UFC 331 Preview

Joshua Van lands a cracking right hand on Brandon Royval. Credit: MMA Fighting.

The UFC heads to the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, California, for a fantastic card. From start to finish, the card features excellent matchups, top-level fighters, and rising stars looking to put on a show inside the Octagon on Saturday night. In the co-main event, we’ll see a five-round contest between dominant wrestler Arman Tsarukyan and powerful knockout artist Maurício Ruffy. In the main event, we finally get the title rematch between two heated Flyweight rivals, Joshua Van and Alexandre Pantoja. Let’s take a look at the fights on the main card.

#13 Alonzo Menifield vs. Iwo Baraniewski

Alonzo Menifield lands a vicious right hook on Zhang Mingyang. Credit: MMA Mania.

Light Heavyweight Bout

Alonzo Menifield: 18-6-1, 11 KO/TKO, 3 Sub.

Iwo Baraniewski: 9-0-0, 7 KO/TKO, 2 Sub.

Menifield has won three of his last five fights and holds UFC victories over Dustin Jacoby (22-10-1), Oumar Sy (12-3-0), and Zhang Mingyang (19-8-0). He is an explosive power-puncher who relentlessly pursues a finish. He constantly looks to close the distance and set up his right hand, regularly punching his way into the pocket to unload heavy overhands and hooks. Menifield favors power over volume and tends to headhunt but has heavy leg kicks that he’ll occasionally add to the end of combinations. 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. He’s always dangerous and has the cardio to go three rounds, but is particularly dangerous early on, having secured eleven of his fourteen finishes in the first round. Menifield has earned two Fight of the Night bonuses in his last four UFC appearances and is rarely in a boring fight.

Iwo Baraniewski blasts Ibo Aslan with a crushing right hand. Credit: MMA Mania.

Baraniewski is undefeated and has UFC victories over Ibo Aslan (14-4-0), Justin Tafa (7-6-0), and Austen Lane (13-8-0). He’s a powerful brawler with excellent grappling to back up his dangerous hands. He’s impressively durable and constantly comes forward to 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. Training at Aligatores FC, he holds a black belt in Judo, a brown belt in BJJ, and has a lengthy amateur MMA career, with a 16-3 amateur record 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.

Gable Steveson vs. Sean Sharaf

Gable Steveson stuns Elisha Ellison with a straight right hand. Credit: Bloody Elbow.

Heavyweight Bout

Gable Steveson: 4-0-0, 4 KO/TKO, 0 Sub.

Sean Sharaf: 4-2-0, 4 KO/TKO, 0 Sub.

Steveson is undefeated and has a UFC win over Elisha Ellison (5-3-0). He’s a former Olympic gold medalist in freestyle wrestling and a two-time NCAA Div. 1 collegiate wrestling champion. He’s always coming forward, relentlessly pressuring his opponent and throwing every shot with knockout intent. Steveson has heavy kicks but won’t spend much time at range, instead closing the distance to unload inside the pocket or shoot for a takedown. He has outstanding takedowns and secures them quickly, both in open space and along the cage. Training at Jackson-Wink MMA, he has heavy top pressure and is very active on top, immediately transitioning to a dominant position to rain down vicious ground-and-pound. Steveson has not left the first round in his brief professional career and has secured all of his knockouts in four minutes or less.

Sean Sharaf tags Steven Asplund with a stiff right hand. Credit: Zuffa LLC.

Sharaf has won three of his last five bouts and is seeking his first UFC win. He’s a hard-charging brawler with serious punching power. He comes out guns blazing from the opening bell, immediately pressuring his opponent and letting his hands go. Sharaf does a good job of controlling the center of the cage, forcing his opponent to the outside while relentlessly coming forward. He heavily favors his hands and has solid output, throwing everything in combination and regularly mixing in heavy body shots. Training at Xtreme Couture, he has solid takedowns and will immediately posture up to unload ground-and-pound shots the instant the fight hits the mat. Sharaf always pushes a heavy pace and is most dangerous early on, with all of his professional victories coming via first-round knockout.

Patrício Pitbull vs. Dooho Choi

Patrício Pitbull fires a powerful uppercut at Dan Ige. Credit: MMA Fighting.

Featherweight Bout

Patrício Pitbull: 37-9-0, 13 KO/TKO, 11 Sub.

Dooho Choi: 17-4-1, 14 KO/TKO, 1 Sub.

Pitbull has won two of his last five outings and holds a UFC victory over Dan Ige (19-12-0). He’s a powerful, technical fighter with outstanding distance management and counterstriking skills. He does an excellent job of holding the center of the cage and forcing his opponent to the outside, not utilizing much elusive movement but always pressing forward. Pitbull has outstanding head movement and footwork, regularly slipping punches and landing devastating counters. Training at Pitbull Brothers, he throws everything with power but won’t get sloppy or telegraph his strikes, often blitzing forward with looping hooks before quickly returning to range. He’s comfortable on his feet but is also an excellent grappler with solid wrestling and a wide variety of dangerous submissions. Pitbull is a former Bellator Lightweight and Featherweight champion and is the Bellator record holder for the most fights, wins, title fights, wins in title fights, and finishes.

Dooho Choi takes Nate Landwehr off his feet to secure a takedown. Credit: MMA Fighting.

Choi has won three of his last five fights, with one draw, and has UFC victories over Nate Landwehr (18-8-0), Bill Algeo (18-9-0), and Daniel Santos (14-3-0). He’s a precise, powerful striker with excellent grappling. He’s patient on his feet and has excellent range management, always remaining elusive and defensively sound. Choi fights behind his jab and delivers clean, sharp strikes, throwing everything with power without getting sloppy or telegraphing. Training with Busan Team M.A.D., he improves as fights progress and varies his targets well, with particularly vicious body shots. He’s averaging over one takedown per fifteen minutes and will smother his opponents with pressure and ground-and-pound from top position. Choi has earned six bonuses in ten UFC fights and is a Hall of Famer, with his fight with Cub Swanson inducted into the Fight Wing of the UFC’s Hall of Fame in 2022.

#2 Arman Tsarukyan vs. #10 Maurício Ruffy

Arman Tsarukan rains down brutal ground-and-pound shots onto Dan Hooker. Credit: MMA Mania.

Lightweight Bout

Arman Tsarukyan: 23-3-0, 9 KO/TKO, 6 Sub.

Maurício Ruffy: 14-2-0, 13 KO/TKO, 0 Sub.

Tsarukyan is on a five-fight win streak and has UFC wins over #3-ranked Lightweight Charles Oliveira (37-11-0), Beneil Dariush (23-8-1), and Dan Hooker (24-15-0). He’s a well-rounded fighter with 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 axe kicks. He is a dominant grappler with 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.

Maurício Ruffy cracks Rafael Fiziev with a straight right hand. Credit: MMA Junkie.

Ruffy has won four of his last five bouts and holds UFC victories over #12-ranked Lightweight Rafael Fiziev (14-5-0), Michael Chandler (23-11-0), and King Green (36-17-1). A lethal, elusive striker, he’s always dangerous and constantly hunting a knockout. He’s highly accurate and favors power over volume, often throwing single, high-impact shots with 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 at Freestyle MMA, he throws everything with impressive speed and is always unpredictable, regularly attempting unorthodox strikes without telegraphing them. He varies his shots well and constantly looks to draw his opponents into his range so he can land counterstrikes. Ten of Ruffy’s thirteen knockouts have come in round one, and he’s most dangerous early on, remaining aggressive throughout but slowing as the fight continues.

(C) Joshua Van vs. #1 Alexandre Pantoja

Joshua Van batters Tatsuro Taira with powerful ground-and-pound. Credit: MMA Fighting.

Flyweight Bout

Joshua Van: 17-2-0, 9 KO/TKO, 2 Sub.

Alexandre Pantoja: 30-6-0, 8 KO/TKO, 12 Sub.

Van is on a seven-fight win streak and has UFC victories over #3-ranked Flyweight Brandon Royval (18-9-0), #4-ranked Flyweight Tatsuro Taira (18-2-0), and his current opponent, Alexandre Pantoja. 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 slipping punches before unloading combinations. Training at 4oz Fight Club, he does an exceptional job of varying his shots, entering the pocket at different angles, and constantly attacking his opponent’s body and legs. He’s willing to grapple, has solid takedown defense, and averages about one takedown per fifteen minutes. Van has the highest significant strikes landed per minute in UFC Flyweight history, at 8.43, and has outlanded nearly all of his UFC opponents.

Alexandre Pantoja viciously chokes out Kai Asakura. Credit: MMA Mania.

Pantoja has won four of his last five outings and holds UFC victories over #2-ranked Flyweight Manel Kape (23-7-0), #3-ranked Flyweight Brandon Royval (18-9-0), and #9-ranked Flyweight Brandon Moreno (24-10-2). He’s a fast starter and dangerous everywhere, with serious power in his hands and outstanding grappling. He starts every round guns blazing, pressuring his opponent and unloading quick, heavy combinations. Pantoja has powerful kicks and regularly mixes 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 and 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).

Best Bets

Iwo Baraniewski by KO/TKO: This is an outstanding matchup between two exciting Light Heavyweight strikers. Both are dangerous and known for their knockout power, but I believe Baraniewski’s durability and well-roundedness will be the deciding factor. In his brief UFC tenure, Baraniewski has already been in some wild brawls and shown an impressive chin, whereas Menifield has been knocked out in three of his last six UFC appearances. Baraniewski also holds a black belt in Judo, and although he hasn’t grappled much in the UFC, I believe he has a significant advantage over Menifield if the fight hits the mat. I expect this fight to get off to a quick start, with both men meeting in the middle and letting their hands go from the opening bell. As the fight continues, I expect Baraniewski to get the better of the striking exchanges while controlling the center of the Octagon, allowing him to dictate the range and create openings to land takedowns. Ultimately, I expect plenty of wild exchanges, but I don’t think it will take long before Baraniewski lands the knockout blow and secures another impressive victory.

Dooho Choi Moneyline: This is an intriguing matchup between two experienced Featherweights. Although Choi doesn’t have Pitbull’s pedigree, I believe he holds a significant speed and power advantage that will shut down Pitbull’s offense. Choi has looked outstanding since returning from a three-year layoff and has scored three consecutive knockout wins. Although highly technically skilled, Pitbull has looked slow since joining the UFC and tends to wait too long to find the perfect shot, something he cannot afford to do against Choi. I expect Choi to pressure him from the opening bell, forcing him to fight at a high pace and not allowing him to cautiously pick his shots. As the fight continues and Choi stays on the gas pedal, I expect Pitbull to slow down, allowing Choi to fully open up with his hands and completely control their exchanges. Pitbull has proven durable, though, and isn’t an easy out for anyone. I am confident that Choi will walk away with the win, regardless of how he does so.

Alexandre Pantoja Moneyline: This fight is a highly anticipated rematch after a first meeting that ended in an unfortunate injury. Both fighters are among the best in the Flyweight division, but I believe Pantoja’s grappling and championship experience will be a major difference-maker. Van has looked outstanding both on his run-up to the title and since he won it, but he has only truly been tested on the mat by Tatsuro Taira, who isn’t nearly as well-rounded or dangerous as Pantoja. Being forced into constant danger on the feet and on the mat is very taxing on your cardio, especially when you aren’t used to it, and Van has just one actual title fight to Pantoja’s five (excluding their first fight). I expect Pantoja to push a heavy pace from the start, constantly pressuring Van and threatening with big power shots and repeated takedown attempts. As the fight continues, I expect Pantoja to wear down Van and start to control him on the mat, doing damage with ground-and-pound and further draining his energy. I anticipate a very exciting, back-and-forth fight, but I believe Pantoja will be able to match Van’s pace on the feet, control him on the mat, and earn back his Flyweight title.

Noche UFC: Silva vs Delgado Preview

Jean Silva lands a crushing right hand on the chin of Drew Dober. Credit: MMA Mania.

The UFC heads to the Desert Diamond Arena in Glendale, Arizona, with a fantastic card. From start to finish, there are plenty of exciting matchups and outstanding fighters all looking to put on a show in the cage this Saturday. In the co-main event, Flyweight legend Brandon Moreno will square off against the quickly rising Joseph Morales. In the main event, we’ll see devastating marauder Jean Silva go toe-to-toe with a dangerous boxer, Jose Miguel Delgado. Let’s take a look at the fights on the main card.

#7 David Martínez vs. Dan Ige

David Martínez tags Marlon Vera with a stiff right hand. Credit: MMA Fighting.

Bantamweight Bout

David Martínez: 14-1-0, 10 KO/TKO, 0 Sub.

Dan Ige: 19-11-0, 7 KO/TKO, 5 Sub.

Martínez is on a ten-fight win streak and holds UFC victories over Rob Font (22-10-0), Marlon Vera (23-12-1), and Saimon Oliveira (18-7-0). He is a lifelong karate practitioner who constantly unloads powerful kicks and always remains elusive. He’s in constant motion, typically floating along the outside, looking to counterstrike and catch his opponent when they enter the pocket. Martínez favors power over 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 he varies his attacks well, constantly blasting his opponents with leg kicks at range. He’s unlikely to initiate grappling exchanges, but he has shown solid takedown defense and ability in the clinch. Martínez has an impressive arsenal of flashy kicks and will regularly throw them while relentlessly pursuing a knockout.

Dan Ige stuns Diego Lopes with a heavy right hand. Credit: MMA Fighting.

Ige has won one of his last five fights and has UFC wins over Edson Barboza (24-15-0), Andre Fili (25-14-0), and Sean Woodson (14-2-1). 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 before letting his hands go. Ige has a solid kicking game to back up his boxing, with particularly damaging leg kicks he lands regularly. Training at Xtreme Couture, he has one-shot knockout power and favors power over volume, regularly 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 is exceptionally durable and is always willing to throw down with anyone.

#7 Waldo Cortes-Acosta vs. #11 Curtis Blaydes

Waldo Cortes-Acosta clips Derrick Lewis with a straight right hand. Credit: MMA Fighting.

Heavyweight Bout

Waldo Cortes-Acosta: 17-3-0, 9 KO/TKO, 1 Sub.

Curtis Blaydes: 19-6-0, 13 KO/TKO, 0 Sub.

Acosta has won three of his last five bouts and has UFC victories over #13-ranked Heavyweight Serghei Spivac (18-7-0), #15-ranked Heavyweight Shamil Gaziev (15-3-0), and Derrick Lewis (29-14-0). He is a heavy-handed brawler with excellent boxing and a dangerous right hand. He has strong counterstriking and is comfortable fighting on his back foot, regularly slipping big shots before returning with offense of his own. Training at UKF Gym, Acosta is light on his feet for a Heavyweight and moves in and out of the pocket quickly, rarely absorbing much damage. He favors power over volume and remains patient throughout, fighting behind his jab and looking for openings to land the knockout blow. While he won’t usually initiate grappling exchanges, he has demonstrated a solid ability to return to his feet. Acosta is always willing to exchange inside the pocket and have a wild brawl, and has earned two Performance of the Night bonuses in his last four UFC appearances.

Curtis Blaydes lands a stinging jab on the chin of Josh Hokit. Credit: MMA Fighting.

Blaydes has won two of his last five outings and holds UFC victories over #2-ranked Heavyweight Alexander Volkov (40-11-0), #5-ranked Heavyweight Rizvan Kuniev (14-3-1), 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 per fifteen minutes in the UFC and secures them quickly, both in open space and along the fence. Blaydes favors power over volume, 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 holds the UFC Heavyweight records for most takedowns landed (66) and most control time (1:27:41), making grappling an inevitability when he’s inside the cage.

#2 Manon Fiorot vs. #3 Alexa Grasso

Manon Fiorot fires a powerful kick to the head of Erin Blanchfield. Credit: MMA Fighting.

Women’s Flyweight Bout

Manon Fiorot: 13-2-0, 7 KO/TKO, 0 Sub.

Alexa Grasso: 17-5-1, 5 KO/TKO, 2 Sub.

Fiorot has won four of her last five fights and has UFC wins over #4-ranked Flyweight Erin Blanchfield (14-2-0), #7-ranked Flyweight Jasmine Jasudavicius (15-4-0), and #8-ranked Flyweight Rose Namajunas (15-8-0). She is an efficient, technical striker who always fights at a high pace. She fights behind her jab and has very clean hands, tending to headhunt without loading up or telegraphing her attacks. Fiorot has excellent distance management and footwork, regularly stepping out of the way of shots and catching her opponent with clean counters. Training with the Boxing Squad, she’s averaging over one takedown per fifteen minutes and is a BJJ black belt. She has powerful takedowns, can elevate her opponents for slams, and has outstanding reversals, often ending up in top position even when taken down. Fiorot throws with unbelievable output, averaging about 208 total strikes thrown per UFC fight.

Alexa Grasso viciously chokes out Maycee Barber after dropping her with a left hand. Credit: MMA Fighting.

Grasso has won two of her last five bouts, with one draw, and holds UFC victories over Flyweight champion Valentina Shevchenko (26-4-1), #9-ranked Flyweight Maycee Barber (15-3-0), and Viviane Araújo (14-8-0). She is an excellent technical boxer who throws everything purposefully and in combination. She has very clean hands, never loading up and always using her outstanding timing and accuracy to damage her opponents. Grasso has a solid chin and is willing to exchange in the pocket, but she’s also defensively sound, having successfully defended 58% of significant strikes attempted on her in the UFC. Training at Lobo Gym MMA, she varies her targets well and regularly adds heavy kicks to the end of her combinations, particularly to the legs. She holds a brown belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and is always working from top position, looking to posture up and land ground and pound while threatening submissions. Grasso has proven impressively durable and always pushes a heavy pace, never backing down from a scrap.

Tommy McMillen vs. Marwan Rahiki

Tommy McMillen cracks Alberto Montes with a heavy right hand. Credit: MMA Mania.

Featherweight Bout

Tommy McMillen: 11-0-0, 5 KO/TKO, 5 Sub.

Marwan Rahiki: 9-0-0, 8 KO/TKO, 1 Sub.

McMillen is undefeated and has UFC victories over Alberto Montes (12-2-0) and Manolo Zecchini (11-5-0). He’s a dangerous submission ace who loves to brawl. He’s a lengthy striker but will regularly look to close the distance, 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 to secure top position, where he’ll immediately pursue submissions, typically chokes. McMillen pushes a heavy pace from the opening bell, having left the first round only twice in his career, and can secure chokes very quickly, even while standing.

Marwan Rahiki lands a vicious elbow to the head of Harry Hardwick. Credit: MMA Mania.

Rahiki is undefeated and holds UFC wins over Harry Hardwick (13-5-1) and Ollie Schmid (4-3-0). 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, usually in combinations, and greatly favors 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.

#10 Brandon Moreno vs. Joseph Morales

Brandon Moreno blasts Brandon Royval with a right hand. Credit: MMA Fighting.

Flyweight Bout

Brandon Moreno: 23-10-2, 5 KO/TKO, 11 Sub.

Joseph Morales: 14-2-0, 2 KO/TKO, 8 Sub.

Moreno has won two of his last five outings and holds UFC victories over #9-ranked Flyweight Amir Albazi (17-3-0), #11-ranked Bantamweight Deiveson Figueiredo (25-7-1), and Steve Erceg (14-5-0). 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 is a BJJ black belt with excellent wrestling and smothering control in top position. He has a dangerous arsenal of submissions and can produce quick finishes on the mat. Moreno is a two-time UFC Flyweight champion and holds multiple Flyweight records, including the most total fight time (5:40:52) and the most significant strikes landed (1308).

Joseph Morales submits Matt Schnell with a tight guillotine choke. Credit: MMA Mania.

Morales is on a six-fight win streak and has a UFC win over Matt Schnell (17-11-0). He’s an outstanding technical fighter with excellent boxing and grappling skills. Morales constantly pressures his opponent, forcing them to the outside of the cage and landing precise punches. He regularly mixes body shots into combinations, never gets sloppy or drawn into brawls, and always keeps his hands high and his striking sharp. 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 two of his last three finishes after the first round.

#6 Jean Silva vs. #15 Jose Miguel Delgado

Jean Silva fires a wild spinning elbow at Arnold Allen. Credit: MMA Mania.

Featherweight Bout

Jean Silva: 17-3-0, 12 KO/TKO, 3 Sub.

Jose Miguel Delgado: 12-2-0, 6 KO/TKO, 4 Sub.

Silva has won four of his last five fights and has UFC victories over #5-ranked Featherweight Arnold Allen (21-4-0), Bryce Mitchell (19-4-0), and Drew Dober (29-15-0). He’s a dangerous scrapper with devastating power in both hands who’s constantly hunting for a knockout. He starts slow, looking for openings and throwing heavy single shots, rarely throwing straight and instead supplying a constant dose of hooks, overhands, and uppercuts. Silva is always willing to brawl and will get wild, attempting jumping knees and firing spinning elbows and backfists. 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 with a dangerous submission game, especially his chokes. Silva always puts on a show inside the cage and has earned four post-fight bonuses in his last five UFC appearances.

Jose Miguel Delgado lands a brutal right hand on Austin Bashi. Credit: MMA Junkie.

Delgado has won four of his last five bouts and holds UFC victories over Andre Fili (25-14-0), Austin Bashi (14-2-0), and Hyder Amil (11-2-0). He’s a powerful striker with sharp boxing, knockout power, and solid grappling. He throws everything in combination with knockout intent, regularly unloading lengthy sequences of hooks and finishing with body shots. Delgado is always pressuring his opponent, unleashing nonstop offense while staying accurate and throwing every shot with purpose. He constantly switches stances, giving his opponent different looks while using his striking to set up his grappling, often closing distance with punches before pursuing a takedown. Training at the MMA Lab, he’s a powerful wrestler who can land takedowns in open space and is tough to control in bottom position. Delgado is always dangerous, especially early, with seven of his ten finishes coming in the first round.

Best Bets

Cortes-Acosta vs. Blaydes Under 2.5 Rounds: This is an exciting matchup between two dangerous Heavyweights. Both fighters are known for their finishing ability, and I expect more of the same here. In a combined 45 professional fights, they’ve produced 23 finishes, with 20 coming in the first two rounds. Overall, 62% of their combined 45 fights did not go the distance, and 55% did not leave the first two rounds. Although both are known finishers, they have very different skill sets and styles, which I believe makes a finish even more likely, since I’d be shocked to see a very close, stalemate-type fight. I expect one of the two to fully control this fight, with either Acosta dominating on the feet or Blaydes dominating on the ground. Regardless of who emerges the victor, I’m confident this fight will end within the first two and a half rounds.

Manon Fiorot by Decision: This is an outstanding matchup of two top-five women’s Flyweights. Both are well-rounded and dangerous anywhere the fight goes, but I believe the pace, technicality, and kicking ability of Fiorot will be the difference-maker in this fight. Grasso is widely regarded as one of the best pure boxers in the women’s divisions, but she tends to rely on her hands, largely fighting in the pocket and not throwing much at range. Fiorot is very tactical and fantastic at moving in and out of the pocket and avoiding shots, and I don’t expect her to spend much time on the inside, allowing Grasso to let her hands go. Grasso has solid cardio, but outside of Shevchenko (who she obviously struggled against), I don’t believe she’s fought someone who pushes a pace like Fiorot. I expect the non-stop offense to slow Grasso down, lessening her punching power and output over time. I think Fiorot will stay at range, peppering Grasso with clean shots and constant kicks to her body and legs while remaining elusive, forcing Grasso to take chances and burn herself out. Grasso is exceptionally durable, so I don’t anticipate a finish, but I believe it will be an impressive decision win for Fiorot.

Jean Silva by KO/TKO: This is an intriguing matchup between two outstanding strikers. This is a major step up for Delgado, and in just his second appearance on a UFC main card, he finds himself in a main event against the division’s most dangerous power-puncher. As talented as Delgado is, I believe this is too much, too soon, and he will ultimately be overwhelmed by Silva’s power and precision. I expect this fight to start like most of Silva’s fights, with Silva taking his time and looking for openings while Delgado circles and tries to establish a rhythm. Once Silva settles in, he’ll let his hands go and unleash his unorthodox offense, slowing Delgado and forcing him to fight defensively. As the fight continues, I believe Silva will turn up the pace, blasting Delgado with vicious power shots, controlling the center of the cage, and relentlessly pressuring. Ultimately, I don’t think it will take many big shots from Silva to set Delgado down, and once he finds the chin, I expect another highlight-reel knockout victory for Silva.

UFC Fight Night: Hooker vs. Parnasse Preview

Dan Hooker cracks Mateuz Gamrot with a heavy right hook. Credit: MMA Fighting.

