Liam Lindsay

Caio Borralho didn't just win, he made it look easy. His victory over Paul Craig at UFC 301 was a stunning start to the main card.

Borralho's control was evident throughout the fight, as he showcased his striking skills with precise jabs and crosses. The finish came in the second round, when he unleashed a devastating flying knee on Craig, swiftly followed by a relentless series of strikes that left the Scotsman flat on the mat.

```iframe
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">The oddsmakers are always confident in Israel Adesanya.<br><br>He&#39;s lost 3 fights to Alex Pereira, but the oddsmakers still have him as a favorite heading into this weekend.<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/UFC287?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#UFC287</a> <a href="https://t.co/0MF4krsH1v">pic.twitter.com/0MF4krsH1v</a></p>&mdash; Verdict (@TournamentsMMA) <a href="https://twitter.com/CSTodayNews/status/1786946647366234294">April 5, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
```

How good did Caio Borralho look? Give us your thoughts with a comment down below.

Caio Borralho KOs Paul Craig After a Dominant Performance at UFC 301

Brito vs. Shore is called off midway through round two after a leg kick from Brito caused a nasty gash on Shore's leg. Brito was in control for most of the fight, but it was still odd for it to be called.

Brito's strategy was clear from the start: apply relentless pressure on Shore. His weapon of choice, the leg kicks, played a significant role in this approach. In the second round, Shore attempted to check another hard low kick, but it resulted in a deep cut below the knee, resulting in the ringside physician intervening and calling the fight.

```iframe
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">The oddsmakers are always confident in Israel Adesanya.<br><br>He&#39;s lost 3 fights to Alex Pereira, but the oddsmakers still have him as a favorite heading into this weekend.<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/UFC287?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#UFC287</a> <a href="https://t.co/0MF4krsH1v">pic.twitter.com/0MF4krsH1v</a></p>&mdash; Verdict (@TournamentsMMA) <a href="https://twitter.com/espnmma/status/1786937907334258767">April 5, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
```

What did you think of the stoppage? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.



Joanderson Brito Secures Bizzare Stoppage Over Jack Shore

Iasmin Lucindo won a unanimous decision over Karolina Kowalkiewicz, snapping the Pole's five-fight winning streak.

Lucindo's control over the fight was evident, particularly in her superior footwork and striking power. She also exploited Kowalkiewicz's grappling weakness, sealing her victory in the eyes of all three judges.

Who would you like to see Lucindo fight next? Let us know with a comment down below.

Iasmin Lucindo Secures UD Win at UFC 301

It was a competitive fight, but Myktybek Orolbai was able to come out with the unanimous decision victory.

Orolbai started the fight very strong, clearly showing a power advantage in the striking exchanges. He was also relentless with his takedowns, but Brenner showed to me more composed on the ground than he was on the feet. More of the same followed in the second, with Brenner succumbing to Orolbai everywhere the fight went. However, in the third, Brenner rallied with a much better round, reversing Orolbai on multiple occasions, but it was Orolbai who was able to secure the lone knockdown of the fight in the third round. A bizarre point deduction following a fence grab also happened during the action of the fight, but it wasn't enough from stopping Orolbai from getting the decision.


```iframe
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">The oddsmakers are always confident in Israel Adesanya.<br><br>He&#39;s lost 3 fights to Alex Pereira, but the oddsmakers still have him as a favorite heading into this weekend.<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/UFC287?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#UFC287</a> <a href="https://t.co/0MF4krsH1v">pic.twitter.com/0MF4krsH1v</a></p>&mdash; Verdict (@TournamentsMMA) <a href="https://twitter.com/ufc/status/1786925737934832070">April 5, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
```

What did you think of the call? As a member of the Verdict Community, let us know in the comments below.

Myktybek Orolbai Wins Competitive Decision Over Elves Brenner

Drakkar Klose spoils the undefeated Brazillian run at UFC 301, claiming a decision win over Joaquim Silva to kick off the prelims. 

