Douglas Vegas Bets

At the seasonal press conference today, the UFC announced that headlining UFC 326 will be a BMF title fight between Lightweights Max Holloway and Charles Oliveira. This matchup is scheduled for March 7th at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.

## Announcement: Max Holloway vs. Charles Olivera, Lightweight BMF Title Fight

This will be a rematch from over ten years ago when both men competed at Featherweight. Holloway enters this off a win over Dustin Poirier, where he defended his BMF title by unanimous decision. Oliveira is coming off a second-round submission win over Mateusz Gamrot in Rio last month.

## Full Card

Max Holloway vs. Charles Oliveria, Lightweight BMF Title Fight

Who are you taking in this matchup of fan favourites? Let us know in the comments!

Max Holloway to Defend BMF Title vs. Charles Oliveira at UFC 326

The UFC is back on PPV tomorrow from the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas for a Bantamweight title fight between champion Merab Dvalishvili and former champion Petr Yan. The official weigh-in took place today, here are the results.

## Main Card 10 PM EST

**Bantamweight Championship:** Merab Dvalishvili (135) vs. Petr Yan (135)

**Flyweight Championship:** Alexandre Pantoja (125) vs. Joshua Van (124.5)

**Flyweight:** Brandon Moreno (125) vs. Tatsuro Taira (126)

**Bantamweight:** Henry Cejudo (136) vs. Payton Talbott (136)

**Light Heavyweight:** Jan Blachowicz (206) vs. Bogdan Guskov (206)

## Prelims 6 PM EST

**Lightweight:** Grant Dawson (156) vs. Manuel Torres (156)

**Lightweight:** Terrance McKinney (156) vs. Chris Duncan (156)

**Flyweight:** Maycee Barber (125.5) vs. Karine Silva (125.5)

**Lightweight:** Fares Ziam (156) vs. Nazim Sadykhov (155.5)

**Middleweight:** Marvin Vettori (186) vs. Brunno Ferreira (189)*

**Lightweight:** Edson Barboza (155.5) vs. Jalin Turner (155)

**Light Heavyweight:** Ibo Aslan (205.5) vs. Iwo Baraniewski (206)

**Middleweight:** Mansur Abdul-Malik (185.5) vs. Antonio Trocoli (186)

**Featherweight:** Muhammad Naimov (146) vs. Mairon Santos (147.5)*

*Brunno Ferreira Missed the Middleweight Limit by 3 Pounds

*Mairon Santos Missed the Featherweight Limit by 1.5 Pounds

UFC 323 Weigh-In Results

It was recently announced that headlining the first card of 2026 would be an interim Lightweight title fight between Justin Gaethje and Paddy Pimblett, and the odds for this matchup have been released. This matchup is scheduled for January 24th at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.

**Odds provided by Duelbits accurate as of 12/4/2025**

## Current Odds: Justin Gaethje +160, Paddy Pimblett -213

These odds mean a bettor could win $160 of a $100 risk on Justin Gaethje; meanwhile, it would take a $213 risk on Paddy Pimblett to win $100.

Gaethje will come into this as a former interim champion whose most recent win was a decision in his rematch with Rafael Fiziev. Pimblett gets his first crack at a title here following his TKO win over Michael Chandler.

## Past Odds: Justin Gaethje

*Odds via FightOdds.io*

Justin Gaethje (+132) vs. Rafael Fiziev (-152) UFC 313 - Win

Justin Gaethje (-155) vs. Max Holloway (+135) UFC 300 - Loss

Justin Gaethje (+128) vs. Dustin Poirier (-148) UFC 288 – Win

Justin Gaethje (+235) vs. Rafael Fiziev (-255) UFC 286 - Win

Justin Gaethje (+122) vs. Charles Oliveira (-132) UFC 274 - Loss

## Past Odds: Paddy Pimblett

*Odds via FightOdds.io*

Paddy Pimblett (-163) vs. Michael Chandler (+143) UFC 314 - Win

Paddy Pimblett (-110) vs. Bobby Green (-110) UFC 304 - Win

Paddy Pimblett (-310) vs. Tony Ferguson (+260) UFC 296 - Win

Paddy Pimblett (-250) vs. Jared Gordon (+230) UFC 282 - Win

Paddy Pimblett (-245) vs. Jordan Leavitt (+225) UFC Fight Night: Blaydes vs. Aspinall - Win

## Full Card Odds

Justin Gaethje +160 vs. Paddy Pimblett -213, Interim Lightweight Title Fight

Kayla Harrison -204 vs. Amanda Nunes +160, Bantamweight Title Fight

Sean O'Malley -185 vs. Yadong Song +143, Bantamweight

Arnold Allen +148 vs. Jean Silva -192, Featherweight

Waldo Cortes-Acosta -294 vs. Derrick Lewis +220, Heavyweight

Who do you have in this can't-miss Lightweight clash? Let us know in the comments below.

