Collin Quarles

UFC Fight Night 206 went down at the UFC Apex Center in Las Vegas, Nevada Saturday evening. The card was headlined by former UFC Bantamweight Champion Holly Holm and potential future Bantamweight title contender Ketlen Vieira. It was a controversial card for a variety of reasons with several contentious decisions on the main card. 

## Ketlen Vieira Secures Split Decision Victory

![Holly Holm Elbow.jpg](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/a89fa7e3-4774-44db-c1ca-eb3dded95e00/pub "Ketlen Vieira lands spinning elbow on Holly Holm. Credits to: Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC.")

Ketlen Vieira adds another household name to her resume in the form of Holly Holm. The fight was somewhat lackluster at times due to the clinch control against the fence and distance management of Holly Holm, however Vieira made sure to put stamps on the rounds during key moments of the fight with powerful right hands in the pocket. All of the trademark Holly Holm weapons were on full display Saturday night, however, it never really seemed to affect the Brazilian native. Holly landed several range finders throughout the bout with a variety of low kicks, body kicks, and intercepting sidekicks. She also mixed in a few flurries of punches at times, albeit, with little success in that department. Ketlen was numerically outstruck in the contest 188 to 122, however, it seemed that Ketlen was landing the more damaging shots in rounds two through four.
Despite the Official Scorecards favoring Vieira, The Verdict Community scored four out of the five rounds in favor of Holly. The commentary team also seemed to believe that Holm had done enough to get the judges nod.

## Michel Pereira & Santiago Ponzinibbio Brawl to the Bell

![Michel.jpg](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/c0381bca-6ce2-47c2-74ef-95810df24800/public "Michel Pereira Rocks Santiago Ponzinibbio. Credits to: Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC.")


It was always going to be this way. "The People's Main Event" delivered and then some when Michel Pereira and Santiago Ponzinibbio duked it out for three all too short rounds in the Welterweight Division. The fight was largely dictated by a pair of weapons in each man's holsters: the Pereira straight right and teep to the gut versus the Ponzinibbio left hook and low calf kick. There were large momentum swings throughout the bout, particularly in the 2nd and 3rd rounds. The Verdict Community for the most part agreed that Pereira won the 1st round by a significant margin, but Ponzinibbio eeked out the 2nd and 3rd rounds. At the end of the battle, Michel Pereira was the one rewarded with a five-fight winning streak by two of the three judges, one of those score-cards being a baffling 30-27.

## Chidi Njokuani Scores Vicious Knockout

![Chidi.jpg](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/60203289-6b6f-47a8-5417-ff4c505f0b00/pub "Njokuani Walks Off After Brutal KO. Credits to: Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC.")


It didn't take long for Chidi Njokuani to deliver a spectacular display of violence against Dusko Todorovic. After somewhat of a rocky start dictated by a smothering grappling assault at the hands of Todorovic, "Chidi Bang Bang" landed a thunderous right elbow at 4:48 of the first round. 

```twitter
https://twitter.com/danawhite/status/1528169815113756672
```

The sequence was initiated off of a clinch break and landed directly to the side of the head of the unlucky Dusko. This puts Njokuani at a four-fight win streak all via stoppage, three of which being UFC affiliated. The future appears bright for the young talent and he is a welcome addition to the UFC's Middleweight Division.

## Tabatha Ricci Takedowns Cinch the Victory

![Ricci.jpg](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/9342acaf-27b8-49fb-837d-1b5856861900/public "Tabatha Ricci Double Legs Polyana Viana. Credits to: Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC.")


"Baby Shark" dictated where the fight took place in this Women's Strawweight Bout. Polyana Viana was game on the feet and at times Viana was arguably even the better of the two women in the Octagon. However, Viana was ultimately unable to keep the fight on the feet where she could utilize her striking. Multiple times throughout the bout, Ricci was able to secure a double leg-inside trip hybrid style takedown. Ricci was largely unable to do much with these takedowns as the closed guard of Viana was quite formidable. Every time Ricci looked to pass the guard Viana either threatened with an armbar or used the space to create separation. This stalemate of sorts left long portions of the bout with Ricci standing over a grounded Polyana Viana.
At the end of the contest, Tabatha Ricci scored a judge's sweep of 29-28's. The Verdict Community however scored all three rounds in favor of Ricci.

## Jun Yong Park Wins Controversial Decision

![Eryk.jpg](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/58e6015c-7df4-492a-d8b3-80374229e200/public "Jun Yong Park celebrates victory. Credits to: Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC.")


It was a close one when Eryk Anders took on Jun Young Park. The two combatants showcased a clash of styles and strategies in this fight. The Southpaw, "Ya Boi", looked to play the volume game by throwing lots of feints, level changes, and straight lefts. "The Iron Turtle", however, had a completely different approach in looking to be as efficient and accurate as possible with his counter-punching. Not only was this bout a clash of strategies and interesting nicknames, but it was also a clash of knees to the groin as each fighter landed low blows throughout the fifteen-minute bout. In the end, two of the three judges scored the bout 29-28 in favor of Park. The Verdict Community however only gave Park the 3rd round and had Anders taking the Final Score 28.65 to 28.44.




UFC Fight Night: Holm vs. Vieira produces one of the most controversial events in the history of the UFC APEX

Douglas Vegas Bets

UFC Vegas 55 was a cruel reminder of one of the more annoying variables to navigate when betting on MMA, judging. We saw three controversial split decisions in Las Vegas this weekend featuring Holly Holm, Santiago Ponzinibbio, and Erky Anders, and I had almost impressively bet on the wrong side of each one. This was a tough week but an important one to learn from as each fight came with different lessons, so let's break them down. 

## Holm -250  Vieira +190

In the Bantamweight main event, I picked Holm to win a decision, and many believe that should have been the result; however, it was not. Whether or not you agree with the result, this was not a spot where I needed to make a bet as I acknowledged her age and layoff, which appeared to play significant factors, yet chose to ignore them. This was a simple mistake that I will not make again going forward. As for each fighter, Holm looked rough compared to what we are used to seeing from her, and she is not the Holly of old this is important to note if she continues to fight, which there has been no indication against. Vieira won this fight by outboxing Holm, which was something to note; however, she spent a large portion of the fight being controlled in the clinch, which was very surprising and nearly cost her the fight. If she is fighting for the title next, I expect her to be a significant underdog whether Julianna Pena or Amanda Nunes holds the belt. 

## Ponzinibbio +100 Pereira -128

This fight was incredible and a truly impressive showing from each fighter, but Pereira, in particular, impressed me as I thought he won the bout showing his evolution has reached a point where he is not an untamed talent but now is ready to compete with the high-level strikers that are ahead at Welterweight. I lost a play on Ponzinibbio here without much regret but probably a spot I could have avoided, in particular, once I saw the size difference between the two, which played an apparent factor in the fight in my eyes. I made that loss back on the fight going the distance which was a bit of a steep price, but I did not see either guy getting finished, and despite some big shots from Pereira, both of them showed their durability, making it through this one. 

## Njokuani -233 Todorovic +175

There was one definitive on this card, and that was this fight as Njokuani unleashed a vicious elbow that ended Dusko Todorovic in the very first round. Njokuani showcased some 
grappling defense in this one as Todorovic unsurprisingly wanted nothing to do with the striking and did well to force grappling exchanges early. We may see Njokuani get a big step up in competition, but he has proven to have an excellent skill set to go along with his freakish knockout power. This guy can make some real noise at Middleweight. 


## Viana +103 Ricci -132

This felt more like watching a combat jiu-jitsu match than an MMA fight, as Viana was very content to work from the bottom, ultimately costing her the fight. We knew that both women were credentialed grapplers and would have some even exchanges, but Ricci proved to have better offensive wrestling, which is essential for BJJ specialists to develop. It was game plan that cost Viana this fight, and knowing that she could not adapt as the fight went on makes her difficult to bet on without the right matchup going forward. 

## Anders +165 Park -217

This fight was a coin flip going to the cards, and I still feel like it should have been the same on the betting line going into the contest, as there was no reason for Park to be that large a favorite. This one is a tough loss as a bettor as I feel I was on the right side of this line, but it counts the same as any other loss. Anders did not look like a sizeable underdog, but he did not look great either, as a lack of speed and cardio was clear, and because of that, I will have a tough time backing Anders again in the future.

## Chase Hooper +143 Felipe Corales -185

I had to mention this fight as Chase Hooper was the performance of the night by far, and he proved me wrong. My mistake on this fight was betting against a very young fighter who had plenty of time off to work on his game and clearly took advantage of every second. Not to mention his mentality seemed much different when in past performances, he had looked hesitant and technical, but Saturday, he was all pressure and aggression. I underestimated Hooper and paid, and I will be paying close attention to his next matchup. 

Looking back at the betting action of UFC Fight Night: Holm vs. Vieira

Jordan Lopez

Holly Holm makes her return to the Octagon at UFC Vegas 55 as she faces Ketlen Vieira in the main event. This will be the first time we have seen Holm in action since defeating Irene Aldana via decision back in October of 2020. Holm brings that boxing pedigree to every fight and is very crisp on the feet. It is very rare for someone in the women's Bantamweight division to carry that one-punch knockout power but, Holm is one to possess this type of power due to that boxing experience. With the return of Holm at UFC Vegas 55, we take a look at 10 MMA fighters that have competed in a professional boxing match. 

## Anderson Silva 
![Anderson Silva.jpeg](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/ac404262-9f71-405c-9570-fa5239923700/pub "Anderson Silva after winning his professional boxing debut. Credits to: Manuel Velasquez-Getty Images.")

Many fighters try to transition into professional boxing after their time is done with mixed martial artists. What most of these fighters find out is that the transition between the two is not easy whatsoever, unless your name is Anderson Silva. The former UFC Middleweight champion has adapted into his professional boxing career as smoothly as anyone could imagine. A great number of fans may know that Silva has competed in professional boxing prior to his days with the UFC. He made his boxing debut in 1998 when he suffered his first defeat via corner stoppage. Silva would go on to get revenge seven years later and pick up his first win in the boxing ring via KO while still competing in Pride as well as Cage Rage.

Silva then decided to focus strictly on MMA and become the face of the UFC for over a decade. After becoming one of the dangerous strikers of all-time, his time would came to an end in 2020 when the UFC released him after losing three fights in-a-row. It was apparent that Silva was not fighting like how he was in his prime but he still had some fight in him. This is when he joined the boxing scene again and has never looked better. Silva competed in his first professional boxing match since 2005 when he defeated Julio César Chávez Jr. on June of 2021. He would go on to fight three months later when he brutually knocked out Tito Ortiz inside of one round. Silva has always been must-watch when fighting but the way he has looked in his last two boxing fights is nothing short of impressive as his head movement and counter shots are still effective as ever. 

## Conor McGregor
![Conor Boxing.jpeg](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/a217048e-8aef-4241-6932-024955afd000/pub "Conor McGregor lands a straight left against Floyd Mayweather. Credits to: Jeff Bottari-Getty Images.")

The face of the fight game has always been Conor McGregor and it only proved furthermore when he faced Floyd Mayweather Jr. in one of the most anticipated boxing matches ever. Known for his timing and punching power, McGregor was on a roll in the UFC and became the first fighter to have held two championship belts in two different divisions in the UFC. After completing this feat, he took his talents into the professional boxing scene for only one bout. The fight with Mayweather generated a ton of traction around the world and deservingly so. McGregor held his own when boxing against one of the best to ever do it. He landed some clean shots in multiple rounds and was having some success. The end result did not go in his favor as Mayweather would get the TKO victory after 10 historic rounds. McGregor didn't agree with referee Robert Byrd stopping the contest but it wouldn't have mattered as all three judges had favored Mayweather in the scorecards. McGregor still has aspirations in boxing professionally again after his time is done with the UFC but for now, he is recovering from his leg injury he suffered back at UFC 264, hoping to return back into the octagon later this year.

## Jorge Masvidal
![Masvidal .jpeg](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/4c80b13a-11d6-49d5-b276-5a7da0c42200/pub "Jorge Masvidal lands clean shot against Kamaru Usman in rematch. Credits to: Josh Hedges-Getty Images.")

The debate of who is the best boxer in the UFC is still a hot topic and Jorge Masvidal is always near the top of the list. It is of no surprise that the boxing technique of Masvidal's is special. From growing up a boxing fan to utilizing his boxing skills in street fights when he was younger, Masvidal always had that passion for boxing. The explosiveness and counter shots is what separates him from others in terms of technique. The head movement and Masvidal's one-punch knockout power is the combination that makes him such a fan-favorite. He has even competed in a professional boxing match early on in his career before becoming the superstar he has become with the UFC. Masvidal made his boxing debut back in 2005 in his hometown of Miami, Florida. The contest went all four rounds and Masvidal took the decision win. 

## Valentina Shevchenko
![Valentina Shevchenko.jpeg](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/db189b97-c8d9-49dd-1965-bb0095719900/pub "Valentina Shevchenko celebrating her knockout win at UFC 266. Credits to: Jeff Bottari-Getty Images.") 