Klose was successful in rounds 1 and 2, pot-shotting Silva and managing to control the distance. He is also utilizing the clinch to negate Silva's powerful striking offense. In the third, Silva landed some big shots and nearly secured a guillotine, but it wasn't enough to finish Klose, who got the nod from all three judges.


```iframe
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">The oddsmakers are always confident in Israel Adesanya.<br><br>He&#39;s lost 3 fights to Alex Pereira, but the oddsmakers still have him as a favorite heading into this weekend.<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/UFC287?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#UFC287</a> <a href="https://t.co/0MF4krsH1v">pic.twitter.com/0MF4krsH1v</a></p>&mdash; Verdict (@TournamentsMMA) <a href="https://twitter.com/ufc/status/1786916672164790621">April 5, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
```

What did you think of the fight? Let us know in the comments below.

Drakkar Klose Edges Out Klose Decision vs. Joaquim Silva

Ismael Bonfim is now back in the win column following his first UFC defeat to Benoit Saint-Denis, defeating Vinc Pichel via unanimous decision at UFC 301.

Pichel came in with the correct game plan, attempting to attack Bonfim's legs. But in the second and third rounds, Bonfim was able to light Pichel up on the feet, landing huge body shots and blows to the head. He had moments, but he also displayed patience and was able to secure 30-27s on all scorecards.

> I changed my whole life. I'm back! - Ismael Bonfim

Who would you like to see Ismael Bonfim fight next? As a member of the Verdict Community, let us know in the comments below.

Ismael Bonfim Puts on Impressive Display to Beat Vinc Pichel

After brutalizing his leg in the second round, Alessandro Costa kicks off UFC 301 with a nasty TKO victory over Kevin Borjas.

The first round was a close affair, with both men finding success with their boxing on the feet. Costa was able to drop Borjas at the end of the round with a lead hook but couldn't finish the job. However, in the second round, he timed a perfect leg kick on Borjas's calf and was able to follow up with ground strikes to close the show.

What did you think of Costa's performance? Let us know with a comment down below.

Alessandro Costa TKOs Kevin Borjas to Open UFC 301

UFC 301 goes down this weekend in Brazil, featuring a Flyweight title bout in the main event between Alexandre Pantoja and Steve Erceg. The co-main event will see the final bout of Jose Aldo's UFC career, as he takes on surging prospect Jonathan Martinez. Here are the results from today's weigh-ins.

## Main Card (ESPN+ PPV at 10 p.m. ET)

**_Flyweight:_** Alexandre Pantoja (**125 lbs**) vs. Steve Erceg (**125 lbs**)

**_Bantamweight:_** Jonathan Martinez (**136 lbs**) vs. Jose Aldo (**136 lbs**)

**_Light Heavyweight:_** Anthony Smith (**205.5 lbs**) vs. Vitor Petrino (**206 lbs**)

**_Middleweight:_** Michel Pereira (**186 lbs**) vs. Ihor Potieria (**185 lbs**)

**_Middleweight:_** Paul Craig (**185 lbs**) vs. Caio Borralho (**186 lbs**)

## Preliminary Card (ESPN2/ESPN+ at 8 p.m. ET)

**_Featherweight:_** Jack Shore (**145.5 lbs**) vs. Joanderson Brito (**146 lbs**)

**_Strawweight:_** Karolina Kowalkiewicz (**116 lbs**) vs. Iasmin Lucindo (**116 lbs**)

**_Lightweight:_** Elves Brener (**156 lbs**) vs. Myktybek Orolbai (**155.5 lbs**)

**_Featherweight:_** Jean Silva (**146 lbs**) vs. William Gomis (**143 lbs**)

## Early Preliminary Card (ESPN2/ESPN+ at 6 p.m. ET)

**_Lightweight:_** Joaquim Silva (**155.5 lbs**) vs. Drakkar Klose (**156 lbs**)

**_Lightweight:_** Mauricio Ruffy (**156 lbs**) vs. Jamie Mullarkey (**155 lbs**)

**_Flyweight:_** Dione Barbosa (**126 lbs**) vs. Ernesta Kareckaite (**125.5 lbs**)

**_Lightweight:_** Ismael Bonfim (**156 lbs**) vs. Vinc Pichel (**156 lbs**)

**_Flyweight:_** Alessandro Costa (**125 lbs**) vs. Kevin Borjas (**125.5 lbs**)

Jean Silva vs. William Gomias has been removed from the card following a bad weight cut from Gomis.