The UFC heads to the Accor Arena in Paris, France, for an outstanding Fight Night card. There are plenty of standout matchups, rising stars, and established contenders looking to put on a show this Saturday. In the co-main event, two quickly rising Lightweights collide when Farés Ziam takes on Axel Sola. In the main event, we finally get the highly anticipated debut of Salahdine Parnasse as he squares off with the always-dangerous Dan Hooker. Let’s take a look at the fights on the main card.

Losene Keita vs. Muhammad Naimov

Losene Keita lands a stiff left hand on Nathaniel Wood. Credit: Zuffa LLC.

Featherweight Bout

Losene Keita: 16-2-0, 10 KO/TKO, 0 Sub.

Muhammad Naimov: 13-4-0, 6 KO/TKO, 2 Sub.

Keita has won four of his last five fights and is seeking his first UFC win. He’s an excellent technical striker with serious power in his hands. He’s in perpetual motion, always moving and feinting with a karate-style bounce in his step. Keita favors power over volume and throws everything with knockout intent, maintaining his power throughout the fight and remaining dangerous at all times. He’s highly explosive and won’t telegraph his strikes, regularly unloading heavy, looping punches and particularly vicious body shots. Training at Lamiro Fight Club, he heats up as the fight continues, typically increasing his pace and output, but he always stays technical, never getting sloppy or telegraphing his strikes. Keita can produce a knockout at any time, and he has an even split of five first-round KOs and 5 knockouts in rounds 2 to 4.

Muhammad Naimov fires a kick to the head of Bogdan Grad. MMA Mania.

Naimov has won three of his last five bouts and holds UFC victories over #8-ranked Featherweight Nathaniel Wood (23-6-0), Kaan Ofli (15-4-1), and Bogdan Grad (16-4-0). He’s a versatile scrapper with flashy striking and solid grappling. He has a background in Taekwondo and is a patient striker who doesn’t throw often but always throws heavy and in combination, often headhunting. Naimov will regularly attempt spinning attacks, especially kicks, and does a great job of not telegraphing them, often catching his opponent as they enter his range. He’s averaging over one takedown per fifteen minutes, using his striking to set up his grappling and regularly punching his way into takedowns. Training with Elevation Fight Team, he has solid top control and will land devastating ground and pound if he secures a dominant position. Naimov has solid cardio and will maintain a consistent pace across three rounds.

Kurtis Campbell vs. Trevor Peek

Kurtis Campbell secures a takedown on Danny Silva. Credit: MMA Junkie.

Featherweight Bout

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

Trevor Peek: 9-3-0, 8 KO/TKO, 0 Sub.

Campbell has won four of his last five outings and is looking for his first UFC win. He’s a well-rounded fighter with excellent striking and dangerous grappling. 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 has deceptive power, having produced three finish victories in a minute and a half or less. Training at the MMA Academy Liverpool, he often looks 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.

Trevor Peek unloads punches onto Mohammad Yahya. Credit: MMA Junkie.

Peek has won three of his last five fights and has UFC victories over Erick Gonzalez (14-8-0) and Mohammed Yahya (12-7-0). He’s a wild striker who’s always coming forward, looking for a knockout. He’ll regularly throw caution to the wind, unloading standing hammer fists and throwing every punch with maximum power. Peek usually does most of his damage with his hands, but he also has heavy kicks, especially to the head and legs. He won’t spend much time at range and constantly blitzes forward to unload extended combinations, usually consisting of wide hooks and overhands. Training at Agoge Combatives, he’s averaging over one takedown per 15 minutes in his promotional tenure and has great wrestling despite his brawling tendencies. Six of Peek’s eight knockouts have come in round one, and he always comes out guns blazing.

Daniil Donchenko vs. Punahele Soriano

Daniil Donchenko lands a powerful kick to the head of Theodor Berggren. Credit: MMA Fighting.

Welterweight Bout

Daniil Donchenko: 15-2-0, 10 KO/TKO, 2 Sub.

Punahele Soriano: 13-4-0, 7 KO/TKO, 2 Sub.

Donchenko is on an eight-fight win streak and has UFC wins over Alex Morono (24-13-0) and Theodor Berggren (8-4-0). He’s a vicious, powerful kickboxer who can produce a finish at any time. He throws every shot with big power but is impressively accurate and won’t miss often. Donchenko is dangerous in the pocket and at range, constantly battering his opponents with brutal kicks to the legs and body before crashing into the pocket to let his hands go. Training at Tiger Muay Thai, he won’t typically initiate grappling exchanges but has great takedown defense and clinch striking. He’s willing to exchange inside the pocket but is extremely elusive, landing, on average, nearly four times as many significant strikes as he absorbs per minute in the UFC. Donchenko’s pace tends to slow as the fight continues, but he’s always dangerous and has earned 7 of his 12 finishes after the first round.

Punahele Soriano blasts Uroš Medić with a vicious left hand. Credit: MMA Fighting.

Soriano has won four of his last five bouts and holds UFC victories over #10-ranked Welterweight Uroš Medić (14-3-0), Ramiz Brahimaj (13-7-0), and Nikolay Veretennikov (14-8-0). He’s a well-rounded fighter with devastating punching power and excellent wrestling. He won’t rush, instead walking his opponents down and picking his shots before stepping into the pocket to do damage. Soriano will constantly look to set up his left hand but will occasionally mix in sneakily powerful kicks, particularly to the head. He’s a former collegiate wrestler and Judo brown belt, averaging nearly two takedowns per fifteen minutes in the UFC. Training at Xtreme Couture, he has great trips in the clinch, powerful ground-and-pound, and excellent reversals, often finding himself in top position even when taken down. Soriano started his career as a Heavyweight, spent his first 7 UFC fights at Middleweight, and continues to carry Heavyweight power as a Welterweight.

#8 Michael Page vs. #15 Nursulton Ruziboev

Michael Page exchanges blows in the pocket with Shara Magomedov. Credit: MMA Junkie.

Middleweight Bout

Michael Page: 25-3-0, 13 KO/TKO, 3 Sub.

Nursulton Ruziboev: 37-9-2, 13 KO/TKO, 21 Sub.

Page has won four of his last five outings and holds UFC wins over #14-ranked Welterweight Kevin Holland (29-15-0), Jared Cannonier (18-10-0), and Shara Magomedov (17-1-0). One of the sport’s most technical kickboxers, he has a fantastic arsenal of flashy kicks and even flashier celebrations. He has outstanding counterstriking, typically 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 submission skills. With 13 first-round finishes, Page is particularly dangerous early on, but he remains dangerous throughout and can produce a highlight-reel finish at any time.

Nursulton Ruziboev cracks Sedriques Dumas with a brutal uppercut. Credit: MMA Junkie.

Ruziboev has won four of his last five fights and has UFC victories over Brunno Ferreira (15-4-0), Dustin Stoltzfus (17-8-0), and Sedriques Dumas (10-5-0). He’s a wild scrapper who’s always willing to throw caution to the wind in his pursuit of a knockout. He’s very tall and long for a Middleweight and uses it well, constantly throwing long, lunging punches and kicks. Ruziboev closes distance very quickly and tends to headhunt, regularly punching his way into the pocket and throwing with maximum power. He’s most comfortable on his feet but has solid takedown defense and will relentlessly posture up and throw ground-and-pound from top position. Training at Shahrixon MMA, he favors power over volume and regularly throws single punches and naked kicks, occasionally mixing in spinning kicks. Ruziboev has 34 wins via finish and has rarely seen the judges’ scorecards in his professional career.

Farés Ziam vs. Axel Sola

Farés Ziam rips a left hook to the body of Mike Davis. Credit: MMA Junkie.

Lightweight Bout

Farés Ziam: 18-5-0, 7 KO/TKO, 4 Sub.

Axel Sola: 12-1-1, 6 KO/TKO, 2 Sub.

Ziam has won four of his last five bouts and holds UFC wins over Mike Davis (12-3-0), Nazim Sadykhov (11-3-1), and Jai Herbert (14-6-1). He’s a versatile fighter with powerful, technical striking and dangerous grappling. Standing at 6’1, he uses his length well, regularly firing long, heavy straight punches on his way into the pocket. Ziam remains patient and composed throughout, picking his shots, constantly varying his targets, and rarely absorbing significant damage. Training at Kill Cliff FC, he’s averaging nearly two takedowns per fifteen minutes and is willing to string together attempts to bring the fight to the mat. He has excellent top control and is aggressive on the ground, constantly threatening with submission attempts while landing ground-and-pound. Ziam has outstanding cardio and tends to heat up as the fight continues, steadily increasing his pace and output.

Axel Sola lands a vicious kick to the chin of Rhys McKee. Credit: MMA Junkie.

Sola has won four of his last five outings and has UFC victories over Ismael Bonfim (20-7-0) and Rhys McKee (15-7-1). He’s an efficient, highly technical striker who’s comfortable anywhere the fight goes. Although he’s only been a professional since 2021, he had an extensive amateur MMA career with a 19-4 record. Sola always fights behind his jab and will look to wear down his opponent with footwork and straight punches before turning up the heat and going for a finish. Training with the Boxing Squad, he’s a solid grappler with great scrambles and reversals, and he will constantly look to posture up and land ground-and-pound from top position. He has outstanding striking in the clinch, especially with his elbows and knees, and will regularly keep his opponent against the cage and batter them with strikes. Sola has excellent cardio and gets increasingly dangerous as the fight continues, with six of his eight finishes coming after the first round.

#12 Dan Hooker vs. Salahdine Parnasse

Dan Hooker stuns Jalin Turner with a stiff jab. Credit: MMA Fighting.

Lightweight Bout

Dan Hooker: 24-14-0, 11 KO/TKO, 7 Sub.

Salahdine Parnasse: 23-2-0, 8 KO/TKO, 7 Sub.

Hooker has won three of his last five bouts and has UFC victories over #9-ranked Lightweight Mateusz Gamrot (25-4-0), Jalin Turner (16-9-0), and Gilbert Burns (22-10-0). He’s a vicious striker who’s always coming forward, looking to turn things into a dogfight. He has solid head movement and counterstriking, but he’s 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, with 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.

Salahdine Parnasse unloads heavy ground-and-pound shots onto Kenneth Cross. Credit: The Independent.

Parnasse is on a five-fight win streak and making his UFC debut. He’s a former KSW Lightweight and Featherweight champion with big-time punching power and outstanding grappling. He’s always in motion, doing everything with impressive speed, never telegraphing his attacks, and tending to headhunt. Parnasse has excellent counterstriking and favors power over volume, often catching his opponent with vicious power shots just as they enter his range. He’s very explosive and accurate, rarely wasting energy and always doing serious damage when he lands. He has solid takedowns and is very aggressive on top, relentlessly raining down ground-and-pound and hunting for chokes. Parnasse tends to improve as the fight goes on and has secured eleven of his fifteen finish wins between rounds 2 and 4.

Best Bets

Donchenko vs. Soriano Over 1.5 Rounds: This is an excellent matchup of two exciting Welterweights. Although I expect this fight to be highly entertaining, I don’t anticipate an early finish. Both fighters have proven to be impressively durable and possess serious punching power, which will likely lead them to fight a bit more cautiously than usual. I also expect Soriano to look to slow the pace throughout with his wrestling, and for a decent amount of this fight to play out on the mat. I believe there will be a brief feeling-out process to start the fight, with each fighter testing each other’s power and finding their range. As the fight continues, I expect Soriano to repeatedly pursue takedowns and clinch up, not allowing Donchenko to push his usual frenetic pace early on and significantly lowering the threat of a knockout from either side. I expect this fight to have plenty of wild moments, but I’m confident that it will last at least a round and a half.

Axel Sola Moneyline: This is a fascinating matchup of two excellent French talents. Both have well-rounded skill sets and are dangerous anywhere, but I believe Sola’s aggression and durability will be the difference maker. Ziam is exceptionally technically skilled on both his feet and on the mat, but he doesn’t always push a strong pace, often clinching up and controlling his opponent while avoiding risk. Sola is practically the opposite in terms of style: still very well-rounded, but constantly pushing the action and throwing caution to the wind in search of a finish. I expect Sola to come out guns blazing, immediately pressuring Ziam and not allowing him to get comfortable or establish a rhythm. As the fight continues, I believe Sola will stay right in Ziam’s face, doing damage, wearing down his cardio, and forcing him to exchange in the pocket. Ultimately, I expect plenty of heavily contested exchanges on their feet and on the mat, but I think Sola will be able to outgun and outlast Ziam en route to an impressive victory on home soil.

Hooker vs. Parnasse Under 3.5 Rounds: This is a fascinating matchup between an established veteran and a dangerous debutante that I’ve been looking forward to. Both fighters have finished the majority of their professional wins, and neither sees the scorecards often. Hooker always pushes a heavy pace and never backs down from a scrap, and Parnasse is making his UFC debut in his home country, so I’d imagine he’s pursuing a big-time finish to put his name on the map. I expect this fight to get off to a very quick start, with both fighters meeting in the middle and letting their hands go. I anticipate plenty of wild striking exchanges early on, with both swinging for the fences and taking damage. As the fight continues, I expect some grappling exchanges, likely initiated by Parnasse, but I don’t believe the pace will slow much, and things will be just as entertaining on the ground. Regardless of who secures the finish, I expect both men to go all-out throughout this fight, and for it to end within three and a half rounds.

UFC Fight Night: Nurmagomedov vs. Song Preview

Umar Nurmagomedov rains down brutal ground-and-pound onto Deiveson Figueiredo. Credit: MMA Mania.

The UFC heads to Shanghai Oriental Sports Center in Shanghai, China, with a fantastic Fight Night card. There are plenty of top-notch matchups, surging prospects, and excellent local talent looking to score an impressive victory this Saturday. In the co-main event, two dangerous Strawweight strikers will collide when Yan Xiaonan takes on Denise Gomes. In the main event, two top-ten Bantamweights go head-to-head when Umar Nurmagomedov takes on Song Yadong. Let’s take a look at the fights on the main card.

Bilal Hasan vs. Nilson Rojas

Bilal Hasan lands a crushing right hand on Mridul Saikia. Credit: MMA Mania.

Flyweight Bout

Bilal Hasan: 9-0-0, 7 KO/TKO, 1 Sub.

Nilson Rojas: 9-0-0, 7 KO/TKO, 0 Sub.

Hasan is undefeated and making his UFC debut. He’s an outstanding, flashy striker with heavy hands and a devastating arsenal of kicks. He is a 3rd-degree black belt in Taekwondo and uses his kicking game to set up everything, constantly blasting his opponent with quick, heavy kicks from range before closing the distance to let his hands go. Hasan is in perpetual motion and has fantastic range management, rarely absorbing much damage and doing a great job of entering and exiting the pocket from different angles. He regularly switches stances and won’t telegraph any of his attacks, instead remaining composed and picking his shots carefully. Training at Charlie’s Combat Club, he won’t usually take the fight to the mat but has great takedown and submission defense. Hasan has only gone the distance once in his professional career, but he has solid cardio and can comfortably carry his power and speed across three rounds.

Nilson Rojas poses with his team. Credit: Inka MMA.

Rojas is undefeated and making his UFC debut. He’s a powerful scrapper who’s always coming forward to do damage. He has excellent boxing and will constantly look to close the distance to unload combinations of heavy, tight hooks inside the pocket. Rojas is very defensively sound, always keeping his guard high and using fantastic head movement to avoid taking damage. He throws everything with knockout intent but remains unpredictable, constantly varying his entry angles, targets, and attacks. Training at Pitbull Martial Arts center, he rarely initiates grappling exchanges but has great takedown defense and balance, making him very tough to bring down to the mat. Rojas has scored the majority of his finishes in the first round, but he has great cardio and can produce a knockout at any time.

Liu Ce vs. Levi Rodrigues Jr.

Liu Ce celebrates after succesfully defending his K-1 Cruiserweight title. Credit: K-1.

Light Heavyweight Bout

Liu Ce: 3-1-0, 3 KO/TKO, 0 Sub.

Levi Rodrigues Jr.: 5-1-0, 5 KO/TKO, 0 Sub.

Ce has won three of his last four fights and is making his UFC debut. He’s a professional kickboxer and former K-1 champion with devastating power. He’s lengthy and uses his reach well, controlling the center of the cage and forcing his opponent to the outside while constantly battering them with kicks from range, especially to the legs. Ce favors power over volume, regularly unloading single punches, two-punch combinations, or naked kicks, all thrown with knockout intent. He will constantly pressure his opponent and is equally dangerous at range and on the inside, able to produce a finish with both his hands and kicks. Training at Tangshan Buntai Riding Fight Club, he won’t typically bring the fight to the mat, but he has solid throws from the clinch and decent takedown defense. Ce has won all his professional MMA bouts via knockout, along with fourteen of his eighteen kickboxing victories.

Levi Rodrigues Jr. lands a thudding left hook on Felipe Franco. Credit: MMA Junkie.

Rodrigues has won three of his last five bouts, with one No Contest, and is seeking his first UFC win. He’s a marauding brawler who’s always willing to throw down in the pocket. He heavily favors his hands and tends to headhunt, constantly unloading heavy power shots and looping hooks. He relentlessly pressures his opponent and is always willing to eat a shot to land one. Rodrigues is willing to grapple, has solid takedown defense, and will unload brutal ground-and-pound if he secures top position. Training at Inside Muay Thai, he won’t rely on much footwork, instead staying in front of his opponent and constantly looking to close the distance and throw bombs. Rodrigues has secured three of his five knockout victories in the first round and is most dangerous early on.

Alex Perez vs. #13 Sumudaerji

Alex Perez blasts Matheus Nicolau with a vicious right hook. Credit: MMA Mania.

Flyweight Bout

Alex Perez: 26-10-0, 7 KO/TKO, 7 Sub.

Sumudaerji: 19-7-0, 13 KO/TKO, 1 Sub.

Perez has won two of his last five outings, with one no contest, and has UFC victories over #14-ranked Flyweight Charles Johnson (20-9-0), Matheus Nicolau (19-6-1), and Jussier Formiga (24-8-0). He’s a well-rounded fighter with brutal leg kicks and solid wrestling. He pushes a heavy pace from bell to bell, regularly blitzing forward to unload lengthy combinations and batter his opponent with straights and uppercuts. Perez varies his shots, constantly opening combinations with different punches from different angles. Training with Team Oyama, he’s averaging over two takedowns per fifteen minutes and has heavy top control. He’ll usually pursue a submission over ground and pound and has dangerous chokes, particularly his anaconda choke. He always leaves everything inside the cage and rarely sees the judges’ scorecards, with twelve of his fifteen UFC fights not going the distance. Perez is dangerous at all times, especially early on, and has earned twelve first-round finishes in his professional career.

Sumudaerji lands a cracking jab on Jesus Aguilar. Credit: Zuffa LLC.

Sumudaerji has won three of his last five outings, with one no contest, and holds UFC victories over #11-ranked Flyweight Kevin Borjas (11-5-0), #12-ranked Flyweight Mitch Raposo (11-3-0), and Malcolm Gordon (14-8-0). He’s a dangerous scrapper with a lethal arsenal of kicks. He’s highly accurate, throwing every shot with knockout intent and typically favoring power over volume. He remains technical throughout, constantly firing his jab before unloading heavy kicks. Sumudaerji has excellent distance management but isn’t the most mobile striker, often standing still in front of his opponents while looking to counterstrike. Training at Enbo Fight Club, he’s unlikely to initiate grappling exchanges, but he has solid defensive wrestling and has successfully defended 73% of takedowns attempted on him in the UFC. Sumudaerji always comes out guns blazing, with eleven of his thirteen knockouts coming in round one.

Aoriqileng vs. Kai Asakura

Aoriqileng drops Cody Gibson with a powerful right hand. Credit: MMA Mania.

Bantamweight Bout

Aoriqileng: 26-13-0, 9 KO/TKO, 1 Sub.

Kai Asakura: 22-6-0, 14 KO/TKO, 3 Sub.

Aoriqileng has won two of his last five fights, with one no contest, and has UFC wins over Cody Gibson (22-13-0), Johnny Muñoz (12-4-0), and Cameron Else (11-6-0). He’s a slick striker with a Sanda background who’s always dangerous. He’s very explosive, often starting slow and offering little in movement or feints before suddenly coming forward to unload heavy shots. Aoriqileng tends to heat up as the fight continues, steadily increasing his aggression and output while remaining technical throughout. Training at Fight Ready, he’s a solid grappler with heavy ground-and-pound and solid submission defense. He does an excellent job of varying his attacks, never headhunting and constantly mixing up his targets between the head, body, and legs of his opponents. Aoriqileng carries his power throughout the fight and can produce a finish at any time, but he has secured eight of his nine knockout wins in the first round and is especially dangerous early on.

Kai Asakura tags Cameron Smotherman with a damaging left hook. Credit: MMA Fighting.

Asakura has won three of his last five bouts and holds a UFC victory over Cameron Smotherman (12-7-0). A former Rizin Bantamweight champion, he’s a hard-hitting, scrappy fighter who maintains a high pace at all times. He constantly varies his attacks between the head and body, packs serious power in his hands, and has particularly dangerous knees. Asakura often looks to counterstrike, using his distance management and head movement to catch his opponents with heavy shots as they enter the pocket. He throws everything with power and in combination but won’t get sloppy, instead remaining elusive and technical, never telegraphing his attacks. Training at Japan Top Team, he has excellent takedown defense and scrambles, often finding himself in top position after grappling exchanges. Asakura is at his best when he’s controlling the pace and the center of the cage, but he’s willing to brawl and has a solid chin.

#4 Yan Xiaonan vs. #9 Denise Gomes

Yan Xiaonan stuns Tabatha Ricci with a left hook. Credit: MMA Mania.

Women’s Strawweight Bout

Yan Xiaonan: 19-5-0, 8 KO/TKO, 1 Sub.

Denise Gomes: 12-3-0, 7 KO/TKO, 0 Sub.

Xiaonan has won three of her last five outings and has UFC victories over Strawweight champion Mackenzie Dern (17-5-0), #12-ranked Strawweight Tabatha Ricci (12-5-0), and Jéssica Andrade (26-15-0). She’s an excellent technical kickboxer who throws everything in combination. She regularly opens combinations with powerful kicks, especially sidekicks. Xiaonan never telegraphs her strikes, often keeping her hands down and throwing from her hip. She won’t typically initiate grappling exchanges, but she has solid top control and ground-and-pound, and has defended 64% of takedowns attempted on her in the UFC. She’s proven to be highly durable and has excellent cardio, always comfortable pushing a consistent pace across three rounds. Xiaonan lands, on average, about 70 significant strikes per fight in the UFC and is always coming forward to exchange.

Denise Gomes blasts Elise Reed with a cracking right hand. Credit: MMA Mania.

Gomes has won four of her last five fights and has UFC wins over Tecia Pennington (15-8-0), Karolina Kowalkiewicz (16-10-0), and Yazmin Jauregui (11-2-0). She’s a power-punching striker who’s always hunting for a knockout. She relentlessly pressures her opponents, stalking them down, controlling the center of the cage, and regularly punching her way into the pocket. Gomes throws everything with power and is constantly looking to land her right hand, particularly with overhands and hooks. Training with the GAEA Project, she has solid trips and throws from the clinch and smothering top pressure. She’s successfully defended 66% of takedowns attempted on her in the UFC and has excellent reversals, often securing top position even when taken down. Gomes tends to heat up as the fight continues, having secured five of her seven knockout victories in the second or third round.

#2 Umar Nurmagomedov vs. #6 Song Yadong

Umar Nurmagomedov elevates Mario Bautista for a vicious slam. Credit: MMA Mania.

Bantamweight Bout

Umar Nurmagomedov: 20-1-0, 2 KO/TKO, 7 Sub.

Song Yadong: 23-9-1, 9 KO/TKO, 4 Sub.

Nurmagomedov has won four of his last five bouts and has UFC victories over #4 ranked Bantamweight Mario Bautista (18-3-0), #5-ranked Bantamweight Cory Sandhagen (18-7-0), and #11-ranked Bantamweight Deiveson Figueiredo (25-7-1). He’s a technical, well-rounded fighter with big power in his hands and dominant wrestling. He’s constantly switching stances and throwing lead leg attacks, always moving and never staying in one spot for long. Training at the American Kickboxing Academy, Nurmagomedov has fantastic takedowns and top control, often landing takedowns in open space and quickly advancing position. He’s averaging over four takedowns per fifteen minutes and remains patient in top position, always looking for openings to land ground and pound or grab a submission. He has devastating power in his hands and can produce a flash knockout at any moment. Nurmagomedov regularly looks to take his opponent’s back, with six of his seven submissions wins have been via rear-naked choke.

Song Yadong lands a heavy kick to the head of Deiveson Figueiredo. Credit: MMA Mania.

