UFC 328 Preview

Khamzat Chimaev rains down ground and pound shots onto Kamaru Usman. Credit: MMA Fighting.

The UFC heads to the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey with an outstanding card. From start to finish, there’s a high level of competition, with rising stars and established veterans all looking to put on a show this weekend. In the co-main event, newly crowned Flyweight champion Joshua Van will make his first title defense against dangerous grappler Tatsuro Taira. In the main event, undefeated Middleweight champion Khamzat Chimaev looks to defend his belt against his rival and former champion Sean Strickland. Let’s take a look at the fights on the main card.

King Green vs. Jeremy Stephens

King Green cracks Jim Miller with a stiff right hand. Credit: MMA Fighting.

Lightweight Bout

King Green: 34-17-1, 12 KO/TKO, 9 Sub.

Jeremy Stephens: 29-22-0, 19 KO/TKO, 2 Sub.

Green has won three of his last five fights and has UFC victories over Grant Dawson (23-3-1), Nasrat Haqparast (18-6-0), and Jim Miller (38-19-0). He is an excellent boxer who picks his opponents apart with quick, heavy hands. He’s rarely in a boring fight, always willing to go to the center of the octagon and exchange blows. Green fights with his hands low, remaining unpredictable and never telegraphing his strikes. He fights behind his jab, keeping his strikes sharp and straight while constantly attacking from different angles and varying his targets. Training at Pinnacle MMA, he’s a solid wrestler and averages more than one takedown per fifteen minutes, but generally prefers to keep the fight standing. Green has been fighting professionally since 2008 and has earned various UFC Lightweight records, including the most significant strikes landed (1950) and the most total strikes landed (2191) all-time.

Jeremy Stephens lands a stinging right hand on Mason Jones. Credit: MMA Junkie.

Stephens is making his second UFC appearance after a successful three-year run in BKFC, where he scored notable victories over Eddie Alvarez and Jimmie Rivera. He was a member of the UFC roster from 2007 to 2021, during which he earned 10 post-fight bonuses and recorded the second most knockdowns in UFC history (18). He’s a heavy-handed striker who constantly comes forward and throws bombs. Stephens throws everything with power and in combination, regularly unloading looping hooks and heavy overhands. Training at Alliance MMA, he’s unlikely to initiate grappling exchanges but has solid takedown defense and a purple belt in BJJ. He tends to favor his hands but will also throw heavy leg kicks from range and varies his punches well, attacking the head and body evenly. Stephens earned 8 of his 15 victories during his initial UFC tenure via knockout and is always in pursuit of a finish.

#6 Sean Brady vs. #9 Joaquin Buckley

Sean Brady stuns Gilbert Burns with a right hook. Credit: MMA Mania.

Welterweight Bout

Sean Brady: 18-2-0, 3 KO/TKO, 6 Sub.

Joaquin Buckley: 21-7-0, 15 KO/TKO, 0 Sub.

Brady has won three of his last five bouts and has UFC victories over #7-ranked Welterweight Leon Edwards (22-6-0), Gilbert Burns (22-10-0), and Kelvin Gastelum (21-11-0). He is an outstanding grappler and submission ace with excellent Muay Thai striking. Training at Renzo Gracie Philly, he methodically and efficiently breaks down his opponents, constantly forcing them to defend submissions and absorb damage until he can secure a finish. He has outstanding takedown timing and can land them in open space or in the clinch, with excellent double legs and trips. Brady has smothering top control, especially on the back, and will take his opponent’s back with blinding speed. He has fast, accurate hands and heavy kicks, regularly mixing them into his combinations. Brady becomes more dangerous as the fight goes on and earned four of his last five finishes in the third round or later.

Joaquin Buckley lands a thudding left hook on Colby Covington. Credit: MMA Mania.

Buckley has won four of his last five outings, holding UFC victories over Stephen Thompson (17-9-1), Vicente Luque (24-12-1), and Nursulton Ruziboev (36-9-2). He’s an explosive striker with serious power in his hands and kicks. He stays in constant motion, firing heavy kicks from range before blitzing forward to close the distance and let his hands go. Buckley throws everything with power but isn’t wild, varying his attacks well and regularly landing to the body and legs, especially with his kicks. Training at Murcielago MMA, he’s willing to grapple and averages over one takedown per fifteen minutes, but he’s most comfortable on his feet. He carries his power throughout the fight and has earned all of his UFC knockouts in the second or third round. Buckley always pushes a heavy pace and has earned two post-fight bonuses in his last three UFC appearances.

#2 Alexander Volkov vs. #4 Waldo Cortes-Acosta

Alexander Volkov fires a powerful kick to the head of Ciryl Gane. Credit: MMA Junkie.

Heavyweight Bout

Alexander Volkov: 39-11-0, 24 KO/TKO, 4 Sub.

Waldo Cortes-Acosta: 17-2-0, 9 KO/TKO, 1 Sub.

Volkov has won four of his last five fights and holds UFC victories over #3-ranked Heavyweight Sergei Pavlovich (20-3-0), #12-ranked Heavyweight Marcin Tybura (27-10-0), and Jailton Almeida (22-5-0). He is a lengthy, technical kickboxer with solid power and great cardio. His kicks often set up his hands as he floats along the outside of the cage, landing kicks before unloading combinations. Volkov uses his size well, keeping his opponents on the end of his shots and constantly catching them with heavy, straight punches as they enter his range. He’s a patient, precise striker, favoring power over volume and waiting for openings to land big shots rather than charging into the pocket. Training with Strela Team, he’s strong in the clinch and tough to take down. Volkov rarely takes much damage and has outlanded thirteen of his eighteen UFC opponents.

Waldo Cortes-Acosta blasts Sergei Pavlovich with a right hook. Credit: MMA Junkie.

Acosta has won four of his last five bouts, with UFC victories over #6-ranked Heavyweight Serghei Spivac (18-6-0), #9-ranked Heavyweight Derrick Lewis (29-13-0), and #10-ranked Heavyweight Ante Delija (26-8-0). He is a heavy-handed brawler with excellent boxing and a dangerous right hand. He throws every shot with power and is constantly coming forward to unload looping hooks and devastating overhands. Training at UKF Gym, Acosta is most at home in a wild scrap, working inside the pocket and firing knees and elbows in the clinch. He tends to favor power over volume, regularly unloading single shots with knockout intent. While he won’t usually initiate grappling exchanges, he has demonstrated a solid ability to return to his feet. Acosta is defensively sound and rarely absorbs much damage, having outlanded nine of his twelve UFC opponents.

(C) Joshua Van vs. #3 Tatsuro Taira

Joshua Van tags Rei Tsuruya with a stiff left hand. Credit: MMA Mania.

Flyweight Title Bout

Joshua Van: 16-2-0, 8 KO/TKO, 2 Sub.

Tatsuro Taira: 18-1-0, 6 KO/TKO, 8 Sub.

Van is on a six-fight win streak, holding UFC victories over #1-ranked Flyweight Alexandre Pantoja (30-6-0), #4-ranked Flyweight Brandon Royval (17-9-0), and #15-ranked Flyweight Bruno Silva (15-8-2). He’s a dangerous striker who constantly comes forward and lets his hands go. He fights behind his jab and favors volume over power, throwing everything in combination without loading up or telegraphing. Van has outstanding head movement and distance management, regularly looking to slip punches before unloading combinations. Training at 4oz Fight Club, he does an exceptional job varying his shots, entering the pocket at different angles, and constantly attacking his opponent’s body and legs. He’s willing to grapple, possessing solid takedown defense and landing, on average, about one takedown per fifteen minutes. Van has the highest significant strikes landed per minute in UFC history, at 8.84, and has outlanded nearly all of his UFC opponents.

Tatsuro Taira lands a powerful left hand to the chin of Brandon Royval. Credit: MMA Junkie.

Taira has won four of his last five outings, holding UFC victories over #9-ranked Flyweight Brandon Moreno (23-10-2), #11-ranked Flyweight Alex Perez (26-10-0), and Édgar Cháirez (13-6-0). A dangerous grappler with impressive power, he’s constantly looking to take the fight to the mat and secure a finish. He’s technical and composed on his feet, fighting behind his jab and consistently firing long, straight punches. He has fantastic clinch striking, particularly his knees, and excellent distance management, regularly catching his opponents with heavy shots as they enter the pocket. Training at The Blackbelt Japan, he has outstanding takedowns and scrambles, almost always ending grappling exchanges in top position. He has smothering top control and is very active on top, always pursuing a submission while landing heavy ground and pound throughout. Taira has earned two post-fight bonuses in his last four outings and always leaves everything inside the cage.

(C) Khamzat Chimaev vs. #3 Sean Strickland

Khamzat Chimaev elevates Dricus Du Plessis for a heavy slam. Credit: MMA Fighting.

Middleweight Title Bout

Khamzat Chimaev: 15-0-0, 6 KO/TKO, 6 Sub.

Sean Strickland: 30-7-0, 12 KO/TKO, 4 Sub.

Chimaev is undefeated and holds UFC victories over #1-ranked Middleweight Dricus Du Plessis (23-3-0), #8-ranked Welterweight Kamaru Usman (21-4-0), and #10-ranked Middleweight Robert Whittaker (27-9-0). He’s a prolific grappler with outstanding wrestling and serious punching power. He’s dangerous on his feet but often shoots early, typically taking his opponent down quickly with a blast double leg. Training at Allstars Training Center, Chimaev has smothering top pressure and is dominant in top position, always maintaining control while wearing down his opponent. 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 only been taken down once in the UFC and averages over five takedowns per fifteen minutes, almost always dictating where the fight occurs. Nine of Chimaev’s twelve finishes have come in the first round, and he’s at his best early on, remaining dangerous but slowing as the fight continues.

Sean Strickland floors Anthony Hernandez with a straight right hand. Credit: MMA Fighting.

Strickland has won three of his last five fights, with UFC victories over #2-ranked Middleweight Nassourdine Imavov (17-4-0), #4-ranked Middleweight Brendan Allen (26-7-0), and #7-ranked Middleweight Anthony Hernandez (15-3-0). He’s an excellent striker who’s always coming forward and pressuring his opponent. He maintains a very upright stance and consistently backs his opponent up, constantly looking to close the distance and let his hands go. Strickland sets up everything with his jab and varies his attacks well, constantly firing shots to both the head and body, especially front kicks. He typically won’t pursue takedowns, but he’s a solid wrestler and has successfully defended 76% of the takedowns attempted against him in the UFC. He has outstanding cardio and strikes with impressive volume, landing, on average, about 146 significant strikes in his last five outings. Training at Xtreme Couture, Strickland has fought for gold three times in his last five fights and has consistently faced the best competition the Middleweight division has to offer.

Best Bets

Alexander Volkov Moneyline: This is an excellent matchup between two dangerous Heavyweight strikers. Although both have excellent skills, I believe Volkov is the more well-rounded and polished striker. Acosta has gone on an impressive run in the UFC, but his best wins have come against brawlers and grapplers (Lewis, Delija, Spivac), and he has not faced a striker of Volkov’s caliber before. He also hasn’t truly had to fight anyone with a high-level kicking game, and Volkov is arguably one of, if not the, best pure kickboxers in the Heavyweight division. I expect Volkov to fight technically and take a measured approach, picking Acosta apart with his kicks from distance and not allowing Acosta to fight in the pocket where he’s most comfortable. As the fight continues, I expect the damage to Acosta to accumulate, especially to his body and legs, slowing his pace and limiting his output, while Volkov remains elusive and precise. Ultimately, I expect a solid fight with some fun exchanges, but I believe it will be a very technical, impressive win for Volkov that puts him directly into the title conversation once again.

Van vs. Taira Over 3.5 Rounds: This is the first of two title fights this Saturday that I’ve been looking forward to. Both of these fighters are dangerous absolutely anywhere the fight goes, and I expect this to be a tightly-contested fight. Although this seems like a classic striker vs. grappler matchup, with Van being the striker and Taira the grappler, both are underratedly well-rounded and can give each other problems either on their feet or on the mat. While no Flyweight fight truly has a slow pace, I expect both of them to take their time and fight intelligently, rather than have a wild brawl. I believe both fighters will take their time early on, establishing their rhythms and respecting the danger in front of them as they get comfortable. I also anticipate plenty of exchanges on the mat, especially early on, that will slow the pace down and make both fighters fight more cautiously. I think there will be plenty of exciting moments in this matchup, but I’m confident it will last at least three and a half rounds.

Chimaev vs. Strickland Over 3.5 Rounds: This is a highly anticipated matchup between two rivals who have exchanged quite a bit of vitriol. Although there’s plenty of beef here, as evidenced by media scrums over the last week, I would be surprised to see this fight turn into a brawl or end quickly. Both have scored recent finish wins, yet they’ve also had very tentative performances, as seen in Chimaev’s fight with Du Plessis and Strickland’s fight with Costa. Given the significance of this matchup to both men and the title on the line, I expect both to fight technically and carefully, with Chimaev looking to grapple and control and Strickland trying to make it a technical striking match. I wouldn’t necessarily expect a long feeling-out process, since I’d be surprised to see either fighter wait to implement their game plan. Similar to the other title fight, I expect this one to play out largely on the floor or along the fence early on, with little damage on either side. As the fight continues, I’m sure they’ll both start to let their hands go and take more chances, but I still believe this title bout will last at least three and a half rounds.

UFC Fight Night: Della Maddalena vs. Prates Preview

Jack Della Maddalena lands a vicious knee on the chin of Gilbert Burns. Credit: MMA Mania.

The UFC heads to the RAC Arena in Perth, Australia, for a stacked Fight Night card. From top to bottom, the event is packed with excellent matchups, each featuring an Aussie ready to put on a show for the fans in their home country. In the co-main event, two Lightweights will collide over a spot in the top-15 when divisional stalwart Beneil Dariush takes on red-hot prospect Quillan Salkilld. In the main event, two top-5 Welterweights will square off when former champion Jack Della Maddalena meets a powerful knockout artist in Carlos Prates. Let’s take a look at the fights on the main card.

Tai Tuivasa vs. Louie Sutherland

Tai Tuivasa lands a stinging left hook on Tallison Teixeira. Credit: Zuffa LLC.

Heavyweight Bout

Tai Tuivasa: 15-9-0, 14 KO/TKO, 0 Sub.

Louie Sutherland: 10-5-0, 8 KO/TKO, 0 Sub.

Tuivasa is on a six-fight losing streak and holds UFC victories over #9-ranked Heavyweight Derrick Lewis (29-13-0), Andrei Arlovski (34-24-0), and Stefan Struve (33-13-0). He’s a true brawler who’s always looking to close the distance and throw bombs. He’s more technical than he often appears, staying patient and fighting behind his jab before unloading vicious right hands. Tuivasa has solid head movement and good distance management, but he usually won’t throw much at range before closing the distance. Training at Lions High Performance Centre, he has heavy leg kicks, one-shot knockout power, and he can finish the fight from anywhere. He’s dangerous in the clinch and can do massive damage without much space, particularly with his elbows and knees. Tuivasa is at his most dangerous early on and has only gone to two decisions in his professional career, with 12 of his fourteen KOs coming in round one.

Louie Sutherland looks to secure a takedown on Brando Peričić. Credit: Alamy.

Sutherland has won three of his last five fights and is looking to score his first UFC victory. He’s a versatile fighter with powerful, technical striking and solid wrestling. He’s patient on his feet yet highly explosive, staying composed and fighting behind his jab before blitzing forward to unload heavy shots. Sutherland excels at mixing up his targets, constantly firing leg kicks from range or adding knees to the body after punch combinations. Training with Team Titan, he has a strong takedown game and heavy top control, often posturing up immediately in top position to unload vicious ground-and-pound. He maintains consistent pressure across fifteen and has solid cardio for a Heavyweight, constantly moving and feinting throughout the fight while staying technical. Sutherland can produce finishes without much volume and has secured seven of his eight knockouts in the first round.

#14 Shamil Gaziev vs. Brando Peričić

Shamil Gaziev tags Martin Buday with a stiff jab. Credit: MMA Fighting.

Heavyweight Bout

Shamil Gaziev: 14-2-0, 9 KO/TKO, 3 Sub.

Brando Peričić: 6-1-0, 5 KO/TKO, 1 Sub.

Gaziev has won four of his last five bouts and has UFC victories over Don’Tale Mayes (11-9-0), Martin Buday (16-2-0), and Thomas Petersen (11-4-0). He’s a dangerous power-puncher capable of a flash knockout at any time. He fights behind his jab and has impressive hand speed for a Heavyweight, able to piece up his opponent with quick, heavy flurries. He throws everything with knockout intent but won’t load up and keeps his hands low, always remaining unpredictable. Training with the KHK MMA Team, Gaziev does most of his work with his hands, but he has heavy kicks and will occasionally add them at the end of combinations. He has excellent takedowns in open space and along the fence, and he can deliver impressive slams. He’s smart in top position, staying heavy and not getting wild while constantly looking to posture up and land ground-and-pound. Gaziev tends to slow as the fight progresses, but he is very dangerous early on and has earned 9 first-round finishes, five of which came in under a minute.

Brando Peričić rains down punches onto a grounded Elisha Ellison. Credit: MMA Junkie.

Peričić has won four of his last five outings, holding UFC victories over Louie Sutherland (10-5-0) and Elisha Ellison (5-2-0). He’s a power-punching kickboxer who can produce a finish in a hurry. He throws every shot with devastating power and comes out guns blazing, pushing a heavy pace from the opening bell. Peričić has impressive output for a Heavyweight but won’t get wild, instead remaining technical and picking his shots until he has an opening to unload. Training at City Kickboxing, he’s a solid grappler with strong throws, powerful knees inside the clinch, and devastating ground-and-pound from top position. He’s early in his MMA career but holds an 18-2 kickboxing record and has won various ISKA titles. Peričić has secured all of his victories via first-round finish and is always coming forward, looking to put his opponent’s lights out.

Marwan Rahiki vs. Ollie Schmid

Marwan Rahiki blasts Harry Hardwick with a powerful right hook. Credit: MMA Fighting.

Featherweight Bout

Marwan Rahiki: 8-0-0, 7 KO/TKO, 1 Sub.

Ollie Schmid: 4-2-0, 3 KO/TKO, 0 Sub.

Rahiki is undefeated and holds a UFC victory over Harry Hardwick (13-5-1). He’s a dangerous, wild striker who loves flashy attacks and is always pursuing a knockout. He has solid head movement, often relying on it while fighting with his hands down, keeping him unpredictable at all times. Rahiki regularly throws heavy, naked kicks from range and constantly attempts spinning attacks, typically pulling his opponent in before throwing a spinning kick or elbow. Training at Lion’s Den Academy, he won’t usually pursue takedowns, but he has a purple belt in BJJ and is highly aggressive in top position, immediately posturing up and raining down ground-and-pound. He throws every shot with maximum power and usually in combinations, greatly favoring hooks and overhands over straight shots. Rahiki has not been to a decision in his professional career and pushes a heavy pace from the opening bell.

Ollie Schmid fires a head kick at Harry Webb. Credit: Eternal MMA.

Schmid has won four of his last five fights and is making his UFC debut. He’s a powerful kickboxer with an arsenal of dangerous, flashy attacks. He’s a lengthy striker for the weight class and uses that reach well, typically staying on the outside and peppering his opponent with kicks before stepping into the pocket to unload heavy combinations. Schmid holds a black belt in Taekwondo and regularly attempts spinning kicks, jumping kicks, and jumping knees. Training at City Kickboxing, he has a blue belt in BJJ and won’t usually initiate grappling exchanges, but has strong takedown defense and solid control from top position. He has good cardio and can comfortably maintain his power and speed across fifteen minutes. Schmid has secured all but one of his professional wins by first-round knockout and can produce a highlight-reel finish at any time.

#11 Tim Elliott vs. #12 Steve Erceg

Tim Elliot submits Sumudaerji with a tight arm triangle choke. Credit: MMA Fighting.

Flyweight Bout

Tim Elliott: 22-13-1, 3 KO/TKO, 8 Sub.

Steve Erceg: 13-4-0, 2 KO/TKO, 6 Sub.

Elliott has won three of his last five bouts and has UFC victories over #14-ranked Flyweight Tagir Ulanbekov (17-3-0), Kai Asakura (21-6-0), and Sumudaerji (19-7-0). He is a veteran grappler with outstanding wrestling and unorthodox striking. He has a very awkward style on his feet, staying in perpetual motion and attacking from odd angles. Elliott lands, on average, nearly four takedowns per fifteen minutes and often shoots very early. He has excellent timing, typically securing his shots quickly and often in open space, where he can control and keep his opponent on the mat. He has outstanding scrambles and heavy top control, maintaining his position while constantly looking to posture up and do damage. Elliott holds various UFC Flyweight records, including the most takedowns landed (61), the most total strikes landed (1828), and the most unanimous decision victories (7).

Steve Erceg cracks Alexandre Pantoja with a heavy left hook. Credit: Bleacher Report.

Erceg has won two of his last five bouts, with UFC victories coming over Matt Schnell (17-10-0), Ode’ Osbourne (13-10-0), and Alessandro Costa (15-5-0). He’s an extremely well-rounded fighter with technical striking and a dangerous submission game. He’s constantly pressing forward, staying technical and never telegraphing his shots. Erceg has excellent counterstriking and hides his kicks well, regularly landing brutal leg kicks. Training at Wilkes Martial Arts, he’s averaging just under one takedown per fifteen minutes and can find submissions with incredible speed. With all six of his submission wins coming via choke, he can end the fight quickly if he gets to his opponent’s neck. Erceg has solid cardio and maintains a consistent pace throughout, never getting sloppy or putting himself in bad spots.

#12 Beneil Dariush vs. Quillan Salkilld

Beneil Dariush fires a powerful overhand right at Mateusz Gamrot. Credit: MMA Junkie.

Lightweight Bout

Beneil Dariush: 23-7-1, 5 KO/TKO, 8 Sub.

Quillan Salkilld: 11-1-0, 4 KO/TKO, 4 Sub.

Dariush has won two of his last five outings and has UFC victories over #7-ranked Lightweight Mateusz Gamrot (26-4-0), #9-ranked Lightweight Renato Moicano (21-7-1), and Drew Dober (29-15-0). He’s a well-rounded scrapper with a black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and excellent Muay Thai. He’s more than willing to brawl on the feet, regularly getting into slugfests and hanging in the pocket to unload heavy combinations of hooks and overhands. Training at Kings MMA, Dariush has a solid arsenal of kicks and can do serious damage in tight spaces, particularly with his knees. He’s landing, on average, about two takedowns per fifteen minutes and has excellent wrestling and top control. He’s patient in top position, focusing on maintaining control, never getting wild while still pursuing submissions and doing damage. In his 17 UFC victories, he’s secured eight finishes, including five post-fight bonuses, and is rarely in a boring fight.

Quillan Salkilld fires a kick to the head of Yanal Ashmouz. Credit: MMA Fighting.

Salkilld is on an eleven-fight win streak, holding UFC victories over Nasrat Haqparast (18-6-0), Yanal Ashmouz (8-2-0), and Jamie Mullarkey (18-9-0). He’s a dynamic, well-rounded fighter with one-shot knockout power and outstanding wrestling skills. He’s tall for the Lightweight division and uses it well, often staying at range and battering his opponent with long punches and kicks. Salkilld has a solid chin and is willing to exchange in the pocket, but he’s a very measured striker who throws everything with purpose and accuracy, not just power. Training at Luistro Combat Academy, he has fantastic takedowns, especially in the clinch, and can deliver powerful slams. He has excellent control on the mat, rarely giving up a position or wasting energy while picking his spots to land brutal ground-and-pound. Salkilld has earned a Performance of the Night bonus in three of his four UFC appearances and is always looking to add to his highlight reel of finishes.

#1 Jack Della Maddalena vs. #5 Carlos Prates

Jack Della Maddalena stuns Belal Muhammad with a stiff left hand. Credit: MMA Mania.

Welterweight Bout

Jack Della Maddalena: 18-3-0, 12 KO/TKO, 2 Sub.

Carlos Prates: 23-7-0, 18 KO/TKO, 3 Sub.

Maddalena has won four of his last five fights and holds UFC victories over #4-ranked Welterweight Belal Muhammad (24-5-0), Gilbert Burns (22-10-0), and Kevin Holland (29-15-0). He is an excellent striker with technical boxing and heavy hands who can do serious damage from anywhere. He’s outlanded seven of his nine UFC opponents and always pushes a heavy pace, averaging 90 significant strikes landed in his last five outings. Maddalena throws everything in combination, excels at changing levels, attacks the head and body evenly, and regularly mixes body kicks and knees into punch combinations. He is an excellent counterstriker, using outstanding head movement and footwork to stay elusive while landing his own offense. Training at Scrappy MMA, he fights behind his jab and often strings together long, powerful combinations, cracking his opponent with seven or eight shots before returning to range. While Maddalena won’t usually go to the ground, he’s shown great scrambles, takedown defense, and the ability to escape deep waters.

Carlos Prates stuns Leon Edwards with a thudding right hand. Credit: MMA Junkie.

Prates has won four of his last five outings, with UFC victories coming over #8-ranked Welterweight Leon Edwards (22-6-0), Geoff Neal (16-8-0), and Neil Magny (31-15-0). He’s a destructive, technical striker with serious power in his hands. He favors power over volume but is highly accurate, throwing every shot with fight-ending intent. Prates does an excellent job varying his targets and angles and is a very fluid striker, regularly mixing knees and kicks into punch combinations. Training with the Fighting Nerds, he keeps his hands down, remaining unpredictable throughout the fight and firing vicious spinning attacks without telegraphing them. He’s unlikely to take the fight to the mat but has solid takedown defense, capable of defending shots both in open space and against the cage. Prates has exceptional knockout power and rarely sees the judges' scorecards, having won 12 of his last 13 fights by knockout.

Best Bets

Marwan Rahiki by KO/TKO: This is an intriguing matchup between two dangerous strikers early in their UFC careers. This will be Rahiki’s second UFC appearance, and it will be Schmid’s debut after Rahiki’s original opponent, Jack Jenkins, pulled out just two days ago. Given Rahiki’s striking prowess and the fact that his opponent is fighting on such short notice, I believe Rahiki has the advantage in this matchup. Schmid is a solid striker in his own right, but he has shown a tendency to take damage, something he cannot afford against someone with Rahiki’s punching power. Rahiki has also faced higher-caliber opponents, even on the regional scene, whereas Schmid has not recorded a win over a fighter with a winning record in his professional career. I expect this fight to get off to a quick start, with both fighters meeting in the middle of the Octagon and letting their hands go immediately, with Rahiki getting the better of the exchanges. As the fight continues, I don’t believe it will take long for Rahiki to find Schmid’s chin and land the shot that earns him another impressive finish win in the UFC.

Steve Erceg by Decision: This is an excellent matchup of two well-rounded Flyweights that I’ve been looking forward to. Both fighters are dangerous anywhere, but I believe Erceg has a distinct striking advantage, and I think that will be the difference-maker in this fight. Elliott has solid, unorthodox striking but is most comfortable on the mat, whereas Erceg is a very clean, technical striker with the grappling skills to keep the fight standing or make any grappling exchanges very competitive. Elliott has also struggled in the past when he has been unable to land his takedowns, as in his fights with Nicolau or Royval, where he was unable to do significant damage without securing top position. I anticipate Erceg getting the better of Elliott on the feet early, backing him up and doing damage while making it tough for Elliott to secure takedowns. As Erceg continues to pressure and force Elliott to strike with him, I believe Elliott's cardio and output will wane, allowing Erceg to take full control of the fight and dictate the pace and range of the fight. As Elliott slows down, I expect Erceg to continue coming forward, lighting up Elliott with clean strikes en route to a solid decision victory.

Della Maddalena vs. Prates Over 2.5 Rounds: This is a fantastic main event between two of the best Welterweights in the world. Both fighters are excellent strikers who could very likely earn a title shot with a landmark victory this Saturday. Although both have serious power and can produce finishes in a hurry, I would be surprised if this fight ended early. I don’t necessarily think this fight will be slow-paced, but neither fighter is an easy man to get out of the cage, and both are yet to suffer a finish loss in the UFC. I anticipate a brief feeling-out process to start the fight, with both fighters respecting each other’s power as they pick their shots and try to establish their respective rhythms. As the fight continues, I expect the pace and action to steadily rise, with both men taking more chances and letting their hands go more often. Ultimately, I believe there will be plenty of exciting exchanges and wild moments in this fight, but I’m confident it will last at least two and a half rounds.

UFC Fight Night: Sterling vs. Zalal Preview

Aljamain Sterling looks to secure a takedown on Movsar Evloev. Credit: MMA Fighting.

The UFC returns to its headquarters at the APEX in Las Vegas, Nevada, with an exciting Fight Night card. There’s plenty of high-level matchups and outstanding fighters all looking to put on a show inside the Octagon on Saturday. In the co-main event, two dangerous female Bantamweights will collide when Norma Dumont takes on Joselyne Edwards. In the main event, we’ll see a former champion, Aljamain Sterling, square off with a streaking contender in Youssef Zalal. Let’s take a look at the fights on the main card.

Marcus Buchecha vs. Ryan Spann

Marcus Buchecha looks to secure a kimura lock on Martin Buday. Credit: MMA Junkie.

Heavyweight Bout

Marcus Buchecha: 5-2-1, 1 KO/TKO, 4 Sub.

Ryan Spann: 23-11-0, 6 KO/TKO, 14 Sub.

Buchecha has won two of his last five fights, with one draw, and is seeking his first UFC victory. He’s a highly accomplished BJJ practitioner, holding a spot in the IBJJF Hall of Fame and multiple gold medals in high-level competition. He’s not a particularly technical striker, but he has solid power in his hands and a good chin. Buchecha usually won’t waste much time before attempting a takedown, typically a powerful blast double-leg, and will quickly establish a dominant position on the mat. Once the fight hits the mat, he’s very efficient and tough to escape from, rarely wasting energy or losing control of his opponent. Training at American Top Team, he’s always working for a finish in top position and can find submissions with impressive speed from seemingly any position. Buchecha has proven to be a quick finisher in his brief MMA career, having secured all his victories in 3:30 or less.

Ryan Spann stuns Ovince Saint Preux with a heavy left hand. Credit: MMA Junkie.

Spann has won two of his last five bouts, holding UFC victories over #9 ranked Light Heavyweight Dominick Reyes (16-5-0), Ovince Saint Preux (27-18-0), and Ion Cutelaba (20-11-1). He’s an aggressive power puncher with outstanding submission skills. He throws everything with bad intentions, often opening with heavy kicks before closing the distance and throwing bombs. Spann is willing to exchange on the feet but often shoots for a takedown early on and averages over one takedown per fifteen minutes. Training at Fortis MMA, he’s very active in top position and will immediately look to advance, posture up, or secure a submission. He has an outstanding guillotine and will regularly look to lock it in, whether he’s standing or on the mat, and has earned eleven victories via guillotine choke. Spann is at his best early on, with eighteen of his twenty finish wins coming in the first round.

#14 Montel Jackson vs. Raoni Barcelos

Montel Jackson finishes off Da’Mon Blackshear after flooring him with a straight left hand. Credit: Bloody Elbow.

Bantamweight Bout

Montel Jackson: 15-3-0, 8 KO/TKO, 1 Sub.

Raoni Barcelos: 21-5-0, 8 KO/TKO, 3 Sub.

Jackson has won four of his last five outings and holds UFC victories coming over Da’Mon Blackshear (17-8-1), Julio Arce (21-7-0), and Daniel Marcos (18-1-0). He’s a well-rounded fighter with one-punch knockout power and excellent wrestling skills. He won’t telegraph punches, throwing every shot with impressive speed and power while remaining technical and picking his shots. Jackson will regularly blitz forward to unload a quick combination of straights and hooks before returning to range unscathed. He’s landing, on average, three takedowns per fifteen minutes in the UFC and will constantly look to posture up and land damage when in top position. He’s highly elusive and defensively sound, rarely absorbing much damage and typically staying out of the pocket where he can use his length. Jackson has outlanded all of his twelve UFC opponents and has scored at least one knockdown in seven of his last nine fights.

Raoni Barcelos pops Trevin Jones with a stinging left hand. Credit: MMA Fighting.

Barcelos has won four of his last five fights, with UFC victories coming over #11 ranked Bantamweight Payton Talbott (11-1-0), Ricky Simón (22-7-1), and Cody Garbrandt (15-7-0). He’s an experienced scrapper with sharp, technical striking and fantastic grappling skills. He throws everything with power while remaining technical and precise, picking his shots and staying composed throughout. Barcelos has great distance management and head movement, but he’s willing to exchange inside the pocket and take a shot to land one. He’s a lifelong grappler with a background in freestyle wrestling and a black belt in BJJ, landing, on average, over two takedowns per fifteen minutes. He has smothering control and won’t get wild on top, usually focusing on maintaining his position and hunting for submissions instead of landing ground-and-pound. Barcelos is comfortable anywhere the fight goes, but he’s at his best on the mat, having landed at least one takedown in each of his last five fights.

Davey Grant vs. Adrián Luna Martinetti

Davey Grant digs a vicious knee to the body of Ramon Taveras. Credit: MMA Fighting.

Bantamweight Bout

Davey Grant: 17-8-0, 4 KO/TKO, 9 Sub.

Adrián Luna Martinetti: 17-1-0, 4 KO/TKO, 6 Sub.

Grant has won three of his last five bouts and has UFC victories over #10 ranked Bantamweight Marlon Vera (23-12-1), Jonathan Martinez (19-6-0), and Da’Mon Blackshear (17-8-1). He’s a crafty veteran with a well-rounded skill set who’s dangerous anywhere the fight goes. He has solid power in his hands and kicks and varies his targets well, regularly ripping to the head and body with his punches and ending his combinations with damaging leg kicks. Grant can do damage from anywhere, whether he’s going forward or backward, and has a great chin, never backing down from an exchange. Training at SBG Bishop Auckland, he holds a black belt in BJJ and is sound both offensively and defensively on the mat, with great takedown defense and excellent submissions. He has secured all of his submission wins with some form of choke and even has a rare win by inverted triangle in the UFC. Grant heats up as the fight continues, growing in confidence over time and letting his hands go more often.

Adrian Luna Martinetti tags a battered Mark Vologdin with a stiff left hand. Credit: MMA Mania.

Martinetti is on a fifteen-fight win streak and making his UFC debut. He’s a marauding brawler who always comes forward and never backs down from a fight. He’s comfortable anywhere and has a very fluid style, not necessarily fighting with a rigid game plan, and engages in the fight wherever it goes. He’s an unpredictable striker who favors volume over power, often extending 7 or 8 punch combinations, battering his opponent’s head and body. Martinetti is relentless, always coming forward to keep throwing with no concern about taking a shot to land one. Training at Entram Gym, he’s a brown belt in BJJ and has good entries on his takedowns, often waiting for his opponent to get comfortable striking before shooting in. He’s as active in top position as he is on his feet and will constantly look to posture up and do damage. Martinetti is coming off one of the greatest Contender Series fights of all time with Mark Vologdin, where he landed 223 total strikes.

Rafa García vs. Alexander Hernandez

Rafa García rains down ground and pound shots onto Jared Gordon after dropping him with a right hand. Credit: MMA Junkie.

Lightweight Bout

Rafa García: 18-4-0, 2 KO/TKO, 8 Sub.

Alexander Hernandez: 18-8-0, 8 KO/TKO, 2 Sub.

García has won four of his last five outings and has UFC victories over Jared Gordon (21-8-0), Clay Guida (38-22-0), and Vinc Pichel (14-5-0). He’s a well-rounded, gritty fighter who’s comfortable anywhere the fight goes. Often at a reach disadvantage, he’s constantly looking to close the distance, regularly coming forward with heavy hooks and overhands. García has solid cardio, pushing a consistent pace throughout, and is always willing to exchange inside the pocket. Training at Bloodline Combat, he’s landing, on average, over three takedowns per fifteen minutes and has excellent timing, never telegraphing his shots. He’s a grinder in top position, constantly advancing and landing ground and pound to wear down his opponents. García is always dangerous, especially early on, with five of his eight submissions coming in the first round.

Alexander Hernandez lands a stinging right hand on Diego Ferreira. Credit: MMA Junkie.

Hernandez has won three of his last five fights, holding UFC victories over #12 ranked Lightweight Beneil Dariush (23-7-1), Diego Ferreira (19-7-0), and Jim Miller (38-19-0). He’s a technical, elusive striker with impressive precision and power in his hands. He’s very light on his feet and has excellent footwork, staying in constant motion and rarely lingering in one spot. Hernandez favors power over volume and will remain patient and cautious while waiting for openings to land power shots. He’s dangerous in the clinch and can do serious damage with little space, especially with his knees, elbows, and straight punches. Training at FactoryX Muay Thai, he’s averaging more than one takedown per 15 minutes and holds a black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, but he’s comfortable on his feet and won’t often rely on his grappling. Hernandez has secured five of his eight knockouts in the first round and is at his most dangerous early on.