Betting Odds: Justin Gaethje Opens Underdog to Paddy Pimblett at UFC 324

This weekend, the UFC is live on PPV for the final time this year as Bantamweight champion Merab Dvalishvili defends his title against former champion Petr Yan from the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. Today was media day, and we had the chance to hear from the fighters leading into their big bouts.

## Merab Dvalishvili Discusses Differences From First Fight With Yan

A lot has changed since the first time Merab Dvalishvili and Petr Yan met. Now, Dvalishvili is a champion, and Yan is challenging him to reclaim his title. The first fight had some tension going in, which seems to have disappeared since then, and Dvalishvili said it feels different this time.


>"That time it was more personal for me, this time it's competition." - Merab Dvalishvili

This will be the fourth time Dvalishvili defends his Bantamweight title. Should he be successful, he would break the record for most defences in the division's history, currently held by his friend and training partner, Aljamain Sterling.

## Petr Yan Talks Experience in Rematches

Heading into the third rematch of his MMA career, former champion Petr Yan was asked how he feels going into this one compared to his previous two.


>"If you look at my first two rematches with (Magomed) Magomedov and (Aljamain) Sterling. You can see I was 100 percent better in the second fight." - Petr Yan

Yan will look to reclaim the title against Bantamweight champion Petr Yan this weekend.

## Alexandre Pantoja Opens Up About Champion Mindset

Long-reigning Flyweight champion Alexandre Pantoja talked about what he is thinking going into his fifth title defence as he tries to continue his run as one of the most dominant fighters in the sport.


>"I'm not going on Saturday to defend anything, I'm going to conquer another belt." - Alexandre Pantoja

Pantoja will face Joshua Van for the Flyweight title in the co-main event this weekend.

## Joshua Van Talks Being a Next Generation Fighter

When asked how he feels about being the first fighter born in the 2000s to challenge for a UFC title, Van was excited to make history again, as he often said he seemed to.


>"It feels great to represent the younger generations." - Joshua Van

At just twenty-four years old, Van has a chance to become the youngest active champion this Saturday against Alexandre Pantoja.

UFC 323 Media Day Highlights

The UFC returns to the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas after the week away with a loaded card of PPV action headlined by a Bantamweight title rematch between champion Merab Dvalishvili and Petr Yan. I went over my predictions and bets for the entire card, including my Underdog Best Bet of the Week, so let's get into it.

**Odds provided by Duelbits accurate as of 12/2/2025**

## Merab Dvalishvili -417 vs. Petr Yan +310

Two champions rematch here in our Bantamweight main event. Merab Dvalishvili is an active and dominant champion who sets an insane pace with his wrestling attack and ridiculous cardio. Petr Yan is a former champion with an elite boxing game and underrated grappling, though he can be low-output, especially early in fights.

The price is tempting, but I can't go against Merab on his current run, as his combination of wrestling and cardio, along with his improving striking game, makes him nearly unstoppable even for a fighter as skilled as Yan.

**Prediction:** Dvalishvili by Decision

## Alexandre Pantoja -238 vs. Joshua Van +190

The much-anticipated Flyweight title fight goes down here. Alexandre Pantoja is a highly aggressive grappler with a nasty submission game, in particular from the back, although he does rely on his strong chin at times. Joshua Van is a young brawler with fantastic boxing and solid takedown defense, with a style that turns up the pressure later in the fight.

I've got Pantoja in this one as he has a massive edge in experience, and his grappling game is something that Van has not felt anything even close to yet in his young career.

**Prediction:** Pantoja by 1st Round Submission

## Brandon Moreno +101 vs. Tatsuro Taira -123

Top Flyweights square off, looking to make their claim to the next title shot. Brandon Moreno is a former champion with a very well-rounded skillset featuring slick boxing, a solid ground game, and a granite chin. Tatsuro Taira is a phenomenal grappler who has shown clear improvements in his striking in recent outings and is still just twenty-five years old, with main event experience.