Song has won three of his last five outings and holds UFC victories over #11-ranked Bantamweight Deiveson Figueiredo (25-7-1), Henry Cejudo (16-6-0), and Ricky Simón (22-7-1). He’s a powerful, technical striker with excellent wrestling and takedown defense. He throws everything with serious power, constantly alternating between battering his opponents’ legs with kicks and unloading vicious power shots with his hands. Training at Team Alpha Male, Song is extremely explosive, closes distance very quickly, and has outstanding footwork. He is very tough to take to the mat and has great chokes that can produce an impressively quick tap from his opponent. He’s always willing to eat a shot to land one, regularly marching through punches to close the distance and throw his own offense. Song is rarely in a boring fight and has earned seven post-fight bonuses during his UFC tenure.

Best Bets

Kai Asakura by KO/TKO: This is an exciting matchup between two powerful strikers. Although both are dangerous on their feet, I believe Asakura is more technically skilled and much more powerful. Although Asakura struggled upon entering the UFC, both of his initial losses were to ranked opponents, one of whom was the champion, and I don’t believe Aoriqileng has fought someone of Asakura’s caliber. I expect Asakura’s counterstriking to be a major factor, and for him to take advantage of Aoriqileng's aggression and output, using his footwork and head movement to avoid significant damage and land clean shots in return. I expect this fight to get off to a quick start, with both fighters letting their hands go from the opening bell and taking plenty of risks. As the fight continues, I expect Asakura to get the better of their exchanges, doing damage and forcing Aoriqileng to grow desperate. Once he does, I don’t think it will take long for Asakura to land the knockout blow and secure his second consecutive UFC victory.

Denise Gomes Moneyline: This is an excellent matchup between two top-ten Strawweights. Xiaonan has consistently struggled against grapplers in her UFC career and often relies on her power and pace to control fights, both of which I expect Gomes to exploit. Gomes has the punching power to match Xiaonan on the feet and rarely takes a backward step, often controlling the center of the cage and forcing her opponent to the outside. She’s also shown solid grappling and wrestling in her recent outings, so I expect her to look for takedowns to slow the fight and wear down Xiaonan’s cardio. I expect Gomes to apply pressure from the opening bell, not letting Xiaonan get comfortable on her feet or control the range. As the fight continues, I expect Gomes to land multiple takedowns and do damage on the ground, significantly reducing the threat from Xiaonan. Ultimately, I expect Gomes to be in control throughout and to climb higher in the rankings with another impressive win.

Umar Nurmagomedov by Decision: This is an intriguing matchup between two well-rounded fighters that I’ve been looking forward to. Both are dangerous anywhere the fight goes, but each has a clear advantage: Song has a power advantage, and Nurmagomedov has a grappling advantage. Song is a very solid wrestler in his own right, but as we’ve seen time and again, Dagestani wrestlers seem to be levels ahead of everyone else, and I expect more of the same in this matchup. I believe this fight will get off to an entertaining start, with close striking exchanges and both fighters doing damage before Nurmagomedov inevitably starts pursuing takedowns. I don’t expect it to take long for Nurmagomedov to bring the fight to the mat, and I expect him to do so repeatedly, slowing Song down and making it harder and harder for Song to return to his feet. As the fight continues and Song starts to gas out, I expect Nurmagomedov to take full control, smothering Song with top pressure and ground-and-pound. Nurmagomedov doesn’t produce many finishes, and Song is a very tough out, so I’m confident this fight will last all five rounds, with Nurmagomedov earning a dominant victory.

UFC Fight Night: Hernandez vs. Rodrigues Preview

Anthony Hernandez locks in a tight rear naked choke on Brendan Allen. Credit: MMA Mania.

The UFC heads to the Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, California, for a stacked Fight Night card. There are plenty of fantastic matchups, hungry prospects, and wily veterans all looking to earn a highlight-reel win this Saturday. In the co-main event, two dangerous Heavyweights collide when marauding wrestler Serghei Spivac takes on the heavy-handed Vitor Petrino. In the main event, two top-ten Middleweights look to enter the title conversation as relentless grinder Anthony Hernandez squares off against vicious power-puncher Gregory Rodrigues. Let’s take a look at the fights on the main card.

Anthony Wint vs. Terrence Chatman

The referee steps in as Anthony Wint rains down ground-and-pound onto Matt Adams. Credit: MMA Mania.

Heavyweight Bout

Anthony Wint: 7-0-0, 5 KO/TKO, 1 Sub.

Terrence Chatman: 5-1-0, 4 KO/TKO, 0 Sub.

Wint is undefeated and making his UFC debut. He’s a powerful knockout artist with a solid wrestling background. He’s patient, picking his openings and using his explosiveness to close distance quickly and start unloading vicious power punches. Wint tends to headhunt and favors power over volume, not throwing many shots but unleashing every one with knockout intent. Training at Kill Cliff FC, he has good entries and timing on his takedowns, typically shooting blast double legs and driving his opponent across the cage or into the fence. Once in top position, he immediately looks to posture up and rain down massive ground-and-pound shots. Wint has decent cardio and carries his power throughout a fight, but he has produced four finishes in 45 seconds or less and is especially dangerous early on.

Terrance Chatman celebrates his victory over Juan Torres. Credit: Fury FC.

Chatman has won four of his last five fights and is making his UFC debut. He’s a technical striker with one-shot knockout power. He has solid distance management and will consistently damage his opponent with kicks to the legs and body before stepping into the pocket to throw bombs. He offers very little in terms of output but makes up for it with power, regularly firing single punches and throwing them as hard as possible. Training at 4oz. Fight Club, he has solid footwork and good timing, often catching his opponents with huge hooks as they enter or leave the pocket. He won’t typically initiate grappling exchanges but will land heavy ground-and-pound shots if he finds himself in top position. Chatman rarely looks to brawl or get wild and is at his best in a slower, more technical striking match.

Carli Judice vs. Jeisla Chaves

Carli Judice lands a thudding knee to the body of Nicolle Caliari. Credit: Zuffa LLC.

Women’s Flyweight Bout

Carli Judice: 6-2-0, 5 KO/TKO, 0 Sub.

Jeisla Chaves: 8-0-0, 4 KO/TKO, 0 Sub.

Judice has won three of her last five bouts and holds UFC victories over Nicole Caliari (9-4-0), Yuneisy Duben (6-2-0), and Julianna Miller (6-4-0). She’s a sharp volume striker who’s always pressuring her opponent and doing damage. She’s in perpetual motion, pushing a high pace from the opening bell, throwing everything in combination and regularly mixing kicks into her attacks. Judice fights behind her jab and remains technical and precise throughout, maintaining excellent distance management and constantly darting in and out of the pocket to land quick, clean punches. Training at Headkicks MMA, she varies her targets well and regularly lands vicious body shots, particularly with her knees. She won’t usually pursue takedowns, but she has outstanding takedown defense and a great sprawl. Judice has shown outstanding output in her brief UFC tenure, averaging about 94 significant strikes per fight so far.

Jeisla Chaves charges wildly at Yuneisy Duben. Credit: MMA Mania.

Chaves is undefeated and has a UFC win over Yuneisy Duben (6-2-0). She’s a power-punching scrapper with great BJJ skills. She’s always pursuing a knockout and rarely throws from range, instead looking to get inside and let her hands go. Chaves has strong clinch striking, particularly with her knees and elbows, and regularly lands heavy shots as her opponent breaks away. Training with the Gomes Fight Team, she’s very durable and willing to exchange in the pocket, often eating shots as she unloads combinations of long straights and looping hooks. She holds a purple belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, constantly hunts for a submission on the mat, and has an excellent backtake. Chaves carries her power throughout the fight and throws with knockout intent until the final bell.

MarQuel Mederos vs. Mason Jones

Marquel Mederos blasts Chris Padilla with a vicious elbow. Credit: MMA Junkie.

Lightweight Bout

MarQuel Mederos: 11-1-1, 6 KO/TKO, 0 Sub.

Mason Jones: 18-2-0, 8 KO/TKO, 3 Sub.

Mederos has won four of his last five outings, with one draw, and has UFC victories over Austin Hubbard (17-10-0), Landon Quiñones (7-3-1), and Mark Choinski (8-1-0). He’s a precise, patient striker with devastating kicks and accurate hands. He’s always moving and feinting, staying elusive through constant stance switches and head movement. Mederos won’t telegraph his attacks, instead waiting for openings to burst into the pocket and fire quick, clean combinations. He’s dangerous on the inside and at distance, constantly battering his opponents with slicing elbows and thudding leg kicks. Training at FactoryX Muay Thai, he usually won’t bring the fight to the mat, but he has a purple belt in BJJ and outstanding takedown defense. Mederos has great cardio and can maintain a heavy pace for fifteen minutes, remaining dangerous throughout.

Mason Jones cracks Axel Sola with a stiff jab. Credit: MMA Mania.

Jones is on a seven-fight win streak, with UFC victories coming over Axel Sola (12-1-1), Bolaji Oki (10-4-0), and Jeremy Stephens (29-23-0). He’s a well-rounded scrapper who’s willing to engage the fight anywhere. He holds black belts in Judo and BJJ but is comfortable on his feet, primarily using his stand-up to secure his recent victories. Jones holds the center of the cage well and constantly presses forward while unloading crisp combinations. He regularly throws kicks from range and at the end of punch combinations, occasionally mixing in flashy spinning kicks. Training at Pedro Bessa BJJ, he’s in his second tenure with the promotion and is averaging over four takedowns landed per fifteen minutes in the UFC. Jones has finished four of his seven consecutive victories by knockout and heats up as the fight continues.

Reinier de Ridder vs. Roman Dolidze

Reinier de Ridder exchanges heavy blows with Caio Borralho. Credit: MMA Fighting.

Light Heavyweight Bout

Reinier de Ridder: 21-4-0, 5 KO/TKO, 13 Sub.

Roman Dolidze: 15-5-0, 8 KO/TKO, 3 Sub.

De Ridder has won three of his last five fights and holds UFC victories over #11-ranked Light Heavyweight Robert Whittaker (27-9-0), Kevin Holland (29-15-0), and Bo Nickal (9-1-0). He is an outstanding, dangerous grappler with an arsenal of submissions. He has an awkward striking style, staying 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 locks and trip takedowns, often from the opening bell. He has strong top control and will continually attack and improve in top position, fluidly advancing from one position to another. He holds black belts in Judo and BJJ and uses ground-and-pound to wear down his opponent and create submission openings, typically pursuing chokes. De Ridder maintains a consistent pace throughout, but has secured nine of his thirteen submissions in the first round and is most dangerous early on.

Roman Dolidze unloads punches onto a grounded Anthony Smith. Credit: MMA Mania.

Dolidze has won three of his last five bouts and holds UFC victories over Marvin Vettori (19-10-1), Kyle Daukaus (17-5-0), and Kevin Holland (29-15-0). 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, with devastating striking at close range, particularly with his knees. He’s averaging over one takedown per 15 minutes and has solid top control and heavy ground-and-pound. Training at Xtreme Couture, he favors power over volume and often gets 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.

#9 Serghei Spivac vs. #11 Vitor Petrino

Serghei Spivac lands a vicious right hand on Ante Deljia. Credit: MMA Mania.

Heavyweight Bout

Serghei Spivac: 18-6-0, 7 KO/TKO, 8 Sub.

Vitor Petrino: 14-2-0, 8 KO/TKO, 2 Sub.

Spivac has won two of his last five outings and has UFC victories over Marcin Tybura (27-12-0), Derrick Lewis (29-14-0), and Ante Delija (26-8-0). He’s a powerful wrestler with brutal ground-and-pound and excellent top control. He rarely wastes time before taking it to the mat, having landed at least three takedowns in nearly all his UFC wins. Although he’s most comfortable on the ground, he has heavy hands and often unloads big power shots before shooting in. Training with the Polar Bear Team, he has a diverse submission game and typically lands heavy ground-and-pound before pursuing a submission. He’s always looking to do damage on the ground but won’t force anything, always more than willing to hold half guard and work from there. Spivac rarely leaves fights up to the judges, with 11 first-round finishes in his career and 10 of his 15 bouts in the promotion not going the distance.

Vitor Petrino locks in a rear naked choke on Austen Lane. Credit: MMA Junkie.

Petrino has won three of his last five fights and has UFC wins over Modestas Bukauskas (20-7-0), Marcin Prachnio (17-9-0), and Steven Asplund (8-2-0). He’s an explosive fighter with devastating power and solid grappling. He’s constantly coming forward, headhunting and throwing every punch with enough power to produce a one-shot KO. Training at CM System, Petrino is at his most dangerous early on, regularly unloading overhands and hooks, favoring power over technique. He averages over two takedowns per fifteen minutes but is comfortable on his feet, usually resorting to grappling when he’s getting the worst of the striking exchanges. He has heavy top control and brutal ground-and-pound, averaging about one submission attempt per fifteen minutes. Petrino has surprisingly decent cardio and can push a consistent pace throughout the fight.

#7 Anthony Hernandez vs. #10 Gregory Rodrigues

Anthony Hernandez unloads ground-and-pound shots onto Edmen Shahbazyan. Credit: MMA Fighting.

Middleweight Bout

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

Gregory Rodrigues: 19-6-0, 12 KO/TKO, 3 Sub.

Hernandez has won four of his last five bouts and holds UFC victories over #5-ranked Middleweight Brendan Allen (27-7-0), Roman Dolidze (15-5-0), and Roman Kopylov (15-5-0). 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 often extends his punch combinations, 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.

Gregory Rodrigues blasts Brunno Ferreira with a powerful right hand. Credit: MMA Fighting.

Rodrigues has won four of his last five outings and has UFC victories over #11-ranked Middleweight Christian Leroy Duncan (15-2-0), Jack Hermansson (24-10-0), and Brunno Ferreira (15-4-0). He is a world-class grappler with serious knockout power. He’s always coming forward, constantly looking to blitz into the pocket to 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 he also has outstanding grappling skills and several accolades in BJJ and wrestling. He has smothering top pressure and is smart on top, working methodically and looking for openings to damage or secure submissions. Rodrigues has earned post-fight bonuses in three of his last four fights and will never back down from a scrap.

Best Bets

Carli Judice Moneyline: This is an exciting matchup between two entertaining strikers. I believe Judice’s technical skill and cardio will be the difference in this fight. Chaves has shown solid power in her hands, but she won’t offer much volume and tends to fade as the fight goes on. Judice, on the other hand, has averaged about 94 significant strikes landed per UFC appearance and consistently maintains a high pace throughout her fights. Chaves has also shown a tendency to rely on her grappling as her cardio fades, and Judice has fantastic takedown defense, which I believe will force Chaves to stay on her feet, even as she slows down. I expect this fight to get off to a quick start, with both fighters letting their hands go, but I believe Judice will land cleaner shots and throw longer, more damaging combinations. As the fight continues and Chaves fades, I expect Judice to take full control, lighting her up with clean, sharp punches en route to another impressive victory.

Reinier de Ridder by Submission: An intriguing matchup of two talented scrappers, I’ve been looking forward to this one. Both fighters are dangerous on the mat, but I believe de Ridder’s outstanding submission skills give him an advantage. Neither is a particularly technical striker, and I expect most of this fight to play out on the mat. Dolidze has BJJ skills but is much more of a wrestler, whereas de Ridder is very well-rounded on the mat, with solid wrestling and even better BJJ to back it up. Even if Dolidze initiates the grappling exchanges, I’m confident de Ridder will secure a dominant position and control the fight on the ground. The longer de Ridder can control Dolidze and wear him down, the more damage he will do and the more submission openings he can create. Once those openings are there, I’m confident de Ridder will secure a submission and put himself back into the win column.

Anthony Hernandez Moneyline: This is an outstanding matchup between two well-rounded Middleweights. Their styles are essentially opposites: Rodrigues typically relies on his power to overwhelm opponents, while Hernandez is a grinder who constantly pushes the pace and wears his opponent down. Although Rodrigues has an advantage in punching power and pure BJJ, I believe Hernandez's cardio and relentless pace will earn him the victory. Rodrigues has shown a tendency to slow as the fight goes on, and although he’s an outstanding grappler, he rarely brings the fight to the mat and has yet to earn a submission win in the UFC. I expect Hernandez to expose this by staying in his face the entire time, forcing grueling clinch exchanges along the fence, and repeatedly chaining together takedown attempts, forcing Rodrigues to work and defend nonstop. The longer the fight goes on, the more it benefits Hernandez, and as Rodrigues slows, I expect him to start damaging him on the feet as well, using volume to overcome Rodrigues' heavy power shots. I believe this will be a very entertaining fight with plenty of fun, wild exchanges on the mat and on the feet, but I’m confident that when the dust clears, Hernandez will emerge the victor.

UFC 330 Preview

Islam Makhachev lands a vicious uppercut on Dustin Poirier. Credit: Zuffa LLC.

The UFC heads to the Xfinity Mobile Arena in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, for a fantastic card. Every matchup throughout the night features top-notch contenders, rising prospects, and established veterans, all looking for a highlight-reel victory. In the co-main event, reigning women’s Strawweight champion Mackenzie Dern looks to defend her title against surging submission ace Gillian Robertson. In the main event, Welterweight champion Islam Makhachev seeks another title defense and a chance to break the UFC record for consecutive victories, but must get past dangerous striker Ian Machado Garry. Let’s take a look at the fights on the main card.

Edson Barboza vs. Esteban Ribovics

Edson Barboza catches Sodiq Yusuff with a spinning kick. Credit: MMA Fighting.

Lightweight Bout

Edson Barboza: 24-14-0, 14 KO/TKO, 1 Sub.

Esteban Ribovics: 15-3-0, 7 KO/TKO, 5 Sub.

Barboza has won two of his last five fights and has UFC victories over #12-ranked Lightweight Dan Hooker (24-14-0), Beneil Dariush (23-8-1), and Sodiq Yusuff (13-5-0). He is a true veteran and among the most respected, dangerous strikers in the UFC. He has some of the most devastating kicks in the promotion, with multiple finishes via leg and spinning kicks. Barboza never telegraphs or overextends, remaining technical throughout and always throwing in combination. Training at American Top Team, he throws everything with impressive speed and power, regularly adding heavy kicks to the end of his combinations. He rarely takes the fight to the mat but has defended 73% of takedowns attempted on him in the UFC. Barboza has earned various accolades over his 16 years in the UFC, including the second most Fight of the Night bonuses of all time, with 10, and the fourth most knockdowns of all time, with 16.

Esteban Ribovics tags Elves Brener with a thudding head kick. Credit: Zuffa LLC.

Ribovics has won three of his last five bouts and holds UFC victories over Terrance McKinney (18-9-0), Daniel Zellhuber (15-4-0), and Elves Brener (16-6-0). He’s a heavy-handed scrapper, coming out guns blazing and pushing a heavy pace from bell to bell. He’s constantly looking to close the distance and unload brutal hooks inside the pocket. Ribovics tends to brawl more as the fight goes on, often starting rounds technically and taking more risks as they progress. Training at Kill Cliff FC, he has solid defensive grappling and has proven capable of surviving in deep waters on the mat. Although he won’t typically initiate grappling scenarios, he has heavy ground-and-pound and submission skills, particularly shoulder locks. Ribovics is always dangerous, especially early on, with five of his seven knockouts coming in the first round.

Mansur Abdul-Malik vs. Dustin Stoltzfus

Mansur Abdul-Malik submits Antonio Trocoli with a vicious standing guillotine. Credit: MMA Junkie.

Middleweight Bout

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

Dustin Stoltzfus: 16-8-0, 3 KO/TKO, 6 Sub.

Abdul-Malik has won three of his last five outings, with one draw, and has UFC victories over Duško Todorović (13-7-0), 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 ready 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 unleashing a barrage of vicious, thudding ground-and-pound on 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.

Dustin Stoltzfus cracks Kelvin Gastelum with a right hand. Credit: MMA Junkie.

Stoltzfus has won two of his last five fights and owns UFC wins over Punahele Soriano (13-4-0), Marc-André Barriault (17-11-0), and Dwight Grant (11-6-0). He’s a solid wrestler with impressive power who’s always willing to engage in the pocket. He’s always coming forward, willing to hang in the pocket and brawl. Stoltzfus throws everything with power, rarely throwing straight shots and regularly unloading heavy hooks and overhands. He’s averaging over two takedowns per fifteen minutes and regularly executes vicious slams. Training at Xtreme Couture, he’s always working from top position, constantly pursuing submissions or posturing up to do damage. Stoltzfus has a wide range of martial arts experience and holds a black belt in Luta Livre, a purple belt in BJJ, and a red belt in Tang Soo Do.

Jalin Turner vs. Kauê Fernandes

Jalin Turner lands a cracking right hook on Edson Barboza. Credit: MMA Junkie.

Lightweight Bout

Jalin Turner: 15-9-0, 11 KO/TKO, 4 Sub.

Kauê Fernandes: 11-2-0, 6 KO/TKO, 2 Sub.

Turner has won two of his last five bouts and holds UFC victories over #10-ranked Welterweight Uroš Medić (14-3-0), King Green (36-17-1), and Edson Barboza (24-14-0). He’s a dangerous, lengthy striker with serious punching power and lethal submissions. He fights behind his jab and uses his size well, constantly firing long, straight punches and catching his opponents as they enter his range. He can throw with both power and volume and regularly strings together extended combinations finished with heavy kicks. Training at Carlson Gracie Riverside, Turner is averaging about one takedown per fifteen minutes and holds a brown belt in BJJ. He will land devastating ground-and-pound from top position and has excellent chokes. Turner has earned all of his professional victories via finish and secured twelve of them in the very first round.

Kauê Fernandes fires a kick to the legs of a grounded Guram Kutateladze. Credit: MMA Junkie.

Fernandes has won four of his last five outings and has UFC wins over Guram Kutateladze (13-5-0), Harry Hardwick (13-5-1), and Mohammad Yahya (12-7-0). He’s an outstanding striker with heavy hands and vicious kicks. He’s in perpetual motion, always circling along the outside of the cage while landing long, lunging kicks and punches. Fernandes throws everything with knockout power but is impressively accurate and rarely wastes energy. He will constantly batter his opponent with brutal leg kicks and can do serious damage in a hurry. Training at Nova União, he’s a solid grappler with great takedown defense but won’t typically initiate grappling exchanges. Fernandes is extremely dangerous early on and has produced five first-round finishes in under a minute and a half.

(C) Mackenzie Dern vs. #4 Gillian Robertson

Mackenzie Dern forces Nina Nunes to tap to a brutal armbar. Credit: MMA Fighting.

Women’s Strawweight Title Bout

Mackenzie Dern: 16-5-0, 0 KO/TKO, 8 Sub.

Gillian Robertson: 17-8-0, 3 KO/TKO, 9 Sub.

Dern has won three of her last five fights and owns UFC victories over #2-ranked Strawweight Virna Jandiroba (23-4-0), #11-ranked Strawweight Loopy Godínez (14-6-0), and Amanda Ribas (12-7-0). She’s a 3rd-degree BJJ black belt and among the most credentialed grapplers in the UFC. She throws every shot in combination and with bad intentions, regularly blitzing forward to unload power shots. Dern is constantly looking to close the distance to let her hands go, shoot for a takedown, or clinch up. Training at RVCA, she’s comfortable both off her back and in top position, and she’s always aggressive on the mat, constantly pursuing submissions and throwing ground-and-pound. She has outstanding sweeps and scrambles and can secure a submission from seemingly anywhere in nearly any position. Dern has scored a UFC-record 5 submission wins in the Strawweight division and has earned 7 post-fight bonuses during her tenure in the promotion.

Gillian Robertson submits Piera Rodriguez with a vicious armbar. Credit: MMA Fighting.

Robertson is on a five-fight win streak and has UFC victories over #8-ranked Strawweight Piera Rodriguez (12-2-0), #14-ranked Strawweight Amanda Lemos (15-7-1), and Marina Rodriguez (17-6-2). She’s a true submission artist with excellent wrestling and BJJ skills. She’s patient on her feet, looking for openings to land shots while controlling the center and 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 at least one takedown in eleven consecutive fights and is very active in top position, constantly advancing position and setting up submissions. Training at The Goat Shed, she maintains smothering top pressure and regularly mixes in punishing ground-and-pound while pursuing submissions. Robertson holds various UFC women’s records, including the most submission wins and the most finishes at women’s Flyweight, and is tied for the most finishes in UFC women’s history.

(C) Islam Makhachev vs. #2 Ian Machado Garry

Islam Makhachev rains down groud-and-pound shots onto Jack Della Maddalena. Credit: MMA Fighting.

Welterweight Title Bout

Islam Makhachev: 28-1-0, 5 KO/TKO, 13 Sub.

Ian Machado Garry: 17-1-0, 7 KO/TKO, 1 Sub.