#3 Norma Dumont vs. #11 Joselyne Edwards

Norma Dumont lands a thudding overhand right on a bloodied Irene Aldana. Credit: MMA Fighting.

Women’s Bantamweight Bout

Norma Dumont: 13-2-0, 0 KO/TKO, 2 Sub.

Joselyne Edwards: 17-6-0, 7 KO/TKO, 5 Sub.

Dumont is on a six-fight win streak and holds UFC victories over #4 ranked Bantamweight Ketlen Vieira (15-5-0), #6 ranked Bantamweight Irene Aldana (15-8-0), and #8 ranked Bantamweight Karol Rosa (19-7-0). She’s an elusive striker with solid power and strong grappling to back it up. She holds a black belt in Sanda and uses a very upright stance with her hands down, making her unpredictable and rarely telegraphing her intentions. Everything Dumont throws is heavy, especially her kicks, which she usually opens with before letting her hands go. She has excellent defensive skills and almost always dishes out more damage than she takes, having successfully defended 65% of significant strikes attempted on her in the UFC. Training at Chute Boxe DL, she has a black belt in BJJ and averages over one takedown per fifteen minutes, but is most comfortable on her feet and won’t force the fight to the mat. Dumont has outlanded nine of her eleven UFC opponents and rarely takes much damage, averaging just 31 significant strikes absorbed per fight.

Joselyne Edwards blasts Priscila Cachoeira with a vicious left hand. Credit: MMA Mania.

Edwards has won four of her last five bouts, with UFC victories coming over #13 ranked Bantamweight Nora Cornolle (9-4-0), Priscila Cachoeira (13-8-0), and Chelsea Chandler (6-4-0). She’s a power-punching boxer who pushes a heavy pace from the opening bell. She throws everything with knockout intent and is willing to exchange in the pocket, but she has sharp hands and won’t get wild. Edwards constantly pressures her opponent, fighting behind her jab and landing heavy kicks before blitzing into the pocket to unload powerful combinations. Although she generally favors her boxing, she can occasionally get flashy with her striking, mixing in spinning backfists or elbows. Training at Kings MMA, she holds a purple belt in BJJ and is willing to bring the fight to the mat, often shooting for takedowns early, and is capable of brutal slams. Edwards has finished four consecutive opponents, with two wins by submission and two by knockout, and is dangerous at all times.

#5 Aljamain Sterling vs. #7 Youssef Zalal

Aljamain Sterling unloads ground and pound shots onto Calvin Kattar. Credit: MMA Mania.

Featherweight Bout

Aljamain Sterling: 25-5-0, 3 KO/TKO, 8 Sub.

Youssef Zalal: 18-5-1, 4 KO/TKO, 10 Sub.

Sterling has won three of his last five outings and holds UFC victories over Bantamweight champion Petr Yan (20-5-0), #4 ranked Bantamweight Cory Sandhagen (18-6-0), and #11 ranked Featherweight Brian Ortega (16-5-0). He’s an excellent grappler with fantastic wrestling and a lethal submission game. He has smothering top control, regularly posturing up to do damage while looking for submission openings. Sterling has solid kickboxing to back up his grappling, with impressive speed in both his hands and his kicks. He has the cardio to push a furious pace for all 25 minutes, whether on the feet or on the ground. Training with the Serra-Longo Fight Team, he’s landing, on average, about five takedowns per fight in his last five appearances. Seven of Sterling’s eight submissions have come via a choke, so he’s extremely dangerous if he can find his opponent’s neck.

Youssef Zalal forces Josh Emett to submit with a vicious armbar. Credit: MMA Mania.

Zalal is on an eight-fight win streak and has UFC victories over Josh Emett (19-7-0), Calvin Kattar (23-10-0), and Billy Quarantillo (18-7-0). Now on his second run in the promotion, he’s a well-rounded fighter with solid wrestling and technical kickboxing. He’s constantly moving, using his footwork to hold the center and keep his opponent on the outside. Zalal has outstanding elbows and knees and won’t get sloppy, never telegraphing his attacks. Training at FactoryX Muay Thai, he has excellent wrestling and is averaging over two takedowns per fifteen minutes in the UFC. He won’t force anything on the ground, remaining patient and keeping himself in advantageous positions. Zalal has never been finished in his career and is willing to engage the fight anywhere.

Best Bets

Ryan Spann by KO/TKO: This is an exciting matchup of two dangerous Heavyweights. Although they both have solid skill sets, Spann is not only the more well-rounded fighter but also the much more experienced of the two. Buchecha is a legend in the world of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, but he has had only 8 professional fights, whereas Spann has had 15 fights in the UFC alone and faced plenty of high-level competition. While Spann has struggled at times in his UFC tenure, his biggest weakness is power-punchers, and Buchecha’s striking is not much to write home about. Along with his sizable advantage in the striking department, I believe he has the wrestling to keep this fight standing, forcing Buchecha to go toe-to-toe with him rather than use his BJJ. I expect Spann to come out guns blazing in this fight, forcing Buchecha onto his back foot early while denying any takedown attempts. The longer this fight stays standing, the worse it gets for Buchecha, and I don’t think it will take long for Spann to find the shot that ends Buchecha’s night and earns him a knockout victory.

Norma Dumont Moneyline: This is a fight between two high-level Bantamweights that I’ve been looking forward to. Both of these women have great technical skills and pack a solid punch, but I believe Dumont’s elusiveness and grappling will be the deciding factor. Edwards, although she has great kicks, favors her hands and is always coming forward to throw, which I believe plays right into Dumont's game. In her fight with Irene Aldana, another boxing-heavy fighter, she did a fantastic job with her footwork and kicks, avoiding Aldana’s punches while floating on the outside and landing heavy kicks. I expect a similar game plan from Dumont here, along with some takedowns mixed in, since she often uses her grappling when facing strikers. I expect Dumont to be in perpetual motion, using Edwards’ aggressiveness to lead her around the cage and drawing her into Dumont’s offense. As the fight continues, I expect Dumont to secure takedowns, control Edwards, drain her cardio, and limit her power punches en route to a seventh straight victory.

Sterling vs. Zalal Over 4.5 Rounds: This is a fantastic matchup between two very high-level, well-rounded fighters. They’re very similar in skill, and I believe they cancel each other out in many ways, which should allow this fight to last longer. Zalal has been on a tear since re-entering the UFC, submitting four of his last five opponents, but none of them had the grappling pedigree of Sterling, who’s never been submitted in his professional career. Sterling has solid striking but favors his wrestling and has won the majority of his fights by decision, with his most recent finish coming in 2022 over TJ Dillashaw. I expect this fight to largely play out on the mat, especially since both fighters have been talking about testing each other’s grappling throughout the week. I believe they’re relatively evenly matched on the feet as well, so even if it stays standing, I’d anticipate many close exchanges and both men fighting cautiously. Ultimately, I expect this fight to be close wherever or however it plays out, and I’m confident it will last at least four and a half rounds.

UFC Fight Night: Burns vs. Malott Preview

A bloodied Gilbert Burns lands a thudding right hand on Khamzat Chimaev. Credit: MMA Fighting.

The UFC heads to the Canada Life Centre in Winnipeg, Canada, for an action-packed Fight Night card. There are plenty of excellent matchups, exciting fighters, and local talent all looking to make their mark this weekend inside the Octagon. In the co-main event, two dangerous Bantamweights collide when the always-game Kyler Phillips squares off with wild scrapper Charles Jourdain. A spot in the Welterweight rankings will be on the line in the main event when the powerful brawler Gilbert Burns goes toe-to-toe with heavy-handed boxer Mike Malott. First, we’ll take a look at the featured preliminary bout, then go into the fights on the main card.

Dennis Buzukja vs. Marcio Barbosa

Dennis Buzukja tags Connor Matthews with a head kick. Credit: MMA Fighting.

Featherweight Bout

Dennis Buzukja: 12-5-0, 5 KO/TKO, 1 Sub.

Marcio Barbosa: 17-2-0, 14 KO/TKO, 2 Sub.

Buzukja has won two of his last five fights and has a UFC victory over Connor Matthews (7-4-0). He’s a powerful, technical striker who throws everything with bad intentions. He has heavy kicks and often opens his combinations with them before exploding forward with power punches. Buzukja throws every shot with power but remains technical throughout, varying his attacks and picking his shots carefully. He has good distance management and counterstriking, doing a great job of staying out of range and timing his punches. Training with Serra-Longo Fight Team, he won’t typically look to bring the fight to the mat, but he has solid scrambles and reversals and usually won’t be held down for long. Buzukja has solid cardio and carries his power throughout the fight, but he has secured four of his five knockout wins in the first round and is especially dangerous early on.

Marcio Barbosa lands a thudding right hand on the chin of Damon Wilson. Credit: MMA Junkie.

Barbosa has won four of his last five bouts and is making his UFC debut. He’s a marauding striker with one-shot knockout power. He’s always coming forward, pressuring his opponent and backing them up against the cage to close the distance and unload bombs. Barbosa largely favors his punches but also has heavy kicks and regularly mixes thudding body shots into his combinations. Training with Giants Team, he throws everything with impressive speed and is always looking to set up his devastating left hook. He’s most comfortable on his feet and rarely initiates grappling exchanges, but he holds a brown belt in Luta Livre and can survive off his back. Barbosa has secured all of his knockout victories in the first round and has ended his last four fights via first-round KO.

Thiago Moisés vs. Gauge Young

Thiago Moisés secures a rear naked choke on Christos Giagos. Credit: MMA Fighting.

Lightweight Bout

Thiago Moisés: 19-9-0, 4 KO/TKO, 8 Sub.

Gauge Young: 10-3-0, 6 KO/TKO, 1 Sub.

Moisés has won three of his last five outings and has UFC victories over Melquizael Costa (26-7-0), Alexander Hernandez (18-8-0), and King Green (34-17-1). 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 he usually won’t waste much time before shooting for a takedown. Moisés is very active on the ground, has excellent top pressure, and advances position with impressive speed. He’s smart in top position, maintaining control and only throwing when he’s postured up without getting too wild. He excels at getting to his opponent’s back, where he’s most dangerous, and finds submissions, especially chokes, with lightning speed. Moisés heats up as the fight continues and has secured six of his eight submission victories after the first round.

Gauge Young stuns Maheshate with a powerful left hook. Credit: MMA Junkie.

Young has won three of his last five fights and holds a UFC victory over Maheshate (10-5-0). He’s a well-rounded fighter with clean, technical striking and great wrestling. He fights behind his jab and varies his targets, constantly attacking the head, legs, and body with a steady mix of punches and kicks. Young effectively integrates kicks into his punch combinations and delivers especially punishing leg kicks. Training at Ignite Jiu-Jitsu, he has great entries and timing on his takedowns and is willing to work along the fence, chaining together attempts to bring the fight to the mat. He’s very active in top position, constantly working to improve or damage without allowing his opponent to get back to their feet. Young has solid cardio and can go three rounds comfortably, maintaining a consistent pace throughout.

#7 Jasmine Jasudavicius vs. #9 Karine Silva

Jasmine Jasudavicius rains down heavy ground and pound shots onto Priscila Cachoeira. Credit: MMA Junkie.

Women’s Flyweight Bout

Jasmine Jasudavicius: 14-4-0, 2 KO/TKO, 4 Sub.

Karine Silva: 19-6-0, 9 KO/TKO, 8 Sub.

Jasudavicius has won four of her last five bouts and has UFC victories over #9 ranked Strawweight Jéssica Andrade (26-15-0), #10 ranked Flyweight Miranda Maverick (15-6-0), and #12 ranked Bantamweight Mayra Bueno Silva (10-6-1). She’s a versatile scrapper with outstanding wrestling and technical striking skills. Training at Niagara Top Team, she’s willing to exchange on the feet and take a shot to land one, but she won’t get sloppy, always keeping her punches straight and tight. Jasudavicius’s striking sets up her grappling, often punching to close the distance before shooting in for a takedown. She has outstanding takedowns and can deliver powerful slams before securing a dominant position on the mat. She has outstanding top pressure and is very active on top, constantly looking to improve position while relentlessly raining down vicious ground and pound. Jasudavicius holds the record for the largest strike differential in a UFC women’s fight, landing 326 total strikes and absorbing just 26 in return against Priscila Cachoeira.

Karine Silva locks in a tight D’arce choke on Poliano Botelho. Credit: MMA Mania.

Silva has won three of her last five outings, with UFC victories over Ketlen Souza (16-6-0), Dione Barbosa (9-4-0), and Ariane Lipski da Silva (18-11-0). She’s a dangerous submission artist with solid hand power. She’s in perpetual motion on her feet, constantly feinting and opening combinations with kicks. Silva throws everything in combination and has excellent clinch striking, often using it to set up her grappling. Training with the Fighting Nerds, she’s averaging nearly four takedowns landed and over two submissions attempted per fifteen minutes. She has excellent takedown entries, transitions quickly from top position, and can wrap up submissions seemingly in the blink of an eye. Silva has secured six of her eight submissions in round one and is particularly dangerous early, but she also has the cardio to fight hard over three rounds.

Mandel Nallo vs. Jai Herbert

Mandel Nallo cracks Samuel Silva with a stiff right hand. Credit: MMA Junkie.

Lightweight Bout

Mandel Nallo: 14-3-0, 8 KO/TKO, 6 Sub.

Jai Herbert: 20-6-0, 9 KO/TKO, 1 Sub.

Nallo is on a five-fight win streak and making his UFC debut. He’s a powerful, precise striker with an excellent submission game. He has serious power in both hands and is highly accurate, always picking his shots and throwing everything with purpose. Nallo fights behind his jab and throws everything with impressive speed, remaining unpredictable and never telegraphing his shots. Training at TriStar Gym, he has heavy kicks and will batter his opponents with heavy leg kicks from the opening bell. He’s an excellent grappler with a great backtake and excellent chokes, and he can secure them very quickly. Nallo has finished all five of his consecutive wins in the first round and always pushes a heavy pace.

Jai Herbert fires a kick to the head of Khama Worthy. Credit: MMA Fighting.

Herbert has won two of his last five fights, with one draw, and holds UFC victories over Kyle Nelson (17-7-1), Rolando Bedoya (14-5-0), and Khama Worthy (19-10-0). He’s a powerful, precise striker with excellent boxing and heavy kicks. He’s in perpetual motion, with excellent footwork and distance management, constantly landing long, straight punches the instant his opponent enters his range. Herbert mixes in his kicks, especially head kicks, without any tell. Training at Renegade Jiu-Jitsu, he’s willing to eat a shot to land one, but he remains technical throughout and can maintain a heavy pace across three rounds. He has a brown belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and typically won’t look to grapple, but he has great throws and trips from the clinch. Herbert is rarely in a bad fight and always leaves everything inside the cage.

Kyler Phillips vs. Charles Jourdain

Kyer Phillips tags Pedro Munhoz with a stiff right hand. Credit: MMA Fighting.

Bantamweight Bout

Kyler Phillips: 12-4-0, 5 KO/TKO, 2 Sub.

Charles Jourdain: 17-8-1, 8 KO/TKO, 7 Sub.

Phillips has won three of his last five bouts and holds UFC victories over #5 ranked Bantamweight Song Yadong (22-9-1), Pedro Munhoz (20-10-0), and Raoni Barcelos (21-5-0). He’s an exceptionally fluid striker with an impressive grappling background. He has excellent footwork and is highly elusive, constantly entering the pocket to let his hands go and exiting without absorbing significant damage. Training at the MMA LAB, Phillips throws everything in combination, regularly mixing in kicks while continually changing levels and attacking from different angles. Averaging over two takedowns landed per fifteen minutes in the UFC, he’s an accomplished grappler, holding a black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and California state championships in wrestling and Judo. He’s impressively explosive and quick, able to throw heavy or commit to strikes without telegraphing. Phillips has excellent cardio and pushes a heavy pace throughout, landing, on average, about 71 significant strikes in his last five wins.

Charles Jourdain celebrates as he locks in a guillotine choke on Davey Grant. Credit: MMA Mania.

Jourdain has won three of his last five outings, with UFC victories coming over Davey Grant (17-8-0), Victory Henry (25-7-0), and Dooho Choi (16-4-1). He’s a well-rounded fighter with sharp, flashy striking and outstanding chokes. He’s in perpetual motion, throws everything fast, never telegraphs, and varies his targets between the head, legs, and body. Jourdain loves to throw jumping attacks and regularly attempts Superman punches, jumping knees, and jumping kicks. He’s impressively durable and always willing to hang in the pocket and exchange. Training at BTT Canada, he usually doesn’t pursue takedowns, but he has a fantastic guillotine and will regularly try to secure it whether he’s standing, in top position, or on his back. Jourdain has earned three Performance of the Night bonuses in his last five fights and always puts on a show.

#11 Gilbert Burns vs. Mike Malott

Gilbert Burns fires an overhand right at Michael Morales. Credit: MMA Fighting.

Welterweight Bout

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

Mike Malott: 13-2-1, 5 KO/TKO, 6 Sub.

Burns has won two of his last five fights and has UFC victories over Stephen Thompson (17-9-1), Neil Magny (31-15-0), and Gunnar Nelson (19-6-1). He’s a decorated grappler with serious power in his hands and is always pursuing a finish. He’s constantly moving on his feet, looking to close the distance, dip his head, and unleash brutal overhands. Burns has explosive takedowns, excellent top control, and a fantastic submission game. He’s just as dangerous on the mat as he is on his feet, with smothering top control and particularly dangerous armbars and chokes. Training at Kill Cliff FC, he has a granite chin and pushes a consistent pace across all 15 minutes, always coming forward to exchange. Burns has been in the promotion for over a decade and has faced a who’s-who of the Welterweight division, never backing down from a scrap.

Mike Malott unload a heavy right hand on Kevin Holland. Credit: MMA Fighting.

Malott has won four of his last five bouts, holding UFC victories over Kevin Holland (29-15-0), Charles Radtke (12-5-0), and Trevin Giles (16-7-0). He’s a powerful boxer with outstanding wrestling skills. He has sharp hands, throwing every shot with power and in combinations while remaining technical throughout. Malott tends to headhunt and favors power punches, regularly stepping into the pocket to unload heavy hooks. Training at Niagara Top Team, he’s an explosive grappler who can pull off impressive slams and throws. He’s landing, on average, about two takedowns per fifteen minutes and has a dangerous submission game, particularly chokes. Malott has seen the judges’ scorecards only twice in his seven UFC fights and is always looking for a finish.

Best Bets

Marcio Barbosa by KO/TKO: This is an exciting matchup between two dangerous strikers. While both prefer to keep the fight standing, I believe Barbosa has the edge in striking, especially in power. Buzukja has struggled against other strikers in the UFC, with his lone win in the promotion coming against a grappler, Connor Matthews. Barbosa is a much more potent striker than any of Buzukja’s previous opponents and fights at a much higher pace than Buzukja typically does. Buzukja has also proven to be relatively hittable, absorbing, on average, over 50 significant strikes per fight during his UFC tenure. I expect Barbosa to come out guns blazing, pressuring Buzukja and forcing him to fight in boxing range, where he can’t use the kicks he often relies on to set up combinations. Once Barbosa has Buzukja backed up, I believe he’ll continue to gain momentum until he inevitably finds the shot to finish him and earn a knockout victory in his debut.

Charles Jourdain Moneyline: This is a fantastic matchup of two well-rounded Bantamweights that I’ve been looking forward to. Both fighters are dangerous wherever the fight goes, but I believe Jourdain's speed and submission game will be the deciding factor. These two have been trending in opposite directions recently, with Jourdain coming off back-to-back impressive wins, while Phillips is on a tough two-fight losing streak. Phillips is a talented striker but is better off in a slower, more technical striking match, which is not the fight he will get from Jourdain, who keeps a high pace and is always looking for a finish. I also believe Jourdain’s outstanding guillotine is a significant deterrent to Phillips’s takedowns, as Phillips often relies on his wrestling when he’s losing the striking battle. I expect this fight to get off to a quick start, with Jourdain pressuring Phillips and using his speed advantage to overwhelm him, preventing Phillips from getting comfortable or establishing his rhythm. As the fight continues, I believe Jourdain will be able to fend off Phillips’s takedowns, keep the fight standing, and outpace him on the feet en route to his third straight win.

Burns vs. Malott Over 2.5 Rounds: This matchup of two powerful scrappers has major implications for both fighters. A win for Burns would be a huge bounce-back after four consecutive losses, and a win for Malott would give him a chance to climb back into the top 15. While I expect this to be a fun fight with some wild striking exchanges, I don’t expect it to end particularly early. Both fighters can push an impressive pace, but neither is known for first-round knockouts or going crazy from the opening bell. This is also the first five-round fight of Malott’s UFC career, so I expect him to be mindful of his cardio and manage his pace, at least early on. I would also be surprised to see Burns immediately looking to brawl, considering he’s coming off a first-round knockout loss and desperately needs a win. I believe both fighters will heat up as the fight progresses and take more risks, but I’m confident this fight will last at least two and a half rounds.

UFC 327 Preview

Jiří Procházka lands a thudding left hook on Jamahal Hill. Credit: MMA Mania.

The UFC heads to the Kaseya Center in Miami, Florida, this Saturday with an outstanding night of fights. From top to bottom, this entire event has been filled with top-tier matchups and exciting fighters all looking to score a highlight-reel victory on the biggest stage in the sport of MMA. In the co-main event, two powerful Light Heavyweight strikers will go to war inside the Octagon when Paulo Costa faces off against Azamat Murzakanov. In the main event, we’ll see two top-five Light Heavyweights square off for the vacant title when the always-dangerous Jiří Procházka takes on streaking contender Carlos Ulberg. Let’s take a look at the fights on the main card.

Cub Swanson vs. Nate Landwehr

Cub Swanson blasts Billy Quarantillo with a stiff right hand. Credit: MMA Junkie.

Featherweight Bout

Cub Swanson: 30-14-0, 14 KO/TKO, 4 Sub.

Nate Landwehr: 18-7-0, 9 KO/TKO, 2 Sub.

Swanson has won two of his last five fights and has UFC victories over #3 ranked Lightweight Charles Oliveira (37-11-0), Dustin Poirier (30-10-0), and Billy Quarantillo (18-7-0). Training at Bloodline Combat, he is a UFC mainstay who’s been supplying fans with incredible fights for over two decades. He’s an excellent striker known for throwing powerful, looping hooks, devastating leg kicks, and constant forward motion. Swanson has a diverse arsenal of attacks and excellent footwork, remaining elusive throughout the fight. He is a black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and a solid wrestler, often mixing in grappling with his striking. Although capable on the ground, he’s most comfortable on his feet and is more often defending takedowns than pursuing them. Swanson holds the record for the most post-fight bonuses in Featherweight history (11) and always puts on a show.

Nate Landwehr stuns David Onama with a right hook. Credit: MMA Fighting.

Landwehr has won three of his last five bouts, holding UFC victories over David Onama (14-3-0), Ludovit Klein (24-5-1), and Darren Elkins (29-12-0). He’s a true scrapper who always comes forward and engages in the fight wherever it goes. He’s always willing to eat a shot to land one, regularly walking through punches to close the distance. Landwehr fights behind his jab, constantly looking for opportunities to crash into the pocket and land combinations. He is willing to mix it up, averaging about one takedown landed and one submission attempted per fifteen minutes. He pushes a heavy pace and is at his best in a dogfight, controlling the center and forcing his opponent to the outside. Landwehr has earned five performance bonuses in his last seven UFC appearances and always leaves everything inside the cage.

#10 Dominick Reyes vs. #12 Johnny Walker

Dominick Reyes lands a powerful straight left hand on the chin of Anthony Smith. Credit: MMA Junkie.

Light Heavyweight Bout

Dominick Reyes: 15-5-0, 10 KO/TKO, 2 Sub.

Johnny Walker: 22-9-0, 17 KO/TKO, 3 Sub.

Reyes has won three of his last five outings and holds UFC victories over #9 ranked Light Heavyweight Volkan Oezdemir (21-8-0), #13 ranked Light Heavyweight Nikita Krylov (31-11-0), and #14 ranked Light Heavyweight Dustin Jacoby (22-9-1). He is a devastating striker with one-shot knockout power who’s always in pursuit of a finish. There’s power in everything he throws, both punches and kicks, and he pushes a heavy pace from the opening bell. Reyes uses his size well, constantly coming forward to batter his opponent with long, straight punches and kicks. He has excellent takedown defense, having defended 82% of takedowns attempted on him in the UFC, and he won’t accept bottom position on the mat. Training at Joe Stevenson’s Cobra Kai, he’s accurate and picks his shots well, often extending combinations when he sees openings to land. Reyes can secure a finish without much volume, holding six finish victories in the UFC in which he landed 20 or fewer significant strikes.

Johnny Walker cracks Zhang Mingyang with a right hand in the clinch. Credit: MMA Fighting.

Walker has won two of his last five fights with one No Contest and has UFC victories over #4 ranked Light Heavyweight Khalil Rountree Jr. (15-7-0), #15 ranked Light Heavyweight Zhang Mingyang (19-7-0), and Ryan Spann (23-11-0). He is a lengthy, unorthodox striker with an outstanding kicking game. He’s in perpetual motion and will often float along the outside, looking to control the pace and distance. Although not as wild as when he first entered the UFC, he still possesses an arsenal of flashy attacks and can produce a highlight-reel knockout at any time. He’s a massive 6’6”, typically possessing a height and reach advantage, and uses it well, constantly blasting his opponents with strikes from range. Training at Xtreme Couture, Walker won’t typically take it to the mat but will land devastating ground and pound if he finds himself in top position. In his thirty professional fights, Walker has only gone the distance four times in his professional, always leaving everything inside the cage.

#5 Curtis Blaydes vs. Josh Hokit

Curtis Blaydes rains down ground and pound onto Chris Daukaus. Credit: MMA Fighting.

Heavyweight Bout

Curtis Blaydes: 19-5-0, 13 KO/TKO, 0 Sub.

Josh Hokit: 8-0-0, 5 KO/TKO, 3 Sub.

Blaydes has won three of his last five bouts and has UFC victories over #2 ranked Heavyweight Alexander Volkov (39-11-0), #7 ranked Heavyweight Rizvan Kuniev (13-3-1), and Jairzinho Rozenstruik (15-6-0). A dominant wrestler, he’s constantly looking to take the fight to the mat and control the pace. He’s averaging over five takedowns landed per fifteen minutes in the UFC and secures them quickly, capable of landing shots in the open and along the fence. Blaydes favors power over volume on the feet, throwing straight, tight shots and constantly moving, feinting, and switching stances. He fights behind his jab, remaining technical and composed while throwing every shot with fight-ending power. Training with Elevation Fight Team, he looks to smother his opponent and drag them into deep waters, not necessarily forcing a finish. Blaydes has the UFC Heavyweight records for most takedowns landed (64) and most control time (1:25:36), making grappling inevitable when he’s inside the cage.

Josh Hokit tags Denzel Freeman with a heavy overhand right. Credit: MMA Fighting.

Hokit is undefeated, with UFC victories coming over Denzel Freeman (7-2-0) and Max Gimenis (6-2-0). He’s a hard-charging wrestler who pushes a heavy pace and loves to taunt his opponents. He will immediately pressure his opponent, fighting behind his jab and throwing every shot with fight-ending intentions. Hokit will regularly sit down on his punches, dipping his head before unloading heavy straights and overhands. Training at Jackson-Wink MMA, he will usually shoot for a takedown early on and is excellent in the clinch, particularly with body-lock takedowns. He’ll focused on pressure and control on the mat, maintaining a dominant position and not allowing his opponent back to their feet as he looks to posture up and land ground and pound. Hokit has not gone to a decision in his professional career and is off to a hot start in the UFC, earning two consecutive Performance of the Night Bonuses and absorbing just 10 significant strikes in three fights between the UFC and the Contender Series.

#6 Azamat Murzakanov vs. #14 (MW) Paulo Costa

Azamat Murzakanov stuns Aleksandar Rakić with a crisp left hand. Credit: MMA Mania.

Light Heavyweight Bout

Azamat Murzakanov: 16-0-0, 12 KO/TKO, 1 Sub.

Paulo Costa: 15-4-0, 11 KO/TKO, 1 Sub.

Murzakanov is undefeated and has UFC victories over #11 ranked Light Heavyweight Aleksandar Rakić (14-6-0), #14 ranked Light Heavyweight Dustin Jacoby (22-9-1), and Alonzo Menifield (17-5-1). He’s a powerful, elusive striker who’s always pursuing a knockout. He’s highly explosive, favoring power to volume and constantly looking to land shots up the middle, especially uppercuts and knees. He has excellent footwork and distance management, regularly blitzing into the pocket to land power shots before quickly returning to range unscathed. Training at K Dojo, he does a great job of varying his shots, constantly attacking from different angles while switching targets between the head and body. He’s most comfortable on his feet but is willing to grapple, possessing solid wrestling and clinch control. Murzakanov has secured nine of his twelve finishes in the first round and is at his most dangerous early on.

Paulo Costa launches a powerful kick to the head of Roman Kopylov. Credit: MMA Junkie.

Costa has won two of his last five outings, holding UFC victories over Roman Kopylov (14-5-0), Yoel Romero (16-7-0), and Luke Rockhold (16-6-0). He has outstanding punching power and pushes a heavy pace. Although he entered the UFC as a knockout artist, he can also punch with volume, landing, on average, about 112 significant strikes in his last five appearances. Costa has a black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and solid grappling skills, but rarely goes to the ground and hasn’t attempted a submission in the UFC. Training with Team Borracha, he is at his best when pressuring forward, throwing bombs and powerful kicks, especially to the body. He is more than willing to eat a shot to land one, absorbing an almost equal amount of significant strikes as he lands per minute. Costa slows as the fight continues, but will get more aggressive, throwing caution to the wind and taking more risks.

#2 Jiří Procházka vs. #3 Carlos Ulberg

Jiří Procházka batters Khalil Rountree Jr. up against the cage. Credit: MMA Fighting.

Light Heavyweight Title Bout

Jiří Procházka: 32-5-1, 28 KO/TKO, 3 Sub.

Carlos Ulberg: 14-1-0, 9 KO/TKO, 1 Sub.

Procházka has won four of his last five fights and holds UFC victories over #4 ranked Light Heavyweight Khalil Rountree Jr. (15-7-0), #7 ranked Light Heavyweight Jamahal Hill (12-4-0), and #9 ranked Light Heavyweight Volkan Oezdemir (21-8-0). He’s an elusive striker with a unique style and serious knockout power. He has excellent head movement and footwork, always remaining elusive and entering the pocket from different angles. Procházka is an unpredictable striker who can go from 0 to 100 at any time, often fighting at a slower pace before exploding forward and throwing bombs. Training at Jetsaam Gym Brno, he will constantly pressure his opponent but has excellent counterstriking and regularly dodges his opponent’s punches before landing his own. He won’t typically look for takedowns but is solid in top position, with devastating ground and pound and good chokes. Procházka hasn’t been to a decision in any of his last sixteen fights and always puts on a show while hunting for a finish.

Carlos Ulberg lands a final shot to finish off Dominick Reyes. Credit: MMA Mania.

Ulberg is on a nine-fight win streak, with UFC victories coming over #5 ranked Light Heavyweight Jan Błachowicz (29-11-1), #9 ranked Light Heavyweight Volkan Oezdemir (20-8-0), and #14 ranked Light Heavyweight Alonzo Menifield (17-5-1). He’s an accurate, technical striker with excellent power and speed. He remains patient and technical throughout, floating on the outside while looking for openings, often lighting his opponents up with kicks before he closes the distance to let his hands go. Training at City Kickboxing, Ulberg will often lure his opponent in with a slower pace before exploding forward with huge, heavy shots. He has outstanding distance management and does a great job moving in and out of the pocket without taking damage. He won’t usually initiate grappling exchanges, but is capable on the mat and has solid defensive grappling. Ulberg always pushes a solid pace throughout the fight and has outlanded all of his UFC opponents.

Best Bets

Swanson vs. Landwehr Over 2.5 Rounds: This is an outstanding matchup and an excellent way to kick off the main card. Both of these fighters put on a show every time they enter the Octagon, but neither is known for finishing fights quickly. Between the two of them, they have combined for a total of 29 finish victories, with 18 of those finishes coming after the first round. They both seem to constantly find themselves in all-out brawls, pushing a heavy pace, and constantly exchanging with their opponents, and that’s exactly how I expect this fight to play out. Although both have grappling skills, I expect this to largely play out on their feet, with both men meeting in the middle early on and testing each other’s mettle. As the fight continues and both men absorb damage, I expect the pace to slow, with them still going toe-to-toe but reducing their output. I’m confident this will be a very fun fight and that both fighters will leave everything inside the cage, but I’m also confident it will last at least two and a half rounds.

Azamat Murzakanov Moneyline: This is another exciting matchup of two dangerous strikers. While both fighters have impressive wins and top-tier skills, I believe Murzakanov has an edge in power and speed. Costa, although coming off a good win over Roman Kopylov, has at many times in recent fights looked lackadaisical and gunshy, often being put on the back foot and having to fight defensively. You cannot afford to fight with a lazy or slow style against Murzakanov, who will always remain technical and only needs a single punch to end your night. I expect Costa to be looking for big shots and to match Murzakanov's power, while Murzakanov avoids those power shots and counters with quick, precise punches, rather than being drawn into a brawl. As the fight continues, Costa’s output will slow, and he’ll take more risks, creating more openings for Murzakanov to control the cage and continue to drain Costa’s cardio while doing damage of his own. Costa has proven impressively durable in his UFC tenure, so while it may be tough for Murzakanov to secure a finish, I’m confident he’ll walk away with the biggest win of his career.

Jiří Procházka Moneyline: This is a massive fight for the vacant Light Heavyweight title that I’ve been looking forward to. Both of these fighters have proven to be the best of the best in this division, but I believe that Procházka’s unorthodox style and power will be too much for Ulberg to handle. Ulberg, in my opinion, is at his best in a more technical, almost point-fighting style of fight where he can stay at range and use all of his weapons. It’s virtually impossible to fight that kind of fight with Procházka, who is constantly coming forward, giving you different looks and entries into the pocket, and not allowing his opponent to find any kind of rhythm or comfort level inside the cage. I expect Ulberg to struggle to establish the range and keep pace with Procházka, unable to land clean kicks or punches and burning out his cardio as Procházka continues to advance and land his own shots. As the fight goes on, I expect Procházka to take control of the center of the Octagon and stay in Ulberg’s face, taking away his kicking game and forcing him to take risks and engage in Procházka’s style of fight. I’m unsure of how long this fight will go or how it will end, but I believe that when the dust settles, Procházka will have regained his Light Heavyweight title.

UFC Fight Night: Moicano vs. Duncan Preview

Renato Moicano rains down heavy ground and pound shots onto Benoît Saint Denis. Credit: MMA Fighting.

The UFC returns to its headquarters at the APEX in Las Vegas, Nevada, with an exciting Fight Night card. The entire card is filled from top to bottom with hyped prospects, established veterans, and ranked contenders, all looking to secure a landmark victory this Saturday. In the co-main event, two top-ten Strawweights will go toe-to-toe when dangerous grappler Virna Jandiroba takes on the hard-hitting Tabatha Ricci. A spot in the Lightweight rankings will be on the line in the main event when submission ace Renato Moicano squares off with a heavy-handed brawler in Chris Duncan. Let’s take a look at the fights on the main card.

José Delano vs. Robert Ruchała

José Delano lands a stiff jab on Manuel Exposito. Credit: MMA Junkie.

Featherweight Bout

José Delano: 16-3-0, 4 KO/TKO, 5 Sub.

Robert Ruchała: 11-2-0, 3 KO/TKO, 3 Sub.

Delano has won four of his last five fights and is making his UFC debut. He’s a precise striker who’s constantly coming forward and doing damage. He has excellent head movement and range management, regularly landing heavy counter strikes and moving in and out of the pocket without taking damage. Delano is extremely accurate, fighting behind his jab and throwing everything in combination without loading up or telegraphing his attacks. Training with Brazilian Top Team, he does a great job mixing up his targets and will constantly mix vicious body kicks and knees into his punch combinations. He’s willing to grapple and holds a purple belt in BJJ as well as outstanding takedown defense, typically choosing to keep the fight standing where he’s most comfortable. Delano can push a heavy pace across three rounds comfortably and has gone five rounds twice outside of the UFC.

Robert Ruchała fires a straight left hand at Willliam Gomis. Credit: MMA Junkie.