UFC 301 Weigh-In Results

Douglas Vegas Bets

The UFC is back on PPV live from the Jeunesse Arena in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. This card is headlined by Alexandre Pantoja, -182, defending his Flyweight title against the fast-rising Steve Erceg, +157. I went over every fight on the card to give my picks and best bets, so let's get into it.

**Odds provided by BetOnline.ag accurate as of 11:00 AM EST 5/2/2024**

## Alexandre Pantoja -182 vs. Steve Erceg +157

The Flyweight title is on the line here in a surprising main event. Alexander Pantoja has been a dominant force of late, showing his relentless pressure, powerful striking, tremendous grappling, and durability, which has proven to be a weapon in itself. Steve Erceg jumps the ranks here after a highlight knockout of Matt Schnell, where he showed he has solid striking, although he did need to rely on grappling to get the win over Alessandro Costa prior to that.

I took Pantoja here because I see him being better everywhere and having much more top-level experience. I see him finishing Erceg within the first three rounds.

Pick: Pantoja O/U: Under 3.5 +125

## Jonathan Martinez -145 vs. Jose Aldo +125

The return of the King of Rio goes down in our Bantamweight co-main event. Jonathan Martinez has proven to be a deadly striker with some of the best leg kicks in the UFC and improved boxing to go with solid defensive grappling, which he showed in his upset win over Said Nurmagomedov. Jose Aldo returns here off his retirement, and he will do so, having stayed somewhat active in the boxing scene; he has, of course, had his ten-year title reign in the UFC, where he used his freak athleticism to dominate opponents before transitioning to a more boxing heavy style later in his career. 

I've got Aldo to come back and get a win at home here. I see him defending Martinez's leg kicks, as he has always had fantastic defense and is using his hands to get inside and do more damage. 

Pick: Aldo O/U: Under 2.5 +200

## Anthony Smith +425 vs. Vitor Petrino -600

It's a classic veteran vs. prospect matchup here at Light Heavyweight. Anthony Smith has been around this division for a long time, having used a well-rounded style to grind out tough wins, although he enters this having lost three of his last four, with the win being a controversial split decision, and his chin is not holding up the same anymore. Vitor Petrino is a physical specimen with insane strength and power that he has used to quickly reach four victories in the UFC, showing both knockout power and submission skills.

I have to pick Petrino here. He will be much too powerful for Smith and will likely find a knockout finish in this one.

Pick: Petrino O/U: Under 1.5 +160

## Michel Pereira -600 vs. Ihor Potieria +425

Middleweight strikers with flashy styles will go head to head in his electric matchup. Michel Pereira is a wildman with a crazy striking style and big power behind those strikes; he seems to have learned from his early career mistakes against Tristan Connelly and Diego Sanchez and is now on a seven-fight win streak, including two finishes in just over a minute since moving up in weight. Ihor Potieria enters this off a strong showing against Robert Bryczek, where he showed he could strike for three rounds in his debut at this weight class. 

I'll go with Pereira here as I am not sold that Potieria can compete at this level of competition. 

Pick: Pereira O/U: Under 1.5 -165

## Paul Craig +475 vs. Caio Borralho -650

Middleweight grapplers square off in this very intriguing matchup. Paul Craig is a fantastic submission grappler, although his game has always lacked much roundedness, with him struggling whenever he faces other competent grapplers who can shut down his submissions. Caio Borralho is an athletic and explosive athlete with a strong ground game that he has used to shut down all of his UFC competition thus far.

