PFL9

Harrison vs. Jindrova

MMA's League

Roundhouse MMA recaps all the action from the memorable event.

UFC Fight Night: Vera vs Cruz Delivers a Classic Event

Jack MacCool revisits the 10 biggest MMA events that took place in California.

Top 10 Biggest MMA Events in California

This will headline the event at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas, Nevada on October 15th.

Jared Cannonier vs. Sean Strickland Targeted 

Abdullah Ouazri

Shane Burgos revealed that he has fought out his UFC contract and will now sign with the PFL on The MMA Hour.

'Hurricane' Shane told fans after his last fight that he had plans to test free agency. This statement came to fruition in the form of a 2-season PFL contract. 

Burgos' move was financially motivated, as the PFL offered him a salary that "the UFC could not match" he told Ariel Helwani. This was not the first time he'd been approached by the PFL. They sought him out after he fought out a UFC contract earlier on in his career, but at the time Burgos had different aspirations.

The pay gap from the UFC to the PFL is 'huge'. In one PFL fight, Burgos revealed that he will earn more than multiple UFC fights have paid. Should he win the season and all of his fights along the way, he revealed that he will become a multi-millionaire. 

Burgos has been a fan favorite since he began his UFC career, constantly putting on Fight of The Year contenders. He fought top talent such as Calvin Kattar, Edson Barboza, and Josh Emmett during his time with the promotion and went toe-to-toe with each of them. 

![6DA3661F-E221-4015-9B49-CE9E3F47C1D5.jpeg](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/b7552203-07c8-45ae-5250-c584a4f10900/pub "Shane Burgos goes to war with Edson Barboza. Credits to: Troy Taormina USA-TODAY Sports")

Shane is riding a 2-fight winning streak as he exits the UFC. Perhaps his candid attitude on the greater pay in other promotions will influence more fighters to test the market. 

Shane Burgos Will Sign With The PFL


Rory Macdonald announced his retirement from MMA following his most recent PFL loss to Dilano Taylor.

> My time has come to put the gloves down for good. - Rory Macdonald via Instagram

Macdonald was originally slated to fight undefeated Russian prospect Magomed Umalatov at the PFL Semi-Finals. His opponent would be forced to withdraw due to visa issues. The call was made to Dilano Taylor to step in on a week's notice for a chance to earn a place in the finale, and he made the most of it. He finished Macdonald in the first round via TKO, dropping him and landing ground and pound after. Fans did not expect this as Taylor was a late notice replacement.

Despite his recent struggles, Rory is heralded as MMA Royalty for his days in Bellator and the UFC. He holds wins over Tyron Woodley, Nate Diaz, Demian Maia, and BJ Penn in the UFC. His fighting style was reminiscent of the great Georges St-Pierre and many called him the 2nd coming of the legend as he was his pupil. He challenged for a UFC title against Robbie Lawler and gave us one of the greatest fights of all time. Rory would lose by TKO in the 5th round but was ahead on all 3 scorecards.

![74DF84AA-2821-47AD-A282-C1CC8C46C16C.jpeg](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/e7577df6-2d45-410e-2ec6-77f9d9b25300/pub "Rory Macdonald and Robbie Lawler stare into each other's eyes mid-fight. Credits to: Esther Lin, MMA Fighting")

He would only fight once more in the UFC before making his way to Bellator where he saw mixed results against the elite. He captured the title but his overall record with the promotion was 3-2-1. He then moved on to the PFL where he has now lost 4 out of his last 5. He chose to retire after his most recent loss and is on to new beginnings.

His wife gave one last message to the fans via her Instagram.

"So many emotions tonight. I ask that you be kind with your words. It's been a wonderful journey to watch this man fight. Rory has hung up the gloves and (is) very much at peace with it. Thank you." - Olivia Macdonald via Instagram

Rory Macdonald Retires From MMA

ROUNDHOUSE MMA

It was going to be tough to top the card from last weekend when we saw every fight end in a finish, but this card came pretty close, and the San Diego crowd was treated to an excellent event. The main event saw two top ten Bantamweight contenders, Marlon Vera and Dominick Cruz engage in a back and forth war, with Vera scoring a brutal head kick knockout in the fourth round. Yet another fantastic card set forth by the UFC, with stand-out performances, debuts to remember, and some fantastic finishes. 

Let’s recap what went down. 