Despite the fact that Valentina Shevchenko is known as one of the most dangerous muay thai fighters in the UFC, regardless of gender, she may have some of the best boxing techniques as well. It's rare for someone in the women's Flyweight division to carry one-punch knockout power. In this case, Shevchenko falls into that unique category. We have all seen the power she holds in the UFC but, it came from boxing professionally early in her career. Shevchenko has a professional boxing record of 2-0, with her most recent victory occurring in 2011. This is when she defeated her opponent via RTD (referee technical decision). Her other win is when Shevchenko picked up a dominating victory in her professional boxing debut, back in 2010. Shevchenko is back in action soon and will be defending her Flyweight belt at UFC 275 against Taila Santos.

## Nick Diaz
![Nick Diaz.jpeg](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/37c2de21-f5a9-4eff-32e2-c1ddede45e00/pub "Nick Diaz taunts Georges St-Pierre at UFC 158. Credits to: Josh Hedges-Getty Images.")

When talking about mixed martial artists and boxing, Nick Diaz will always be brought up in the conversation. The fan-favorite has some of the most polished boxing fans have seen in MMA. The ability to slip punches and counter effectively the way Diaz had done was something special to watch. He wasn't known for his power but, the volume and pace he fought at was overwhelming for his opponents as Diaz is known for his great conditioning. In the midst of his UFC career, Diaz made his professional boxing debut in 2005. The match was only agreed up to four rounds for it to go to the judges scorecards and Diaz earned the victory via unanimous decision. 

## Clay Collard
![Clay Collard.jpeg](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/892edfec-4169-494c-6efc-78d2dec71800/pub "Clay Collard landing a jab against Quincy LaVallais. Credits to: Mikey Williams/Top Rank Inc-Getty Images.") 

There is no one that is more active in both mixed martial arts and boxing than Clay Collard. The ability to compete in both at the same time is kind of remarkable. Usually fighters dedicate all their time on one than the other but Collard has managed to do both. Collard started off his career building his way up to the UFC. When he got signed to the promotion, his debut fight was against Max Holloway. After he suffered the defeat in his debut, Collard would go on to get released after going 1-3 in the UFC. This is when he went all-in on boxing. Collard had his professional boxing debut in 2017 when he earned his first boxing win. It was until 2019 when Collard had multiple boxing fights lined up. He had eight boxing matches in that year and managed to put together an three-fight winning streak. As of now, Collard is still boxing professionally as well as fighting in the Professional Fighting League (PFL). He's currently 3-1 in the PFL with wins over former UFC fighters, Anthony Pettis and Jeremey Stephens. As a professional boxer, Collard has a record of 9-6-3. 

## Claressa Shields
![Claressa Shields.jpeg](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/d827a20b-800b-451a-31b0-90c7a204c800/pub "Claressa Shields with all of her boxing championship belts. Credits to: Mitchell Leff-Getty Images.")

Since signing with the PFL, Claressa Shields has had a target on her back from many people that have criticized her making the move to MMA. She currently sits at 1-1 in her MMA career but, this does not show how great of an athlete she truly is. Known for her incredible boxing, Shields is undefeated as a professional boxer with a record of 12-0. Shields has recorded two knockout wins and ten decision victories that were not even close in the judges scorecards. Shields is the first boxer ever, regardless of gender, to hold all four major world titles. She is virtually unstoppable as her last round she lost (according to the judges) was back in 2019. Much like Collard, she is competing in both the PFL and continuing her dominance in boxing too. Shields just earned a victory over Ema Kozin in February via unanimous decision to make it 12 straight wins in her professional boxing career. 

## Alex Volkanovski
![Alex Volkanovski.jpeg](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/90137daa-716c-4555-c89c-9dbbd3cb6700/pub "Alex Volkanovski landing a clean shot on The Korean Zombie. Credits to: Jeff Bottari-Getty Images.")

The current Featherweight king, Alexander Volkanovski, has been a winner his whole professional career. He's an outstanding 24-1 in his MMA career while still being undefeated in the UFC. Volkanovski has beaten the likes of Max Holloway (twice), Chan Sung Jung, Brian Ortega, Jose Aldo, and more. The way Volkanovski approaches the fights are so technical. In his most recent one against Jung, he displayed his boxing beautifully. Coincidentally enough, Volkanovski has competed in professional boxing before. While only having one professional boxing match, Volkanovski debuted back in 2015 when he earned his victory via unanimous decision.

## Vitor Belfort
![Vitor Belfort.jpeg](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/858a53f3-6dff-4092-a8d5-5abc2790d400/pub "Vitor Belfort after his win against Evander Holyfield. Credits to: Tayfun Coskun/Anadolu Agency-Getty Images.") 

Vitor Belfort is one of the greats in the sport of MMA. Many fans know of him just because how he used to win. Belfort wouldn't just cruise himself into a decision win, he would try and finish his opponent. Out of his 26 professional wins, Belfort has 18 knockouts and three submission wins. The same could be said about when Belfort has competed in boxing. In his professional boxing career, he's 1-0 with that victory being back in 2006, which ended in the first round via knockout. Belfort recently had an exhibition boxing match that was hosted by Triller in September of 2021. Belfort defeated Evander Holyfield via TKO, once again in the first round.

## Holly Holm
![Holm Boxing 2.jpeg](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/47abdc29-4431-45f8-f37f-a87fbe9a2800/pub "Holly Holm with an lead uppercut against her opponent . Credits to: Steve Snowden-Getty Images.")

The name Holly Holm will always be connected with boxing. The way she changed and inspired women's boxing was second to none. Holm recently just got announced as an inductee of the International Boxing Hall of Fame class of 2022. The legacy she holds with boxing is something special. Holm has a professional record of 33-2-3 and debuted back in 2002. Since then, Holm went on to become a three-division world champion and cement her legacy with the great amount of accolades she has. After shifting her focus only on MMA in 2013, it was to no ones surprise that the success transferred over. Holm won her first 10 professional fights in MMA and after winning her seventh, she signed with the UFC. After defeating Raquel Pennington and Marion Reneau, Holm got her chance and knocked out the once undefeated, Ronda Rousey, to become the UFC Bantamweight champion. Holm had shocked the world and now she continues to add to her legacy to MMA. In a recent [article that came out by ESPN Staff Writer, Brett Okamoto](lhttps://www.espn.com/mma/story/_/id/33939632/i-think-doing-why-holly-holm-dreaming-boxing-first-years), Holm expressed her feelings about getting back into title contention in the Bantamweight division. Holm also mentioned competing in professional boxing for the first time in almost 10 years. If she does go back to boxing, Holm would still want to fight in the UFC and hopefully hold titles in both sports. 

10 Fighters that competed in both Professional Boxing and MMA

Jack MacCool

There are a lot of factors that contribute to the health of an MMA promotion’s weight classes.  The depth of talent, number of fresh contenders, and the weight itself all add to the level of interest from fans in a division’s happenings.  While it sounds obvious, something else that makes a huge impact on a division is the Champion itself.  The Champion of a weight class is integral to drawing eyes to the division while also being involved in fights that excite matchmakers and fans alike.  So as our favourite and least favourite champions go to battle, is the hope that they defend their title for years to come? Or to hand the title over to the next contender longing for their chance to hold the gold?  The difference between long-standing champions versus parity atop a division is stark, so let’s get to the bottom of which is better, or worse for a division.

![Group 21.jpg](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/1b2698ef-79f0-41ff-8ef4-1c961facde00/pub "Anderson Silva holds the record for the longest title reign in UFC history at 2,457 days. Credits to: Gabriel Bouys-Getty Images")

One excellent case study to use to decipher this question is the Ultimate Fighting Championship’s (UFC) Light Heavyweight division.  The ‘205ers’ saw Jon Jones rule over the division on and off for nearly a decade before he elected to vacate the title in August of 2020.  By the end of Jones’ title reign there were lots of people who thought the weight class had become stale given that he had cleared out the top contenders of three separate eras without coming close to losing the title in battle (Reyes 48-47 though). When Jones exited the division many believed Light Heavyweight was now the weakest men’s weight class in the UFC as it lacked a clear contender who fans thought would hold the title for a long time. 

Fast forward nearly two years and the division has seen two first-time Champions in Jan Blachowicz and Glover Teixeira hold its title while also becoming fan favourites in the process.  At the same time, the division has seen new contenders make their mark, and may see them challenge for the title very soon. The change from dominant champion to unstable title picture has rejuvenated the Light Heavyweight division and with a title fight taking place at UFC 275 in just a few weeks, the division could be looking at its third new champ in two years–something that seemed impossible a short time ago.

![20151213125907_5D3_5253.jpeg](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/f8d7743d-2f44-4276-112f-f69d21b67b00/pub "Many expected Luke Rockhold to have a long reign with the Middleweight title, but he was unable to defend his title even once. Credits to: Dave Mandel-Sherdog")

While the lack of a long-reigning champion has strengthened the Light Heavyweight division, the presence of a dominant title holder can have the same impact, but not always.  Two prime examples of this in the sport right now are Kayla Harrison in PFL’s Women’s Lightweight division and Kamaru Usman in the UFC’s Welterweight division.  Both Harrison and Usman draw large numbers of fans to watch them compete in their fights.  Harrison has been massively dominant in PFL, winning the 2019 and 2021 Women’s Lightweight Championships, while holding an undefeated professional record of 13-0.  She has been made the face of PFL and her presence in the promotion is a huge reason why they were able to re-sign with ESPN.  Despite this however, it could be said that because she is so good, fans are reluctant to tune in if they believe they know what the result will be.  Unpredictability of result is one of the biggest reasons MMA is as exciting as it is, so when a champion becomes so far ahead of their competition that audiences believe they know what will happen, it can be detrimental. To see how dominant Harrison has been, here is how the Verdict Community predicted her last three fights.

```twitter
https://twitter.com/VerdictMMA/status/1521253861918355456
```

Like Harrison, Kamaru Usman is the face of his division.  He currently sits atop the pound-for-pound rankings and recorded his 5th consecutive title defence last November in a win over Colby Covington at UFC 268.  When he has been promoted with the appropriate dance partner, Usman has been a draw during his title reign, selling 700,000 pay-per-views in his last two appearances as a headliner and 1.3 million in July of 2020 per: _Tapology Pay Per View Buys_.  Despite his dominance and success, there is an argument to be made that because he has cleared out his weight class, there aren’t as many exciting matchups to be made that are not rematches.  This is one of the cons of a long-reigning defending Champion.  Once they’ve cleared out their division, the interest level in their bouts is susceptible to decreasing if there aren’t any fresh contenders to challenge the Champion.  

Dominant champions or a title on the move each have benefits and detriments that affect their respective weight classes, but it is very difficult to say one is better than the other.  On one hand, a dominant champion can draw more than a transitional champion, but a division where the belt can constantly change hands makes for very dramatic fights with potentially less selling power.  Either way the fans are the ones winning as they get to witness a dominant champion rule over a division, or watch a turbulent title picture make for legendary #AndNew moments.  What does the Verdict Community think? Dominant champs or a title changing hands regularly?


A dominant Champion or a Turbulence. What's better?

Evan Montgomery 

The UFC will keep the action going this weekend with UFC Fight Night: Holm vs. Vieira, out of the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. At time of writing, this card is loaded with eleven total fights, including five main card bouts with possible title implications in our main event!

## Holly Holm vs. Ketlen Vieira

Our main event is a top 5 ranked contest at Bantamweight, between #2 ranked Holly Holm and #5 Ketlen Vieira. 

Holly Holm (14-5) came over to MMA after a credentialed career in boxing and kickboxing, and rose to stardom through her highlight reel KO over Ronda Rousey in November of 2015. Though she lost her title and subsequent shot at the belt opposite Amanda Nunes, she is currently riding 2 straight wins. Ketlen Vieira (12-2), is a credentialed judoka with a well-rounded game, but is certainly most dangerous on the mat. She recently claimed a victory against former UFC Bantamweight Champion Miesha Tate. 

Nearly 80% of the Verdict Community are siding with Holm to get the victory this weekend, with 57% expecting her to win the fight via decision.

![HolmVieira.png](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/0f7de09d-1e59-4696-abbb-1a7bbd475b00/public)

## Santiago Ponzinibbio vs. Michel Pereira

All week, this fight has been unofficially called the People's Main Event, and it is not hard too see why. Both fighters bring aggressive striking styles, constantly chasing the knockout, and both have already called for Dana White to sign the Fight of the Night checks!

Santiago Ponzinibbio (28-5) looked like the next big thing at Welterweight after a 2018 KO over Neil Megny, but found himself sidelined for over two years due to various injuries. He lost his return fight to Li Jingliang by knockout, but got back on the right track with a Fight of the Night effort over Miguel Baeza. His last outing was a controversial split decision, which saw him on the wrong side of the scorecards opposite Geoff Neal.

Numerous highlight reel clips from the regional scene made Michel Pereira (27-11) an anticpated signing, and he delivered with two post-fight bonuses in his first two outings. Though he faltered in a Fight of the Night against Tristan Connelly and a subsequent DQ loss to Diego Sanchez, he is currently riding a four-fight winning streak.

This fight will assuredly give the fans some fireworks on Saturday night, and the Verdict Community likes Pereira as a slight favorite, with almost 56% predicting him to get the nod. Despite both fighters being credentialed knockout artists, 73% of the Verdict Community expect us to see the judges' scorecards in this bout.

![PonzinibbioPereira.png](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/81a9fc23-bd5c-4cfa-bd1b-58235b4de400/pub)

## Chidi Njokuani vs. Dusko Todorovic

We have a fun striking clash at Middleweight in our featured bout, as two Contender Series products lock horns!