I'm taking Borralho here as I see him having a good enough ground game to control where this fight takes place and dominating either the striking or from top position.

Pick: Borralho O/U: Over 1.5 -200

## Joanderson Brito -164 vs. Jack Shore +144

Featherweights on the rise will clash here. Joanderson Brito is a tank with dangerous finishing ability wherever the fight goes, with his knockout power in his hands and a slick submission game that he used to steal a victory away from Jonathan Pearce in his last fight. Jack Shore is a strong grappler with good control and pace, although he has been outmatched physically before in his fight with Ricky Simon down a weight class.

I've got Brito here, as I see him being too strong for Shore and finding a finish within the first two rounds.

Pick: Brito O/U: Under 1.5 +160

## Karolina Kowalkiewicz +330 vs. Iasmin Lucindo -400

It's a fantastic matchup that puts a veteran against a bright prospect at Strawweight. Karolina Kowalkiewicz has revived her career by entering this matchup on a four-fight win streak, although it has all been against relatively low-level competition without high-level grappling. Iasmin Lucindo is a very young prospect who has shown a tremendous skill set, including a dangerous submission game and strong striking.

I like Lucindo here as she has the skillset and the physical ability to dominate this matchup completly.

Pick: Lucindo O/U: Under 2.5 +170

## Elves Brenner +207 vs. Myktybek Orolbai -242

Lightweights with plenty of fans behind them will go head-to-head in this fun clash. Elves Brenner is an always dangerous action fighter capable of setting a very high pace; he fights out of the Chute Boxe gym with Charles Oliveira, so we know he will be prepared for war. Myktybek Orolbai impressed many with his short-notice domination of Uros Medic, where he showed a high-level wrestling game before securing the submission in round two. 

I'm taking Brenner as the underdog here as he is much more proven at this level, and Orolbai has been caught with big shots before, which could cost him here.

Pick: Brenner O/U: Under 2.5 +105

## Jean Silva -122 vs. William Gomis +102

Featherweights looking to establish themselves as real threats in the division meet in this one. Jean Silva is a patient but powerful striker with good forward pressure, although he is still unproven against UFC-level competition. William Gomis is a tall striker with fast kicks and a decent defensive ground game, but he can struggle to separate himself in close fights.

I lean toward Silva here as I believe he will be doing more damage and will be able to work inside to negate the height disadvantage.

Pick: Silva O/U: Over 2.5 -180

## Joaquim Silva +145 vs. Drakkar Klose -170

Veteran Lightweights matchup in this one. Joaquim Silva is a powerful striker, which he showed against Arman Tsarukyan by hurting him badly; he is not the most durable, having been knocked out three times in his UFC career. Drakkar Klose is a well-rounded guy who has come close to pushing to the top of the division with decent striking and a good ground game, although he is hittable and doesn't react well to big shots. 

I'll pick Silva as the underdog here as I believe he will have the striking edge here and can defend the grappling enough to force some standup where he could find a knockout.

Pick: Silva O/U: Under 1.5 +200

## Mauricio Ruffy -205 vs. Jamie Mullarkey +175

The debut of a Lightweight finisher goes down here against a veteran looking to get back on track. Mauricio Ruffy makes his debut here as a dangerous knockout artist, with all of his fights ending with knockouts or TKOs. Jamie Mullarkey is a high pace striker with good reach, although he has not been able to take damage well throughout his career, having suffered many knockout losses, including two in the last year alone.

I'm taking Ruffy here as he has proven to be a dangerous puncher, and Mullarkey's durability is completely gone.

Pick: Ruffy O/U: Under 1.5 +125

## Ismael Bonfim -550 vs. Vinc Pichel +400

Lightweights who were supposed to meet earlier this year now square off here. Ismael Bonfim is a fast-paced finisher who swings big and hunts the knockout sometimes too much, as he did against Benoit Saint-Denis, where he was over-aggressive and got finished early. Vinc Pichel is a gritty veteran striker returning from a two-year layoff here; he is getting up there in age, which is a massive concern here, especially with the layoff.

