Douglas Vegas Bets

It has been made official by Dana White on Instagram Live that Bantamweight Champion Merab Dvalishvili will rematch former champion Sean O'Malley in the main event of UFC 316. This fight is set to take place on June 7th from the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey.

## Announcement: Merab Dvalishvili vs. Sean O'Malley Bantamweight Title Fight

This will be the second time Dvalishvili defends his title, with his most recent coming in a decision win against Umar Nurmagomedov at UFC 311. For O'Malley, this will be his first fight since losing his belt to Dvalishvili in a decision at UFC 306 last year.

## UFC 316 Full Card

Merab Dvalishvili vs. Sean O'Malley, Bantamweight Title Fight

Julianna Pena vs. Kayla Harrison, Bantamweight Title Fight

Mario Bautista vs. Chito Vera, Bantamweight

Johnny Walker vs. Azamat Murzakanov, Light Heavyweight

Bruno Silva vs. Josh Van, Flyweight

Serghei Spivac vs. Shamil Gaziev, Heavyweight

What do you think of this Bantamweight rematch? Let us know in the comments below.

Merab Dvalishvili vs. Sean O'Malley 2 Set to Headline UFC 316

Dana White broke the news today that with Jamahal Hill out of his matchup with Khalil Rountree Jr., the new main event for that card will be Welterweight contenders Carlos Prates and Ian Garry going head-to-head in a huge matchup. This fight will take place on April 26th from the T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, Missouri.

## Announcement: Carlos Prates vs. Ian Garry Welterweight

This comes just days after it was announced that Carlos Prates would not be facing Geoff Neal at UFC 314 after Neal pulled out with an injury. This will be the second straight main event for Prates, who is coming off his first-round knockout of Neil Magny. Ian Garry takes this fight off his five-round decision loss to Shavkat Rakhmonov at UFC 310. 

## UFC Kansas City Full Card

Carlos Prates vs. Ian Machado Garry, Welterweight

Anthony Smith vs. Mingyang Zhang, Light Heavyweight

Michel Pereira vs. Abus Magomedov, Middleweight

Giga Chikadze vs. David Onama, Featherweight

Ikram Aliskerov vs. Andre Muniz, Middleweight

Randy Brown vs. Nicolas Dalby, Welterweight

Jaqueline Amorim vs. Polyana Viana, Strawweight

Cameron Saaiman vs. Malcolm Wellmaker, Bantamweight

Chelsea Chandler vs. Joselyne Edwards, Bantamweight

Matt Schnell vs. Jimmy Flick, Flyweight

Ahmad Hassanzada vs. Evan Elder, Lightweight

What do you think of this new matchup? Let us know in the comments below.

Carlos Prates vs. Ian Garry New Main Event for UFC Kansas City

The former Flyweight Champion Brandon Moreno got the win in his home country as he was able to out-strike Steve Erceg to a decision win in the main event from Arena CDMX in Mexico City, Mexico.

## Result: Brandon Moreno def. Steve Erceg via Unanimous Decision (49-46 x 3)

It was a strong performance from Moreno as he was able to land big right hands on Erceg early and often in the first round. The second and third rounds were closer with Erceg begining to land at a higher volume, although Moreno was still having the bigger moments. Moreno sealed the win in the championship rounds by maintaining constant pressure and landing solid combinations until the final horn.


>"I really believe I can move the needle" - Brandon Moreno

What did you think of the performance from Brandon Moreno? Let us know in the comments.

Brandon Moreno Wins Decision Over Steve Erceg at UFC Mexico

Liam Lindsay

RIZIN returns to the Anabuki Arena Kagawa in Takamatsu, Japan, for RIZIN.50. The card features seventeen MMA and kickboxing bouts, headlined by a RIZIN Bantamweight Championship rematch between reigning Champion Naoki Inoue and challenger Yuki Motoya. Here are the weigh-in results:

### RIZIN Bantamweight Championship  
**Naoki Inoue (c)** – 134.3 lbs  
**Yuki Motoya** – 134.2 lbs

### Featherweight Bout  
**Chihiro Suzuki** – 145.5 lbs  
**Karshyga Dautbek** – 145.5 lbs

### Lightweight Bout  
**Luiz Gustavo** – 156.2 lbs  
**Shunta Nomura** – 156.4 lbs

### Heavyweight Bout  
**Ryo Sakai** – 248.2 lbs  
**King Edokpolo** – 264.5 lbs

### Featherweight Bout  
**Kyohei Hagiwara** – 144.9 lbs  
**Toby Misech** – 145.4 lbs

### Featherweight Bout  
**Takeji Yokoyama** – 145.1 lbs  
**Shuya Kimura** – 145.5 lbs

### Catchweight (130 lbs) Bout  
**Yuki Ito** – 130.1 lbs  
**Tony Laramie** – 129.6 lbs

### Catchweight (130 lbs) Bout  
**Yoshiro Maeda** – 129.3 lbs  
**Sanou Yokouchi** – 130.1 lbs

### Lightweight Bout  
**Spike Carlyle** – 160.9 lbs*  
**Takeshi Izumi** – 156.5 lbs  
\*Carlyle missed weight. The bout will proceed with a financial penalty and potential restrictions on the official result.

### Women’s Strawweight Bout  
**Machi** – 114.3 lbs  
**Seo Young Park** – 113.9 lbs

### Strawweight Bout  
**Haruo Ochi** – 116.7 lbs  
**Nobuyoshi Nakatsukasa** – 116.5 lbs

### Bantamweight Bout  
**Uoi Fullswing** – 134.4 lbs  
**Akada Playboy Koki** – 134.5 lbs

### Catchweight (149 lbs) Bout  
**Ryoya Inai** – 148.8 lbs  
**Rinto Kako** – 148.5 lbs

### Catchweight (139 lbs) Bout  
**Ryuki Yoshioka** – 139.3 lbs  
**Daiki Kirizume** – 139.3 lbs

### Catchweight (139 lbs) Bout  
**Shoji Otani** – 138.7 lbs  
**Yamato Ashikaga** – 138.8 lbs

### Flyweight Bout  
**Hiroki Takaoka** – 125.4 lbs  
**Seiya Ameyama** – 125.3 lbs

### Catchweight (121 lbs) Bout  
**Ryusei** – 121.1 lbs  
**Toki Kagawa** – 121.3 lbs

RIZIN.50 Weigh-In Results

# RIZIN.50 Preview

RIZIN returns with RIZIN.50, featuring a lineup of Japanese talent on a seventeen-fight card. For fans new to RIZIN, here's a breakdown of the main matchups you won't want to miss.

## Main Event: RIZIN Bantamweight Championship

**Naoki Inoue (c) vs. Yuki Motoya 2**

Reigning Bantamweight Champion Naoki Inoue defends his title against the seasoned Yuki Motoya. Inoue captured the belt with a first-round submission victory over Soo Chul Kim at RIZIN.48, showcasing his elite grappling skills. Motoya, a RIZIN veteran with 20 fights in the promotion, holds the second-most total ring time and third-most wins in RIZIN history. Their first fight saw Naoki Inoue secure a first-round submission of Yuki Motoya, which Motoya is eager to avenge en route to capturing the RIZIN Bantamweight title.

## Co-Main Event: Featherweight Title Eliminator

**Chihiro Suzuki vs. Karshyga Dautbek**

Former Featherweight Champion Chihiro Suzuki aims to rebound after losing his title to Kleber Koike on New Year's Eve. Suzuki, known for his striking and power, faces Kazakhstan's Karshyga Dautbek, who enters on a nine-fight win streak, with seven first-round knockouts. Both fighters possess the ability to end the fight in an instant, setting the stage for a potential fight of the night or a quick finish.

**Shunta Nomura vs. Luiz Gustavo**

Shunta Nomura, a decorated Greco-Roman wrestler, has the opportunity to become RIZIN's first Japanese Lightweight Champion as he climbs toward a title shot in his division. Standing in his path is Brazil's Luiz Gustavo, known for his aggressive style and knockout power. Gustavo seeks redemption after a 21-second KO loss to current Champion Roberto "Satoshi" de Souza. Gustavo has previously trained with MMA legend Wanderlei Silva, and will bring the aggressive Brazilian style to make this a must-see matchup.

**Shuya Kimura vs. Takeji Yokoyama**

Shuya Kimura has garnered attention with four consecutive wins, all secured within 75 seconds, showcasing his explosive striking. Takeji Yokoyama, a submission specialist with a 100% finish rate, presents a formidable challenge. This is your classic striker vs. grappler matchup, but don't forget—RIZIN allows grounded knees and soccer kicks, so there's plenty of action on the mat too.