Ruchała has won three of his last five bouts and is looking for his first UFC victory. He’s an unorthodox scrapper with a dangerous arsenal of kicks and excellent wrestling. He favors his kicks to his punches when he’s standing, varying his shots well and constantly throwing kicks to the legs, body, and head. Ruchała improves as the fight goes on, letting his hands go more often and constantly coming forward. Training at Grappling Krakow, He’s a tenacious grappler, willing to work or string multiple attempts together to secure a takedown, and has excellent top control when he gets the fight to the mat. He’s always working in top position, constantly looking to improve, posture up, or secure a submission. Ruchała has excellent cardio, having fought in multiple five-round title fights in KSW, and is dangerous at all times.

Tommy McMillen vs. Manolo Zecchini

Tommy McMillen charges at David Mgoyan with a stiff left hand. Credit: Bloody Elbow.

Featherweight Bout

Tommy McMillen: 9-0-0, 3 KO/TKO, 5 Sub.

Manolo Zecchini: 11-4-0, 9 KO/TKO, 1 Sub.

McMillen is undefeated and making his UFC debut. He’s a dangerous submission ace who loves to brawl. He’s a lengthy striker but will regularly look to close the distance, constantly dipping his head before firing looping shots and lunging straights. McMillen is willing to eat a shot to land one and heats up as the fight continues, letting his hands go more often and taking more risks. Training at Red Hawk Academy, he’s a relentless grappler who will regularly look to clinch up and bring the fight to the mat. He has excellent scrambles and reversals and will typically find himself in top position where he’ll immediately pursue submissions, typically chokes. McMillen pushes a heavy pace from the opening bell, having only left the first round once in his career, and can secure chokes very quickly, even while standing.

Manolo Zecchini fires a kick to the head of Morgan Charrière. Credit: MMA Junkie.

Zecchini has won three of his last five outings and is looking to secure his first UFC victory. 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 a decision twice in his professional career, always fighting with a true “kill or be killed” attitude.

Ethyn Ewing vs. Rafael Estevam

Ethyn Ewing tags Malcolm Wellmaker with a sharp jab. Credit: MMA Fighting.

Bantamweight Bout

Ethyn Ewing: 9-2-0, 7 KO/TKO, 0 Sub.

Rafael Estevam: 14-0-0, 4 KO/TKO, 3 Sub.

Ewing is on a nine-fight win streak and has a UFC victory over Malcolm Wellmaker (9-2-0). He’s a heavy-handed boxer with solid grappling skills who’s always pressing the action. He’s a technical striker, always fighting behind his jab, picking his shots, and throwing in combination. Ewing has excellent head movement and range management, regularly slipping punches before landing several of his own. Training at CSW, he does a great job varying his targets between the head and body and has heavy kicks that he regularly mixes into combinations. He has a brown belt in BJJ with great wrestling, both offensively and defensively, and has solid takedowns and throws from the clinch. Ewing maintains a heavy pace throughout and is always gaming, having just come off a massive upset win on just two days’ notice in his UFC debut.

Rafael Estevam fires a front kick to the body of Charles Johnson. Credit: MMA Fighting.

Estevam is undefeated, holding UFC victories over #13 ranked Flyweight Charles Johnson (19-8-0), Jesús Aguilar (12-4-0), and Felipe Bunes (14-9-0). He’s a BJJ black belt and a relentless grappler with solid punching power. He’s averaging about six takedowns landed per fifteen minutes in the UFC and is willing to work for takedowns or shoot repeatedly to bring the fight to the mat. Estevam has solid power in his hands and varies his targets well, but won’t typically stay standing for long, usually using his striking to set up his grappling and punching into takedown attempts. Training at Nova União, he’s focused on control and damage from top position, and does a great job not allowing his opponent to sweep him or escape back to their feet. He won’t typically hunt for submissions and is willing to stay in his opponent’s guard, posture up, and land ground and pound. Estevam is always looking to bring the fight to the mat, having shot 50 takedowns in just three UFC fights and landed 19 of them.

Abdul-Rakhman Yakhyaev vs. Brendson Ribeiro

Abdul-Rakhman Yakhyaev viciously slams Rafael Cerqueira to the mat. Credit: MMA Mania.

Light Heavyweight Bout

Abdul-Rakhman Yakhyaev: 8-0-0, 3 KO/TKO, 4 Sub.

Brendson Ribeiro: 17-9-0, 9 KO/TKO, 7 Sub.

Yakhyaev is undefeated and has a UFC victory over Rafael Cerqueira (11-4-0). He’s a marauding scrapper who comes out guns blazing and looking to finish the fight by any means necessary. He throws every shot with power and is always coming forward, regularly mixing heavy kicks into his combinations. Yakhyaev holds the rank of Master of Sport in both combat sambo and MMA, but can get flashy on his feet, throwing jumping attacks and spinning kicks. He has devastating takedowns and can perform brutal slams from the clinch before securing a dominant position on the mat. Training at MMA & Combat Nurnberg, he is very active in top position, constantly looking to posture up and land ground and pound or secure a choke. Yakhyaev has earned quick finishes in all of his last four fights, spending a total of just 4:58 inside the cage across those outings.

Brendson Ribeiro snatches up a slick kimura on Diyar Nurgozhay. Credit: MMA Mania.

Ribeiro has won three of his last five fights, with UFC victories coming over Caio Machado (8-4-1) and Diyar Nurgozhay (11-2-0). He’s a wild brawler with solid power and dangerous submissions. He throws everything with knockout intentions, fighting behind his jab before unloading long, looping hooks. Ribeiro has heavy kicks and throws them constantly, regularly mixing leg kicks into combinations. Training at Brazilian TKO, he is an explosive grappler and can land powerful takedowns even when on the back foot. He can survive in deep waters on his back, has solid scrambles and reversals, and has heavy pressure in top position. He stays patient on top, not putting himself in bad spots while looking to land ground and pound. Ribeiro has secured four of his seven submission victories via guillotine and will regularly pursue chokes if the fight hits the mat.

#3 Virna Jandiroba vs. #7 Tabatha Ricci

Virna Jandiroba submits Amanda Lemos with a vicious armbar. Credit: MMA Junkie.

Women’s Strawweight Bout

Virna Jandiroba: 22-4-0, 1 KO/TKO, 14 Sub.

Tabatha Ricci: 12-3-0, 2 KO/TKO, 3 Sub.

Jandiroba has won four of her last five bouts and has UFC victories over #4 ranked Strawweight Yan Xiaonan (19-5-0), #6 ranked Strawweight Loopy Godínez (14-5-0), and #8 ranked Strawweight Amanda Lemos (15-6-1). She’s a tenacious grappler with excellent takedowns and lethal submissions. She’s a bit limited on her feet, mostly throwing straight punches and 1-2 combinations before closing the distance and pursuing takedowns. Jandiroba is averaging nearly three takedowns landed and over one submission attempted per fifteen minutes, and will constantly look to get her opponent in the clinch along the fence. Training at Academia Fight House, she holds a black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, heavy top control, and always works for a finish on the ground. She has excellent sweeps and reversals, almost always ending up in top position when the fight hits the mat. Jandiroba has secured nine of her fourteen submission victories via choke, with six of those being rear-naked chokes, and is extremely dangerous if she can get a hold of her opponent’s neck.

Tabatha Ricci blasts Amanda Ribas with a stiff right hand. Credit: MMA Mania.

Ricci has won three of her last five outings, holding UFC victories over #5 ranked Strawweight Gillian Robertson (17-8-0), #10 ranked Strawweight Amanda Ribas (12-7-0), and #14 ranked Strawweight Angela Hill (18-16-0). She’s a speedy, well-rounded scrapper who holds black belts in Judo and BJJ. She’s in perpetual motion on her feet, never staying in one spot for long, while constantly peppering her opponents with shots. Ricci throws everything in combination, has great distance management and head movement, and regularly mixes kicks into combinations, particularly to the legs. She’s averaging nearly three takedowns landed per 15 minutes and has excellent timing, able to secure them in open space and the clinch. Training at Paragon BJJ, she’s always working in top position, constantly advancing while staying safe and not putting herself in dangerous positions. Ricci has landed at least one takedown in all her UFC victories and always looks to take the fight to the mat.

#10 Renato Moicano vs. Chris Duncan

Renato Moicano lands a thudding left hand on Drew Dober. Credit: MMA Fighting.

Lightweight Bout

Renato Moicano: 20-7-1, 2 KO/TKO, 10 Sub.

Chris Duncan: 15-2-0, 7 KO/TKO, 4 Sub.

Moicano has won four of his last five fights and has UFC victories over #5 ranked Lightweight Benoît Saint Denis (14-3-0), Drew Dober (29-15-0), and Jalin Turner (15-9-0). He is a grappling ace with an excellent submission game who’s always willing to brawl. He’ll typically shoot for a takedown early on and is very active in top position, constantly alternating between posturing up, landing ground and pound, and looking for submissions. Moicano will almost immediately look to take the back when the fight hits the mat and look for his patented rear naked choke, by which he has secured all of his submission victories. He has smothering top control and is very tough to get away from, doing a great job of floating from the back directly into full mount and maintaining control. On the feet, he has solid speed and power in his hands and loves to throw uppercuts and elbows when in close. Training at American Top Team, he’s always pushing the pace and looking for a finish, having gone the distance just three times in his last fourteen UFC fights.

Chris Duncan locks up a tight anaconda choke on Terrance McKinney. Credit: MMA Fighting.

Duncan has won four of his last five bouts, with UFC victories coming over Mateusz Rębecki (20-4-0), Bolaji Oki (10-4-0), and Terrance McKinney (18-8-0). He’s an exciting brawler with a solid wrestling game and dangerous power in his hands. He’s always coming forward and throwing everything with power, constantly unloading long, straight punches and powerful kicks. Duncan has great footwork and distance management and will regularly batter his opponents with step-in elbows and knees when they enter his striking range. Training at American Top Team, he’s averaging over three takedowns landed per fifteen minutes and has heavy top and clinch control. He’s always dangerous on the ground, especially in top position, but has outstanding submissions and can find them off his back. Duncan is exceptionally durable and heats up as the fight continues, earning half of his finishes in the second or third rounds.

Best Bets

José Delano by Decision: This is an exciting matchup of two entertaining fighters. Both of these fighters are comfortable on their feet, but I believe Delano has the edge in the striking. Ruchała is a rather unorthodox striker who seems to favor his kicks over his punches, whereas Delano has very sharp hands and solid kicks to back them up. I expect Delano to get on the pressure from the opening bell, not allowing Ruchała to stay at kicking distance and forcing him to engage inside the pocket. As the fight continues, I expect Delano to piece Ruchała up and wear down his cardio, slowing Ruchała’s output and allowing Delano to take over the fight. Once Delano is in full control of both the pace and the range, I believe he’ll force Ruchała to fight defensively and pursue takedowns, only further slowing him down and allowing Delano to do more damage. Ruchała is durable and has plenty of high-level experience, so he will be tough to finish inside the cage, but I’m confident Delano will earn an impressive decision victory.

Tommy McMillen by Submission: This is an intriguing matchup of a hyped UFC debutant and a returning brawler. Zecchini only has one UFC fight, which he lost by knockout in the first round in 2023, and was essentially dominated for the full time he was in the cage. McMillen, who’s under the tutelage of Sean O’Malley and Tim Welch, is coming off an impressive comeback win on the Contender Series and looks to be a very solid prospect. Despite a lack of UFC experience for both of these fighters, McMillen seems to be the far more well-rounded of the two and has a massive advantage on the ground. I expect this fight to get off to a quick start, with both fighters exchanging blows in the center of the cage and McMillen using his huge size and reach advantage to get the better of Zecchini. I expect McMillen to shoot for a takedown early on and secure it before dominating and controlling Zecchini on the ground. Once McMillen has gotten the fight to the floor, I don’t imagine it will take long before he secures a submission and a big win in his debut.

Chris Duncan Moneyline: This is an outstanding matchup of two excellent Lightweights that I’ve been looking forward to. While both fighters have well-rounded skill sets and even train at the same gym, I believe Duncan has the skills to match Moicano on the ground and has an advantage on the feet. Moicano is willing to engage in striking exchanges but isn’t the most technically skilled or powerful striker, whereas Duncan has very solid hands, a great chin, and big-time punching power. I expect this fight to get going quickly, with both fighters meeting in the middle of the cage and letting their hands go. I believe Duncan will get the better of the early striking exchanges and deny Moicano's inevitable takedown attempts, forcing him to stay standing and striking with Duncan. As they continue to exchange on the feet, I expect Duncan to start damaging Moicano and force him onto his back foot, making it much harder for him to grapple or return fire. Once Duncan has him backed up, I expect him to batter Moicano with heavy kicks and punches, and whether it’s via finish or decision, I’m confident Duncan will walk away with a victory and likely a spot in the Lightweight rankings.

UFC Fight Night: Adesanya vs. Pyfer Preview

Israel Adesanya stuns Marvin Vettori with a stiff uppercut. Credit: MMA Fighting.

The UFC heads to the Climate Pledge Arena in Seattle, Washington, with an exciting Fight Night card. From top to bottom, the card has been filled with fantastic matchups and exciting scrappers looking to put on a show this Saturday. In the co-main bout, two top-five women’s Flyweights will rematch when former champion Alexa Grasso takes on the streaking Maycee Barber. In the main event, we’ll see top-tier kickboxer Israel Adesanya collide with red-hot power puncher Joe Pyfer. Let’s take a look at the fights on the main card.

Terrance McKinney vs. Kyle Nelson

Terrance McKinney viciously chokes out Viacheslav Borshchev with a tight guillotine. Credit: MMA Fighting.

Lightweight Bout

Terrance McKinney: 17-8-0, 8 KO/TKO, 9 Sub.

Kyle Nelson: 17-6-1, 6 KO/TKO, 4 Sub.

McKinney has won three of his last five fights and has UFC victories over #15 ranked Lightweight Farés Ziam (18-4-0), Matt Frevola (11-6-1), and Mike Breeden (11-6-0). He’s a wild scrapper who comes out guns blazing, always hunting for a quick finish. He’s always coming forward, pressuring his opponent, and firing every shot with knockout intentions. McKinney is just as dangerous on the mat and is highly aggressive in top position, constantly looking to posture up or secure a submission. Training at Fusion X-Cel, he has excellent chokes and can find them with blinding speed, regularly using them to defend takedowns or immediately getting ahold of his opponent's neck when the fight goes to the ground. He has never been to a decision in his professional career, reaching the third round only once in 25 fights. McKinney has already put his name in the UFC Lightweight record books, holding the records for the fastest finish and knockout (0:07) and the shortest average fight time (2:25).

Kyle Nelson rains down heavy ground and pound onto Matt Frevola. Credit: MMA Fighting.

Nelson has won four of his last five bouts, holding UFC victories over Bill Algeo (18-9-0), Fernando Padilla (16-6-0), and Blake Bilder (8-2-1). He’s a powerful striker who’s always coming forward and never slows down. He fights behind his jab, throwing it with plenty of power, and is efficient with his striking, rarely wasting energy. Nelson does an excellent job of mixing in kicks with his punches, constantly throwing leg kicks and sneaking head kicks in at the end of combinations. He has solid footwork, regularly cutting off the cage before entering the pocket to unload looping hooks and overhands. Training at House of Champions, he’s landing, on average, over one takedown landed per fifteen minutes in the UFC and is very strong in the clinch. Nelson throws everything with power and excels at landing kicks and counter shots on his opponent while they’re attempting a strike.

Mansur Abdul-Malik vs. Yousri Belgaroui

Mansur Abdul-Malik lands a crushing blow on Duško Todorović. Credit: MMA Mania.

Middleweight Bout

Mansur Abdul-Malik: 9-0-1, 7 KO/TKO, 2 Sub.

Yousri Belgaroui: 9-3-0, 7 KO/TKO, 0 Sub.

Abdul-Malik is undefeated and holds UFC victories over Duško Todorović (13-6-0), Nick Klein (6-3-0), and Antonio Trocoli (12-7-0). He’s a powerful, explosive fighter with heavy hands and excellent wrestling. He throws every shot with power, fighting in a low, squatted stance and prepared to blitz forward with huge, lunging strikes at any moment. Abdul-Malik is dangerous early on but can be a slow starter, often opening up more as the fight continues. Training at MMA Masters, he has great takedowns, usually securing them quickly before unloading a barrage of vicious, thudding ground and pound onto his opponent. He’s very aggressive in top position, immediately pursuing a finish, and has solid chokes to back up his ground and pound. Abdul-Malik has never gone to a decision in his professional career and can produce a highlight-reel knockout at any time.

Yousri Belgaroui lands a stinging right hand on the jaw of Azamat Bekoev. Credit: MMA Mania.

Belgaroui has won four of his last five outings, with a UFC victory coming over Azamat Bekoev (20-4-0). A former Glory kickboxer, he’s a lengthy, precise striker who’s dangerous at all times. He’s highly accurate and varies his targets well, regularly attacking the head, legs, and body with a variety of punches and kicks, along with particularly devastating knees. Training at Teixeira MMA, Belgaroui has a sharp jab and fights behind it, remaining technical throughout and using his length to batter his opponent with constant straight punches. He has solid takedown defense and excellent ground and pound if the fight hits the mat, often landing vicious elbows as he defends takedowns. He has outstanding footwork and distance management, regularly slipping shots, cutting the angle, and returning fire. Belgaroui has secured two consecutive third round knockouts and can maintain a solid pace across three rounds, averaging about 96 significant strikes landed in his last two appearances.

Julian Erosa vs. Lerryan Douglas

Julian Erosa stuns Melquizael Costa with a flying knee. Credit: MMA Mania.

Featherweight Bout

Julian Erosa: 31-13-0, 12 KO/TKO, 14 Sub.

Lerryan Douglas: 13-5-0, 7 KO/TKO, 3 Sub.

Erosa has won three of his last five fights and has UFC victories over Christian Rodriguez (12-4-0), Charles Jourdain (17-8-1), and Nate Landwehr (18-7-0). He utilizes an awkward style on the feet, staying upright with his hands down and throwing lots of looping hooks from strange angles. He seems to always be moving forward, whether to initiate a grappling exchange or land strikes, and has the cardio to do so easily over three rounds. Erosa is willing to get into brawls on the feet, gladly hanging in the pocket and exchanging combinations. Training at Xtreme Couture, he averages nearly two takedowns landed per fifteen minutes and is a slick submission artist with outstanding chokes, having earned 11 of his 14 submission wins via choke. He has proven to be a bit of a slow starter, but he heats up as the fight goes on. Erosa has secured over half of his finishes after the first round and is always dangerous.

Lerryan Douglas blasts Cam Teague with a powerful left hook. Credit: MMA Junkie.

Douglas is on a five-fight win streak and making his UFC debut. He’s a heavy-handed striker with a solid grappling background. He remains patient and technical throughout, favoring power to volume as he waits for openings to land power shots. Douglas is very explosive and can go from 0 to 100 very quickly, often starting fights slowly and firing kicks from range before blitzing forward and unloading devastating combinations. He won’t typically pursue grappling exchanges, but has a black belt in BJJ and is a former freestyle wrestling national champion in Brazil, so he’s more than competent on the mat. Training at Bloodline Combat, he does a great job of varying his targets, constantly damaging his opponent’s legs, body, and head with a variety of kicks and punches. Douglas has not been to a decision in his last seven fights and is always pursuing a finish.

Michael Chiesa vs. Niko Price

Michael Chiesa secures the back of Max Griffin and pursues a choke. Credit: MMA Fighting.

Welterweight Bout

Michael Chiesa: 19-7-0, 0 KO/TKO, 12 Sub.

Niko Price: 16-10-0, 10 KO/TKO, 3 Sub.

Chiesa has won three of his last five bouts and has UFC victories over #12 ranked Lightweight Beneil Dariush (23-7-1), Neil Magny (31-15-0), and Jim Miller (38-19-0). He’s a dangerous grappler with excellent wrestling and submissions. Averaging over three takedowns landed and one submission attempted per fifteen minutes, he’s most comfortable on the mat and won’t waste much time before taking it there. Chiesa is in perpetual motion on his feet, throwing lots of single shots and using his striking to set up his grappling, often striking into the clinch. He’s active on top, constantly looking to advance position and set up submissions. Training at Sikjitsu, he has excellent scrambles, smothering top pressure, and great transitions, regularly putting himself in advantageous positions out of grappling exchanges. Ten of Chiesa’s twelve submission wins have come via rear naked choke, and he’s incredibly dangerous if he can reach his opponent’s back.

Niko Price fires a kick to the head of Alex Morono. Credit: MMA Junkie.

Price has won one of his last five outings, holding UFC victories over Randy Brown (20-7-0), Alex Morono (24-13-0), and Tim Means (34-17-1). He is a gritty scrapper who’s always willing to exchange in the pocket and is comfortable anywhere the fight goes. He’s constantly looking to close the distance, regularly blitzing into the pocket with wide hooks and looping shots. Price fights behind his jab and uses his striking to set up his grappling, often punching into the clinch then pursuing takedowns. Training at Fight Me Combat Sports, he has heavy top control and is highly active on the mat, never accepting a position. He’s very tough to control and has a dangerous guard, constantly throwing up submissions off his back to escape danger. Price has only seen the judge’s scorecards six times in his career and always pushes a heavy pace.

#4 Alexa Grasso vs. #5 Maycee Barber

Alexa Grasso submits Valentina Shevchenko with a tight rear naked choke. Credit: MMA Mania.

Women’s Flyweight Bout

Alexa Grasso: 16-5-1, 4 KO/TKO, 2 Sub.

Maycee Barber: 15-2-0, 6 KO/TKO, 2 Sub.

Grasso has won two of her last five fights with one draw and holds UFC victories over Flyweight champion Valentina Shevchenko (26-4-1), Viviane Araújo (13-7-0), and her current opponent, Maycee Barber. She is an excellent technical boxer who throws everything purposefully and in combination. She’s aggressive but not wild, staying technical and using timing and accuracy to damage her opponents. Grasso has a solid chin and is dangerous inside the pocket, but is also defensively sound, having successfully defended 58% of significant strikes attempted on her in the UFC. She holds a brown belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and is always dangerous on the ground. She’s constantly working in top position, looking to posture up and land ground and pound while threatening submissions. Grasso is a volume striker with excellent cardio, pushing a heavy pace throughout and landing, on average, 71 significant strikes per fight in her last five wins.

Maycee Barber fires a knee to the head of Katlyn Cerminara. Credit: MMA Mania.

Barber is on a seven-fight win streak, with UFC victories coming over #5 ranked Strawweight Gillian Robertson (17-8-0), #9 ranked Flyweight Miranda Maverick (17-6-0), and #10 ranked Strawweight Amanda Ribas (12-7-0). Training at Fort Collins Martial Arts, Barber is an aggressive striker with solid power in both hands. She’s constantly switching stances and throwing looping shots, preferring power to volume. Barber will regularly look to close distance and enter the pocket, often dipping her head and blitzing forward while unloading hooks and overhands. She can do solid damage without much space, possessing excellent clinch striking, particularly her elbows and hands. She’s landing, on average, over one takedown per fifteen minutes and is willing to work along the fence to bring the fight to the mat. Barber will increase her brawling tendencies as the fight continues, choosing aggression over technicality and hunting for knockouts.

#4 Israel Adesanya vs. #14 Joe Pyfer

Israel Adesanya lands a powerful kick to the body of Jared Cannonier. Credit: MMA Fighting.

Middleweight Bout

Israel Adesanya: 24-5-0, 16 KO/TKO, 0 Sub.

Joe Pyfer: 15-3-0, 9 KO/TKO, 4 Sub.

Adesanya has won two of his last five bouts and has UFC victories over UFC Light Heavyweight champion Alex Pereira (12-2-0), #9 ranked Middleweight Robert Whittaker (27-8-0), and #10 ranked Middleweight Jared Cannonier (18-9-0). He is one of the best technical strikers in MMA and a former professional kickboxer with a record of 75-5 with 29 wins by knockout. Throwing with both power and volume, he’s landed, on average, about 87 significant strikes in his last five fights. Adesanya is highly elusive, rarely taking substantial damage, and constantly moving, keeping his head off the centerline. Training at City Kickboxing, he has excellent footwork and is comfortable at range and inside the pocket, able to land damage from anywhere. He has a tremendous variety of kicks and does a great job of varying his attacks, always remaining unpredictable. Twelve of Adesanya’s last thirteen fights were for gold, making him not only prepared for five rounds but highly comfortable in the spotlight.

Joe Pyfer blasts Kelvin Gastelum with a brutal ground and pound shot. Credit: MMA Mania.

Pyfer has won four of his last five outings, holding UFC victories over Kelvin Gastelum (21-10-0), Marc-André Barriault (17-11-0), and Gerald Meerschaert (37-21-0). He is an explosive striker with one-punch knockout power and a black belt in BJJ. He favors power to volume, often firing single punches, typically looping hooks and overhands. Training at Marquez MMA, Pyfer has solid footwork and distance management, doing a good job of pressuring his opponent, holding the center, and moving in and out of the pocket without taking big shots. He’s willing to grapple and will shoot for takedowns early, remaining as aggressive on the mat as he is on his feet with constant ground and pound and submission attempts. He’s always looking to set up his right hand and will stay patient on his feet, hunting for openings to land his power shots. Pyfer has only seen the judges’ scorecards three times in his career and rarely takes much damage, absorbing, on average, about 28 significant strikes per fight in the UFC.

Best Bets

Yousri Belgaroui Moneyline: This is an exciting matchup of two fighters still early in their UFC careers. These fighters have very different styles: Abdul-Malik has a wrestling background and an aggressive striking approach, while Belgaroui is a very refined, technical striker with constantly improving grappling skills. Although Abdul-Malik likely has a grappling advantage, I expect most of this fight to play out on the feet, where Belgaroui has the edge. Abdul-Malik very much favors his power and forward pressure to do damage, constantly lunging forward and throwing huge shots, and I think that plays perfectly into Belgaroui's style. Belgaroui fights behind his jab and is comfortable on his back foot or the outside of the cage, and I expect Abdul-Malik to constantly run into the long jab and straight punches of Belgaroui as he attempts to crash into the pocket. Belgaroui also has a cardio advantage, with a full kickboxing career under his belt and two consecutive third-round finishes, whereas Abdul-Malik has left the second round just once in his professional career. I expect Belgaroui to piece Abdul-Malik up, denying his takedown attempts and wearing him out with constant offense en route to an impressive victory.

Lerryan Douglas by KO/TKO: This is a matchup of a dangerous UFC debutant and an established veteran that I’ve been looking forward to. Although Douglas is definitely the more striking-focused of these two fighters, he has the skills to match Erosa’s dangerous submission game on the mat, as well as the takedown defense to keep the fight standing. Douglas has a definite power and speed advantage, and Erosa is a particularly chinny fighter, with 8 of his 13 professional losses coming via knockout. I expect Douglas to pressure Erosa from the start, not necessarily breaking him down with volume but landing heavy kicks from range and big punches when they meet inside the pocket. As the fight continues, I believe Erosa will grow desperate to bring it to the ground, and Douglas will take control, dictating the pace and controlling the center while denying takedowns. The more Erosa is forced to stand and engage with Douglas, the more damage he’ll take, and I expect Douglas to increase his pace and output as he gets more comfortable. Once Douglas fully lets his hands go, I don’t believe it will take long for him to find the shot that puts Erosa out and earns him a knockout victory in his UFC debut.

Adesanya vs. Pyfer to Not Go the Distance: A matchup between a former champion and a rising contender, this is a massive fight for both of these men. Pyfer is ranked for the first time and facing what is by far the biggest name of his career, and will be looking for a big finish to push himself up the Middleweight rankings. Adesanya is on the worst skid of his career, having dropped three straight, and is in desperate need of a landmark victory to show he’s still got it. While I wouldn’t say both of these fighters will fight with reckless abandon, they will definitely both be pursuing a highlight reel win, and with the finishing abilities of both of these strikers, I would be surprised if one of them doesn’t find it. Neither of these fighters has seen many decisions lately, either, with four of Adesanya’s last five ending inside the distance and three of Pyfer’s last five. I expect this fight to get going quickly, with both fighters pushing the action and throwing with knockout intentions. As the fight continues and both men continue to pursue a finish, I’m confident one of them will land the shot they're looking for and end this fight within five rounds.

UFC Fight Night: Evloev vs. Murphy Preview

Lerone Murphy blasts Dan Ige with a powerful left hand. Credit: MMA Fighting.

The UFC heads to the O2 Arena in London, England, with an outstanding Fight Night card. The entire card has been packed full of exciting matchups, local talent, and true scrappers all looking to put on a show this Saturday night. In the co-main event, dangerous power-puncher Luke Riley will go toe-to-toe with a gritty brawler in Michael Aswell. In the main event, we’ll see two top-five Featherweights square off when dominant wrestler Movsar Evloev takes on precise striker Lerone Murphy. Let’s take a look at the fights on the main card.

Kurtis Campbell vs. Danny Silva

Kurtis Campbell digs a kick to the body of Demba Seck. Credit: MMA Fighting.

Featherweight Bout

Kurtis Campbell: 8-0-0, 5 KO/TKO, 1 Sub.

Danny Silva: 10-2-0, 5 KO/TKO, 0 Sub.

Campbell is undefeated and making his UFC debut. He’s a versatile fighter with excellent striking and dangerous grappling skills. He pursues a finish from the opening bell, immediately pressuring his opponent and backing them up before unloading heavy kicks. Campbell varies his attacks well, with particularly effective leg kicks, and possesses deceptive power, having produced three finish victories in a minute and a half or less. Training at the MMA Academy Liverpool, he will often look to grapple early and has excellent timing and entries on his takedowns, often chaining them together before securing a dominant position on the mat. He’s always working in top position, constantly advancing, landing ground and pound, and attempting submissions while maintaining smothering control of his opponent. Campbell is constantly pushing the action but has five-round experience and can maintain a heavy pace across three rounds.

Danny Silva fires a straight right hand at Lucas Almeida. MMA Fighting.

Silva has won four of his last five fights, holding UFC victories over Josh Culibao (11-4-1) and Lucas Almeida (15-5-0). He’s a durable scrapper with impressive power and outstanding wrestling. He’s constantly coming forward, pressuring his opponent, and controlling the center of the octagon. Silva prefers power to volume, not putting out much at range before exploding into the pocket to unload heavy combinations. Training at Bloodline Combat, he’s landing, on average, over two takedowns per fifteen minutes and is a tenacious wrestler, often chaining takedowns together along the fence. His striking sets up his grappling, regularly punching into the clinch before taking the fight to the mat. Silva has excellent cardio, maintaining his pace and power throughout, and has secured four of his five knockout victories after the first round.

#11 Roman Dolidze vs. Christian Leroy Duncan

Roman Dolidze cracks Marvin Vettori with a heavy right hand. Credit: MMA Mania.

Middleweight Bout

Roman Dolidze: 15-4-0, 8 KO/TKO, 3 Sub.

Christian Leroy Duncan: 13-2-0, 10 KO/TKO, 1 Sub.

Dolidze has won three of his last five bouts and holds UFC victories over Marvin Vettori (19-10-1), Kyle Daukaus (17-4-0), and Kevin Holland (28-15-0). He’s a solid grappler who’s always willing to brawl. He throws everything with power and tends to headhunt, constantly dipping his head and firing looping hooks and overhands. Dolidze is excellent in the clinch and very hard to shake off, possessing devastating striking in close, particularly with his knees. He’s averaging about one takedown landed per 15 minutes and has solid top control and heavy ground and pound. Training at Xtreme Couture, he favors power to volume and will often get wild, charging forward and firing power shots. Dolidze has gone five rounds multiple times in the UFC and carries his power throughout the fight, remaining dangerous at all times.

Christian Leroy Duncan lands a stunning right hook on Marco Tulio. Credit: MMA Mania.

Duncan has won four of his last five outings, with UFC victories coming over Marco Tulio (14-2-0), Andrey Pulyaev (10-4-0), and Eryk Anders (18-9-0). He’s a flashy striker with power in both hands and an expansive arsenal of kicks. He’s unpredictable, constantly moving and switching stances while attempting spinning and jumping attacks. Duncan is highly accurate and efficient, throwing every shot purposefully without loading up or overextending. He’s excellent at controlling the center of the cage, forcing his opponent to the outside of the Octagon while fighting behind his jab and piecing them up with clean shots. Training at Range MMA Academy, he’s willing to grapple and will occasionally shoot takedowns, advancing very quickly and raining down heavy ground and pound when in top position. Duncan carries his power across all three rounds and is always dangerous, capable of creating a highlight-reel finish at any moment.

Iwo Baraniewski vs. Austen Lane

Iwo Baraniewski lands a concussive right hand on Ibo Aslan. Credit: MMA Mania.

Light Heavyweight Bout

Iwo Baraniewski: 7-0-0, 5 KO/TKO, 2 Sub.

Austen Lane: 13-7-0, 11 KO/TKO, 1 Sub.

Baraniewski is undefeated and has a UFC victory over Ibo Aslan (14-4-0). He’s a powerful brawler with excellent grappling skills to back up his dangerous hands. He’s impressively durable and will constantly come forward and pressure his opponent, always willing to eat a shot to land one of his own. Despite his brawling tendencies, Baraniewski has solid head movement and is very accurate with his hands, throwing every shot with power and rarely missing. He has a black belt in Judo, a brown belt in BJJ, and a lengthy amateur MMA career, holding an amateur record of 16-3 before turning professional in 2023. He has excellent trips and throws from the clinch and is very aggressive in top position, almost immediately looking to posture up and rain down ground and pound. Baraniewski has not seen a second round in his professional career and has finished all of his victories in under four minutes.

Austen Lane fires a right hand at Robelis Despaigne. Credit: Zuffa LLC.

Lane has won one of his last five fights, holding a UFC victory over Robelis Despaigne (5-2-0). He is a lengthy striker who often 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, Lane has solid power in his hands and decent cardio, carrying his punching capacity across 15 minutes. He is a former NFL player and has finished all but one of his wins, having left the first round just six times in his professional career. While he won’t typically engage in grappling exchanges, he will throw heavy ground-and-pound if he finds himself in top position. Lane has shown an ability to survive off his back and will pursue submissions if given the opportunity.

#13 Michael Page vs. Sam Patterson

Michael Page lands a vicious spinning elbow on the jaw of Kevin Holland. Credit: MMA Fighting.

Welterweight Bout

Michael Page: 24-3-0, 13 KO/TKO, 3 Sub.

Sam Patterson: 14-2-1, 6 KO/TKO, 7 Sub.

Page has won four of his last five bouts and holds UFC victories over #10 ranked Middleweight Jared Cannonier (18-9-0), Kevin Holland (28-15-0), and Shara Magomedov (16-1-0). One of the most dangerous kickboxers in the sport, he has a fantastic arsenal of flashy kicks and flashier celebrations. He has outstanding counterstriking, often floating along the outside of the cage and looking to draw his opponent into his range so he can counter with big shots. Training at London Shootfighters, Page is in perpetual motion, keeping his hands down and his stance wide, looking for openings to land devastating kicks or combinations. He never telegraphs his attacks, constantly changes his target, and has fantastic distance management, remaining elusive at all times. He typically won’t pursue grappling exchanges, but he has solid takedown defense and submissions. With 13 finishes in the first round, Page is particularly dangerous early on, but remains dangerous throughout and can produce a highlight-reel finish at any time.

Sam Patterson rains down vicious ground and pound onto Danny Barlow. Credit: MMA Mania.

Patterson has won four of his last five outings, with UFC victories coming over Trey Waters (9-2-0), Danny Barlow (9-2-0), and Yohan Lainesse (9-3-0). He’s a well-rounded scrapper who’s always willing to engage on his feet and has lethal chokes on the mat. He’s a lengthy fighter and uses it well, maintaining solid distance management while throwing long punches and kicks at range. Patterson remains technical on the feet, keeping his shots straight and tight without telegraphing or overextending. Patterson is averaging over one takedown landed per fifteen minutes and can secure a dominant position with impressive speed when he’s on top. He prefers submissions to ground and pound, typically pursuing chokes immediately upon reaching the mat and often securing them quickly. Patterson has earned more than half of his professional wins in the first round and has not gone beyond the first round in his last five fights. 

Luke Riley vs. Michael Aswell

Luke Riley finishes Bogdan Grad with brutal ground and pound. Credit: MMA Mania.

Featherweight Bout

Luke Riley: 12-0-0, 9 KO/TKO, 0 Sub.

Michael Aswell: 11-3-0, 6 KO/TKO, 0 Sub.

Riley is undefeated and has a UFC victory over Bogdan Grad (15-4-0). He’s a precise striker with one-shot knockout power. He fights behind his jab and remains technical throughout, favoring power to volume but always throwing in combination when he lets his hands go. Riley does a great job of varying his attacks, firing leg kicks at range and regularly mixing vicious body shots into punch combinations. Training at Next Generation UK, he’s defensively sound with solid distance management and head movement, and will constantly look to close the distance so he can unload inside the pocket. He won’t typically pursue grappling exchanges, but he has solid get-ups and will throw heavy ground and pound when in top position. Riley heats up as the fight continues, increasing his output as the fight plays out, but he is just as dangerous early on and has secured nearly half of his knockout wins in the first round.