I'll pick Bonfim as he is the more dangerous fighter, and the layoff for an older Pichel is a major concern, but this price is out of control, and I have no interest in betting on Bonfim at this price.

Pick: Bonfim O/U: Over 1.5 -250

## Alessandro Costa -130 vs. Kevin Borjas +110

Flyweights get the card started in this fun matchup. Alessandro Costa is a solid striker who showed good submission skills before joining the UFC; he lost a competitive decision to now-title challenger Steve Erceg in his last fight, where he had good moments despite being controlled for the third round, which cost him the fight. Kevin Borjas is a fast-paced brawler who can crack, as he showed by dropping Joshua Van early in his wild UFC debut, where he also showed good cardio and durability. 

I like Borjas here as I give him the finishing upside, with Costa being knocked out several times in his career. I also believe he can win a decision and defend any grappling.

Pick: Borjas O/U: Under 2.5 -120

## [DougLasVegasBets.net](https://douglasvegasbets.net) Plays

Alexandre Pantoja -205

Jose Aldo +100

Joanderson Brito -150 

Elves Brenner +205 

Kevin Borjas +116

Caio Borralho/ Iasmin Lucindo -110

UFC 301 Odds Breakdown

ROUNDHOUSE MMA

Hopefully, everybody's UFC 300 hangover has worn off, as the UFC is in full force from now through the summer with some stacked fight cards. After a week off, the premier combat sports promotion will return to its second home in Las Vegas at the UFC APEX. Headlining this card will be two top-ten Flyweights Matheus Nicolau and Alex Perez. These two have come up short when it comes time to face a big name, but have remained staples of the division for many years. For all you bettors, let's take a good look at each line, and find some value to make some picks. 

Odds are provided via Bet Online AG, as of April 23rd at 9:00 PM. 

## Matheus Nicolau (-190 fav) vs Alex Perez (+165 dog)

This is a close fight to call. It seems that both fighters match up well against one another, but there are some red flags. Nicolau is very low volume with a questionable chin, he has very good grappling but just hasn't been able to take that leap into contention. Perez made weight, but he has been submitted multiple times in his career. That could be an area Nicolau could exploit, and I think he wins via decision this weekend. 

_Pick: Over 4.5 rounds_

## Ryan Spann (-200 fav) vs Bogdan Guskov (+170 dog)

In terms of skill, Ryan Spann is without a doubt the superior fighter. He's a grappler who can also strike and has fought much better competition, while Bogdan Guskov got submitted by Volkan Oezdemir in his UFC debut. Guskov is very hittable, and if Spann can take him down, I see no issue in him being able to find the submission. 

_Pick: Spann _

## Ariane Da Silva (+125 dog) vs Karine Silva (-145 fav)

This is a fun featured bout on this card. Karine Silva is a young, up-and-coming prospect at 115 who's on an eight-fight win streak. Silva has a 100% finish rate, something you don't see often in female fighters, while Ariane Da Silva is on a very nice run of her own. Da Silva has some fantastic wins, but also has blown fights she was meant to win, so she's very inconsistent. I think Silva has the advantage everywhere, so I'm picking her to win this fight, inside the distance. 

_Pick: Silva_ 

## Austen Lane (+205 dog) vs Jhonata Diniz (-240 fav)

This fight is your typical Fight Night main card bout, there is no shot this fight goes the distance. Austen Lane has a 100% finish rate and has lost all of his fights by knockout. Lane's striking defense is very poor, and this seems like a set-up fight for Jhonata Diniz, who is coming into the UFC with a kickboxing background. Diniz also has a 100% finish rate. Lane should utilize his wrestling if he wants a chance at winning this fight, but I think Diniz will find a finish very early. The odds on the Diniz side and total are very inflated, so either option would make for a good parlay piece. If you just want to take action on this fight alone, I don't see any value on these lines.