Chidi Njokuani (21-7) has been on the radar of many hardcore fans for years. A professional since 2007, Njokuani has been seen in promotions like RFA, LFA, and Bellator, along with his older brother, Anthony, being a UFC veteran. He punched his ticket to the big show in 2021 on the Contender Series, and made the most of his opportunity by starching Marc-Andre Barriault in 15 seconds. "Chidi Chidi Bang Bang" is a talented and dangerous striker, holding thirteen wins via knockout. A Contender Series win also brought Dusko Todorovic (11-2) to the UFC, and he picked up a second round TKO to start his UFC career strong. Though he came up short in his next two outings, he rebounded in his last appearance with a 1st round knockout of Maki Pitolo with fiery ground and pound. Todorovic is a well-rounded threat who is never one to step away from a firefight.

71% of the Verdict Community see this fight as going Njokuani's way, with the most common pick being another first round KO. Only 29% expect this to go the distance, so keep your eyes peeled come fight time!

![NjokuaniTodorovic.png](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/c725a1ad-70b6-42f0-cb93-df04bced4b00/pub)

## Polyana Viana vs. Tabatha Ricci

The second fight of our main card pits Brazil v. Brazil in a fun Strawweight clash.

Polyana Viana (12-4) came to the UFC with a plethora of finishes on the Brazilian regional scene, and continued that success with a 1st round submission in her debut. That gave way to a three-fight skid that saw her tenure in the promotion questioned, but she has since bounced back with two 1st round armbar finishes. Viana has secured each of her victories by stoppage, including eight by way of submission. Coming out of the LFA promotion, Tabatha Ricci (6-1) accepted a short notice bout against Flyweight contender Manon Fiorot to make her way to the UFC. Though that bout did not go her way, she scored a unanimous decision her last time out over Maria Oliveira. With three stoppages, Ricci is well rounded but most dangerous with her grappling offensive, holding a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt and two world titles in BJJ.

A little over 69% of the Verdict Community like the offensive pace of Viana to win the fight, despite her being a slight underdog on the current betting lines! In addition, 48% see her winning a decision, which would be the first of Viana's career!

![VianaRicci.png](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/9fd0742c-85ba-4abe-a37a-9c140dac2b00/public)

## Eryk Anders vs. Jun Yong Park

Our main card opens with a fun Middleweight clash between two UFC veterans, always game for a fire fight.

Former Alabama football player Eryk Anders (14-6) came to the UFC with a perfect 8-0 record. Though he started strong with two straight finsihes, he went 3-5 over his next eight bouts. He stayed active in 2021, with a unanimous decision over Darren Stewart following a rematch that ended in a 'No Contest', but then suffered the first submission loss of his career to Andre Muniz. Anders is an explosive athlete with a well-rounded gameplan, and holds eight wins by way of knockout. Jun Yong Park (13-5) made his way to the UFC after putting together a seven-fight win streak on the regional circuit. Although he lost his debut to Anthony Hernandez, he rattled off three straight decision wins. He came up short in his last outing, losing by TKO to Gregory Rodrigues in a wild back-and-forth affair. Park is durable and puts an aggressive pace on his opponents, with eight finishes including five by (T)KO.

The Verdict Community is slightly on the side of Jun Yong Park, with 58% predicting he will win the bout with 68% also expecting this fight will go the distance, with 45% of those giving Park the nod.

![AndersPark.png](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/5679eaeb-299a-4d74-e735-3c83bba92800/pub)

UFC Fight Night: Holm vs. Vieira Main Card Preview

This weekend at UFC Vegas 55, we see the return of one of the most prolific fighters in Women's MMA history as former UFC Bantamweight Champion Holly Holm (-250) returns from a long layoff to take on rising Brazilian contender Ketlen Vieira (+190) in the main event. Before that, we have a full card of sneaky good fights to break down, including a Welterweight fight between Santiago Ponzinibbio (+100) and Michel Pereira (-128) sure to produce fireworks and a couple of Middleweight bouts where I disagree with the oddsmakers. 

   *All Odds Provided by Stake.com Accurate as of 5/18/2022 4:15 PM EST 
   
## Holly Holm -250 Ketlen Vieira +190

In the main event, we see a matchup that gives us some ugly betting lines to work with at first glance, with a 40-year-old Holm sitting as a heavy favorite against her much younger foe. I usually find it very difficult to back a fighter of this age who is also on a rather long layoff; however, after looking at each of these fighters' recent body of work, I find myself surprisingly confident in Holm to get the job done. The numbers may suggest playing a fighter in her position has not been a profitable venture in the past, but numbers don't always tell the whole story. Holm has been a mainstay at the top of the division since her rise to the top, capped off with her famous (infamous?) head kick of Ronda Rousey. She has only lost to the best of the best in Cris Cyborg, Amanda Nunes, Germaine de Randamie, and Valentina Shevchenko and has shown to be a step ahead of the rest of the division behind her. Viera is 2-2 in her last four, and her only wins come over an aged Miesha Tate and Sjara Eubanks, which is not an impressive run by any stretch. I have a tough time seeing her path to victory over five rounds against Holm, as grappling will be challenging to implement and taxing on cardio over a long fight. 
    
The only reason to not bet Holm in this fight is the age difference and layoff, which I believe is negated because she has had late pullouts and has not been out of camp for long during this layoff. Take Holm, but with the ML at that price, I think the decision is the play at -116. 
 
 Pick: Holm ML -250 (DougLasVegasBets.net Best Bet)
 O/U: Over 4.5 -256

## Santiago Ponzinibbio +100 Michel Pereira -128

Just a few years ago, Ponzinibbio was the next big thing at Welterweight, and now we can get him at underdog money against an unranked opponent? This is surprising to me as I understand the momentum beginning to build behind Pereira with his last win already aging very well; however, he is a very flawed fighter, to say the least, with a tendency to gas out in the later stages of fights due to his wild style and lack of pacing. Ponzinibbio is still a legit talent and was favored his last time out against Geoff Neal in what turned out to be a very close fight that could have gone either way. 
    
Getting Ponzinibbio at an underdog price here is enough for me to be willing to take a chance, as we have seen that he can adjust in fights like the Baeza fight, and I can confidently say if this goes to a third-round, Ponzinibbio will be the fresher fighter in a good position to take a potentially deciding round. 
    
Pick: Ponzinibbio ML +100 (DougLasVegasBets.net Play)
O/U: Over 2.5 -175 (DougLasVegasBets.net Play)

## Chidi Njokuani -233 Dusko Todorovic +175

Chidi Njokuani makes his second octagon appearance after his incredible debut KO over Marc-Andre Barriault as he takes on Dusko Todorovic. Njokuani will look to keep this one standing as he will have a clear advantage in the stand-up portion of this fight. The question is will he be able to defend the grappling of Todorovic?
    
I believe he will, but I am not confident enough to put my money on this fight. We haven't seen much from Njokuani to suggest he is worth being this size a favorite over Todorovic, who has seen a lot of respect from oddsmakers throughout his UFC career, having never closed as an underdog to this point. 
    
Pick: Chidi Njokuani ML -233
O/U: Under 1.5 +127 
 
## Polyana Viana +103 Tabatha Ricci -132

Here we have a women's Strawweight fight that is lined pretty evenly, and I think that's fair as this fight could easily go either way. Both women have high finishing rates for the division. Still, each of their grappling credentials makes them tough to submit, and I believe this fight will take place mainly on the mat resulting in limited striking opportunities. 
    
This is a fight where I feel either woman could win on their best day, so I will lean with the underdog, but I see no value in putting my money on this virtual coin flip. 

Pick: Viana ML +103
O/U: Over 2.5 -167

## Eryk Anders +165 Jun Yong Park -217

This line caught my eye, to say the least, as Eryk Anders comes in a sizeable underdog against The Iron Turtle in this Middleweight scrap. Anders was at a similar price in his last fight against Andre Muniz, who I am very high on. Yes, he lost that fight badly, but that speaks much more to Muniz than Anders, and I think we know what we are getting from Anders based on his prior UFC fights. As for the Park side, where has all the respect come from on this line? He has had a very mediocre UFC run, to say the least, going 3-2 with relatively weak competition in my eyes. 
    
Anders is in one of my favorite fight camps at Fight Ready, and I believe they will have him more than ready to go out and win this fight. Take Anders at this high price tag.
      
Pick: Anders ML +165 (DougLasVegasBets.net Play)
O/U: Over 2.5 -213

## Joseph Holmes -204 Alen Amedovski +160
	
Here we have a Middleweight bout between Ugly Man Joesph Holmes and Alen Amedovski. Holmes looked pretty bad in his last fight against Jamie Pickett, and I immediately find him impossible to back at this price against nearly anyone in the UFC. On the other hand, Amedovski has been off for over two years and is coming off a first-round loss to the very unimpressive John Phillips. 
    
Holmes has decent experience before that Pickett fight in which he was favored, and he has a very high finishing rate, so I would expect him to be able to get the finish, but there is no way I am risking my money on him in any fight after his last performance. 
    
Pick: Holmes ML -204
O/U: Under 1.5 +105
    
## Parker Porter +400 Jailton Almeida -625

There has been some interesting line movement on this one as we have seen Almeida go from -667 on Monday to -714 on Tuesday back to -625 on Wednesday at Stake.com. This line may be justified as Almeida has a lot of quick finishes to back up his hype train, and despite the recent win streak from Parker Porter, he is nowhere near the level of grappler that Almeida is, and he does not pose much of a threat on the feet either. 
    
It's tough to get value from Almeida because his advantage is clear, and the bookies know this. We must also account for the statistical randomness of Heavyweight fights, and with that, this fight is one to proceed with extreme caution when betting on.
    
Pick: Aleida ML -625
O/U: Under 1.5 -152

## Omar Morales -156 Uros Medic +130

This should be an entertaining fight between two talented strikers who will be willing to stand across from each other. Medic will be forcing the action here, but I am not sure it will work for him as it has in his past wins as Morales has much more experience. I expect that to be the difference as Medic has never gone the distance while Morales has spent many rounds in the octagon against the higher-level competition.
    
I believe Morales is a justified favorite and should be able to use his experience to avoid the pressure of Medic and land more effective strikes; however, he has not gotten a finish in the UFC, and with none of Medic's fights having gone the distance something has to break if Morales is going to win this fight. I am not willing to bet against those trends at this price. 

Pick: Morales ML -167
O/U: Under 2.5 -172

## Johnathan Martinez -227 Vince Morales +175

Bantamweight is the best division in the UFC, and this is an excellent example of that as two unranked fighters with plenty of experience go at it early on the card. Martinez uses a very kick-heavy game which has been a problem for Morales, as we saw in the Gutierrez fight, and for this reason, I think Martinez has a clear advantage in this fight and is a well-justified favorite. 
    
At the current ML price, it's difficult to play Martinez straight, but I will be using him as a critical piece in my card parlay.

Pick: Johnathan Martinez ML -227
O/U: Over 2.5 -238

## Chase Hooper +143 Felipe Colares -185

Here we see Chase Hooper return for the first time in 10 months against Felipe Colares, who returns to the Featherweight division once again. Hooper was very hyped after an impressive debut at a very young age. Still, since then, Hooper has shown his lack of experience and has proven to be a grappling specialist who needs a clear grappling advantage to win. Colares comes into this one as a favorite for the first time in his up and down UFC career, which has had one consistency: all of his fights have gone the distance. Colares is also a grappler with black belt credentials, and his submission defense was shown when Domingo Pilarte was glued to his back for a round and could not take advantage of that control time. 
    
This one will be very grappling-heavy, and I expect Hooper to accept worse positions to attempt submissions resulting in him being controlled for the majority of the fight and Colares leaving with a decision victory. 
    
Pick: Felipe Colares -185 (DougLasVegasBets.net Play) 
O/U: Over 2.5 -167

## Elise Reed -179 Sam Hughes +138

An interesting bout to start the night off here sees two Strawweights who have had their respective struggles in the UFC but are coming off good wins. Last time we saw Reed was UFC London, where she was a considerable underdog but was able to pull out a split decision victory to the surprise of many, myself included. Hughes looked to be on the way out before turning things around late in her last fight to win the majority decision to keep her UFC dream alive.
    
To be blunt, neither of these women are very high caliber, and I'm certainly not willing to risk my money on either of them, but with the grappling defense and competent striking that we saw from Reed her last time out, she should be able to win this fight. 
    
Pick: Elise Reed -179
O/U: Over 2.5 -370
    
## Parlay

Personally, I do not believe parlays are a great path to long-term profit. However, there are some great opportunities to create value on this card, so let's try to do this the smart way. We have a few big favorites on this card that I am unwilling to play at their ML price, but I still believe these fighters have clear advantages and are safe plays. Let's combine these three sizeable favorites to get better value from each line.

Martinez, Almeida -149
Martinez, Almeida, Holm +134

The Betting Preview for UFC Fight Night: Holm vs. Viera

Taylor Dow

Paul "Semtex" Daley, 39, competed in his final bout this past weekend, scoring a 2nd round knockout against Wendell Giácomo at Bellator 281. "Semtex" went into the fight in his home country knowing it would be his final appearance.