## Dominick Cruz Shows He Still Got It, But Marlon Vera Earns A Huge W

What a fight between Marlon Vera and Dominick Cruz to cap off an amazing night at the Pechanga Arena. Early on in the fight, the veteran Cruz sure looked like his old self, with beautiful boxing, slick footwork, and two takedowns. It was certain that Cruz would mix in the takedown against the strong striker that is Vera, but Dominick seemed to score the early advantage on the feet as well. Intense pressure, volume, and speed likely won Cruz the early rounds, despite getting knocked down twice. As the fight went on, Vera started to pick up the pace, and in the fourth round, he landed a flush head kick that put Cruz out. Prior to the fight, Dominick Cruz was 17-0 in non-title fights, and this loss will certainly sting. On the other hand, Vera extends his winning streak to four and is certainly deserving of a title shot or a number one contender fight next. 

## Nate Landwehr And David Onama Go To War

Nate Landwehr is a different breed of toughness, and that showed in a violent win over David Onama. From the get-go, Landwehr put it on Onama, and the two engaged in one of the fights of the year. These two showed why mixed martial arts is the best sport on the planet, and both men went home with an extra $50,000, courtesy of Dana White. Onama clearly got the edge in the first round and came very close to finishing the fight. In the second, Landwehr put a beating on David Onama, with all three judges giving him a 10-8 round. Landwehr also took the third round on two of the judges’ scorecards, which gave him the majority decision win. Judge Michael Bell scored the fight 28-28, with Junichiro Kamigo and Derek Cleary scoring the fight 29-27 for Landwehr. Both fighters showed extreme toughness and resilience, in what was no doubt, one of the best fights of 2022. 

## Azamat Murzakanov Stays Undefeated

Azamat Murzakanov extended his record to an impressive 12-0 with a dominant win over Devin Clark. Murzakanov controlled this fight on the feet, and on the ground, and picked up the TKO win in the third round. Murzakanov has been so impressive inside the octagon, picking up a come-from-behind win against Tafon Nchukwi, and now picking up a win over Devin Clark who is certainly no slouch. Murzakanov also owns wins over top Middleweight contender Andre Muniz, and top PFL talent Mattheus Scheffel. It’s clear that this guy is going to be a problem, whether he decides to move back down to Middleweight or stay with Light Heavyweight. He’s worth keeping an eye on. 

## The Prelims Continue To Deliver

The prelims delivered, again, and there were several fights on the card that deserved some recognition. Josh Quinlan made his UFC debut on the second fight of the night, and KO’ed Jason Witt out cold with a flush left hook. After Witt went down, it was clear that he was unconscious, and so Quinlan made the classy decision to not follow up with another shot, which the commentary team appreciated. 

Returning to the octagon after over a year and a half away from the sport, Tyson Nam picked up a fantastic knockout over Ode Osbourne. Osbourne tried to throw a very “nonchalant” flying knee, but he was met with a vicious right hand that put him down. Nam followed up with some brutal punches on the ground, and the referee stopped the fight. 

Finally, Gabriel Benitez snapped a two-fight losing streak with a first-round knockout against Charlie Ontiveros. Ontiveros really started the fight out at a very high pace, throwing a whole arsenal of strikes against Moggly, but Benitez was able to withstand the massive height and reach disadvantage, and get the first-round finish. 

## Nina Nunes Announces Her Retirement From Mixed Martial Arts

Finally, it was also worth noting that Nina Nunes announced her retirement from mixed martial arts, following her split decision win over Cynthia Calvillo. The wife of UFC bantamweight and featherweight champion Amanda Nunes made her Flyweight debut this past weekend and looked phenomenal at that weight. Nunes has also been in her wife’s corner for most of her fights and has fought the best the Strawweight division has to offer. She retires at the age of 36 and owns wins over Calvillo, Claudia Gadhela, Randa Markos, and Angela Hill. Happy retirement to Nina Nunes!

Following a fantastic card in San Diego, the UFC will be traveling to Salt Lake City for a stacked UFC 278 card, headlined by a welterweight title fight between Kamaru Usman, and top contender Leon Edwards. 