Michael Aswell lands a devastating shot to the chin of Lucas Almeida. Credit: Bloody Elbow.

Aswell has won three of his last five fights, holding a UFC victory over Lucas Almeida (15-5-0). He’s a gritty scrapper who’s always willing to come forward and exchange. He fights behind his jab and throws everything in combination, favoring volume to power and regularly stringing together four or five punches at a time. Aswell has solid footwork and is in perpetual motion, rarely spending much time at range before entering the pocket to let his hands go. He tends to headhunt, rarely throwing many kicks, but does a good job of changing his angles when coming forward and varying his punches. Training at Metro Fight Club, he won’t usually pursue grappling exchanges but has exhibited solid takedown defense and great getups, rarely spending much time on his back. Aswell always throws with impressive output, averaging 101 significant strikes landed between his appearances in the UFC and Contender Series.

#1 Movsar Evloev vs. #3 Lerone Murphy

Movsar Evloev maintains control of Aljamain Sterling on the mat. Credit: MMAJunkie.

Featherweight Bout

Movsar Evloev: 19-0-0, 3 KO/TKO, 4 Sub.

Lerone Murphy: 17-0-1, 8 KO/TKO, 0 Sub.

Evloev is undefeated and holds UFC victories over #2 ranked Featherweight Diego Lopes (27-8-0), #5 ranked Featherweight Aljamain Sterling (25-5-0), and #8 ranked Featherweight Arnold Allen (20-4-0). 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 seven of his eight 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 will push a heavy pace throughout, especially on the mat.

Lerone Murphy drops Aaron Pico with a devastating spinning elbow. Credit: The Independent.

Murphy is undefeated, with UFC victories coming over #15 ranked Featherweight Josh Emmett (19-7-0), Dan Ige (19-11-0), and Edson Barboza (24-14-0). He’s a well-rounded scrapper with a solid ground game and measured, accurate striking. He’s in perpetual motion, constantly feinting and giving his opponent different looks before coming forward to throw. Murphy remains technical throughout and does an excellent job of picking his shots, regularly catching his opponents with big strikes right as they enter his range. He is averaging over one takedown landed per fifteen minutes and is willing to grapple, but is most comfortable on his feet. Training at Manchester Top Team, he’s dangerous from anywhere but especially inside the pocket, with particularly damaging elbows. Murphy has outlanded nearly all of his UFC opponents and rarely takes much damage, having successfully defended 61% of significant strikes attempted on him in the UFC.

Best Bets

Iwo Baraniewski by KO/TKO: This is an intriguing matchup of two Light Heavyweight strikers. There’s not much I can say in Lane's favor; all of his professional losses have come via finish, and he’s proven very chinny during his UFC tenure. Meanwhile, Baraniewski had an unbelievable debut victory over Ibo Aslan and is looking like a serious prospect. Baraniewski also has an exceptional grappling background, giving him far more paths to victory than Lane in this matchup. I expect this fight to get off to a very quick start, with both men meeting in the middle and exchanging blows from the opening bell. I anticipate the power of Baraniewski to get to Lane quickly, forcing Lane on the back foot and allowing Baraniewski to come forward and unload bombs onto him. Once he really lets his hands go, I don’t think it will take long for Baraniewski to find Lane’s chin and secure another stunning knockout victory.

Michael Page by KO/TKO: An interesting matchup of two very different fighters, I’ve been looking forward to this one. This is an enormous step up in competition for Patterson, who, although he is riding an impressive four-fight win streak, has exclusively fought other prospects. Page, on the other hand, is coming off two very impressive wins over high-level opponents in Jared Cannonier and Shara Magomedov, and has vastly more professional experience. Ultimately, I believe Page’s power and movement will prove too much for Patterson; I expect Page to be in perpetual motion throughout, remaining elusive and landing clean shots regularly. As the fight goes on, I expect Patterson to get increasingly frustrated with his inability to find Page and will likely take more risks or pursue takedowns, leaving him open to big damage from Page's flashy attacks. Once Patterson starts entering Page’s range more often or shooting desperate takedowns, I believe Page will start lighting him up, denying takedowns, and taunting him as he continues to do damage. Page can have a tendency to play with his food, but given he’s fighting in his hometown, I expect him to go for the finish and gain another highlight-reel win.

Evloev vs. Murphy Over 4.5 Rounds: This is an enormously significant matchup for Featherweight, and the winner will likely be fighting for gold in their next bout. Both fighters have proven to have outstanding, well-rounded skill sets, but they prefer opposite approaches: Evloev is more grapple-focused, while Murphy is more striking-focused. Although their styles differ, they have two major things in common: both are undefeated, and both have a tendency to go all five rounds. Evloev has gone the distance in all 9 of his UFC bouts, while Murphy has seen the judges’ scorecards in seven of his ten UFC appearances. I do anticipate some close exchanges in this fight, but I also expect plenty of grueling, grinding grappling exchanges on the mat and along the fence. While Evloev is an excellent offensive grappler, Murphy is dangerous off his back foot and has great get-ups, so I expect their skills to cancel out and lead to a bit of a stalemate. They both have great cardio and can push a heavy pace, so while I expect some fun moments in this fight, I’m confident it will last at least four and a half rounds.

UFC Fight Night: Emmett vs. Vallejos Preview

Josh Emmett exchanges blows inside the pocket with Calvin Kattar. Credit: MMA Fighting.

The UFC returns to its headquarters at the Meta APEX in Las Vegas, Nevada, with an outstanding Fight Night card. The entire card has been filled with excellent matchups, rising prospects, and established veterans all looking to secure a highlight reel victory this Saturday. In the co-main event, we’ll see a collision of two top-ten Strawweights when dangerous striker Amanda Lemos takes on submission ace Gillian Robertson. In the main event, two heavy-handed Featherweights will go toe-to-toe when divisional stalwart Josh Emmett faces off with the red-hot Kevin Vallejos. Let’s take a look at the fights on the main card.

#14 Charles Johnson vs. #15 Bruno Silva

Charles Johnson lands a thudding left hook on Joshua Van. Credit: MMA Fighting.

Flyweight Bout

Charles Johnson: 18-8-0, 8 KO/TKO, 3 Sub.

Bruno Silva: 15-7-2, 6 KO/TKO, 5 Sub.

Johnson has won three of his last five fights and has UFC victories over UFC Flyweight Champion Joshua Van (16-2-0), #6 ranked Flyweight Lone’er Kavanagh (10-1-0), and Azat Maksum (15-3-0). He’s a dangerous striker with solid wrestling and submissions. He always throws in combination, constantly mixing in kicks and evenly spreading his shots across the head, legs, and body. He has excellent footwork, regularly switching stances, and has great head movement, rarely keeping his head on the centerline. Training at Murcielago MMA, Johnson is willing to grapple and is a tenacious wrestler who’s capable of defending takedowns and landing his own. He has never been finished and has an excellent chin, always willing to eat a shot to land one. Johnson tends to improve as the fight continues and has scored over 60% of his finishes after round 1.

Bruno Silva viciously chokes out Tyson Nam. Credit: MMA Junkie.

Silva has won three of his last five bouts, holding UFC victories over Cody Durden (17-10-1), Hyunsung Park (10-2-0), and Tyson Nam (21-14-1). He’s a well-rounded, explosive fighter who’s dangerous anywhere, anytime. He’s in perpetual motion, regularly firing kicks from range before dipping his head and crashing into the pocket to unload hooks and overhands. Silva varies his attacks well and throws everything with impressive speed and power. He has a black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and has landed, on average, nearly two takedowns per fifteen minutes in the UFC. Training at Fight Ready, he’s dangerous on the mat, possessing excellent submission defense, scrambles, and chokes. He’s earned Performance of the Night bonuses in nearly half his UFC appearances and always leaves everything inside the cage.

Ion Cutelaba vs. Oumar Sy

Ion Cutelaba secures a double leg takedown on Ivan Erslan. Credit: Ag. Fight.

Light Heavyweight Bout

Ion Cutelaba: 19-11-1, 13 KO/TKO, 3 Sub.

Oumar Sy: 12-1-0, 5 KO/TKO, 4 Sub.

Cutelaba has won three of his last five outings and holds UFC victories over #4 ranked Light Heavyweight Khalil Rountree Jr. (15-7-0), Tanner Boser (21-10-1), and Ibo Aslan (14-4-0). He’s a true wildman in the cage, always pushing a heavy pace and unloading bombs. He throws everything with power, regularly ducking his head or lunging forward to fire huge, looping shots. Training at Xtreme Couture, Cutelaba is always willing to brawl but also has an extensive grappling background and excellent wrestling skills. He is willing to shoot early and can land takedowns in open space or in the clinch, possessing particularly excellent throws and trips. He’s extremely active in top position, immediately looking to posture up and do damage and remaining offensive at all times. Cutelaba has been in the UFC since 2016 and has a wealth of experience, always putting on a show every time he steps inside the cage.

Oumar Sy submits Tuco Tokkos with a tight rear naked choke. Credit: MMA Mania.

Sy has won four of his last five fights, with UFC victories coming over Da Woon Jung (15-6-1), Brendson Ribeiro (17-9-0), and Tuco Tokkos (11-5-0). He’s a well-rounded scrapper with big-time punching power and excellent grappling. He favors power to volume on the feet but is highly explosive, often keeping a low pace before suddenly unloading massive combinations. Sy fights behind his jab and will constantly look to close the distance to either let his hands go, clinch up, or shoot for a takedown. Training at American Top Team, he’s averaging nearly three takedowns landed per fifteen minutes in the UFC and typically secures them quickly. He has heavy top pressure and is constantly pursuing a finish from top position, usually preferring to hunt for a submission than rain down ground and pound shots. Sy has proven exceptionally defensively sound, and is yet to absorb more than 30 significant strikes in a UFC fight.

Marwan Rahiki vs. Harry Hardwick

Marwan Rahiki finishes Ananias Mulumba with a vicious combination. Credit: Getty Images.

Featherweight Bout

Marwan Rahiki: 7-0-0, 6 KO/TKO, 1 Sub.

Harry Hardwick: 13-4-1, 3 KO/TKO, 4 Sub.

Rahiki is undefeated and making his UFC debut. He’s a dangerous, wild striker who loves flashy attacks and is always pursuing a knockout. He has solid head movement, often relying on it and fighting with his hands down, remaining unpredictable at all times. Rahiki will regularly throw heavy, naked kicks from range and constantly attempt spinning attacks, typically trying to pull his opponent into him before throwing a spinning kick or elbow. Training at Lion’s Den Academy, he won’t usually pursue takedowns but has a purple belt in BJJ and is highly aggressive in top position, immediately posturing up and raining down ground and pound. He throws every shot with maximum power and usually throws in combination, greatly favoring hooks and overhands to straight shots. Rahiki has not been to a decision in his professional career and pushes a heavy pace from the opening bell.

Harry Hardwick fires a hook to the body of Federico Pasquali. Credit: Cage Warriors.

Hardwick has won four of his last five fights and is looking for his first UFC victory. He’s a true grinder who looks to constantly pressure and wear down his opponents. He’s a technical, measured striker, always picking his shots and varying his attacks well between the head, body, and legs. He has a great chin and is willing to eat a shot to land one, often looking to counterstrike and let his opponent get wild before landing clean shots of his own. Training at Middlesbrough Fight Academy, he’s a solid grappler, holding a brown belt in BJJ, excellent top pressure, and an outstanding backtake. He’s as technical on the mat as he is on the feet, constantly looking for openings and doing damage while maintaining control and exhausting his opponent. Hardwick has five-round experience outside the UFC and great cardio, often improving and letting his hands go more as the fight continues.

Andre Fili vs. José Miguel Delgado

Andre Fili tags Nathaniel Wood with a short right hook. Credit: MMA Junkie.

Featherweight Bout

Andre Fili: 25-12-0, 10 KO/TKO, 3 Sub.

José Miguel Delgado: 10-2-0, 6 KO/TKO, 4 Sub.

Fili has won three of his last five bouts and has UFC victories over Charles Jourdain (17-8-1), Bill Algeo (18-9-0), and Cub Swanson (30-14-0). He’s a well-rounded scrapper who will engage in the fight wherever it goes and always leaves everything inside the cage. He’s always coming forward on his 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. Training at Team Alpha Male, he’s averaging over 2 takedowns per 15 minutes in his promotional tenure and is excellent in top position. He never telegraphs his shots and does a great job attacking at different angles, regularly landing damage at range and inside the pocket. Fili has solid cardio and won’t get sloppy, pushing a consistent pace throughout the fight.

José Miguel Delgado lands a crushing elbow to the head of Connor Matthews. Credit: MMA Mania.

Delgado has won four of his last five outings, holding UFC victories over Hyder Amil (11-2-0) and Connor Matthews (7-4-0). He’s a powerful striker with sharp boxing, big-time power, and solid grappling. He throws everything in combination and with knockout intentions, regularly unloading lengthy sequences of hooks and ending with body shots. Delgado is always pressuring his opponent, putting out non-stop offense while remaining accurate and throwing every shot with purpose. He will constantly switch stances, giving his opponent different looks while setting up his grappling with his striking, often closing distance with punches before pursuing a takedown. Training at the MMA Lab, he’s a powerful wrestler, able to land takedowns in open space and is tough to control in bottom position. Delgado has finished all of his professional victories and secured seven of those ten finishes in the very first round.

#5 Amanda Lemos vs. #8 Gillian Robertson

Amanda Lemos lands a stunning right hand on Iasmin Lucindo. Credit: MMA Junkie.

Women’s Strawweight Bout

Amanda Lemos: 15-5-1, 8 KO/TKO, 3 Sub.

Gillian Robertson: 16-8-0, 3 KO/TKO, 9 Sub.

Lemos has won two of her last five fights and holds UFC victories over Strawweight Champion Mackenzie Dern (16-5-0), #14 ranked Strawweight Angela Hill (18-16-0), and #15 ranked Strawweight Mizuki (16-6-0). She is a knockout artist with serious power in her hands who’s dangerous anywhere. She throws every shot with power and knockout intentions. Lemos won’t push a crazy pace on the feet, making up for volume with power and accuracy, having landed 55% of the significant strikes she’s attempted in the UFC. Training at Marajo Brothers Team, she is at her best when she’s controlling the center of the octagon and pressuring her opponent, throwing plenty of devastating front kicks and leg kicks when at distance. She averages about one takedown landed per 15 minutes in the UFC and has shown a slick submission game, particularly her guillotine. Lemos has secured eight of her eleven finishes in round one and is most dangerous early on.

Gillian Robertson rains down brutal ground and pound shots onto Polyana Viana. Credit: MMA Junkie.

Robertson has won four of her last five bouts, with UFC victories coming over Piera Rodriguez (11-2-0), Marina Rodriguez (17-6-2), and Michelle Waterson-Gomez (18-13-0). She’s a true submission artist with excellent wrestling and BJJ skills. She’s patient on her feet, looking for openings to land shots and controlling the center, forcing her opponent onto their back foot. Robertson usually won’t waste much time before pursuing a takedown, and will gladly shoot repeatedly to bring the fight to the mat. She has landed a takedown in ten consecutive fights and is very active in top position, constantly advancing position and setting up submissions. Training at The Goat Shed, she will regularly mix in punishing ground and pound while pursuing submissions, and has smothering top pressure. Robertson holds various UFC women’s records, including the most submission wins (7), the most finishes at women’s Flyweight (7), and is tied for the most finishes in UFC women’s history (10). 

#11 Josh Emmett vs. #14 Kevin Vallejos

Josh Emmett fires a heavy shot to the body of Bryce Mitchell. Credit: MMA Junkie.

Featherweight Bout

Josh Emmett: 19-6-0, 7 KO/TKO, 2 Sub.

Kevin Vallejos: 17-1-0, 12 KO/TKO, 2 Sub.

Emmett has won one of his last five outings and has UFC victories over Bryce Mitchell (18-4-0), Dan Ige (19-11-0), and Calvin Kattar (23-10-0). He’s a vicious power-puncher with excellent wrestling and can produce a knockout with a single shot. He has great movement and footwork, remaining in perpetual motion while looking for opportunities to land big, looping shots. Emmett will regularly dip his head or lunge forward before unloading bombs and is constantly looking to close the distance and let his hands go. Training at Team Alpha Make, he’s averaging over 1 takedown per 15 minutes and has explosive wrestling, capable of impressive slams. Emmett has an outstanding chin and, although he’s a technical striker, is always willing to throw down and exchange inside the pocket. Emmett has scored the most knockdowns in UFC Featherweight history (12) and is always hunting for a knockout. 

Kevin Vallejos blasts Giga Chikadze with a brutal spinning backfist. Credit: MMA Mania.

Vallejos is on a six-fight win streak, holding UFC victories over Giga Chikadze (15-6-0), Seung Woo Choi (11-8-0), and Danny Silva (10-2-0). He’s an outstanding striker with excellent punching power and counterstriking. He throws every shot with knockout intentions, regularly adding low kicks to the end of punch combinations. Vallejos has terrific footwork and distance management, regularly looking to slip punches and return fire. Training at Brothers of Life MMA, he remains technical throughout and won’t telegraph shots, entering the pocket at different angles and opening combinations with different punches. He won’t typically pursue takedowns, but he’s a solid grappler with heavy top control and ground and pound. Vallejos pushes a heavy pace and rarely sees the judges’ scorecards, with eight of his fourteen finish victories coming in the first round.

Best Bets

José Miguel Delgado Moneyline: This is an interesting matchup between a rising prospect and a true veteran. Although Fili is extremely tough and fought practically a who’s who of the Featherweight division, I believe Delgado has the edge. Fili is generally at his best when he has either a power or size advantage, and he’ll be lacking both of those in this fight. Delgado is also the quicker and, in my opinion, more well-rounded fighter of the two, and has more paths to victory than his opponent in this matchup. I expect Delgado to get off to a hot start, forcing Fili onto his back foot and not allowing him to build any momentum with his striking. As the fight continues, I anticipate Delgado mixing in takedowns and controlling Fili on the mat, taxing Fili’s cardio and punching power as he lands damage of his own. Ultimately, I expect an impressive victory for Delgado either via finish or decision.

Amanda Lemos Moneyline: This is a great fight between two established Strawweights with vastly different styles. Although Robertson has definitely been the hotter of these two fighters lately, her recent victories have largely come over fighters on losing streaks and on their way out of the UFC. Of the four fighters she’s beaten on her win-streak, none of them have won more than one of their last five fights, and two of them have since retired. Lemos is the vastly more skilled striker of the two, and I believe has the grappling ability to both compete with Robertson on the mat and keep the fight standing. I expect Lemos to fend off Robertson’s takedowns early and take control of the fight, forcing Robertson to engage with her on the feet and take damage doing so. As the fight goes on, I expect Robertson to get more desperate for takedowns, opening more opportunities for Lemos to land big shots and wear down her opponent. Robertson has proved highly durable and won’t be easy to put away, but I believe Lemos will secure a dominant victory and put herself back into the win column this Saturday.

Emmett vs. Vallejos Over 3.5 Rounds: Another matchup of a quickly-rising prospect and an established veteran, I’ve been looking forward to this one. Although these fighters’ careers seem to be trending in opposite directions, I believe this fight is closer than many people think. This fight is a huge step up in competition for Vallejos, going from facing other unranked fighters to a former title challenger in just his fourth UFC appearance. Both of these fighters are also exceptionally durable, with Vallejos having never been finished and Emmett not having a knockout loss since 2018 despite going toe-to-toe with some of the best the division has to offer. I expect both fighters to take their time early on, respecting their opponents' power and looking for openings to do damage. Although both are solid grapplers, I believe their skills on the mat cancel each other out, and for most of this fight to play out on the feet, with both of them picking their shots and trying to remain elusive. I do expect an entertaining scrap and for both men to take more risks as the fight continues, but I’m confident that this fight lasts at least three and a half rounds.

UFC 326 Preview

Max Holloway and Charles Oliveira exchange inside the pocket in their first meeting. Credit: MMA Mania.

The UFC returns to the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas with another outstanding card. From start to finish, the entire event has been filled with excellent matchups and top-tier fighters looking to put on a show this Saturday. In the co-main event, we’ll see two top-ten Middleweights collide when Caio Borralho faces off against Reinier de Ridder. In the main event, we finally receive a rematch of two former champions and legends of the sport, Max Holloway and Charles Oliveira. Let’s take a look at the fights on the main card.

#13 Gregory Rodrigues vs. #15 Brunno Ferreira

Gregory Rodrigues blasts Christian Leroy Duncan with a stiff uppercut. Credit: Zuffa LLC.

Middleweight Bout

Gregory Rodrigues: 18-6-0, 11 KO/TKO, 3 Sub.

Brunno Ferreira: 15-2-0, 9 KO/TKO, 5 Sub.

Rodrigues has won four of his last five fights and has UFC victories over Jack Hermansson (24-10-0), Christian Leroy Duncan (13-2-0), and Brad Tavares (21-12-0). He is a world-class grappler with serious knockout power. He’s always coming forward and constantly looking to blitz into the pocket so he can unload heavy combinations. Training at Kill Cliff FC, Rodrigues has one-shot knockout power and throws everything with bad intentions, regularly unloading massive hooks and overhands, especially with his right hand. He’s comfortable on his feet and in a brawl, but has outstanding grappling skills and various accolades in BJJ and wrestling. He has smothering top pressure and is smart on top, working methodically and looking for openings to damage or find submissions. Rodrigues has earned post-fight bonuses in two of his last three fights and will never back down from a scrap.

Brunno Ferreira lands a vicious right hook on Marvin Vettori. Credit: MMA Mania.

Ferreira has won four of his last five bouts, holding UFC victories over Marvin Vettori (19-10-1), Armen Petrosyan (9-5-0), and his current opponent, Gregory Rodrigues. He is an explosive striker with an extensive grappling background. He’s constantly moving and changing stances, looking for entries before he blitzes into the pocket to unload combinations. Ferreira is typically at a reach disadvantage and at his best on the inside, so he will regularly look to close the distance and let his hands go. Training at Brazilian TKO, he is a lifelong judoka and BJJ practitioner, making him as dangerous on the mat as he is on his feet. He’s averaging over one takedown landed per fifteen minutes, has heavy top control, and is active in top position, immediately pursuing a finish once the fight hits the floor. Ferreira is very dangerous early on, having secured eleven first-round finishes in his professional career, but he has the cardio to go fifteen minutes comfortably and carries his power throughout.

Drew Dober vs. Michael Johnson

Drew Dober lands a vicious knee to the head of Kyle Prepolec. Credit: MMA Mania.

Lightweight Bout

Drew Dober: 28-15-0, 16 KO/TKO, 5 Sub.

Michael Johnson: 25-19-0, 10 KO/TKO, 2 Sub.

Dober has won two of his last five outings and holds UFC victories over King Green (34-17-1), Alexander Hernandez (18-8-0), and Terrance McKinney (17-8-0). He is a wild scrapper with a Muay Thai background and a black belt in Taekwondo. He’s always willing to eat a shot to land one and loves to throw down inside the pocket. Dober has excellent kicks and varies his targets well, attacking the head, legs, and body with equal tenacity before closing distance and letting his hands go. Training with Elevation Fight Team, he pushes a heavy pace from the opening bell and throws everything with power, constantly unloading looping shots and heavy overhands. He’s comfortable hanging on the inside and brawling, but will mix in some flashy attacks and spinning kicks when given space. Dober is rarely in a boring fight, having earned nine post-fight bonuses in his UFC tenure, and has the most knockout victories in the Lightweight division all-time (10).

Michael Johnson cracks Daniel Zellhuber with a thudding jab. Credit: MMA Junkie.

Johnson has won four of his last five fights, with UFC victories coming over Dustin Poirier (30-10-0), Edson Barboza (24-14-0), and Tony Ferguson (26-11-0). 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’s fought a who’s who of the Lightweight division and is known for his solid wrestling skills and devastating punching power. Training at Kill Cliff FC, Johnson has blazing-fast hands and loves to get into the pocket and unload vicious, extended combinations. He has power in both hands and is always dangerous, with his best weapon being his straight punches. He has quality grappling skills, typically using them when he’s losing on the feet, but can land brutal ground and pound if he secures top position. Johnson is tied for the most knockdowns in UFC Lightweight history (13) and is always in pursuit of a knockout.

#13 Rob Font vs. Raúl Rosas Jr.

Rob Font lands a stinging right hand on Jean Matsumoto. Credit: MMA Fighting.

Bantamweight Bout

Rob Font: 22-9-0, 9 KO/TKO, 4 Sub.

Raúl Rosas Jr.: 11-1-0, 2 KO/TKO, 6 Sub.

Font has won two of his last five bouts and has UFC victories over Kyler Phillips (12-4-0), Adrian Yañez (17-6-0), and Jean Matsumoto (17-2-0). He is a sharp boxer with excellent hands and a solid chin. He fights behind his jab, always remaining technical and measured while constantly pressuring his opponent. Font throws very few kicks, heavily favoring his hands and regularly battering his opponent with quick, straight punches. He has excellent cardio and can push a consistent pace across fifteen minutes, often heating up and letting his hands go more often as the fight continues. He won’t typically pursue grappling exchanges, but has a brown belt in BJJ and is tough to control on the mat. Font has only been finished once in his professional career and always leaves everything inside the cage, earning six post-fight bonuses in his UFC tenure.

Raúl Rosas Jr. looks to secure a rear naked choke on Vince Morales. Credit: MMA Fighting.

Rosas Jr. has won four of his last five outings, holding UFC victories over Ricky Turcios (13-5-0), Aoriqileng (26-12-0), and Terrence Mitchell (14-4-0). He’s a dangerous submission artist with excellent wrestling and lethal submissions. He has solid power in his hands, but typically won’t waste much time before shooting in for a takedown. He’s averaging about 4 takedowns per 15 minutes and is very active on top, constantly pursuing submissions, advancing position, and doing damage. Rosas Jr. was the youngest debuting fighter in UFC history, debuting at 18 years old in 2022. Training at 10th Planet Jiu-Jitsu, he pushes a heavy pace on the ground and is always looking to secure his opponent’s back, where he’s most dangerous. Rosas Jr. has an excellent arsenal of submissions, particularly his rear naked choke and armbar, which represent five of his six submission victories.

#7 Caio Borralho vs. #8 Reinier de Ridder

Caio Borralho fires a kick to the head of Abus Magomedov. Credit: MMA Junkie.

Middleweight Bout

Caio Borralho: 17-2-0, 5 KO/TKO, 4 Sub.

Reinier de Ridder: 21-3-0, 5 KO/TKO, 13 Sub.

Borralho has won four of his last five fights and holds UFC victories over #10 ranked Middleweight Jared Cannonier (18-9-0), Michal Oleksiejczuk (22-9-0), and Abus Magomedov (28-7-1). He is a well-rounded fighter with technical striking and a slick submission game. He’s in perpetual motion on his feet and is highly elusive, having outlanded all but two of his UFC opponents. Training with the Fighting Nerds, Borralho will often fire heavy kicks at range before entering the pocket to land powerful hooks. On the mat, he has excellent top pressure, great sweeps, and constantly pursues a finish. He’s averaging over one takedown landed per 15 minutes and is very explosive, often landing takedowns in open space. Borralho has excellent cardio and pushes a heavy pace throughout the fight, making him dangerous at all times.

Reinier de Ridder blasts Bo Nickal with a heavy right hand. Credit: Zuffa LLC.

De Ridder has won four of his last five bouts, with UFC victories coming over #98 ranked Middleweight Robert Whittaker (27-9-0), Kevin Holland (28-15-0), and Bo Nickal (8-1-0). He is an outstanding, dangerous grappler with an arsenal of submissions. He has an awkward striking style, remaining upright, fighting behind his jab, and throwing kicks at range before closing the distance. De Ridder is powerful in the clinch and constantly looks for body lock and trip takedowns, often from the opening bell. He has strong top control, continually attacking and improving in top position, and fluidly advancing from one position to another. He holds black belts in Judo and BJJ and will use ground and pound to wear down his opponent and create submission openings, typically pursuing chokes. De Ridder pushes a consistent pace throughout, but has found nine of his thirteen submissions in the first round, and is most dangerous early on.

#4 Max Holloway vs. #3 Charles Oliveira

Max Holloway tags Dustin Poirier with a precise right hand. Credit: MMA Fighting.

Lightweight Bout

Max Holloway: 27-8-0, 12 KO/TKO, 2 Sub.

Charles Oliveira: 36-11-0, 10 KO/TKO, 22 Sub.

Holloway has won four of his last five outings and has UFC victories over interim Lightweight Champion Justin Gaethje (27-5-0), #4 ranked Featherweight Yair Rodríguez (21-5-0), and #7 ranked Featherweight Arnold Allen (20-4-0). He’s a fantastic, technical striker capable of outputting unbelievable volume. He pushes a heavy pace and remains technical throughout, fighting behind his jab and never wasting energy. Holloway has excellent distance management and footwork, remaining elusive while constantly landing shots and doing damage. Training at Gracie Technics, he has a solid submission game and has defended 83% of takedowns attempted on him in the UFC, but rarely initiates grappling exchanges. He’ll constantly look to counterstrike, slipping his opponent’s attacks before landing his own. Holloway holds various UFC records, including but not limited to: most significant strikes landed all-time (3655), most significant strikes landed in a single bout (445), and the second-most total fight time (8:27:43).

Charles Oliveira lands a stiff left hand on Mateusz Gamrot. Credit: MMA Fighting.

Oliveira has won three of his last five fights, holding UFC victories over interim Lightweight Champion Justin Gaethje (27-5-0), #7 ranked Lightweight Mateusz Gamrot (25-4-0), and #12 ranked Lightweight Beneil Dariush (23-7-1). He’s an exceptionally well-rounded fighter with heavy hands and deadly submissions. When standing, he has crisp, technical Muay Thai, using heavy punches and kicks to batter his opponents. He has solid wrestling skills, outstanding BJJ, and is the most prolific submission artist in UFC history. Oliveira is averaging over two takedowns landed and nearly three submissions attempted per fifteen minutes, always remaining active in top position. Training at Chute Boxe, he has proven his ability to stay calm in deep waters, regularly getting hurt in his fights, only to come back and find a way to win. Oliveira holds various UFC records, including the most finishes (21), submission wins (17), and post-fight bonuses (21).

Best Bets

Font vs. Rosas Jr. to Go the Distance: This is an exciting matchup of an established veteran and a rising prospect. In terms of skills and typical game plans, there’s not much to compare between these two fighters, and it’s tough to predict how effective their styles will be against one another. Regardless, they do have one similarity: a lack of finish losses. Font is much further along in his career than Rosas Jr., but has only been finished once in his 31 professional fights, and Rosas Jr. has yet to be finished in his 12, and has only suffered a single loss in general. Essentially, I believe both of these fighters are too solid to be finished by the other; Font’s striking and grappling defense is excellent, and Rosas Jr. has the ground game to avoid Font’s boxing. I anticipate some exciting exchanges and close moments in this fight, but I do believe there will be a bit of a stalemate between the two. Although both of these fighters have excellent finishing abilities, I’m confident this fight will go the full fifteen minutes.

Caio Borralho by Decision: An intriguing matchup of two outstanding Middleweights, both of whom are looking to score a bounce-back victory after tough losses in their last outings. Both of these fighters are dangerous, but I believe Borralho is the much more well-rounded of the two, and I expect that to be a major determining factor in the outcome of this bout. Although de Ridder’s striking isn’t the worst I’ve seen, he’s definitely a grappling specialist and at his best on the mat. Borralho is dangerous anywhere, and definitely has the grappling ability to match de Ridder on the mat. I expect Borralho to keep this fight standing, constantly lighting de Ridder up and pressuring him, not allowing him to get comfortable or secure takedowns. Although de Ridder was finished in his last fight, I believe his biggest weakness is his cardio, not his chin, and that won’t play as big a factor in a three-round fight, so it will likely be tough for Borralho to secure a finish. Regardless, I believe Borralho will win all three rounds en route to an impressive decision victory.

Holloway vs. Oliveira Over 2.5 Rounds: This is a highly anticipated rematch, eleven years in the making, between two of the UFC’s biggest fan favorites. Both of these fighters always put on a show, and I’d expect nothing less when they meet again inside the Octagon. Although both have recently been finished (by Ilia Topuria), they’re both renowned for their toughness and aren’t put away easily. I expect plenty of wild, entertaining exchanges in this fight, but I believe both of these fighters have plenty of respect for the other, and I wouldn’t expect either to come out guns blazing. I anticipate an early feeling-out process, with both taking their time and establishing their range before things really kick off. Both of these men are also former champions and know how to manage their cardio in a five-round fight, so I’d be surprised to see either taking big risks early on. As the fight continues, I expect things to heat up and for both to pursue a finish, but I’m confident this fight will last at least two and a half rounds.

UFC Fight Night: Moreno vs. Kavanagh

Brandon Moreno lands a devastating left hook to the chin of Alexandre Pantoja. Credit: Zuffa LLC.

The UFC heads to Arena CDMX in Mexico City, Mexico, with an outstanding Fight Night card. The entire card is packed with exciting matchups and local talent looking to make their name on the biggest stage in MMA. In the co-main event, we’ll see a showdown between crafty veteran Marlon Vera and red-hot prospect David Martínez. In the main event, former Flyweight champion Brandon Moreno will go toe-to-toe with a hungry young upstart in Lone’er Kavanagh. Let’s take a look at the fights on the main card.

Santiago Luna vs. Angel Pacheco

Santiago Luna clips Quang Le with a stiff left hand. Credit: MMA Mania.

Bantamweight Bout

Santiago Luna: 7-0-0, 3 KO/TKO, 4 Sub.

Angel Pacheco: 7-3-0, 5 KO/TKO, 2 SUb.

Luna is undefeated and has a UFC victory over Quang Le (9-3-0). He’s a dangerous brawler with big-time power in his hands and outstanding wrestling. A former four-time national wrestling champion in Mexico, he will often shoot early and transitions very quickly on the mat, often reaching full mount with blinding speed. Luna will constantly look to posture up and land ground and pound in top position, and has excellent chokes if he secures his opponent’s back. He fights behind his jab when he’s standing, constantly looking to close the distance and unload power shots inside the pocket. He maintains a heavy pace throughout and has solid cardio, carrying his power throughout the fight and always pursuing a finish. Luna is comfortable anywhere the fight goes and is always willing to eat a shot to land one, remaining dangerous at all times.

Angel Pacheco lands a stinging right hand on Danny Silva. Credit: MMA Fighting.

Pacheco has won three of his last five fights and is looking for his first UFC victory. He’s a gritty scrapper who’s always looking to close the distance and let his hands go. He has very sharp boxing, regularly stringing together extended combinations and constantly mixing in body shots. Pacheco favors volume to power and has had impressive output in his last two fights, landing a combined 285 significant strikes and throwing 743 total strikes. Training with the New England Cartel, he’s always coming forward and is most comfortable inside the pocket, exchanging blows and landing vicious knees and elbows. He’s exceptionally durable and has a granite chin, regularly absorbing damage while closing the distance to work his own offense. Pacheco is most comfortable in a knock-down, drag-out brawl and always puts on a show inside the cage.

Imanol Rodríguez vs. Kevin Borjas

Imanol Rodríguez finishes off Roque Conceição with brutal ground and pound. Credit: MMA Junkie.

Flyweight Bout

Imanol Rodríguez: 6-1-0, 5 KO/TKO, 1 Sub.

Kevin Borjas: 10-4-0, 8 KO/TKO, 0 Sub.

Rodríguez has won four of his last five bouts and is making his UFC debut. He’s a devastating striker with a stout grappling background. He throws every shot with bad intentions and has one-shot knockout power, capable of knocking out opponents at any time, from anywhere. Rodríguez has good distance management and footwork, doing a great job of slipping shots, counterstriking, and moving in and out of the pocket without absorbing damage. He’s comfortable on his feet but has a black belt in Judo, a brown belt in BJJ, and Master of Sport in Sambo, so he’s just as dangerous on the mat and has excellent takedown defense. He’s extremely explosive and fast, never telegraphing his attacks and remaining elusive throughout the fight. Rodríguez has been to only a single decision in his brief professional career and is always looking for a finish, with his last three victories all coming via first-round knockout.

Kevin Borjas blasts Ronaldo Rodríguez with a powerful right hand. Credit: Zuffa LLC.

