Douglas Vegas Bets

The UFC is back tomorrow with another fight night card of action headlined by Flyweight contenders Manel Kape and Asu Almabayev squaring off. The official weigh-ins took place today, here are the results.

## Main Card 7 PM EST

**Flyweight:** Manel Kape (126) vs. Asu Almabayev (126)

**Middleweight:** Cody Brundage (186) vs. Julian Marquez (186)

**Lightweight:** Nasrat Haqparast (156) vs. Esteban Ribovics (156)

**Featherweight:** Hyder Amil (146) vs. William Gomis (146)

**Welterweight:** Danny Barlow (170.5) vs. Sam Patterson (170.5)

## Prelims 4 PM EST

**Heavyweight:** Austen Lane (249.5) vs. Mario Pinto (246.5)

**Featherweight:** Ricardo Ramos (146) vs. Chepe Mariscal (146)

**Catchweight:** Douglas Silva de Andrade (140) vs. John Castaneda (140)

**Featherweight:** Danny Silva (145.5) vs. Lucas Almeida (148)

**Flyweight:** Andrea Lee (126) vs. JJ Aldrich (126)

**Flyweight:** Charles Johnson (125) vs. Ramazan Temirov (125.5)

*The Flyweight matchup between Luana Carolina and Montana De La Rosa has been canceled due to Carolina having issues during her weight cut

UFC Fight Night: Kape vs. Almabayev Weigh-In Results

The UFC is back this weekend with another action-packed card from the Apex headlined by Flyweight contender Manel Kape taking on the fast-rising Asu Almabayev. I went over that fight and every other matchup on the card to give my picks and best bets.

**Odds provided by Duelbits accurate as of 2/27/2025**

## Manel Kape -217 vs. Asu Almabayev +175

It's not the original matchup, but we still have a pivotal Flyweight matchup in our main event. Manel Kape is an electric striker with blazing speed and serious power, as he showed in his dominant win over Bruno Silva last year. Asu Almabayev is a grappler who has won his first four UFC fights, including a solid performance against Matheus Nicolau, where he showed his striking is also dangerous.

I'll go with Kape here, as he has the striking advantage, and his takedown defense is solid. It could be close early, but over five rounds, I like Kape to get into a rhythm and separate himself.

Prediction: Kape by Decision

## Cody Brundage +103 vs. Julian Marquez -125

Middleweight finishers square off in this fun co-main event. Cody Brundage is a solid wrestler with some power in his hands, although he isn't great at anything and has struggled when stepping up in competition. Julian Marquez is a brawler with solid output and toughness, although his defensive fundamentals are lacking, which has caused him to suffer three knockout losses in a row.

I lean towards Marquez here, with him being the more powerful and higher-output striker and Brundage not handling early adversity well. His wrestling is also not bad, which makes it difficult for me to see Brundage having enough success there.

Prediction: Marquez by 1st Round TKO

## Nasrat Haqparast +215 vs. Esteban Ribovics -278

Violence is expected in this matchup of Lightweight strikers. Nasrat Haqparast is a good boxer who is very durable, but he lacks much else in his game, with little kicking or grappling to speak of. Esteban Ribovics is a high-volume kickboxer with tremendous power and a sneaky submission game; he broke out last year with a huge knockout of Terrance McKinney and a war with Daniel Zellhuber.

I'm taking Ribovics to get a finish in this one, as he will be the much more active fighter with more diverse and dangerous striking, along with not having to worry about any grappling threat on the other side.

Prediction: Ribovics by 3rd Round KO

## William Gomis -213 vs. Hyder Amil +170

Featherweights who both have yet to taste defeat in the UFC square off here. William Gomis is a tall kickboxer who is good at maintaining range, which helped him avoid the power of Joanderson Brito and win a decision in his last fight. Hyder Amil is a powerful brawler coming off a wild knockout win over Jeong Yeong Lee, where they traded hard shots until Lee couldn't take the power of Amil anymore.

I see Gomis avoiding a brawl here and picking Amil apart at a distance, as we have seen him execute a similar game plan against much more proven opponents.

Prediction: Gomis by Decision

## Danny Barlow -333 vs. Sam Patterson +255

Top Welterweight prospects go head to head in this fantastic matchup. Danny Barlow is an undefeated striker known for the power in his hands, although his technique is not the cleanest, and he lacks experience. Sam Patterson is a skilled grappler who has finished both his fights since moving up in weight with first-round submissions, although he has suffered several early knockout losses, which is cause for concern.