Jack MacCool

The Ultimate Fighting Championship is heading to San Diego this Saturday for UFC Fight Night: Vera vs. Cruz, featuring the hometown fighter and former two-time Bantamweight Champion Dominick Cruz in the main event against the steaming hot Marlon ‘Chito’ Vera.  Cruz has won two straight since losing to Henry Cejudo for the championship in mid-2020, whereas Vera enters on a streak in which he’s won nine of his last 11 appearances, including some spectacular finishes and performances.  After last week’s card that took place in the UFC Apex, fans and fighters alike are pumped for the UFC’s return to California. Their last appearance in California came at UFC 270, but the promotion alongside its competitors have had a storied history in the state, ever since the first MMA event took place in the state.  With that in mind, let’s take a look at 10 of the biggest and best MMA events to happen in the Golden State.  

## 10. UFC 117: Silva vs. Sonnen

The UFC took a trip to Oakland in August of 2010 for UFC 117.  The event featured a multitude of big names on the main card, but also on the prelims before they had reached the elite level.  The main event however, stole the show in the minds of many as the legend Anderson Silva pulled off the greatest comeback in the history of MMA.  After taking a beating at the hands of ‘The Bad Guy’ Chael Sonnen for four and a half rounds, Silva did the unimaginable and sunk in a deep triangle, forcing the tap from the American fighter.  The submission was unthinkable and to this day remains one of the most wild endings to a fight ever.  The rest of the main card saw Jon Fitch defeat Thiago Alves in the co-main event, Clay Guida defeat Rafael Dos Anjos due to an unfortunate injury, Matt Hughes secure a Schultz Front Headlock submission over Ricardo Almeida, and Junior Dos Santos beat Roy Nelson by decision.  Phil Davis and Stefan Struve are among some of the other fighters who fought in prelim action, but overall the card featured four eventual champions and saw six of eleven matches end in a stoppage.

## 9. UFC 121: Lesnar vs. Velasquez

Just four months after UFC 117, the promotion went back to California to host a heavyweight main event between Cain Velasquez and Brock Lesnar.  The event sold 1,050,000 pay-per-views which is good for fourteenth all time in terms of highest selling UFC events.  Unfortunately for Lesnar who drew in a lot of the crowd, Velasquez was the better man that night, capturing the knockout victory in the opening round.  The rest of the card was not as heavy in name value as the main event, but featured names like Jake Shields, Diego Sanchez, as well as Tito Ortiz.  Sanchez earned himself fight of the night honours after beating Paulo Thiago by decision, with Velasquez and Daniel Roberts earning the other performance bonuses.  

## 8. Strikeforce: Shamrock vs. Gracie

Strikeforce: Shamrock vs. Gracie was an event that saw many firsts.  Firstly, it was the inaugural Strikeforce event.  Second, it was the first MMA event ever to take place in California.  The event took place March 10, 2006 and featured a great card.  The main event saw Frank Shamrock return after a three year layoff to defeat Cesar Gracie by knockout just 21 seconds into the contest.  The rest of the main card featured a number of big name fighters as well.  Clay Guida defeated Josh Thomson in the co-main event by decision, Cung Le scored a knockout victory over Mike Altman in his MMA debut, Gilbert Melendez stopped Harris Sarmiento, and Stockton’s very own Nate Diaz captured a knockout victory.  Looking back on the event today, it is of great significance due to it being the first event in California and how its reception stunned local press and skeptics alike. The event saw a huge crowd and fans loved the fights, paving the way for not only Strikeforce as a promotion, but MMA in the state of California as well. 

## 7. Bellator 106

Bellator 106 was originally intended to be Bellator’s first ever pay-per-view event, with a headlining bout between ‘Rampage’ Jackson and Tito Ortiz.  Ortiz would eventually pull out of the fight due to injury, and the card would alternatively be headlined by a title rematch between Michael Chandler and Eddie Alvarez.  The two would put on yet another barnburner of a matchup, with Alvarez capturing the title back by split decision.  The win was controversial, but the level of skill and entertainment brought fans tons of enjoyment regardless.  The co-main event featured an Interim Light Heavyweight Championship fight between Emanuel Newton and ‘King Mo’ Muhammed Lawal.  Newton would capture the interim title by decision, setting him up for a unification bout with Attila Végh.  The card also featured a third title fight in the Featherweight division that would see a second title change hands that night, as Daniel Mason-Straus defeated Pat Curran by decision to become the new champion.  Joe Riggs also got a win on the card as Bellator turned in a very successful event.  