Makhachev is on a sixteen-fight win streak and has UFC victories over Featherweight champion Alex Volkanovski (28-4-0), #2-ranked Lightweight Arman Tsarukyan (23-3-0), and #3-ranked Lightweight Charles Oliveira (37-11-0). He is a dominant wrestler who wastes little time taking the fight to the mat to find a finish. Training at Eagles MMA, he’s dangerous on the mat but also 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 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 ten wins. Makhachev holds several records in the Lightweight division, including the longest win streak, the most title wins, and the most title defenses.

Ian Garry lands a stiff jab on Belal Muhammad. Credit: MMA Fighting.

Garry has won four of his last five bouts and owns UFC wins over #1-ranked Welterweight Carlos Prates (24-7-0), #7-ranked Welterweight Belal Muhammad (24-6-0), and #8-ranked Middleweight Michael Page (25-3-0). He’s a precise, technical striker with solid grappling skills. He’s highly accurate, throwing everything with speed and power while staying composed and rarely wasting energy. Garry has excellent distance management and excels at controlling range, quickly darting in and out of the pocket and preventing his opponents from landing long combinations. He constantly varies 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 and is not looking to be pulled into a knockdown, drag-out brawl.

Best Bets

Mansur-Abdul Malik Moneyline: This is an exciting matchup between two consistent finishers. Although both fighters are dangerous, I believe Abdul-Malik has a significant power advantage and should be able to match Stoltzfus on the mat. I don’t expect either fighter to be overly cautious, but Stoltzfus’s grappling tendencies could slow the pace, which makes me hesitant to bet on a finish. Regardless, I expect plenty of entertaining exchanges on the feet, with Abdul-Malik getting the better of them by using his reach to back Stoltzfus up and land big shots. As the fight continues, I expect more sequences in the clinch along the cage or on the mat, likely initiated by Stoltzfus but ultimately controlled by Abdul-Malik. Regardless of how or when this fight ends, I expect it to be an impressive, dominant victory for Abdul-Malik.

Mackenzie Dern Moneyline: This is an intriguing matchup between two experienced grapplers. Both fighters are known for their submission skills, but I believe Dern is far more dangerous on the mat and has the chin and power to control the striking exchanges. Neither is a particularly technical striker, but Dern lands significant strikes at a higher rate per minute (3.47 vs. 2.71) and has faced higher-level competition than Robertson. Robertson likely has a wrestling advantage, but as we’ve seen repeatedly in Dern’s fights, she’s not only a submission threat from her back but also has outstanding reversals and sweeps. I believe she’ll find her way to top position in most grappling exchanges against Robertson. I expect this fight to get off to a quick start, with both fighters meeting in the middle and letting their hands go until one inevitably shoots a takedown. Once the fight hits the mat, I expect Dern to take over, wearing down Robertson with constant submission attempts and ground-and-pound. The longer the fight goes, the more I expect Robertson to fade, and I believe Dern will ultimately earn her first title defense.

Islam Makhachev by Submission: This is a matchup of two outstanding Welterweights that I’ve been looking forward to. Garry’s significant height advantage presents an interesting puzzle for Makhachev to solve, but I believe Makhachev’s power and outstanding wrestling will be the difference maker. Garry is primarily known for his kickboxing skills, but since moving his training to Chute Boxe, he has shown a tendency to initiate grappling exchanges and spend less time at range, which I believe will be to his detriment in this matchup. I expect Makhachev to close the distance from the opening bell, getting inside to land power shots and shoot for takedowns. Once Makhachev gets the fight to the ground, I don’t expect Garry to have much of an answer. The longer Makhachev maintains control on the ground, the more damage he’ll do and the worse it will get for Garry. I’m confident that before the final bell, Makhachev will secure a dominant position and force Garry to submit, adding another fight to his lengthy win streak.

UFC Fight Night: Medić vs. Rodriguez

Uroš Medić lands a thudding uppercut on Tim Means. Credit: MMA Junkie.

The UFC heads to Belgrade Arena in Belgrade, Serbia, for an exciting Fight Night card. The event is loaded with high-level prospects, popular local talent, and established veterans, all looking for a highlight-reel victory this weekend. In the co-main event, former Light Heavyweight champion Jan Błachowicz will take on surging kickboxer Navajo Stirling. In the main event, red-hot knockout artist Uroš Medić will square off with the always-dangerous Daniel Rodriguez. Let’s take a look at the fights on the main card.

Miloš Janičić vs. Noah Gugnon

Miloš Janičić fires a stiff left hand at Jaroslav Pokorný. Credit: Oktagon MMA.

Lightweight Bout

Miloš Janičić: 19-3-0, 11 KO/TKO, 8 Sub.

Noah Gugnon: 9-2-0, 6 KO/TKO, 3 Sub.

Janičić is on an eight-fight win streak and making his UFC debut. He’s a powerful, accurate kickboxer with outstanding technical skills. He’s composed and takes his time, throwing with plenty of power and volume without getting wild. Janičić will constantly look to set up his lead hand and fights behind his jab, constantly pumping it out before throwing power shots. Training at Borilački Klub, he regularly mixes body shots into combinations and tends to heat up as the fight continues, increasing his output and pace. He won’t typically shoot for takedowns, but he has solid scrambles on the mat and will relentlessly rain down vicious ground-and-pound from top position. Janičić has fought in three weight classes across various combat sports, including bare-knuckle boxing, kickboxing, and MMA, so he’s never afraid of a scrap.

Noah Gugnon is announced inside the cage before defeating Bruno Matos De Souza. Credit: Ares FC.

Gugnon is on a five-fight win streak and making his UFC debut. He’s a versatile fighter with strong wrestling and explosive striking. He throws every shot with knockout intent and is always coming forward, pressuring his opponent and crashing into the pocket to land heavy combinations. Gugnon has solid distance management and won’t take much damage, but he can get wild and swing for the fences, unloading huge, looping hooks and uppercuts. Training at Ghost Arena, he uses his aggressive striking to mask his grappling, and he has excellent throws from the clinch. He has heavy top pressure and is relentless in top position, constantly working to posture up and do damage while looking for openings to grab a choke. He has finished all of his professional wins, with six of those nine finishes coming in the first round.

Vlasto Čepo vs. Gilbert Urbina

Vlasto Čepo unloads punches onto a grounded Ion Taburceanu. Credit: Oktagon MMA.

Middleweight Bout

Vlasto Čepo: 14-3-0, 10 KO/TKO, 4 Sub.

Gilbert Urbina: 7-5-0, 2 KO/TKO, 2 Sub.

Čepo has won four of his last five fights and is making his UFC debut. He’s a wild, power-punching brawler who always pushes the pace. He comes out guns blazing, pressuring his opponent from the opening bell and unloading looping shots. Čepo is more than willing to eat a punch to land one and has proven impressively durable, able to recover from serious damage and keep brawling. He throws every shot with serious power, sitting down and loading up regularly while headhunting relentlessly. Training at Spartakus Fight Gym, he rarely initiates grappling exchanges but has good get-ups and will rain down brutal ground-and-pound if he finds himself in top position. Čepo is extremely dangerous early on and has secured all of his professional wins by finish, with all but one of his finishes coming in the first round.

Gilbert Urbina lets his hands go on Orion Cosce. Credit: MMA Fighting.

Urbina has won one of his last five bouts and has a UFC win over Orion Cosce (8-2-0). He’s a powerful, well-rounded fighter who’s always pursuing a finish. He throws every shot with power and uses his size effectively, regularly firing heavy, long straight punches. He has great knees and will constantly blast his opponent to the body in the clinch. Training at the BMF Ranch, Urbina is averaging nearly three takedowns per fifteen minutes in the UFC and will immediately look to do damage from the top position. He constantly throws ground-and-pound, always choosing position over submission and attempting submissions only when they’re presented to him. Urbina is willing to get wild, brawling in the pocket or attempting flashy strikes on the feet.  

Duško Todorović vs. Robert Valentin

Duško Todorović lands a cracking right hand on José Medina. Credit: MMA Junkie.

Middleweight Bout

Duško Todorović: 13-6-0, 8 KO/TKO, 4 Sub.

Robert Valentin: 12-6-0, 3 KO/TKO, 8 Sub.

Todorović has won two of his last five outings and has UFC victories over Maki Pitolo (15-11-0), Dequan Townsend (22-13-0), and José Medina (11-7-0). He’s a well-rounded scrapper who’s dangerous anywhere the fight goes. He has solid power in his hands and is willing to take a shot to land one, regularly charging forward and throwing heavy hooks while keeping his chin high. Todorović has a solid arsenal of kicks he’ll use from range, typically throwing naked kicks to the head or legs. Training at Secutor, he has black belts in Taekwondo and BJJ and is willing to grapple, often pursuing takedowns early in the fight. He’s solid in top position, maintaining control of his opponent while constantly looking to posture up and unload ground and pound. Todorović has secured eight of his twelve finishes in round one and is most dangerous early on.

Robert Valentin lands a clean kick to the body of Julien LeBlanc. Credit: MMA Fighting.

Valentin has won two of his last five fights and holds a UFC victory over Julien LeBlanc (10-3-0). He’s a well-rounded, explosive fighter who can secure a finish from anywhere. He throws every shot with power, steadily firing long, heavy punches and powerful kicks. Valentin constantly comes forward, pressuring his opponent while looking for openings to blitz into the pocket and throw bombs. Training at Fight Move Academy, he has a background in Judo and will typically look to clinch and pursue trips and throws rather than shoot for takedowns in open space. He’s very active in top position and will immediately look to lock up a submission once he secures a dominant position. He’s at his most dangerous early on, with eight of his eleven finishes coming in round one.

Aleksandar Rakić vs. Marcin Tybura

Aleksandar Rakić fires a heavy kick to the head of Jiri Prochazka. Credit: MMA Mania.

Heavyweight Bout

Aleksandar Rakić:14-6-0, 9 KO/TKO, 1 Sub.

Marcin Tybura: 27-11-0, 10 KO/TKO, 7 Sub.

Rakić has won one of his last five bouts and has UFC victories over Anthony Smith (38-22-0), Devin Clark (14-9-0), and Thiago Santos (22-13-0). He’s a powerful, technical striker with excellent distance management and footwork. He constantly uses feints and footwork to draw a reaction from his opponent and land counterattacks. Rakić favors power over volume, regularly throwing single shots and naked kicks from range, all with knockout intent. Training at Gym 23, he remains technical throughout, never getting sloppy even when he lets his hands go inside the pocket. He’ll often lunge forward and throw long, heavy, straight shots before returning to distance and throwing kicks. Rakić has seven first-round knockouts and can produce a flash finish anytime.

Marcin Tybura unloads ground-and-pound onto a battered Jhonata Diniz. Credit: MMA Fighting.

Tybura has won two of his last five outings and has UFC victories over #9-ranked Heavyweight Serghei Spivac (18-6-0), #14-ranked Heavyweight Mick Parkin (10-1-0), and Jhonata Diniz (9-2-0). He is a dominant, grinding wrestler with a plethora of high-level experience. He has an awkward, unorthodox style, often shifting from a plodding pace to bullrushing his opponent with heavy strikes. Tybura has solid output for a Heavyweight and does a good job of picking his shots and mixing kicks into his combinations. He has an explosive takedown game, regularly slamming his opponent to the mat and quickly advancing to a dominant position. Training at Ankos MMA, he’s always active on top and will continually work to improve while landing relentless ground-and-pound. During Tybura’s ten-year UFC tenure, he’s repeatedly put his name in the record books, holding the second most Heavyweight control time (1:15:30) and the second most Heavyweight decision wins (8).

#13 Jan Błachowicz vs. #10 Navajo Stirling

Jan Błachowicz stuns Carlos Ulberg with a powerful left hook. Credit: MMA Fighting.

Light Heavyweight Bout

Jan Błachowicz: 29-11-2, 9 KO/TKO, 9 Sub.

Navajo Stirling: 10-0-0, 6 KO/TKO, 0 Sub.

Błachowicz has won one of his last five fights, with two draws, and has wins over #7-ranked Light Heavyweight Dominick Reyes (16-5-0), #8-ranked Middleweight Israel Adesanya (24-6-0), and Aleksandar Rakić (14-6-0). He is an excellent kickboxer with serious power in his hands and kicks. He has great footwork and excels at 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 varies his shots well, regularly battering his opponents’ legs with vicious kicks. He’s averaging about one takedown per fifteen minutes and is a capable grappler, holding a black belt in BJJ and possessing excellent wrestling skills. Błachowicz has great cardio, has gone five rounds multiple times in the UFC, and has fought a who’s who of the Light Heavyweight division, making him dangerous at all times.

Navajo Stirling unloads a vicious combination onto Bruno Lopes. Credit: MMA Fighting.

Stirling is undefeated and has UFC wins over Ion Cutelaba (20-12-1), Rodolfo Bellato (13-3-1), and Bruno Lopes (14-3-0). He’s a dangerous, talented kickboxer with impressive knockout power. He remains technical and composed, fighting behind his jab and avoiding brawls. Stirling constantly fires heavy kicks from range before closing the distance, and he can do serious damage in the pocket even with little space. Training at City Kickboxing, he’s averaging about one takedown per fifteen minutes and is a solid grappler with heavy ground-and-pound. He throws every shot with power, has good cardio, and has landed, on average, about 95 total strikes per fight in the UFC. Stirling has secured more than half of his wins via knockout and can produce a finish at any time, with four of his six KO wins coming after the first round.

#14 Uroš Medić vs. #13 Daniel Rodriguez

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

Welterweight Bout

Uroš Medić:13-3-0, 11 KO/TKO, 2 Sub.

Daniel Rodriguez: 20-5-0, 9 KO/TKO, 4 Sub.

Medić has won four of his last five bouts and holds UFC victories over Geoff Neal (16-8-0), Muslim Salikhov (22-6-0), and Tim Means (33-17-1). He’s a dangerous kickboxer with great footwork and one-shot knockout power. He’s in constant pursuit of a finish but won’t get wild or overaggressive, instead remaining technical and throwing clean, straight shots. Medić is highly unpredictable, never telegraphing his attacks and throwing everything with impressive power and speed. Training at Kings MMA, he rarely wastes energy and is highly accurate, having landed 60% of the significant strikes he’s attempted in the UFC. He won’t typically initiate grappling exchanges, but he has great takedown defense and is tough to control in the clinch. Medić has yet to see the judges’ scorecards in his professional career, and his last five outings have ended in less than two and a half minutes.

Daniel Rodriguez unloads ground-and-pound shots onto Kevin Holland. Credit: MMA Junkie.

Rodriguez has won three of his last five outings and has UFC wins over Kevin Holland (29-15-0), Santiago Ponzinibbio (31-10-0), and Li Jingliang (19-9-0). He’s a scrappy boxer with a great chin and sharp striking. He has a very upright stance and favors his hands, firing kicks at range while constantly looking to close the distance and throw combinations. Training at 10th Planet Jiu-Jitsu, Rodriguez won’t throw with maximum power or speed, but he’s highly accurate and always throws in combination. He will regularly blitz forward, throwing wild combinations, and he’ll sell out for a finish if he thinks his opponent is hurt, unloading huge, wide hooks and straights. He’s proven highly durable and won’t usually look to bring the fight to the mat, but he has solid takedown defense and submissions. Rodriguez always throws with impressive output, landing, on average, 80 significant strikes in his last five UFC appearances.

Best Bets

Duško Todorović Moneyline: This is an interesting matchup between two consistent finishers. Although neither has had the most successful run in the UFC so far, I believe Todorović is the more technically skilled of the two and will be able to give Valentin problems. Valentin has good power in his hands but relatively non-technical striking, and although he has good submissions, his wrestling can be a bit lackluster. With black belts in both Taekwondo and BJJ, Todorović has a much more diverse striking game than Valentin and the skills to either match him on the ground or keep the fight standing. With both of these fighters looking for a big win to keep themselves on the roster, I’d imagine both will be taking some chances, so I anticipate a high pace from the opening bell. I expect both to be going for a finish, and I expect Todorović to get the better of Valentin on the feet and deny any takedowns sent his way. Regardless of how or when this fight ends, I’m confident Todorović will emerge the victor.

Rakić vs. Tybura Over 1.5 Rounds: I’ve been looking forward to this matchup of hard-hitting Heavyweights. This will be Rakić’s first venture at Heavyweight, and I don’t expect this fight to be fought at a very intense pace. Tybura has looked particularly slow in his recent outings, and I can’t imagine Rakić has gotten quicker after moving up in weight. I expect both to try to cancel out each other’s game plans, with Tybura looking to grapple to contain Rakić’s striking skills, and Rakić looking to stay at range, avoiding takedowns and picking away at Tybura with kicks. I anticipate a bit of a feeling-out process to start the fight, with both men respecting each other’s power, picking their shots, and looking for openings to land. I expect at least part of this fight to play out on the mat or in the clinch, further slowing the pace. I do believe there could be some fun exchanges in this fight, but I still think it lasts at least one and a half rounds.

Uroš Medić by KO/TKO: This is an intriguing matchup between two excellent strikers. Both are on win streaks, but Medić is on a far more impressive run, winning four of his last five fights by first-round knockout. To be frank, it seems Rodriguez received a main event spot largely because of his inspiring story of returning to the UFC after spending eight months in a Tijuana prison. Medić is not only much more powerful, but he’s also far more accurate and pushes a much higher pace. Rodriguez has proven to be very durable, but he can get wild and sloppy at times and was hurt repeatedly in his most recent win over Kevin Holland, something he can’t afford to do with Medić. I expect this fight to get off to a quick start, with both fighters meeting in the middle of the Octagon and immediately letting their hands go. As they stand and exchange, I don’t think it will take long for Medić to find the shot he’s looking for and knock Rodriguez out.

UFC Fight Night: Ankalaev vs Guskov Preview

Magomed Ankalaev lands a stiff left hand on Alex Pereira. Credit: MMA Fighting.

The UFC returns to the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, with an outstanding Fight Night card. There are plenty of exciting matchups throughout, featuring rising contenders, debuting prospects, and proven veterans looking to score an impressive win this Saturday. In the co-main event, we’ll see a clash of Flyweights when former title challenger Steve Erceg takes on the quickly rising Ramazan Temirov. In the main event, two top-ten Light Heavyweights will go toe-to-toe when precise striker Magomed Ankalaev faces marauding brawler Bogdan Guskov. Let’s take a look at the fights on the main card.

Abubakar Vagaev vs. Saygid Izagakhmaev

Abubakar Vagaev celebrates his Welterweight title victory in ACA. Credit: Yahoo Sports.

Welterweight Bout

Abubakar Vagaev: 24-4-0, 4 KO/TKO, 1 Sub.

Saygid Izagakhmaev: 22-3-0, 3 KO/TKO, 13 Sub.

Vagaev has won four of his last five fights and is making his UFC debut. He’s a heavy-handed striker who’s always coming forward to do damage. He won’t move much and will stay right in front of his opponent, but he has great head movement and will batter his opponent with clean counterstriking. Vagaev is very explosive, often shifting from a slow, plodding pace to suddenly unloading long, vicious combinations. Training with Akhmat Fight Team, he’s highly accurate and remains technical throughout, fighting behind his jab and picking his shots. He’s an excellent wrestler and will occasionally pursue takedowns, but largely uses his grappling skills to deny takedowns and keep the fight standing. Vagaev has plenty of five-round experience outside the UFC and can comfortably maintain a solid pace.

Saygid Izagakhmaev secures a takedown on Nicolas Dalby. Credit: MMA Mania.

Izagakhmaev has won four of his last five bouts and is looking to score his first UFC victory. He’s a dominant wrestler with smothering top pressure. He’s patient on his feet, favoring power over volume and regularly landing heavy leg kicks and looping hooks. Izagakhmaev has excellent timing on his takedowns and great reversals, often finding himself in top position after a grappling exchange. Training at the A. Nurmagomedov Martial Arts School, he focuses on maintaining control on the mat but will land brutal ground-and-pound when he chooses to posture up. He has a wide variety of submission wins on his record, with particularly dangerous chokes and armbars. Five of Izagakhmaev’s last seven fights did not go the distance, and he’s always pursuing a finish.

#7 Rizvan Kuniev vs. Tyrell Fortune

Rizvan Kuniev blasts Jailton Almeida with a vicious knee to the head. Credit: MMA Mania.

Heavyweight Bout

Rizvan Kuniev: 13-3-1, 6 KO/TKO, 2 Sub.

Tyrell Fortune: 18-3-0, 10 KO/TKO, 2 Sub.

Kuniev has won three of his last five outings, with one no contest, and holds a UFC win over Jailton Almeida (22-5-0). He’s a powerful scrapper who constantly looks 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 to throw 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 regularly looks to clinch and control his opponent before pursuing takedowns, often chaining together takedown attempts to bring the fight to the mat. He has heavy top pressure and constantly looks to posture up and land ground-and-pound. Kuniev has secured the majority of his knockouts after round one, remaining dangerous at all times.

Tyrell Fortune clips Marcin Tybura with a stiff right hand. Credit: MMA Mania.

Fortune has won four of his last five fights and has a UFC victory over Marcin Tybura (27-11-0). He’s an efficient wrestler with serious punching power. He has fast hands for a Heavyweight and remains technical throughout, varying the angles he enters the pocket from and throwing every shot with knockout intent. He’s a patient striker, not throwing often but always remaining technical and accurate while constantly looking for openings to land his right hand. Fortune will often shoot for takedowns early on and get inside, securing them with impressive speed. Training at Kill Cliff FC, he’s very active in top position, constantly working to improve while raining down relentless ground-and-pound. Fortune is a former NCAA Div. II national champion in wrestling and is always looking to bring the fight to the mat, where he’s most comfortable.

Magomed Zaynukov vs. Damian Rzepecki

Magomed Zaynukov lands a brutal front kick to the face of Lucas Caldas. Credit: MMA Mania.

Lightweight Bout

Magomed Zaynukov: 8-0-0, 5 KO/TKO, 0 Sub.

Damian Rzepecki: 10-0-0, 4 KO/TKO, 5 Sub.

Zaynukov is undefeated and making his UFC debut. He’s a former professional Muay Thai fighter with devastating striking. He throws everything in combination and with impressive power and speed, never telegraphing his attacks and rarely missing or overextending. He has fantastic counterstriking and constantly varies his targets, regularly mixing vicious body and leg kicks into his combinations. Training at the A. Nurmagomedov Martial Arts School, he’s willing to eat a shot to land one but won’t get drawn into brawls, instead remaining technical and throwing clean, tight shots throughout. He won't typically look to grapple, but he has solid control in top position and decent takedowns. Zaynukov can push a serious pace and set the Contender Series record for significant strikes landed in a Lightweight bout, battering his opponent with 248 shots over three rounds.

Damian Rzepecki is interviewed following his FEN Lightweight title victory over Marcin Jablonski. Credit: FEN.

Rzepecki is undefeated and making his UFC debut. He’s a technical striker who grows more dangerous as the fight continues. He has an awkward, highly unpredictable style, constantly feinting and circling before letting his hands go. He’s accurate, picks his shots, never charges in recklessly, and regularly unloads clean, straight punches. Rzepecki has great distance management and won’t absorb much damage, darting into the pocket to land shots before returning to range unscathed. He won’t typically initiate grappling exchanges but has strong takedown and submission defense. Rzepecki heats up as the fight goes on, increasing his pace and output, and he’s secured eight of his nine finish wins in either the second or third round.

Islam Dulatov vs. Wellington Turman

Islam Dulatov cracks Adam Fugitt with a right hook. Credit: MMA Mania.

Welterweight Bout

Islam Dulatov: 12-1-0, 8 KO/TKO, 4 Sub.

Wellington Turman: 18-8-0, 4 KO/TKO, 8 Sub.

Dulatov is on a twelve-fight win streak and holds a UFC victory over Adam Fugitt (10-6-0). He’s a marauding striker in constant pursuit of a knockout. He throws everything with blinding speed and knockout power, never telegraphing his punches or kicks. Dulatov has clean, accurate striking but is willing to hang in the pocket and exchange, and often gets wild going for a finish. He’s highly explosive, staying at range and firing kicks before suddenly blitzing forward, unloading vicious hooks and straight punches. He won’t typically look to bring the fight to the mat, but he has solid takedown defense and get-ups. Dulatov has left the first round only twice in his professional career, and of his twelve finish wins, five were secured less than one minute into the first round.

Wellington Turman submits Misha Cirkunov with a crafty armbar. Credit: MMA Fighting.

Turman has won two of his last five bouts and has UFC wins over Misha Cirkunov (15-9-0), Sam Alvey (34-18-1), and Markus Perez (12-6-0). He is a durable scrapper with a black belt in BJJ and an outstanding submission game. He will look to take the fight to the mat early but won’t typically shoot for takedowns in open space, instead clinching up and looking for throws and trips. Turman has an excellent backtake and can secure submissions with blinding speed, both from top or bottom position. He has great low kicks and will regularly fire them from range before crashing into the pocket to throw power shots. Training at Teixeira MMA & Fitness, he has a solid chin and will occasionally get flashy, throwing spinning backfists and spinning kicks. Turman has particularly lethal chokes and has secured seven of his eight submission wins via either guillotine or rear-naked choke.