> It will be my retirement fight. After many years in the game, the hours on the road, hours in the gym, the years have caught up with me and now every morning I wake up with a bad back, and I’m just tired. - Daley said to Ariel Helwani on The MMA Hour in January 

 

```twitter 

https://twitter.com/ScottCoker/status/1525220465932832768 

``` 


After an impressive 64 professional fights, “Semtex” has fought in every top promotion throughout the years including Cage Warriors, Strikeforce, EliteXC, Cage Rage, UFC, Bellator. He fought the who’s who of the Welterweights in the process. To celebrate an exciting career, we take a dive into the life of Paul “Semtex” Daley.  


“Semtex”, born in London, England to Caribbean parents, moved to Nottingham at an early age of 8 where he played soccer for Nottingham Forest FC. He began training Karate before transitioning to Muay Thai. "Semtex" is also a former member of the British Army, serving as a reconnaissance driver for the Household Cavalry. 

![14463_qvmtdzhtgr_vlarge_medium.jpg](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/19fda626-56ec-4d75-9b18-aa176b678200/pub "Paul Daley with his Cage Rage Championship Belt") 

He began training in MMA at the age of 18 and made his pro debut at 20, winning by knockout. Later that year he would also debut as a professional Kickboxer, again winning by knockout. Daley would continue fighting professionally for a total of 19 years and battle the likes of Jorge Masvidal, Nick Diaz, Duane Ludwig, Jake Shields, Josh Koscheck, Tyron Woodley, Rory McDonald, Lorenz Larkin, Jon Fitch and MVP to name a few, finishing with a record of 44-18-2 (35 KOs).  


After racking up a 22-8 record, "Semtex" would make his UFC debut in September of 2009 where he scored two first round KOs to start off his tenure. 

![20100102084922_img_1567.webp](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/89390e2f-19f9-4ed9-7525-6c198ba7b200/pub "Paul Daley putting the final blow on Dustin Hazelett at UFC 108. Credits to: Sherdog") 

The promotion would put him into a title eliminator bout against Josh Koscheck shortly after where the winner would fight Georges St-Pierre for the Welterweight title. During the first round of the fight Koscheck appeared to simulate being hit with an illegal knee which resulted in a point deduction for Daley, after which Koscheck would use his wrestling to control the remainder of the fight and win a unanimous decision. After the end of the third and final round, Daley approached Koscheck from behind and attempted to hit him in the head with a left hook.

![PaulDaley_crop_exact.jpeg](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/d77cce10-5569-4640-4ed3-d67fda104800/pub "Paul Daley would have challenged Georges St-Pierre for the Welterweight title had he defeated Koscheck. Credits to: Getty Images") 

Referee Dan Miragliotta pinned Daley against the fence to subdue him. In an interview at the conclusion of the event, UFC president Dana White announced that he was banishing Daley from the UFC for life.  
  

> There's no excuse for that. These guys are professional athletes. You don't ever hit a guy blatantly after the bell like that, whether you're frustrated or not. I don't care if he fights in every show all over the world and becomes the best and everybody thinks he's the pound for pound best in the world, he will never fight in the UFC ever again - Dana White at the post fight press conference at UFC 113

  
Following the incident, Daley apologized for his actions, stating there was "no excuse." After a 30-day suspension, he started his journey outside the UFC and knocked out Daniel Acacio at Impact FC 2 and then won a unanimous decision over Jorge Masvidal to get a Strikeforce contract where he would spend the rest of his career employed by Scott Coker in Strikeforce, BAMMA, and then finally Bellator.  

  

![8158ce5b8a914e3dcc017ff8a96a8d08-1062587.jpg](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/8e88e19e-33d6-4153-e68b-9be4c4636d00/pub "Paul Daley wearing the iconic red Bellator gloves. Credits to: BellatorMMA") 

  
  

"Semtex" is adamant on making this retirement stick and doesn't want to be one of those fighters on the receiving end of a losing streak. Going out on a high with a huge KO in his retirement bout is the cherry on top of an already incredible career. Daley had this to say about a potential follow-up fight: 

  

> In my head, I’m finished with all combat sports. There’s always enticing offers that come out the woodwork but for me, I’m thinking the whole fight thing is done, I’m a guy with no ego, If worst comes to worst and what I’ve got planned doesn’t work out, I’ll get myself a weekend job at Tesco and stack some shelves for a little bit of change. - Daley told talkSPORT. 
  

Daley implies he has some big things planned for retirement and really does not want to compete as a professional anymore. You have to admire him wanting to go out on a high and pulling it off, not many fighters have done that. 

So, respect, Paul "Semtex" Daley, ride off into the sunset with your head held high; it really could not have ended any more poetic for someone whose made a career by earning KO after KO.
 
![paul-daley-ko-punch.png](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/62649df7-2aff-4879-9ed4-2421b8aa9b00/pub "Paul Daley and Wendell Giacomo trade blows. Credits to: BellatorMMA")

A Look Back At The Highs and Lows of the Career of Paul Daley

ROUNDHOUSE MMA

UFC Vegas 54 was a card that flew under the radar but ended up delivering. The UFC APEX in Las Vegas, Nevada featured a main event between the former UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Jan Blachowicz taking on surging contender Aleksandar Rakic. Let’s recap what went down.


## Aleksandar Rakic blows out his knee

![1397298054.0.jpg](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/695f9064-4fb5-4002-22b4-6881fad01300/pub "Aleksander Rakic grabbing his damaged knee. Credits to: Jeff Bottari-Getty Images")

The main event ended under unfortunate circumstances as Aleksandar Rakic blew out his knee in the 3rd round which resulted in a TKO win for Jan Blachowicz. The judges and the Verdict Community both had Blachowicz and Rakic tied at 1-1 heading into the 3rd round, with an advantage leaning towards Rakic. After the fight, Rakic revealed that he suffered a significant knee injury three weeks prior to his fight against Blachowicz. It was evident that he was having a lot of trouble managing his knee prior to the stoppage. It looks like a torn ACL, as you could visibily see Rakic's knee separating in the replay. Many expected the winner of this fight to be the next challenger for the UFC Light Heavyweight title. It looks like Blachowicz will be next.


## “Superman” Defeats “The Hulk”

![65721CD6-1E24-4118-A712-E61E55BF7407.jpeg](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/ac8fc142-c1db-4931-d191-2ea87f48c300/pub "Ryan Spann getting his hand raised. Credits to: Jeff Bottari-Getty Images")


In a fight where a lot of people expected Ion Cutelaba to crack his way into the UFC Light Heavyweight rankings, Ryan Spann scored a quick submission win against Cutelaba in the 1st round. Cutelaba was controlling the 1st round with three takedowns, but an aggressive overhand right led to a stumble by Cutelana that Ryan Spann capitalized on and finished the fight with a guillotine choke. Spann was a +190 underdog compared to Cutelaba who was a significant -235 favorite. Only 1.57% of The Verdict Community predicted this fight perfectly, and it was the first time in ten years that Cutelaba has lost a fight by submission. Spann will be looking for a big fight next in the Light Heavyweight division.


## Katlyn Chookagian and Amanda Ribas put on a show

![F0C7FFD9-6C56-4B86-8ABA-7D6DB75A0403.jpeg](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/1b15c1eb-6490-42b7-0d83-cfea1e858700/pub "Katlyn Chookagian earns a close split decision win against Amanda Ribas. Credits to: Jeff Bottari-Getty Images")

Katlyn Chookagian and Amanda Ribas put on a show at the UFC APEX as they competed to a split decision in a bout that earned fight of the night honors. Ribas showed up to fight, but it appeared that Chookagian did more damage with significant strikes, despite Ribas having a lot of success with the leg kicks, takedowns, and top control. The Verdict Community had Ribas winning the 1st and 3rd rounds, with Chookagian winning the 2nd. The fight was close, but Chookagian earned her 18th professional win and her 15th by decision. Despite not being a finisher, Katlyn knows how to win, even if it means going to the judges’ scorecards. 


## Tatsuro Taira Shines In His UFC Debut

![29E38803-5DE3-4567-BC1C-27E4A6A1B07B.jpeg](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/e6179a78-0083-47ec-8629-b1aec0126200/pub  "Tatsuro Taira about to enter the Octagon for the first time. Credits to: Jeff Bottari-Getty Images")

There was a lot of buzz around 22-year-old Tatsuro Taira from Japan who made his UFC debut against Carlos Candelario. Taira, who dominated the Japanese regional scene, competing in Shooto, got the call from the UFC to make his first appearance this weekend. Despite not getting the finish, which he is certainly known for, Taira scored a knockdown and controlled the fight. Taira was impressive and won all three rounds on the judges’ scorecards with one judge giving a 10-8. This young fighter has a very bright future and has the potential to become the next big star out of Japan. 


## Underdogs Spoil The Party

![C7291B91-B1DD-437D-9F4C-913757E4A9CA.jpeg](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/cd32b7fb-8052-4549-49fc-efe0f3a82900/pub "Andre Petroski celebrates his win against Nick Maximov. Credits to: Jeff Bottari-Getty Images")

It was quite the night for a lot of underdogs this weekend, as multiple parlays were ruined due to some surprising performances. Jan Blachowicz and Ryan Spann were +150 and +175 odds according to DraftKings, but Allan Nascimento (+170) and Andre Petroski (+330) also scored very impressive wins over Jake Hadley and Nick Maximov, respectively, who both suffered their first career losses. Jake Hadley was a Dana White’s Contender Series standout, and earned a contract with a 2nd round submission win against Mitch Raposo, but suffered defeat to the more experienced submission specialist in Nascimento.

On the other hand, Nick Maximov, who is famously known for training with the Diaz brothers, suffered defeat to the TUF 29 Semifinalist Andre Petroski. These two met on the first fight of the card, but Andre scored a slick anaconda choke only one minute and sixteen seconds into the fight. 

It was an eventful Saturday night at the UFC APEX in Las Vegas, where we saw finishes, standout performances, upsets, and more. The UFC is back at the APEX next weekend for a women’s Bantamweight showcase featuring Holly Holm and Ketlen Vieira. 

UFC Vegas 54 flies under the radar but delivers

During the broadcast of UFC 274, the promotion announced that former UFC Light Heavyweight and Heavyweight Champion Daniel Cormier will be inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame at international fight week this July. Cormier will join his longtime friend and training partner Khabib Nurmagomedov as an inductee.

![993558716.jpg](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/4eb1a8f9-edb0-4995-3f47-f45703680000/pub "Cormier celebrating his Heavyweight title clinching win against Stipe Miocic. Credits to Sam Wasson-Getty Images")


Cormier became a prominent figure in the MMA world when he won the Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix in 2012 as an alternate. It was in the tournament where he finished Anontio "Bigfoot" Silva by knockout and defeated former UFC Heavyweight Champion Josh Barnett. Wins against the likes of these men legitimized him as one of the most promising prospects in the sport.

![E-76xFHX0AMiZ2Y.jpeg](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/c5ed8bab-6abc-46aa-eed8-62fae8daf700/pub "Cormier landing the final blows against Bigfoot Silva. Credits to Esther Lin-MMAFighting")


Cormier would find his home in the UFC after Zuffa acquired Strikeforce. After competing in two Heavyweight fights in the Octagon, Cormier made his Light Heavyweight debut with his sights set on Jon Jones. The two went on to have one of the biggest box office rivalries in UFC history.

![i.jpg](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/d6fd8991-53c0-48da-fe08-9ecdf02c5200/pub "Jones and Cormier during their first fight at UFC 182. Credits to Jeff Bottari-Getty Images")


In July of 2018, Cormier joined an elite group of fighters as he became one of four UFC fighters to hold two Championship titles simultaneously, after defeating Stipe Miocic at UFC 226.


Although Cormier retired from competition in 2020, he has remained involved in the sport as a play-byplay commentator and ESPN Analyst. When he's not training, commentating, working with ESPN or spending time with his family, you’ll find him teaching the next generation of Olympic Wrestlers at Gilroy High School.

![BNG-L-CORMIER2.jpg](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/015a5156-229b-4f69-6029-c2e1c086d500/pub "Cormier taking his students through some drills. Credits to Darren Sabedra-Bay Area News Group")


Daniel embraced the grind as much as any fighter to ever step foot in the Octagon. You will never see him complain, you will never see him quit, you will only see him work.

> Daniel Cormier is one of the most badass competitors of all time, DC faced the greatest athletes in the world on every level of wrestling and MMA. He is also the ultimate professional. As an active fighter, he always took time for the media, which led him to become one of the best TV analysts in all of sports. DC
is one of the greatest ambassadors UFC has ever had, and it’s going to be an honor to induct him into the UFC Hall of Fame this summer - UFC President Dana White on Cormier entering the Hall of Fame

Whether it be lessons in the gym, or dominance in the Octagon, Daniel Cormier is inspiring the future of combat sports and although he doesn’t qualify for the “Pioneer’s Wing”, he's helped pave the way for MMA to be where it is today.

Daniel Cormier takes rightful spot in the UFC Hall of Fame

Verdict MMA

UFC 274 emanated from the Footprint Center in Phoenix, Arizona. It was an event that we’ll look back on for a long time for a variety of reasons. Let’s discuss.