## 6. Strikeforce: Diaz vs. Daley

Many MMA fans consider the main event of Strikeforce: Diaz vs. Daley as the greatest one round fight in history.  The event would take place at the Valley View Casino Center in San Diego, California and featured a number of names fans know and love.  To open the main card, Shinya Aoki cranked Lyle Beerbohm’s neck, forcing him to submit just 1:33 into the first round.  The next bout up the card saw Gegard Mousasi and Keith Jardine fight to a majority draw after Mousasi was penalized one point for an illegal upkick. Then came the top of the card, as Gilbert Melendez knocked out Tatsuya Kawajiri in the first round to retain his Lightweight title.  As mentioned earlier  Nick Diaz and Paul Daley put on an incredible show.  Diaz ultimately got the win via TKO with three seconds left in the first round, but Daley certainly had his moments as well as the two battled tooth and nail to get the win in the event’s main event.  This event helped to bolster the already growing ‘Nick Diaz Army’ and was yet another amazing event to take place in California.  

## 5. UFC 232: Jones vs. Gustafsson II

The rematch between Jon Jones and Alexander gustafsson took place December 29, 2018 in Inglewood, California–but not without a great deal of controversy.  Originally, the event was set to happen in Las Vegas, but just six days before the card Jones would test positive for turinabol, the same substance he tested positive for that led to a 15-month suspension just a year prior.  The Nevada State Athletic Commission would not approve Jones for a licence as a result of the positive test and so the UFC packed up and moved the entire event to California, as their commission would grant Jones his licence.  With that controversy out of the way, the UFC put on a great event which featured two title fights along with some excellent contender fights as well.  In the main event, Jones beat Gustafsson for a second time, stopping him via TKO with brutal ground and pound.  The co-main event saw a incredible result with Amanda Nunes knocking Cris Cyborg out cold in just 51 seconds to become the first female double champ in history, something not many MMA fans saw coming.  Further down the card, Michael Chiesa submitted Carlos Condit with a ridiculous one-armed kimura, Corey Anderson beat Ilir Latifi by decision, and Alexander Volkanovski secured the biggest win of his career to that point, when he stopped Chad Mendes in the second round by knockout.  The prelims of this card were also stacked, with names like Petr Yan, Uriah Hall, and Ryan Hall all capturing stoppage victories.

## 4. Strikeforce/M-1 Global: Fedor vs. Werdum

Fedor Emelianenko remains one of the most revered figures in the world of MMA, but the Strikeforce M-1 collaboration event in San Jose, California would not end well for the Heavyweight legend.  He faced off against Fabricio Werdum in the headlining bout of the card, where he would have his legendary 29-fight unbeaten streak snapped in the very first round, as Werdum captured a triangle armbar submission.  The moment caught many MMA fans off-guard and still goes down as one of the “I remember where I was when…” moments in MMA history.  Outside of the main event, the card had some other high-profile fights on it.  Cris Cyborg defended her Women’s Featherweight Championship via stoppage in the second round after being docked a point early.  Cung Le beat Scott Smith via knockout due to a spinning back kick and punches, and Josh Thomson beat Pat Healy by submission as well.  Funnily enough, the event also saw another name featured on this list retire, as Frank Shamrock announced he would be stopping MMA on the broadcast as well.  

## 3. UFC 241: Cormier vs. Miocic II

UFC 241 saw a Heavyweight Championship rematch between Daniel Cormier and Stipe Miocic in August of 2019, after Cormier knocked Miocic out just over one year prior.  This time, in the words of the great Jon Anik, “Stipe exacts his revenge”, as he stopped Cormier in the fourth round to even the series.  The event took place in Anaheim, California not far from ‘DC’s’ homebase of San Jose, and also not far from another MMA superstar’s homebase of Stockton.  Nate Diaz made his much anticipated return to MMA against former Lightweight Champion Anthony Pettis at UFC 241 after spending three years away post-McGregor.  Fans weren’t sure exactly what to expect from 209’s finest after the layoff, but if you’re a fan of Diaz, boy was it a pleasant surprise.  Diaz destroyed Pettis, putting a crazy pace on him and using the cardio fans have come to expect from Diaz.  With final scores of 30-27, 30-27, and 29-28, Nate Diaz was back and ready to make even more splashes.  The event also saw a fight of the year contender when Paulo Costa and Yoel Romero squared off in a number one contender fight.  The two went toe to toe for all three rounds, each scoring a knockdown and landing a combined 243 significant strikes.  Sodiq Yusuff and Dereck Brunson also scored wins on the main card.  UFC 241 was a huge success and was a tremendous card for fans to enjoy.