#13 Steve Erceg vs. Ramazan Temirov

Steve Erceg lands a powerful jab on Tim Elliott. Credit: MMA Mania.

Flyweight Bout

Steve Erceg: 14-4-0, 2 KO/TKO, 6 Sub.

Ramazan Temirov: 19-3-0, 11 KO/TKO, 1 Sub.

Erceg has won two of his last five outings and has UFC victories over #15-ranked Flyweight Alessandro Costa (17-5-0), Tim Elliott (22-14-1), and Matt Schnell (17-11-0). He’s an extremely well-rounded fighter with technical striking and a dangerous submission game. He has clean, precise boxing and tends to headhunt but remains technical throughout. Erceg has excellent counterstriking, constantly darting out of the pocket to avoid damage and quickly returning with shots of his own. He favors his hands but has excellent kicks and hides them well, occasionally adding heavy head and body kicks at the end of his combinations. Training at Wilkes Martial Arts, he’s averaging over one takedown per fifteen minutes and can find submissions with incredible speed. Erceg has solid cardio and maintains a consistent pace throughout, never getting sloppy or putting himself in bad spots.

Ramazan Temirov blasts CJ Vergara with a left hook. Credit: MMA Fighting.

Temirov is on an eleven-fight win streak and holds UFC victories over Charles Johnson (19-9-0) and CJ Vergara (12-7-1). He’s a wild, elusive striker who’s always moving and throwing bombs. He has great distance management and will stay at range, avoiding damage before exploding forward to throw heavy overhands. Temirov won’t typically throw big combinations, but he throws everything with devastating speed and power, regularly mixing in vicious spinning attacks. He can do damage going forward or backward and is comfortable either controlling the center of the cage or floating on the outside. Training at Muradov Legion Gym, he will typically keep the fight standing, but he has solid takedowns and takedown defense. Temirov carries his power throughout the fight but slows as it continues and is at his most dangerous early on, with five of his last six wins coming via first-round knockout.

#2 Magomed Ankalaev vs. #9 Bogdan Guskov

Magomed Ankalaev lands a crushing left hand on Aleksandar Rakić. Credit: MMA Junkie.

Light Heavyweight Bout

Magomed Ankalaev: 21-2-1, 11 KO/TKO, 0 Sub.

Bogdan Guskov: 18-3-1, 15 KO/TKO, 3 Sub.

Ankalaev has won three of his last five fights, with one No Contest, and has UFC wins over #1-ranked Light Heavyweight Alex Pereira (13-4-0), #14-ranked Light Heavyweight Johnny Walker (22-10-0), and Volkan Oezdemir (21-8-0). He’s a former Light Heavyweight champion and a precise striker with an outstanding grappling background. He’s constantly pressuring his opponent but won’t get wild, instead staying composed and looking for openings to land big punches and counterstrikes. Ankalaev has great kicks and will constantly vary his targets, regularly throwing combos and ending them with kicks to the body or legs. Training at Gorets, he holds the rank of Master of Sports in Combat Sambo and averages about one takedown per fifteen minutes. He’s most comfortable on his feet but has excellent wrestling skills he can fall back on at any time. Ankalaev was the first-ever Russian UFC Light Heavyweight champion and previously held the second-longest unbeaten streak in Light Heavyweight history, going 14 consecutive fights without a loss.

Bogdan Guskov rains down ground-and-pound onto a floored Nikita Krylov. Credit: MMA Fighting.

Guskov has won four of his last five bouts, with one draw, and holds UFC victories over #15-ranked Heavyweight Ryan Spann (24-11-0), Nikita Krylov (31-12-0), and Billy Elekana (10-2-0). 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 intent. 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 he has good head movement and moves in and out of the pocket very efficiently.

Best Bets

Abubakar Vagaev by Decision: This is an excellent matchup between two skilled Welterweights. Although both are very capable fighters, I believe Vagaev is the more well-rounded of the two and has a significant striking advantage. Izagakhmaev has power in his hands but is primarily a wrestler and will usually look to take the fight to the mat as soon as possible. Vagaev is an excellent boxer with sharp, technical hands and great takedown defense, and I believe Izagakhmaev will struggle to get him to the ground or keep him there. Vagaev is very technical and tends to take his time in his fights, with 19 of his 24 wins coming via decision. I anticipate more of the same in this matchup. I expect Izagakhmaev to constantly pursue takedowns and for Vagaev to deny them, wearing down Izagakhmaev’s cardio while picking him apart with clean shots. Although I don’t expect a wild brawl, I do believe Vagaev will put on an impressive showing and earn his first UFC victory.

Steve Erceg Moneyline: I’ve been looking forward to this fascinating matchup of talented Flyweights. Both are dangerous anywhere the fight goes, but I believe Erceg’s technical skill and gas tank will be the difference-maker. In his brief UFC tenure, Temirov has proven exceptionally explosive and powerful, but his cardio looked suspect against Charles Johnson, as he slowed significantly as the fight went on. Erceg, on the other hand, seems to improve the later fights go on, letting his hands go more often and turning up the pace. Basically, the longer this fight goes, the worse it gets for Temirov. I expect Temirov to come out guns blazing, pushing a heavy pace and hunting a knockout, while Erceg stays defensive and technical, avoiding Temirov’s power shots and wild spinning attacks. Once the first round has ended, I expect Erceg to slowly take control of the fight, dictating the pace and battering Temirov with his superior boxing en route to a solid victory.

Magomed Ankalaev by KO/TKO: This is an interesting matchup of top-ten Light Heavyweights. It’s an unexpected pairing, given that Guskov took the fight on short notice, and I don’t think these fighters are very close in skill level. Ankalaev is not only the far more well-rounded of the two, but I believe his striking is much more technical than Guskov’s, and he’s faced a significantly higher level of competition in his previous outings. I expect Guskov’s aggressive, hard-charging style to play right into Ankalaev's precise counterstriking, and Ankalaev also has the ability to take the fight to the mat whenever he pleases. I anticipate this fight to get off to a hot start, with Guskov pushing the action while Ankalaev stays technical, picking his shots and letting Guskov burn himself out. As the fight continues, I expect Guskov to fade and Ankalaev to open up, letting his hands go, landing big shots, and possibly mixing in some takedowns. Ultimately, regardless of how long this fight lasts, I’m confident that Ankalaev will get the job done and knock Guskov out before the final bell.

UFC Fight Night: Du Plessis vs. Usman Preview

Dricus Du Plessis lands a powerful right hand on Sean Strickland. Credit: MMA Mania.

The UFC heads to the Paycom Center in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, with a stacked Fight Night card. The entire card has been filled with outstanding matchups, rising prospects, and established veterans looking to put on a show this Saturday night. In the co-main event, perennial Middleweight contender Jared Cannonier faces off with red-hot kickboxer Christian Leroy Duncan. In the main event, two former UFC champions will go toe-to-toe when Dricus Du Plessis takes on Kamaru Usman. Let’s take a look at the fights on the main card.

Tommy McMillen vs. Alberto Montes

Tommy McMillen blasts Manolo Zecchini with a vicious knee. Credit: MMA Fighting.

Featherweight Bout

Tommy McMillen: 10-0-0, 4 KO/TKO, 5 Sub.

Alberto Montes: 12-1-0, 1 KO/TKO, 7 Sub.

McMillen is undefeated and has a UFC victory over Manolo Zecchini (11-5-0). He’s a dangerous submission ace who loves to brawl. He’s a lengthy striker but will regularly look to close the distance, 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 to secure top position, where he’ll immediately pursue submissions, typically chokes. McMillen pushes a heavy pace from the opening bell, having left the first round only once in his career, and can secure chokes very quickly, even while standing.

Alberto Montes cracks Ricky Turcios with a stiff right hand. Credit: MMA Mania.

Montes has won four of his last five fights and has a UFC win over Ricky Turcios (13-6-0). He’s a well-rounded, technical fighter with black belts in BJJ and Taekwondo. He has very clean striking, regularly firing tight, straight shots and throwing everything in combination. Montes will regularly mix kicks into his punch combinations and can occasionally get flashy, throwing jumping kicks and spinning attacks. Training at the Goat Shed, he has great scrambles and typically finds himself in top position on the mat. He will immediately look to secure chokes when the fight goes to the ground, especially anaconda and d’arce chokes, and can lock them up with impressive speed. Montes has not gone to a decision since returning to MMA in 2021 after a four-year layoff and has won four straight fights via submission.

#7 Tabatha Ricci vs. #14 Fatima Kline

Tabatha Ricci lands a thudding kick to the body on Tecia Pennington. Credit: MMA Junkie.

Women’s Strawweight Bout

Tabatha Ricci: 12-4-0, 2 KO/TKO, 3 Sub.

Fatima Kline: 9-1-0, 4 KO/TKO, 1 Sub.

Ricci has won three of her last five bouts, with UFC victories over #4-ranked Strawweight Gillian Robertson (17-8-0), Amanda Ribas (12-7-0), and Angela Hill (19-16-0). She’s a speedy, versatile scrapper with top-notch grappling skills. She’s in perpetual motion on her feet, never staying in one spot for long and 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 holds black belts in BJJ and Judo and has excellent takedowns, averaging over two landed per 15 minutes. Training at Paragon BJJ, she’s always active in top position, constantly working to improve position and do damage. Ricci has landed at least one takedown in all her UFC victories and always looks to take the fight to the mat.

Fatima Kline lands a brutal kick to the head of Melissa Martinez. Credit: MMA Fighting.

Kline has won four of her last five outings and has UFC victories over Angela Hill (19-16-0), Melissa Martinez (8-2-0), and Viktoria Dudakova (9-2-0). She’s an efficient, accurate striker who’s just as dangerous on the mat as on her feet. She has great footwork and distance management, always circling and keeping her opponents on the end of her punches and kicks. She has very sharp hands, regularly extends long combinations, and effectively mixes heavy kicks to the body and head with her punches. She holds a black belt in BJJ and averages over two takedowns per fifteen minutes, typically securing them quickly and immediately going to work from top position. Training at MK Muay Thai, she will immediately pursue a finish on the ground, constantly improving her position so she can posture up or grab a submission. Kline has solid cardio and can maintain a heavy pace across three rounds without slowing or losing her power.

Chase Hooper vs. Mitch Ramirez

Chase Hooper locks in an armbar on Clay Guida. Credit: MMA Fighting.

Lightweight Bout

Chase Hooper: 16-5-1, 4 KO/TKO, 8 Sub.

Mitch Ramirez: 8-3-0, 5 KO/TKO, 2 Sub.

Hooper has won three of his last five fights and has UFC victories over Jim Miller (39-19-0), Jordan Leavitt (13-4-0), and Clay Guida (38-22-0). He’s an outstanding grappler with efficient wrestling and dangerous BJJ skills. He’s averaging over two takedowns per fifteen minutes and is relentless, repeatedly shooting to bring the fight to the mat. Hooper has excellent timing on his takedowns and smothering top pressure, rarely allowing opponents to return to their feet. He’s averaging over two submissions attempted per fifteen minutes and constantly pursues a variety of submissions, both from his back and on top. Training at Combat Sport and Fitness, he uses his length well when striking, constantly firing straight punches and front kicks. Hooper entered the UFC at 19 and is constantly improving every time he’s in the Octagon.

Mitch Ramirez fires a heavy left hook at Thiago Moisés. Credit: MMA Junkie.

Ramirez has won two of his last five bouts and is seeking his first UFC victory. He’s a hard-charging brawler with serious knockout power. He’s always pressuring his opponent, typically firing leg kicks from range before closing the distance to let his hands go. Ramirez is willing to take a shot to land one and will often unload combinations of wild, looping hooks and overhands once he enters the pocket. He favors power over volume, not throwing often but making every shot count. Training at Syndicate MMA, he won’t typically look to grapple, but he has solid wrestling skills and can execute impressive slams. Ramirez has gone to just one decision in his professional career and fights with a true “kill-or-be-killed” attitude.

#11 Jared Cannonier vs. #12 Christian Leroy Duncan

Jared Cannonier lands a cracking right hand on Gregory Rodrigues. Credit: MMA Fighting.

Middleweight Bout

Jared Cannonier: 18-9-0, 11 KO/TKO, 2 Sub.

Christian Leroy Duncan: 14-2-0, 10 KO/TKO, 1 Sub.

Cannonier has won two of his last five outings and has UFC victories over Middleweight champion Sean Strickland (31-7-0), #9-ranked Middleweight Gregory Rodrigues (19-6-0), and Marvin Vettori (19-10-1). He’s a powerful, experienced scrapper who’s willing to throw down with anyone. He throws everything with power but won’t get wild or sloppy, remaining composed and accurate throughout. Cannonier has excellent footwork, frequently switches stances, and is a dangerous counterstriker who dips his head to slip shots before returning fire with devastating power punches. Training at the MMA LAB, Cannonier varies his targets well and constantly batters his opponents’ legs with vicious kicks. He won’t typically look to grapple, but he is a solid wrestler with strong takedowns and get-ups. Cannonier is one of just three fighters in UFC history to have knockout victories in three different weight classes and can produce a finish at any time.

Christian Leroy Duncan blasts Andrey Pulyaev with a precise spinning elbow. Credit: MMA Mania.

Duncan has won four of his last five fights and has UFC wins over Roman Dolidze (15-5-0), Marco Tulio (14-3-0), and Eryk Anders (18-9-0). He’s a flashy striker with one-shot knockout power and an expansive arsenal of kicks. He’s in perpetual motion, always bouncing, feinting, and staying elusive while looking for openings to do damage. Duncan is highly accurate and fluid with his striking, never telegraphing his shots and constantly mixing in spinning and jumping attacks. 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 picking them apart with clean shots. Training at Range MMA Academy, he will occasionally shoot takedowns and advance very quickly in top position before raining down heavy ground-and-pound. Duncan is always looking to add to his resume of highlight-reel knockouts and has earned two Performance of the Night bonuses in his last three UFC appearances.

#2 Dricus Du Plessis vs. #10 (WW) Kamaru Usman

Dricus Du Plessis lands a brutal left hook on Israel Adesanya. Credit: MMA Fighting.

Middleweight Bout

Dricus Du Plessis: 23-3-0, 9 KO/TKO, 11 Sub.

Kamaru Usman: 21-4-0, 9 KO/TKO, 1 Sub.

Du Plessis has won four of his last five bouts and has UFC victories over Middleweight champion Sean Strickland (31-7-0), #8-ranked Middleweight Israel Adesanya (24-6-0), and #13-ranked Light Heavyweight Robert Whittaker (28-9-0). He’s a marauding scrapper who’s always coming forward, looking to do damage. He has one-shot knockout power and can produce a finish at any time, with many of his knockouts seemingly coming from nowhere. Training with Team CIT, Du Plessis has power in both hands and will regularly blitz forward to unload heavy combinations. He throws everything with power and impressive volume, landing, on average, about 101 significant strikes in his last five wins. He frequently mixes grappling into his attacks, averaging over two takedowns per fifteen minutes. Du Plessis is as dangerous on the mat as on his feet, possessing vicious ground-and-pound and outstanding chokes.

Kamaru Usman secures a double leg takedown on Joaquin Buckley. Credit: MMA Fighting.

Usman has won two of his last five outings and has victories over #9-ranked Welterweight Joaquin Buckley (21-8-0), Colby Covington (17-5-0), and Gilbert Burns (22-10-0). He’s a former UFC Welterweight champion and a dominant wrestler. He has outstanding timing and entries on his takedowns, and he can land them at any time from anywhere. Usman has smothering top control and pushes a relentless pace on the mat, constantly wearing down his opponents while improving his position and landing ground-and-pound. He’s an efficient, powerful striker who remains technical throughout, picking his shots and avoiding significant damage. Training at Kill Cliff FC, he has outstanding boxing and will land heavy kicks from range, typically to the body. Usman holds the UFC record for the most consecutive wins in the Welterweight division (15) and has earned six post-fight bonuses during his tenure.

Best Bets

Alberto Montes Moneyline: This is an excellent matchup between two talented Featherweight prospects. Both are dangerous on the mat and have excellent submissions, but I believe Montes is the more well-rounded fighter. McMillen is more than willing to brawl, but he doesn’t have particularly powerful or technical striking and is much more comfortable on the mat. Montes has excellent grappling, but he has also proven to have solid power in his hands and outstanding boxing skills. I expect this fight to get off to a quick start, with both fighters meeting in the middle and letting their hands go. I anticipate Montes getting the better of McMillen on the feet, landing heavy, clean shots while avoiding damage and denying any takedowns from McMillen. As the fight continues, I expect McMillen to slow and grow desperate with his takedowns, opening himself up to more damage and ultimately leading to an impressive victory for Montes.

Hooper vs. Ramirez to Not Go the Distance: This is an exciting matchup between two fighters who rarely go the distance. Both have produced plenty of finishes in their professional careers and have combined for nine knockouts and ten submission victories. Overall, in a combined 33 fights, 25 did not go the distance, and sixteen of those ended in the first round. Each fighter also has a distinct advantage over the other: Ramirez has far more punching power, while Hooper is a much more dangerous grappler. Either fighter could dominate and finish the other if they take the fight to where they’re most comfortable, and with both of them coming off knockout losses, I expect them to be desperate to do so. I expect a high pace from the opening bell, with Ramirez throwing bombs and hunting for a knockout, while Hooper looks for takedowns and submission opportunities. Ultimately, with both of these fighters taking risks and pushing the pace, I don’t think it will take long for one of them to secure a finish and end this fight before the final bell.

Du Plessis vs. Usman To Go the Distance: This is an excellent matchup between two high-level fighters that I’ve been looking forward to. Both fighters are well-rounded and dangerous anywhere the fight goes, and I expect plenty of competitive exchanges and stalemates. A win in this fight could put either of them into title contention, so I believe they’ll fight carefully and avoid major risks. Although both are capable strikers, I expect much of this fight to play out in the clinch and on the mat, where they can execute their game plans without taking serious damage. I expect a somewhat slow start at the opening bell, with each fighter finding their rhythm and distance, showing respect for the danger their opponent poses. As the fight continues, I expect the pace to increase while the fight remains competitive, with both fighters having moments and scoring points. Regardless of who emerges the victor, I’m confident this will be a closely contested fight that lasts all five rounds.

UFC 329 Preview

Max Holloway fires a jab at Conor McGregor during their first matchup in 2013. Credit: MMA Fighting.

The UFC heads to the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada, for a top-notch card. From start to finish, there’s plenty of hot prospects, hungry title contenders, and former champions all looking to earn a triumphant victory this Saturday. In the co-main event, two top-ten Lightweights will collide when marauding brawler Benoît Saint Denis takes on grappling ace Paddy Pimblett. In the main event, we’ll witness the long-awaited return of former double-champion Conor McGregor as he rematches the legendary Max Holloway. First, we’ll take a look at two excellent preliminary bouts, then break down the main card.

Prelims

Cody Garbrandt vs. Adrian Yañez

Cody Garbrandt fires a kick to the body of Trevin Jones. Credit: MMA Fighting.

Bantamweight Bout

Cody Garbrandt: 15-7-0, 11 KO/TKO, 0 Sub.

Adrian Yañez: 17-6-1, 11 KO/TKO, 2 Sub.

Garbrandt has won three of his last five fights and holds UFC victories over Xiao Long (27-11-0), Raphael Assunção (28-10-0), and Dominick Cruz (24-4-0). He’s a former UFC Bantamweight champion and an elusive striker with serious power and speed in his hands. He’s in perpetual motion, always circling and looking to draw his opponents in to land power shots. Garbrandt has heavy kicks but favors his boxing skills, often looking to counterstrike and regularly dipping his head to slip shots and return fire. Everything he throws is fast, and he never telegraphs his attacks, allowing him to remain elusive and unpredictable throughout. He’s a solid wrestler with good timing on his takedowns, and he can execute impressive slams. Garbrandt is tied for the third most knockdowns in the UFC Bantamweight division (10) and tied for the most consecutive UFC fights with a knockdown scored (7).

Adrian Yañez lands a thudding right hand on Ricky Simón. Credit: MMA Fighting.

Yañez has won one of his last five bouts, with one draw, and has UFC victories over Davey Grant (18-8-0), Tony Kelley (8-3-0), and Vinicius Salvador (14-8-0). He’s an excellent technical boxer who maintains a consistent pace and always pursues a knockout. He fights behind his jab, throwing everything with purpose and accuracy without loading up or telegraphing his strikes. Yañez constantly presses forward, throwing from different angles and varying his attacks. Training at Metro Fight Club, he has not landed a takedown in the UFC, but he holds a black belt in BJJ and has successfully defended 75% of takedowns attempted on him. He always throws in combination, typically doing most of his work with his hands and rarely throwing kicks. Yañez has been awarded five post-fight bonuses in ten UFC appearances and is never in a boring fight.

Nikita Krylov vs. Robert Whittaker

Nikita Krylov launches a powerful kick to the head of Modestas Bukauskas. Credit: MMA Mania.

Light Heavyweight Bout

Nikita Krylov: 31-11-0, 13 KO/TKO, 16 Sub.

Robert Whittaker: 27-9-0, 11 KO/TKO, 5 Sub.

Krylov has won three of his last five outings and has UFC victories over #8-ranked Light Heavyweight Volkan Oezdemir (21-8-0), #14-ranked Light Heavyweight Johnny Walker (22-10-0), and Ryan Spann (24-11-0). He holds the rank of Master of Sport in Kyokushin Karate, Hand-to-Hand Combat, and Submission Fighting. He’s always willing to eat a shot to land one and regularly finds himself in brawls and exchanges inside the pocket. Krylov has a solid arsenal of kicks, but he typically favors his hands and constantly unloads powerful combinations. Training with Raty Team, he pushes a heavy pace, throwing with power and volume, and has outlanded eight of his last ten opponents. He’s averaging over two takedowns landed per fifteen minutes, has smothering top control, and is always working for a finish. Krylov rarely sees the judges’ scorecards, securing 29 of his 31 victories via finish, with 23 of those victories coming in round one.

Robert Whittaker cracks Paulo Costa with a stiff right hand. Credit: MMA Mania.

Whittaker has won two of his last five fights, including UFC victories over #10-ranked Middleweight Ikram Aliskerov (18-2-0), #11-ranked Middleweight Jared Cannonier (18-9-0), and #14-ranked Middleweight Paulo Costa (16-4-0). He is a former UFC Middleweight champion and a precise, technical striker. Drawing on his karate background, he has devastating lead-leg attacks and throws all his shots with impressive accuracy. Training at Gracie Jiu-Jitsu SG, Whittaker varies his shots well, attacking the head and body evenly and never overextending or getting sloppy. He excels at mixing kicks into combinations, making them extremely hard to anticipate or see before they land. He’s a solid grappler with a black belt in BJJ and excellent wrestling skills, but he typically looks to keep the fight standing. Whittaker has earned nine post-fight bonuses during his UFC tenure, the second-most all-time in the Middleweight division.

Main Card

King Green vs. Terrance McKinney

King Green lands a thudding right hand on the chin of Jeremy Stephens. Credit: MMA Fighting.

Lightweight Bout

King Green: 35-17-1, 12 KO/TKO, 10 Sub.

Terrance McKinney: 18-8-0, 9 KO/TKO, 9 Sub.

Green has won three of his last five bouts and has UFC victories over #14-ranked Lightweight Grant Dawson (24-3-1), Nasrat Haqparast (18-6-0), and Jim Miller (39-19-0). 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 he 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 (2007) and the most total strikes landed (2255) all-time.

Terrance McKinney rains down ground-and-pound onto Kyle Nelson. Credit: MMA Fighting.

McKinney has won three of his last five outings and has UFC victories over Farés Ziam (18-5-0), Kyle Nelson (17-7-1), and Matt Frevola (11-6-1). 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 intent. 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 26 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 (2:16).

#4 Brandon Royval vs. #5 Lone’er Kavanagh

Brandon Royval attempts to secure a choke on Tatsuro Taira. Credit: MMA Mania.

Flyweight Bout

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

Lone’er Kavanagh: 10-1-0, 4 KO/TKO, 1 Sub.

Royval has won two of his last five fights and has UFC victories over #3-ranked Flyweight Tatsuro Taira (18-2-0), #9-ranked Flyweight Brandon Moreno (23-10-2), 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 earned the most Fight of the Night bonuses in UFC Flyweight history (5) and always leaves everything in the cage. Royval is dangerous in any position on the ground and is always working to improve position or secure a submission. 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 highly durable, with an excellent ability to recover from damage. Royval has set multiple Flyweight records in his six-year UFC tenure, including the most significant strikes attempted in a fight (510), the most total strikes attempted (556) and landed (281) in a fight, and the most head strikes landed in a fight (248).