## Charles Oliveira looks unstoppable

![Charles-Oliveira-vs-Justin-Gaethje-UFC-274-05.webp](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/5fea771c-ee14-40e2-e930-8d033500d200/pub "Charles Oliveira finishing Justin Gaethje with a rear-naked choke. (Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports)")

Every time Charles Oliveira fights, he seems to be reaching a new level. Justin Gaethje had extreme confidence heading into this fight. He believed that Charles Oliveira would crumble under his pressure. However, it was ultimately Justin Gaethje who crumbled under the pressure of Charles Oliveira. We knew the fight would start off fast and that’s what happened. Oliviera rocked Gaethje with a right hand just 9 seconds into the fight. Gaethje recovered and began to land leg kicks and even dropped Oliveira. It was towards the end of the 1st round that Oliveira dropped Gaethje with a right hand and then immediately took the fight to the grappling realm. Oliveira quickly transitioned from an armbar to a rear-naked choke and submitted Gaethje. Only 2.59% of the Verdict Community predicted a 1st round submission for Oliveira.

## A strange fight between Carla Esparza and Rose Namajunas

![carla-esparza-rose-namajunas-ufc-274.webp](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/a6bccac1-3077-427e-76e7-5430e948c600/pub "Carla Esparza and Rose Namajunas try to engage. (Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports)")

When Carla Esparza and Rose Namajunas first competed in December of 2014, it was an action-packed fight that led to Esparza finishing Namajunas with a rear-naked choke. Since that fight, Namajunas reinvented herself as a fighter and became the reigning Champion while Esparza went on a winning streak that earned her another title opportunity. This was Namajunas’ opportunity to avenge her loss to the first woman that defeated her in the UFC. The Verdict Community was very confident in Namajunas, as 80% predicted her to defeat Esparza. Before we even knew it, the fight ended up in the Championship rounds without either fighter doing anything. It was a lacklustre fight where both fighters did not engage. This was a difficult fight to score because there wasn’t much to score. Esparza ultimately earned a split decision win to reclaim the Strawweight title.

## Michael Chandler sleeps Tony Ferguson

![Michael-Chandler-vs-Tony-Ferguson-UFC-274-03.webp](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/d4edaeb0-8fda-4729-cd11-5f9679402a00/pub "Michael Chandler lands a devastating front kick on Tony Ferguson. (Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports)")

After losing 3 consecutive fights, a lot of people started to lose faith in Tony Ferguson. Not because they wanted to, but because of what they saw. Ferguson had little to no success in his last 3 fights. Coming into this fight week, Ferguson kept mentioning how structured this camp was and how serious he was taking this fight. You could see improvements immediately as Ferguson looked like his old self in the 1st round. He wobbled Chandler with a punch and kept attacking his body with kicks. It seemed hopeful that Ferguson could win again. However, all of those thoughts came to a sudden end just 17 seconds into the 2nd round when Michael Chandler brutally finished Tony Ferguson with a front kick to the face. This was the first time in his career that Ferguson went completely unconscious. UFC President Dana White called it the most vicious knockout he’d ever seen.

## Ovince Saint Preux and Shogun compete in a rematch

![Ovince-Saint-Preux-vs-Mauricio-Shogun-Rua-UFC-274-17.webp](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/6c942a5a-a43e-4539-bb47-b78413950200/pub "Fans in the arena turn on the flashlights on their phones during the fight. (Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports)")

Their first fight in 2014 ended in just 34 seconds with OSP finishing Shogun by knockout. Whereas the first fight had action immediately, the rematch dragged out for 15 minutes. As we saw in the co-main event, OSP vs. Shogun 2 was a fight where both competitors looked hesitant to attack. The fans in the arena booed OSP and Shogun for the majority of the fight and a lot of the crowd began to turn on their flashlights on their phones at one point. OSP won the fight by split decision.

## Randy Brown and Chaos Williams put on a show

![Randy-Brown-vs-Khaos-Williams-UFC-274-24.webp](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/849edfe0-e49f-4813-413e-9c6059b1ec00/pub "Randy Brown and Khaos Williams meet after the fight. (Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports)")

The main card kicked off with an action-packed fight between Randy Brown and Chaos Williams. Williams dropped Brown in the 1st round and it seemed like the fight was going in the direction of Williams. However, Randy Brown made fast adjustments and looked like a new fighter when the 2nd round began. You could see the confidence in Brown’s body language as he started to land a variety of strikes against Williams. The fight came down to the 3rd round which was razor close. Randy Brown earned a split decision win.

## 43-year-old Francisco Trinaldo continues to win

![Francisco-Trinaldo-vs-Danny-RobertsUFC-274-13.webp](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/0752deec-7479-4121-c9a8-c48875ec8100/pub "Francisco Trinaldo controls Danny Robert on the mat. (Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports)")

This fight was a late addition to Verdict after Donald Cerrone was forced to withdraw from his fight against Joe Lauzon. 43-year-old Francisco Trinaldo pushed the pace for the entire 15 minutes and earned a unanimous decision win. Trinaldo has been competing as a professional since 2006 and in the UFC since 2012.

UFC 274 Post-fight Review

Charles Oliveira da Silva was born on October 17th, 1989 to Ozana Oliveira and Francisco Antonio da Silva into the favela of Vicente de Carvalho, Guarujá, São Paulo, Brazil. Charles’ parents worked two jobs to support him and his brother, Hermison, who also helped financially by selling recycled cardboard and food on the street to survive. 

![Screen Shot 2022-05-05 at 9.00.21 PM.jpg](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/4bf92240-8c3f-4160-3dde-dada0bf0ee00/pub "Charles Oliveira with his mother Ozana Oliveira.")

At an early age, he took a large interest in soccer and had dreams of becoming a professional, but at age 7 he began to feel pain in his ankle, to the point where he struggled walking. He was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis and heart murmurs, medics telling his family that he may become paraplegic. Charles spent the next 2 years in a hospital, being treated with immunosuppressants and engaging in physical therapy with his loving mother standing by at all times, most nights sleeping on the floor by his side. 


At the age of 11, he was released from the hospital on the condition he gets injections twice per week and does not engage in any physical activity. Two months later a neighbouring friend in the favela, Paulo, introduced him to Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. It was two months after this point when Charles Oliveira won a white belt local championship in BJJ.

![Sun_Instagram_image_download_charlesdobronxs_154809jpg-JS698494934.jpg](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/0493e557-0f51-404f-9c81-09d191eb5700/pub "Charles Oliveira stays close to his roots in the favelas.")

Charles continued taking injections until he was 18, claiming he no longer suffered any problems with his limbs, which were now being used to strike in amateur MMA. 
After receiving his black belt under Jorge Patino and Ericson Cardoso and amassing  a flawless 12-0 amateur MMA record (6 KO, 5 Sub), Charles would coin the nickname “do Bronx” which means “from the Favelas”.

He went from competing in amateur fights to professional fights, winning his first 12 fights which led him to getting a call from the UFC. At just 20 years old, Oliveira made his UFC debut in August of 2010 against Darren Elkins and finished him by submission in just 41 seconds.


Today, Oliveira stands atop the most talent-filled division as champion with the most submissions in UFC history, most finishes in UFC history and most post-fight bonuses in UFC history. 

![a398509431b7e97a7fbdf8cb40e28187_crop_north.jpeg](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/5a04ab55-5700-4fe5-9c50-cd0e10198200/pub "Charles Oliveira realizes his dream of becoming a UFC Champion. (Carmen Mandato/Getty Images)")

From being a kid who could barely walk selling cheese salad in a favela, to becoming one of the most decorated fighters in UFC history. To say Charles has come a long way is an understatement. 

From the brink of being paraplegic to becoming a UFC Champion: The Charles Oliveira Story

A rematch nearly 8 years in the making, UFC women’s strawweight champion Rose Namajunas, will defend her title against a woman who finished her in December of 2014.

In their first meeting, both women were finalists in The Ultimate Fighter Season 20 - the first female instalment of the series. There was immense pressure on the contestants, which featured Randa Markos, Joanne Wood, Jessica Penne, Felice Herrig, Justine Kish, Angela Hill, Tecia Torres, Heather Jo Clark, and Bec Rawlings, in addition to Namajunas and Esparza, to perform and become the first strawweight champion in the division’s history.

![the-ultimate-fighter-20-cast-red-carpet1.jpeg](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/39c9342f-0272-4a21-3682-fa0d33bf7600/pub "The cast of the 20th season of the Ultimate Fighter. (USA Today Sports)")


Esparza was the number one seed during the show and dominated her way into the finals using her trademark wrestling pedigree. On the other hand, Rose, who was a mere 22 years old at the time, was very raw in the sport. 
In their first meeting, which took place at the Pearl at the Palms in Las Vegas, Rose came out extremely aggressive, showing fluid combinations on the feet, but several mistakes led to Esparza taking her down repeatedly. As the fight went on, Esparza continued to dominate on the ground, landing five total takedowns and controlling Namajunas from the top, and back positions, which over the course of the fight, started to frustrate Rose.

![087_Carla_Esparza_vs_Rose_Namajunas.0.0.jpg](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/d13fa75b-d660-4619-782b-17d7f9b76900/pub  "Carla Esparza celebrating her win against Rose Namajunas. (Esther Lin)")

While Rose may have had the better striking skills at the time, it really did not seem to matter, as her takedown defense was very poor, and Esparza was able to take her down at ease. After the second round, it was clear that the fight was heading in the right direction for Esparza, and Rose looked defeated and frustrated in her corner. Ultimately, Esparza finished Namajunas with a rear-naked choke a minute and 26 seconds into the third round to become the inaugural Strawweight Champion. 

As Namajunas reflects on her first encounter with Esparza on the annual UFC Countdown show, she recalls that she overlooked Esparza, and felt the immense pressure to be the next Ronda Rousey in the sport. Rose also admits that while she has never given up in a fight, she gave up in that fight against Esparza. 
Nearly 8 years later, we are seeing a completely different version of both fighters. 
Rose is the dominant two-time champion, coming off of a three-fight win streak that includes a knockout against Zhang Weili where she reclaimed the title that was once hers. Esparza, since losing her title to Joanna Jedrzejczyk shortly thereafter, mixed in some wins and losses, but has been on an impressive five-fight win streak, and is undoubtedly the number one contender in the division today.

![Rose-Namajunas-Carla-Esparza-05062022.jpeg](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/c671b7e6-22a3-4b8a-5d91-1f304705a800/pub  "Rose Namajunas and Carla Esparza face off after nearly 8 years. (Getty Images)")

It will be interesting to see how both of these women approach the fight. Rose is no longer a 22-year-old. She’s experienced in five-round fights, has won the title twice, something no strawweight on the planet has done and has greatly improved her wrestling. She’s dominated fights on the ground, and her striking is still as good as ever. Esparza, despite going through a rough patch after losing the title, has shown flashes of dominance, something we saw during TUF 20, and she will always be one of the best wrestlers in the division.


Comparing Namajunas/Esparza 1 and 2

The PFL wrapped up the first half of their 2022 Regular Season on May 6th in what was perhaps the biggest event in PFL history. The card featured names like Kayla Harrison, Anthony Pettis, Rory MacDonald, Ray Cooper III, and more. Let’s take a look at what took place at this event.

## Kayla Harrison goes to a decision

![7c3708e3ef0fa59fb2bdb51b9a79f1b3.jpeg](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/8afc97fc-51e9-446a-752a-5635fc294900/pub "Kayla Harrison attempts a front kick. (Professional Fighters League)")

After months of contract negotiations, Kayla Harrison finally made her return to action at PFL 3. Harrison competed in 4 fights in 2021 and finished every opponent she fought. Many expected her to continue the finishing streak in her 2022 return against Sambo World Champion Marina Mokhnatkina. Harrison won the fight, but she didn’t get the stoppage. The fight went all 3 rounds and saw Harrison earn a unanimous decision win. This was just the 3rd decision win of Harrison’s career. With this win, Harrison extended her professional record to a perfect 13-0.


## Carlos Leal defeats a former Champion

![53a1bee7023b485cab5739d03d615dba.jpeg](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/462c6e14-67dd-473a-77d0-030bd24b1300/pub "Carlos Leal lands a knee against Ray Cooper III. (Professional Fighters League)")

Carlos Leal capitalized on the biggest fight of his career by defeating former 2x PFL Champion Ray Cooper III. Cooper got off to a bad start on fight week as he missed weight by 5.4 lbs. With that being said, Cooper was still a big favorite heading into the fight as 86% of the Verdict Community predicted him to defeat Leal. Unfortunately for the majority, Leal methodically picked Cooper apart with his striking. There were several moments in the fight where Leal hurt Cooper. Cooper had a late burst in the 3rd round, but it was too late. Leal went on to defeat Cooper by unanimous decision. Unless Cooper does something spectacular in his next fight, it looks like this could be the first time in 4+ years that he will not be qualifying for the PFL Playoffs. Carlos Leal is a fresh coat of paint in the PFL’s Welterweight division as he’s on an 11 fight winning streak and just defeated the face of the PFL’s Welterweight division. 


## Anthony Pettis earns his first PFL win

![fc790aa03d138eddc34f2cd82b889ac4.jpeg](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/9cd33389-f1e2-487c-cdcf-342b2b633d00/pub "Anthony Pettis locks in a triangle choke from the top. (Professional Fighters League)")

After a lacklustre 2021 where he went 0-2 in the PFL, Anthony Pettis bounced back in a big way in his 2022 return as he finished Myles Price with a 1st round submission. As soon as the fight began, Price attempted a single leg but Pettis scrambled and dictated the action. The fight ended up back on the floor late in the 1st round and that’s when Pettis finished Price with a triangle choke. This win is going to pay dividends for Pettis as the season goes on as he earns 6 points which significantly increases his chances of entering the PFL Playoffs.