## 2. UFC 214: Jones vs. Cormier II

Jon Jones and Daniel Cormier’s rivalry is one of the best in the sport’s history, and the two would fight for the second and final time at UFC 214 in Anaheim, California in the summer of 2017.  Retrospectively the fight would turn out to be a no contest after Jones tested positive for steroids, but the result that took place that night was a brutal knockout win for Jones after a gorgeous high kick.  ‘DC’ would be awarded the title back following the overturning of the fight, but that night, Jones would reclaim his title once again.  The co-main event was another title fight which saw Tyron Woodley defeat Demian Maia by unanimous decision.  Before that was a third title fight that saw Cris Cyborg defeat Tonya Evinger for the vacant Women’s Featherweight title.  Further down the main card, Robbie Lawler beat Donald Cerrone and Volkan Oezdemir beat Jimi Manuwa by knockout in under a minute.  Also on the card were current Bantamweight champion Aljamain Sterling, as well as perennial contender Brian Ortega, who each scored big wins over Renan Barao and Renato Moicano respectively.  Calvin katter and Drew Dober also fought on the prelims of the stacked UFC 214 card as well.  

## 1. UFC 199: Bisping vs. Rockhold II

UFC 199 was an epic event from start to finish.  It took place in Los Angeles, California and was headlined by two title fights alongside some wicked good contender bouts as well.  Firstly, eight of thirteen fights ended by way of knockout and featured moments that will live on in MMA history forever.  After some awesome early preliminary action, Jessica Andrade got the prelim card started with a bang, when she stopped Jessica Penne by TKO in round number two after landing 117 significant strikes in just eight minutes of action.  After that, Beneil Dariush scored a first round knockout of James Vick, followed by a Brian Ortega finish of Clay Guida with a devastating knee to close out the preliminary action.  To open the main card, Dustin Poirier was matched up with Bobby Green.  Poirier would come away with a first round knockout to win his fourth in a row.  The next fight up the card was between Dan Henderson and Hector Lombard.  At the time Henderson was 46 years old so not many believed he had all that much left in the tank after such a storied career. Unfortunately for Hector Lombard, he had a vicious back elbow left in said tank, which he used to flatline the Cuban.  Ultimately, Henderson would parlay the win into a title shot as a result of getting the stoppage on this card, but that’s a story for another day.  Following Henderson’s win, Max Holloway and Ricardo Lamas put on a show for the fans, culminating in one of the most epic ‘just bleed’ moments in history, as the two decided to throw caution to the wind and throw down for the final seconds of the fight.  Holloway came away with the unanimous decision win and would fight for the interim title in his next fight as a result.  The co-main event was the first of two heated championship rivalries, as Dominick Cruz defended his Bantamweight Championship against ‘The California Kid’ himself, Urijah Faber.  Finally, in the main event, Luke Rockhold made the first defence of his Middleweight title against Michael Bisping.  Originally the fight was supposed to be against Chris Weidman who Rockhold defeated to win the belt in his previous fight.  When Weidman withdrew due to injury, Bisping stepped in on 11 days notice to fight the seemingly unstoppable Rockhold, who also held a victory over the Brit in the past.  When the opening bell went, not many were expecting Bisping to score a win using his volume striking and excellent cardio.  To their surprise, Bisping caught Rockhold with a picture-perfect left hook, sending the champion to the canvas, only for Bisping to land another flush shot, putting Rockhold out and becoming the first British champion in the history of the UFC.  The event was incredible from beginning to end and culminated in one of the most inspiring championship performances in recent memory.  

Top 10 Biggest MMA Events in California 

Douglas Vegas Bets

The UFC heads to San Diego, California, this weekend as former Bantamweight Champion Dominick Cruz +185 headlines in his hometown against a violent opponent in Marlon "Chito" Vera -238. Along with that comes the return of Lupita Godinez -345 against crafty veteran Angela Hill +250 and many other fun fights to bet on.