Borjas has won two of his last five outings, holding a UFC victory over Ronaldo Rodríguez (17-3-0). He’s a technical, powerful striker who’s always looking to let his hands go. He fights behind his jab, constantly pumping it out to set up his best shot, a straight right. Borjas has excellent footwork and distance management, rarely throwing kicks but always keeping his opponent on the end of his punches. He’s accurate and throws every shot with power and purpose, varying his attacks well and regularly ending combinations with body shots. Training at Pitbull Martial Arts, he hasn’t landed a takedown in the UFC but has solid reversals and get-ups when taken to the mat. Borjas has secured half of his victories via first-round knockout, but he has solid cardio and remains dangerous at all times.

Édgar Cháirez vs. Felipe Bunes

Édgar Cháirez locks in a tight choke on Daniel Lacerda. Credit: Zuffa LLC.

Flyweight Bout

Édgar Cháirez: 12-6-0, 4 KO/TKO, 8 Sub.

Felipe Bunes: 14-8-0, 2 KO/TKO, 9 Sub.

Cháirez has won two of his last five fights, with one no contest, and holds UFC victories over CJ Vergara (12-7-1) and Daniel Lacerda (11-6-0). He’s a heavy-handed boxer with an outstanding submission game. He throws everything with power and has excellent kicks, especially to the legs. Cháirez throws nearly as many kicks as he does punches, often battering his opponent’s legs and body before letting his hands go and landing big punches. Training at Entram Gym, he has not attempted a takedown in the UFC but is averaging nearly two submissions attempted per fifteen minutes. He’s dangerous off his back and can secure chokes with impressive speed, even while standing. Cháirez is especially dangerous early on and secured both of his UFC victories via first-round submission.

Felipe Bunes slips a left hook from Joshua Van. Credit: MMA Junkie.

Bunes has won three of his last five bouts, with a UFC victory coming over Jose Johnson (16-10-0). He’s a wild scrapper with knockout power and excellent grappling. He has decent head movement and distance management but will regularly throw caution to the wind, attempting spinning kicks or blitzing forward into the pocket to throw bombs. Bunes is averaging over one takedown landed and over two submissions attempted per fifteen minutes, constantly looking to close the distance to either clinch up or secure a takedown. Training with the Pitbull Brothers, he’s always dangerous on the mat, whether on top or off his back, and will immediately pursue submissions once on the ground. Eight of his nine submission victories have come via armbar, and he can snatch up his opponent’s arm with blinding speed. Bunes is always hunting for a finish and pushing a heavy pace, with half of his professional fights ending in the first round.

Daniel Zellhuber vs. King Green

Daniel Zellhuber fires a straight right hand at Esteban Ribovics. Credit: Zuffa LLC.

Lightweight Bout

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

King Green: 33-17-1, 11 KO/TKO, 9 Sub.

Zellhuber has won three of his last five outings and has UFC victories over Lando Vannata (12-7-2), Francisco Prado (12-4-0), and Christos Giagos (20-12-0). He’s a lengthy striker with excellent boxing, speed, and power. He fights behind his jab, remaining patient and looking for openings to land damaging shots. Zellhuber has solid cardio and will remain technical throughout, pushing a consistent pace and often improving as the fight continues. Training at Xtreme Couture, he has excellent distance management and footwork, typically controlling the center of the cage for most of the fight. He won’t often initiate grappling exchanges, but he has a solid submission game, holding a black belt in BJJ, and has defended 94% of takedowns attempted on him in the UFC. Zellhuber is tied for the longest reach among active Lightweights and uses it well, constantly doing damage from range with long punches and kicks.

King Green unloads a heavy left hook on Nasrat Haqparast. Credit: Fight Sports.

Green has won two of his last five fights, holding UFC victories over Grant Dawson (23-3-1), Nasrat Haqparast (18-6-0), and Jim Miller (38-19-0). He is an excellent boxer who picks his opponents apart with quick, heavy hands. He’s rarely in a boring fight, always willing to go to the center of the octagon and exchange blows. Green fights with his hands low, remaining unpredictable and never telegraphing his strikes. He fights behind his jab, keeping his strikes sharp and straight while constantly attacking from different angles and varying his targets. Training at Pinnacle MMA, he’s a solid wrestler and averages over one takedown landed per fifteen minutes, but generally looks to keep the fight standing. Green has been fighting professionally since 2008 and has earned various UFC Lightweight records, including the most significant strikes landed (1864) and the most total strikes landed (2091) all-time.

#9 Marlon Vera vs. David Martínez

Marlon Vera lands a stinging right hand on the chin of Pedro Munhoz. Credit: Zuffa LLC.

Bantamweight Bout

Marlon Vera: 23-11-1, 8 KO/TKO, 10 Sub.

David Martínez: 13-1-0, 10 KO/TKO, 0 Sub.

Vera has won one of his last five bouts and holds UFC victories over #3 ranked Bantamweight Sean O’Malley (19-3-0), #13 ranked Bantamweight Rob Font (22-9-0), and Dominick Cruz (24-4-0). He is an experienced veteran with a diverse striking game and a granite chin. He has an impressive ability to absorb damage and continue forward, absorbing, on average, over 119 significant strikes per fight in his last five outings without a single finish loss. Vera improves as the fight continues, getting increasingly aggressive and precise, particularly with his dangerous clinch striking and kicking game. He 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 steady dose of kicks, constantly throwing various attacks with his legs, all with heavy power. Vera has dangerous BJJ and slick submissions, so although he’s most comfortable on his feet, he can produce a finish from anywhere.

David Martínez blasts Rob Font with a thudding right hand. Credit: MMA Junkie.

Martínez is on a nine-fight win streak, holding UFC victories over #13 ranked Bantamweight Rob Font (22-9-0) and Saimon Oliveira (18-7-0). He is a lifelong karate practitioner and utilizes it well, constantly unloading powerful kicks while remaining elusive. He’s in perpetual movement, typically floating along the outside while looking to counterstrike and catch his opponent when they enter the pocket. Martínez favors power to volume, often blitzing forward to unload bombs and kicks, but he remains technical throughout and won’t get sloppy. Training at Bonebreakers MMA, he’s exceptionally quick on his feet and with his hands and varies his attacks well, constantly blasting his opponents with leg kicks when at range. He’s unlikely to initiate grappling exchanges but has shown solid takedown defense and ability in the clinch. Martínez has an impressive arsenal of flashy kicks and will regularly throw them while constantly pursuing a knockout.

#6 Brandon Moreno vs. Lone’er Kavanagh

Brandon Moreno catches Amir Albazi with a right hook. Credit: MMA Mania.

Flyweight Bout

Brandon Moreno: 23-9-2, 5 KO/TKO, 11 Sub.

Lone’er Kavanagh: 9-1-0, 4 KO/TKO, 1 Sub.

Moreno has won two of his last five outings and has UFC victories over #7 ranked Flyweight Amir Albazi (17-3-0), #7 ranked Bantamweight Deiveson Figueiredo (25-6-1), and #11 ranked Flyweight Steve Erceg (13-4-0). He’s an exceptionally well-rounded fighter with fantastic boxing and outstanding grappling. He has a sharp jab and always fights behind it, using it to set up devastating combinations and batter his opponent when they enter striking range. Moreno is willing to throw down in the pocket but always remains composed and accurate, throwing every shot with intent and purpose. He’s taken down three of his last five opponents and has excellent wrestling and control in top position. He has a dangerous arsenal of submissions and can produce quick finishes on the mat. Moreno has fought for gold in six of his last ten fights and has accumulated the most total fight time in UFC Flyweight history (5:15:52).

Lone’er Kavanagh looks to unload ground and pound shots onto Felipe dos Santos. Credit: MMA Junkie.

Kavanagh has won four of his last five fights, with UFC victories coming over Jose Ochoa (8-2-0) and Felipe dos Santos (8-3-0). He’s a lifelong kickboxer with excellent, technical striking and solid grappling. He’s very measured and picks his shots, often looking to draw his opponent into his range so he can land counterstrikes. Kavanagh is very quick and elusive, regularly darting into the pocket to land damage, then returning to range unscathed. Training at Great Britain Top Team, he has great takedowns, capable of landing them in open space or in the clinch, and has solid takedown defense as well. He’s very aggressive in top position, focusing on posturing up and landing ground and pound over improving his position or securing a submission. Kavanagh, although very technical, is willing to hang inside the pocket and exchange blows and can be drawn into brawls.

Best Bets

Imanol Rodríguez by KO/TKO: This is an excellent matchup between two exciting Flyweights. Rodríguez is a very intriguing prospect given his extensive grappling background and dangerous punching power, and I believe he’ll be too much for Borjas to handle. Although Borjas is a solid striker, I don’t believe he can match Rodríguez's power or speed, and he has struggled against power punchers before, such as Alessandro Costa and Joshua Van. I expect Rodríguez to get off to a quick start, coming out guns blazing and putting Borjas on his back foot immediately, not allowing him to establish any kind of striking rhythm. I believe Rodríguez’s biggest advantage in this matchup is on the ground, so I anticipate him doing some damage on the feet before pursuing and securing a takedown. Once in top position, I expect him to take full control of the fight, dominating Borjas and not allowing him to get up while landing vicious ground and pound. If Rodríguez can maintain control on the mat, I believe it will only be a matter of time before he secures an impressive finish via knockout.

Cháirez vs Bunes Under 1.5 Rounds: This is the second of three Flyweight matchups on the main card, and a great one at that. Both of these fighters have proven to be prolific finishers in their career, and are both especially dangerous early on in a fight. In a combined 40 professional fights, they have produced 23 finish victories, with seventeen of those coming by way of submission. Nineteen of their 23 combined finish wins have come in the very first round, and overall, thirty of their combined outings have not gone the distance, with twenty-one total fights ending in round one. I expect this fight to get off to a quick start, with both fighters on the gas pedal immediately and hunting for a finish. Neither man is known for taking his time early or being particularly cautious, so there will be plenty of openings for finishes for both of them. Regardless of who emerges as the victor, I’m confident this fight will end within one and a half rounds.

Brandon Moreno Moneyline: The final of the three exciting main card Flyweight matchups, I’m looking forward to this one. Many fans were surprised to see Kavanagh receive such a high-profile matchup, albeit on short notice, so early in his UFC career, including me. Kavanagh is a lifelong martial artist, but is taking an enormous leap in competition, and is also coming off a devastating knockout loss to fellow unranked Flyweight Charles Johnson. Ultimately, I believe facing a former champion in just his eleventh professional bout is too much, too soon. I expect Moreno to get off to a quick start, fighting behind his jab and staying in boxing range where Kavanagh can’t make effective use of his kicks. As the fight continues, I anticipate Moreno mixing in some takedowns and grappling exchanges, draining Kavanagh’s energy and taking away from his impressive speed. Overall, I believe there will be competitive moments in this fight, but I expect an impressive bounce-back victory for Moreno.

UFC Fight Night: Strickland vs Hernandez Preview

Anthony Hernandez viciously submits Roman Dolidze with a rear naked choke. Credit: MMA Fighting.

The UFC heads to the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas, with a phenomenal Fight Night card. Throughout, the entire card is filled with outstanding matchups, exciting prospects, and established veterans all looking to earn a highlight-reel victory this Saturday. In the co-main event, we’ll see a collision of two dangerous Welterweights when divisional stalwart Geoff Neal faces off with the red-hot Uroš Medić. In the main event, two top-five Middleweights will square off when former champion Sean Strickland takes on a streaking Anthony Hernandez. Let’s take a look at the fights on the main card.

Zachary Reese vs Michel Pereira

Zachary Reese catches Jose Daniel Medina with a well-placed head kick. Credit: Zuffa LLC.

Middleweight Bout

Zachary Reese: 10-2-0, 5 KO/TKO, 3 Sub.

Michel Pereira: 31-14-0, 11 KO/TKO, 9 Sub.

Reese has won three of his last five fights with one no contest and has UFC victories over Jackson McVey (6-2-0), Duško Todorović (13-6-0), and Julian Marquez (9-6-0). He’s a well-rounded fighter with impressive power and excellent submissions. He uses a very upright stance and comes out guns blazing, blasting his opponent with heavy kicks before blitzing into the pocket with punches. Reese looks to overwhelm his opponent early, using both power and volume to back his opponent up. He has excellent clinch takedowns and can quickly find submissions on top and off his back. Training at Bangtao Muay Thai, he has excellent top control, heavy ground and pound, and won’t accept position on the ground. Ten of Reese’s thirteen professional bouts have not left the first round, and he’s always pursuing a finish.

Michel Pereira blasts Santiago Ponzinibbio with a vicious knee to the body. Credit: MMA Fighting.

Pereira has won two of his last five bouts, with UFC wins over Santiago Ponzinibbio (31-9-0), Khaos Williams (15-5-0), and Michael Oleksiejczuk (22-9-0). One of the most unique fighters in the UFC, he’s known for his wild antics within the cage. Training at Overcome Academy, he’s always willing to get wild, throwing open-hand slaps, jumping knees and kicks, and even attempting backflips. Pereira’s unorthodox style makes him both elusive and impossible to predict. He has refined his style in recent fights, adopting a more measured and accurate approach, fighting much more efficiently with improved cardiovascular endurance. He’s averaging over one takedown landed per fifteen minutes, has heavy ground and pound, and a dangerous submission game, particularly chokes. Pereira always pushes a heavy pace and constantly pursues a finish wherever the fight lands.

Jacobe Smith vs. Josiah Harrell

Jacobe Smith fires a stiff right hand at Preston Parsons. Credit: MMA Mania.

Welterweight Bout

Jacobe Smith: 11-0-0, 8 KO/TKO, 1 Sub.

Josiah Harrell: 11-0-0, 6 KO/TKO, 4 Sub.

Smith is undefeated and holds UFC victories over Niko Price (16-10-0) and Preston Parsons (11-6-0). He’s an explosive pressure fighter with excellent wrestling who’s always searching for a finish. He pushes a heavy pace from the opening bell, immediately coming forward to fire heavy hooks, overhands, and damaging leg kicks. Smith has excellent takedowns, regularly performing impressive slams, and has landed nine takedowns in his three fights under the Zuffa umbrella. Training at Fortis MMA, he will throw vicious ground and pound from top position, especially elbows, and is very fluid on top, often finding a dominant position with blinding speed. He’s very active in top position, constantly looking to improve or do damage, never allowing his opponent to rest or recover. Smith is at his most dangerous early on, with his pace often slowing as the fight continues, but he carries his power at all times and can produce a finish from anywhere.

Josiah Harrell rains down ground and pound onto Mike Roberts. Credit: The Sun.

Harrell is undefeated and making his UFC debut. He’s a power-punching wrestler who’s comfortable in deep waters. He’s constantly looking to close the distance so he can let his hands go inside the pocket, regularly switching stances and varying his entries into striking range. Harrell throws everything with power, often dipping his head before unloading powerful overhands and uppercuts. Training at Grove City BJJ, he’s a well-rounded grappler who’s as sound defensively as he is offensively, with both excellent takedowns and takedown defense. He’s very active in top position, always throwing ground and pound and looking for submissions, and is willing to take risks, including attempting standing chokes or flying armbars. Harrell has excellent cardio, shown an impressive ability to recover, and seems never truly out of a fight.

#7 Serghei Spivac vs. #9 Ante Delija

Serghei Spivac submits Marcin Tybura with a slick armbar. Credit: Zuffa LLC.

Heavyweight Bout

Serghei Spivac: 17-6-0, 7 KO/TKO, 8 Sub.

Ante Delija: 26-7-0, 12 KO/TKO, 7 Sub.

Spivac has won two of his last five outings and has UFC victories over #10 ranked Heavyweight Marcin Tybura (27-10-0), #11 ranked Heavyweight Derrick Lewis (29-13-0), and Tai Tuivasa (15-9-0). He’s a powerful wrestler with brutal ground and pound and excellent top control. He’ll usually shoot in early, more often than not earning the takedown, having landed at least three takedowns in nearly all his UFC wins. Spivac rarely leaves fights up to the judges, with 11 first-round finishes in his career and 10 of his 14 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.

Ante Delija unloads shots onto Waldo Cortes-Acosta. Credit: Zuffa LLC.

Delija has won three of his last five fights, with a UFC victory coming over #10 ranked Heavyweight Marcin Tybura (27-10-0). He’s a hard-charging brawler with one-shot knockout power. He comes out guns blazing, throwing everything with power and pushing a heavy pace from the opening bell. Delija has fast hands for a Heavyweight, often putting out single shots before entering the pocket to unload thunderous combinations. Training at the Cro Cop Squad Gym, he will pursue takedowns, typically against strikers, and is capable of powerful slams. He has heavy pressure in top position and remains active, constantly looking to posture up and work for a finish. Delija has the cardio to go three rounds but rarely sees a second, having earned 11 first-round knockouts, and six of his last seven outings ended in round one.

#14 Dan Ige vs. Melquizael Costa

Dan Ige tags Diego Lopes with stunning right hand. Credit: The Mirror.

Featherweight Bout

Dan Ige: 19-10-0, 7 KO/TKO, 5 Sub.

Melquizael Costa: 25-7-0, 8 KO/TKO, 8 Sub.

Ige has won two of his last five bouts and has UFC victories over Edson Barboza (24-14-0), Andre Fili (25-12-0), and Sean Woodson (13-2-1). He is a brawler with serious power in the pocket and excellent technical boxing skills. He has great footwork, regularly switching stances and varying his entries into the pocket. Ige has a solid kicking game to back up his boxing, with particularly damaging leg kicks. Training at Xtreme Couture, he has one-shot knockout power and favors power to volume, often firing heavy overhands or looping hooks before returning to range. He has a black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and is willing to grapple, landing at least one takedown in more than half of his UFC victories. Ige has never been finished and will always come forward to engage and do damage.

Melquizael Costa fires a powerful kick to the head of Julian Erosa. Credit: Zuffa LLC.

Costa is on a five-fight win streak, holding UFC victories coming over Morgan Charrière (21-12-1), Julian Erosa (31-13-0), Shayilan Nuerdanbieke (39-12-0). He’s a well-rounded scrapper with impressive power in his hands and excellent grappling. He has an outstanding arsenal of kicks, regularly unloading powerful shots to the head and body from range before blitzing into the pocket to throw power punches. Training at Chute Boxe JE, Costa typically doesn’t absorb much damage, utilizing solid footwork, head movement, and distance management to remain elusive. He’s averaging nearly two takedowns landed and over one submission attempted per fifteen minutes, and is very active on the ground, whether in top or bottom position. He’s constantly looking to improve or posture up and has outstanding sweeps and reversals. Costa is most dangerous early on, with ten of his sixteen finish victories coming in round one.

#12 Geoff Neal vs. Uroš Medić

Geoff Neal lands a powerful left hand on Vicente Luque. Credit: Cageside Press.

Welterweight Bout

Geoff Neal: 16-7-0, 10 KO/TKO, 2 Sub.

Uroš Medić: 12-3-0, 10 KO/TKO, 2 Sub.

Neal has won two of his last five outings and holds wins over #4 ranked Welterweight Belal Muhammad (24-5-0), Rafael Dos Anjos (32-17-0), and Vicente Luque (23-12-1). He has serious power in his hands and throws everything in combination, always fighting behind his jab. He’s an aggressive striker but has excellent technical skills, always keeping his hands high and his shots straight. Neal has excellent head movement and footwork, always remaining quick and elusive throughout the fight. Training at Fortis MMA, he does a great job of varying his shots and attacking from different angles, but is especially dangerous with his left hand. He holds a purple belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and is a solid wrestler with outstanding takedown defense. Neal has great cardio and is dangerous at all times, pushing a consistent pace and carrying his power throughout the fight.

Uroš Medić drops Muslim Salikhov with a thunderous left hand. Credit: MMA Fighting.

Medić has won three of his last five fights, with UFC victories coming over Muslim Salikhov (22-6-0), Omar Morales (11-4-0), and Tim Means (33-17-1). He’s a powerful kickboxer with great footwork and excellent kicks. He does an outstanding job varying his shots, attacking the head and body evenly while remaining technical. Medić throws everything with power and will regularly mix kicks in at the end of combinations. Training at Kings MMA, he favors power over volume but has solid cardio and can maintain a consistent pace across 15 minutes. He’s highly accurate, landing 60% of the significant strikes he’s attempted in the UFC, and can produce a flash knockout at any time. He won’t typically initiate grappling exchanges, but will not accept a position on his back and will pursue submissions. Medić has only seen the third round once and has not been to a decision, with eleven of his fifteen professional fights ending in the first round.

#3 Sean Strickland vs. #4 Anthony Hernandez

Anthony Hernandez lands a powerful slam takedown on Michel Pereira. Credit: MMA Fighting.

Middleweight Bout

Sean Strickland: 29-7-0, 11 KO/TKO, 4 Sub.

Anthony Hernandez: 15-2-0, 3 KO/TKO, 9 Sub.

Strickland has won three of his last five bouts and has UFC victories over #2 ranked Middleweight Nassourdine Imavov (17-4-0), #5 ranked Middleweight Brendan Allen (26-7-0), and #6 ranked Middleweight Israel Adesanya (24-5-0). He’s an excellent striker who’s always coming forward and pressuring his opponent. He has a very upright stance and is always backing his opponent up, constantly looking to close the distance and let his hands go. Strickland sets up everything with his jab and varies his attacks well, constantly firing shots to both the head and body, especially front kicks. He typically won’t pursue takedowns, but is a solid wrestler and has successfully defended 76% of the takedowns attempted against him in the UFC. He has outstanding cardio and strikes with an impressive amount of volume, landing, on average, about 140 significant strikes in his last five outings. Training at Xtreme Couture, Strickland has fought for gold three times in his last four fights and has consistently fought the best competition the Middleweight division has to offer.

Sean Strickland lands a cracking right hook to the head of Abus Magomedov. Credit: MMA Fighting.

Hernandez is on a eight-fight win streak, holding UFC victories over #5 ranked Middleweight Brendan Allen (25-7-0), #11 ranked Middleweight Roman Dolidze (15-4-0), and Roman Kopylov (14-5-0). He’s a relentless scrapper who’s always working for a finish and wearing down his opponent. He pushes a heavy pace from the opening bell, immediately coming forward and pressing the action. Hernandez does a great job mixing kicks into his combinations and will often extend his punch combos, firing five or six shots before returning to range. He is highly durable, always willing to eat a shot to land one, and often walks through offense to close the distance and do damage of his own. Training with the MMAGold Fight Team, he has outstanding takedowns, smothering top control, and dangerous chokes, especially his guillotine. Hernandez heats up as the fight continues, increasing his pace and output and never allowing his opponent to rest.

Best Bets

Smith vs Harrel Over 1.5 Rounds: This is an excellent matchup of two upcoming prospects. Both of these fighters are well-rounded and dangerous everywhere, and both rarely see the judges’ scorecards. Although both fighters are always working for a finish, I believe the evenness of this matchup will make a quick finish much less likely for either. Smith has proven extremely powerful but seems to throw everything with max power, slowing as the fight continues. Harrell often does his best work in the later rounds, regularly surviving early onslaughts to turn the tide. I expect this fight to get off to a quick start but slow down significantly as both men pursue their own grappling offense, especially as Smith's power-punching threat decreases over time. Either of these excellent up-and-comers could walk away with a victory, but I’m confident it will last at least a round and a half.

Geoff Neal Moneyline: Another exciting matchup, this is between two dangerous strikers. Although Medić is on a solid run of two consecutive first-round knockout victories, this is a significant step up in competition for him. Conversely, Neal has been on a bit of a skid lately, losing three of his last four outings, but has faced top-tier competition in all of those four fights. I believe Neal's experience will be the difference-maker, and he also has an advantage in technical boxing skills. Medić has been finished three times in his UFC tenure largely due to him getting wild and brawling, and while he’s a solid kickboxer, he doesn’t have nearly as educated hands as Neal. I expect Medić to come out guns blazing, but will struggle to hurt Neal, and likely find himself on the back foot and the receiving end of Neal’s offense. As the fight continues, I believe Neal will take over entirely, controlling the center of the octagon and battering Medić en route to a bounce-back win.

Anthony Hernandez Moneyline: This is a huge matchup of two top-ranked Middleweights. Although neither fighter has a similar style, both use pressure and look to outpace their opponents, and I believe Hernandez can beat Strickland at his own game. Since his triumphant title victory over Israel Adesanya, Strickland has largely put on slow, less-than-entertaining fights where, although he lands plenty of shots, he isn’t exactly in hot pursuit of a finish. Hernandez, on the other hand, always puts on a blistering pace, forcing his opponent to be working at all times while mixing in constant takedowns. I believe Hernandez's constant output will force Strickland to fight moving backwards, where he’s least comfortable, and make him abandon his usually safe fighting style. As the fight continues, I expect Hernandez to capitalize on Strickland’s mistakes, landing takedowns and lighting him up on his feet. Ultimately, I believe Hernandez will take control from the opening bell and earn his most impressive win to date.

UFC Fight Night: Bautista vs. Oliveira Preview

Mario Bautista stuns Patchy Mix with a precise left hand. Credit: MMA Junkie.

The UFC returns to its headquarters at the APEX Center in Las Vegas, Nevada, with an exciting Fight Night card. The entire card has been packed full of excellent matchups, hungry up-and-comers, and established veterans all ready to put on a show this Saturday. In the co-main event, two top-ten Flyweights collide when dominant wrestler Amir Albazi takes on a dynamic scrapper in Kyoji Horiguchi. In the main event, the always-dangerous Mario Bautista will face off with red-hot rising star Vinicius Oliveira. Let’s take a look at the fights on the main card.

Dustin Jacoby vs. Julius Walker

Dustin Jacoby finishes off Vitor Petrino with ground and pound after knocking him out with a straight right hand. Credit: MMA Junkie.

Light Heavyweight Bout

Dustin Jacoby: 21-9-1, 14 KO/TKO, 1 Sub.

Julius Walker: 7-1-0, 4 KO/TKO, 2 Sub.

Jacoby has won three of his last five fights and has UFC victories over Vitor Petrino (13-2-0), Michal Oleksiejczuk (21-9-0), and Kennedy Nzechukwu (14-6-1). A former professional kickboxer, he’s an outstanding striker with dangerous hands. He has excellent footwork and head movement, staying off the centerline and remaining elusive throughout. Jacoby fights behind his jab and won’t get sloppy, always staying composed and picking his shots. Training at FactoryX Muay Thai, he has a solid arsenal of kicks but does most of his damage with his hands, often firing a leg or body kick before coming forward and unloading combinations. He has solid cardio and carries his power across all fifteen minutes, remaining dangerous at all times. Jacoby has secured a knockout in more than half of his UFC wins and is always looking for a finish.

Julius Walker secures a lunging takedown on Rafael Cerqueira. Credit: MMA Mania.

Walker has won four of his last five bouts, holding a UFC victory over Rafael Cerqueira (11-4-0). He’s a heavy-handed scrapper with great wrestling abilities. He has a solid chin and is willing to exchange inside the pocket, regularly coming forward to unload heavy, wide hooks. However, Walker is most comfortable on the mat and constantly looks to clinch up and pursue takedowns or throws. Training with Team Fusion, he transitions fluidly from position to position and has solid scrambles and reversals, typically ending up in top position. He’s constantly working on the ground, regularly looking to posture and land ground and pound or find an opening for a submission. Walker has earned three of his six finish victories in under two minutes and pushes a heavy pace from the opening bell.

Jean Matsumoto vs. Farid Basharat

A bloodied Jean Matsumoto fires a kick to the head of Rob Font. Credit: Zuffa LLC.

Bantamweight Bout

Jean Matsumoto: 17-1-0, 3 KO/TKO, 6 Sub.

Farid Basharat: 14-0-0, 1 KO/TKO, 6 Sub.

Matsumoto has won four of his last five outings and holds UFC victories over Brad Katona (16-5-0), Miles Johns (15-5-0), and Dan Argueta (9-3-0). He’s a dangerous, well-rounded fighter with impressive power in his hands and a black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. He throws everything with power and in combination, but won’t get sloppy, always keeping his shots straight and tight. Training at Inside Muay Thai, Matsumoto regularly switches stances on the feet and has excellent kicks, constantly mixing them into punch combinations. He’s averaging over two takedowns landed per fifteen minutes in the UFC and can find submissions with incredible speed, especially chokes. Although he’s a technical striker, he’s willing to throw down in the pocket, regularly standing directly in front of his opponent and unloading hooks and straights. He has excellent cardio and pushes a consistent pace throughout, having already gone five rounds three times in his pre-UFC career.

Farid Basharat lands a crushing left hook on the chin of Victor Hugo. Credit: MMA Junkie.

Basharat is undefeated, with UFC victories coming over Chris Gutiérrez (22-7-2), Da’Mon Blackshear (17-8-1), and Taylor Lapilus (24-3-0). He’s a versatile fighter with outstanding wrestling skills and precise striking. He’s in perpetual movement on his feet, always feinting and constantly switching stances before coming forward to throw. Basharat is a very measured striker, often throwing a variety of kicks from range before coming forward to fire heavy punch combinations. Training at American Top Team, he has fantastic takedowns, averaging nearly four landed per fifteen minutes and has landed multiple takedowns on all of his UFC opponents. He’s very heavy on top and stays patient, focusing on improving position and controlling his opponent as opposed to getting wild and hunting a finish. Basharat seems to heat up as the fight continues, becoming more comfortable and willing to take risks while increasing the pressure on his opponents.

Michal Oleksiejczuk vs. Marc-André Barriault

Michael Oleksiejczuk unloads vicious ground and pound onto Sedriques Dumas. Credit: MMA Junkie.

Middleweight Bout

Michal Oleksiejczuk: 21-9-0, 16 KO/TKO, 1 Sub.

Marc-André Barriault: 17-10-0, 11 KO/TKO, 1 Sub.

Oleksiejczuk has won two of his last five fights and has UFC victories over Chidi Njokuani (25-11-0), Gerald Meerschaert (37-21-0), and Modestas Bukauskas (19-7-0). He’s a heavy-handed marauder who’s always coming forward and throwing bombs. He won’t spend much time at range, constantly pressuring his opponent and looking to close the distance and fire heavy straights and looping hooks. Oleksiejczuk has solid distance management, doing a great job of cutting off the cage and holding the center, but is always willing to hang in the pocket and exchange. Training with the Fighting Nerds, he very rarely throws kicks, almost exclusively relying on the power in his hands to get the job done. He won’t typically look to grapple but has solid takedown defense and vicious ground and pound if he finds himself in top position. Oleksiejczuk has secured thirteen of his seventeen finish victories in the first round and is especially dangerous early on.

Marc-André Barriault blasts Dalcha Lungiambula with a thudding right hook. Credit: MMA Junkie.

Barriault has won one of his last five bouts, holding UFC victories coming over Eryk Anders (17-9-0), Bruno Silva (23-13-0), and Jordan Wright (13-5-0). He’s a brawler with one-shot knockout power and excellent cardio. He throws every shot with power and is willing to eat a shot to land one, often marching through punches to land some of his own. Barriault does a great job of mixing kicks into his striking combinations, often landing to the body or legs before letting his hands go. He’s most comfortable in a brawl but can push a heavy pace across fifteen minutes, carrying his power throughout. Training at Kill Cliff FC, he won’t usually pursue takedowns but has solid takedown defense and getups. Barriault has earned two consecutive post-fight bonuses and is always looking to put on a show.

#6 Jailton Almeida vs. Rizvan Kuniev

Jailton Almeida launches himself into Alexander Volkov to finish a takedown. Credit: Zuffa LLC.

Heavyweight Bout

Jailton Almeida: 22-4-0, 8 KO/TKO, 13 Sub.

Rizvan Kuniev: 12-3-1, 6 KO/TKO, 2 Sub.

Almeida has won three of his last five outings and holds UFC victories coming over #7 ranked Heavyweight Serghei Spivac (17-6-0), #9 ranked Heavyweight Derrick Lewis (29-13-0), and Shamil Abdurakhimov (20-8-0). He’s a powerful, efficient grappler with outstanding wrestling and lethal submissions. He usually won’t waste much time on the feet, shooting in and pursuing powerful takedowns immediately. Almeida is very fluid on the ground and has excellent top control, making it nearly impossible for his opponents to escape. Training at Gãlpao de Luta, he’s finished all but one of his victories and has 11 wins via rear-naked choke, making him extremely dangerous if he gets to his opponent’s back. He has vicious ground and pound, always working for a finish while constantly advancing position and never overcommitting. Almeida has absorbed, on average, about 8 significant strikes per UFC fight and rarely takes much damage.

Rizvan Kuniev fires a jab at Hugo Cunha. Credit: Zuffa LLC.

Kuniev has won three of his last five fights, with one no contest, and is looking to score his first UFC victory. He’s a powerful scrapper who’s constantly looking to land power shots and wear down his opponent. He has decent head movement, staying off the centerline and regularly dipping his head before blitzing into the pocket and throwing heavy shots. Training at Gorets, he does a great job controlling the center of the cage, forcing his opponent to the outside while controlling the pace and distance. He will regularly look to clinch up and control his opponent before pursuing takedowns, often chaining takedown attempts together to bring the fight to the mat. He has heavy top pressure and will constantly look to posture up and land ground and pound. Kuniev has secured most of his knockouts after round one, remaining dangerous at all times.

#6 Amir Albazi vs. #8 Kyoji Horiguchi

Amir Albazi clips Kai Kara-France with a powerful uppercut. Credit: MMA Junkie.

Flyweight Bout

Amir Albazi: 17-2-0, 5 KO/TKO, 9 Sub.

Kyoji Horiguchi: 35-5-0, 15 KO/TKO, 6 Sub.

Albazi has won four of his last five bouts and holds UFC victories over Kai Kara-France (25-12-0), Alessandro Costa (14-5-0), and Malcolm Gordon (14-8-0). He is a well-rounded fighter who’s most comfortable on the mat. He’s a dominant wrestler and has landed a takedown on all of his UFC opponents. Training at Fight Ready, Albazi has excellent takedowns and is very hard to shake off, always staying active and pursuing a finish on top. He’s also dangerous on his back and advances position very quickly on the ground. On the feet, he uses technical boxing, constant forward pressure, and great head movement to damage his opponent. Albazi makes excellent use of feints and doesn’t telegraph his shots, always fighting behind his jab and usually holding the center of the cage.

Kyoji Horiguchi lands a vicious kick to the head of Tagir Ulanbekov. Credit: MMA Fighting.

Horiguchi has won four of his last five outings, with one no contest, and is making his second UFC appearance after nearly a decade fighting in Rizin and Bellator. He’s a wild fighter with devastating power in his hands and outstanding skills on the mat. He’s a second-degree black belt in Shotokan Karate and throws every shot with knockout intentions, favoring power to volume and adding heavy kicks to the end of combinations. Horiguchi is very explosive and will constantly look to crash into the pocket and unload big hooks and overhands. He has excellent chain wrestling, regularly stringing together multiple takedown attempts to secure a dominant position on the ground. Training at American Top Team, he’s dangerous in top position and has heavy ground and pound, but is just as dangerous off his back, constantly looking to sweep his opponent or grab a submission. Horiguchi has earned belts in Rizin, Bellator, and Shooto, and has faced exclusively high-level competition since leaving the UFC in 2016.

#9 Mario Bautista vs. #11 Vinicus Oliveira

Mario Bautista blasts Ricky Simón with a crushing left hand. Credit: MMA Fighting.

Bantamweight Bout

Mario Bautista: 16-3-0, 3 KO/TKO, 6 Sub.

Vinicus Oliveira: 23-3-0, 16 KO/TKO, 2 Sub.

Bautista has won four of his last five fights and has UFC victories over José Aldo (32-10-0), Patchy Mix (19-4-0), and Ricky Simón (22-7-0). He’s a technical, well-rounded fighter with an outstanding gas tank. He throws everything in combination and with impressive speed and power, and regularly mixes shots to the body and legs into his combinations. Training at the MMA Lab, Bautista does a great job varying his angles and entries into the pocket, and is very defensively sound, keeping his head off the centerline and his guard high. He’s averaging over one takedown landed per 15 minutes and is very strong in the clinch, often controlling his opponent along the cage and draining their stamina. He’s as quick on the ground as on the feet, transitioning and passing efficiently and effectively. Bautista can comfortably push a heavy pace across an entire fight, remaining dangerous at all times and never getting wild or sloppy.

Vinicius Oliveira lands an incredible flying knee directly to the chin of Bernardo Sopaj. Credit: Zuffa LLC.

Oliveira is on a six-fight win streak, with UFC victories coming over Ricky Simón (22-6-0), Said Nurmagomedov (18-4-0), and Bernardo Sopaj (12-3-0). He’s a vicious, elusive striker with serious power in his hands and an unpredictable arsenal of attacks. He utilizes a very unorthodox stance and movement style, keeping his hands down and relying on his head movement and footwork to avoid damage. Oliveira typically remains at range, keeping his head off the centerline before entering the pocket to unload wild, looping hooks. He never telegraphs his next move, sometimes picking his shots and staying at range, and other times extending long punch combinations punctuated with heavy kicks. Training with Sombra Team MMA, he won’t typically initiate grappling exchanges but has shown outstanding takedown defense in the UFC and will not accept a position on his back. Thirteen of his sixteen knockouts have come in the first round, and he’s most dangerous early on, carrying his power throughout but often reducing his pace and footwork as the fight continues.