I'll pick Patterson to get the upset here, as he will have a big grappling advantage here, with Barlow having been put in very bad spots by much lower-level guys. With that, Sam Patterson is this week's best bet of the week.

Prediction: Patterson by 1st Round Submission (Best Bet)

## Austen Lane +400 vs. Mario Pinto -556

Interesting matchup here at Heavyweight sees an unbeaten prospect make their debut. Austen Lane is a decent athlete who has shown a well-rounded offensive game however, his defense is a major concern, with him consistently reacting poorly to big shots. Mario Pinto makes his debut here off a win on Dana White's Contender Series, where he showed his power, but he also has a solid ground game and the ability to drag fights into deep waters.

Pinto should take this one, as he has better striking and should be able to defend the wrestling of Lane enough to land a knockout.

Prediction: Pinto by 2nd Round TKO

## Ricardo Ramos +340 vs. Chepe Mariscal -476

It's a fun matchup here at Featherweight. Ricardo Ramos is an interesting fighter with solid wrestling and a signature spinning elbow that has finished several opponents, although his durability has failed him on several occasions. Chepe Mariscal enters this one having won his first four UFC fights with a well-rounded game that includes good fundamental striking and solid wrestling, although he has been finished several times outside of the UFC, raising some concern.

I'll pick Mariscal here, but these odds feel far too wide as he has had some close fights, and Ramos has wins over some quality competition.

Prediction: Mariscal by Decision

## Douglas Silva de Andrade +245 vs. John Castaneda -313

Bantamweight veterans collide in this one. Douglas Silva de Andrade is a tough veteran with a well-rounded game, including strong boxing and good submission skills. John Castaneda is a high pace grappler who puts the pressure on his opponents from the start with volume striking before mixing in his smothering ground game like he did with Miles Johns.

I like Castaneda to get a late finish here as he is going to be putting on the pressure all fight on at his age I'm not sure Silva de Andrade can keep up.

Prediction: Castaneda by 3rd Round Submission

## Lucas Almeida +175 vs. Danny Silva -217

Featherweight strikers square off here in this fun matchup. Lucas Almeida is a skilled striker coming off an impressive win over Timmy Cuamba, although he has shown weakness on the ground against Pat Sabatini, and Andre Fili dominated him. Danny Silva is a high-volume puncher who had an impressive win on Dana White's Contender Series and is coming off a debut win over Josh Culibao.

I've got Silva in this one as he is going to be the much higher-output fighter with the grappling upside, although the power advantage will likely be with Almeida.

Prediction: Silva by 2nd Round TKO

## Andrea Lee +165 vs. JJ Aldrich -208

Experienced Flyweights look to get things back on track here. Andrea Lee is a veteran who has competed with many of the division's best and looks to break her five-fight losing streak here. JJ Aldrich has shown flashes of potential, like the first round against Erin Blanchfield and the last round against Veronica Hardy, although she struggles to put together complete performances over solid competition.

I'll go with Aldrich here, as she is the younger fighter who has still proven capable of winning fights at this level.

Prediction: Aldrich by Decision

## Charles Johnson -125 vs. Ramazan Temirov +102

Must see action here early on the card at Flyweight. Charles Johnson has become a fan favorite, with him constantly fighting and showing great cardio and pace, having taken over late against several opponents. Ramazan Temirov is a very hard hitter for this division, who comes into this off of five straight first-round knockout wins, including his UFC debut over CJ Vergara.

I'm taking Temirov here as I believe his power will cause Johnson trouble although this could end up being a close fight if Johnson can drag it into the later stages.

Prediction: Temirov by Decision

## Montana De La Rosa +115 vs. Luana Carolina -141

Flyweights open the card, each looking to push their way up in the division. Montana De La Rosa is a solid grappler who has competed with a lot of tough competition, like Maycee Barber and Tatiana Suarez. Luana Carolina is a good striker who comes into this on a three-fight win streak, where she has done well to keep her opponents at range.

I lean towards De La Rosa here, with her being the better grappler who has competed with higher-level competition.

Prediction: De La Rosa by Decision

UFC Fight Night: Kape vs. Almabayev Odds Breakdown

Liam Lindsay

UFC Vegas 103 is set for Saturday at the UFC Apex, and fighters took to media day to discuss their matchups, preparations, and what’s at stake in their bouts.

## Manel Kape Ready to Make a Statement

Manel Kape exuded confidence in his interview and is eyeing a title shot following a victory over Asu Almabayev. 