**All Odds Provided By Stake.com Accurate as of 8/11/2022 4:15 PM EST**

## Marlon Vera -238 Dominick Cruz +185

The main event is a striker's delight with a clash between clean and dirty boxing as Marlon "Chito" Vera looks to continue his run at Bantamweight by taking on the former champion Dominick Cruz. Marlon Vera is a tank, and by that, I mean he is durable and capable of doing a lot of damage; although he is known for his slow starts, with five rounds to work his last time out, he looked better than ever. Dominick Cruz is again active in the Bantamweight division, where he has never lost a non-title fight using his elusive striking style to leave opponents stuck across from him. He could make this fight very interesting by mixing in his wrestling which he has used effectively in the past. 

This will be a close fight, but at this stage in Dominick Curz's career, I do not believe he will take Vera's shots well, and the damage will show over the fight and be the difference. I also think this fight goes the distance as I love to bet on durability, and between these two, they have only been knocked out once, and it was a questionable stoppage of Cruz against Henry Cejudo. 

Pick: Marlon Vera O/U: Over 4.5 -192

## David Onama -303 Nate Landwehr +225

The co-main event gives us a Featherweight brawl between impressive prospect David Onama and rugged veteran Nate Landwehr. David Onama is stepping up on short notice here as he looks to continue his remarkable run of finishes in which he has displayed powerful striking and solid submission skills. However, he has shown he is very hittable at times which will cost him. Nate Landwehr is as scrappy as they get and thrives in wild striking affairs, which he is likely to get. 

I got an early play on David Onama at a great number; however, since then, he has exploded to an unplayable number.

Pick: David Onama O/U: Under 1.5 +122

## Yazmin Jauregui -217 Iasim Lucindo +165

This Strawweight matchup features the UFC debut of both Yazmin Jauregui and Iasim Lucindo. Yazmin Jauregui comes in with six finishes in her eight wins as a pro showing tremendous potential. Iasim Lacindo enters the UFC on a seven-fight win streak with four finishes showing a lot of improvement after having her struggles early in her career. 

I'll take Yazmin Jauregui as she has faced higher level competition and has not lost yet and shown that weakness. With that, I am much more eager to learn from this fight than to bet on it, as I am curious how both women will fair against each other as this is a step up in competition for both women. 

Pick: Yazmin Jauregui  O/U: Under 2.5 +155

## Devin Clark +122 Azmat Murzakanov -156

This Lightheavyweight fight is a fun clash of styles as gritty wrestler Devin Clark takes on flashy finisher Azmat Murzalanov. Devin Clark is a solid fighter with a wealth of experience against the highest level of competition. Azmat Murzalanov is an undefeated finisher coming off a third-round comeback finish in his UFC debut. 

I will go with the underdog Clark here, as he is much more proven at this level. I was also not very impressed by the skillset that Azmat Murzalanov showed in his debut before the stoppage. 

Pick: Devin Clark O/U: Over 2.5 +107

## Ariane Lipski -208 Priscila Cachoeira +160

This matchup was moved to this week after Lipski had issues on the scale, and my thoughts remain the same for this battle at Flyweight. Ariane Lipski is a sharp striker who has also shown off some crafty grappling. Priscila Cachoeira is also a striker with solid power and pressure; however, she is very hittable.

I'll take Lipski here as I think she has the better striking and grappling is unlikely to come into the equation. No bet here from me, as this line is a bit wide for me to be confident in a play.

Pick: Ariane Lipski O/U: Over 2.5 -172

## Gerald Meerschaert +230 Bruno Silva -312

Here we see GM3 taking on Bruno Silva, both coming off tough decision losses and looking to get back on track in the Middleweight division. Gerald Meerschaert is a very talented grappling ace which had him on a three-fight win streak before his last showing. Bruno Silva is a monster striker who has shown his ability to blow through opponents and go three hard rounds against one of the best in the world, Alex Pereira. 

I think Bruno Silva gets the job done here, likely with an early knockout. Silva is one of my most confident straight plays on the card, so I have parlayed him with a few others. 

Pick: Bruno Silva O/U: Under 1.5 -125

## Angela Hill +250 Lupita Godinez -345

This fight was moved up to this card, and I am glad it was, as I can't wait to see Lupita Godinez back in action against her biggest test yet in one of the most experienced female fighters on the roster in Angela Hill. Lupita Godinez put everyone on notice in her last fight with a dominant display of wrestling that we have rarely seen in this division. Angela Hill is on a three-fight skid; however, she has kept them close and has experience against the top of the division. 