_Pick: N/A_

## Jonathan Pearce (-170 fav) vs David Onama (+145 dog)

We have a very fun striker versus grappler matchup on our hands here. I love both fighters, both are very exciting to watch and are always looking for finishes, and it's simple, whoever can execute their game plan will win this fight. I like Pearce here because he can grind and break you down as the fight goes on. If he doesn't land a takedown, he will try and try again until he gets you down. Onama's 45% takedown defense is alarming, so I think Pearce will be able to take him down and win the fight with the wrestling. If you like lottery bets, Pearce in rounds 2 or 3 isn't a bad look. 

_Pick: Pearce_

## Tim Means (+260 dog) vs Uros Medic (-310 fav)

Uros Medic is one of my favorite prospects at 170 lbs, his striking is very, very good and just seems to get better every time he steps into the octagon. On the other hand, Tim Means is near the end of his long UFC career. Means has lost three of his last four, while Medic's only two losses in the UFC have come to Myktybek Orolbai and Jalin Turner, so absolutely no shame in that. He's finished every single one of his nine wins. I like Medic here, his line is also very inflated, so could be a good addition to a parlay. Otherwise, I don't see any value in this fight. 

_Pick: N/A_

## Rani Yahya (+355 dog) vs Victor Henry (-455 fav)

Victor Henry is a crazy favorite against Rani Yahya here, and while he should win with ease, it's hard to find value betting on either guy who's over 35 years old. This is a very tough matchup for Yahya, Henry is the superior striker, and should just piece him up on the feet. I don't see any action with this fight. 

_Pick: N/A_

## Austin Hubbard (+145 dog) vs Michal Figlak (-170 fav)

The Ultimate Fighter veteran Austin Hubbard takes on Michal Figlak, who we haven't seen compete since 2022. We can only hope that Figlak has improved since his last outing, a really bad loss to Fares Ziam in which he was taken down three times and controlled the whole fight. Hubbard is a decently skilled fighter, I like the over in this fight. 

_Pick: Over 2.5 rounds_

## DonTale Mayes (-107 dog) vs Caio Machado (-113 fav)

This fight opened up as a pick 'em, with Machado moving to a very slight favorite. I think Machado looked good in his debut against Mick Parkin, and while he doesn't have the best ground game, I don't think Don'Tale Mayes will be looking to wrestle. He doesn't go for takedowns, and so if this fight is purely on the feet, I'm picking Machado all day. 

_Pick: Machado _

## Marnic Mann (+275 dog) vs Ketlen Souza (-335 fav)

Souza is a huge favorite against Marnic Mann. I think there's a clear path to victory for Souza with her striking, and she will put damage on Mann throughout the fight. Unfortunately, I don't see any value here. 

_Pick: N/A_

## James Llontop (-350 fav) vs Chris Padilla (+285 dog)

Another big favorite in James Llontop here, he seems to be a good up-and-coming prospect coming out of Dana White's Contender Series, he'll take on a fellow debutant in Chris Padilla. I like Llontop here, but see no value in any plays. 

_Pick: N/A_

## Ivana Petrovic (-465 fav) vs Liang Na (+365 dog)

Liang Na is the most exciting fighter you've never heard of, be sure to tune in to watch this early prelim. Na is the definition of kill or be killed, she is all gas no brakes in round one, and if she survives onto the second, she's completely gassed. This likely will be her last fight in the UFC if she doesn't get a win here, but her style speaks for itself, I like an under one-and-a-half round here. 

_Pick: Under 1.5 rounds_

## Gabriel Benitez (+167 dog) vs Maheshate (-192 fav)

The opening fight of the card features two fighters on losing streaks who look to rebound. Maheshate is eleven years younger and will have a four-inch height advantage, and we've seen Gabriel Benitez take a lot of damage over his last few fights. I think Maheshate gets him out of there before the judges scorecards. 

_Pick: Under 2.5 rounds_



Jared Cannonier