Best Bets

Farid Basharat by Decision: This is an outstanding matchup of two highly-touted Bantamweight prospects. While both fighters are dangerous and possess well-rounded skill sets, I believe Basharat is ultimately the more put-together fighter. Matsumoto is a solid grappler but has struggled to defend takedowns in the UFC and has been taken down, on average, more than four times per fight during his promotional tenure. Basharat has recorded multiple takedowns in all of his UFC fights, and I believe he can control Matsumoto on the ground and prevent him from using his dangerous striking. I also think Basharat is the more technical striker of the two, and won’t allow Matsumoto to make the fight into a brawl, where he typically has his most success. I anticipate Basharat fighting a very careful, measured fight, picking his shots on the feet, landing quick combinations and heavy kicks, darting in and out of the pocket, and remaining defensively sound throughout. As the fight continues, I expect Matsumoto’s pace to wane, with Basharat starting to land takedowns and wear down Matsumoto on the mat, ultimately earning an impressive decision victory over an equally hyped prospect.

Kyoji Horiguchi by Decision: This is an interesting matchup of two very dangerous Flyweights. Although these fighters have very different styles and backgrounds, both are dangerous anywhere and always leave it all inside the cage. Horiguchi looked fantastic in his recent bout against Tagir Ulanbekov, and I believe he will continue on his current four-fight win streak. Albazi, although a fantastic grappler, struggled against the boxing of Brandon Moreno, and is now facing a harder-hitting, highly-experienced scrapper who’s willing to go toe-to-toe with anybody. I expect Horiguchi to come out guns blazing, putting Albazi on his back foot and controlling the center of the octagon, not allowing Albazi to shoot takedowns and forcing him to engage in the striking. If the fight hits the mat, I believe Horiguchi has the skills to either get back to his feet or even control Albazi from top position. Ultimately, I expected Horiguchi to win the majority of the striking exchanges, keeping the fight standing and mixing in some entertaining grappling en route to another impressive victory.

Bautista vs. Oliveira to Not Go the Distance: A fascinating matchup of two very different fighters, I’ve been looking forward to this one. These two scrappers have nearly opposite styles: Bautista is highly technical, while Oliveira is very flashy and wild. It’s tough to predict exactly how or where this fight will play out, but it’s a massive opportunity for both of these fighters to move themselves up the rankings in a very tough division, and I believe both will be in pursuit of a highlight-reel finish. Bautista likely has an advantage on the mat and better wrestling skills, and Oliveira has never fought someone of the caliber of Bautista before. At the same time, Oliveira presents a very unique challenge and has a style unlike any of Bautista’s former opponents. I believe this fight will feature many close, heated striking exchanges, and that both fighters will take risks to secure a finish. Regardless of who emerges as the victor, I am confident that this fight will be over before the final bell of round five sounds.

UFC 325 Preview

Alexander Volkanovski and Diego Lopes exchange blows in the pocket. Credit: MMA Junkie.

The UFC heads to the Qudos Bank Arena in Sydney, Australia, this Saturday with an outstanding fight card. There are outstanding matchups throughout the card, filled with rising prospects, established contenders, and plenty of local talent looking to make the fans of their home country proud. In the co-main event, we’ll witness a collision of two Lightweight marauders when savage striker Dan Hooker takes on brawling submission ace Benoît Saint Denis. In the main event, Featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski looks to defend his gold in an anticipated rematch with the always-dangerous Diego Lopes. Let’s take a look at the fights on the main card.

Quillan Salkilld vs. Jamie Mullarkey

Quillan Salkilld lands a thudding kick to the head of Nasrat Haqparast. Credit: MMA Fighting.

Lightweight Bout

Quillan Salkilld: 10-1-0, 4 KO/TKO, 3 Sub.

Jamie Mullarkey: 18-8-0, 10 KO/TKO, 3 Sub.

Salkilld is on a ten-fight win streak and has UFC victories over Nasrat Haqparast (18-6-0), Yanal Ashmouz (8-2-0), and Anshul Jubli (7-2-0). He’s a dynamic, well-rounded fighter with one-shot knockout power and outstanding wrestling skills. He’s tall for the Lightweight division and uses it well, often staying at range and battering his opponent with long punches and kicks. Salkilld has a solid chin and is willing to exchange in the pocket, but is a very measured striker and throws everything with purpose and accuracy, not just power. Training at Luistro Combat Academy, he has fantastic takedowns, especially in the clinch, and can deliver powerful slams. He has excellent control on the mat, rarely giving up a position or wasting energy while picking his spots to land brutal ground and pound. Salkilld has earned Performance of the Night twice in his three UFC appearances and is always looking to add to his highlight reel of vicious knockouts.

Jamie Mullarkey stuns Devonte Smith with a stiff left hand. Credit: MMA Mania.

Mullarkey has won two of his last five fights, holding UFC victories over Michael Johnson (25-19-0), Francisco Prado (12-4-0), and John Makdessi (18-9-0). He is a solid scrapper with a gritty striking style and tenacious grappling. He’s always moving, will constantly switch stances, and favors power to volume, regularly unloading heavy singular shots or two-punch combinations. Mullarkey primarily uses his hands to do damage, occasionally throwing leg kicks from range before coming forward to fire straights and looping hooks. He sets up his grappling with his striking and vice versa, often punching into takedowns or faking a takedown to close the distance and land punches. Training at Bangtao Muay Thai, he has solid top control, always focuses on maintaining position, and is willing to work along the fence to bring the fight to the ground. Half of Mullarkey’s UFC appearances have not gone the distance, and he always leaves everything inside the cage.

#12 Tai Tuivasa vs. #15 Tallison Teixeira

Tai Tuivasa cracks Augusto Sakai with a powerful right hook. Credit: Zuffa LLC.

Heavyweight Bout

Tai Tuivasa: 15-8-0, 14 KO/TKO, 0 Sub.

Tallison Teixeira: 8-1-0, 7 KO/TKO, 1 Sub.

Tuivasa is on a five-fight losing streak and holds UFC victories over #11 ranked Heavyweight Derrick Lewis (29-13-0), Andrei Arlovski (34-24-0), 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, one-shot knockout power, and he can finish the fight from anywhere. He’s at his most dangerous early, with 12 of his fourteen KOs coming in round one, only seeing two decisions in his pro career. Tuivasa can land immense damage without much space, particularly elbows and knees.

Tallison Teixeira unloads ground and pound shots onto Justin Tafa. Credit: MMA Fighting.

Teixeira has won four of his last five bouts and has a UFC victory over Justin Tafa (7-5-0). He’s a massive, lengthy striker with serious, one-shot knockout power in his hands. Standing at 6’7”, he uses his length well, often firing kicks and long straights from range before entering the pocket to blast his opponent with hooks and uppercuts. Teixeira fights behind his jab and regularly mixes kicks into combinations, but tends to headhunt, constantly pursuing a knockout. He holds a black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu but won’t typically initiate grappling exchanges, typically keeping the fight standing and making use of his usual height and reach advantage. Training with Team Lucas Mineiro, he has a great chin and is willing to brawl on the inside, but he’s also extremely dangerous from range. Teixeira has not seen a second round in his brief professional career and has scored three knockouts in 35 seconds or less.

#9 Rafael Fiziev vs. #14 Maurício Ruffy

Rafael Fiziev attempts a wild flying knee on Rafael Dos Anjos. Credit: Zuffa LLC.

Lightweight Bout

Rafael Fiziev: 13-4-0, 8 KO/TKO, 1 Sub.

Maurício Ruffy: 12-2-0, 11 KO/TKO, 0 Sub.

Fiziev has won two of his last five outings and has UFC wins over #10 ranked Lightweight Renato Moicano (20-7-1), Ignacio Bahamondes (17-6-0), and Rafael Dos Anjos (32-17-0). He’s a technical kickboxer with impressive power and dangerous counterstriking. He’s constantly switching stances and always remains elusive, regularly leaning back to slip head kicks and punches before returning fire. Training at Tiger Muay Thai, Fiziev throws everything with impressive speed and power but won’t get sloppy, always maintaining fantastic footwork and distance management. He’s highly accurate and does a great job of varying his strikes, attacking his opponent’s head, legs, and body with equal tenacity. He is willing to grapple and is a solid wrestler, with great double-leg takedowns and stout takedown defense. Fiziev is rarely in a boring fight and has earned post-fight bonuses in more than half of his UFC appearances.

Maurício Ruffy blasts King Green with an incredible spinning wheel kick. Credit: MMA Mania.

Ruffy has won four of his last five fights, with UFC victories coming over Jamie Mullarkey (18-8-0), James Llontop (14-5-0), and King Green (33-17-1). A lethal, elusive striker, he’s always dangerous and constantly hunting a knockout. He’s highly accurate and favors power to volume, often throwing single shots with serious power and knockout intent. Ruffy has fantastic distance control and head movement, typically staying at range and picking his opponents apart with brutal leg kicks before letting his hands go. Training with the Fighting Nerds, he throws everything with impressive speed and is always unpredictable, regularly attempting unorthodox strikes without telegraphing them. He varies his shots well and will constantly look to draw his opponents into his range so he can land counterstrikes. Nine of Ruffy’s eleven knockouts have come in round one, and he’s most dangerous early on, remaining aggressive throughout but slowing as the fight continues.

#6 Dan Hooker vs. #8 Benoît Saint Denis

Dan Hooker lands a stinging left hand on the chin of Jalin Turner. Credit: MMA Fighting.

Lightweight Bout

Dan Hooker: 24-13-0, 11 KO/TKO, 7 Sub.

Benoît Saint Denis: 16-3-0, 5 KO/TKO, 11 Sub.

Hooker has won three of his last five bouts and has UFC victories over #7 ranked Lightweight Mateusz Gamrot (25-4-0), #12 ranked Welterweight Gilbert Burns (22-9-0), and Jalin Turner (15-9-0). He’s a vicious striker who’s always coming forward and looking to turn things into a dogfight. He has solid head movement and counterstriking but is always willing to eat a shot to land one, regularly marching through his opponent’s offense to do damage of his own. Hooker is a devastating clinch striker, possessing some of the most brutal knees in the UFC and great dirty boxing. Training at City Kickboxing, he does a great job of mixing up his attacks and regularly lands brutal body shots. He has solid takedown defense and outstanding submissions, often defending takedowns with his guillotine choke. Hooker pushes a heavy pace and will never back down, always leaving everything inside the cage.

Benoît Saint Denis unloads brutal ground and pound shots onto Maurício Ruffy. Credit: Athlon Sports.

Saint Denis has won three of his last five outings, holding UFC victories over #11 ranked Lightweight Beneil Dariush (23-7-1), #14 ranked Lightweight Maurício Ruffy (12-2-0), and Ismael Bonfim (20-6-0). A versatile combatant, he has powerful striking and outstanding grappling skills. A decorated veteran and former French SAS paratrooper, he’s incredibly tough and capable of enduring impressive damage. He throws everything with fight-ending intentions and is always in pursuit of a finish. Saint Denis is an excellent grappler with plenty of experience, holding a black belt in Judo and a brown Belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. Training at CYFIT, he has great takedowns and heavy top control, constantly looking to posture up in top position and do damage or secure a submission. Saint Denis always pushes a heavy pace and has gone past the second round a single time in his UFC tenure.

(C) Alexander Volkanovski vs. #2 Diego Lopes

Alexander Volkanvoski lands a lunging overhand on Yair Rodríguez. Credit: MMA Fighting.

Featherweight Title Bout

Alexander Volkanovski: 27-4-0, 13 KO/TKO, 3 Sub.

Diego Lopes: 27-7-0, 11 KO/TKO, 12 Sub.

Volkanovski has won two of his last five fights and has wins over #3 ranked Featherweight Yair Rodríguez (21-5-0), #4 ranked Lightweight Max Holloway (27-8-0), and his current opponent, Diego Lopes. He’s a well-rounded scrapper who’s dangerous anywhere, possessing serious punching power and outstanding grappling skills. He’s highly accurate and remains technical throughout, throwing with power and in combination without loading up or wasting energy. He’ll regularly unload punishing kicks, especially to the legs, before blitzing into the pocket to let his hands go. Training at City Kickboxing, he has excellent cardio and can maintain a heavy pace across 25 minutes, averaging 155 significant strikes landed in his last five wins. He has excellent wrestling and BJJ to back up his striking, with fantastic takedowns, top control, and brutal ground and pound. Volkanovski has not been in a non-title bout since 2019 and has fought nothing but the best during his time at the top.

Diego Lopes tags Jean Silva with a heavy left hook. Credit: MMA Mania.

Lopes has won four of his last five bouts and has UFC victories over #7 ranked Featherweight Brian Ortega (16-5-0), #14 ranked Featherweight Dan Ige (19-10-0), and Jean Silva (17-3-0). An experienced grappler with impressive striking, he throws every shot with knockout intentions and constantly seeks a finish. He throws everything with power but stays composed, fighting behind his jab and keeping his punches sharp and straight. He’s constantly looking to let his hands go in the pocket, where he’s most dangerous, and has a granite chin, always willing to eat a shot to land one. Training at Lobo Gym MMA, he is a world-class grappler with excellent takedowns, often landing them quickly and in open space before securing a dominant position on the mat. He’s highly active in top position, raining down ground and pound shots and constantly improving his position while looking for submission openings. Lopes has earned six post-fight bonuses in just eight UFC fights and always puts on a show, win or lose.

Best Bets

Rafael Fiziev Moneyline: This is an exciting matchup of two excellent Lightweight strikers. Although both prefer to stay on their feet, they have very different striking styles. Fiziev is a much more technical, measured striker who, although he possesses some wild spinning attacks in his arsenal, remains composed and accurate and is willing to mix grappling into his offense. Ruffy is much more of a flashy, pure striker, using plenty of wild attacks and throwing everything with devastating power, rarely engaging in grappling. While both are highly dangerous, I believe Fiziev is the more put-together and polished fighter. Although Ruffy initially went on an impressive win streak, many of the holes in his game were exposed in his loss to Benoît Saint Denis, the biggest of which were his cardio and grappling. Saint Denis took him down almost immediately, and Ruffy gassed out very quickly after being forced to grapple, arriving at the second round completely drained. While I don’t necessarily expect an all-out wrestling attack from a striker of the caliber of Fiziev, he’s landed six takedowns in his last two fights and shown a willingness to bring the fight to the mat, as well as having the cardio to do so. I also believe Ruffy’s wildness on the feet is to his detriment against someone as technically skilled as Fiziev; Ruffy often benefits from his opponent’s mistakes or catches them with wild, swinging shots, none of which will be available against Fiziev. I anticipate some intense early striking exchanges before Fiziev starts mixing in takedowns and brings Ruffy to the mat, slowing him down and preventing him from getting comfortable on his feet. As the fight continues and Ruffy continues to fade, I expect Fiziev to take control of the fight in all facets, getting the best of the striking exchanges and smothering Ruffy on the mat. Regardless of how he wins this fight, I’m confident Fiziev will be getting his hand raised when it’s all said and done.

Hooker vs. Saint Denis to Not Go the Distance: This is an exciting fight between two true scrappers who always leave everything inside the cage. While both are very different fighters with different skillsets, they’re definitely both finishers. In a combined 56 professional fights, they have produced 34 finishes, including 16 knockouts and 18 submissions. Of those 34 finishes, twenty of those came in the first round. Saint Denis has only seen the judges’ scorecards once in his career, and although Hooker has gone to various decisions, four of his last six outings did not go the distance. Neither man is known to back down from a fight, and I wouldn’t expect any different this Saturday. Both of these fighters have well-rounded skills and the ability to finish the fight anywhere, at any time. While I’m unsure exactly how and when this fight will end, I’m very confident that it will be over before the final bell of round three is rung.

Alexander Volkanovski Moneyline: This is a highly anticipated rematch between two of the best, most entertaining fighters in the UFC. They had a wild, back-and-forth first matchup filled with memorable moments, and I expect this fight to play out very similarly. We saw a true return to form for Volkanovski in their first meeting after he had suffered a string of brutal defeats, and I believe he will continue to remind us why he's considered one of the greatest Featherweights of all time. Lopes scored a very impressive win over Jean Silva following his loss to Volkanovski, but I don't believe much has changed about his style, and I still believe Volkanovski has the skills to earn another victory. I would anticipate a bit less brawling from both fighters and an overall cleaner fight, but I expect a very technical and tactical game plan from Volkanovski, especially. Lopes hurt Volkanovski a few times in their first fight, so I believe he'll be a bit more measured, really making use of his excellent counterstriking and focusing more on his leg kicks to slow down Lopes's constant forward pressure. As Volkanovski limits Lopes's mobility, I expect him to step on the gas, forcing Lopes to fight defensively and off his back foot, where he's least comfortable. Once Volkanovski has taken control of the distance and the center of the octagon, I believe Lopes will start taking more risks and making more mistakes, allowing Volkanovski to really let his hands go and work his offense. While I expect him to take plenty of damage, finishing Lopes has proved to be a very daunting task, so I wouldn't necessarily predict a finish. Regardless, I'm confident that when the dust clears, Volkanovski will emerge victorious with the first successful title defense of his second reign as champion.

UFC 324 Preview

Justin Gaethje lands a crushing jab to the nose of Rafael Fiziev. Credit: MMA Junkie.

The UFC returns after a six-week hiatus and is kicking off the new year with a fantastic, stacked card. From top to bottom, this event has been filled with electrifying matchups, rising stars, and title contenders all vying for a chance to earn a highlight-reel victory. In the co-main event, we’ll see former Bantamweight champion Sean O’Malley take on the hard-charging marauder Song Yadong. In the main event, two top-five Lightweights will go toe-to-toe for a chance to challenge for gold when perennial title contender Justin Gaethje takes on red-hot grappling ace Paddy Pimblett. Let’s take a look at the fights on the main card.

#6 Arnold Allen vs. #10 Jean Silva

Arnold Allen lands a vicious kick to the head of Giga Chikadze. Credit: MMA Fighting.

Featherweight Bout

Arnold Allen: 20-3-0, 7 KO/TKO, 4 Sub.

Jean Silva: 16-3-0, 12 KO/TKO, 3 Sub.

Allen has won three of his last five fights and has UFC victories over #6 ranked Lightweight Dan Hooker (24-13-0), Sodiq Yusuff (13-5-0), and Giga Chikadze (15-6-0). He is an excellent technical striker, possessing serious speed, power in his hands, and a solid arsenal of kicks. He has some of the best striking defense in the UFC, averaging under three significant strikes absorbed per minute, and has successfully defended 61% of significant strikes attempted on him. Allen throws long, extended combinations, constantly varying his attacks and often mixing in head and body kicks at the end of his combinations. He throws everything with substantial power but remains accurate throughout, allowing him to push a heavy pace across three rounds with ease. Training at BKK Fighters, he averages about one takedown landed per fifteen minutes and is equally comfortable on the ground as he is on the feet. Allen seems never to be in one place for long, constantly moving and attacking from different angles, always remaining elusive and defensively sound.

Jean Silva blasts Melsik Baghdasaryan with a thunderous right hand. Credit: MMA Fighting.

Silva has won four of his last five bouts, holding UFC victories over Bryce Mitchell (18-4-0), Charles Jourdain (17-8-1), and Drew Dober (28-15-0). He’s a dangerous scrapper with devastating power in both hands who constantly hunts for a knockout. He starts slow, looking for openings and throwing heavy, single shots while controlling the center of the octagon. Silva will often get wild on the feet, fighting with his hands low, talking trash, and regularly attempting spinning and jumping attacks. Training with the Fighting Nerds, he heats up as the fight continues, gradually gaining confidence and increasing his forward pressure and output. Although he won’t typically pursue takedowns, Silva is a solid grappler and has a dangerous submission game, especially his chokes. Silva has not gone to a decision in his UFC tenure and has earned four consecutive post-fight bonuses.

#2 Natalia Silva vs. #6 Rose Namajunas

Natalia Silva stuns Alexa Grasso with a side kick to the face. Credit: MMA Fighting.

Women’s Flyweight Bout

Natalia Silva: 19-5-1, 5 KO/TKO, 7 Sub.

Rose Namajunas: 15-7-0, 2 KO/TKO, 6 Sub.

Silva is on a thirteen-fight win streak and has UFC victories over #3 ranked Flyweight Alexa Grasso (16-5-1), #7 ranked Flyweight Jasmine Jasudavicius (14-4-0), and #9 ranked Strawweight Jéssica Andrade (26-15-0). She is an outstanding kickboxer with lightning-fast kicks and excellent footwork. She’s constantly feinting with her hips and switching stances, making her highly unpredictable and constantly dangerous. 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, and she has excellent takedown defense, having defended 91% of takedowns attempted against her in the UFC. Silva pushes a heavy pace throughout the fight, but remains technical and never slows down.

Rose Namajunas looks to unload ground and pound onto Miranda Maverick. Credit: Ag. Fight.

Namajunas has won three of her last five outings, with UFC victories coming over #1 ranked Strawweight Zhang Weili (26-4-0), #8 ranked Flyweight Tracy Cortez (12-3-0), and #10 ranked Flyweight Miranda Maverick (17-6-0). She’s a well-rounded fighter with solid striking skills and excellent Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. Training at Genesis Training Center, she’s a technical striker with sneaky power and a sturdy chin, unafraid to let her hands go inside the pocket. Holding black belts in both Taekwondo and Karate, Namajunas has very educated feet to back up her hands, as well as excellent distance management and footwork. She has plenty of five-round experience and will maintain a solid pace throughout, always coming forward and pressuring her opponent. She’s averaging over one takedown landed per 15 minutes, has great entries and timing on her takedowns, and is very fluid on the mat, moving from position to position without losing control of her opponent. A former two-time Strawweight champion, she’s faced some of the best competition in the promotion and leaves everything inside the cage.

#5 Waldo Cortes-Acosta vs. #8 Derrick Lewis

Waldo Cortes-Acosta fires a stiff straight left at Shamil Gaziev. Credit: MMA Fighting.

Heavyweight Bout

Waldo Cortes-Acosta: 16-2-0, 8 KO/TKO, 1 Sub.

Derrick Lewis: 29-12-0, 24 KO/TKO, 1 Sub.

Acosta has won four of his last five fights and owns UFC victories over #7 ranked Heavyweight Serghei Spivac (17-6-0), #9 ranked Heavyweight Ante Delija (26-7-0), and #11 ranked Heavyweight Shamil Gaziev (14-2-0). He is a heavy-handed brawler with excellent boxing and a dangerous right hand. He throws every shot with power, constantly coming forward to unload looping hooks and devastating overhands. Training at UKF Gym, Acosta is most at home in a wild scrap, working inside the pocket and firing knees and elbows in the clinch. He tends to favor power to volume, unloading single shots with knockout intentions. While he won’t usually initiate grappling exchanges, he has demonstrated a solid ability to return to his feet. Acosta is defensively sound and won’t usually absorb much damage, having outlanded eight of his eleven UFC opponents.

Derrick Lewis staggers Tallison Teixeira with a powerful right hand. Credit: MMA Fighting.

Lewis has won three of his last five bouts, holding UFC victories over #2 ranked Heavyweight Alexander Volkov (39-11-0), #4 ranked Heavyweight Curtis Blaydes (19-5-0), and #7 ranked Heavyweight Marcin Tybura (27-10-0). Known for his kill-or-be-killed approach, he’s one of the most devastating power-punchers in UFC history. Training at Silverback Fight Club, he has a unique, patient style, regularly going from slow and lumbering to suddenly unloading vicious shots. Along with his punching power, Lewis has a surprising arsenal of flashy attacks, particularly jumping kicks and flying knees. He doesn’t often initiate grappling exchanges and is well known for his non-technical wrestling style of “just getting up,” but he can do serious damage if he gets on top of someone. He’s incredibly resilient and is never truly out of a fight, especially since he only needs to land one clean shot to find a finish. Lewis is the all-time record holder for UFC knockouts with 16 and looks to add to that number every time he steps in the cage.

#3 Sean O’Malley vs. #5 Song Yadong

Sean O’Malley tags Petr Yan with a straight right hand. Credit: MMA Fighting.

Bantamweight Bout

Sean O’Malley: 18-3-0, 12 KO/TKO, 1 Sub.

Song Yadong: 22-8-1, 9 KO/TKO, 3 Sub.

O’Malley has won three of his last five outings and owns UFC victories over Bantamweight champion Petr Yan (20-5-0), #5 ranked Featherweight Aljamain Sterling (25-5-0), and #8 ranked Bantamweight Marlon Vera (23-11-1). He’s a dynamic, dangerous striker with heavy hands and an outstanding arsenal of kicks. He does an excellent job varying both his attacks and their locations, constantly battering his opponent’s head, body, and legs with a multitude of different strikes. Training at Red Hawk Academy, O’Malley rarely engages in grappling exchanges, preferring to stay at range and pick his opponent apart with long punches and kicks. He’s highly accurate and throws every shot with purpose, never wasting energy or loading up his shots. He moves in and out of the pocket with impressive speed and is an excellent counterstriker, constantly slipping his opponent’s attacks, doing damage, and returning to range unscathed. O’Malley holds various UFC Bantamweight records, including the most post-fight bonuses (9), the most significant strikes landed in a title fight (230), and the highest significant strike differential (3.31).

Song Yadong blasts Julio Arce with a vicious head kick. Credit: Zuffa LLC.

Yadong has won three of his last five fights, with UFC victories coming over #8 ranked Bantamweight Marlon Vera (23-11-1), Ricky Simón (22-7-0), and Chris Gutiérrez (22-7-2). He’s a technical, durable fighter who’s always coming forward and throwing with knockout intentions. He has significant power in both hands, throws everything in combination, and remains technical throughout the fight, usually fighting behind his jab. Training at Team Alpha Male, Yadong varies his shots well, attacking the head and body evenly and remaining technical at all times. He’s powerful in the clinch and won’t typically pursue takedowns, but has defended 72% of takedowns attempted on him in the UFC. He’s always willing to eat a shot to land one, regularly marching through punches to close the distance and throw offense of his own. Yadong has outlanded seven of his last ten opponents and always pushes a relentless pace.

#4 Justin Gaethje vs. #5 Paddy Pimblett

Justin Gaethje catches Dustin Poirier with a thunderous head kick. Credit: MMA Weekly.

Lightweight Bout

Justin Gaethje: 26-5-0, 20 KO/TKO, 1 Sub.

Paddy Pimblett: 23-3-0, 7 KO/TKO, 10 Sub.

Gaethje has won three of his last five bouts and has UFC victories over #9 ranked Lightweight Rafael Fiziev (13-4-0), #12 ranked Lightweight Michael Chandler (23-10-0), and Dustin Poirier (30-10-0). He’s one of MMA's most brutal, vicious strikers and is always willing to throw down. Possessing devastating power in both hands, he’s developed into a much more technical, skillful fighter in his promotional tenure. To match his KO power, Gaethje has some of the hardest leg kicks in MMA and throws them constantly. He has a collegiate wrestling background and solid takedown defense but has only landed a single takedown in the UFC and rarely goes to the mat. He’s exceptionally durable and is always willing to eat a shot to land one. Training with Elevation Fight Team, Gaethje has fantastic cardio and is always dangerous, capable of producing both early and late finishes.

Paddy Pimblett rains down heavy ground and pound shots onto Michael Chandler. Credit: Bloody Elbow.

Pimblett is on a nine-fight win streak and has UFC victories over #12 ranked Lightweight Michael Chandler (23-10-0), Jared Gordon (21-8-0), and King Green (33-17-1). He’s a well-rounded scrapper with a fantastic submission game. He throws every shot with power, regularly unloading looping hooks or blitzing forward while firing heavy power shots. Training at Next Generation MMA, he has a good chin and is willing to exchange inside the pocket. He has solid takedowns and transitions very quickly on the mat, usually finding himself in full mount or on his opponent’s back with impressive speed. He has smothering top control and is very active in top position, constantly raining down ground and pound shots until he creates an opening for a submission. All of Pimblett’s submission victories have come via some form of choke, and he’ll pursue them at any time, often attempting flying triangles while standing. 

Best Bets

Natalia Silva by Decision: This is an excellent matchup of a rising star and an established veteran. Silva is on a 13-fight win streak, including 7 UFC victories, and has proven to be one of the best strikers in the Flyweight division. Namajunas is a former Strawweight champion and has been in the UFC since 2014, facing almost exclusively top-tier talent throughout her tenure. While Namajunas is a solid striker, Silva has a clear advantage on the feet, with both power and speed. Although Namajunas has a solid kicking game, she tends to favor her hands, and I believe she'll have a hard time tracking down Silva or keeping her stationary long enough to land combinations. I also believe Silva has the takedown defense to keep the fight standing, where she's most comfortable. I expect this fight to get off to a quick start, with Silva taking control of the striking exchanges immediately. Once Namajunas becomes overwhelmed, I expect her to start pursuing and failing to secure takedowns, slowing her offensive output and allowing Silva to make full use of her striking skills. Namajunas has proven exceptionally durable in her UFC career, so while I believe she has the chin to stand with Silva and last until the final bell, I think she's extremely outmatched if the fight stays standing. I anticipate a dominant showing in a decision victory for Silva.

Sean O’Malley by Decision: A matchup seemingly long in the making, these fighters entered the UFC in the same year and are finally going to meet inside the octagon. Although both fighters started their UFC careers in 2017, they’ve gone down very different paths. O’Malley quickly became a fan favorite and rose to the top of the Bantamweight division, capturing the title in 2023 and defending it once before dropping the belt to Merab Dvalishvili. Yadong, although yet to realize a championship, has gone 12-3 in the UFC and has spent most of his tenure ranked within the top ten of the division. Both fighters are dangerous and share somewhat similar styles, but I believe O’Malley is the more polished striker. He’s consistently proven to be one of the best pure strikers in the division, even holding a controversial victory over current Bantamweight champion Petr Yan, where, despite any debate on the outcome, he did serious damage and put on a show against what’s now the division’s titleholder. Yadong has struggled against top-tier strikers in the past, such as Yan and Sandhagen, and has earned some of his best victories against more grappling-focused fighters. I believe O’Malley is both too big and too fast for Yadong, and I expect him to utilize his size advantage throughout the fight, staying out of punching range and battering Yadong with kicks. I anticipate O’Malley, who’s in his first non-title bout since 2023, to take advantage of his five-round experience and wear down Yadong, maintaining a high pace and not allowing it to become a wild brawl. Yadong is exceptionally tough to finish, with his only finish loss in the UFC coming via doctor’s stoppage, so while I don’t anticipate a knockout, I foresee an impressive decision win for O’Malley.

Gaethje vs. Pimblett Under 2.5 Rounds: An outstanding matchup of two top-five Lightweights, I’ve been looking forward to this one. Although Gaethje is known for his striking and Pimblett for his grappling, they’re both prolific finishers. Across 57 combined fights, they have produced 38 finish victories, with 27 knockouts and 11 submissions. Of their combined 57 fights, just thirteen have gone the distance, with twenty-three of them ending in the first round. To summarize, neither of these men sees the judge’s scorecards very often. I don’t expect much of a feeling-out process in this fight, especially considering the vitriol they’ve been throwing at each other in press conferences. Along with their apparent dislike of each other, the winner of this fight will most likely earn a shot at the Lightweight title, making a highlight-reel win that much more desirable. Although I expect both to be hunting for a finish throughout, I don’t anticipate a wild brawl, especially since Pimblett is more likely to be pursuing a submission than trying to stand and bang with Gaethje. I expect entertaining striking exchanges, but I also foresee contested grappling encounters, with both fighters showing off the full range of their skill sets. Regardless of who emerges as the victor, I’m confident this fight will end within two and a half rounds.

UFC Fight Night: Royval vs. Kape Preview

Brandon Royval lands a thunderous knee on Matheus Nicolau. Credit: Zuffa LLC.

The UFC returns to its headquarters at the APEX with an outstanding Fight Night card. The entire card is packed with excellent matchups and exciting fighters, all looking to prove themselves on the biggest stage in the sport. In the co-main event, two dangerous strikers will collide when powerful kickboxer Giga Chikadze takes on surging prospect Kevin Vallejos. In the main event, two top-ranked Flyweights go toe-to-toe when the always-dangerous Brandon Royval squares off against a flashy striker in Manel Kape. Let’s take a look at the fights on the main card.

King Green vs. Lance Gibson Jr.

King Green tags Jim Miller with a stiff jab. Credit: Zuffa LLC.

Lightweight Bout

King Green: 32-17-1, 11 KO/TKO, 9 Sub.

Lance Gibson Jr.: 9-1-0, 4 KO/TKO, 3 Sub.

Green has won two of his last five fights and has UFC victories over Grant Dawson (23-3-1), Nasrat Haqparast (18-6-0), and Jim Miller (38-19-0). He is an excellent boxer who picks his opponents apart with quick, heavy hands. He’s rarely in a boring fight, always willing to go to the center of the octagon and exchange blows. Green fights with his hands low, remaining unpredictable and never telegraphing his strikes. He fights behind his jab, keeping his strikes sharp and straight while constantly attacking from different angles and varying his targets. Training at Pinnacle MMA, he’s a solid wrestler and averages over one takedown landed per fifteen minutes, but generally looks to keep the fight standing. Green has been fighting professionally since 2008 and has earned various UFC Lightweight records, including the most significant strikes landed (1864), and the most total strikes landed (2091) all time.

Lance Gibson Jr. exchanges blows with Vladimir Tokov. Credit: MMA Fighting.

Gibson has won four of his last five bouts and is making his UFC debut. He’s an aggressive grappler with excellent wrestling skills and solid punching power. He’s constantly moving and feinting when on his feet, throwing every shot with power and blasting his opponent with kicks from range. Gibson will typically shoot for a takedown early on and has solid entries and timing, particularly with his double legs. He’s heavy on top and very aggressive, constantly landing ground and pound shots and looking to posture up. Training at Gibson Kickboxing, he’s efficient in top position, rarely wasting energy or getting sloppy, and has solid scrambles, typically finding himself in the dominant position on the mat. Gibson is always in pursuit of a finish and rarely sees the judges scorecards, with all of his last four fights ending in the first round.

Kennedy Nzechukwu vs. Marcus Buchecha

Kennedy Nzechukwu lands a powerful kick to the body of Chris Barnett. Credit: MMA Junkie.

Heavyweight Bout

Kennedy Nzechukwu: 14-6-0, 10 KO/TKO, 1 Sub.

Marcus Buchecha: 5-2-0, 1 KO/TKO, 4 Sub.

Nzechukwu has won two of his last five outings and holds UFC victories over #3 ranked Light Heavyweight Carlos Ulberg (14-1-0), Chris Barnett (23-10-0), and Ion Cutelaba (19-11-1). He’s a lengthy striker with fast hands and serious power. He has very fluid striking, keeping his head off the centerline and his hands low before unloading long, heavy shots. Nzechukwu varies his shots well, regularly firing heavy body and leg kicks before closing the distance and letting his hands go. He has solid distance management and is constantly pressuring his opponent, forcing them to the outside of the cage and controlling the pace of the fight. Training at War Room MMA, he is exceptionally durable and has proven his ability to survive in deep waters multiple times in the UFC. Nzechukwu heats up as the fight continues, having scored seven of his eleven finish victories after round one.

Marcus Buchecha attempts to secure a kimura on Martin Buday. Credit: MMA Fighting.

Buchecha has won three of his last five fights and is looking for his first UFC victory. He’s a highly accomplished BJJ practitioner, holding a spot in the IBJJF Hall of Fame and various gold medals in high-level competition. He’s not a particularly technical striker but has solid power in his hands and a good chin. Buchecha usually won’t waste much time before attempting a takedown, typically a powerful blast double leg, and will quickly establish a dominant position on the mat. Once the fight hits the mat, he’s very efficient and tough to get away from, rarely wasting energy or losing control of his opponent. Training at American Top Team, he’s always working for a finish in top position and can find submissions with impressive speed, from seemingly any position. Buchecha has proven to be a quick finisher in his brief MMA career, having secured all his victories in 3:30 or less.

Melquizael Costa vs. Morgan Charrière

Melquizael Costa lands a vicious knee on Julian Erosa. Credit: Ag. Fight.

Featherweight Bout

Melquizael Costa: 24-7-0, 7 KO/TKO, 8 Sub.

Morgan Charrière: 21-11-1, 13 KO/TKO, 3 Sub.