I like Taira to get a decision here as the younger fighter who has continued to show improvements between fights and has a difficult grappling game to slow down, although Moreno remains very difficult to finish.

**Prediction/Bet:** Taira by Decision

## Henry Cejudo +215 vs. Payton Talbott -278

Veteran meets prospect here in this Bantamweight clash. Henry Cejudo was once an Olympic-level wrestling champion, and with his unique karate-style striking, he has lost three straight fights since returning from retirement. Payton Talbott is a dangerous, athletic striker who showed improvements in his takedown defense in his last outing against Felipe Lima.

At these odds, I'll go with Cejudo as he has the wrestling to give the still rather inexperienced Talbott trouble, and his style on the feet is tricky to deal with despite his age and recent struggles.

**Prediction:** Cejudo by Decision

## Jan Blachowicz -137 vs. Bogdan Guskov +113

Dangerous Light Heavyweight knockout punchers collide to open the main card here. Jan Blachowicz is a former champion with strong kickboxing skills who is now over forty years old, having had multiple shoulder surgeries. Bogdan Guskov is a big puncher who has finished his last four fights, including a first-round knockout of Nikita Krylov, his last time out.

I'll take Guskov here as he is the younger fighter who has been much more active in recent years and hasn't dealt with the injury history that Blachowicz is trying to come back from.

**Prediction:** Guskov by Decision

## Grant Dawson -217 vs. Manuel Torres +175

Clash of styles here in the Lightweight featured prelim. Grant Dawson is a strong grappler with very good top control on the ground, which has helped him win six of his last seven fights. Manuel Torres is a wild and dangerous striker who has had all five of his UFC fights end in the first round, with him winning four of those.

I'm picking Dawson as I have a hard time seeing Torres be able to return to his feet if he is taken down, and his reckless style leads me to believe Dawson will get a hold of him.

**Prediction:** Dawson by 2nd Round Submission

## Terrance McKinney +136 vs. Chris Duncan -167

Finishers square off here in this fun Lightweight showdown. Terrance McKinney is a fast finisher with dangerous power in his hands and a strong wrestling game, though his cardio has failed him whenever he reaches the second round. Chris Duncan is a well-rounded and dangerous fighter with good power in his hands and solid wrestling.

I'll take Duncan here as I feel he can avoid the early danger and drag this fight into the later rounds, where he will take over and find a finish.

**Prediction:** Duncan by 2nd Round TKO

## Maycee Barber -182 vs. Karine Silva +147

Ranked Flyweights are matched up here, looking to push into the title picture. Maycee Barber is a highly aggressive brawler who returns after a long layoff due to some health issues. Karine Silva is an explosive and dangerous finisher with good submission skills, although questionable cardio.

I lean towards Barber here as she is going to be the higher output and more aggressive fighter, especially in the later rounds.

**Prediction:** Barber by Decision

## Fares Ziam -133 vs. Nazim Sadykhov +109

Streaking Lightweights collide in this fantastic prelim matchup. Fares Ziam is a tall, long striker who has grown a lot over his time in the UFC and has now won his last five fights. Nazim Sadykhov is a durable and dangerous fighter who has finished all four of his UFC wins inside the distance, and he has shown a great chin.

I like Sadykhov here as he is the more damaging striker who is more likely to mix in grappling and has the finishing upside.

**Prediction:** Sadykhov by 2nd Round TKO

## Marvin Vettori -116 vs. Brunno Ferreira -105

Interesting matchup here at Middleweight. Marvin Vettori is a durable veteran with solid wrestling and decent boxing, although he has taken a lot of damage and slowed down in recent years. Brunno Ferreira is a wild and dangerous finisher with serious KO power and a sneaky submission game, although he has questionable durability.

I lean towards Vettori here as he has a big experience advantage, and this is a massive step down in competition.

**Prediction:** Vettori by Decision

## Edson Barboza +240 vs. Jalin Turner -313

Lightweight strikers square off in this must-see matchup. Edson Barboza is a veteran kickboxer with strong low kicks, although he comes in having lost his last two, having a low output in both. Jalin Turner comes out of a brief retirement here as a huge fighter for the division with serious knockout power, although he has lost four of his last five.

I'll go with Turner here as, despite the concerning retirement, he has massive physical advantages in this matchup that can't be ignored.