> "This is still a number one contender fight. Brandon pulled out—if I had beaten him, I'd be fighting for a title." - Manel Kape

Kape is ranked #6 but has only one recent loss, a split decision against Muhammad Mokaev, which was a strange fight overall. Kape will likely move into the top five with a victory over Almabayev, so a title shot wouldn’t be out of the question.

## Asu Almabayev Talks Opponent Switch

With a perfect 4-0 UFC record, Almabayev jumped at the opportunity to face Kape in the main event. He was originally scheduled to face Steve Erceg; however, Erceg is now fighting Brandon Moreno at UFC Mexico City, so Almabayev stepped in for Brandon Royval. “I wrote to my managers right away and said I’m ready to fight." The Kazakh fighter sees this as his chance to prove he belongs in the title conversation, and with the volatile flyweight division, anything could happen.

## Cody Brundage Returns with Renewed Focus

Cody Brundage returns in the co-main event following his no-contest against Abdul Razak Alhassan. He spoke to the media about taking time off to reset. - 

> “I fought six times in 14 months… I needed to step back and decide if this is what I wanted to keep doing.” - Cody Brundage

Brundage admits that he struggled with retirement questions but now feels refreshed and is looking to make a statement against Julian Marquez.

## Julian Marquez Knows He Needs a Win

After three straight losses, Marquez has had time to reassess. Despite being a must-see fighter, he recognizes that he needs to bounce back this weekend. “Nothing’s more embarrassing than getting knocked out in front of millions, but each fight isn’t who I am.” Marquez also mentioned that he and Cody Brundage have trained together in the past but doesn’t hold any ill will toward Brundage for taking the matchup.

## Nasrat Haqparast Eyes the Top 15

Haqparast, now in his 14th UFC fight, believes a win over Ribovics puts him right on the doorstep of the rankings. He's riding a four-fight winning streak, including victories over Jared Gordon and Jamie Mullarkey. “I’ve been here eight years. It’s about consistency and longevity. I think it’s a big accomplishment to survive in the UFC when you're so young.” Haqparast believes he’s entering his prime despite his long UFC career and feels that a win over Ribovics will earn him a ranking in the division.

Which fight are you most excited about on Saturday night? As a member of the Verdict community, let us know with a comment below.

UFC Fight Night: Kape vs. Almabayev Recap

The main event has been set for UFC Kansas City as Light Heavyweights Jamahal Hill and Khalil Rountree Jr. are set to go head-to-head in a huge matchup for the division. This fight is scheduled for April 26th from the T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, Missouri. 

## Announcement: Jamahal Hill vs. Khalil Rountree Jr. Light Heavyweight

Hill will look to bounce back here after losing his last fight to Jiri Prochazka at UFC 311 earlier this year. Rountree Jr. comes into this off a loss to Alex Pereira at UFC 307 where many were impressed with his effort.

## UFC Kansas City Full Card

Jamahal Hill vs. Khaili Rountree Jr., Light Heavyweight

Michel Pereira vs. Abus Magomedov, Middleweight

Giga Chikadze vs. David Onama, Featherweight

Ikram Aliskerov vs. Andre Muniz, Middleweight

Anthony Smith vs. Mingyang Zhang, Light Heavyweight

Ahmad Hassanzada vs. Mitch Ramirez, Lightweight

Jaqueline Amorim vs. Polyana Viana, Strawweight

Cameron Saaiman vs. Malcolm Wellmaker, Bantamweight

Chelsea Chandler vs. Joselyne Edwards, Bantamweight

Matt Schnell vs. Jimmy Flick, Flyweight

Who are you picking in this fantastic Light Heavyweight clash? Let us know in the comments.

Jamahal Hill Takes on Khalil Rountree Jr. at UFC Kansas City

Dana White confirmed today that Jean Silva will take on Bryce Mitchell in a Featherweight matchup after Silva called out Mitchell last weekend. This fight is scheduled for UFC 314 at the Kaseya Center in Miami, Florida.

## Announcement: Bryce Mitchell vs. Jean Silva Featherweight

Mitchell returns here following his third-round knockout win over Kron Gracie last year at UFC 310. Silva makes a quick turnaround here after his first-round finish against Melsik Baghdasaryan at UFC Seattle.