Costa has won four of his last five bouts and holds UFC victories coming over Julian Erosa (31-13-0), Shayilan Nuerdanbieke (39-12-0), and Andre Fili (25-12-0). He’s a well-rounded scrapper with impressive power in his hands and excellent grappling. He has an outstanding arsenal of kicks, regularly unloading powerful shots to the head and body from range before blitzing into the pocket to throw power punches. Training at Chute Boxe JE, Costa typically doesn’t absorb much damage, utilizing solid footwork, head movement, and distance management to remain elusive. He’s averaging nearly two takedowns landed and over one submission attempted per fifteen minutes, and is very active on the ground, whether in top or bottom position. He’s constantly looking to improve or posture up and has outstanding sweeps and reversals. Costa is most dangerous early on, with nine of his fifteen finish victories coming in round one.

Morgan Charrière batters Nate Landwehr against the cage. Credit: Bloody Elbow.

Charrière has won three of his last five outings, with UFC victories coming over Nate Landwehr (18-7-0), Manolo Zecchini (11-4-0), and Gabriel Miranda (17-8-0). He’s a well-rounded fighter who’s willing to engage the fight anywhere and is always dangerous. 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, taking minimal damage and always keeping his head off the centerline. He remains calm and technical throughout and won’t get pulled into dogfights, typically forcing his opponents to the outside and picking them apart with precise, clean shots. On the ground, he has great top control and heavy ground and pound, especially his elbows. Charrière has gone five rounds multiple times in his career and has great cardio, often increasing his pace and output as the fight progresses.

César Almeida vs. Cezary Oleksiejczuk

César Almeida stuns Ihor Potieria with a heavy right hand. Credit: MMA Fighting.

Middleweight Bout

César Almeida: 7-1-0, 5 KO/TKO, 0 Sub.

Cezary Oleksiejczuk: 16-3-0, 9 KO/TKO, 2 Sub.

Almeida has won four of his last five fights and has UFC victories over Abdul Razak Alhassan (12-7-0), Dylan Budka (7-5-0), and Ihor Potieria (20-8-0). A former professional kickboxer, he held a record of 47-8-2 with 27 wins by knockout. He’s an outstanding striker, always accurate and technical, throwing every shot purposefully. Almeida varies his shots well, attacking the head, legs, and body while mixing kicks into combinations without telegraphing. Training at Teixeira MMA, he carries his power throughout the fight and has excellent counterstriking and head movement. His best shot is his straight right, and he’s most comfortable controlling the center of the octagon and the pace of the fight. Almeida won’t usually initiate grappling exchanges, but has shown continued improvement on the ground and will land brutal ground and pound if in top position.

Cezary Oleksiejczuk lands a stinging right hand on Theo Haig. Credit: Zuffa LLC.

Oleksiejczuk has won four of his last five bouts and is making his UFC debut. He’s a hard-hitting striker who’s always coming forward, looking to do damage. He fights behind his jab and throws everything with speed and power, but won’t get sloppy and keeps his punches accurate and straight. Oleksiejczuk has excellent distance management and will control the center of the cage, forcing his opponent to the outside and applying constant pressure. Training with the Fighting Nerds, he won’t usually take the fight to the mat, but has excellent takedown defense and is dangerous in top position. He has solid cardio and has gone five rounds multiple times, consistently pushing a heavy pace throughout his fights. Oleksiejczuk has finished his last three outings in the first round and is always in pursuit of a highlight-reel finish.

#15 Giga Chikadze vs. Kevin Vallejos

Giga Chikadze lands a powerful kick to the head of Alex Caceres. Credit: MMA Mania.

Featherweight Bout

Giga Chikadze: 15-5-0, 9 KO/TKO, 1 Sub.

Kevin Vallejos: 16-1-0, 11 KO/TKO, 2 Sub.

Chikadze has won two of his last five outings and has UFC victories over Edson Barboza (24-14-0), Cub Swanson (30-14-0), and Alex Caceres (21-15-0). He’s an excellent kickboxer with heavy hands and devastating body kicks. Training at Kings MMA, Chikadze is a former professional kickboxer with a record of 38-8-0 with 22 knockouts. He’s unlikely to take the fight to the mat but has excellent takedown defense and is strong inside the clinch, able to land significant damage without much space. Holding a third Dan black belt in Goju-ryu karate, he has exceptionally educated feet and never telegraphs his attacks. He’s proven to possess one-shot knockout power in both his hands and kicks, capable of finishing opponents with kicks to the body. He’s outlanded his opponents in all his UFC victories and is capable of throwing both with volume and power.

Kevin Vallejos fires a heavy uppercut at Seung Woo Choi. Credit: MMA Mania.

Vallejos is on a five-fight win streak, holding UFC victories over Seung Woo Choi (11-8-0) and Danny Silva (10-2-0). He’s an outstanding striker with excellent punching power and counterstriking. He throws every shot with knockout intentions, regularly adding low kicks to the end of punch combinations. Vallejos has terrific footwork and distance management, regularly looking to slip punches and return fire. Training at Brothers of Life MMA, he remains technical throughout and won’t telegraph shots, entering the pocket at different angles and opening combinations with different punches. He won’t typically pursue takedowns, but he’s a solid grappler with heavy top control and ground and pound. Vallejos pushes a heavy pace and rarely sees the judges’ scorecards, with eight of his thirteen finish victories coming in the first round.

#2 Brandon Royval vs. #6 Manel Kape

Brandon Royval lands a crushing left hand on Brandon Moreno. Credit: Zuffa LLC.

Flyweight Bout

Brandon Royval: 17-8-0, 4 KO/TKO, 9 Sub.

Manel Kape: 21-7-0, 13 KO/TKO, 5 Sub.

Royval has won three of his last five fights and has UFC victories over #4 ranked Flyweight Brandon Moreno (23-9-2), #3 ranked Flyweight Tatsuro Taira (18-1-0), and Kai Kara-France (25-12-0). He’s a wild brawler who pushes a crazy pace and is dangerous anywhere the fight goes. Training with Mile High Militia, “Raw Dawg” has been awarded six post-fight bonuses in eleven bouts in the promotion and always leaves everything in the cage. Royval is dangerous in any position on the ground, always working to improve and searching for submissions. He throws everything in combination on the feet and is always coming forward, looking to do damage. He’s willing to hang in the pocket and exchange, and has proven to be highly durable with an excellent ability to recover from damage. Royval has set multiple Flyweight records in his five-year UFC tenure, including the most significant strikes attempted in a fight (510), most total strikes both attempted (556) and landed (281) in a fight, and the most head strikes landed in a fight (248).

Manel Kape blasts Asu Almabayev with a right hook. Credit: Bloody Elbow.

Kape has won four of his last five bouts, with UFC victories coming over #7 ranked Flyweight Asu Almabayev (23-3-0), #14 ranked Flyweight Bruno Silva (14-6-2), and Felipe dos Santos (8-3-0). He is a former Rizin Bantamweight champion and is a fantastic, flashy striker. He’s constantly looking to counterstrike, slipping punches and throwing every shot with purpose and deadly accuracy. Kape has excellent distance management, switches stances constantly, and will often blitz in with big shots before returning to range. He has heavy power for a Flyweight and doesn’t telegraph anything, frequently timing his shots when his opponent enters his range. Training at Xtreme Couture, he won’t typically initiate grappling exchanges but has a solid submission game and can be dangerous off his back. Kape takes some time to get going, but once he finds his rhythm, he heats up and lets his hands go.

UFC 323 Preview

Merab Dvalishvili stuns Umar Nurmagomedov with a stiff left hook. Credit: MMA Fighting.

The UFC returns to the T-Mobile Center in Las Vegas, Nevada, with a fantastic pay-per-view card. The final numbered card of 2025 has been stacked from top to bottom with exciting scrappers, excellent matchups, and ranked contenders all looking to earn a performance bonus this Saturday. In the co-main event, we’ll see red-hot volume striker Joshua Van challenge dominant Flyweight champion Alexandre Pantoja for gold. In the main event, we get a long-awaited rematch between the always-dangerous Petr Yan and the marauding Bantamweight champion, Merab Dvalishvili. First, we’ll take a look at a select few preliminary bouts, then break down the full main card.

Prelims

Terrance McKinney vs. Chris Duncan

Terrance McKinney blasts Mike Breeden with a left hand. Credit: Essentially Sports.

Lightweight Bout

Terrance McKinney: 17-7-0, 8 KO/TKO, 9 Sub.

Chris Duncan: 14-2-0, 7 KO/TKO, 3 Sub.

McKinney has won four of his last five fights and has UFC victories over Farés Ziam (17-4-0), Matt Frevola (11-6-1), and Mike Breeden (11-6-0). He’s a wild scrapper who comes out guns blazing, always hunting for a quick finish. He’s always coming forward, pressuring his opponent and firing every shot with knockout intentions. McKinney is just as dangerous on the mat and is highly aggressive in top position, constantly looking to posture up or secure a submission. Training at Fusion X-Cel, he has excellent chokes and can find them with blinding speed, regularly using them to defend takedowns or immediately getting ahold of his opponent's neck when the fight goes to the ground. He has never been to a decision in his professional career, reaching the third round only once in 24 fights. McKinney has already put his name in the UFC Lightweight record books, holding the records for the fastest finish and knockout (0:07) and the shortest average fight time (2:25).

Chris Duncan attempts to secure a guillotine choke on Jordan Vucenic. Credit: MMA Mania.

Duncan has won four of his last five bouts, holding UFC victories over Mateusz Rębecki (20-4-0), Bolaji Oki (10-3-0), and Omar Morales (11-4-0). He’s an exciting brawler with a solid wrestling game and dangerous power in his hands. He’s always coming forward and throwing everything with power, constantly unloading long, straight punches and powerful kicks. Duncan has great footwork and distance management and will regularly batter his opponents with step-in elbows and knees when they enter his striking range. Training at American Top Team, he’s averaging over three takedowns landed per fifteen minutes and has heavy top and clinch control. He’s always dangerous on the ground, especially in top position, but has outstanding submissions and can find them off his back. Duncan is exceptionally durable and heats up as the fight continues, having earned half of his finishes in the second or third round.

#13 Grant Dawson vs. Manuel Torres

Grant Dawson unloads vicious ground and pound onto Rafa Garcia. Credit: MMA Mania.

Lightweight Bout

Grant Dawson: 23-2-1, 5 KO/TKO, 13 Sub.

Manuel Torres: 16-3-0, 8 KO/TKO, 7 Sub.

Dawson has won four of his last five outings and has UFC victories over Jared Gordon (21-8-0), Rafa Garcia (18-4-0), and Diego Ferreira (19-7-0). He is a relentless grappler with a lethal submission game and smothering wrestling skills. In his last five appearances, he’s averaged over ten and a half minutes of control time per fight and is very tough to escape from on the mat. Training at American Top Team, Dawson has fantastic takedowns and is an excellent chain wrestler, often stringing together takedown attempts before securing top position. He’s highly efficient and active on top, constantly improving position, posturing up, or looking for submission openings. He’s a technical striker on the feet but willing to engage, keeping his hands high and his punches straight and tight. Dawson has the highest top position percentage in UFC Lightweight history (62.3%) and has successfully taken down twelve of his thirteen UFC opponents.

Manuel Torres stuns Drew Dober with a heavy right hand. Credit: MMA Mania.

Torres has won four of his last five fights, with UFC victories coming over Drew Dober (28-15-0), Nikolas Motta (15-6-0), and Chris Duncan (14-2-0). He’s an explosive striker with one-shot knockout power. He throws everything with knockout intent and is always coming forward, pressuring his opponent. Training at Alliance Jiu-Jitsu, Torres is always willing to take a shot to land one and will use his offense as his defense, rarely looking to cover up and instead trying to overwhelm his opponent rather than avoid punches. He has outstanding takedowns in the clinch and will immediately try to get a hold of his opponent’s neck if the fight hits the mat. He favors power to volume and will throw every shot with knockout intentions, often with reckless abandon. Torres has only been to a single decision in his pro career, with eighteen of his fights ending in the first round, and has earned a Performance of the Night bonus in all of his UFC wins.

Main Card

#5 Jan Błachowicz vs. #11 Bogdan Guskov

Jan Błachowicz lands a stinging left hook on Alex Pereira. Credit: MMA Mania.

Light Heavyweight Bout

Jan Błachowicz: 29-11-1, 9 KO/TKO, 9 Sub.

Bogdan Guskov: 18-3-0, 15 KO/TKO, 3 Sub.

Błachowicz has won one of his last five bouts with one draw and has wins over #6 ranked Middleweight Israel Adesanya (24-5-0), #10 ranked Light Heavyweight Aleksandar Rakić (14-6-0), and #13 ranked Light Heavyweight Nikita Krylov (30-11-0). He is an excellent kickboxer with serious power in his hands and kicks. He has great footwork and does an excellent job of stalking his opponents and cutting off the cage, always letting his hands go when he enters the pocket. Training with Berkut WCA Fight Team, Błachowicz has one-punch knockout power and does a great job of varying his shots, attacking the head and body evenly. He’s averaging just over one takedown landed per fight and is a capable grappler, holding a black belt in BJJ and excellent wrestling skills. Błachowicz has great cardio and has gone five rounds multiple times in the UFC, making him constantly dangerous.

Bogdan Guskov batters Billy Elekana with punches against the cage. Credit: MMA Junkie.

Guskov has won four of his last five outings, holding UFC victories over #13 ranked Light Heavyweight Nikita Krylov (30-11-0), Billy Elekana (9-2-0), and Ryan Spann (23-11-0). He’s a marauding striker who’s always looking for a knockout. He’s always coming forward and pressuring his opponent, throwing every shot with accuracy and knockout intentions. Training at GOR MMA, Guskov tends to fight with his hands low, remaining unpredictable before bursting into the pocket to unload combinations. He primarily uses his hands to do damage and varies his shots well, regularly landing brutal body shots. He has secured 13 first-round finishes and rarely sees the judges’ scorecards, going to just a single decision in his professional career. Guskov is very durable and willing to brawl, but has good head movement and moves in and out of the pocket very efficiently.

#10 Henry Cejudo vs. Payton Talbott

Henry Cejudo exchanges blows in the pocket with Merab Dvalishvili. Credit: LA Times.

Bantamweight Bout

Henry Cejudo: 16-5-0, 8 KO/TKO, 0 Sub.

Payton Talbott: 10-1-0, 7 KO/TKO, 1 Sub.

Cejudo has won two of his last five fights and has UFC victories over former Bantamweight champions TJ Dillashaw (18-5-0) and Dominick Cruz (24-4-0) and former Flyweight champion Demetrious Johnson (25-4-1). One of the most accomplished athletes in MMA, he’s a former UFC double champion (FLW & BW) and former Olympic gold medalist in freestyle wrestling. Unsurprisingly, he’s an excellent grappler, averaging about two takedowns landed per fifteen minutes and possessing smothering top control. Training at Fight Ready, Cejudo has fantastic takedowns and scrambles, seemingly always finding a way to top position. He uses a karate-like style on the feet, holding a wide stance, constantly moving, and mixing kicks into combinations. All his attacks are lightning-fast, often using his striking to get into the pocket and grapple. Cejudo has excellent takedown defense, having defended 76% of takedowns attempted on him in the UFC, and is very fluid on the ground and in the clinch.

Payton Talbott tags Felipe Lima with a stinging left hand. Credit: Zuffa LLC.

Talbott has won four of his last five bouts, with UFC victories coming over Felipe Lima (14-2-0), Yanis Ghemmouri (13-4-0), and Cameron Saaiman (9-3-0). He is an elusive, slick striker with serious punching power. He’s a lengthy fighter for the division and uses it well, constantly firing long punches and kicks and keeping his opponent on the end of his strikes. Talbott has outstanding footwork and distance management, always cutting off his opponent and controlling the center of the cage. He fights behind his jab and remains technical throughout, keeping his shots straight and sharp without getting sloppy or overextending himself. Training at the Reno Academy of Combat, he won’t usually pursue takedowns but is dangerous in top position and will immediately look to posture up and land heavy ground and pound. Talbott, although young in his UFC career, has already earned two Performance of the Night bonuses and the third fastest knockout in Bantamweight history (0:19).

#2 Brandon Moreno vs. #5 Tatsuro Taira

Brandon Moreno clips Steve Erceg with a stiff left hook. Credit: MMA Mania.

Flyweight Bout

Brandon Moreno: 23-8-2, 5 KO/TKO, 11 Sub.

Tatsuro Taira: 17-1-0, 5 KO/TKO, 8 Sub.

Moreno has won three of his last five outings and has UFC victories over #4 ranked Flyweight Amir Albazi (17-2-0), #6 ranked Bantamweight Deiveson Figueiredo (25-5-1), and #10 ranked Flyweight Steve Erceg (13-4-0). He’s an exceptionally well-rounded fighter with fantastic boxing and outstanding grappling. He has a sharp jab and always fights behind it, using it to set up devastating combinations and batter his opponent when they enter striking range. Moreno is willing to throw down in the pocket but always remains composed and accurate, throwing every shot with intent and purpose. He’s taken down four of his last five opponents and has excellent takedowns and control in top position. He has a dangerous arsenal of submissions and can produce quick finishes on the mat. Moreno has fought for gold in six of his last nine fights and has accumulated the most total fight time in UFC Flyweight history (5:08:28).

Tatsuro Taira looks to secure a rear naked choke on Hyun-Sung Park. Credit: Zuffa LLC.

Taira has won four of his last five fights, holding UFC victories over #11 ranked Flyweight Alex Perez (25-10-0), Édgar Cháirez (12-6-0), and Jesús Aguilar (12-3-0). A dangerous grappler with impressive power, he’s constantly looking to take the fight to the mat and secure a finish. He’s technical and composed on his feet, fighting behind his jab and constantly firing long, straight punches. He has fantastic clinch striking, particularly his knees, and has excellent distance management, regularly catching his opponents with heavy shots as they enter the pocket. Training at The Blackbelt Japan, he has outstanding takedowns and scrambles, almost always ending grappling exchanges in top position. He has smothering top control and is very active on top, always pursuing a submission while landing heavy ground and pound throughout. Taira has earned two post-fight bonuses in his last three outings and always leaves everything inside the cage.

(C) Alexandre Pantoja vs. #1 Joshua Van

Alexandre Pantoja lands a lunging left hand on Kai Kara-France. Credit: Bleacher Report.

Flyweight Title Bout

Alexandre Pantoja: 30-5-0, 8 KO/TKO, 12 Sub.

Joshua Van: 15-2-0, 7 KO/TKO, 2 Sub.

Pantoja is on an eight-fight win streak and has UFC victories over #2 ranked Flyweight Brandon Moreno (23-8-2), #3 ranked Flyweight Brandon Royval (17-8-0), and #6 ranked Flyweight Manel Kape (21-7-0). He’s a fast starter and dangerous everywhere, with serious power in his hands and outstanding grappling skills. He starts every round guns blazing, pressuring his opponent and unloading quick, heavy combinations. Pantoja has powerful kicks and will regularly mix them into his punch combinations, constantly battering his opponent’s legs, body, and head. Training at American Top Team, he has outstanding takedowns, typically landing them quickly before securing a dominant position on the mat. He is extremely tough to get away from on the ground, using smothering top control to wear down his opponents while constantly looking for submissions. Pantoja has firmly established himself as one of the greatest Flyweights of all time and holds various UFC Flyweight records, including the most wins (14), most finishes (8), and most submission wins (6).

Joshua Van blasts Brandon Royval with a powerful left hand. Credit: MMA Junkie.

Van is on a five-fight win streak, holding UFC victories over #3 ranked Flyweight Brandon Royval (17-8-0), #14 ranked Flyweight Bruno Silva (15-7-2), and Rei Tsuruya (10-1-0). He’s a dangerous striker who’s constantly coming forward and letting his hands go. He fights behind his jab and favors volume to power, throwing everything in combination without loading up or telegraphing. Van has outstanding head movement and distance management, regularly looking to dodge punches before unloading combinations. Training at 4oz Fight Club, he does an exceptional job varying his shots, entering the pocket at different angles, and constantly attacking his opponent’s body and legs. He’s willing to grapple, possessing solid takedown defense and landing, on average, about one takedown per fifteen minutes. Van has the highest significant strikes landed per minute in UFC history, with 8.86, and has outlanded seven of his nine UFC opponents.

(C) Merab Dvalishvili vs. #3 Petr Yan

Merab Dvalishvili lands a thunderous left hook on Cory Sandhagen. Credit: MMA Mania.

Bantamweight Title Bout

Merab Dvalishvili: 21-4-0, 3 KO/TKO, 4 Sub.

Petr Yan: 19-5-0, 7 KO/TKO, 1 Sub.

Dvalishvili is on a fourteen-fight win streak and has UFC victories over #1 ranked Bantamweight Umar Nurmagomedov (19-1-0), #2 ranked Bantamweight Sean O’Malley (18-3-0), and his current opponent, Petr Yan. He has monstrous cardio, relentlessly pursuing takedowns and landing big flurries on the feet. He’s incredibly durable, always willing to eat a shot to land one, and is constantly pressuring forward. Dvalishvili can easily wrestle for five rounds, averaging nearly six takedowns landed per fifteen minutes in the UFC. Training with the Serra-Longo Fight Team, his constant wrestling threat helps to mask his striking, often feinting a takedown before coming forward to land powerful hooks and big combinations. He never stops moving on his feet or the ground, constantly looking for a better position or opening to land a shot. Dvalishvili has outlanded all of his UFC opponents, averaging over 87 significant strikes landed in his last five fights.

Petr Yan blasts Song Yadong with a cracking uppercut. Credit: Zuffa LLC.

Yan has won three of his last five bouts, with UFC victories coming over #4 ranked Bantamweight Cory Sandhagen (18-6-0), #5 ranked Bantamweight Song Yadong (22-8-1), and #6 ranked Bantamweight Deiveson Figueiredo (25-5-1). He’s a versatile fighter with excellent striking and wrestling who’s dangerous wherever the fight goes. He’s highly technical and precise on his feet, doing a great job of mixing kicks into combinations and never telegraphing his attacks. Training at BK Arkhangel Mikhail, Yan never slows down, always pursuing a finish and throwing with maximum power and speed. He can push a crazy pace for 25 minutes and has fantastic cardio, landing, on average, about 129 significant strikes in his last five wins. He has excellent takedowns, especially trips, and will look to immediately do damage and land ground and pound from top position. Yan has faced nothing but the best in his UFC tenure and has gone toe-to-toe with five former or current champions.

Best Bets

Brandon Moreno Moneyline: This is an excellent matchup of a quickly rising star and a former champion. Both have well-rounded skill sets, but excel in different areas. Moreno has outstanding grappling and submissions, but is at his best on his feet, utilizing his excellent, technical boxing skills. Taira has proven to have solid punching power and technique, but is most comfortable on the mat hunting for a submission. Although both are comfortable anywhere and match up well, I believe the disparity in striking skills will be the most significant difference. Moreno’s hands seem to only get more and more polished with each fight, and he has now repeatedly proven his ability to knock off young contenders, with back-to-back wins over Amir Albazi and Steve Erceg. Moreno also has a wealth of experience, not just in five-round title fights but across the board, having faced a who’s who of the Flyweight division. Taira is still very young, and while he has a ton of potential, he’s never faced a fighter of Moreno's caliber who can truly fight anywhere. I expect this fight to get off to a quick start, with Moreno getting the better of the striking exchanges, forcing Taira onto the back foot and preventing him from shooting takedowns or clinching up. As the fight continues, I expect Moreno's pace to wear Taira down, slowing him and forcing him to shoot less, which will cause him to engage with Moreno on the feet, where Moreno is most dangerous. Neither of these men has ever been put away, so while I wouldn’t anticipate a crazy highlight-reel finish, I do expect an entertaining fight in which Moreno emerges the victor.

Alexandre Pantoja Moneyline: Possibly one of the most anticipated title fights of the year, I’ve been looking forward to this one. Both of these fighters have consistently put on excellent, exciting fights, and are sure to have an all-time classic this Saturday. Both are fan favorites, but aren’t remarkably similar in style. Pantoja is a true mixed martial artist, possessing exceptional, powerful striking and top-notch wrestling and BJJ. Van is much more of a striking specialist, but unloads a volume of strikes rarely seen outside of a Max Holloway fight and has quickly become a must-watch fighter. Similar to the Moreno vs. Taira fight, Van is still very young. Although he’s coming off a massive win (and fight of the year) over Brandon Royval, Pantoja is a different monster altogether. I believe the difference-maker in this matchup will be Pantoja's grappling. I anticipate some contested striking exchanges early on, but as the fight continues and the pace slows, I expect Pantoja to start shooting takedowns and bringing the fight to the mat. Once it gets there, I believe Van will be entirely outmatched and controlled, with Pantoja landing ground and pound and threatening with submissions. When this fight reaches the championship rounds, I expect Pantoja to be in firm control and the fresher man, able to dictate the pace of the striking exchanges and prevent Van from throwing with his usual volume. Ultimately, I expect plenty of competitive moments and exchanges, but I believe Pantoja will defend the title decisively.

Merab Dvalishvili by Decision: An intriguing rematch of two top-level Bantamweights, this one is sure to deliver. Now over two years removed from their first meeting, they will meet again, with gold on the line. At the time of their first matchup, they were both in very different spots in their careers; Yan was in the midst of his first-ever losing streak and two fights removed from losing the title. Dvalishvili was still only a contender on his way up to the belt, albeit on an impressive win streak. Now, Dvalishvili is a dominant champion with three successful defenses, and Yan is riding a three-fight win streak against top-ranked opponents. Although much has changed since the first time these two went toe-to-toe, neither fighter’s style has changed significantly. Dvalishvili is still a cardio monster and marauding wrestler, and Yan is still a sharp striker with serious power and excellent grappling. While both are still at the top of their game, I still believe Dvalishvili is the better, more put-together fighter. The pace and pressure Dvalishvili applies have consistently proven insurmountable, as he seems to drown his opponents in a sea of takedowns and punch combinations. Despite his recent victories, I haven’t seen anything in Yan’s performances to suggest this fight will go any differently than the first. I expect Dvalishvili to push a heavy pace from the opening bell, constantly coming forward and forcing Yan to engage with him, both on their feet and on the ground. As the fight continues, I expect Dvalishvili to keep pouring on takedowns and damage, wearing down Yan and preventing him from fighting at range and using his dangerous kickboxing. While I do expect this fight to be more closely contested than their first meeting, I still expect it to end in an identical outcome and for Dvalishvili to earn his fourth title defense of 2025.

UFC Fight Night: Tsarukyan vs. Hooker Preview

Arman Tsarukyan unloads a vicious ground and pound elbow onto Charles Oliveira. Credit: MMA Junkie.

The UFC heads to the ABHA Arena in Doha, Qatar, with an outstanding Fight Night card. The entire card has been filled from top to bottom with excellent matchups, exciting fighters, and future contenders all looking for a highlight-reel victory. In the co-main event, we’ll see two highly-ranked Welterweights face off when former champion Belal Muhammad takes on a dangerous scrapper in Ian Machado Garry. In the main event, two excellent Lightweight contenders will go toe-to-toe when #1 contender Arman Tsarukyan faces off with the marauding brawler, Dan Hooker. Let’s take a look at the fights on the main card.

#11 Tagir Ulanbekov vs. Kyoji Horiguchi

Tagir Ulanbekov picks up Clayton Carpenter for a slam takedown. Credit: MMA Fighting.

Flyweight Bout

Tagir Ulanbekov: 17-2-0, 1 KO/TKO, 8 Sub.

Kyoji Horiguchi: 34-5-0, 15 KO/TKO, 5 Sub.

Ulanbekov has won four of his last five fights and has UFC victories over #13 ranked Flyweight Bruno Silva (15-7-2), Azam Maksum (15-3-0), and Allan Nascimento (22-6-0). He’s a well-rounded fighter with powerful, technical striking and an excellent grappling game. He’s large for a Flyweight and uses it well, constantly damaging his opponents with long straights and kicks and catching them as they enter his range. Ulanbekov throws everything with power but remains technical throughout, staying patient and looking for openings to explode forward and land big shots. He’s averaging nearly 3 takedowns landed per fifteen minutes and is efficient on top, maintaining control and constantly posturing up to land ground and pound. Training at Eagles MMA, he’s particularly strong in the clinch and will often land impressive slam takedowns up against the cage. Ulanbekov gets increasingly dangerous as the fight continues and has secured five of his eight finish wins after round one.

Kyoji Horiguchi unloads ground and pound shots onto Kai Asakura. Credit: Rizin FF.

Horiguchi has won four of his last five bouts, with one no contest, and is returning to the UFC after nearly a decade fighting in Rizin and Bellator. He’s a wild fighter with devastating power in his hands and outstanding skills on the mat. He’s a second-degree black belt in Shotokan Karate and throws every shot with knockout intentions, favoring power to volume and adding heavy kicks to the end of combinations. Horiguchi is very explosive and will constantly look to crash into the pocket and unload big hooks and overhands. He has excellent chain wrestling, regularly putting multiple takedown attempts together to secure a dominant position on the ground. Training at American Top Team, he’s dangerous in top position and has heavy ground and pound, but is just as dangerous off his back, constantly looking to sweep his opponent or grab a submission. Horiguchi has earned belts in Rizin, Bellator, and Shooto, and has faced exclusively high-level competition since leaving the UFC in 2016.

#6 Waldo Cortes-Acosta vs. #11 Shamil Gaziev

Waldo Cortes-Acosta clips Sergei Pavlovich with a stinging right hook. Credit: Yahoo Sports.

Heavyweight Bout

Waldo Cortes-Acosta: 15-2-0, 7 KO/TKO, 1 Sub.

Shamil Gaziev: 14-1-0, 9 KO/TKO, 3 Sub.

Acosta has won four of his last five outings and holds UFC victories over #7 ranked Heavyweight Serghei Spivac (17-6-0), #9 ranked Heavyweight Ante Delija (26-7-0), and Andrei Arlovski (34-24-0). He is a heavy-handed striker with excellent boxing and a dangerous right hand. He throws every shot with power, regularly coming forward to unload looping hooks and devastating overhands. Training at UKF Gym, Acosta is most at home in a brawl, working inside the pocket and firing knees and elbows in the clinch. He tends to favor power to volume, unloading single shots with knockout intentions. While he won’t usually initiate grappling exchanges, he has demonstrated a solid ability to return to his feet. Acosta is defensively sound and won’t usually absorb much damage, having outlanded seven of his ten UFC opponents.

Shamil Gaziev blasts Thomas Petersen with a heavy right hook. Credit: MMA Fighting.

Gaziev has won four of his last five fights, holding UFC victories over Don’Tale Mayes (11-9-0), Martin Buday (16-2-0), and Thomas Petersen (10-4-0). He’s a dangerous power-puncher who can produce a flash knockout at any time. He fights behind his jab and has impressive hand speed for a Heavyweight, able to piece up his opponent with quick, heavy flurries. He throws everything with knockout intentions but won’t load up and keeps his hands low, always remaining unpredictable. Training with the KHK MMA Team, Gaziev does most of his work with his hands but has heavy kicks and will occasionally add them to the end of combinations. He has excellent takedowns in open space and along the fence, and he can perform impressive slams. He’s smart in top position, staying heavy and not getting wild while constantly looking to posture up and land ground and pound. Gaziev tends to slow as the fight progresses, but he is very dangerous early on and has earned 9 first-round finishes, five of which came in under a minute.

Jack Hermansson vs. Myktybek Orolbai

Jack Hermansson batters Edmen Shahbazyan with brutal ground and pound. Credit: MMA Fighting.

Welterweight Bout

Jack Hermansson: 24-9-0, 11 KO/TKO, 6 Sub.

Myktybek Orolbai: 14-2-1, 6 KO/TKO, 6 Sub.

Hermansson has won two of his last five bouts and holds UFC victories over Joe Pyfer (15-3-0), Chris Curtis (32-12-0), and Kelvin Gastellum (21-10-0). Training at Frontline Academy, he is a well-rounded fighter with solid striking and an outstanding submission game. He’s a sharp, accurate striker, fighting behind his jab and constantly feinting while remaining in perpetual motion. He’ll constantly fire kicks from range before entering the pocket, often firing low kicks and body kicks before firing punch combinations. Hermansson heats up as the fight continues and has excellent cardio, able to go five rounds comfortably. He has solid takedowns and excellent top control but is comfortable on his feet and won’t try to force the fight to the mat. Hermansson has been in the UFC since 2016 and holds a few records in the Middleweight division, including the most significant body strikes landed in a fight (64) and the most total strikes attempted in a fight (496).

Myktybek Orolbai elevates Tofiq Musayev for a devastating slam takedown. Credit: MMA Mania.

Orolbai has won four of his last five outings, with UFC victories coming over Elves Brener (16-5-0), Uroš Medić (10-3-0), and Tofiq Musayev (22-6-0). A well-rounded scrapper, he’s always coming forward and looking to do damage. He’s landing, on average, nearly six takedowns per fifteen minutes in the UFC and is a tenacious grappler, willing to work to get the fight to the mat. Orolbai always comes forward, usually unloading long, lunging punches while mixing takedowns into his striking. Training with Team Alpha Male, he’s exceptionally durable, always willing to eat a shot to land one, and pushes a heavy pace at all times. He has smothering top control and is always active in top position, constantly looking to posture or improve position. Orolbai has secured four of his last five finishes after round one, typically wearing down his opponent throughout the fight until securing a finish.

#9 Volkan Oezdemir vs. #14 Alonzo Menifield

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

Light Heavyweight Bout

Volkan Oezdemir: 20-8-0, 13 KO/TKO, 2 Sub.

Alonzo Menifield: 17-5-1, 10 KO/TKO, 3 Sub.

Oezdemir has won three of his last five fights and holds victories over #10 ranked Light Heavyweight Aleksander Rakić (14-6-0), #12 ranked Light Heavyweight Johnny Walker (22-9-0), and Bogdan Guskov (18-3-0). He’s a dangerous striker with serious power that pushes a heavy pace from the opening bell. He controls the center well and gets on his front foot immediately, forcing his opponent to the outside of the cage. Oezdemir is always looking to close the distance, often firing thudding leg kicks before lunging into the pocket to unload looping hooks and straights. Training at Allstars Training Center, he’s willing to get wild and exchange in the pocket, but remains accurate and will regularly mix up his targets and attack the body. He will occasionally pursue takedowns and is very dangerous in top position, constantly looking to posture up and do damage or get a hold of his opponent’s neck. Oezdemir has earned the nickname “No Time,” having secured fourteen of his fifteen finishes in the first round.

Alonzo Menifield lands a thunderous left hand on Julius Walker. Credit: Zuffa LLC.

Menifield has won three of his last five bouts, holding UFC victories over Oumar Sy (12-1-0), Dustin Jacoby (21-9-1), and Jimmy Crute (14-4-2). He is an explosive striker with serious power in both hands and constantly pursues a finish. He will regularly enter the pocket to fire looping shots and overhands and can do serious damage from any position. Menifield has excellent leg kicks and can land damage even when moving backward, remaining dangerous at all times. Training at Fortis MMA, he’s unlikely to initiate grappling exchanges but will immediately posture up and land devastating ground and pound if he secures top position. Of his thirteen finishes, he’s scored ten in the first round and always comes out guns blazing. Menifield is at his most dangerous early on, often fading as the fight continues, and has never scored a third-round finish.

#2 Belal Muhammad vs. #6 Ian Machado Garry

Belal Muhammad ties up Leon Edwards as he pursues a choke. Credit: Zuffa LLC.

Welterweight Bout

Belal Muhammad: 24-4-0, 5 KO/TKO, 1 Sub.

Ian Machado Garry: 16-1-0, 7 KO/TKO, 1 Sub.

Muhammad has won four of his last five outings and has UFC victories over #7 ranked Welterweight Sean Brady (18-2-0), #9 ranked Welterweight Leon Edwards (22-6-0), and #12 ranked Welterweight Gilbert Burns (22-9-0). Primarily a wrestler, he prefers to take the fight to the mat, using blast double-leg takedowns to drag his opponents to the floor and do damage. He has heavy top pressure, advances position quickly, and never puts himself in dangerous spots. On the feet, Muhammad uses a heavy-handed boxing style, remaining technical and throwing in combination, often using his striking to set up his grappling. Training at Valle Flow Striking, he’s landing, on average, about 94 significant strikes per fight in his last five outings and pushes a consistently heavy pace throughout. He’s exceptionally defensively sound, having defended 90% of takedowns and 55% of significant strikes attempted on him in the UFC. Muhammad has outlanded seven of his last ten opponents and is always looking to wear down and outpace his foe.

Ian Machado Garry stuns Carlos Prates with a sharp left hand. Credit: Home of Fight.

Garry has won four of his last five fights, with UFC wins coming over #5 ranked Welterweight Carlos Prates (23-7-0), #10 ranked Middleweight Michael Page (24-3-0), and #14 ranked Welterweight Geoff Neal (16-7-0). 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, throwing everything with speed and power but stays composed and rarely wastes energy. Garry has excellent distance management and does a great job controlling range, quickly darting in and out of the pocket and not allowing his opponents to get long combinations off. He does a fantastic job of varying his strikes and angles, remaining unpredictable and elusive throughout. Training at Chute Boxe DL, he holds a black belt in Judo and is willing to grapple, regularly mixing in takedowns and clinches to wear down his opponent and control the pace. Garry benefits from a slower, more technical fight, not looking to be pulled into a knockdown, drag-out brawl.