## Rory MacDonald gets off to a great start

![8267656d47bc97fc2b5e13ac46df223b.jpeg](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/173ba581-0b10-49e4-75d4-f3e091254200/pub "Rory MacDonald squeezes the neck of Brett Cooper. (Professional Fighters League)")

Like his fellow former UFC colleague, Rory MacDonald earned a 1st round submission win in his return to the PFL this year by finishing Brett Cooper with a rear-naked choke. MacDonald, who was primarily known as a striker, now has more submission wins on his record than knockout wins. Given the nature of the PFL format, MacDonald’s key to success might be using his wrestling and avoiding risks where he doesn’t need to take them. MacDonald walked away from this fight unscathed and with 6 points. 


## Larissa Pacheco looks vicious 

![2926c86a9f8447d98217d2ba0b89b6f8.jpeg](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/64a12054-c4f6-4337-161e-e358b82f0a00/pub "Larissa Pacheco lands a right hand. (Professional Fighters League)")

Prior to this event, Larissa Pacheco was the only fighter in history that Kayla Harrison couldn’t finish. Pacheco had a successful 2021 in the PFL as she won 2 consecutive fights by 1st round knockout. Unfortunately, her year came to a bitter end after a failed weight cut disqualified her from competing in the Playoffs. Pacheco returned to the PFL this year with the same intensity that she started 2021 off with as she finished Zamzagul Fayzallanova by 1st round knockout. As soon as Pacheco landed the 1st punch, Fayzallanova was on the retreat. Pacheco swarmed and got the stoppage just 85 seconds into the 1st round. With this win, Pacheco now has 3 consecutive 1st round knockout wins.


Kayla Harrison, Anthony Pettis, and Rory MacDonald all advance in the PFL Season

Despite their fight being lacklustre at UFC 274, Carla Esparza defeated Rose Namajunas to once again become the UFC Strawweight Champion.


The fight was controversial because there was not a lot of action throughout the initial rounds, and it's been argued by many that the 1st round should have been scored 10-10. 

![1396032165.0.webp](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/58352472-fae6-4a77-464e-1704e2fad100/pub "Carla Esparza winning her 2nd UFC Championship. Credits to Christian Petersen-Getty Images")

Esparza regained her Strawweight title for a second time, becoming the second women's fighter to win a UFC title on multiple occasions. Ironically, Namajunas was the first to do so.


We went ahead and took a look at five potential fights to make in the Strawweight division, following the aftermath of UFC 274.


## Carla Esparza vs Zhang Weili/Joanna Jedrzejczyk winner


The rematch of one of the greatest fights in UFC history will go down on June 11th at UFC 275 in Singapore, and the winner, according to Dana White, will receive the next Strawweight title shot. Zhang Weili and Joanna Jedrzejczyk, both former Strawweight champions, put on an all time classic when they first competed UFC 248. Marina Rodriguez was another likely candidate to receive the next title shot, as she is currently on a four fight win streak, but White has said that the winner of the UFC 275 featured bout will receive the next crack at the 115 pound title. Rodriguez has already faced the current champion Esparza, and lost by split decision. This potential fight between Esparza and the winner of Zhang and Joanna, is almost certain to happen next, likely this fall or winter. 


## Rose Namajunas vs Marina Rodriguez

With the winner of Zhang Weili vs. Joanna Jedrzejczyk likely to get a title shot, that leaves Marina Rodriguez without a fight. Many believe that Rodriguez has already done enough to earn a title shot, but the current Champion Carla Esparza holds a win against her from July of 2020. This means that Rodriguez has more work to do. A fight between Rose Namajunas and Marina Rodriguez would be a great stylistic matchup. It would give Namajunas a chance to get back into the win column and would give Rodriguez an opportunity to compete against a former Champion.

## Mackenzie Dern vs Jessica Andrade


Jessica Andrade burst back onto the Strawweight scene, and became a title contender in a little over 3 minutes, as she scored an impressive standing arm triangle submission against Amanda Lemos in April of 2022.  Andrade, who is the former Strawweight Champion has always been an entertaining fighter to watch. I would love to see her matched up against Mackenzie Dern next, who is coming off of a win against Tecia Torres. This would be a true striker versus grappler matchup, Andrade is an excellent submission artist herself, and would likely have the striking and wrestling advantage over Dern’s grappling, but Dern has proved that nobody can match her on the ground, which makes this fight so interesting. The winner would definitely insert themselves into title contention.

## Yan Xiaonan vs Michelle Waterson


Another fight I’d be interested to see is Yan Xiaonan vs. Michelle Waterson. Both fighters are on bad runs right now, with Xiaonan on a two fight losing streak, and Waterson having lost 3 of her last 4. Both fighters are in need of a win, and a fight like this is the perfect opportunity to get either woman back on track towards the top of the division. Xiaonan is certainly hungry for a win after getting pummeled by Carla Esparza, and losing a close split decision to Marina Rodriguez. Waterson is a decorated striker, and has not been able to put together a winning streak in a long time. Waterson has fought the best the division has to offer, and a matchup with Xiaonan, who isn’t ranked high in the strawweight rankings, would be a great chance for both to see where they lie within the 115 pound division, and would also make for a great fight between two elite strikers. 


## Tecia Torres vs Amanda Lemos


This is matchup between two talented strikers that intrigues me. Tecia Torres has fought the best the strawweight division has to offer, and is still a formidable opponent. She rebounded from a four fight losing streak, and came back to win three in a row before dropping a close split decision to Mackenzie Dern last month. Lemos, on the other hand is coming off of a 1st round submission loss to Jessica Andrade, but is still talented and a dangerous opponent for anyone. Her ability to finish a fights is rare for a Strawweight, as 9 of her 11 wins have come by a stoppage. Both fighters have a potential in this division, and can capitalize on that with a win to set them back on track. 

## In Conclusion

The women’s strawweight division is undoubtedly the most intriguing female division in the UFC, with countless former champions and women that would like the opportunity to touch gold down the line. The return of Joanna Jedrzejczyk, the former Strawweight queen, will be so interesting to watch, as we will get to see where she lies within a murderers row of contenders. A new era in the division has begun with Carla Esparza as champion, and so these are 5 fights I would love to see get booked down the line. 

5 Fights to Make Next In The UFC's Strawweight Division

Akash Hothi

The UFC returns this weekend with a stacked pay-per-view headlined by Charles Oliveira vs. Justin Gaethje for UFC 274. The action goes down in Gaethje’s backyard of Phoenix, Arizona. The co-main event features a rematch between Rose Namajunas and Carla Esparza who first competed in December 2014.

The rest of the card is littered with high stake fights including the return of El Cucuy Tony Ferguson vs. Michael Chandler, and we also get to see a rematch of a fight that dates back to 2014, Shogun vs OSP 2. The pay-per-view kicks off with a fight between two legends Donald, “Cowboy” Cerrone vs Joe Lauzon. We’ve got a loaded card including 15 fights, so let’s get to making some money. 


## Charles Oliveira vs Justin Gaethje

The odds of this fight have shifted after Charles Oliveira failed to make weight, but even with that shift Justin Gaethje should be the play here. Sitting at 2.19 odds (+120) would pay $120 for $100 put in. He should be the better-conditioned fighter after the draining process Oliveira had to go through. I also like the leg kicks from Gaethje and that forward pressure that will weigh on Oliveira both mentally and physically. Another possible play here is the Justin Gaethje prop by knockout which pays 2.65 (+165) odds. If the line keeps creeping towards Justin as the favorite, a slight sprinkle on the former champ would not be a bad play seeing he was as high as 1.58 favourite. 

## Rose Namajunas vs Carla Esparza

I'm going to be straightforward about this one, I’m on the Namajunas express. I think she takes the win here. She is also undefeated in rematches so far in her career. Carla has been on a good run as of late and is an improved version of the one that fought Namajunas back in 2014. With that said I think Namajunas has finally put together her natural ability with the mental side of fighting and I expect we will see a career-best performance out of her. The play here is Namajunas outright at 1.45 odds (-220). That is a lot of juice to lay on her, but I think it is warranted. Another possible play is the under 4.5 which is valued at 2.36 (+135). Carla has never got five rounds, while Rose has that championship experience and I see her taking Carla into those rounds and there we see her fade and ultimately finished.  

## Michael Chandler vs Tony Ferguson

Next is the people's main event. This is a surefire barnburner and a fight I tend to stay far away from in terms of the betting perspective. Michael Chandler is a huge favourite 1.26 (-385) which provides us with little to no value. Tony Ferguson is coming off three losses in a row, but with his odds, a light sprinkle on him is worth the shot at 4.20 odds (+320). The play here is to sit and enjoy the fight, with a slight sprinkle on Tony Ferguson. 

## Mauricio Rua vs Ovince Saint Preux

PRIDE NEVER DIE! Shogun has been competing in mixed martial arts for nearly two decades which can cause a lot of wear and tear on the human body. Their first fight took place in2014 and resulted in a 34 second knockout by OSP. Eight years later I have to side with OSP here as he is the only true play. The play here is OSP at 1.40 (-250) which is a bit steep but could be thrown into parlay for extra value. To be safe, keeping far away from this fight could also be beneficial. 

## Donald Cerrone vs Joe Lauzon

Another fight where it's hard to predict what we will see out of each fighter. Both have been in the game forever, true legends and absolute warriors. I would advise staying away from this fight, but a possible play is the over 2.5 valued at 2.43 (+145). Both seem to still have some left in the gas tank and seeing they’re fighting a fellow veteran this could turn out to be a three-round brawl in which our play of over 2.5 rounds cashes.

## UFC 274 Parlay

Justin Gaethje, Rose Namajunas and over 2.5 rounds in Cerrone vs Lauzon valued at 7.72 (+670) pay $100 returns $670. Odds provided by Stake.

UFC 274 Betting Preview

Whenever there’s a Champion vs. Champion fight, the stakes are raised. At UFC 273, Aljamain Sterling and Petr Yan will compete in the 13th UFC title unification fight in history. Let's take a look back at the previous 12 fights.

## Jose Aldo vs. Conor McGregor

![etherlin.jpg](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/7a6933b5-db37-4276-8e0b-bc698ac25100/pub "Jose Aldo and Conor McGregor face off 2 days before their fight. (Esther Lin - MMA Fighting)")

The title unification bout between Jose Aldo vs. Conor McGregor is still one of the biggest fights in UFC history. It involved the pound for pound #1 fighter in the world Jose Aldo taking on who would become the biggest superstar in MMA history Conor McGregor. Aldo became the WEC Featherweight Champion in November of 2009. When the WEC merged with the UFC in 2010, Aldo was upgraded from the WEC Feathweight Champion to the UFC Featherweight Champion. When Conor McGregor made his UFC debut, he made his intentions clear from the very start: He wanted to become a UFC Champion. McGregor had a meteoric rise and dominated his competition en route to a title shot. After finishing Denis Siver in January of 2015, McGregor hopped over the Octagon fence and got into the face of Jose Aldo. The UFC announced that McGregor would challenge Aldo for the Featherweight title at UFC 189. Just 11 days before their scheduled bout, Aldo withdrew from the contest after suffering a rib injury. Chad Mendes stepped in on short notice to fight McGregor for the interim Featherweight title. McGregor finished Mendes by TKO to become the interim Champion. A fight between McGregor and Aldo was rebooked for UFC 194, this time being a Champion vs. Champion bout. McGregor shocked the world as he finished Jose Aldo by knockout in just 13 seconds to become the Undisputed Featherweight Champion of the world. At the time, no one had defeated Aldo for nearly 9 years. McGregor needed only 13 seconds.

## Khabib Nurmagomedov vs. Justin Gaethje

![getty.jpg](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/e21bcfa1-ee0d-4caf-fa8f-59d088089300/pub "Khabib Nurmagomedov in the final weigh in staredown of his career. (Getty Images)")

A dream fight between Tony Ferguson and Lightweight Champion Khabib Nurmagomedov was scheduled to take place in April of 2020 at UFC 249. The pair was supposed to compete 4x before this but the fight ended up getting cancelled every time. Every time a new fight was scheduled it became even bigger. It seemed like Khabib vs. Ferguson would finally take place at UFC 249 but the fight was again cancelled. This time it was cancelled for a reason no one saw coming: A global pandemic. After the spread of COVID-19 the world shut down and many international borders were closed. Khabib wasn’t able to leave Russia to enter the United States. When the UFC announced they would be bringing fights back, they set up an interim Lightweight title fight between Tony Ferguson and Justin Gaethje in May of 2020. This was the final nail in the coffin for Ferguson vs. Khabib, as Justin Gaethje went on to finish Tony Ferguson to become the interim Lightweight Champion. Gaethje refused to wear the interim title after finishing Ferguson, as he knew he had to defeat Khabib Nurmagoemdov to be considered the true Lightweight Champion. Gaethje received that opportunity at UFC 254 in October of 2020, as he would fight Khabib for the Undisputed Lightweight title. Khabib Nurmagomedov proved without a doubt that he was the best Lightweight fighter in the world as he submitted Justin Gaethje to remain the Lightweight Champion. After the fight was over, Khabib announced his retirement from the sport. He retired as the Undisputed Lightweight Champion and the pound for pound #1 fighter in the world.