## UFC 314 Full Card

Alexander Volkanovski vs. Diego Lopes, Featherweight Title Fight

Michael Chandler vs. Paddy Pimblett, 5-Round Lightweight Fight

Bryce Mitchell vs. Jean Silva, Featherweight

Nikita Krylov vs. Dominick Reyes, Light Heavyweight

Yair Rodriguez vs. Patricio Pitbull, Featherweight

Geoff Neal vs. Carlos Prates, Welterweight

Virna Jandiroba vs. Yan Xiaonan, Strawweight

Dan Ige vs. Sean Woodson, Featherweight

Chase Hooper vs. Jim Miller, Lightweight

Alberto Montes vs. Roberto Romero, Lightweight

Sumudaerji vs. Mitch Raposo, Flyweight

Darren Elkins vs. Julian Erosa, Featherweight

Sedriques Dumas vs. Michal Oleksiejczuk, Middleweight

What are your thoughts on this fun Featherweight matchup? Let us know in the comments.

Jean Silva to Face Bryce Mitchell at UFC 314

Just days after Dan Hooker pulled out of his co-main event matchup against Justin Gaethje, a replacement has been found in the form of former Gaethje opponent and ranked Lightweight contender Rafael Fiziev. This matchup is scheduled for three rounds at UFC 313 from the T-Mobile Arena on March  8th.

## Announcement: Justin Gaethje vs. Rafael Fiziev Lightweight

This will be the first time we see Gaethje since he faced off with Max Holloway at UFC 300, where he suffered a knockout loss in the final seconds. For Fiziev, he returns here after a long layoff caused by a knee injury he suffered in his last fight against Mateusz Gamrot. 

## UFC 313 Full Card

Alex Pereira vs. Magomed Ankalaev, Light Heavyweight Title Fight

Justin Gaethje vs. Rafael Fiziev, Lightweight

Amanda Lemos vs. Iasmin Lucindo, Strawweight

King Green vs. Mauricio Ruffy, Lightweight

Jalin Turner vs. Ignacio Bahamondes, Lightweight

Brunno Ferreira vs. Armen Petrosyan, Middleweight

Ozzy Diaz vs. Djorden Santos, Middleweight

Alex Morono vs. Carlos Leal, Welterweight

Mairon Santos vs. Francis Marshall, Featherweight

Curtis Blaydes vs. Rizvan Kuniev, Heavyweight

Rei Tsuruya vs. Josh Van, Flyweight

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

Rafael Fiziev Steps in Against Justin Gaethje at UFC 313

It was a fantastic main event while it lasted between Yadong Song and Henry Cejudo at the Climate Pledge Arena in Seattle, Washington. Unfortunately, an eye poke caused Henry Cejudo to be unable to continue, and the fight went to the scorecards after just three of the scheduled five rounds.

## Result: Yadong Song def. Henry Cejudo via Technical Decision (29-28, 29-28, 30-27)

The early rounds of the fight saw the two stand and trade punches, with the counter punching of Song being the highlight and some solid leg kicks on both sides. The third round saw the back-and-forth action before Cejudo was on the wrong end of an eye poke that forced a long pause before a brief continuation during which Cejudo was clearly affected. The fight was stopped after the third round, and the fight was scored based on the first three rounds, which resulted in a unanimous decision win for Yadong Song.


>"The result is not what I want. We should run it back." - Yadong Song

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

Yadong Song Beats Henry Cejudo by Technical Decision at UFC Seattle

The UFC returns to action tomorrow from the Climate Pledge Arena in Seattle, Washington headlined by former Bantamweight champion Henry Cejudo taking on Yadong Song. The official weigh-ins took place today, here at the results.

## Main Card 9 PM EST

**Bantamweight:** Henry Cejudo (135) vs. Yadong Song (136)

**Middleweight:** Brendan Allen (186) vs. Anthony Hernandez (186)

**Catchweight:** Rob Font (138) vs. Jean Matsumoto (139)

**Featherweight:** Jean Silva (145.5) vs. Melsik Baghdasaryan (145)

**Light Heavyweight:** Alonzo Menifield (205) vs. Julius Walker (205)

## Prelims 6 PM EST

**Light Heavyweight:** Ion Cutelaba (205) vs. Ibo Aslan (205)

**Featherweight:** Andre Fili (145) vs. Melquiael Costa (145)

**Middleweight:** Nick Klein (186) vs. Mansur Abdul-Malik (186)

**Bantamweight:** Ricky Simon (135) vs. Javid Basharat (136)

**Catchweight:** Austin Vanderford (174) vs. Nikolay Veretennikov (175)

**Middleweight:** Nursulton Ruziboev (184) vs. Eric McConico (184)

**Light Heavyweight:** Modestas Bukauskas (203) vs. Raffael Cerqueira (204)

UFC Fight Night: Cejudo vs. Song Weigh-In Results

A report came out today from reporter Leonardo Guimaraes that top-ranked Bantamweight contenders Deiveson Figueiredo and Cory Sandhagen are set to face off in a main event matchup later this year. This matchup is scheduled for five rounds on May 3rd in Des Moines, Iowa.