I am taking Lupita Godinez here as her wrestling is top-tier, and I expect it to be too much for Angela Hill. To bring this number down, I will play her by a decision at -156 which I feel is safe, as Angela Hill has only been finished twice in her pro career. 

Pick: Lupita Godinez O/U: Over 2.5 -400

## Lukasz Brzeski +215 Martin Buday -294

This Heavyweight matchup sees Martin Buday as a large favorite over Lukasz Brzeski. Martin Buday looked good his last time out as he completely shut down Chris Barnett en route to what could've been a late finish but will go down as a decision. Lukasz Brzeski is coming off Dana White's Contender Series where he secured a late submission that was later turned into a no-contest. 

I'm going with Buday here as he has shown his skills inside the UFC already.

Pick: Martin Buday O/U: Under 1.5 +144

## Nina Nunes +150 Cynthia Calvillo -192

This flyweight bout features Nina Nunes just weeks after her wife Amanda Nunes' title victory over Juliana Pena as she takes on tough veteran Cynthia Calvillo. Nina Nunes last fought Mackenzie Dern and lost in the first round, which is tough to read as she looked very affected by the time off; however, it was against top-level competition. Cynthia Calvillo has been stopped in her last two fights, although before that, she was a favorite over highly ranked Katlyn Chookagian, showing what many believe she is capable of.

I am going to lean with Calvillo here; although I have gone back and forth on this one, ultimately, Calvillo has more upside at this stage in her career. 

Pick: Cynthia Calvillo O/U: Over 2.5 -222

## Gabriel Benitiez -370 Charlie Ontiveros +270

This will be an all fireworks standup war at Lightweight for however long it lasts. Gabriel Benitez is a hard-hitting striker who has been around the UFC for a while. Charlie Ontiveros is a wildman who has fought up as high as Middleweight before moving down to this weight class, although he has been finished in each of his UFC performances thus far. 

I've got Gabriel Benitez in this one as he has shown finishing ability, and each time Ontiveros has been this size an underdog prior, he has looked it. 

Pick: Gabriel Benitez O/U: Under 1.5 -213

## Ode Osbourne -256 Tyson Nam +195

This is a fun Flyweight scrap that should see some big punches landed. Ode Osbourne is very long for the division, which allows him to strike with anyone and cause them problems with range. Tyson Nam has shown his power with several highlight knockouts and has been tough to finish over his UFC career. 

I like Ode Osbourne, although it is much closer than the odds indicate, in my opinion. This number is way too much for me to bet on Osbourne as he has worried me with his habit of leaving his chin up, which could cost him against someone with power like Nam. 

Pick: Ode Osbourne O/U: Under 2.5

## Jason Witt +210 Josh Quinlan -286

This fight was rebooked last week, and my thoughts remain unchanged as Josh Quinlan makes his debut off the contender series against UFC veteran Jason Witt. Witt has been up and down over his last few, and it's tough to tell whether he will show up or not. Josh Quinlan is a powerful striker who has finished each of his professional wins. However, he is coming off a suspension for performance-enhancing drugs that overturned his contender series result.

I've got Quinlan, as I think his physical advantages outweigh the experience advantage of Witt. I will not bet this, as it's a steep line for a guy coming off a suspension.

Pick: Josh Quinlan  O/U: Under 1.5 +124

## Yousef Zalal -137 Damon Blackshear +108
 
This is a fun Bantamweight matchup to start the card. Yousef Zalal is moving down in weight which could serve him well as he held up well at Featherweight and could look stronger here. Damon Blackshear makes his debut and will be looking to show off his slick submission skills as he moves to the UFC, although he has faced high-caliber competition before in his career.

I will lean Yousef Zalal here as I believe he has more ways to win this fight, and I do not think it will be easy for Blackshear to submit him. 

Pick: Yousef Zalal O/U: Over 2.5 -233

## DougLasVegasBets.net Plays

Marlon Vera ML -238

David Onama ML -303

Marlon Vera Dominick Cruz Over 4.5 -192 

Lupita Godinez by Decision -156

Bruno Silva/ David Onama/ Marlon Vera +149

UFC San Diego Betting Preview

Jack 'The Joker' Hermansson will meet Derek Brunson on December 3rd according to Ariel Helwani. There is not yet a disclosed location.

