rising stars will face off in a significant bout for the future of the welterweight division. Maddalena hasn’t lost a bout in 7 years and has UFC wins over Danny Roberts (18-7-0), Ramazan Emeev (20-6-0), and Ange Loosa (9-3-0). Maddalena is an excellent striker with technical boxing and bricks for hands who carries power going forward and backward. On average, he lands twice as many strikes as he absorbs, using great distance management and head movement. He throws everything in combination and is excellent at changing levels, attacking the head and body evenly. Maddalena is one of the most defensively sound strikers who always keeps his guard high and tight and has defended 71% of strikes thrown at him. Training at Scrappy MMA, he fights behind his jab and often strings together long, seven or 8-piece combinations that badly damage his opponent. While he won’t usually go to the ground, he’s shown great scrambles, takedown defense, and an ability to escape very deep waters. Brown has won 4 of his last five fights, with wins over Jared Gooden (20-7-0), Alex Oliveira (22-12-1), and Bryan Barberena (17-8-0). Brown is a tall welterweight at 6’3 and makes excellent use of it, throwing combinations at range, often putting body kicks at the end of his punches. Brown has a boxing background; he can throw 4 or 5 punch combinations without getting wild and with solid accuracy, but he also has dangerous kicks. Despite only having two KOs in his six-year UFC tenure, Brown has proven he has knockout power on multiple occasions and can also land severe damage in the clinch. Averaging just below a takedown a fight, Brown will mix in grappling with his slick striking and does a great job of using his length in the clinch to control his opponent and take them to the mat. If the fight goes to the ground, Brown has a good submission game and some great chokes, with 4 of his five career submissions coming via some kind of choke. Training at Kings MMA, Brown’s willingness to exchange on the feet has hurt him before, having been knocked out twice in the UFC, and has also struggled to defend leg kicks and is at his best when he can use his length at range. Maddalena is the favorite at -330, with Brown the +260 underdog. Under 2.5 rounds is a lock; I’d be shocked if this went to a decision. I have to admit my bias; Maddalena is my favorite prospect for 2023. Regardless, he’s much more technically skilled than Brown, and I think he’ll overwhelm him on the feet, so I’ll take Maddalena by knockout.

Picks: Under 2.5 rounds, Maddalena by KO/TKO

#2 Yair Rodriguez vs. #5 Josh Emmett

Interim Featherweight Title Bout

Yair Rodriguez: 15-3-0, 6 KO/TKO, 3 Sub.

Josh Emmett: 18-2-0, 6 KO/TKO, 2 Sub.

In this fight, we’ll see two of the best fighters in the world compete for an interim title. Rodriguez has won three of his last five outings with one no-contest and has wins over #3 ranked featherweight Brian Ortega (15-3-0), #6 ranked featherweight Chan Sung Jung (17-7-0), and #15 ranked featherweight Alex Caceres (20-13-0). Rodriguez is one of the most diverse strikers in the UFC, possessing an insane arsenal of kicks and flashy attacks. He throws everything with immense speed and attacks from different angles, constantly moving and switching stances. He usually leads with his kicks before letting his hands go, picking his opponent apart at range before entering the pocket to throw combinations. Rodriguez has excellent distance management and timing and never slows down, consistently putting out a substantial volume of strikes. Training at Valle Flow Striking, he has excellent clinch striking and some of the most devastating elbows in MMA. He won’t usually take the fight to the mat, but he has a great submission game and is dangerous off his back. Emmett has won all of his last five bouts and holds wins over #7 ranked featherweight Calvin Kattar (23-7-0), #13 ranked featherweight Dan Ige (16-6-0), and Hinsdale Central legend Ricardo Lamas (20-8-0). Emmett is an explosive striker, possessing the most powerful punches in the featherweight division. He loves to brawl inside the pocket and throw vicious overhands, throwing everything with massive power. He’s patient and looks for openings but is constantly pursuing a finish and willing to eat a shot to land one. Training at Team Alpha Male, Emmett is averaging 98 strikes landed in his last three fights and has shown he carries his power across 15 minutes. He’s also defensively sound, with just 37% of strikes attempted on him landing. He is an excellent wrestler with a great takedown game and heavy top pressure, but he often prefers to keep the fight standing. Rodriguez is the -190 favorite, with Emmett returning the +160 underdog. This is a brutal fight to predict; I could see either winning by finish or decision. While Emmett has a definite power advantage, I think the speed and range management should earn him a victory here. I’ll take Rodriguez moneyline and over 2.5 rounds, but I wouldn’t be surprised to see a finish in this one.