## Announcement: Deiveson Figueiredo vs. Cory Sandhagen Bantamweight Main Event

The former Flyweight champion Deiveson Figueiredo will look to bounce back from his decision loss to Petr Yan late last year in Macau. Cory Sandhagen was last in action late summer in Abu Dhabi against Umar Nurmagomedov, where he lost a decision.

Who are you picking in this amazing Bantamweight main event? Let us know in the comments.

Deiveson Figueiredo vs. Cory Sandhagen Set For Main Event in Iowa

The UFC heads to the Emerald City this weekend as former Flyweight and Bantamweight champion Henry Cejudo headlines against Yadong Song in the main event of a stacked card from the Climate Pledge Arena in Seattle, Washington. I went over that fight and every other matchup on the card to give my picks and best bets so let's get into it.

**Odds provided by Duelbits accurate as of 2/20/2025**

## Henry Cejudo +220 vs. Yadong Song -278

A pivotal matchup in the Bantamweight division goes down here in our main event. Henry Cejudo is a former Olympic wrestler who developed a unique striking style out of a karate stance, which he used to earn championships in both the Flyweight and Bantamweight divisions, although he hasn't been consistently active since his retirement back in 2020. Yadong Song is a young boxer entering his prime, who has shown serious potential, with his last fight being a close decision loss to former champion Petr Yan, where he kept the boxing close and showed good defensive grappling skills.

I like this matchup for Song as I believe he has the grappling defense to keep this standing, where he will be landing more frequently with more power.

Prediction: Song by 3rd Round TKO

## Brendan Allen +250 vs. Anthony Hernandez -323

Two top-tier Middleweight grapplers go head to head for the second time in their careers in this fun matchup. Brendan Allen is a highly skilled fighter with great submission skills and solid striking, what concerns me is his cardio looked bad against Nassourdine Imavov, and he has durability questions. Anthony Hernandez is a constant pressure grappler with insane cardio that he uses to drown opponents as he does damage and makes opponents work the entire fight.

I'll pick Hernandez to get another win over Allen, as I believe after the first round, he will be the one controlling the grappling and doing the damage. 

Prediction: Hernandez by 3rd Round TKO

## Rob Font +129 vs. Jean Matsumoto -159

A young prospect steps in to save a fight between these two Bantamweights, although it will take place at a Catchweight. Rob Font has hung around the top of the division with his tremendous high-volume boxing, although his durability is questionable, with him having been rocked badly when fighting hard hitters. Jean Matsumoto is an undefeated prospect with a few UFC wins under his belt, having shown his submission skills against Dan Argueta and then had a stand-up war with Brad Katona, showing his chin and pace, although he took a lot of damage.

I took Font as the underdog here despite his age concerns, as he will have a big advantage in the striking, and I don't see Matsumoto consistently wrestling enough to win.

Prediction: Font by Decision

## Jean Silva -556 vs. Melsik Baghdasaryan +390

Featherweight strikers clash here in this must-see matchup. Jean Silva is a powerhouse striker who is coming off an impressive pair of wins over Charles Jourdain and Drew Dober, where he showed the dangerous power in his hands and much-improved cardio from earlier performances. Melsik Baghdasaryan is a very fast kickboxer with a good kicking game, although he hasn't shown much finishing or grappling ability in the UFC.

I'll pick Silva, but at this price, I can't even think about betting on him as this is going to be a striking match where Baghdasaryan has a real chance, but the power of Silva is going to cause more damage and lead to a decision win in my mind.

Prediction: Silva by Decision

## Alonzo Menifield -238 vs. Julius Walker +190

Powerful Light Heavyweights collide in this one to open the main card. Alonzo Menifield is a strong and aggressive fighter with a well-rounded offensive attack, although his defense is a concern, with Carlos Ulberg and Azamat Murzakanov taking advantage of his aggression quickly. Julius Walker makes his UFC debut here, he is very inexperienced but is a solid athlete who has finished all six of his pro wins, having shown a decent ground game.