## Tito Ortiz vs. Randy Couture

![71mMHSp0SxL._AC_SL1024_.jpg](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/0bbd8a8d-caeb-4ffc-a760-23943ac13b00/pub "The UFC 44 poster")

After Tito Ortiz refused to defend his Light Heavyweight title against Chuck Liddell in early 2003, the UFC ordered an interim title fight between Chuck Liddell and Randy Couture. At the time, Liddell was on a 10 fight winning streak and had dominated the competition while Couture was coming off back to back TKO losses at Heavyweight. Many expected Liddell to dominate Couture but the opposite happened. Randy Couture became the first fighter in history to finish Chuck Liddell by TKO and became the interim Light Heavyweight title. Less than 3 months later, Ortiz decided to return to the sport and fight Couture for the Undisputed Light Heavyweight title at UFC 44. The 40-year-old Couture dominated Ortiz for 5 rounds to become the undisputed Light Heavyweight Champion.

## Georges St-Pierre vs. Carlos Condit

![Graham Hughes:Canadian Press.jpeg](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/a1b3be54-86df-4e8d-0071-2f6b2ce20700/pub "GSP and Carlos Condit pose with their belts. (Graham Hughes - Canadian Press)")

After the UFC purchased Strikeforce in 2011, they acquired many of Strikeforce’s fighters. One of those fighters was the reigning Strikeforce Welterweight Champion Nick Diaz. The UFC set up a blockbuster Champion vs. Champion fight between Nick Diaz and UFC Welterweight Champion Georges St-Pierre at UFC 137. However, the fight was scratched after Nick Diaz failed to attend a press conference for the event. Instead, the UFC booked a Welterweight title fight between GSP and Carlos Condit at UFC 137. GSP suffered a knee injury and his fight against Condit was scratched. With GSP sidelined, the UFC ordered an interim title fight between Carlos Condit and Nick Diaz at UFC 143. Condit defeated Diaz in a close fight to become the interim Welterweight Champion. An undisputed Welterweight title fight was booked between Condit and the returning Georges St-Pierre at UFC 154. The fight took place in GSP’s hometown of Montreal, Quebec. It was an action-packed fight that saw Condit almost finish GSP, but GSP was resilient and went on to defeat Condit by unanimous decision to remain the Undisputed Welterweight Champion.

## Cain Velasquez vs. Fabricio Werdum

![Jeff Bottari: Zuffa LLC.jpeg](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/db8a1f22-97af-438f-2629-a70ad26b1800/pub "Fabricio Werdum with his signature troll face. (Jeff Bottari - Getty Images)")

After Cain Velasquez’s trilogy fight against Junior dos Santos in October of 2013, he was hit with various injuries and was unable to defend his Heavyweight Championship. Velasquez was scheduled to return to action and defend his title against Fabricio Werdum at UFC 180 in November of 2014 in Mexico City. However, another injury forced Velasquez to withdraw. The UFC ordered an interim Heavyweight title fight between Fabricio Werdum and Mark Hunt at the event. Hunt showed success early on with his striking, but Werdum finished him with a flying knee out of nowhere to become the interim Heavyweight Champion. The UFC would return to Mexico City in June of 2015 at UFC 188 for an Undisputed Heavyweight title fight between Cain Velasquez and Fabricio Werdum. To the shock of many, Werdum won every area of the fight. He did what nobody thought could be done. He outworked Cain Velasquez and got him tired. Velasquez shot for a takedown in the 3rd round which Werdum capitalized on by securing and finishing Velasquez with a guillotine choke to become the Undisputed UFC Heavyweight Champion. Werdum is the man that ended the winning streak of Fedor Emelianenko and took the title away from Cain Velasquez. With this win, he etched his name as one of the greatest Heavyweights of all time.

## Khabib Nurmagomedov vs. Dustin Poirier

![Jeff Bottari: Zuffa LLC2.jpeg](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/826b07bc-df38-4f1c-c44b-591ece13e100/pub "Before Khabib's first UFC fight in Abu Dhabi. (Jeff Bottari - Getty Images)")

In October of 2018, Khabib Nurmagomedov defeated Conor McGregor in the biggest box office fight in UFC history at UFC 229. The event sold 2.4 Million PPV buys and remains the only UFC event in history that’s surpassed 2 Million PPV buys. After Khabib finished McGregor, a brawl ensued as Khabib Nurmagoemdov jumped over the fence to attack the cornermen of Conor McGregor. It was an ugly scene that led to a 9-month suspension for Khabib. During his suspension, the UFC ordered an interim Lightweight title fight between Dustin Poirier and reigning Featherweight Champion Max Holloway. Poirier defeated Holloway to become the interim Champion and earned a fight against Khabib Nurmagoemdov. Poirier and Khabib were scheduled to fight for the undisputed Lightweight title at UFC 242 in Abu Dhabi. Khabib continued to show how superior he was compared to the rest of the division as he finished Poirier with a rear-naked choke to remain the Lightweight Champion.

## Robert Whittaker vs. Israel Adesanya 1

![Jeff Bottari:Zuffa LLC 2.jpeg](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/15d20531-cb50-44a8-4c7f-71ac29b1f800/pub "The weigh ins for Whittaker vs. Adesanya 1. (Jeff Bottari - Getty Images)")

When Israel Adesanya entered the UFC, you could immediately see that he was a different kind of striker than what we were used to in MMA. He came from the world of professional kickboxing where he accumulated a record of 75-5. After winning 5 consecutive fights in the UFC, he earned an opportunity to fight for the interim UFC Middleweight title against Kelvin Gastelum after the reigning Middleweight Champion Robert Whittaker was sidelined due to an injury. Adesanya and Gastelum competed in an instant classic in a fight that pushed Adesanya to his limits. Adesanya won a hard fought battle to become the interim Middleweight Champion. This led to an undisputed Middleweight title fight between Robert Whittaker and Israel Adesanya at UFC 243 at Marvel Stadium in Melbourne, Australia. This event set an all-time UFC attendance record at 57,127 fans. Adesanya looked flawless that night as he went on to finish Whittaker by knockout to become the undisputed Middleweight Champion.

## Matt Serra vs. Georges St-Pierre 2

![geettt.jpeg](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/b666ba71-964a-4fa5-6f4f-e5ee5660d900/pub "The final face off before GSP and Matt Serra stepped into the Octagon. (Getty Images)")

When Matt Serra won Season 4 of the Ultimate Fighter in 2006, he earned a title shot against the Welterweight Champion Georges St-Pierre. Not many were giving Serra a chance, who was an 11-1 underdog. He was going up against the almighty Georges St-Pierre who was leading a new generation of martial artists. Serra shocked the combat sports world, when he finished GSP by TKO in the 1st round to become the Welterweight Champion. This was the turning point in GSP’s career, as he began to rebuild himself as a fighter. He started by defeating Josh Koscheck at UFC 74. Serra was scheduled to make his first title defense against Matt Hughes at UFC 79 after the two were opposing coaches on the 6th season of the Ultimate Fighter. However, an injury forced Serra off the card. GSP stepped in on short notice to fight Hughes at the event for the interim Welterweight title. GSP submitted Hughes to become the interim Champion in what was also a trilogy bout between the pair. After having the interim title wrapped around his waist, GSP removed the belt and said that the only way he’d consider himself as the true Champion was by defeating Matt Serra in a rematch. The rematch against Serra would take place at UFC 83 in his hometown of Montreal, Quebec. This was the UFC’s first event in Canada. The rematch went as many expected the first fight to go. GSP dominated Serra and finished him in the 2nd round to once again become the UFC Welterweight Champion.

## Brock Lesnar vs. Frank Mir 2

![SamMorris:LasVegasSun.jpeg](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/f939e89c-c74f-4ca9-894f-0c7f0e1b2700/pub "Brock Lesnar and Frank Mir one day before their rematch. (Sam Morris- Las Vegas Sun)")

In February of 2008, former WWE Superstar Brock Lesnar made his UFC debut against Frank Mir at UFC 81. This was a major event for the UFC as many people were watching MMA for the first time. Brock Lesnar immediately charged towards Frank Mir when the fight began and started to attack. Referee Steve Mazzagatti halted the action after Lesnar hit Mir with punches to the back of the head. This was the turning point of the fight as Lesnar lost momentum. When the fight restarted, Mir secured and finished Lesnar with a kneebar, handing him the first loss of his professional career. Lesnar rebounded from this loss by defeating Heath Herring at UFC 87. Brock Lesnar was such a box office draw that the UFC granted him with a Heavyweight title shot against Randy Couture after just one win in the UFC. This was a return fight for Couture who was going through contract issues with the UFC, after trying to secure a fight against Fedor Emelianenko outside the Octagon. Before Couture decided to return to the UFC to fight Lesnar, the UFC had booked an interim Heavyweight title fight between Frank Mir and Antônio Rodrigo Nogueira. Both Lesnar and Frank Mir both finished their title fights by 2nd round TKO which set up a rematch between the two for the undisputed UFC Heavyweight title. The rematch would take place at UFC 100 which at the time was the biggest blockbuster event in UFC history. Lesnar avenged his loss to Mir by finishing by TKO to become the undisputed UFC Heavyweight Champion.

## Brock Lesnar vs. Shane Carwin

![102595844-ufc-116-weigh-in.jpg-850x560.webp](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/0e4c1b84-76c9-46dc-8746-470a6e33c100/pub "Brock Lesnar and Shane Carwin weighing in before their mega fight - Getty Images)")

After Brock Lesnar defeated Frank Mir at UFC 100, he was scheduled to defend his title against the undefeated Shane Carwin at UFC 106 in November of 2009. However, Lesnar was forced out of the fight after suffering diverticulitis. With Lesnar sidelined due to the illness, the UFC put on a fight for an interim Heavyweight title between Shane Carwin and Frank Mir at UFC 111. If Carwin won, we would see the fight that was originally scheduled for UFC 106. If Mir won, we’d see a trilogy fight between Brock Lesnar and Frank Mir. Carwin pummeled Mir with uppercuts and finished him to become the interim Champion. He earned an opportunity to fight Lesnar for the undisputed title at UFC 116 in July of 2010. Up until that point, Carwin had finished every opponent he had fought by 1st round knockout. It looked like he was going to continue that streak against Lesnar when he rocked him in the 1st round. Lesnar stayed composed while Carwin emptied the tank. Carwin would enter the 2nd round for the first time in his career against Lesnar. He came into the 2nd round as a depleted fighter. Lesnar took him down and finished him with an arm triangle choke. This fight earned Lesnar a tremendous amount of respect from the fight world as he proved he could take punishment, recover, and come back to win. It proved he was a true fighter.

## Jose Aldo vs. Max Holloway 1

![Buda Mendes:Getty Images.webp](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/f3c22f7b-7467-450d-e0f6-0a1e6e959900/pub "Jose Aldo and Max Holloway at a press conference in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. (Buda Mendes - Getty Images)")

After Conor McGregor defeated Jose Aldo to become the UFC Featherweight Champion, the division was left in limbo. McGregor was scheduled to move up in weight to challenge for the Lightweight title but instead fought Nate Diaz in back to back fights in the Welterweight division. With the Champion out of the division, the UFC set up an interim title fight between Jose Aldo and Frankie Edgar at UFC 200. Aldo defeated Edgar to become an interim Champion. After McGregor won the UFC Lightweight Championship in November of 2016, it was clear that he wouldn’t be returning to the division. This forced the UFC to strip McGregor of his title and upgrade Aldo from the interim Champion to the undisputed Champion. At the same time, Max Holloway was scheduled to fight Anthony Pettis for the interim Featherweight title at UFC 206. After Holloway defeated Pettis, he would go on to challenge Jose Aldo for the undisputed Featherweight title at UFC 212. This fight was certainly the most unique in terms of how we got to an undisputed title fight. Holloway went on to finish Aldo to become the Undisputed Champion.

## Francis Ngannou vs. Ciryl Gane

![getme.jpeg](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/b4bc1c38-a8d4-4853-630f-80a08d368100/pub "From training partners to opponents. (Getty Images)")

When Francis Ngannou defeated Stipe Miocic to become the UFC Heavyweight Champion, it seemed like Ngannou was going to be an active Champion that regularly defended his title. However, Ngannou was going through contract issues with the UFC and did not fight Derrick Lewis at UFC 265 as the promotion wanted. Just 4 months after Ngannou became the Champion, the UFC announced that Derrick Lewis would fight Ciryl Gane for the interim Heavyweight title. Gane was a prodigy and a former training partner of Francis Ngannou. He finished Lewis to become the interim Champion. After it seemed like Ngannou would hold the title for a long time, Cyril Gane came out of nowhere and became the biggest threat to the division. Ngannou and Gane were set to compete for the undisputed Heavyweight title at UFC 270 in January of 2022. Ngannou did in his fight against Gane what he had never previously done in his career. He won a fight by decision. With this win, Ngannou handed Gane the first loss of his professional career and left no doubt that he was the undisputed best Heavyweight fighter in the world. 

A look at every title unification fight in UFC history

The UFC will return to the Footprint Center in Phoneix, Arizona on May 7th for UFC 274. From top to bottom, this is a stacked card that features 2 Championship fights. Let’s take a look at all of the fights on the main card.