Picks: Rodriguez -190, Over 2.5 rounds

(C) Islam Makhachev vs. (C, FW) Alexander Volkanovski

Lightweight Title Bout

Islam Makhachev: 23-1-0, 4 KO/TKO, 11 Sub.

Alexander Volkanovski: 25-1-0, 12 KO/TKO, 3 Sub.

This is easily one of the craziest super fights ever made, and one you absolutely cannot miss. Islam Makhachev has won all of his last five bouts, with his best wins coming over former UFC lightweight champion Charles Olivera (33-9-0), #11 ranked lightweight Dan Hooker (21-11-0), and #14 ranked lightweight Drew Dober (26-11-0). Makhachev, like his coach and training partner Khabib Nurmagomedov, is a dominant wrestler who could submit you or ground and pound you to find a finish. Makhachev has won four of his last five fights by submission, with the most recent coming in the second round, showing a significant improvement in urgency. Training at AKA, Makhachev prefers grappling but is capable of striking as well, throwing with 59% accuracy on the feet as well as defending 65% of shots thrown at him. Makhachev averages over three takedowns landed per fight and makes his wrestling background very apparent, using the now-famous Dagestani style of controlling and dominating his opponent against the cage. The last place you want to be against Makhachev is on the bottom, as he will relentlessly pursue the finish from the top and can easily control an opponent for five rounds if he can’t get them out of there. Volkanovski has won all of his last five outings and has wins over former champion, and #1 ranked featherweight Max Holloway (23-7-0), Chad Mendes (18-5-0), as well as former featherweight champion Jose Aldo (31-8-0). He is an excellent technical striker with serious power in both hands and devastating leg kicks. He’s accurate, throws every shot with purpose, and quickly moves in and out of the pocket. He never telegraphs his attacks and is defensively sound, defending 66% of strikes attempted on him. While defensively sound, he’s willing to eat a shot to land one and will brawl in the pocket. Training at City Kickboxing, he has excellent cardio and is constantly pressuring forward, putting up an average of 169 strikes landed in his last five fights. He also averages nearly two takedowns landed per fight, is a great wrestler with heavy top pressure and outstanding control in the clinch and has shown an incredible ability to escape submissions. Makhachev is a -400 favorite, with Volkanovski the +310 underdog. I know Volkanovski is coming up a weight class, but making him that big of an underdog is ludicrous and too good of odds not to pursue. I have to take Volkanovski moneyline and under 4.5 rounds, which is a much safer bet. I think Volkanovski has the wrestling ability to keep the fight standing where he has a massive advantage, and I believe he can secure a finish.

Picks: Under 4.5 rounds, Volkanovski +310

UFC Fight Night: Cannonier vs. Strickland

Prelims

Jake Matthews vs. Matthew Semelsberger

Welterweight Bout

Jake Matthews: 18-5-0, 5 KO/TKO, 7 Sub.

Matthew Semelsberger: 10-4-0, 6 KO/TKO, 1 Sub.

This is a fascinating matchup of two high-pace fighters. Matthews has won four of his last five outings, with his best wins coming over Andre Fialho (16-6-0), Li Jingliang (19-8-0), and Diego Sanchez (31-14-0). Entering his 8th year in the promotion, Matthews had established himself as a grappler, averaging nearly two takedowns landed per fight and holding a black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. In his last fight, though, he showed off vastly improved striking. 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 and great accuracy and doesn’t often overreach, usually remaining patient. When he does take it to the mat, he has great takedowns, excellent top control, and throws heavy ground and pound. Semelsberger has won three of his last five bouts, with his most impressive victories coming over AJ Fletcher (9-2-0), Martin Sano (4-3-1), and Jason Witt (19-9-0). Semelsberger is a dangerous striker with serious one-shot knockout power and is always pursuing a finish. Semelsberger is constantly pressuring forward and throwing combinations, using good footwork and stance switches to get to his opponent. Training at Crazy 88 BJJ, he has knockdowns in four of his six UFC fights and throws every shot with power but won’t telegraph or load up. He prefers to keep it striking, but if he does want to grapple, he’s shown excellent wrestling, landing every takedown he’s attempted in the UFC. He has excellent ground and pound, particularly elbows, and will pursue chokes if the opportunity presents itself. Matthews is one of the biggest favorites on the prelims at -260, making Semelsberger a +210 underdog. After his last fight, I have no idea what to expect from Matthews; he could come out and wrestle right away or stand and bang. Either way, I think he’s more technical and skilled than Semelsberger just about everywhere, so I’m taking Matthews and over 2.5 rounds.