Lone’er Kavanagh stuns Brandon Moreno with a heavy right hand. Credit: MMA Mania.

Kavanagh has won four of his last five bouts, with UFC victories over #9-ranked Flyweight Brandon Moreno (23-10-2), Jose Ochoa (9-2-0), and Felipe dos Santos (8-3-0). He’s a lifelong kickboxer with excellent technical striking and solid grappling. He’s very measured, picks his shots, and often looks to draw his opponent into his range to 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 strong takedowns, can land 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 rather than 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.

#4 Cory Sandhagen vs. #5 Mario Bautista

Cory Sandhagen lands a devastating ground-and-pound blow on Deiveson Figueiredo. Credit: MMA Mania.

Bantamweight Bout

Cory Sandhagen: 18-6-0, 8 KO/TKO, 3 Sub.

Mario Bautista: 17-3-0, 3 KO/TKO, 7 Sub.

Sandhagen has won three of his last five outings and has UFC victories over #6-ranked Bantamweight Song Yadong (22-8-1), #11-ranked Bantamweight Deiveson Figueiredo (25-7-1), and his current opponent, Mario Bautista. He is a top-level striker, constantly moving and setting traps for his opponent. He can land damage from range with his arsenal of kicks or on the inside with devastating knees and elbows. Training with Elevation Fight Team, Sandhagen has excellent cardio and can push a heavy pace across five rounds while remaining technical and keeping his strikes straight and tight. He’s constantly switching stances and never telegraphs his shots, often mixing in kicks at the end of punch combinations. He’s willing to grapple, will pursue takedowns, has solid top control, and rarely puts himself in bad positions on the ground. Sandhagen has only lost to current or former champions in his UFC tenure and will go toe-to-toe with anybody.

Mario Bautista fires a vicious elbow at a grounded Vinicius Oliveira. Credit: MMA Mania.

Bautista has won four of his last five fights and has UFC victories over José Aldo (32-10-0), Vinicius Oliveira (24-4-0), and Ricky Simón (22-7-1). He’s a technical, well-rounded fighter with an outstanding gas tank. He throws everything in combination with impressive speed and power, and regularly mixes in shots to the body and legs. Training at the MMA Lab, Bautista does a great job varying his angles and entries into the pocket, and he’s very defensively sound, keeping his head off the centerline and his guard high. He’s averaging nearly two takedowns 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 his feet, transitioning and passing efficiently and effectively. Bautista can comfortably push a heavy pace throughout an entire fight, remaining dangerous at all times and never getting wild or sloppy.

#5 Benoît Saint Denis vs. #9 Paddy Pimblett

Benoît Saint Denis batters Dan Hooker with brutal ground-and-pound. Credit: Yahoo Sports.

Lightweight Bout

Benoît Saint Denis: 17-3-0, 6 KO/TKO, 11 Sub.

Paddy Pimblett: 23-4-0, 7 KO/TKO, 10 Sub.

Saint Denis has won four of his last five bouts and holds UFC victories over #10-ranked Lightweight Maurício Ruffy (12-2-0), #11-ranked Lightweight Dan Hooker (24-14-0), and Beneil Dariush (23-8-1). 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 intent and is always in pursuit of a finish. Saint Denis is an excellent grappler with extensive 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 to do damage or secure a submission. Saint Denis always pushes a heavy pace and has reached the third round only once in his UFC tenure.

Paddy Pimblett rocks Jared Gordon with a sharp right hand. Credit: MMA Fighting.

Pimblett has won four of his last five outings and has UFC victories over Michael Chandler (23-11-0), Jared Gordon (21-9-0), and King Green (35-17-1). 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 quickly on the mat, often 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.

Conor McGregor vs. #4 (LW) Max Holloway

Conor McGregor lands a cracking left hand on Dustin Poirier. Credit: MMA Fighting.

Welterweight Bout

Conor McGregor: 22-6-0, 19 KO/TKO, 1 Sub.

Max Holloway: 27-9-0, 12 KO/TKO, 2 Sub.

McGregor has won two of his last five fights and is returning to the UFC for the first time in five years. He’s a former UFC Featherweight and Lightweight champion and a devastating striker. He has clean, technical boxing skills, excellent range management, and will constantly look to set up his left hand. McGregor has a solid arsenal of kicks but tends to favor his hands and will often look to counterstrike. Training at SBG Ireland, he favors power over volume and has produced five knockout wins in the UFC with fewer than 25 significant strikes landed. He has a black belt in BJJ but rarely, if ever, looks to bring the fight to the mat and largely uses his grappling skills defensively. McGregor has earned various UFC records, including the most consecutive post-fight bonuses (8), the fastest win in a UFC title fight (0:13), and the first-ever simultaneous multi-division champion in UFC history.

Max Holloway stuns Justin Gaethje with a powerful left hand. Credit: Bleacher Report.

Holloway has won four of his last five bouts and has UFC victories over UFC Lightweight Champion Justin Gaethje (28-5-0), #5-ranked Featherweight Arnold Allen (20-4-0), and Yair Rodríguez (21-5-0). He’s a fantastic striker capable of throwing 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 81% 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 (3681), most significant strikes landed in a single bout (445), and the most total fight time (8:52:43).

Best Bets

Terrance McKinney by KO/TKO: This is a fascinating matchup of two dangerous Lightweights. This is a very tough matchup to predict based on pure striking, as I believe they match up pretty closely. With this in mind, you have to look at the measurables, where McKinney has the advantage; he has the longer reach, he’s the younger man, is more accurate with his strikes, and is much more of a threat on the mat. Of Green’s 12 UFC losses, five have come via first-round knockout, and McKinney is by far at his most dangerous in the first round. Green has shown decent grappling skills in the UFC but rarely brings the fight to the mat, whereas McKinney is more than willing to shoot for takedowns and do damage on the mat. I expect this fight to get off to a quick start, with both men meeting in the middle of the Octagon and letting their hands go. I don’t expect this fight to last very long, and I believe McKinney will find the knockout blow early on and secure another impressive victory.

Cory Sandhagen Moneyline: This is an outstanding rematch between two top-ranked Bantamweights. It’s been 7 years since their first meeting, and although both fighters have evolved significantly, I still expect a similar outcome. Despite a nearly spotless UFC record, Bautista has not faced the same level of competition as Sandhagen, who has faced six former or current UFC champions during his tenure in the promotion. I also believe Sandhagen still has significantly better striking than Bautista and a much wider variety of attacks. They match up similarly in grappling, but Sandhagen has faced better grapplers than Bautista and has the skills to either keep the fight standing or control Bautista on the mat. I expect this to be a very technical fight from the opening bell, with action on both the feet and the mat. Regardless of where the fight goes or how long it lasts, I am confident that Sandhagen will emerge the victor when the dust settles.

Max Holloway Moneyline: The main event is another rematch, but one that’s been far longer in the making and far more shocking. Their first bout was in 2013, and this will be McGregor’s first UFC appearance since 2021. Regardless of whether ring rust is real, I believe Holloway is simply too skilled and can set a pace McGregor won’t be able to match. Even in his prime, McGregor was never known for volume striking or engaging in wild, five-round wars, both of which are Holloway’s specialties. Holloway also has the boxing to match McGregor and a five-inch reach advantage, which will limit McGregor’s ability to get inside the pocket and use his striking effectively. I expect this fight to get off to a quick start and be fought at a high pace, with both fighters letting their hands go and pursuing a knockout. The longer the fight goes on, the more it benefits Holloway. Regardless of when this fight ends, I believe Holloway will find a way to win and spoil McGregor’s return.

UFC Fight Night: Fiziev vs. Torres Preview

Rafael Fiziev rocks Justin Gaethe with a stinging left hand. Credit: MMA Mania.

The UFC heads to the National Gymnastics Arena in Baku, Azerbaijan, for an action-packed Fight Night card. The card is filled with top-tier matchups and dangerous finishers, all looking to score a landmark victory this Saturday night. In the co-main event, two of the wildest strikers in the Middleweight division collide when Shara Magomedov takes on Michel Pereira. In the main event, two Lightweights will look to climb the rankings when divisional stalwart Rafael Fiziev takes on marauding knockout artist Manuel Torres. Let’s take a look at the fights on the main card.

Abus Magomedov vs. Michal Oleksiejczuk

Abus Magomedov cracks Brunno Ferreira with a stiff left hand. Credit: MMA Fighting.

Middleweight Bout

Abus Magomedov: 28-7-1, 14 KO/TKO, 7 Sub.

Michal Oleksiejczuk: 22-9-0, 16 KO/TKO, 1 Sub.

Magomedov has won three of his last five fights and has UFC victories over Bruno Ferreira (15-3-0), Dustin Stoltzfus (16-8-0), and Michel Pereira (32-14-0). He is a lengthy striker with an excellent kicking game and solid wrestling. He throws every shot with knockout intent and is always coming forward to pressure his opponent. Magomedov will regularly switch stances and constantly fire kicks from range, particularly front kicks. He’s averaging over two takedowns per fifteen minutes and is tough to escape on the mat. Training at UFD Gym, he transitions quickly on the ground and remains active on top, consistently throwing ground-and-pound strikes or pursuing a choke. Magomedov has secured 15 of his 21 finish victories in the first round and is at his most dangerous early on, often decreasing his output as the fight continues.

Michal Oleksiejczuk lands a vicious shot to the body of Gerald Meerschaert. Credit: MMA Mania.

Oleksiejczuk has won three of his last five bouts, with UFC victories over Chidi Njokuani (25-12-0), Gerald Meerschaert (37-22-0), and Modestas Bukauskas (20-7-0). 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 to fire heavy straights and looping hooks. Oleksiejczuk has solid distance management, cutting off the cage and holding the center well, 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 he 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.

#14 Ikram Aliskerov vs. Brunno Ferreira

Ikram Aliskerov rains down ground-and-pound shots onto Andre Muniz. Credit: MMA Fighting.

Middleweight Bout

Ikram Aliskerov: 17-2-0, 7 KO/TKO, 5 Sub.

Brunno Ferreira: 15-3-0, 9 KO/TKO, 5 Sub.

Aliskerov has won four of his last five outings and holds UFC victories over Jun Yong Park (19-7-0), André Muniz (24-8-0), and Warlley Alves (15-8-0). He’s a well-rounded, technical fighter with big-time punching power and an extensive Sambo background. He has fast hands and kicks and tends to headhunt, regularly mixing in powerful head kicks without telegraphing. He’s impressively accurate and fights behind his jab, having landed 64% of the significant strikes he’s attempted in the UFC. Training with the KHK MMA Team, Aliskerov is a former world champion in Sambo and has excellent takedowns, averaging over three per fifteen minutes. He focuses on damage in top position and will always look to posture up and land ground-and-pound. Aliskerov rarely sees the judges’ scorecards and has gone to just two decisions in his last ten fights.

Brunno Ferreira looks to secure one of Jackson McVey’s arms from top position. Credit: Ag. Fight.

Ferreira has won three of his last five fights, with UFC victories over #9-ranked Middleweight Gregory Rodrigues (19-6-0), Marvin Vettori (19-10-1), and Armen Petrosyan (9-5-0). He’s an explosive striker with a solid grappling background. He’s constantly moving and changing stances, looking for entries before blitzing into the pocket to unload combinations. Ferreira is typically at a reach disadvantage and is best on the inside, so he regularly looks 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 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.

#7 Asu Almabayev vs. #15 Charles Johnson

Asu Almabayev unloads punches onto a grounded CJ Vergara. Credit: MMA Junkie.

Flyweight Bout

Asu Almabayev: 23-3-0, 3 KO/TKO, 10 Sub.

Charles Johnson: 19-8-0, 8 KO/TKO, 3 Sub.

Almabayev has won four of his last five bouts and has UFC victories over #14-ranked Flyweight Alex Perez (26-10-0), Jose Ochoa (9-2-0), and Ode’ Osbourne (13-10-0). He’s exceptionally well-rounded, with a dominant wrestling style and flashy striking. He’ll constantly throw spinning attacks on the feet and can effectively do damage both at range and in the pocket. Almabayev has landed 27 takedowns in just seven UFC fights and has excellent chain wrestling, able to find takedowns from anywhere. Training at DAR Pro Team, he’s an efficient grappler, never wasting energy or telegraphing his shots or transitions. He has smothering top control, rarely allowing his opponent to get off any offense or escape as he pursues a finish. Almabayev tends to heat up as the fight continues, increasing his pace and output and often securing finishes in the second or third round.

Charles Johnson fires a straight right hand at Lone’er Kavanagh. Credit: MMA Mania.

Johnson has won three of his last five outings and has UFC victories over UFC Flyweight Champion Joshua Van (17-2-0), #5-ranked Flyweight Lone’er Kavanagh (10-1-0), and #12-ranked Flyweight Sumudaerji (19-7-0). He’s a dangerous striker with solid wrestling and submission skills. He throws everything in combination, constantly mixing in kicks and evenly distributing his shots across the head, legs, and body. He has excellent footwork and head movement, regularly switching stances while keeping his head off the centerline. Training at Murcielago MMA, Johnson is willing to grapple and is a tenacious wrestler capable of defending takedowns and landing his own. He has just one finish loss and has an excellent chin, always willing to eat a shot to land one. Johnson has solid cardio and can maintain a consistently heavy pace across three rounds.

Nazim Sadykhov vs. Matheus Camilo

Nazim Sadykhov lands a thudding right hook on Nikolas Motta. Credit: MMA Mania.

Lightweight Bout

Nazim Sadykhov: 11-2-1, 8 KO/TKO, 2 Sub.

Matheus Camilo: 10-3-0, 4 KO/TKO, 2 Sub.

Sadykhov has won three of his last five fights, with one draw, and has UFC victories over Terrance McKinney (18-8-0), Ismael Bonfim (20-6-0), and Nikolas Motta (15-6-0). He is a well-rounded, heavy-handed scrappy fighter who is dangerous anywhere the fight goes. He has excellent footwork, controls the center of the Octagon, and stays in perpetual motion while doing damage. Sadykhov remains technical throughout, always pushing a heavy pace, keeping his guard high and his punches straight, yet still throws every shot with knockout intent. Training with the Serra-Longo Fight Team, he’s averaging over one takedown per fifteen minutes and has excellent scrambles and reversals, typically finding himself in top position after grappling exchanges. He transitions very quickly in top position and can secure submissions with impressive speed, particularly chokes. Sadykhov is always dangerous and can produce a finish at any time, with nearly an even split of first- and third-round finishes.

Matheus Camilo stuns Viacheslav Borshchev with a jab. Credit: MMA Fighting.

Camilo has won four of his last five bouts and has a UFC victory over Viacheslav Borshchev (8-7-1). He’s a vicious power-puncher with solid grappling skills who’s always looking for a one-shot knockout. He often looks to counterstrike and will constantly unload wide, looping hooks and overhands as his opponent enters his range, especially his lead hook. Camilo has powerful leg kicks but tends to headhunt and favors power over volume. Training at Xtreme Couture, he has powerful takedowns and often pursues explosive blast double legs. He focuses on control and hunting for submissions from top position and rarely postures up or gets wild. Camilo tends to fade as the fight continues, but he carries his power throughout and is always dangerous.

Shara Magomedov vs. Michel Pereira

Shara Magomedov fires a wild kick to the head of Marc-André Barriault. Credit: MMA Fighting.

Middleweight Bout

Shara Magomedov: 16-1-0, 12 KO/TKO, 0 Sub.

Michel Pereira: 32-14-0, 11 KO/TKO, 9 Sub.

Magomedov has won four of his last five outings and has UFC victories over Bruno Silva (23-13-0), Marc-André Barriault (17-11-0), and Michal Oleksiejczuk (22-9-0). He’s a devastating, dynamic striker with a fantastic arsenal of flashy attacks. He’s in perpetual motion and throws everything with impressive speed. Magomedov does an excellent job of varying his targets, especially with his kicks, regularly attacking the head, body, and legs with a variety of shots. Training at GOR MMA, he rarely initiates grappling exchanges but has successfully defended 71% of takedowns attempted on him in the UFC. He constantly mixes in wild moves like spinning kicks and jumping knees and remains highly unpredictable throughout the fight. Magomedov has earned four post-fight bonuses in his five UFC appearances and always puts on a show inside the Octagon.

Michel Pereira blasts Zachary Reese with a left hook. Credit: MMA Fighting.

Pereira has won two of his last five fights, with UFC wins over Santiago Ponzinibbio (31-9-0), Khaos Williams (16-5-0), and Michael Oleksiejczuk (22-9-0). He’s a wild, unorthodox striker known for his big-time power and crazy antics inside the cage. Training at Overcome Academy, he throws every shot with power, stays unpredictable, and is at his best in a brawl. Pereira will constantly look to set up and land his right hand, regularly blitzing forward to fire heavy lunging straights or overhands. He has relaxed his striking style a bit since he first entered the UFC, but he still has a full array of flashy attacks he can break out at any time. He’s averaging over one takedown landed and about one submission attempted per fifteen minutes, and he holds a black belt in BJJ. Pereira has earned seven post-fight bonuses in his promotional tenure and is rarely in a boring fight.

Rafael Fiziev vs. #13 Manuel Torres

Rafael Fiziev launches into flying knee attempt on Rafael dos Anjos. Credit: MMA Mania.

Lightweight Bout

Rafael Fiziev: 13-5-0, 8 KO/TKO, 1 Sub.

Manuel Torres: 17-3-0, 9 K/TKO, 7 Sub.

Fiziev has won one of his last five bouts and has UFC wins over #7-ranked Lightweight Renato Moicano (21-7-1), Ignacio Bahamondes (17-7-0), and Rafael Dos Anjos (32-17-0). He’s a technical kickboxer with impressive power and dangerous counterstriking. He constantly switches stances and 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 never gets sloppy, always maintaining fantastic footwork and distance management. He’s highly accurate and varies his strikes well, attacking his opponent’s head, legs, and body with equal tenacity. He’s willing to grapple and is a solid wrestler with great double-leg takedowns and stout takedown defense. Fiziev has earned post-fight bonuses in more than half of his UFC appearances and always leaves everything inside the cage.

Manuel Torres fires a powerful kick to the head of Drew Dober. Credit: MMA Mania.

Torres has won four of his last five outings, with UFC victories coming over #14-ranked Lightweight Grant Dawson (24-3-1), Drew Dober (29-15-0), and Chris Duncan (15-3-0). 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 Delincuentes MMA, 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 nineteen of his fights ending in the first round, and has earned a Performance of the Night bonus in all five of his UFC wins. 

Best Bets

Nazim Sadykhov Moneyline: This is an excellent matchup between two talented Lightweights on the rise. Although both are dangerous, I believe Sadykhov is the more well-rounded, technical fighter and can beat Camilo anywhere the fight goes. Sadykhov’s biggest advantage is likely on the feet, as Camilo tends to get wild and headhunt, whereas Sadykhov has a much more composed style and varies his targets. Camilo has shown solid grappling skills, but I think Sadykhov is the better wrestler of the two and will be able to both land and deny takedowns throughout the fight. I anticipate Sadykhov getting on the gas pedal early, forcing Camilo to the outside of the cage as he picks him apart with precise kicks and punches. As the fight continues, I expect Camilo’s output to slow and his cardio to wane, allowing Sadykhov to dictate the pace and where the fight takes place. Ultimately, I believe Sadykhov will get the better of Camilo on the feet and on the mat en route to an impressive victory.

Shara Magomedov by KO/TKO: This is a fascinating fight between two of the wildest, most unorthodox strikers on the UFC roster. Both have an array of impressive wins and wild knockouts, but I believe this is a poor stylistic matchup for Pereira. Magomedov is one of the quickest, most dynamic strikers in the UFC, while Pereira has looked a bit slow and plodding in his recent outings, largely relying on his heavy hands to do damage and not using his variety of kicks and flashy attacks. I expect Magomedov to pressure Pereira from the opening bell, keeping a high pace, battering his legs with kicks, and doing significant damage inside the pocket and in the clinch. As Magomedov continues to pour it on, I believe the damage and pace will wear down Pereira, who tends to gas out anyway, creating even more openings for Magomedov to land. The longer the fight goes, the worse it will likely get for Pereira. Regardless of when or how it comes, I’m confident Magomedov will find the right shot and knock out Pereira.

Fiziev vs. Torres Over 1.5 Rounds: This is an excellent matchup with massive implications for both fighters. For Fiziev, this is an opportunity to get back in the win column and back into the rankings after a tough run as of late. For Torres, this is by far the biggest name he has ever faced and would be the most significant win of his UFC career. Despite the fact that Torres is yet to see a second round in his promotional tenure, I believe he will struggle to secure another flash knockout against someone as technically skilled as Fiziev. I still expect Torres to come out guns blazing, but I anticipate Fiziev will remain defensive and cautious early on, especially coming off a knockout loss. I anticipate some close, competitive striking exchanges early, and some grappling exchanges between the two, likely initiated by Fiziev to slow down the freight train that is Torres in the first round. I still believe this will be a great fight with plenty of highlights, but I’m confident it will last at least one and a half rounds.

UFC Fight Night: Kape vs. Horiguchi Preview

Manel Kape stuns Asu Almabayev with a powerful right hand. Credit: MMA Fighting.

The UFC returns to its headquarters at the APEX in Las Vegas, Nevada, for an action-packed Fight Night card. There are plenty of standout matchups and fantastic fighters looking to put on a show inside the Octagon this Saturday. In the co-main event, we’ll see a dangerous veteran, Ion Cutelaba, face off with an undefeated prospect, Navajo Stirling. In the main event, two top-five Flyweights will rematch nine years later when Manel Kape takes on Kyoji Horiguchi. First, let’s take a look at the featured preliminary bout, then we’ll break down the main card.

Featured Prelim

Andre Lima vs. Kevin Borjas

Andre Lima blasts Igor Severino with a vicious elbow. Credit: MMA Junkie.

Flyweight Bout

Andre Lima: 11-0-0, 5 KO/TKO, 1 Sub.

Kevin Borjas: 10-5-0, 8 KO/TKO, 0 Sub.

Lima is undefeated and has UFC victories over Mitch Raposo (10-3-0), Felipe dos Santos (8-3-0), and Daniel Barez (17-8-0). He’s a dangerous, precise striker with impressive power and strong grappling. He’s highly accurate, having landed 60% of his significant strikes in the UFC, and he remains technical and composed throughout. Lima excels at switching targets and constantly mixes body shots and leg kicks into his combinations. Training with Team Lucas Mineiro, he maintains high output, always pressures his opponent, manages range well, and rarely absorbs significant damage. He’s averaging over one takedown per fifteen minutes and is as fast on the mat as on his feet, with speedy transitions and an excellent backtake. Lima can produce a finish in a hurry but has great cardio and can sustain a heavy pace across three rounds.

Kevin Borjas clips Joshua Van with a stiff right hand. Credit: MMA Junkie.

Borjas has won two of his last five fights and holds 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 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.

Main Card

Vinicius Oliveira vs. Andre Fili

Vinicius Oliveira fires a right hand at Ricky Simón. Credit: MMA Junkie.

Featherweight Bout

Vinicius Oliveira: 23-4-0, 16 KO/TKO, 2 Sub.

Andre Fili: 25-13-0, 10 KO/TKO, 3 Sub.

Oliveira has won four of his last five bouts and has UFC wins over Ricky Simón (22-7-1), Said Nurmagomedov (18-5-0), and Bernardo Sopaj (13-3-0). He’s a vicious, elusive striker with serious power in his hands and an unpredictable arsenal of attacks. He has a very unorthodox stance and movement style, keeping his hands down and relying on his head movement and footwork to avoid damage. Oliveira typically stays at range, keeping his head off the centerline before entering the pocket to unload wild, looping hooks. He won’t telegraph anything, 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.

Andre Fili blasts Lucas Almeida with brutal ground and pound. Credit: MMA Junkie.

Fili has won two of his last five outings, with UFC victories over Charles Jourdain (18-8-1), Bill Algeo (18-9-0), and Cub Swanson (31-14-0). He’s a slick striker with solid power and strong wrestling. He’s in perpetual motion, constantly switching stances and using his reach to land long punches and kicks from range. Fili throws in combination and won’t telegraph his attacks, especially his kicks, which he’ll regularly add to the end of combinations. Training at Team Alpha Male, he’s averaging over 2 takedowns per 15 minutes in his promotional tenure and is excellent in top position. His striking sets up his grappling, allowing his opponent to get comfortable on their feet before he shoots in for a takedown. Fili has solid cardio and won’t get sloppy, pushing a consistent pace throughout the fight.

Melsik Baghdasaryan vs. Murtazali Magomedov

Melsik Baghdasaryan lands a heavy kick to the body of Collin Anglin. Credit: MMA Junkie.