**Prediction:** Turner by 1st Round KO

## Ibo Aslan +160 vs. Iwo Baraniewski -196

Light Heavyweights looking to establish their place in the division collide here. Ibo Aslan is a dangerous striker who looks to return to the winning column after losing his last two, showing holes in his ground game and output. Iwo Baraniewski is a fast finisher who comes in off this year's Dana White's Contender Series, where he scored a twenty-second knockout.

I'm going with the UFC experience of Aslan here, as although he has had a couple of disappointing outings, we are now getting him as an underdog against a very unproven debutant when he has consistently been favoured throughout his UFC career. With that, Ibo Aslan is this week's Underdog Best Bet of the Week.

**Prediction:** Aslan by 3rd Round TKO **Bet:** Aslan MoneyLine

## Mansur Abdul-Malik -1250 vs. Antonio Trocoli +720

Up-and-coming middleweights face off here early on the card. Mansur Abdul-Malik is a very athletic finisher with good power in his hands and great ground and pound when on top of his opponents, although he still lacks much high-level experience. Antonio Trocoli looks to get his first UFC win here after being finished in his previous two, having failed to mount any significant offence.

Abdul-Malik should handle business here, as he is the much more dangerous and explosive fighter.

**Prediction:** Abdul-Malik by 2nd Round TKO

## Muhammad Naimov +195 vs. Mairon Santos -244

Featherweights open the card here with this fun matchup. Muhammad Naimov is a well-rounded fighter with good power in his hands and solid grappling skills. Mairon Santos is a skilled striker with good takedown defense.

I like Santos here as I believe he is the cleaner striker and his takedown defence is strong enough to keep this one on the feet.

**Prediction:** Santos by Decision

UFC 323 Odds Breakdown

In a surprising booking, Dana White has announced that the Featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski will defend his title in a rematch with his last opponent, Diego Lopes. This fight is scheduled for January 31st at the Qudos Bank Arena in Sydney, Australia.

## Announcement: Alexander Volkanovski vs. Diego Lopes 2, Featherweight Title Fight

This will be the first defence in Volkanovski's second title reign after he claimed the vacant belt against Lopes earlier this year. Lopes earns another shot at the title here after a spinning elbow knockout of Jean Silva at Noche UFC.

## Full Card

Alexander Volkanovski vs. Diego Lopes 2, Featherweight Title Bout

What do you think of this matchmaking? Let us know in the comments.

Alexander Volkanovski vs. Diego Lopes 2 Set for UFC 325

Dana White has announced that headlining the first numbered card in the Paramount era will be an Interim Lightweight title fight between Justin Gaethje and Paddy Pimblett. Also on the card will be a Bantamweight title fight between champion Kayla Harrison and former champion Amanda Nunes. These matchups are scheduled for January 24th at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.

## Announcement: Justin Gaethje vs. Paddy Pimblett, Interim Lightweight Title Fight

## Announcement: Kayla Harrison vs. Amanda Nunes, Bantamweight Title Fight

Justin Gaethje returns for the first time since his decision win over Rafael Fiziev. Paddy Pimblett comes into this off a TKO win over Michael Chandler earlier this year. This will be Harrison's first title defence after claiming the belt with a submission win over Julianna Pena. Nunes returns from a brief retirement after her win over Irene Aldana.

## Full Card

Justin Gaethje vs. Paddy Pimblett, Interim Lightweight Title Bout

Kayla Harrison vs. Amanda Nunes, Bantamweight Title Bout

Sean O'Malley vs. Yadong Song, Bantamweight Bout

Waldo Cortes-Acosta vs. Derrick Lewis, Heavyweight Bout

Arnold Allen vs. Jean Silva, Featherweight Bout

Umar Nurmagomedov vs. Deiveson Figueiredo, Bantamweight Bout

Alexa Grasso vs. Rose Namajunas, Flyweight Bout

Ateba Gautier vs. Andrey Pulyaev, Middleweight Bout

Who are you taking in these huge matchups? Let us know in the comments.

Justin Gaethje vs. Paddy Pimblett for Interim Title Headlines UFC 324

The UFC is live from the Ali Bin Hamad al-Attiyah Arena in Doha, Qatar, for a fight night headlined by top-ranked Lightweight Arman Tsarukyan and Dan Hooker, squaring off with a title shot in mind. Follow along with the results from the entire card as it goes down right here.