Ever since Brunson told fans he only had 2 fights left in him, there was worry as to whom he would face for his farewell bout. Having retracted that statement and setting the new goal of overtaking Michael Bisping's record for most Middleweight wins in UFC history, he is firmly back on the path against contenders. This time he draws The Joker.

Jack Hermansson's (23-7, 10-5 UFC) last fight was a highly impressive unanimous decision win over 15th ranked Chris Curtis at UFC London. Curtis replaced Darren Till on short notice to face Jack in the co-main event. This fight was a rebound for Jack from his most recent loss to Sean Strickland. He showed improved striking and technique from beginning to end and put himself back into the win column.

![31B5FED6-DAFE-421A-88FE-21C766616081.jpeg](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/5ca11e8e-179e-4fc7-fd90-d03cb1dcac00/pub "Jack Hermansson rips the body of Chris Curtis. Credits to: Per Halijestam-USA TODAY Sports")

Derek Brunson (23-8, 14-6 UFC) was on a 5-fight winning streak leading into his last fight and was knocking on the doors of title contention. He faced Jared Cannonier at UFC 271 and despite starting strong in the first, even scoring a knockdown and having multiple minutes of control time, was broken down and TKO'd via elbows in the 2nd. Knowing he was at the tail end of his career, Brunson revealed prior to the fight that he had plans to defeat Jared, fight for the title, and then retire. 

Losing the fight altered those plans and he now chases a new goal and to achieve it, he must defeat Jack Hermansson.

Derek Brunson vs. Jack Hermansson Targeted For December 3rd

A top Bantamweight showdown takes place tomorrow at the Pechanga Arena. Dominick Cruz returns against Chito Vera with title aspirations in mind. The rest of the card features up and coming talent that all fans should keep an eye out for. Let's see how the fighters weighed in:

## MAIN CARD (7:00 PM EST on ESPN/ESPN+)

Chito Vera (135.5) vs. Dominick Cruz (135)

Nate Landwher (145.5) vs. David Onama (145)

Yazmin Jauregui (114.5) vs. Iasmin Lucindo (116)

Devin Clark (205) vs. Azamat Murzakanov (204)

Ariane Lipski (135.5) vs. Priscila Cachoeira (135)

Bruno Silva (186) vs. Gerald Meerschaert (185)

## PRELIMINARY CARD (4:00 PM on ESPN/ESPN+)

Angela Hill (119.5) vs. Lupita Godinez (119)*

Martin Buday (266) vs. Lukasz Brzeski (236.5)

Cynthia Calvillo (125.5) vs. Nina Nunes (125.5)

Gabriel Benitez (155) vs. Charlie Ontiveros (155)

Ode Osbourne (125) vs. Tyson Nam (126)

Jason Witt (179.5) vs. Josh Quinlan (175)**

Youssef Zalal (135.5) vs. Da'mon Blackshear (134)

**Angela Hill vs. Lupita Godinez takes place at a 120 lbs Catchweight*

***Jason Witt vs. Josh Quinlan takes place at a 180 lbs Catchweight*

UFC San Diego: Vera vs. Cruz Weigh-In Results

Jared Cannonier vs. Sean Strickland is planned for October 15 as the main event at the UFC Apex. The fight is not a done deal but is targeted right now according to Ariel Helwani. 

Jared Cannonier (15-6, 8-6 UFC) is currently ranked #2 in the Middleweight division. He is coming off of a unanimous decision loss to champion Israel Adesanya at UFC 276. The fight had close rounds according to the Verdict Scorecard but Israel would receive the nod on almost every one. This will be Cannonier's 4th UFC main event.

Sean Strickland (25-4, 12-4 UFC) also fought on UFC 276. He faced kickboxing legend and one-half of the upcoming main event at UFC 281, Alex Pereira. Pereira knocked Strickland out in the 1st round with his signature left hook. This will be Strickland's 3rd UFC main event.

![BCA28B0F-1DD4-470F-A653-40C2680C1BAD.jpeg](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/4b90170c-7acf-405f-be6d-ef8bab8fff00/pub "Alex Pereira knocks Sean Strickland out with a left hook. Credits to: Stephen R. Sylvanie USA-TODAY Sports")

These two have been on each other's radars since Strickland began climbing the ranks at 185 after moving up from 170. Cannonier moved all the way down to the Middleweight division from Heavyweight. Both are now in need of a win if they wish to re-insert themselves into the title picture.