Picks: Matthews -260, Over 2.5 rounds

Main Card

Cody Brundage vs. Michal Oleksiejczuk

Middleweight Bout

Cody Brundage: 8-2-0, 4 KO/TKO, 3 Sub.

Michal Oleksiejczuk: 17-5-0, 12 KO/TKO, 1 Sub.

A fight with two fighters who don’t see the judges often, this could be a quick one. Brundage has found victory in three of his last five fights, with his UFC victories coming over Tresean Gore (5-2-0) and Dalcha Lungiambula (11-6-0). In his brief UFC tenure, Brundage is averaging just under two takedowns landed per fight, over one submission attempt per fight, and is a dangerous grappler. He is willing to fight on the feet and throws everything with power, often ducking his head to throw counterstrikes. Brundage uses a great variety of attacks and is a creative striker, with him most commonly throwing overhands and hooks. Training at FactoryX Muay Thai, Brundage often shoots early and has solid takedowns, usually securing them quickly. He advances very quickly on top and will pursue submissions, often jumping on guillotines. Brundage is very explosive, has one-shot knockout power, and has excellent clinch striking. Oleksiejczuk has won three of his last five outings, with wins over my dad Sam Alvey (33-18-1), Gian Villante (17-14-0), and Modestas Bukauskas (12-5-0). Oleksiejczuk is an aggressive striker who is always coming forward and throwing combinations. He has an excellent chin and considerable power in his hands, often entering the pocket and throwing looping hooks. Oleksiejczuk has excellent head movement and footwork and is an efficient striker, never wasting energy and throwing everything with purpose. Training at Ankos MMA, Oleksiejczuk won’t stay at range long and is willing to eat a shot to land one, and virtually never throws kicks, only using his hands to land damage. Nine of his thirteen career finishes have come inside the first round, so he’s definitely at his most dangerous early. Oleksiejczuk holds the center well and does a great job cutting off the cage, always stalking his opponents and looking for openings to throw big combinations. Oleksiejczuk is the favorite at -280, with Brundage a +230 underdog. Brundage has a better chance than the odds suggest; he has a definite grappling advantage, but his tendency to stay on the outside of the cage and get backed up hurts him in this matchup. It’s not easy to wrestle going backward; if it stays on the feet, I think Oleksiejczuk can get it done quickly. I’ll take Oleksiejczuk by knockout and under 2.5 rounds.

Picks: Oleksiejczuk by KO/TKO, Under 2.5 rounds

Drew Dober vs. Bobby Green

Lightweight Bout

Drew Dober: 25-11-0, 13 KO/TKO, 5 Sub.

Bobby Green: 29-13-1, 10 KO/TKO, 8 Sub.

This is my favorite fight of the card, and I expect a war. Dober has won three of his last five fights and has wins over Terrance McKinney (13-4-0), Alexander Hernandez (13-6-0), and Nasrat Haqparast (14-5-0). Dober is an excellent striker with a Muay Thai background and a black belt in Taekwondo. Dober always stays technical and throws all his punches tight and straight, rarely throwing looping shots. He has powerful kicks and serious power in his hands and carries that power across all three rounds. Training with Elevation Fight Team, Dober has excellent head movement and varies shots, attacking the head and body evenly. He’s willing to brawl in the pocket, but he doesn’t get sloppy, has solid footwork, and is always coming forward. Dober does a great job of moving in and out of the pocket, throwing kicks and range, and damaging combinations in close. Green has won two of his last five bouts and has wins over Al Iaquinta (14-7-1), Clay Guida (37-18-0), and Josh Thomson (22-9-0). Training at Pinnacle MMA, Green is an excellent boxer, picking his opponents apart with quick combinations and damaging straights. Green is rarely in a boring fight, always willing to go to the center of the octagon and exchange blows. He has won Performance of the Night once and Fight of the Night 3 times in his career, backing up his scrappy tendencies. Green also has solid wrestling to supplement his striking, having defended 72% of takedowns attempted on him and possesses good top control and a decent submission game. Green has landed 52% of his significant strikes and has defended 62% of strikes thrown at him, making him a rather efficient striker, able to engage in the pocket and land big shots without taking damage in return. Green does a great job mixing up his strikes, attacking the head and the body, and throwing the occasional kick to finish a combination. Dober is the favorite at -155, making Green a +130 underdog. There are no easy picks in this fight, but neither guy has been finished on the feet in a long time, and I’d be shocked if either attempted to grapple, so I’ll take over 2.5 rounds. Dober is a bit more technical and has more variety in his attacks due to his kicking game, so I’ll take Dober here. You should never count Green out of a fight, though.