**Yoshiro Maeda vs. Sanou Yokouchi**

At 23, Sanou Yokouchi faces his toughest test against 59-fight veteran Yoshiro Maeda. Maeda, a former WEC title challenger and Featherweight King of Pancrase, brings a wealth of experience. Yokouchi, nicknamed "Onigiri-kun," aims to make a statement by defeating a seasoned opponent. This matchup highlights the timeless narrative of experience versus youth—but which will prevail?

**Takeshi Izumi vs. Spike Carlyle**

Takeshi Izumi, a decorated wrestler, seeks his first RIZIN victory against the unpredictable and game Spike Carlyle. Carlyle, known for his theatrical walkouts and unorthodox fighting style, is coming off a win at RIZIN.47 after a long stint in other promotions such as Bellator, UFC, and Cage Warriors, where he fought names like A.J. McKee and Billy Quarantillo.

**Yuki Ito vs. Tony Laramie**

RIZIN flyweight veteran Yuki Ito returns to face Canadian prospect Tony Laramie. Ito's methodical approach contrasts with Laramie's aggressive style, highlighted by three first-round knockouts in his last four fights. Laramie is 10–2 and is the younger brother of UFC vet T.J. Laramie. He's looking to build up a career in RIZIN and get his second win in the promotion.

**King Edokpolo vs. Ryo Sakai**

Edokpolo King, a 6'8" athlete with Nigerian and Korean heritage, is known for his athleticism and devastating clinch striking. He made his MMA debut last time out and blasted through Bing with a first-round KO, and he's looking to continue the streak. Sakai brings knockout power and resilience. It'd be a huge shock if this matchup went the distance.

RIZIN.50 is another great event filled with a long list of matchups. You can watch the event for free on RIZIN.tv. The event can be streamed live or viewed after it airs, meaning you can watch it regardless of your timezone. Don't forget to make your picks on Verdict!

RIZIN.50 Preview

The UFC is at Arena CDMX in Mexico City tomorrow night for an action-packed card headlined by former Flyweight Champion Brandon Moreno taking on former title challenger Steve Erceg. The official weigh-ins took place today; here are the results.

## Main Card 7 PM EST

**Flyweight:** Brandon Moreno (125) vs. Steve Erceg (125)

**Lightweight:** Drew Dober (155) vs. Manuel Torres (156)

**Middleweight:** Kelvin Gastelum (186) vs. Joe Pyfer (185)

**Bantamweight:** Raul Rosas Jr. (135) vs. Vince Morales (136)

**Bantamweight:** Saimon Oliveira (135) vs. David Martinez (135)

**Flyweight:** Ronaldo Rodriguez (127)* vs. Kevin Borjas (125)

## Prelims 4 PM EST

**Flyweight:** Edgar Chairez (126) vs. CJ Vergara (126)

**Middleweight:** Jose Daniel Medina (186) vs. Ateba Gautier (186)

**Featherweight:** Melquizael Costa (145) vs. Christian Rodriguez (146)

**Strawweight:** Loopy Godinez (116) vs. Julia Polastri (116)

**Lightweight:** Rafa Garcia (155) vs. Vinc Pichel (156)

**Featherweight:** Jamall Emmers (145) vs. Gabriel Miranda (145)

**Lightweight:** Austin Hubbard (156) vs. Marquel Mederos (156)

*Fighter Missed Weight

UFC Fight Night: Moreno vs. Erceg Weigh-In Results

The UFC is bringing an action-packed night of fights to Arena CDMX in Mexico City, headlined by fan favorite and former Flyweight champion Brandon Moreno taking on Steve Erceg. I went over every fight on this deep card to give my predictions and underdog best bet of the week, so let's get into it.

**Odds provided by Duelbits accurate as of 3/26/2025**

## Brandon Moreno -233 vs. Steve Erceg +185

Two Flyweights looking to earn another shot at the champion square off in this main event matchup. Brandon Moreno became the champion of his division on two separate occasions, showing a well-rounded skill set that leans on a strong boxing attack and incredible durability. Steve Erceg comes into this having lost two straight, although he did raise his stock by having a close fight with the champion Alexandre Pantoja, where he showed great boxing and high-level grappling skills.

I took Erceg as the underdog here as he has already shown he is skilled enough to compete with the best in the world, and he is likely still improving with his relative lack of experience, while Moreno has been through many tough fights and may have seen his best days.