Featherweight Bout

Melsik Baghdasaryan: 8-3-0, 5 KO/TKO, 0 Sub.

Murtazali Magomedov: 10-0-0, 5 KO/TKO, 5 Sub.

Baghdasaryan has won three of his last five fights and has UFC victories over Tucker Lutz (12-4-0), Collin Anglin (9-5-0), and Bruno Souza (12-3-0). He is a former K-1 kickboxer who held a record of 9-2 before transitioning to MMA. He’s an excellent, technical striker with serious power in his punches and kicks. Baghdasaryan always comes forward and never telegraphs his shots, varying his targets well and regularly attacking the body and legs. Training at Glendale Fighting Club, he makes up for any lack of volume with power, though he usually lands a healthy dose of leg kicks. He’s most comfortable on his feet and has not attempted a takedown in the UFC, but he has successfully defended 72% of takedowns attempted on him. Baghdasaryan rarely absorbs much damage and has outlanded four of his last five opponents.

Murtazali Magomedov weighs in for his Contender Series bout. Credit: MMA Junkie.

Magomedov is undefeated and making his UFC debut. He’s a versatile fighter with one-shot knockout power and excellent wrestling. He’s constantly pressuring his opponents and looking to close the distance so he can let his hands go inside the pocket. Magomedov has powerful clinch striking with particularly devastating knees. Training with the KHK MMA Team, he has great timing and entries on his takedowns, typically securing them quickly, and can find submissions from either top position or off his back. He’s proven impressively durable, capable of surviving off his back and recovering from damage before coming back to do damage of his own. Magomedov has finished all of his victories and carries his power throughout the fight, remaining dangerous at all times.

Hyder Amil vs. Christian Rodriguez

Hyder Amil lands a thudding right hook on Jeong Yeong Lee. Credit: MMA Junkie.

Featherweight Bout

Hyder Amil: 11-2-0, 6 KO/TKO, 1 Sub.

Christian Rodriguez: 12-4-0, 3 KO/TKO, 4 Sub.

Amil has won three of his last five bouts and has UFC victories over William Gomis (15-4-0), Fernie Garcia (10-5-0), and Jeong Yeong Lee (11-3-0). He’s a power-puncher who throws every shot with knockout intent. He constantly pressures forward, looking to unload combinations of heavy hooks and straights. Amil has a solid chin and is always willing to hang in the pocket and brawl, but he also has excellent head movement and counterstriking. Training with the Skrap Pack, he holds a purple belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and has solid wrestling skills to back up his striking, capable of executing powerful slam takedowns. He pushes a heavy pace from the opening bell, always coming out guns blazing and extending lengthy combinations. Amil tends to heat up as the fight continues, having scored five of his six knockouts in the second round.

Christian Rodriguez rains down ground and pound shots onto Raúl Rosas. Credit: MMA Fighting.

Rodriguez has won two of his last five outings, with UFC victories over Raúl Rosas Jr. (12-1-0), Cameron Saaiman (9-3-0), and Austin Bashi (14-1-0). He’s a well-rounded scrapper with clean, technical striking and a slick submission game. He’s constantly pressing forward and rarely uses movement or feints, often staying right in his opponent’s face. Rodriguez is always looking to close the distance and will regularly charge into the pocket, firing heavy combinations of straight punches. He’s averaging nearly two takedowns landed and over one submission attempted per fifteen minutes, and he’s a solid grappler. Training at Roufusport, he has excellent transitions and reversals on the ground and will almost always find himself in top position after a scramble. Rodriguez has consistently been matched up with other top prospects, and four of his promotional victories have come over previously undefeated fighters.

Ion Cutelaba vs. Navajo Stirling

Ion Cutelaba loads up to unload more shots onto a downed Ibo Aslan. Credit: Sports Illustrated.

Light Heavyweight Bout

Ion Cutelaba: 20-11-1, 13 KO/TKO, 4 Sub.

Navajo Stirling: 9-0-0, 5 KO/TKO, 0 Sub.

Cutelaba has won three of his last five fights and holds UFC victories over #5-ranked Light Heavyweight Khalil Rountree Jr. (15-7-0), Oumar Sy (12-2-0), 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’s willing to shoot early and can land takedowns in open space or in the clinch, with particularly strong throws and trips. He’s extremely active in top position, immediately looking to posture up, do damage, and remain 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.

Navajo Stirling clips Tuco Tokkos with a left hand. Credit: MMA Junkie.

Stirling is undefeated and has UFC wins over Rodolfo Bellato (13-3-1), Bruno Lopes (14-3-0), and Ivan Erslan (15-6-0). He’s a dangerous, talented kickboxer with impressive knockout power. He remains technical and composed, fighting behind his jab and avoiding brawls. Stirling constantly fires heavy kicks from range before closing the distance, and he can do serious damage inside the pocket even with little space. Training at City Kickboxing, he’s averaging about one takedown per fifteen minutes and is a solid grappler with heavy ground-and-pound. He throws every shot with power, has good cardio, and has landed, on average, about 104 total strikes per fight in the UFC. Stirling has secured more than half of his wins via knockout and can produce a finish at any time, with three of his five KO wins coming after the first round.

#2 Manel Kape vs. #5 Kyoji Horiguchi

Manel Kape drops Brandon Royval with a thudding right hook. Credit: MMA Mania.

Flyweight Bout

Manel Kape: 22-7-0, 14 KO/TKO, 5 Sub.

Kyoji Horiguchi: 36-5-0, 15 KO/TKO, 6 Sub.

Kape has won four of his last five bouts and holds UFC victories over #4-ranked Flyweight Brandon Royval (17-9-0), #8-ranked Flyweight Asu Almabayev (23-3-0), and Bruno Silva (15-9-2). He’s a fantastic, flashy striker with big-time power and excellent defensive grappling. He’s constantly looking to counterstrike and can go 0-60 in the blink of an eye, slipping punches and taking his time before suddenly unloading an extended combination. Kape has excellent distance management and will remain elusive and unpredictable throughout, fighting with his hands down and regularly switching stances. He does a great job of controlling the center of the Octagon and forcing his opponent to the outside of the cage while pressuring them relentlessly. Training at Xtreme Couture, he won’t typically initiate grappling exchanges, but he has outstanding takedown defense and has successfully defended 81% of takedowns attempted on him in the UFC. Kape has earned three post-fight bonuses in his last five appearances and always puts on a show inside the cage.

Kyoji Horiguchi blasts Amir Albazi with a thudding overhand right. Credit: MMA Fighting.

Horiguchi is on a five-fight win streak and holds UFC wins over #7-ranked Flyweight Amir Albazi (17-3-0) and #13-ranked Tagir Ulanbekov (17-3-0) since returning after a decade of fighting in Rizin and Bellator. He’s a wild fighter with devastating power and outstanding skills on the mat. He’s a second-degree black belt in Shotokan Karate and throws every shot with knockout intent, favoring power over volume and adding heavy kicks at 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 with 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.

Best Bets

Murtazali Magomedov Moneyline: This is an excellent matchup between two dangerous Featherweights. Although they’re both very solid strikers, I believe Magomedov is the more well-rounded of the two, and I think that will be the difference-maker. Magomedov has the skills and power to compete with Baghdasaryan on the feet, but I also expect him to mix in plenty of grappling and keep Baghdasaryan from staying comfortable. I expect this fight to get off to a quick start, with both men meeting in the middle of the cage and letting their hands go. After a few striking exchanges, I anticipate Magomedov will shoot for takedowns and eventually bring the fight to the mat, neutralizing Baghdasaryan’s offense and wearing down his cardio. As the fight continues and Baghdasaryan starts to gas out, I believe Magomedov will take full control, dictating the pace and range while continuing to damage Baghdasaryan. This will be Magomedov’s debut, and considering that half his wins are knockouts and the other half are submissions, I’m unsure how this fight ends, but I’m confident Magomedov will walk away with an impressive debut victory.

Amil vs. Rodriguez to Go the Distance: This is a great matchup of two well-rounded fighters that I’ve been looking forward to. I think these two fighters match up very well in terms of size and skills, so I anticipate plenty of competitive exchanges both on the feet and on the ground. Both men are coming off two consecutive losses and are in need of a victory, so I expect them to fight carefully rather than engage in a crazy, all-out brawl. I believe there will be a feeling-out process at the start of the fight, with both fighters establishing their ranges and rhythms, picking their shots, and looking for openings for takedowns. As the fight continues, I expect plenty of grappling exchanges, with both having their moments on the mat and doing some damage to each other. I anticipate the pace will increase as we reach the final rounds, with both fighters looking for big shots and dominant positions to secure the win. Ultimately, I expect an entertaining, close fight, and I am confident that it will last all three rounds.

Kyoji Horiguchi Moneyline: This is a rematch nearly 10 years in the making, dating back to their first meeting in Rizin in 2017. I expect this fight to be just as much fun as the first one and to end similarly. While Kape has looked great lately, I believe Horiguchi has a significant grappling advantage and a slight power edge. I expect a slow start, with each fighter wary of the other’s power and staying cautious. As the fight continues, I expect Horiguchi to push the action, forcing Kape to the outside of the cage with power punches before shooting for takedowns and taking the fight to the floor. Once Horiguchi brings the fight to the mat, I expect him to take a dominant position and start doing serious damage, draining Kape’s energy and limiting his ability to use his striking skills. The longer the fight goes, the worse it will get for Kape, and I believe that regardless of how or when this fight concludes, Horiguchi will emerge the victor.

UFC Fight Night: Muhammad vs. Bonfim

Belal Muhammad lands a heavy left hook on the chin of Sean Brady. Credit: MMA Fighting.

The UFC returns to its headquarters at the APEX in Las Vegas, Nevada, for an exciting Fight Night card. There are plenty of top-notch fights and outstanding matchups, all filled with fighters looking to secure a post-fight bonus this Saturday. In the co-main event, two dangerous Middleweights collide when a proven finisher, Brendan Allen, takes on a powerful striker, Edmen Shahbazyan. In the main event, two top-15 Welterweights face off when former champion Belal Muhammad takes on the quickly rising Gabriel Bonfim. Let’s take a look at the fights on the main card.

Iwo Baraniewski vs. Junior Tafa

Iwo Baraniewski blasts Ibo Aslan with vicious ground-and-pound. Credit: MMA Mania.

Light Heavyweight Bout

Iwo Baraniewski: 8-0-0, 6 KO/TKO, 2 Sub.

Junior Tafa: 7-5-0, 7 KO/TKO, 0 Sub.

Baraniewski is undefeated and has UFC victories over Ibo Aslan (14-4-0) and Austen Lane (13-8-0). He’s a powerful brawler with excellent grappling to back up his dangerous hands. He’s impressively durable and will constantly come forward to 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 holds a black belt in Judo, a brown belt in BJJ, and a lengthy amateur MMA career, with 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.

Junior Tafa rains down shots onto a grounded Sean Sharaf. Credit: MMA Junkie.

Tafa has won two of his last five fights and has UFC victories over Sean Sharaf (4-2-0), Kevin Christian (9-4-0), and Parker Porter (14-9-0). He’s a power-punching brawler who’s always coming forward to throw down. A former professional kickboxer, he held a 23-5 record with 19 knockouts and competed in the premier kickboxing promotion, Glory. Tafa constantly looks to close the distance and throw bombs, and can do serious damage with minimal space. He regularly looks to land shots down the middle, particularly straight punches and uppercuts. He has not attempted a takedown in the UFC and won’t typically initiate grappling exchanges, but has successfully defended 72% of takedowns attempted on him in his promotional tenure. Tafa has only gone past the second round once in his career, always pushing a heavy pace from the opening bell.

Bryce Mitchell vs. Santiago Luna

Bryce Mitchell fires a straight right hand at Said Nurmagomedov. Credit: MMA Fighting.

Bantamweight Bout

Bryce Mitchell: 18-4-0, 1 KO/TKO, 9 Sub.

Santiago Luna: 8-0-0, 3 KO/TKO, 4 Sub.

Mitchell has won three of his last five bouts and has UFC victories over Dan Ige (19-11-0), Edson Barboza (24-14-0), and Andre Fili (25-13-0). He is a high-level grappler with dangerous submissions. He has a wrestling background, holds a black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, and averages more than 3 takedowns per fifteen minutes. Mitchell has excellent control on the ground and always pursues a finish, whether via ground-and-pound or a submission. Training at Barata MMA, he’s most dangerous early on, with eight of his nine submission victories coming in round one. On the feet, he’s in perpetual motion, cuts off the cage well, and has decent power in his hands. Mitchell has one of the three wins in UFC history via a twister submission and can produce submissions from anywhere and any position.

Santiago Luna clips Quang Le with a stiff left hook. Credit: MMA Junkie.

Luna is undefeated and holds UFC wins over Quang Le (9-3-0) and Angel Pacheco (7-4-0). 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 often shoots early and transitions quickly on the mat, often reaching full mount with blinding speed. Luna constantly looks to posture up and land ground-and-pound in top position, and he has excellent chokes if he secures his opponent’s back. He fights behind his jab when 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.

#14 Farès Ziam vs. Tom Nolan

Farès Ziam blasts Michal Figlak with a thudding kick to the head. Credit: MMA Junkie.

Lightweight Bout

Farès Ziam: 18-4-0, 7 KO/TKO, 4 Sub.

Tom Nolan: 10-1-0, 5 KO/TKO, 1 Sub.

Ziam is on a six-fight win streak and has UFC victories over Mike Davis (12-3-0), Nazim Sadykhov (11-2-1), and Jai Herbert (14-6-1). He’s a patient, technical kickboxer who constantly feints and looks for openings to land powerful, straight shots. He’s at his best when he takes the center of the octagon and fights at range, picking his opponent apart with a mix of kicks and punches. Ziam is a capable grappler with a solid submission game, particularly chokes, which account for three of his four submission wins. Training at Kill Cliff FC, he rarely absorbs much damage, having defended 65% of significant strikes attempted on him in the UFC. He’s proven capable of surviving deep waters on the ground, regularly getting taken down and fighting back to his feet. Ziam has outlanded his opponent in all of his UFC wins, maintaining a consistent pace throughout the fight.

Tom Nolan fires a heavy kick to the head of Alex Reyes. Credit: MMA Junkie.

Nolan has won four of his last five outings and holds UFC wins over Charlie Campbell (9-3-0), Victor Martinez (13-6-0), and Alex Reyes (13-5-0). He’s a relentless scrapper who’s dangerous at all times, with powerful striking and a strong submission game. He’s always moving and feinting, with excellent distance management, regularly exiting the pocket to fire heavy kicks from range. Nolan has very fluid striking, constantly varying his strikes and stringing them together in different combinations, always remaining unpredictable. Training at the Team Compton Training Centre, he’s just as comfortable on the mat and will often pursue takedowns early, willing to work and chain shots together to bring the fight to the floor. He’ll look for chokes immediately from top position and has heavy ground-and-pound. Nolan has solid cardio and maintains a consistent pace throughout, but has secured four of his five knockouts in the first round and is especially dangerous early on.

#4 Brendan Allen vs. Edmen Shahbazyan

Brendan Allen batters Reinier de Ridder with ground-and-pound. Credit: MMA Fighting.

Middleweight Bout

Brendan Allen: 26-7-0, 6 KO/TKO, 14 Sub.

Edmen Shahbazyan: 16-5-0, 13 KO/TKO, 1 Sub.

Allen has won three of his last five fights and has UFC wins over #8-ranked Middleweight Reinier de Ridder (21-4-0), Marvin Vettori (19-10-1), and Chris Curtis (32-13-0). He’s an excellent grappler with a lethal submission game and solid power in his hands. On his feet, he’s always coming forward, pressuring his opponent while fighting behind his jab and throwing in combination. Training at Kill Cliff FC, he has the cardio to maintain a consistent pace for five rounds and varies his shots well, regularly mixing kicks and body shots into his combinations. He’s averaging over 1 takedown per fifteen minutes and is relentless on the mat, constantly posturing up to do damage and improve his position. He has excellent pressure and control on top but is just as dangerous off his back and can survive in deep waters. Allen has secured eleven of his fourteen submissions via rear-naked choke and is deadly if he can find his opponent’s neck.

Edmen Shahbazyan lands a thudding right hand on Andre Petroski. Credit: MMA Fighting.

Shahbazyan has won four of his last five bouts and holds UFC victories over Brad Tavares (21-13-0), Andrè Muniz (24-8-0), and Andre Petroski (13-7-0). He’s a precise, measured striker with solid wrestling skills. He always fights technically and won’t spend much time in the pocket, typically staying at range and darting in and out to land heavy punches and kicks. He has excellent range management and throws everything with power, rarely throwing with much volume but always with knockout intent. Shahbazyan is averaging over one takedown landed per fifteen minutes but is most comfortable on his feet and largely uses his wrestling to deny takedowns and keep the fight standing. Training at Xtreme Couture, he’s a very defensively sound fighter, using great footwork and head movement to avoid significant damage. Shahbazyan has secured thirteen of his fourteen finish victories in the first round and is most dangerous early on.

#5 Belal Muhammad vs. #11 Gabriel Bonfim

Belal Muhammad ties up and controls Leon Edwards on the mat. Credit: MMA Junkie.

Welterweight Bout

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

Gabriel Bonfim: 19-1-0, 4 KO/TKO, 13 Sub.

Muhammad has won three of his last five outings and has UFC victories over #6-ranked Welterweight Sean Brady (19-2-0), #7-ranked Welterweight Leon Edwards (22-6-0), and Stephen Thompson (17-9-1). He’s a dominant wrestler with excellent top control and technical striking. He’s averaging over two takedowns per fifteen minutes and more than a full round of control time in his last five wins. He’s very active in top position, constantly posturing up to throw ground-and-pound while wearing down his opponents with smothering pressure and control. On the feet, Muhammad uses a heavy-handed boxing style, remaining technical and throwing combinations, often using his striking to set up his grappling. Training at Valle Flow Striking, he’s exceptionally defensively sound, having defended 90% of takedowns and 55% of significant strikes attempted on him in the UFC. Muhammad is landing, on average, about 94 significant strikes per fight in his last five appearances and maintains a consistently heavy pace throughout.

Gabriel Bonfim tags Randy Brown with a stiff overhand right. Credit: MMA Mania.

Bonfim has won four of his last five fights and has UFC victories over Stephen Thompson (17-9-1), Randy Brown (20-8-0), and Khaos Williams (16-5-0). He’s a well-rounded, technical fighter with sharp kickboxing and dangerous submissions. He’s in perpetual motion, throwing everything with impressive speed while staying technical and never telegraphing his strikes. Bonfim has fantastic distance management and excels at staying out of range and catching his opponents with shots as they enter the pocket, especially with leg kicks. Training with the Bonfim Brothers, he’s averaging over three takedowns per fifteen minutes and advances quickly on the mat. He has solid control from the top and typically pursues chokes, which account for all of his submission victories. Bonfim has earned three post-fight bonuses in his last five outings and is always pursuing a highlight-reel finish.

Best Bets

Iwo Baraniewski by KO/TKO: This is an exciting matchup between two wild brawlers. Neither fighter backs down from a scrap, but I believe Baraniewski has a power advantage and a better chin. Tafa has struggled in his UFC tenure, having suffered four finish losses in his last six fights. Although he has largely lost to grapplers, Tafa’s brawling tendencies often put him in trouble, and I expect more of the same in this matchup. I expect this fight to get off to a quick start, with both fighters meeting in the middle and letting their hands go. I anticipate Baraniewski getting the better of the striking exchanges, forcing Tafa to the outside while constantly pressuring and throwing bombs in the pocket. As the fight goes on and they continue to exchange, I’m confident Baraniewski will find Tafa’s chin and secure his third straight UFC knockout victory.

Brendan Allen Moneyline: This is an interesting matchup between two well-rounded Middleweights. Many fans (myself included) are a bit puzzled by this matchmaking, considering Allen is coming off the biggest win of his UFC career and, instead of receiving a top-five matchup, is fighting an unranked opponent in Shahbazyan. This is a serious step-up in competition for Shahbazyan, and I believe Allen has a significant grappling advantage and the striking to shut Shahbazyan down on the feet. I expect Allen to pressure Shahbazyan from the opening bell, backing him up and not allowing him to fight at his usual slower, more careful pace. As the fight continues and Allen keeps pressing, I expect Shahbazyan to fade, taking some steam off his punches and allowing Allen to secure takedowns and control him on the mat. Once Allen has secured top position, I believe he’ll take full control of the fight, landing heavy ground-and-pound shots and forcing Shahbazyan to get desperate on the bottom. Once Shahbazyan starts taking serious damage, I see Allen taking advantage of his desperation, wrapping up a choke, and submitting him.

Muhammad vs. Bonfim to Go the Distance: This is a fascinating matchup between two well-rounded Welterweights. Bonfim likely has a striking edge, while Muhammad has a grappling edge, but they’re both dangerous wherever the fight goes. Although I expect some competitive striking exchanges, I believe this fight will largely play out on the mat. I anticipate a slower start, with both fighters establishing their rhythm and looking for openings to land strikes or takedowns. As the fight continues, I expect plenty of high-level grappling exchanges, with both men landing takedowns and doing damage on the ground. I wouldn’t be surprised to see some stalemates, both standing and on the ground, that slow the pace and make it tough for either fighter to find a finish. Ultimately, I expect a very technical, competitive fight, but I’m confident it will go to the judges’ scorecards.

UFC Fight Night: Song vs. Figueiredo Preview

Song Yadong cracks Julio Arce with a vicious head kick. Credit: MMA Fighting.

The UFC heads to the Galaxy Arena in Cotai, Macau, with a stacked Fight Night card. From top to bottom, there are plenty of exciting matchups and talented fighters looking to make their names on the biggest stage in MMA. In the co-main event, two power-punching Light Heavyweights collide when Zhang Mingyang meets Alonzo Menifield. In the main event, two top-ten Bantamweights go toe-to-toe when the always-dangerous Song Yadong takes on former Flyweight champion Deiveson Figueiredo. Let’s take a look at the fights on the main card.

#11 Alex Perez vs. Sumudaerji

Alex Perez blasts Charles Johnson with a thudding left hook. Credit: MMA Fighting.

Flyweight Bout

Alex Perez: 26-10-0, 7 KO/TKO, 7 Sub.

Sumudaerji: 19-7-0, 13 KO/TKO, 1 Sub.

Perez has won two of his last five fights and has UFC victories over #14-ranked Flyweight Charles Johnson (19-8-0), Matheus Nicolau (19-6-1), and Jussier Formiga (24-8-0). He is a well-rounded fighter with brutal leg kicks and solid wrestling. He pushes a heavy pace from bell to bell, regularly blitzing forward to unload lengthy combinations and batter his opponent with straights and uppercuts. Perez varies his shots, constantly opening combinations with different punches from different angles. Training with Team Oyama, he’s averaging over two takedowns per fifteen minutes and has heavy top control. He’ll usually pursue a submission over ground and pound and has dangerous chokes, particularly his anaconda choke. He always leaves everything inside the cage and rarely sees the judges’ scorecards, with eleven of his fourteen UFC fights not going the distance. Perez is dangerous at all times, especially early on, and has earned twelve first-round finishes in his professional career.

Sumudaerji tags Kevin Borjas with a stiff jab. Credit: MMA Mania.

Sumudaerji has won three of his last five bouts and holds UFC victories over Malcolm Gordon (14-8-0), Kevin Borjas (10-5-0), and Mitch Raposo (10-3-0). He’s a dangerous scrapper with a lethal arsenal of kicks. He’s highly accurate, throwing every shot with knockout intent, typically favoring power over volume. He remains technical throughout, constantly firing his jab before unloading heavy kicks. Sumudaerji has excellent distance management but isn’t the most mobile striker, often standing still in front of his opponents while looking to counterstrike. Training at Enbo Fight Club, he’s unlikely to initiate grappling exchanges, but he has solid defensive wrestling and has successfully defended 72% of takedowns attempted on him in the UFC. Sumudaerji always comes out guns blazing, with eleven of his thirteen knockouts coming in round one.

Jake Matthews vs. Carlston Harris

Jake Matthews lands a cracking left hook on Francisco Prado. Credit: MMA Mania.

Welterweight Bout

Jake Matthews: 22-8-0, 5 KO/TKO, 9 Sub.

Carlston Harris: 19-7-0, 5 KO/TKO, 6 Sub.

Matthews has won three of his last five outings and has UFC victories over Chidi Njokuani (25-12-0), Li Jingliang (19-9-0), and Francisco Prado (12-5-0). He’s a well-rounded veteran with excellent boxing and a dangerous submission game. He won’t get sloppy with his striking, always throwing tight, straight shots and staying defensively sound. Training at Nexus, Matthews throws everything in combination and mixes in kicks and body shots effectively. He’s averaging over one takedown per fifteen minutes and is very active on the mat, advancing position quickly and pursuing a finish at all times. He has secured all of his submission victories via choke, with seven of the nine being rear-naked chokes. Matthews has solid cardio and can sustain a strong pace across three rounds, but is dangerous anywhere the fight goes and can produce a finish at any time.