#1 Arman Tsarukyan vs. #6 Dan Hooker

Arman Tsarukyan blasts Beneil Dariush with a thudding right hand. Credit: MMA Fighting.

Lightweight Bout

Arman Tsarukyan: 22-3-0, 9 KO/TKO, 5 Sub.

Dan Hooker: 24-12-0, 11 KO/TKO, 7 Sub.

Tsarukyan has won four of his last five bouts and has UFC victories over #2 ranked Lightweight Charles Oliveira (36-11-0), #12 ranked Lightweight Beneil Dariush (23-7-1), and Joaquim Silva (14-6-0). A well-rounded combatant, he has serious punching power and outstanding, smothering wrestling. He has fast hands and throws everything in combination, regularly mixing heavy body and head kicks into his offense. Training at American Top Team, Tsarukyan has a solid chin and a flashy arsenal of kicks, often firing spinning attacks or even axe kicks. He is a dominant grappler and has excellent timing and entries on his takedowns, usually getting to his opponents’ hips with impressive speed before securing a powerful takedown. He’s very efficient in top position, maintaining control and not allowing his opponent up while constantly landing brutal ground and pound shots, especially elbows. Tsarukyan, on average, lands twice as many significant strikes per minute as he absorbs and is always dangerous.

Dan Hooker cracks Mateusz Gamrot with a stiff right hook. Credit: MMA Fighting.

Hooker has won three of his last five outings, holding UFC victories over #7 ranked Lightweight Mateusz Gamrot (25-4-0), #12 ranked Welterweight Gilbert Burns (22-9-0), and Jalin Turner (14-9-0). He’s a savage striker who’s always coming forward and looking to turn things into a dogfight. He has solid head movement and counterstriking but is always willing to eat a shot to land one, regularly marching through his opponent’s offense to do damage of his own. Hooker is a devastating clinch striker, possessing some of the most brutal knees in the UFC and great dirty boxing. Training at City Kickboxing, he does a great job of mixing up his attacks and regularly lands brutal body shots. He has solid takedown defense and outstanding submissions, often defending takedowns with his guillotine choke. Hooker pushes a heavy pace and will never back down, always leaving everything inside the cage.

Best Bets

Myktybek Orolbai Moneyline: This is an intriguing matchup of two exciting scrappers that I’ve been looking forward to. Both of these fighters have well-rounded skill sets and are dangerous from anywhere, and they are very rarely in boring fights. Hermansson is a true veteran of the UFC, having faced a who’s who of the Middleweight division, and is venturing down to Welterweight to take on Orolbai. Orolbai has had just four fights in the UFC but has quickly risen to popularity thanks to his incredible durability and willingness to brawl. These fighters had very different outcomes in their last appearances: Hermansson suffered a vicious knockout loss, while Orolbai scored an impressive first-round submission victory. They’re obviously at different places in their career, and after five years of trading wins and losses, I’m not anticipating Hermansson suddenly having a career revival down a weight class. Orolbai pushes a ferocious pace, and I expect him to get on the gas early, controlling the center and forcing Hermansson to the outside before eventually taking him down. Once Orolbai secures top position, I expect him to batter Hermansson on the mat and wear him out with nonstop offense. Although Hermansson is coming off a very quick knockout loss, it was against one of the hardest hitters in the Middleweight division, and he’s generally a tough guy to finish, so I wouldn’t expect a quick win here for Orolbai. Regardless, I expect him to do serious damage and dominate Hermansson en route to another impressive victory.

Volkan Oezdemir by KO/TKO: This is an excellent fight between two dangerous, ranked Light Heavyweights. Both of these fighters have a wealth of UFC experience and are looking for a big win to solidify their position in the top 15. While both of these fighters are powerful strikers with plenty of finishes on their record, I don’t believe they’re at the same skill level. Menifield, while technically skilled, tends to rely on his size and power, and won’t usually look to grapple. Oezdemir has a much more well-rounded skill set and a more polished striking style, willing to bring the fight to the mat or engage in a technical striking duel. Oezdemir is known for his knockout power and is always looking for a quick finish, but he has the ability and cardio to go all three rounds and has more than one path to victory. Menifield has also struggled throughout his career against top-level talent, especially strikers, and Oezdemir has been fighting at the top of the Light Heavyweight division for the past 7 years. I expect Oezdemir to be a bit more measured and technical in this fight, avoiding a wild brawl and not giving Menifield an opportunity to land power shots. I anticipate Oezdemir using his kicking game to damage and slow Menifield, limiting Menifield’s weapons and explosiveness while remaining elusive and avoiding the pocket. As the fight continues, I believe Menifield will get increasingly desperate and open more opportunities for Oezdemir’s offense, and Oezdemir will ultimately find the finishing blow and put himself back into the win column.

Tsarukyan vs. Hooker Over 3.5 Rounds: This is an outstanding fight between two top contenders, either of whom could be fighting for a title soon with a landmark victory this Saturday. Both are highly dangerous, for varying reasons. Tsarukyan is an excellent grappler with big-time punching power to supplement his wrestling skills. Hooker is a marauder, always coming forward to do damage and make the fight dirty. While both of these fighters have serious finishing abilities, this is an enormous matchup for either, and I wouldn't anticipate either throwing caution to the wind early in this fight. Although both have come close, neither has contested a title and could earn a shot this Saturday, so I expect them both to have very measured game plans. I wouldn't predict a boring fight, but I do expect an early feeling-out process before either man starts taking serious risks. As the fight continues, I expect more close exchanges and for both fighters to go for the finish. While I'm unsure of how exactly this fight ends, I'm confident that it will last at least three and a half rounds before it does.

UFC 322 Preview

Islam Makhachev submits Renato Moicano with a vicious d’arce choke. Credit: Zuffa LLC.

The UFC heads to Madison Square Garden in New York City with an absolutely stacked pay-per-view card. This entire event is loaded from top to bottom with high-level matchups, ranked contenders, and titleholders all looking to earn a victory on the biggest stage in the sport. In the co-main event, we’ll witness two of the greatest female fighters of all-time go toe-to-toe for the women’s Flyweight title when Valentina Shevchenko takes on Zhang Weili. In the main event, former dominant Lightweight champion Islam Makhachev moves up to the Welterweight division to challenge current champion and lethal striker Jack Della Maddalena. First, we’ll take a look at two select preliminary bouts, then break down the full main card.

Prelims

Roman Kopylov vs. Gregory Rodrigues

Roman Kopylov lands a devastating kick to the head of Claudio Ribeiro. Credit: Yahoo Sports.

Middleweight Bout

Roman Kopylov: 14-4-0, 12 KO/TKO, 0 Sub.

Gregory Rodrigues: 17-6-0, 11 KO/TKO, 3 Sub.

Kopylov has won three of his last five fights and holds UFC victories over Chris Curtis (32-12-0), César Almeida (7-1-0), and Punahele Soriano (12-4-0). He’s a sniper on his feet, using precision and power to dismantle his opponents. He has solid distance management and fights behind his jab, constantly pumping it out and tagging his opponent when they enter the pocket. Kopylov does an excellent job of varying his shots, constantly damaging his opponent’s legs, body, and head without telegraphing or loading up. He’s highly durable and has never been knocked out, always willing to eat a shot to land one and exchange blows on the inside. Training with Raty Team, he will occasionally mix takedowns into his striking offense and land devastating ground and pound from top position. Kopylov carries his power and speed throughout the fight and has secured all of his UFC finishes in the second or third round.

Gregory Rodrigues clips Brad Tavares with a heavy right hand. Credit: MMA Fighting.

Rodrigues has won four of his last five bouts, holding UFC victories over Jack Hermansson (24-9-0), Christian Leroy Duncan (13-2-0), and Brad Tavares (21-12-0). He is a world-class grappler with serious knockout power. He’s always coming forward and constantly looking to blitz into the pocket so he can unload heavy combinations. Training at Kill Cliff FC, Rodrigues has one-shot knockout power and throws everything with power, regularly unloading massive hooks and overhands, especially with his right hand. He’s comfortable on his feet and in a brawl, but has outstanding grappling skills and various accolades in BJJ and wrestling. He has smothering top pressure and is smart on top, working methodically and looking for openings to damage or find submissions. Rodrigues has earned back-to-back bonuses in his last two fights and will never back down from a scrap.

Bo Nickal vs. Rodolfo Vieira

Bo Nickal submits Cody Brundage with a tight rear naked choke. Credit: Zuffa LLC.

Middleweight Bout

Bo Nickal: 7-1-0, 2 KO/TKO, 4 Sub.

Rodolfo Vieira: 11-3-0, 1 KO/TKO, 9 Sub.

Nickal has won four of his last five outings and has UFC victories over Paul Craig (17-10-1), Val Woodburn (9-2-0), and Cody Brundage (11-7-1). He is a former three-time NCAA D1 collegiate wrestling champion with excellent submissions and solid punching power. Despite his grappling skills, he’s comfortable on his feet and won’t get desperate for takedowns. Nickal favors power to volume in his striking, throwing everything with power and often lunging forward with big, heavy overhands. He has outstanding takedowns and often lands them with little resistance, then immediately works to improve his position or find a finish. Training at American Top Team, he advances with impressive speed on the ground but is efficient, not wasting energy or getting sloppy and losing his position. Nickal has earned four professional wins in a minute or less and is always pursuing a quick finish.

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

Vieira has won three of his last five fights, with UFC victories coming over Cody Brundage (11-7-1), Dustin Stoltzfus (16-8-0), and Armen Petrosyan (9-5-0). He is among the most credentialed Jiu-Jitsu players in MMA and has won gold medals in various high-level BJJ competitions. He’s averaging over three takedowns landed per fifteen minutes and has excellent timing, usually landing them quickly but willing to shoot repeatedly to bring the fight to the mat. Over his UFC tenure, he’s improved his striking considerably and is much more willing to stay standing. He has decent power in his hands and fights behind his jab, constantly putting it out and following it with heavy straights and hooks. Training with the Fighting Nerds, he has excellent top control and will constantly work and improve in top position. Vieira is a submission ace with outstanding chokes, especially his arm triangle choke, with which he has secured five victories in his pro career.

Main Card

#9 Beneil Dariush vs. #13 Benoît Saint Denis

Beneil Dariush fires a heavy kick at Renato Moicano. Credit: MMA Mania.

Lightweight Bout

Beneil Dariush: 23-6-1, 5 KO/TKO, 8 Sub.

Benoît Saint Denis: 15-3-0, 4 KO/TKO, 11 Sub.

Dariush has won three of his last five bouts and has UFC victories over #7 ranked Lightweight Mateusz Gamrot (25-4-0), #11 ranked Lightweight Renato Moicano (20-7-1), and Drew Dober (28-15-0). He’s a well-rounded scrapper with a black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and excellent Muay Thai. He is more than willing to brawl on the feet, regularly getting into slugfests and hanging in the pocket, unleashing powerful shots. Training at Kings MMA, Dariush has a solid arsenal of kicks and can do serious damage without much space, particularly with his knees. He’s landing, on average, about two takedowns per fifteen minutes and has excellent wrestling and top control. He’s patient in top position, always choosing position over submission and never putting himself in bad spots. In his 17 UFC victories, he’s secured eight finishes and five post-fight bonuses, always leaving everything inside the Octagon.

Benoît Saint Denis blasts Kyle Prepolec with a thudding elbow. Credit: MMA Mania.

Saint Denis has won three of his last five outings, holding UFC victories over #15 ranked Lightweight Mauricio Ruffy (12-2-0), Ismael Bonfim (20-6-0), and Thiago Moisés (19-9-0). A versatile combatant, he has powerful striking and outstanding grappling skills. A decorated veteran and former French SAS paratrooper, he’s incredibly tough and capable of enduring impressive damage. He throws everything with fight-ending intentions and is always in pursuit of a finish. Saint Denis is an excellent grappler with plenty of experience, holding a black belt in Judo and a brown Belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. Training at CYFIT, he has great takedowns and heavy top control, constantly looking to posture up in top position and do damage or secure a submission. Saint Denis always pushes a heavy pace and has only left the second round a single time in his UFC tenure.

#4 Leon Edwards vs. #9 Carlos Prates

Leon Edwards knocks out Kamaru Usman with a powerful head kick. Credit: Zuffa LLC.

Welterweight Bout

Leon Edwards: 22-5-0, 7 KO/TKO, 3 Sub.

Carlos Prates: 22-7-0, 17 KO/TKO, 3 Sub.

Edwards has won three of his last five fights and has UFC victories over #5 ranked Welterweight Kamaru Usman (21-4-0), #11 ranked Welterweight Colby Covington (17-5-0), and Rafael Dos Anjos (32-17-0). He is a very polished striker with an outstanding kicking game and sharp boxing. He has excellent footwork and distance management, always looking to force his opponent to the outside and put them on their back foot. Edwards has excellent takedown defense and is most comfortable on his feet, but is solid on the mat and 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 at Renegade MMA, he’s highly accurate and remains technical throughout, constantly varying his attacks and targets and rarely telegraphing anything. Edwards has great cardio and can comfortably fight for 25 minutes, but also holds the sixth fastest knockout in UFC history and is dangerous at all times.

Carlos Prates clips Neil Magny with a stiff right hook. Credit: MMA Fighting.

Prates has won four of his last five outings, with UFC victories coming over #13 ranked Welterweight Geoff Neal (16-7-0), Neil Magny (31-14-0), and Charles Radtke (11-5-0). He’s a destructive, technical striker with serious power in his hands. He favors power to volume but is highly accurate, throwing every shot with fight-ending intent. Prates does an excellent job varying his targets and angles and is a very fluid striker, regularly mixing knees and kicks into punch combinations. Training with the Fighting Nerds, he keeps his hands down, remaining unpredictable throughout the fight and firing vicious spinning attacks without telegraphing them. He’s unlikely to take the fight to the mat but has solid takedown defense, capable of defending shots both in open space and against the cage. Prates has exceptional knockout power and rarely sees the judges' scorecards, having won 11 of his last 12 fights by knockout.

#2 Sean Brady vs. #8 Michael Morales

Sean Brady taps out Leon Edwards with a tight guillotine choke. Credit: Bloody Elbow.

Welterweight Bout

Sean Brady: 18-1-0, 3 KO/TKO, 6 Sub.

Michael Morales: 18-0-0, 13 KO/TKO, 1 Sub.

Brady has won four of his last five outings and has UFC victories over #4 ranked Welterweight Leon Edwards (22-5-0), #12 ranked Welterweight Gilbert Burns (22-9-0), and Kelvin Gastelum (21-10-0). He is an outstanding grappler and submission ace with excellent Muay Thai striking. Training at Renzo Gracie Philly, he methodically and efficiently breaks down his opponents, constantly making them defend submissions and absorb damage until he can secure a finish. He has outstanding takedowns and timing and can land takedowns in open space or in the clinch, with excellent double legs and trips. Brady has smothering top control, especially on the back, and will take his opponent’s back with blinding speed. He has fast, accurate hands and heavy kicks, regularly mixing them into his combinations. Brady becomes more dangerous as the fight goes on and earned four of his last five finishes in the third round or later.

Michael Morales rains down brutal ground and pound onto Gilbert Burns. Credit: MMA Mania.

Morales comes into this fight undefeated, holding UFC victories over #12 ranked Welterweight Gilbert Burns (22-9-0), Jake Matthews (22-8-0), and Max Griffin (20-12-0). He’s a heavy-hitting, precise kickboxer who can produce a finish in the blink of an eye. He’s big for a Welterweight and uses it well, fighting his opponent at range and landing long straights and low kicks before closing the distance and unloading combinations. Morales has excellent distance management, moving in and out of the pocket without taking much damage, and can do damage from anywhere. Training at Entram Gym, he’s a solid grappler and won’t usually pursue takedowns, but is dangerous in top position and will land vicious ground and pound. Morales rarely absorbs much damage and has outlanded all the opponents he’s faced in his UFC tenure.

(C) Valentina Shevchenko vs. #1 (SW) Zhang Weili

Valentina Shevchenko fires a kick to the head of Alexa Grasso. Credit: MMA Mania.

Women’s Flyweight Title Bout

Valentina Shevchenko: 25-4-1, 8 KO/TKO, 7 Sub.

Zhang Weili: 26-3-0, 11 KO/TKO, 8 Sub.

Shevchenko has won three of her last five fights with one draw and has UFC victories over #1 ranked Flyweight Manon Fiorot (13-2-0), #3 ranked Flyweight Alexa Grasso (16-5-1), and #1 ranked Bantamweight Julianna Peña (13-6-0). She holds black belts in Taekwondo and Judo and the rank of Master of Sports in Taekwondo, Judo, Muay Thai, Kickboxing, and Boxing. One of the best strikers in the sport, she throws everything in combination with lethal power and serious speed. Training at Tiger Muay Thai, Shevchenko does a great job of varying her shots and remains unpredictable, constantly attacking the head, body, and legs without any tell. She’s landed, on average, over four takedowns per fight in her last five appearances and has excellent top control, ground and pound, and submissions. She has outstanding footwork and distance management, moving in and out of the pocket with impressive speed and rarely taking significant damage. One of the most prolific champions in UFC history, she has the most fight time, title victories, takedowns landed, and knockout wins in the Women’s Flyweight division, among many other accolades and records.

Zhang Weili lands a thunderous right hand on Tatiana Suarez. Credit: MMA Fighting.

Zhang is on a five-fight win streak and has UFC victories over #2 ranked Strawweight Tatiana Suarez (12-1-0), #4 ranked Strawweight Yan Xiaonan (19-5-0), and #5 ranked Strawweight Amanda Lemos (15-5-1). She’s a marauder who pushes a heavy pace and can finish a fight from anywhere, at any time. She throws every shot with power, is highly accurate, and will regularly add heavy kicks to the end of her punch combinations. Training at Beijing Black Tiger, she’s very light on her feet and can close distance with impressive speed, quickly darting into the pocket to let her hands go before returning to range. She’s averaging over 2 takedowns landed per 15 minutes and is extremely active in top position, constantly firing ground and pound and looking for submission openings. She has smothering, heavy top pressure, rarely conceding a position, and often using her superior strength to reverse or sweep her opponent. Of Zhang’s twelve UFC appearances, eight of them have been for titles, and she’s exclusively faced the best of the best since entering the promotion.

(C) Jack Della Maddalena vs. #1 (LW) Islam Makhachev

Islam Makhachev looks to unload ground and pound after dropping Alexander Volkanovski. Credit: Zuffa LLC.

Welterweight Title Bout

Jack Della Maddalena: 18-2-0, 12 KO/TKO, 2 Sub.

Islam Makhachev: 27-1-0, 5 KO/TKO, 13 Sub.

Maddalena is on an eighteen-fight win streak and has UFC victories over #1 ranked Welterweight Belal Muhammad (24-4-0),  #8 ranked Welterweight Gilbert Burns (22-9-0), and Kevin Holland (28-15-0). He is an excellent striker with technical boxing and bricks for hands who carries power going forward and backward. He’s outlanded seven of his eight UFC opponents and always pushes a heavy pace, averaging 89 significant strikes landed in his last five outings. Maddalena throws everything in combination, excels at changing levels, attacks the head and body evenly, and regularly mixes body kicks and knees into punch combinations. He is an excellent counterstriker, utilizing outstanding head movement and footwork to remain elusive while landing offense of his own. Training at Scrappy MMA, he fights behind his jab and often strings together long, powerful combinations, cracking his opponent with seven or eight shots before returning to range. While Maddalena won’t usually go to the ground, he’s shown great scrambles, takedown defense, and an ability to escape deep waters.

Jack Della Maddalena blasts Belal Muhammad with a stinging right hand. Credit: MMA Fighting.

Makhachev is on a fifteen-fight win streak and has UFC victories over Featherweight champion Alex Volkanovski (27-4-0), #2 ranked Lightweight Arman Tsarukyan (22-3-0), and #3 ranked Lightweight Charles Oliveira (36-11-0). He is a dominant wrestler who wastes little time taking it to the mat and pursuing a finish. Training at AKA, he’s dangerous on the mat but willing to stay on his feet and let his hands go. Makhachev has serious knockout power, educated hands, and an excellent chin, always willing to hang in the pocket and exchange. He averages over three takedowns landed per fifteen minutes and applies smothering top pressure, controlling his opponent while constantly hunting for a submission. He rarely sees the judges’ scorecards, having scored finishes in eight of his last nine wins. Makhachev holds various records in the Lightweight division, including the longest win streak, most title wins, most title defenses, and the most consecutive title defenses.

Best Bets

Carlos Prates Moneyline: This is an exciting matchup of a former champion and a quickly rising star. Both are dangerous strikers, but with very different styles. Edwards is a very measured, technical striker, using precise shots and a steady pace to break down opponents and put them away. Prates, while also very technically skilled, favors his power and flashy attacks like spinning kicks and elbows to secure highlight-reel finishes. Their careers seem to be trending in opposite directions at the moment: Edwards has suffered back-to-back devastating losses, while Prates is coming off the biggest win of his career. Although this is Edwards' first matchup against a true striker since before his title reign, I believe that may be to his detriment. With his last five fights coming against fighters who primarily grapple, he hasn’t faced a striker at the level of Prates in some time, if at all in the UFC. I expect Prates to push a heavy pace from the opening bell, staying right in front of Edwards and not allowing him to fight with his usual technical, point-fighting style. As Prates stays on his front foot and makes it into a dogfight, I anticipate Edwards being forced to take more risks and, in doing so, absorb more damage and big shots from Prates. Edwards has never been knocked out, so while I’m not willing to predict a finish, I’m confident that Prates will have his hand raised at the end of this bout.

Zhang Weili by Decision: This is an absolutely massive superfight between the absolute best of the best in women’s MMA, and I’ve been looking forward to it. Both have been dominant champions in their respective weight classes, and now Zhang is coming up to Flyweight to challenge Shevchenko in a matchup for the ages. Both are dangerous absolutely everywhere, with outstanding, well-rounded skill sets and serious finishing abilities. While they match up very similarly in terms of size and skill, I think Zhang's strength could be a difference-maker. I expect plenty of close striking exchanges early on in the fight, and for both to pursue takedowns and grappling as the fight goes on, and that’s where I believe Zhang will take over. I anticipate her overpowering and overwhelming Shevchenko on the mat, controlling her and landing ground and pound while slowly wearing down Shevchenko’s cardio. When the fight reaches the championship rounds, I expect Zhang to take full control and not waste much time on the feet, shooting powerful takedowns and preventing Shevchenko from landing her own offense. I still believe this will be a close and competitive fight, but I also believe it will ultimately be a decisive victory, earning Zhang a second title.

Della Maddalena vs. Makhachev to Not Go the Distance: This is another huge superfight with massive implications featuring two excellent champions. While both have proven to have excellent, well-rounded skills, they’re also prolific finishers who never back down from a brawl. In their combined 48 professional fights, they have produced 32 finishes with 17 knockouts and 15 submissions, with 19 of those finishes coming in the first round. They have gone to just 13 decisions between the two of them and are rarely in boring fights. This is also, obviously, an enormous fight for both of these men; for Makhachev, it’s a chance to become a double champion and establish himself among the best of all time. For Maddalena, a victory here would not only instantly legitimize him as a champion but also put him into the top three of the pound-for-pound fighters in the promotion. Both fighters have their own distinct advantages in this matchup, and while it’s much tougher to predict who makes better use of those advantages, I’m very confident that this fight will not see the end of all five rounds.

UFC Fight Night: Bonfim vs. Brown Preview

Gabriel Bonfim clips Stephen Thompson with a left hook. Credit: MMA Fighting.

The UFC heads to its headquarters at the UFC APEX in Las Vegas, Nevada, with an excellent Fight Night card. The entire card has been filled with outstanding matchups, rising stars, and established veterans all looking to score a bonus-earning victory this Saturday. In the co-main event, two exciting flyweights will face off when the always-game Matt Schnell takes on TUF 33 winner Joseph Morales. In the main event, we’ll see two dangerous Welterweight finishers collide when submission ace Gabriel Bonfim challenges knockout artist Randy Brown. Let’s take a look at the fights on the main card.

Christian Leroy Duncan vs. Marco Tulio

Christian Leroy Duncan tags Andrey Pulyaev with a left hand. Credit: MMA Junkie.

Middleweight Bout

Christian Leroy Duncan: 12-2-0, 9 KO/TKO, 1 Sub.

Marco Tulio: 14-1-0, 10 KO/TKO, 1 Sub.

Duncan has won four of his last five fights and has UFC victories over Andrey Pulyaev (10-3-0), Claudio Ribeiro (11-5-0), and Eryk Anders (17-9-0). He’s a flashy striker with power in both hands and an expansive arsenal of kicks. He’s unpredictable, constantly moving and switching stances while attempting spinning and jumping attacks. Duncan is highly accurate and efficient, throwing every shot purposefully without loading up or overextending. He’s excellent at controlling the center of the cage, forcing his opponent to the outside of the Octagon while fighting behind his jab and piecing them up with clean shots. Training at Range MMA Academy, he’s willing to grapple and will occasionally shoot takedowns, advancing very quickly and raining down heavy ground and pound when in top position. Duncan carries his power across all three rounds and is always dangerous, capable of creating a highlight-reel finish at any moment.

Marco Tulio lands a thudding right hand on Tresean Gore. Credit: MMA Mania.

Tulio is on a ten-fight win streak, holding UFC victories over Tresean Gore (6-4-0) and Ihor Potieria (20-8-0). He’s a devastating Muay Thai striker with serious power in his hands and kicks. He throws everything with knockout intentions but remains accurate and technical, doing an excellent job of varying his strikes between his opponent’s legs, head, and body. Tulio has great head movement and distance management, often firing kicks at range and remaining safe before closing the distance and unloading his hands inside the pocket. Training at Chute Boxe DL, he won’t typically pursue takedowns but is dangerous in top position and will constantly look to posture up and land ground and pound. He can do damage with or without space, regularly landing powerful knees and elbows in the pocket or in the clinch. Tulio comes out guns blazing from the opening bell and is especially dangerous early on, with more than half of his knockouts coming in the first round.

Chris Padilla vs. Ismael Bonfim

Chris Padilla viciously submits James Llontop with a rear naked choke. Credit: MMA Fighting.

Lightweight Bout

Chris Padilla: 16-6-0, 8 KO/TKO, 5 Sub.

Ismael Bonfim: 20-5-0, 9 KO/TKO, 4 Sub.

Padilla is on a six-fight win streak with UFC victories coming over Jai Herbert (13-6-1), Rongzhu (27-6-0), and James Llontop (14-5-0). He’s a well-rounded fighter with powerful striking and outstanding wrestling skills. He’s patient, typically floating along the outside of the cage and looking to draw his opponent in so he can either counterstrike or shoot a takedown. Padilla has accurate hands, outstanding elbows and knees, and heats up as the fight continues, letting his hands go and hanging in the pocket more often. His striking often sets up his grappling, distracting his opponents with his power and landing kicks from range before blitzing forward to secure a takedown. Training at Fight Science MMA, he’s averaging over 1 takedown landed per 15 minutes and is very explosive, able to secure blast double-legs and perform powerful slam takedowns. Padilla gains confidence as the fight goes on, but he’s still very dangerous early, with ten of his thirteen finishes coming in round one. 

Ismael Bonfim lands a heavy body shot on Vinc Pichel. Credit: MMA Junkie.

Bonfim has won three of his last five bouts, with UFC victories coming over Terrance McKinney (17-7-0) and Vinc Pichel (14-5-0). He is an exceptional striker with great technical boxing and fantastic range management. He does an excellent job of varying his shots, attacking the head and body with equal tenacity and always pursuing a finish. Bonfim is willing to brawl inside the pocket, has devastating knees, and throws everything in combination. He is extremely explosive and always coming forward, often looking to land countershots. Training at Cerrado MMA, he has great cardio and can throw with power and volume, rarely gassing himself out or overextending. Bonfim is at his best when dictating the pace and controlling the center of the Octagon, searching for counters and fight-ending shots.

Muslim Salikhov vs. Uroš Medić

Muslim Salikhov lands a brutal spinning wheel kick on Song Kenan. Credit: MMA Mania.

Welterweight Bout

Muslim Salikhov: 22-5-0, 15 KO/TKO, 2 Sub.

Uroš Medić: 11-3-0, 9 KO/TKO, 2 Sub.

Salikhov has won three of his last five outings and has UFC victories over Carlos Leal (22-7-0), Song Kenan (22-9-0), and Santiago Ponzinibbio (31-9-0). He holds the rank of Master of Sport in Wushu Sanda and a pro kickboxing record of 185-13 with 76 wins by knockout. He’s a dangerous knockout artist with big-time power and outstanding technical skills. Salikhov has an impressive arsenal of kicks, particularly his array of spinning attacks that he’ll constantly set up and throw. Training at the Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov School, he’s defensively sound, having defended 62% of significant strikes attempted on him in the UFC. He is willing to grapple and averages just over one takedown landed per fifteen minutes, and will rain 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.

Uroš Medić lands a powerful left hand on Gilbert Urbina. Credit: MMA Mania.

Medić has won three of his last five fights, holding UFC victories over Matthew Semelsberger (11-8-0), Omar Morales (11-4-0), and Tim Means (33-17-1). He’s a powerful kickboxer with great footwork and excellent kicks. He does an outstanding job varying his shots, attacking the head and body evenly while remaining technical. Medić throws everything with power and will regularly mix kicks in at the end of combinations. Training at Kings MMA, he favors power over volume but has solid cardio and can maintain a consistent pace across 15 minutes. He’s highly accurate, landing 60% of the significant strikes he’s attempted in the UFC, and can produce a flash knockout at any time. He won’t typically initiate grappling exchanges, but will not accept a position on his back and will pursue submissions. Medić has only seen the third round once and has not been to a decision, with ten of his fourteen fights ending in the first round.

Matt Schnell vs. Joseph Morales

Matt Schnell exchanges blows inside the pocket with Jimmy Flick. Credit: MMA Junkie.

Flyweight Bout

Matt Schnell: 17-9-0, 2 KO/TKO, 9 Sub.

Joseph Morales: 14-2-0, 2 KO/TKO, 7 Sub.

Schnell has won two of his last five bouts and has UFC victories over Sumudaerji (18-7-0), Tyson Nam (21-14-1), and Louis Smolka (17-9-0). He’s dangerous anywhere the fight goes with excellent, gritty striking and outstanding grappling. He has solid speed and power in his hands, often using his striking to set up his grappling. Schnell does a great job of capitalizing on his opponent’s mistakes and regularly grabs chokes when defending takedowns. He has a slick submission game, particularly his chokes, with seven of his nine submission wins coming via guillotine or triangle. Training at Fortis MMA, he favors his hands but has a black belt in karate and a sneaky arsenal of kicks to back up his boxing. Half of Schnell’s professional bouts have ended in the first round, and he’s never in a boring fight.

Joseph Morales submits Alibi Idiris with a triangle choke. Credit: MMA Fighting.

Morales is on a five-fight win streak and is making his official UFC debut after defeating Alibi Idiris (11-1-0) to become the Flyweight winner of the Ultimate Fighter 33. He’s an outstanding technical fighter with excellent boxing and grappling skills. Morales is constantly coming forward and pressuring his opponent, forcing them to the outside of the cage and landing damage with precise punches. He does an excellent job of mixing body shots into combinations, never gets sloppy or drawn into brawls, and always keeps his hands high and his striking sharp and technical. Training with Team Alpha Male, he has powerful takedowns, typically landing them in open space, and is relentless in top position, constantly advancing and pursuing submissions. He excels at taking his opponent’s back and is very tough to shake off, maintaining control and always choosing position over submission. Morales is dangerous at all times and carries his power and speed throughout the fight, having secured his last two finish wins after the first round.

Gabriel Bonfim vs. Randy Brown

Gabriel Bonfim secures a powerful takedown on Khaos Williams. Credit: Zuffa LLC.

Welterweight Bout

Gabriel Bonfim: 18-1-0, 3 KO/TKO, 13 Sub.

Randy Brown: 20-6-0, 8 KO/TKO, 5 Sub.

Bonfim has won four of his last five outings and has UFC victories over Stephen Thompson (17-9-1), Khaos Williams (15-5-0), and Trevin Giles (16-7-0). He always comes out guns blazing, throwing bombs, and looking for an early finish. Fighting behind his jab, he employs crisp boxing and consistently throws in combination, possessing excellent speed and power in his hands. Bonfim loves to engage in the pocket and tends to headhunt, but won’t get sloppy; he always keeps his guard high and his punches tight and straight. He has a lethal submission game, can find chokes from seemingly anywhere, and has fantastic takedowns. Training at Cerrado MMA, he advances with lightning speed on the ground and always pursues a finish. Bonfim has secured all of his submission victories via choke and can finish the fight quickly if he gets a hold of his opponent’s neck.

Randy Brown blasts Elizeu Zaleski dos Santos with a vicious knee. Credit: MMA Fighting.

Brown has won four of his last five fights, with UFC wins coming over Khaos Williams (15-4-0), Francisco Trinaldo (28-9-0), and Muslim Salikhov (21-5-0). He’s a lengthy fighter with serious knockout power and a sneaky submission game. He uses his size well, staying at range and piecing his opponent up with long straights and jabs. Brown throws every shot with purpose and will constantly fire attacks up the middle, particularly with front kicks and especially his right cross. Brown has solid power in both hands and devastating knees and elbows inside the clinch. 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. Training at Budokan Martial Arts, Brown gets increasingly dangerous as the fight goes on and has secured nine of his thirteen finishes in the second or third round.

Best Bets

Chris Padilla Moneyline: This is an outstanding matchup of two very different but dangerous Lightweights. Padilla has solid striking but primarily relies on his outstanding wrestling and dangerous BJJ skills to secure victory. Bonfim, on the other hand, is almost a pure striker, throwing every shot with big-time power and constantly pursuing a knockout. Although Bonfim has a power advantage when they’re on their feet, I believe his wild striking style and desire for early finishes may be his downfall in this matchup. Padilla has shown an excellent ability to lull his opponent in and let them get comfortable striking before suddenly shooting in to land a powerful takedown. I expect to see him do the same to Bonfim. I anticipate Bonfim coming out guns blazing and pushing a heavy pace, throwing constant bombs and overswinging as Padilla remains elusive and lands shots of his own. As Bonfim continues pushing the action, I expect Padilla to find success with his takedowns, slowing the pace and wearing down Bonfim's explosiveness. I believe Padilla will be able to control and damage Bonfim on the mat, and as Bonfim starts to gas out, Padilla will take full control, start doing damage in top position, and set up submissions. Whether by finish or decision, I believe that Padilla will emerge the victor.

Muslim Salikhov Moneyline: In this exciting matchup, we’ll see two dangerous Welterweight knockout artists face off inside the Octagon. Medić is the more orthodox striker of the two, favoring the devastating power in his hands to batter and finish his opponents. Salikhov is an unusual fighter who relies heavily on his outstanding kicking game, especially spinning kicks, to earn highlight-reel victories. While both are very dangerous, Salikhov has the larger arsenal of attacks and striking options. Not to say that Medić is limited, but he doesn't have anywhere near the type of kicks that Salikhov does. Salikhov also has superior grappling to Medić, and while he won't often look to bring the fight to the mat, he certainly has the option to do so. I expect this fight to start quickly, with both fighters throwing with knockout intentions from the opening bell. I expect Salikhov to float along the outside, remaining elusive as he lights up Medić with high and low kicks and heavy punches. As Salikhov continues to do damage, I expect Medić's aggression and pace to wane, and for Salikhov to take control of the fight. As Medić slows, I anticipate Salikhov opening up and finding success with his arsenal of spinning kicks en route to another impressive victory.

Bonfim vs. Brown to Not Go the Distance: This is an intriguing matchup of two dangerous strikers that I’ve been looking forward to. Both of these fighters have proven to be prolific finishers in their professional MMA careers. In a combined 38 victories, they’ve finished 29 of those fights, and 34 of their combined 45 fights have not gone to the scorecards. Although both rarely go the distance, neither tends to earn their finishes early on, with seventeen of their combined twenty-nine finish wins coming after round one. Both have very different ways of earning these victories as well, with Brown being more of a knockout artist with a solid submission game, and Bonfim being essentially a submission specialist with solid power. Both have the skills to exploit their opponent's weaknesses, and both have been finished inside the UFC before. This is also a significant matchup for both fighters, with both coming off victories and looking for a landmark win to place them in the top 15. Regardless of who takes this fight or how, I’m confident that this fight will end before the final bell sounds.