Prediction: Erceg by Decision

## Manuel Torres -110 vs. Drew Dober -111

Tough Lightweight finishers go head-to-head in this can't-miss co-main event. Manuel Torres is an all-offensive fighter with dangerous power and good submission skills, although he is coming off a brutal loss against Ignacio Bahamondes where his defensive issues became very apparent. Drew Dober is a durable knockout puncher who has put on many great fights throughout the years, having always fought tough competition, although he has lost three of his last four fights, including two stoppages.

I lean towards Torres here, as he is the younger fighter with the height and reach advantage along with submission upside in a fight where both men will likely land big shots early.

Prediction: Torres by 1st Round KO

## Kelvin Gastelum +250 vs. Joe Pyfer -323

It's a pivotal clash in the Middleweight division, seeing a tough veteran take on a dangerous finisher. Kelvin Gastelum comes back up in weight here and remains a granite-chinned striker who has competed with many of the best in the division over the years. Joe Pyfer is a big and powerful fighter with knockout power in his hands and a dangerous submission game if the fight hits the ground although he did slow down badly after a strong start against Jack Hermansson last time he stepped up in competition.

I like Pyfer to get a decision or submission win here. I feel he will have success striking early and can mix in grappling, as we have seen Gastelum struggle there before against Jack Hermansson and Sean Brady.

Prediction: Pyfer by Decision

## Raul Rosas Jr. -417 vs. Vince Morales +310

Another challenge for a young Bantamweight prospect goes down here. Raul Rosas Jr. is a fast-starting grappler with good submission skills in part due to him having very long limbs for the division which he uses to tie up opponents. Vince Morales is a gritty fighter on his second run with the UFC coming off a back-and-forth battle with Elijah Smith, where he nearly secured a choke in the dying seconds before ultimately losing a decision.

I'll take Rosas Jr. to get a submission win here, as he has the skills on the ground to put Morales in bad spots and take advantage of them.

Prediction: Rosas Jr. by 1st Round Submission

## David Martinez -400 vs. Saimon Oliveira +295

Bantamweights, both looking to establish themselves, square off in this main card matchup. David Martinez is a powerful, high-volume striker with good takedown defense who makes his debut here. Saimon Oliveria is a dangerous submission grappler looking to pick up his first UFC win after having spent more than two years away since his loss to Daniel Marcos.

I'll go with Martinez here as he should have a significant advantage in the striking and the inactivity from Oliveira is concerning.

Prediction: Martinez by 2nd Round TKO

## Ronaldo Rodriguez -159 vs. Kevin Borjas +129

This fun matchup at Flyweight is set to open the main card. Ronaldo Rodriguez is a solid grappler who comes in having won his first two UFC fights, although he struggled at times in both, showing to be very hittable on the feet. Kevin Borjas is a high-pace striker with good power, although his defense is not great striking-wise, and he was controlled a lot on Dana White's Contender Series.

I bet Borjas in this one. He will have a big advantage in striking, especially in terms of punching power, and I don't see Rodriguez getting enough control on the ground to slow him down. With that, Kevin Borjas MoneyLine is the underdog best bet of the week.

Prediction: Borjas by 1st Round KO (Best Bet)

## Edgar Chairez -278 vs. CJ Vergara +220

Tough Flyweights go head-to-head in this featured prelim. Edgar Chairez is a durable finisher with solid power in his striking, which he showed against Joshua Van, and a dangerous choke game. CJ Vergara is a solid wrestler who has proven to be a solid test for prospects over the years although he does come in off two straight losses, with the latest being his first career knockout loss.

I'll go with Chairez to find a finish in this one, with him being the much more dangerous and durable fighter with the size advantage.

Prediction: Chairez by 3rd Round Submission

## Ateba Gautier -455 vs. Jose Medina +330

Interesting matchup here at Middleweight as both men look for their first UFC win. Ateba Gautier is a powerhouse with plenty of knockouts on his record although he is untested, having not faced any real competition, and in his only fight that went to decision, he lost. Jose Medina is a very durable fighter who hasn't shown much in terms of offensive skillset through his Contender Series fight and UFC debut.

At these odds, I'd take Medina, as his durability will likely drag this fight into deep waters where I don't trust the inexperienced Gautier, especially with these fights taking place at altitude.