Carlston Harris submits Jeremiah Wells with a vicious anaconda choke. Credit: MMA Mania.

Harris has won two of his last five fights and has secured UFC victories over Impa Kasanganay (20-6-0), Jeremiah Wells (13-4-1), and Jared Gooden (23-12-0). He’s an efficient kickboxer with impressive punching power and devastating kicks. Along with his power, he’s exceptionally fast on his feet and with his strikes, always remaining unpredictable and elusive while pursuing a finish. Harris is a dangerous grappler, holding a black belt in Luta Livre and a brown belt in BJJ. Training at Renovocao Fight Team, he loves anaconda and d’arce chokes and will regularly look to lock them up after denying takedowns. He can find a finish anywhere, often securing submissions through defensive grappling and rarely shooting for takedowns. Harris has gone to a decision only once in his last ten fights and always leaves everything inside the cage, fighting with a “kill or be killed” attitude.

Kai Asakura vs. Cameron Smotherman

Kai Asakura launches a flying knee at Alexandre Pantoja. Credit: MMA Fighting.

Flyweight Bout

Kai Asakura: 21-6-0, 13 KO/TKO, 3 Sub.

Cameron Smotherman: 12-6-0, 6 KO/TKO, 1 Sub.

Asakura has won two of his last five bouts and is seeking his first UFC victory. A former Rizin Bantamweight champion, he’s a powerful, well-rounded scrappy fighter who pushes a heavy pace throughout. He has serious power in his hands and particularly dangerous knees, constantly varying his attacks between the head and body. Asakura often looks to counterstrike, using his distance management and head movement to catch his opponents with heavy shots as they enter the pocket. He throws everything with power and in combination, but remains elusive and technical, never telegraphing his attacks. Training at Japan Top Team, he has excellent takedown defense and scrambles, often finding himself in top position after grappling exchanges. Asakura is at his best when he’s controlling the pace and the center of the cage, but he is willing to brawl and has a solid chin.

Cameron Smotherman rips a left hook to the body of Serhiy Sidey. Credit: MMA Junkie.

Smotherman has won three of his last five outings and has a UFC victory over Jake Hadley (12-6-0). He’s a powerful, technical striker who’s always dangerous. He maintains a consistent pace and has excellent cardiovascular endurance, carrying his power and speed across three rounds. Smotherman can do serious damage with his punches and tends to headhunt, throwing every shot with knockout intent. He’s most comfortable on his feet but is a competent defensive grappler with solid chokes and can survive off his back. He can do significant damage without much space, especially with his knees, which he’ll throw regularly. Smotherman has one-shot knockout power and can create a highlight finish at any time.

#3 Sergei Pavlovich vs. #15 Tallison Teixeira

Sergei Pavlovich blasts Waldo Cortes-Acosta with a powerful right hand. Credit: MMA Mania.

Heavyweight Bout

Sergei Pavlovich: 20-3-0, 15 KO/TKO, 0 Sub.

Tallison Teixeira: 9-1-0, 7 KO/TKO, 1 Sub.

Pavlovich has won three of his last five fights and has UFC victories over #4-ranked Heavyweight Waldo Cortes-Acosta (17-3-0), #7-ranked Heavyweight Curtis Blaydes (19-6-0), and #9-ranked Heavyweight Derrick Lewis (29-13-0). He’s a vicious power puncher who can find a knockout in a hurry. Early in his UFC career, he went on a six-fight first-round KO streak, but has since adopted a much more patient, measured style. Pavlovich won’t put out a ton of volume, but he’s highly explosive and often blitzes into the pocket, unloading heavy combinations. Training at American Top Team, he tends to headhunt but remains patient, looking for openings to land, particularly with his devastating right hand. He has a background in Greco-Roman wrestling and Combat Sambo but rarely looks to grapple. Pavlovich has produced five knockouts in the UFC with fewer than 25 significant strikes and can secure a finish at any time.

Tallison Teixeira lands a heavy front kick to the body of Justin Tafa. Credit: MMA Mania.

Teixeira has won four of his last five bouts and holds UFC victories over Justin Tafa (7-5-0) and Tai Tuivasa (15-10-0). He’s a massive, lengthy striker with one-shot knockout power. Standing at 6’7”, he uses his length well, often firing kicks and long straights from range before stepping into the pocket to blast his opponent with hooks and uppercuts. Teixeira fights behind his jab and regularly mixes kicks into combinations, but he tends to headhunt, constantly pursuing a knockout. He holds a black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu but rarely initiates grappling exchanges, typically keeping the fight standing and using his 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 gone to a single decision in his brief professional career and has scored three knockouts in 35 seconds or less.

Zhang Mingyang vs. #15 Alonzo Menifield

Zhang Mingyang lands a brutal elbow to the head of Anthony Smith. Credit: MMA Junkie.

Light Heavyweight Bout

Zhang Mingyang: 19-7-0, 13 KO/TKO, 6 Sub.

Alonzo Menifield: 17-6-1, 10 KO/TKO, 3 Sub.

Zhang has won four of his last five outings and has UFC victories over Anthony Smith (38-22-0), Brendson Ribeiro (17-10-0), and Ozzy Diaz (10-4-0). He is a prolific finisher with dangerous power in his hands. He always comes out guns blazing, constantly pressing forward and looking to close the distance to unload bombs inside the pocket. Zhang is always seeking a knockout and willing to brawl, but he remains technical throughout the fight, keeping his shots tight and straight without telegraphing them. He’s strong in the clinch and has solid takedowns, working quickly in top position and regularly looking to posture up to land brutal ground-and-pound. Training at Xtreme Couture, he has excellent chokes, with five of his six submissions coming via rear-naked choke, and he will pursue them even when standing. Zhang has produced all of his finish victories in the first round and has only been to a single decision in his professional career.

Alonzo Menifield unloads a cracking overhand right on Julius Walker. Credit: MMA Mania.

Menifield has won two of his last five fights, with UFC victories over Oumar Sy (12-2-0), Dustin Jacoby (22-9-1), and Jimmy Crute (14-4-2). He is an explosive power-puncher who relentlessly pursues a finish. He regularly enters the pocket to fire looping shots and overhands and can do serious damage from any position. Menifield has excellent leg kicks and can land them 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.

#5 Song Yadong vs. #7 Deiveson Figueiredo

Song Yadong rains down ground-and-pound shots onto Ricky Simón. Credit: MMA Junkie.

Bantamweight Bout

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

Deiveson Figueiredo: 25-6-1, 9 KO/TKO, 9 Sub.

Song has won three of his last five bouts and holds UFC victories over #10-ranked Bantamweight Marlon Vera (23-12-1), Ricky Simón (22-7-1), and Chris Gutiérrez (22-7-2). He’s a technical, durable fighter who’s always coming forward and throwing with knockout intent. He throws everything in combination but won’t get wild, remaining technical throughout the fight and fighting behind his jab. Training at Team Alpha Male, Song varies his shots well, attacking the head and body evenly without telegraphing. He’s powerful in the clinch and won’t typically pursue takedowns, but he has successfully 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. Song always pushes a relentless pace, averaging about 78 significant strikes per fight in his last five appearances.

Deiveson Figueiredo secures a takedown on Montel Jackson. Credit: MMA Fighting.

Figueiredo has won two of his last five outings and holds UFC victories over #4-ranked Flyweight Brandon Moreno (23-10-2), #10-ranked Bantamweight Marlon Vera (23-10-1), and Montel Jackson (15-4-0). He’s a versatile fighter with vicious knockout power and excellent grappling. He’s patient on his feet, picking his shots and looking for openings while regularly mixing in kicks and body shots. Training with Team Figueiredo, he favors power over volume and will often charge forward while dipping his head to unload overhands. He has excellent takedowns from the clinch and in open space, and he will immediately assume a dominant position on the mat. He has heavy top pressure and lethal chokes that he’ll constantly look to secure. Figueiredo is a former Flyweight champion and holds various records in the 125-pound division, including the second most finishes (7), the most knockdowns (11), and the most submission attempts (20).

Best Bets

Matthews vs. Harris to Not Go the Distance: This is an exciting matchup between two dangerous Welterweights. Both fighters have multiple ways to secure a finish, and I’d be surprised if this one went to the scorecards. In 56 combined fights, they have produced 25 finishes, with 34 total fights not going the distance. Of those 25 finishes, they combined for 10 knockouts and 15 submissions. Neither fighter has gone to a decision in their last two fights, and, considering they’re both coming off a loss, I’d expect them to be eager to earn a highlight-reel finish and re-enter the win column. I anticipate this fight getting off to a quick start, with both fighters meeting in the middle and pressing the action from the opening bell. As the fight goes on and they continue to take risks, I’m confident that one of them will find the finish and end this fight within three rounds.

Kai Asakura by KO/TKO: This is an intriguing matchup between two fighters with a significant experience gap. Both have struggled in their UFC tenure, but their careers have been very different. Asakura, a former Rizin Bantamweight champion who went pro in 2012, was granted a title shot on his debut and then given a ranked opponent in his second outing. Smotherman, who went pro in 2021, came to the UFC from the American regional scene and has not faced a ranked opponent in the UFC. This is a major step down in competition for Asakura, and despite his lackluster performances so far, I believe he outmatches Smotherman everywhere and will finally show the skills the UFC signed him for. I expect Asakura to get going early, forcing Smotherman onto the back foot and controlling the center as he batters Smotherman with power shots. I anticipate Asakura building momentum as the fight continues, and I don’t think it will take long before he finds the knockout blow and secures his first UFC victory.

Song Yadong by Decision: This is a fantastic fight between two high-level scrappers that I’ve been looking forward to. Both have well-rounded skills and are dangerous anywhere the fight goes, but I believe Song’s speed and output will be the difference-maker. Figueiredo has serious power but struggles with volume at times, averaging just 27 significant strikes landed in his last five fights, compared with an average of 78 significant strikes landed by Song in his last five outings. Figueiredo has also lost some of his speed, both with age and by moving up in weight, whereas Song is not only a decade younger but also a former Featherweight who is even faster and stronger at 135 pounds. I expect this fight to start a bit slowly, with Song fighting off Figueiredo’s takedown attempts and touching him up with quick combinations. As he continues to deny takedowns, I expect Figueiredo’s pace to slow, forcing him to engage Song on the feet and take more damage. Figueiredo is a tough man to finish, so I do believe this fight goes the distance, but I’m confident that when the dust settles, Song will be declared the winner.

UFC Fight Night: Allen vs. Costa Preview

Arnold Allen lands a brutal front kick to the face of Giga Chikadze. Credit: MMA Junkie.

The UFC returns to its headquarters at the APEX in Las Vegas, Nevada, with a top-notch Fight Night card. There’s plenty of exciting matchups filled with rising prospects and grizzled veterans looking to earn another victory in the premier MMA promotion. In the co-main event, two hard-hitting Featherweights will collide when Dooho Choi takes on Daniel Santos. In the main event, we’ll see perennial contender Arnold Allen take on streaking finisher Melquizael Costa. Let’s take a look at the fights on the main card.

Nikolay Veretennikov vs. Khaos Williams

Nikolay Veretennikov cracks Niko Price with a heavy left hook. Credit: MMA Mania.

Welterweight Bout

Nikolay Veretennikov: 14-7-0, 10 KO/TKO, 1 Sub.

Khaos Williams: 15-5-0, 8 KO/TKO, 1 Sub.

Veretennikov has won two of his last five fights and has UFC victories over Francisco Prado (12-5-0) and Niko Price (16-11-0). He’s a bruising striker who loves to throw bombs and do serious damage in the clinch. He throws every shot with power but remains technical throughout, fighting behind his jab and picking his shots without getting sloppy. Veretennikov is excellent in the clinch, both with his striking and grappling, and he possesses devastating knees and strong trips and throws. Training at Kings MMA, he’s very aggressive in top position and will constantly look to posture up and throw ground-and-pound. He has a solid chin and is willing to hang in the pocket and exchange, but he can also get flashy and attempt spinning kicks. Veretennikov has secured more than half of his knockouts in the first round and is most dangerous early on.

Khaos Williams fires a stiff jab at Miguel Baeza. Credit: MMA Mania.

Williams has won three of his last five bouts, holding UFC victories over Alex Morono (24-13-0), Carlston Harris (19-7-0), and Rolando Bedoya (14-5-0). He’s a lengthy striker with brutal knockout power. He pushes a heavy pace throughout the fight and regularly blitzes forward to unload vicious combinations. Training at Murcielago MMA, Williams has not attempted a takedown in his promotional tenure and is most comfortable on his feet, though he has shown decent takedown defense. He throws everything with serious power behind it, rarely taking a step backward. He does a solid job of varying his attacks, typically favoring his punches and regularly landing to the body of his opponents. Williams has produced three knockouts in the UFC in under two minutes and can secure a finish in a hurry.

Timmy Cuamba vs. Benardo Sopaj

Timmy Cuamba blasts Roberto Romero with a vicious flying knee. Credit: MMA Mania.

Bantamweight Bout

Timmy Cuamba: 10-3-0, 5 KO/TKO, 0 Sub.

Benardo Sopaj: 12-3-0, 7 KO/TKO, 3 Sub.

Cuamba has won three of his last five outings and holds UFC victories over Roberto Romero (8-5-1) and Chang Ho Lee (11-2-0). He’s a snappy striker with fantastic hand speed and strong wrestling. He throws everything in combination and will remain technical throughout, keeping his attacks precise and untelegraphed. He has great footwork and will constantly look to stick and move, often landing big shots before returning to range unscathed. Training at Xtreme Couture, he’s averaging over 1 takedown per fifteen minutes and has excellent reversals, usually finding himself in top position after a grappling exchange. He has great top control and dangerous chokes, even attempting them while standing, often to defend takedowns. Cuamba favors his hands but has an excellent arsenal of kicks and will regularly attempt flashy attacks like flying knees, spinning kicks, and spinning elbows.

Benardo Sopaj fires a thudding kick to the head of Ricky Turcios. Credit: MMA Fighting.

Sopaj has won four of his last five fights and has a UFC victory over Ricky Turcios (13-6-0). He’s a heavy-handed scrapper who’s always coming forward to exchange inside the pocket. He throws everything with serious power and speed and favors power over volume, usually throwing single shots or two-piece combinations. Sopaj has very clean, technical striking and excellent distance management, but he can be pulled into a brawl and find himself unloading looping hooks on the inside. He has excellent takedown defense and reversals, making him very tough to control on the mat, and he often reverses his opponent to take a dominant position. Training at Allstars Training Center, he can do damage going forward or backward and from anywhere, whether he’s on the mat or his feet. Sopaj tends to slow as the fight continues and is at his best in the first round, where he’s secured seven of his ten finish victories.

Modestas Bukauskas vs. Christian Edwards

Modestas Bukauskas lands a powerful left hook on Rafael Cerqueira. Credit: Sports Illustrated.

Catchweight Bout (215 Pounds)

Modestas Bukauskas: 19-7-0, 11 KO/TKO, 3 Sub.

Christian Edwards: 8-4-0, 5 KO/TKO, 1 Sub.

Bukauskas has won four of his last five bouts and has UFC victories over Tyson Pedro (10-6-0), Ion Cutelaba (20-11-1), and Marcin Prachnio (17-9-0). He is a technical kickboxer, always in perpetual motion, constantly feinting and making great use of his footwork. He has a solid arsenal of kicks and often does most of his damage from range, only entering the pocket to unload combinations. Bukauskas throws everything with power and is an accurate striker, never wasting energy or point-fighting. He’s at his best coming forward, controlling the distance and pace of the fight. Training at Gintas Combat, he favors a slower-paced, technical kickboxing match and rarely pursues takedowns or looks to grapple. Bukauskas tends to favor power over volume and can do significant damage without much output, having been outlanded in nearly all of his wins in the promotion.

Christian Edwards fires a straight left hand at Ben Parrish. Credit: MMA Junkie.

Edwards has won three of his last five outings and is making his UFC debut. He’s a marauding grappler with excellent wrestling and devastating ground-and-pound. He won’t waste much time on his feet before pursuing a takedown, often punching to close the distance before clinching or shooting in. Edwards is willing to work to bring the fight to the floor and often chains together attempts or grinds his opponent against the fence until securing a takedown. He has solid top pressure and will immediately look to either advance position or posture up and do damage. Training at Jackson-Wink MMA, he’s very active on top and will constantly attempt submissions and unload ground-and-pound shots in pursuit of a finish. Edwards has only gone to one decision in his last five fights and always leaves everything inside the cage.

Malcolm Wellmaker vs. Juan Díaz

Malcolm Wellmaker stuns Cameron Saaiman with a vicious right hook. Credit: MMA Fighting.

Bantamweight Bout

Malcolm Wellmaker: 10-1-0, 6 KO/TKO, 2 Sub.

Juan Díaz: 15-1-1, 5 KO/TKO, 2 Sub.

Wellmaker has won four of his last five fights and has UFC victories over Cameron Saaiman (9-3-0) and Kris Moutinho (14-8-0). He’s a devastating counterstriker with one-shot knockout power. He throws every shot with bad intentions but picks his shots and keeps his striking clean, rarely loading up or getting sloppy. Wellmaker varies his targets well, regularly firing kicks to the legs and body as well as brutal body hooks. He has great distance management and head movement, using both to slip shots and return fire, often with a powerful lead hook. Training at Faglier’s MMA, he won’t typically initiate grappling exchanges but has successfully defended more than half the takedowns attempted on him in the UFC. Wellmaker has secured his UFC and Contender Series knockout wins with fewer than 30 significant strikes and can produce a knockout at any time.

Juan Díaz blasts Kwon Won-il with a brutal spinning back elbow. Credit: MMA Junkie.

Díaz is on an eight-fight win streak and making his UFC debut. He’s a technical boxer with sharp hands and serious punching power. He fights behind his jab and has solid kicks that he often adds at the end of his combinations. Díaz is very comfortable in the pocket but also very defensively sound, using great head movement and distance management to land shots without taking any in return. Training at Entram Gym, he holds a brown belt in BJJ, has solid wrestling skills, and is willing to grapple, often initiating exchanges along the fence. He has very solid output and often heats up as the fight goes on, staying right in his opponent’s face and battering them with constant combinations. Díaz has gone five rounds multiple times outside the UFC and has proven he has the cardio to maintain a heavy pace comfortably throughout an entire fight.

Dooho Choi vs. Daniel Santos

Dooho Choi tags Bill Algeo with a stiff jab. Credit: MMA Mania.

Featherweight Bout

Dooho Choi: 16-4-1, 13 KO/TKO, 1 Sub.

Daniel Santos: 14-2-0, 7 KO/TKO, 2 Sub.

Choi has won two of his last five bouts, with one draw, and has UFC victories over Nate Landwehr (18-8-0), Bill Algeo (18-9-0), and Thiago Tavares (22-10-1). He is a dangerous striker with impressive speed and power in his hands. He returned from a three-year layoff in 2023 and has adopted a more well-rounded, technical style, mixing takedowns and submission attempts with his striking. Choi fights behind his jab and favors power over volume, typically firing low kicks before closing the distance and unloading short combinations. Training with Busan Team M.A.D., he tends to headhunt and has solid counterstriking, regularly slipping punches and landing shots of his own. He’s strong in the clinch, has excellent submission defense, and has solid top pressure. Choi has earned five bonuses in nine UFC fights and is a Hall of Famer, with his fight with Cub Swanson inducted into the Fight Wing of the UFC’s Hall of Fame in 2022.

Daniel Santos fires a heavy knee to the head of Jeong Yeong Lee. Credit: MMA Mania.

Santos has won four of his last five outings, with UFC victories over Joo Sang Yoo (9-1-0), Jeong Yeong Lee (11-3-0), and John Castaneda (21-8-1). He’s a powerful brawler with outstanding grappling skills. He comes out guns blazing, pushing a heavy pace from the opening bell and always coming forward to do damage. Santos regularly attempts spinning kicks but is at his best inside the pocket, using his sharp hands and head movement to counterstrike and land power shots. Training at Chute Boxe DL, he varies his targets well and often mixes brutal body shots and knees into his combinations. He’s averaging about three takedowns per fifteen minutes and will immediately look to secure a submission from top position. Santos has great cardio and will maintain constant pressure on his opponent, never shying away from an exchange.

#7 Arnold Allen vs. #12 Melquizael Costa

Arnold Allen stuns Dan Hooker with a right hand. Credit: MMA Fighting.

Featherweight Bout

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

Melquizael Costa: 26-7-0, 9 KO/TKO, 8 Sub.

Allen has won two of his last five fights and has UFC victories over #8-ranked Lightweight Dan Hooker (24-14-0), Sodiq Yusuff (13-5-0), and Giga Chikadze (15-6-0). He’s a well-rounded scrapper with precise striking and solid grappling. He’s measured and technical on his feet, remaining elusive while constantly pressuring opponents and looking for openings to do damage. Allen won’t throw crazy volume, but he’s very accurate and makes every shot count, regularly landing clean, heavy strikes. He’s defensively sound, with great head movement and distance management, having successfully defended 60% of significant strikes attempted on him in the UFC. Training at BKK Fighters, he averages about one takedown per fifteen minutes and is equally comfortable on the ground as on the feet. Allen has faced a who’s-who of the Featherweight division lately and is willing to exchange with absolutely anybody.

Melquizael Costa lands a brutal spinning back kick on the chin of Dan Ige. Credit: Bloody Elbow.

Costa is on a six-fight win streak, with UFC victories over Morgan Charrière (21-12-1), Julian Erosa (31-14-0), and Dan Ige (19-11-0). He’s a versatile fighter 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, using solid footwork, head movement, and distance management to stay elusive. He’s averaging two takedowns landed and over one submission attempted per fifteen minutes, and he’s 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 eleven of his seventeen finish victories coming in round one.

Best Bets

Veretennikov vs. Williams To Go the Distance: This is an exciting matchup between two dangerous strikers. Although both fighters can produce impressive knockouts, neither is often on the receiving end of a finish. Both are also often in very close contests and have recently gone to multiple split decisions, and I believe they match up very similarly here in terms of striking prowess. Veretennikov likely has a grappling advantage, considering Williams hasn’t even attempted a takedown in the UFC, but Veretennikov has just one win by submission and generally uses his wrestling to slow down fights, not finish them. I expect plenty of competitive striking exchanges, with both men landing shots and inflicting damage as the fight progresses. I also anticipate some grappling exchanges, likely initiated by Veretennikov, that will slow the pace of the fight and the fighters’ output. Ultimately, I expect a fun, closely contested scrap, but I’m confident it will go the distance.

Modestas Bukauskas Moneyline: This is an interesting late-notice matchup between an established veteran and a UFC debutant. This will be Bukauskas’s 13th UFC appearance, and although Edwards has some experience in Bellator, he has not faced a high level of competition on the regional scene. Edwards’s best win, in terms of opponent records, came over the 28-22 Jarome Hatch, making this a massive step up in competition that I don’t believe he will be able to overcome. Bukauskas has a significant advantage in striking, and I believe he has the takedown defense to keep the fight standing and force Edwards to engage on Bukauskas’s terms. I expect Edwards to look for takedowns immediately, get denied, and burn his own cardio, while Bukauskas stays elusive and pieces him up. As the fight continues and Edwards slows, I anticipate Bukauskas taking full control, dictating the pace and range as Edwards struggles to keep up on the feet. Edwards has shown decent durability in his career, so while I’m unsure of how this fight ends, I believe it will be Bukauskas who emerges the victor.

Arnold Allen Moneyline: This is an outstanding matchup between a high-level contender and a quickly rising star. Although they seem to be trending in opposite directions in terms of wins and losses, the level of competition Allen has faced as of late is considerably higher than that of Costa, and this is a bit of a step down for him from the top-level contenders he’s faced in his last few fights. Not to say Costa isn’t a serious talent, I just wouldn’t put him in the same tier as Max Holloway or Movsar Evloev, and I believe Allen is by far the toughest matchup he’s ever faced. Costa does a great job capitalizing on his opponent’s defensive mistakes, as shown by his last two knockout wins, but I don’t believe he’ll have these opportunities against Allen, who has some of the most efficient striking defense in the UFC. I expect Allen to apply pressure early, forcing Costa onto his back foot and limiting both his grappling and his ability to power punch. As Allen maintains the center, I expect Costa to start getting wild and looking for the knockout, creating openings for Allen to land clean shots and work his offense. Both of these fighters are dangerous anywhere the fight goes, so I expect plenty of close exchanges on the mat and on their feet, but I believe Allen will earn an impressive victory and end Costa’s win streak this Saturday.

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.