I'm going with Menifield here as he is the much more dangerous and experienced fighter who should have the advantage everywhere this fight goes.

Prediction: Menifield by 1st Round KO

## Ion Cutelaba +147 vs. Ibo Aslan -182

Light Heavyweight finishers will square off in this very interesting matchup. Ion Cutelaba is a wildman with big swinging striking and a solid wrestling attack, but the defense has never been his strong suit. Ibo Aslan is a powerful knockout puncher who has yet to be tested against much real competition and has a questionable ground game.

I've got Cutelaba as the underdog here, as he has a few big advantages in this fight, mainly his experience and his grappling, which I believe will lead him to a victory. With that, Ion Cutelaba is my best bet of the week. 

Prediction: Cutelaba by 2nd Round TKO (Best Bet)

## Andre Fili -109 vs. Melquizael Costa -112

All action Featherweights square off here in the featured prelim. Andre Fili is a slick and battle-tested veteran with good boxing, but his consistency has been an issue. Melquizael Costa is a solid finisher both on the feet and on the mat, although his cardio is questionable, and he hasn't had much success against solid competition.

I lean toward Fili, as I think he is the better striker and wrestler with better cardio but his durability and lack of consistent ability to string wins together makes me hesitate.

Prediction: Fili by 3rd Round TKO

## Nick Klein +700 vs. Mansur Abdul-Malik -1250

The highly anticipated debut of an exciting Middleweight prospect goes down here. Nick Klein is a solid grappler with a good submission game that he has used to finish his last three opponents, although he has yet to face any tough competition. Mansur Abdul-Malik is a very highly touted prospect who has shown thunderous power that he showed in his first-round debut knockout against Dusko Todorovic along with a strong ground game that he showed in his win on Dana White's Contender Series.

I see this being another quick finish for Abdul-Malik as he is just on another level to his opponent, as is reflected in the odds.

Prediction: Abdul-Malik by 1st Round KO

## Ricky Simon +205 vs. Javid Basharat -256

Two high-level Bantamweight grapplers will test their skills against each other here. Ricky Simon is a gritty veteran wrestler who has competed with a lot of tough competition although he has struggled recently suffering three losses in a row. Javid Basharat is a skilled prospect with slick striking and solid grappling who looks to get back in the win column after a few rough results in his last few including a decision loss where he got off to a good start but failed to separate himself against Aiemann Zahabi.

I expect a very close fight here, but I lean slightly towards Basharat with him being the younger fighter who I see having the more effective striking at range.

Prediction: Basharat by Decision

## Austin Vanderford +105 vs. Nikolay Veretennikov -128

A late addition to the card here features a new face at Welterweight. Austin Vanderford is a decently well-rounded fighter who makes his debut here on short notice coming from a long career in Bellator where he had fights with guys like Fabian Edwards and Gegard Mousasi. Nikolay Veretennikov is a tough striker with solid power coming off a loss where he showed heart against highly touted prospect Danny Barlow.

I'll pick Vanderford here as I give him the grappling edge here and I like that he has faced very tough competition outside of the UFC.

Prediction: Vanderford by Decision

## Nursulton Ruziboev -286 vs. Eric McConico +220

Middleweight finishers square off here early on the card. Nursulton Ruziboev is a dangerous striker early in fights with solid wrestling although against Joaquin Buckley his cardio was a clear issue as he was getting beat up late. Eric McConico is a solid fighter with good experience on the regional scene, although he is now in his mid-thirties making his debut and we have seen him hurt and finished several times before.

Ruziboev likely gets another early finish here as McConico is making his debut later in his career and we have seen him hurt and finished by lower-level fighters.

Prediction: Ruziboev by 1st Round KO

## Modestas Bukauskas -278 vs. Raffael Cerqueira +220

Light Heavyweight strikers kick things off in this fun matchup. Modestas Bukauskas is a solid kickboxer coming off a wild fight with Marcin Prachnio where he had to fight through some adversity to get a late submission win. Raffael Cerqueira was a dangerous and fast finisher on the regional scene but he is coming in off a disastrous debut where Ibo Aslan was able to unload on him without consequence.

I'm taking Bukauskas here as there is just no way I can pick Cerqueira after what we saw from him in his first UFC fight and Bukauskas is not an easy fight by any stretch.

Prediction: Bukauskas by 2nd Round TKO

Nurideen Shabazz