## Prelims

## Heavyweight Bout: Marek Bujlo vs. Denzel Freeman

**Result:** Denzel Freeman def. Marek Bujlo via Decision (Unanimous) (30-27, 29-28, 29-28) Round 3, 5:00

## Lightweight Bout: Nurullo Aliev vs. Shaqueme Rock

**Result:** Nurullo Aliev def. Shaqueme Rock via Decision (Unanimous) (30-27, 30-27, 30-27) Round 3, 5:00

## Middleweight Bout: Ryan Loder vs. Ismail Naurdiev

**Result:** Ismail Naurdiev def. Ryan Loder via KO (Punch) Round 1, 1:26

## Bantamweight Bout: Bekzat Almakhan vs. Aleksandre Topuria

**Result:** Aleksandre Topuria def. Bekzat Almakhan via Decision (Unanimous) (30-27, 30-27, 29-28) Round 3, 5:00

## Light Heavyweight Bout: AbdulRakhman Yakhyaev vs. Raffael Cerqueira

**Result:** AbdulRakhman Yakhyaev def. Raffael Cerqueira via Submission (Rear-Naked Choke) Round 1, 0:33

## Flyweight Bout: Alex Perez vs. Asu Almabayev

**Result:** Asu Almabayev def. Alex Perez via Submission (Guillotine Choke) Round 3, 0:22

## Welterweight Bout: Saygid Izagakhmaev vs. Nicolas Dalby

**Result:** Nicolas Dalby def. Saygid Izagakhaev via Decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28) Round 3, 5:00

## Featherweight Bout: Luke Riley vs. Bogdan Grad

**Result:** Luke Riley def. Bogdan Grad via KO (Punches) Round 2, 0:30

## Main Card

## Flyweight Bout: Kyoji Horiguchi vs. Tagir Ulankbekov

**Result:** Kyoji Horiguchi def. Tagir Ulankbekov via Submission (Rear-Naked Choke) Round 3, 2:18

## Heavyweight Bout: Waldo Cortes-Acosta vs. Shamil Gaziev

**Result:** Waldo Cortes-Acosta def. Shamil Gaziev via KO (Punches) Round 1, 1:22

## Welterweight Bout: Jack Hermansson vs. Myktybek Orolbai

**Result:** Myktybek Orolbai def. Jack Hermansson via KO (Punch) Round 1, 2:46

## Light Heavyweight Bout: Volkan Oezdemir vs. Alonzo Menifield

**Result:** Volkan Oezdemir def. Alonzo Menifield via KO (Punches) Round 1, 1:27

## Welterweight Bout: Belal Muhammad vs. Ian Garry

**Result:** Ian Garry def. Belal Muhammad via Decision (Unanimous) (30-27, 30-27, 29-28) Round 3, 5:00

## Lightweight Bout: Arman Tsarukyan vs. Dan Hooker

**Result:** Arman Tsarukyan def. Dan Hooker via Submission (Arm Triangle Choke) Round 2, 3:44

UFC Fight Night: Tsarukyan vs. Hooker Results

The UFC is in Doha, Qatar, tomorrow, with Lightweights Arman Tsarukyan and Dan Hooker headlining from the Ali Bin Hamad al-Attiyah Arena. The official weigh-ins took place today, here are the results.

## Main Card 1 PM EST

**Lightweight:** Arman Tsarukyan (156) vs. Dan Hooker (155.5)

**Welterweight:** Belal Muhammad (171) vs. Ian Garry (170)

**Light Heavyweight:** Volkan Oezdemir (206) vs. Alonzo Menifield (206)

**Welterweight:** Jack Hermansson (170.5) vs. Myktybek Orolbai (170)

**Heavyweight:** Waldo Cortes-Acosta (265) vs. Shamil Gaziev (262)

**Flyweight:** Kyoji Horiguchi (125.5) vs. Tagir Ulankbekov (125.5)

## Prelims 10 AM EST

**Featherweight:** Luke Riley (145.5) vs. Bogdan Grad (145.5)

**Welterweight:** Saygid Izagakhmaev (170) vs. Nicolas Dalby (170.5)

**Flyweight:** Alex Perez (126) vs. Asu Almabayev (125.5)

**Light Heavyweight:** AbdulRakhman Yakhyaev (205) vs. Raffael Cerqueira (204)

**Bantamweight:** Bekzat Almakhan (136) vs. Aleksandre Topuria (135.5)

**Middleweight:** Ryan Loder (185) vs. Ismail Naurdiev (185)

**Lightweight:** Nurullo Aliev (155) vs. Shaqueme Rock (156)

**Heavyweight:** Marek Bujlo (265) vs. Denzel Freeman (260)

UFC Fight Night: Tsarukyan vs. Hooker Weigh-In Results

The UFC brings a stacked card of action to Doha, Qatar, this weekend at the Ali Bin Hamad al-Attiyah Arena, with Lightweights Arman Tsarukyan and Dan Hooker facing off in the main event. I went over the card to give my predictions and bets, including the Underdog Best Bet of the Week, so let's get into it.