Picks: Over 2.5 rounds, Dober -155

Alex Caceres vs. Julian Erosa

Featherweight Bout

Alex Caceres: 19-13-0, 3 KO/TKO, 7 Sub.

Julian Erosa: 28-10-0, 11 KO/TKO, 12 Sub.

This fight sees a matchup of two fighters who have recently been on the rise. Caceres has won four of his last five outings and has wins over current Bellator bantamweight champion Sergio Pettis (22-5-0), Chase Hooper (11-3-1), and SeungWoo Choi (10-6-0). Caceres is a lengthy striker who will float around the outside of the cage and is in perpetual motion. Caceres often throws more kicks than punches and has a serious arsenal of kicks, attacking from different angles and often using his lead leg. Caceres is tough to hit, nearly doubling the number of significant strikes he lands on average compared to what he absorbs. Training at MMA LAB, Caceres won’t enter the pocket often and tends to throw single strikes with his hands but throws everything with power. Despite seven submission losses, Caceres is willing to grapple and will pursue submissions, with two submission wins in his last five fights. Erosa has won four of his last five outings and has wins over Sean Woodson (9-1-1), Charles Jourdain (13-6-1), and Steven Peterson (19-10-0). Erosa has an awkward style on the feet, staying very upright with his hands down, and throwing lots of looping hooks from strange angles. Erosa is seemingly always moving forward, whether to initiate a grappling exchange or land strikes and has the cardio to do so over three rounds. “Juicy J” is willing to get into brawls on the feet, gladly hanging in the pocket and exchanging combinations. Training at Xtreme Couture, Erosa averages about two takedowns landed per fight and is a slick submission artist, with two UFC victories via D’arce choke, one of which was standing. Although Erosa has some KO losses on his record, most of those came in round 1, so if his opponent can’t take him out early, he only gets more dangerous as the fight continues. Erosa is the favorite in this bout at -175, with Caceres the +150 underdog. Although Caceres has shown improved grappling as of late, Erosa still has a definite advantage on the ground and is more than skilled enough to go with Caceres on the feet. With seven submission losses on Caceres’s record and 12 submission wins on Erosa’s, I have to take Erosa by submission and under 2.5 rounds.

Picks: Erosa by Sub., Under 2.5 rounds

#8 Amir Albazi vs. Alessandro Costa

Flyweight Bout

Amir Albazi: 15-1-0, 4 KO/TKO, 9 Sub.

Alessandro Costa: 12-2-0, 3 KO/TKO, 6 Sub.

A bout between two up-and-coming flyweights, this is an entertaining matchup. Albazi has won four of his last five outings, with his UFC victories coming over Malcolm Gordon (14-6-0), Zhalgas Zhumagulov (14-8-0), and Francisco Figueiredo (13-5-1). Albazi is a well-rounded fighter who’s most comfortable on the mat. In his three UFC fights, Albazi is averaging three takedowns landed per fight and over one submission attempt per fight. 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. He uses technical boxing, constant forward pressure, and great head movement on the feet 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. Costa is making his UFC debut following a split decision victory over Juan Andres Luna (12-1-0) on Dana White’s Contender Series. Costa is similarly well-rounded but with a vastly different style. On the feet, Costa has one-shot knockout power in his hands and throws everything with fight-finishing intentions. He has great head movement and varies his shots well, attacking the head and body evenly, and he even has a body shot knockout on his record. Costa has heavy kicks, especially low kicks, and does a great job of moving in and out of the pocket without taking damage. Training at Legacy MMA, he’ll often blitz forward and throw combinations, but he also has great counterstriking and is always dangerous. Costa has great takedowns and is aggressive on the ground, constantly transitioning quickly and pursuing the finish. Five of his six career submissions came via armbar, and if he does take it to the mat, it’ll often be what he attempts first. Albazi is the biggest favorite on the card at -450, making Costa a +350 underdog. I’m a bit surprised by these odds; I don’t think the skill gap is nearly as wide as it’s been made out to be. Albazi is undoubtedly more technical and has the better experience, but Costa has serious power for flyweight and is a monster on the ground, so Albazi isn’t safe anywhere. I will roll the dice here and take Costa moneyline and over 2.5 rounds.

Picks: Costa +350, Over 2.5 rounds

#9 Arman Tsarukyan vs. #12 Damir Ismagulov

Lightweight Bout

Arman Tsarukyan: 18-3-0, 7 KO/TKO, 5 Sub.