Prediction: Medina by 3rd Round Submission

## Melquizael Costa +126 vs. Christian Rodriguez -156

Grapplers look to test their skills against one another here at Featherweight. Melquizael Costa is a well-rounded fighter with decent striking and dangerous submissions, as he showed in his recent win over Andre Fili. Christian Rodriguez is a tough fighter with good submission skills and solid boxing, which he has used to turn back several unbeaten prospects, most recently with his impressive win over Austin Bashi.

I'll go with Rodriguez here as I feel he has the skills to match Costa anywhere while being easier to trust from a cardio and durability standpoint. 

Prediction: Rodriguez by Decision

## Julia Polastri +185 vs. Lupita Godinez -238

Strawweight grapplers face off in this interesting prelim matchup. Julia Polastri is a grappler with good submission skills and solid striking on the feet, where she throws a high volume. Lupita Godniez is a strong wrestler with decent boxing who is looking to bounce back from several close losses to top contenders Mackenzie Dern and Virna Jandiroba.

I like Godinez here as she has flashed the potential to compete with the top of the division with her well-rounded game which I feel is better than Polastri everywhere.

Prediction: Godinez by Decision

## Rafa Garcia -500 vs. Vinc Pichel +360

Lightweight veterans square off in this one. Rafa Garcia is a decently well-rounded fighter with solid boxing and grappling, although he has struggled when he doesn't have a clear path to victory. Vinc Pichel is a veteran who has competed in the UFC since 2012 with his strong boxing game and constant pressure, although he is now forty-two years old, and has only fought twice since 2021, losing both times.

I'll go with Garcia, as he should be able to get this to the ground as much as he needs to, and his striking is probably better as well.

Prediction: Garcia by Decision

## Jamall Emmers -333 vs. Gabriel Miranda +260

Featherweights looking to bounce back from tough losses go head to head here. Jamall Emmers is a long and skilled boxer with solid power, although his fight IQ is questionable, and he is coming off a first-round knockout loss. Gabriel Miranda is a good submission grappler who has struggled in the UFC, having been finished by Morgan Charriere and Benoit Saint-Denis in lopsided fights.

Emmers should take this one as he has a big advantage in the striking and has the grappling to defend any submission attacks from Miranda.

Prediction: Emmers by Decision 

## Austin Hubbard +155 vs. Marquel Mederos -196

Lightweights looking to build momentum in a deep division open the card with this one. Austin Hubbard is a solid fighter with a well-rounded game, although he can be taken down and controlled and lacks much finishing threat. Marquel Mederos is a striker who comes in off a debut win over Landon Quinones, where he showed good ability to mix it up, although it was a close fight due to his power disadvantage.

I'll pick Hubbard here as I feel neither man possesses a significant finishing threat, and Hubbard has a more well-rounded skillset and has competed against tougher competition.

Prediction: Hubbard by Decision

UFC Fight Night: Moreno vs. Erceg Odds Breakdown

It was a fantastic performance from Welterweight contender Sean Brady as he submitted former champion Leon Edwards in the fourth round of the main event from the O2 Arena in London, England.

## Result: Sean Brady def. Leon Edwards via Submission (Guillotine) Round 4 (1:39)

It was clear that pressure was the game plan for Sean Brady as he was in the face of Leon Edwards from the beginning with a high-volume boxing attack in the first round. From the second round on, the grappling of Brady dominated the fight as he was able to control and eventually submit Edwards early in the fourth round.


>"I know I can do that to anyone in the division" - Sean Brady

What did you think of the performance from Brady? Let us know in the comments.

Sean Brady Submits Leon Edwards at UFC London

The UFC is back in action tomorrow at the O2 Arena in London, England, headlined by Leon Edwards, who will take on Sean Brady in the Welterweight main event. The official weigh-ins took place today, here are the results.