**Odds provided by Duelbits accurate as of 11/20/2025**

## Arman Tsarukyan -588 vs. Dan Hooker +420

Top-ranked Lightweights square off in this high-stakes main event. Arman Tsarukyan is back here after over a year and a half away from the octagon, a highly skilled wrestler with tremendous ground-and-pound skills, which he has used to win four straight fights, including against the former champion Charles Oliveira. Dan Hooker is also returning after over a year away as a tough striker on a three-fight winning streak, very tall and long for the division, which he uses well with things like knees up the middle, though his grappling is questionable.

I've got Tsarukyan to get a finish in this one as he has a massive advantage on the ground, and he will be able to do enough damage to get a stoppage while on top.

**Prediction:** Tsarukyan by 2nd Round TKO

## Belal Muhammad +200 vs. Ian Garry -250

A former champion returns against a fast-rising contender in this Welterweight co-main event. Belal Muhammad is a former champion who uses his high-pressure style to wear down opponents and grind them out with his wrestling. Ian Garry is a tall, long fighter who mixes his game well, showing high-level grappling skills and dangerous striking with slick movement to get in and out of range.

I like Garry in this one, as he is a nightmare matchup for Muhammad, with his ability to keep range and strong grappling, not to mention he is the much younger fighter, and Muhammad took a lot of damage against Jack Della Maddalena.

**Prediction:** Garry by Decision

## Volkan Oezdemir -233 vs. Alonzo Menifield +185

Hard-hitting Light Heavyweights collide in this fun matchup. Volkan Oezdemir is a powerful boxer who has competed with many of the toughest in the division, returning here for the first time in a year. Alonzo Menifield is an explosive fighter who swings big strikes and mixes in some wrestling, although he has not always shown the highest fight IQ.

I'll pick Oezdemir here, as he is the cleaner striker with good enough defensive grappling to keep this one standing and land his shots.

**Prediction:** Oezdemir by 2nd Round TKO

## Jack Hermansson +195 vs. Myktybek Orolbai -250

Two Welterweights coming in from other weight classes meet up here. Jack Hermansson comes down in weight here as a well-rounded fighter with good movement on the outside. Myktybek Orolbai comes up in weight as a strong grappler with nasty submission skills and good durability.

I'll go with Orolbai as the younger fighter moving up here against a thirty-seven-year-old in Hermansson, coming down after a brutal knockout loss, which isn't a good sign to me.

**Prediction:** Orolbai by Decision

## Waldo Cortes-Acosta -139 vs. Shamil Gaziev +113

Short notice replacement steps in here to save a fight at Heavyweight. Waldo Cortes-Acosta is a hard-hitting boxer who makes a quick turnaround here after finishing Ante Delija earlier this month. Shamil Gaziev is a powerful guy with dangerous striking early, although his cardio has been an issue in the past.

Even with the late notice, I lean towards Cortes-Acosta, as he will likely still be in decent shape and is the more experienced and dangerous fighter.

**Prediction:** Cortes-Acosta by Decision

## Kyoji Horiguchi +170 vs. Tagir Ulanbekov -213

After a wait, these Flyweight grapplers finally meet in the octagon. Kyoji Horiguchi returns to the UFC here after a long run in RIZIN and Bellator, where he used his grappling skills to earn world titles on multiple occasions. Tagir Ulanbekov is a tall, long grappler who has won four straight matches by using his length to control striking exchanges and dominate other strong grapplers on the ground.

I like Ulanbekov in this one as I see Horiguchi having a tough time grappling him with his length.

**Prediction:** Ulanbekov by Decision

## Luke Riley -256 vs. Bogdan Grad +205

Intriguing prospect makes his UFC debut here at Featherweight. Luke Riley is an undefeated striker who makes his UFC debut here with some excitement behind him after scoring three knockouts in his last four Cage Warriors fights. Bogdan Grad is a tough striker who keeps good pressure on his opponents and can mix in some grappling.