Damir Ismagulov: 24-1-0, 12 KO/TKO, 1 Sub.

This fight is an excellent matchup of two highly well-rounded fighters. Tsarukyan comes into this fight with wins in 4 of his last five outings, with the best of those wins being victories over Olivier Aubin-Mercier (13-5-0) and Davi Ramos (10-4-0), as well as a first-round knockout of Christos Giagos (19-9-0). His only UFC loss is to the current lightweight champion, Islam Makhachev, and based on the high-level competition he’s been given, the UFC is very high on this young fighter. He has crisp kickboxing on the feet, throwing plenty of combos ending with head kicks, and doing a great job moving in to land shots and back out to range. He will mix in some flashy spinning kicks and spinning backfists, staying calm and picking his opponent apart with quick shots and plenty of leg kicks. Training at Khabarovsk MMA and American Top Team, Tsarukyan has a solid wrestling background, willing to initiate grappling exchanges to land ground and pound and pursue submissions. All 5 of the submissions on his record were via choke, so he is certainly dangerous if he can get a hold of someone’s neck. Ismagulov has won all of his last five bouts and has wins over Guram Kutateladze (12-3-0), Rafael Alves (20-11-0), and Thiago Moises (16-6-0). Ismagulov is an aggressive striker with excellent footwork and head movement, on average landing nearly twice as many significant strikes than he absorbs. Ismagulov has fast hands, powerful kicks, and constantly pressures forward, always pumping his jab. Training at Boets MMA, he’s averaging about 61 significant strikes landed per fight in the UFC and varies his shots well, attacking the body and head evenly. Ismagulov has excellent footwork and does a great job of moving in and out of the pocket without taking damage. Ismagulov has great takedowns and excellent top control, usually pursuing ground and pound when in top position. He has fantastic takedown defense, having defended 90% of takedowns attempted on him in the UFC. Tsarukyan is the favorite at -190, with Ismagulov returning as the +160 underdog. The easiest pick in this fight would be over 2.5 rounds; both are very hard to finish, and I expect a closely contested decision. Picking a winner in this one is practically a coin flip, so I’ll play it safe and pick the favorite here in Tsarukyan.

Picks: Over 2.5 rounds, Tsarukyan -190

#3 Jared Cannonier vs. #7 Sean Strickland

Middleweight Bout

Jared Cannonier: 15-6-0, 10 KO/TKO, 2 Sub.

Sean Strickland: 25-4-0, 10 KO/TKO, 4 Sub.

Two excellent strikers collide in a significant bout for the middleweight division. Cannonier has found victory in three of his last five fights and has wins over former UFC middleweight champion Anderson Silva (34-11-0), #9 ranked middleweight Jack Hermansson (23-8-0), and #12 ranked middleweight Kelvin Gastelum (17-8-0). Cannonier has fought at both heavyweight and light heavyweight in his career and carries that heavyweight power at middleweight. Cannonier throws everything with fight-ending intentions, constantly pressuring forward and willing to eat a shot to land one. Cannonier has excellent footwork and regularly switches stances, typically setting up his combinations with his jab. Training at MMA LAB, Cannonier is excellent at moving in and out of the pocket and usually won’t stay at range for long but will throw 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. Sean Strickland has four of his last five fights, with impressive wins over Uriah Hall (18-10-0), Krzysztof Jotko (23-5-0), and Brendan Allen (17-5-0). Strickland is well known for his striking, as well as for his tendency to talk trash throughout fights. His trash talk usually frustrates his opponents while being outstruck and picked apart. While “Tarzan” prefers to keep the fight standing, he will often mix some grappling with his striking, averaging just over one takedown per fight. He also has shown pretty solid takedown defense in his career, defending 85% of takedowns attempted on him. Strickland rarely pursues submissions, preferring to get the work done with his powerful hands. Strickland uses a very upright boxing style on the feet, constantly moving forward and throwing combinations. While he always pursues the knockout, he doesn’t overextend himself, usually remaining technical and composed even in firefights. Training at Millenia MMA, Strickland seems almost Terminator-like with his constant forward movement. He tries to keep his opponent on the back foot as much as possible to open up opportunities to land combinations, especially his one-two. This is a pick ‘em fight, with both fighters sitting at -110. The odds are that way for a reason; this is a very close fight. These fighters are pretty close skill-wise, with the biggest difference being Cannonier’s power advantage, which I believe is significant. Due to this, I’m taking Cannonier moneyline and under 4.5 rounds.

Picks: Cannonier -110, Under 4.5 rounds