## Main Card 4 PM EST

**Welterweight:** Leon Edwards (171) vs. Sean Brady (170)

**Light Heavyweight:** Jan Blachowicz (205) vs. Carlos Ulberg (205)

**Welterweight:** Kevin Holland (171) vs. Gunnar Nelson (170)

**Strawweight:** Molly McCann (116) vs. Alexia Thainara (116)

**Lightweight:** Chris Duncan (155) vs. Jordan Vucenic (155)

**Featherweight:** Nathaniel Wood (145) vs. Morgan Charriere (146)

## Prelims 1 PM EST

**Lightweight:** Jai Herbert (156) vs. Chris Padilla (155)

**Flyweight:** Lone'er Kavanaugh (126) vs. Felipe dos Santos (125)

**Heavyweight:** Marcin Tybura (260) vs. Mick Parkin (250)

**Middleweight:** Andrey Pulyaev (185) vs. Christian Leroy Duncan (186)

**Strawweight:** Shauna Bannon (116) vs. Puja Tomar (116)

**Bantamweight:** Caolan Loughran (136) vs. Nathan Fletcher (135)

**Lightweight:** Gurman Kutateladze (155) vs. Kaue Fernandes (155)

UFC Fight Night: Edwards vs. Brady Weigh-In Results

The UFC returns to the O2 Arena in London, England, with a fight night card loaded with UK talent being headlined by former Welterweight champion Leon Edwards as he is set to take on rising contender Sean Brady. I went over that matchup and every other fight on the card to give my predictions and best bet, so let's get into it.

**Odds provided by DuelBits accurate as of 3/19/2024**

## Leon Edwards +134 vs. Sean Brady -164

Title implications loom large as these two Welterweights each hunt a rematch with the champion, Belal Muhammad. Leon Edwards is a very technically sharp kickboxer with weapons he uses well at all distances, although his wrestling and output were not good enough to slow Belal Muhammad in his last fight. Sean Brady is a strong wrestler with good submission skills, which he showed against Kelvin Gastelum, and decent boxing, coming off a strong five-round performance against Gilbert Burns. 

I'll go with Brady, as I believe he can get his grappling going consistently and control Edwards on the ground or against the cage enough to get a decision win.

Prediction: Brady by Decision

## Jan Blachowicz +225 vs. Carlos Ulberg -294

Hard-hitting Light Heavyweights square off in this high-stakes co-main event. Jan Blachowicz is a former champion who has shown a powerful and skillful striking attack along with solid offensive wrestling, although he is forty-two, returning from a long layoff after a bad shoulder injury. Carlos Ulberg is a skilled kickboxer out of the famed City Kickboxing gym who comes in on a seven-fight win streak, with five coming by finish, including a twelve-second knockout of Alonzo Menifield.

I like Ulberg in this one, as he is the younger fighter who has been much more active, while I have a hard time seeing Blachowicz return to form with his injury history.

Prediction: Ulberg by Decision

## Kevin Holland +103 vs. Gunnar Nelson -127

The classic striker vs. grappler matchup goes down here at Welterweight. Kevin Holland is a dangerous striker with solid submission skills, especially in this weight class, when he is less likely to be overpowered in wrestling. Gunnar Nelson is a skilled grappler with basic karate-style striking who has had trouble staying active, with just two fights since 2018, although he did win both comfortably against Takashi Sato and Bryan Barberena.

I lean towards Holland here as he has been the much more active fighter with a massive striking advantage, and his struggles in the grappling have all been a weight class up.

Prediction: Holland by 1st Round KO

## Molly McCann +150 vs. Alexia Thainara -189

Short notice replacement steps in here to keep a fan favorite Strawweight on the card. Molly McCann is a veteran striker who gained fame with her signature spinning elbow knockout over Luana Carolina, although her grappling has been a weak point, with her suffering three submission losses in the UFC. Alexia Thainara is a dangerous submission grappler who makes her debut here with nine straight wins, including a decision win on Dana White's Contender Series in her most recent outing. 

I'll pick Thainara here as I see her grappling giving McCann problems, although, with the short notice in McCann's home country, this fight is a pass.

Prediction: Thainara by 1st Round Submission

## Jordan Vucenic -400 vs. Chris Duncan +300

Exciting Lightweights looking to make a name for themselves go head-to-head in this one. Jordan Vucenic is a well-rounded prospect coming in off a debut where, despite losing to Guram Kutateladze, he looked fantastic considering the short notice and level of his opponents, who he dropped in the first round. Chris Duncan is a gritty wrestler with a powerful right hand, although his defense and durability are concerning.

I see Vucenic getting a finish in this one, as he is a much faster and more well-rounded fighter who has faced tougher competition and had success doing so.