I'm going with the UFC experience of Grad in this one, as I have questions about Riley's ground game at this level, and Grad can mix things up nicely. With that, Bogdan Grad is this week's Underdog Best Bet of the Week.

**Prediction:** Grad by Decision **Bet:** Grad MoneyLine

## Saygid Izagakhmaev -323 vs. Nicolas Dalby +250

Debutant takes on a tough veteran here at Welterweight. Saygid Izagakhmaev is a Dagestani wrestler who also holds serious power in his hands, although he hasn't been very active in recent years and had a concerning performance against Carleston Harris several years ago. Nicolas Dalby is a tough and high-pressure veteran with solid grappling and good volume striking, although his age is a concern, with him being over forty years old.

I'm going with Izagakhmaev in this, as despite the layoff, he has length and wrestling that could give Dalby trouble, and he is the much younger fighter.

**Prediction:** Izagakhmaev by Decision

## Alex Perez +160 vs. Asu Almabayev -196

Flyweight grapplers clash in this preliminary matchup. Alex Perez is a well-rounded veteran coming back from over a year away following a knee injury he suffered against Tatsuro Taira. Asu Almabayev is a grappler coming off an impressive victory over Jose Ochoa, which was his fifth win in six UFC fights. 

I'm going with Perez at these odds as he matches up well with his solid defensive grappling and what I believe is a slight striking advantage.

**Prediction:** Perez by Decision

## AbdulRakhman Yakhyaev -1667 vs. Raffael Cerqueira +800

Finishers square off in this Light Heavyweight showdown. AbdulRakhman Yakhyaev is a dominant finisher who comes in off this year's season of Dana White's Contender Series. Raffael Cerqueira is a kickboxer who has struggled badly in the UFC despite showing dangerous power before signing.

Yakhyaev is likely going to finish this one early, as he has with many of his past opponents, as Cerqueira does not appear UFC-level, and Yakhyaev could be a real threat in the division.

**Prediction:** Yakhyaev by 1st Round KO

## Bekzat Almakhan +112 vs. Aleksandre Topuria -137

Hard-hitting Bantamweights collide in this fun prelim matchup. Bekzat Almakhan is a very dangerous striker with serious knockout power, which he demonstrated his last time out by becoming the first man to knock out Brad Katona. Aleksandre Topuria is a very skilled and well-rounded fighter with crisp boxing and a strong wrestling game, which he mixes well. 

I like Topuria in this one, as he is the more well-rounded fighter and much more defensively responsible.

**Prediction:** Topuria by Decision

## Ryan Loder +116 vs. Ismail Naurdiev -143

Middleweights looking to get back in the win column face off here. Ryan Loder is a wrestler who won The Ultimate Fighter not long ago, though his UFC debut was disappointing, as he lost by first-round knockout to Azamat Bekoev. Ismail Naurdiev is a well-rounded fighter who uses a kick-heavy attack on the feet and also mixes in some wrestling, although he lacks much finishing ability, with all six of his UFC fights having gone the distance.

I lean towards Naurdiev here, as I feel he is the cleaner, more active striker with a good enough ground game to avoid being controlled by Loder.

**Prediction:** Naurdiev by Decision

## Nurullo Aliev -294 vs. Shaqueme Rock +230

Lightweights looking to establish themselves in the division are matched up in this one. Nurullo Aliev is an undefeated prospect who is still just 24 and has shown a strong wrestling game, which he used to smother Joe Solecki in his last outing. Shaqueme Rock makes his UFC debut here as a solid grappler with a good ability to submit opponents off the back, although he struggles to do damage or finish strong defensive grapplers like he did in his last fight, where he won a split decision against a short-notice opponent.

Aliev should take this one, as he is the much better grappler and has the UFC experience advantage.

**Prediction:** Aliev by Decision

## Marek Bujlo +170 vs. Denzel Freeman -213

Two Heavyweights making their UFC debut square off here. Marek Bujlo is an undefeated finisher with six quick wins on his record, having never gone even half a round, yet he has also not faced any tough competition. Denzel Freeman is a strong wrestler with solid professional experience, having fought in the PFL, showing a well-rounded game.

I'll pick Freeman here as he is the much more battle-tested fighter who isn't at any clear disadvantage, no matter where the fight goes.

**Prediction:** Freeman by 3rd Round TKO

Malcolm Wellmaker