Prediction: Vucenic by 1st Round KO

## Nathaniel Wood +132 vs. Morgan Charriere -161

Featherweights with high ceilings square off to open the main card here. Nathaniel Wood is a boxer with fast hands who has won four of his last five since moving up in weight despite getting rocked in several fights against Andre Fili and Muhammad Naimov. Morgan Charriere is a measured and skilled striker with eye-catching speed and experience against high-level competition in Paul Hughes, Chepe Mariscal, and Jordan Vucenic.

I'll go with Charriere here, as I believe he is the cleaner striker with fewer defensive concerns in a close matchup. 

Prediction: Charriere by 2nd Round TKO

## Jai Herbert -115 vs. Chris Padilla -106

Lightweights looking to build momentum face off in this featured prelim. Jai Herbert is a tall striker who uses his length well to keep opponents at range, as he did with Rolando Bedoya in his last fight. Chris Padilla is a tough finisher who comes in off back-to-back comeback wins where he was seemingly falling behind before landing a big shot on his opponent.

I'll take Herbert in this one, as he is the longer fighter who has proven he can win minutes against UFC competition, which we have yet to see Padilla do.

Prediction: Herbert by Decision

## Lone'er Kavanagh -313 vs. Felipe dos Santos +245

Young and exciting Flyweights square off in this fun prelim matchup. Lone'er Kavanagh is an undefeated prospect with plenty of hype coming from his fast and clean striking, which he showed in his debut win over Jose Ochoa. Felipe dos Santos is a classic Chute Boxe fighter with a highly aggressive style of volume striking and solid submission skills, although he has been controlled on the ground at times.

I bet dos Santos at these odds, as he is the bigger fighter who is going to be pushing the pace and has experience against tougher competition.

Prediction: dos Santos by 3rd Round Submission

## Marcin Tybura +101 vs. Mick Parkin -123

Ranked Heavyweights collide here in this high-stakes clash. Marcin Tybura is a well-rounded veteran with decent striking and wrestling, although he is not great anywhere. Mick Parkin is an undefeated prospect coming off his first UFC finish, where he showed his boxing skills are a level above the lower tier of the division with his fourth straight win in the promotion.

I lean towards Tybura, as he has faced better competition and shown a more well-rounded game, although the age difference is a concern.

Prediction: Tybura by Decision

## Andrey Pulyaev +420 vs. Christian Leroy Duncan -588

Dangerous finishers face off in this Middleweight matchup. Andrey Pulyaev is a well-rounded finisher with a very aggressive style who makes his UFC debut here off an impressive decision win on Dana White's Contender Series. Christian Leroy Duncan is an explosive and athletic striker who has shown improvement since joining the UFC but remains a bit raw on the technical side.

I'll pick CLD in this one, as he is the more proven fighter with less durability concerns. 

Prediction: Duncan by 2nd Round TKO

## Shauna Bannon -179 vs. Puja Tomar +146

Two Strawweights looking to build momentum face off in this prelim clash. Shauna Bannon is a solid striker who is coming off her first UFC win, where she showed the ability to manage distance with her kickboxing background. Puja Tomar is a high-volume kickboxer who won a controversial decision in her debut, although she has been finished in all four of her losses, which is a massive concern.

I lean towards Bannon here as she has the size and style to keep Tomar at range. 

Prediction: Bannon by Decision

## Caolan Loughran -101 vs. Nathan Fletcher -122

A rematch from back in their amateur days goes down here at Bantamweight. Caolan Loughran is a stocky wrestler with decent boxing, as he showed in his win over Angel Pacheco, although he is rather hittable. Nathan Fletcher is a grappler who comes in off the last season of The Ultimate Fighter, where he was eliminated early by Kaan Ofli when he struggled to get his grappling going.

I bet Loughran, as he has the UFC experience and is the much better striker while being able to match Fletcher on the ground. With that, Caolan Loughran Moneyline is the Underdog best bet of the week.

Prediction: Loughran by Decision (Best Bet)

## Guram Kutateladze -455 vs. Kaue Fernandes +330

Exciting strikers open the card here at Lightweight. Guram Kutateladze is a very skilled kickboxer who showed his well-roundedness in his last fight, where he used his wrestling to come back from early adversity against Jordan Vucenic. Kaue Fernandes is a striker with fast and powerful kicks, although he has shown a weakness in his ground game, being held down by Marc Diakiese in his debut.

Kutateladze should handle business here, as he has the striking to win there but also has a massive advantage on the ground, which he has shown he is not shy about using.

Prediction: Kutateladze by Decision

Bailey Schoenfelder