## Charles Oliveira and Justin Gaethje

If there’s ever a fight that’s guaranteed to be action-packed, it’s Charles Oliveira vs. Justin Gaethje. Charles Oliveira has competed in 41 professional fights and 88% of those fights have ended by stoppage. Justin Gaethje has competed in 26 professional fights and 89% of those fights have ended by stoppage. As it stands, 90% of the Verdict Community is predicting their fight at UFC 274 to end by stoppage. Charles Oliveira is finally getting his respect from the Verdict Community, as he’s the favorite for the first time since fighting Jared Gordon in November of 2019. This will be Gaethje’s second attempt at fighting for the UFC Lightweight title. He was submitted by Khabib Nurmagomedov in his first attempt in October of 2020. Much of the Verdict Community is predicting Gaethje to lose by submission again, as 49% predict Oliveira will submit him.

![Group.png](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/eacf9f23-8d31-477e-caf7-2b286ac4a100/public)

## Rose Namajunas vs. Carla Esparza 2

Rose Namajunas will get the opportunity to avenge her loss to Carla Esparza at UFC 274. The two first competed in December of 2014, in the finals of the Ultimate Fighter. Not only did the winner of that Season become the Ultimate Fighter, the winner also became the inaugural UFC Strawweight Champion. Going into the fight, Namajunas was still new to the sport with a professional record of 2-1. Esparza went on to finish Namajunas with a rear-naked choke to become the first UFC Strawweight Champion in history. A lot has happened since that fight. Esparza lost the title in her next fight while Namajunas reinvented herself as a fighter. Nearly 8 years later, Namajunas is the reigning Strawweight Champion while Esparza has earned her way back into a title shot. Though the first fight ended in dominant fashion, the Verdict Community is very confident in Namajunas with 80% predicting her to defeat Esparza in the rematch.

![Group 5.png](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/1ceba369-d9e2-48e7-e2d4-557ac1710f00/public)

## Michael Chandler vs. Tony Ferguson

For a lot of people, this is the most anticipated fight on the card. Michael Chandler vs. Tony Ferguson is a dream fight that many have been waiting to see for a long time. As exciting as the matchup is, it’s a dangerous fight for Tony Ferguson who’s in danger of losing his 4th consecutive fight. If Ferguson loses, there’s going to be a lot of questions regarding what he’s supposed to do next. Chandler is coming into this fight with back to back losses against Charles Oliveira and Justin Gaethje. He absorbed a lot of punishment in both of those fights. The majority of the Verdict Community are backing Michael Chandler, with 73% predicting him to win.

![Group 3.png](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/4977c270-ffe0-4718-36ca-df82f1d25f00/public)

## Shogun Rua vs. Ovince Saint Preux

This is a rematch of a fight that took place in November of 2014. The first fight didn’t last long, as OSP finished Shogun by knockout in just 34 seconds. Both Shogun and OSP are coming into this fight off TKO losses. Many are expecting the rematch to end like the first fight, as 34% of the Verdict Community is predicted OSP to finish Shogun by knockout. 

![Group 2.png](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/6d4f3a55-1362-4d83-d534-b658882b2d00/pub)

## Donald Cerrone vs. Joe Lauzon

The UFC 274 main card kicks off with a battle between two legends. After finishing Jonathan Pearce by TKO in October of 2019, Joe Lauzon decided to retire from the sport. However, his competitive spirit is making him come out of retirement. He’ll make his return against future UFC Hall of Famer Donald Cerrone. This looks like a must-win situation for Cerrone who’s failed to win in his last 6 fights. This is great matchmaking given where both of these fighters currently are in their careers.

![Group 4.png](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/4060edfd-bef3-44a2-182f-193cf2593400/pub)


A deep dive into a stacked UFC 274

The UFC returns to the VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena in Jacksonville, Florida on April 9th for UFC 273. This is a stacked card that features two Championship fights and the return of Khamzat Chimaev. Let’s take a look at all of the fights featured on Verdict.

## Alexander Volkanovski vs. the Korean Zombie

After Alexander Volkanovski defeated Brian Ortega, the original plan was for him to have a 3rd fight against Max Holloway at UFC 272. However, an injury forced Holloway to withdraw. Volkanovski didn’t want to wait for Holloway to recover, so he asked the UFC to set up another fight. Chan Sung Jung stepped in to challenge Volkanovski for the UFC Featherweight title. Jung is no stranger to title fights, as he first competed for the UFC Featherweight title in August of 2013 against Jose Aldo. Jung lost the fight after suffering a dislocated shoulder. Jung went on a 4-year hiatus after his fight against Aldo because it was mandatory for him to serve in the South Korean military. Jung picked up where he left off when he returned to the sport in 2017, as he finished the likes of Denis Bermudez, Renato Moicano, and Frankie Edgar by knockout. As good as Jung is, the Verdict Community isn’t giving him much of a chance at UFC 273 with 86% predicting Volkanovski to defeat him. Nearly 9 years after his first title shot, the Korean Zombie will once again challenge for the UFC Featherweight title.

![Group 2.jpg](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/dbc2a6f3-ccc1-4e19-c2ae-a3d38504fc00/pub)

## Aljamain Sterling vs. Petr Yan 2

The long-awaited rematch between Aljamain Sterling and Petr Yan will finally take place at UFC 273. The first fight ended in one of the most controversial finishes in UFC history after Petr Yan was disqualified for hitting a grounded Aljamain Sterling with an illegal knee. With this win, Aljamain Sterling became the first and only fighter in UFC history to win a Championship by disqualification. For the past year, Sterling has been criticized for not continuing to fight. He hasn’t been able to enjoy his time as UFC Champion and hasn’t gotten the respect that a UFC Champion should. He’ll get his opportunity to earn the respect of a Champion at UFC 273. Prior to the first fight, the Verdict Community was dead split at a 50/50 on who they thought would win the fight. It’s a different story headed into the rematch, as 85% of the Verdict Community predicts Yan to defeat Sterling.

![Group.jpg](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/97cbef35-ff72-497c-a1a0-625330192200/public)

## Gilbert Burns vs. Khamzat Chimaev

Even with 2 Championship bouts on the card, Gilbert Burns vs. Khamzat Chimaev is still the most anticipated fight on the card for many people. It’s been a long time since a prospect has demolished the competition the way Khamzat Chimaev has. He’s only had 4 fights in the UFC and many are already expecting him to become a UFC Champion in multiple divisions. Given that he’s ranked #11 at Welterweight, not many at the top of the division were keen on fighting Khamzat Chimaev. They view this as a high risk and low reward situation. However, Gilbert Burns knows that if he defeats Khamzat, he’s going to take all of his hype regardless of his ranking. Burns has never shied away from a challenge and you can see that in his fighting style. He’s a multiple-time Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu World Champion a former UFC title challenger. If Khamzat Chimaev defeats Gilbert Burns, there can be no more doubt. Khamzat will prove that he’s the real deal. The majority of the Verdict Community already believes Khamzat is the real deal, as 76% are predicting him to defeat Burns.

![Group 5.jpg](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/52d6159e-66dc-4074-0ef1-6baa178baf00/pub)

## MacKenzie Dern vs. Tecia Torres

Mackenzie Dern had a 4 fight winning streak snapped in her last fight against Marina Rodriguez. She’ll get her opportunity to get back on track when she takes on Tecia Torres at UFC 273. Torres’ only losses in the UFC have come against Jéssica Andrade, Joanna Jędrzejczyk, Weili Zhang, and Marina Rodriguez. 3 of those women are former UFC Champions while Rodriguez is likely to be fighting for a Champion in 2022. Simply put, Torres has only lost to the best of the best. Torres is currently on a 3 fight winning with a win against Angela Hill in her last fight. With that said, she's still a big underdog headed into this fight with 75% predicting Dern to defeat her.

![Group 4.jpg](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/b270946f-04e9-456b-b608-22b96dee1400/public)


## Aspen Ladd vs. Raquel Pennington

Aspen Ladd was originally scheduled to fight Irene Aldana but Aldana withdrew due to undisclosed reasons. Raquel Pennington has stepped in on short notice to fight Ladd. Since losing to Holly Holm in January of 2020, Raquel Pennington has won 3 consecutive fights. Even though she’s on a winning streak, 63% are predicting Aspen Ladd to defeat Pennington.

![Group 7.jpg](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/1e995bc3-5871-4659-9dc2-30429c7d1800/public)

## Ian Garry vs. Darian Weeks

After making a successful UFC debut last November, Ian Garry returns to the Octagon to take on Darian Weeks. Garry is undefeated at 8-0 and is a former Cage Warriros Champion. He represents the new wave or Irish fighters in the UFC and is looking to restart the Irish takeover. He has a lot of confidence as he’s nicknamed himself as “The Future”. His opponent Darian Weeks has a 100% finishing rate with 4 out of 5 fights ending by knockout. 

![Group 3.jpg](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/9b8e8645-d67d-42db-7b3e-d128d40c7000/pub)

UFC 273 Verdict Pre-Fight Preview

The UFC returns to Las Vegas this weekend for a card headlined by Amanda Lemos and Jessica Andrade. There are some nice matchups on this card that are flying under the radar. Let's take a look at them.

## Amanda Lemos vs. Jessica Andrade

Amanda Lemos is coming into her first UFC main event on a 4 fight winning streak. Lemos last competed in a highly contested fight against Angela Hill this past December. The win against Hill earned Lemos the biggest fight of her career as she’ll now take on former UFC Strawweight Champion Jessica Andrade. You can expect action any time Andrade competes as 6 of her last 7 fights have ended by TKO. The majority of the Verdict Community are predicting another stoppage, with 56% picking Andrade to finish Lemos by TKO.

![Group 5.png](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/4fbe4e3e-5258-4208-5a82-6e6d580ad500/pub)

## Lando Vannata vs. Charles Jourdain

Stylistically, Lando Vannata vs. Charles Jourdain might just be the most exciting fight of this card. Both are entertaining fighters that force the action. There’s one thing that they both have in common: In all their years of fighting in the UFC, neither Lando Vannata nor Charles Jourdain has been able to win back to back fights inside the Octagon. They’ll both get that opportunity this weekend as each fighter is coming off of a win. When Lando Vannata made his UFC debut against Tony Ferguson in 2016, many expected him to become a title contender. Now that Vannata has made his Featherweight debut, he’s hoping to spark those conversations again. It’s a fairly close fight on Verdict, with 60% predicting Jourdain to defeat Vannata.

![Group.png](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/05c04abe-5c90-4648-b53c-7d417fc1c000/pub)

## Manel Kape vs. Su Mudaerji

Manel Kape has found his groove in the Flyweight division as he’s coming off back to back knockout wins in the 1st round. Kape is always looking to finish his opponent, as 16 out of his 17 wins have come by stoppage. He’ll take on Su Mudaerji who’s coming off 3 consecutive wins in the UFC. The Verdict Community is very confident in Kape, with 84% predicting him to defeat Mudaerji with 56% predicting the win to come by knockout. Given the current state of the Flyweight division, Kape can secure a Flyweight title shot soon if he continues to perform like he’s been performing.

![kape.png](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/3a3b9bf8-f2e1-48d5-9d77-e8af1efe9500/pub)


## Maycee Barber vs. Montana De La Rosa

Maycee Barber’s never been short on confidence, as she nicknamed herself “The Future”. When she entered the UFC in 2018, her goal was to become the youngest Champion in UFC history. Though that’s no longer possible, Barber still has the chance to go far in her career as she’s only 23 years old. After competing on Dana White’s Contender Series, Barber won 3 consecutive fights by TKO. This finishing streak earned her an opportunity to compete in the prelims of UFC 246 which was headlined by Conor McGregor vs. Donald Cerrone. Barber competed against Roxanne Modafferi and was a big favorite. She lost the fight to Modafferi and blew out her knee in the fight which led her to being sidelined for 13 months. She lost her return fight to Alexa Grasso but finished the fight strong. Barber then went on to defeat fellow prospect Miranda Maverick in a highly competitive fight. Barber now looks to get back to winning in the same fashion that she did prior to her injury when she takes on Montana De La Rosa who’s coming off of a TKO win against the self-proclaimed “Queen of Violence” Ariane Lipski. The majority of the Verdict Community is expecting Barber to be victorious, with 63% predicting she’ll defeat De La Rosa.

![Group 2.png](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/0fe4adbb-d35e-452e-2097-965ab83e5b00/pub)

## Clay Guida vs. Claudio Puelles

It’s been 16 years since Clay Guida has been fighting in the UFC and fans still get excited to watch him compete. Guida has looked good in his last 3 fights, defeating Michael Johnson, losing a close split decision against Mark Madsen, and finishing Leonardo Santos with a rear-naked choke. He’ll be taking on Claudio Puelles who was 9 years old when Clay Guida made his UFC debut. Since losing his UFC debut in 2016, Puelles has gone on a 4 fight winning streak. Though Puelles is on a winning streak, only 34% of the Veridct Community are predicting him to defeat Guida.

![guida.png](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/21fff87e-86b5-412b-1db3-b215231c2600/pub)

UFC Vegas 52 Verdict Pre-Fight Preview

After an action packed PFL Season Opener last week, the PFL returns to action for the 2nd event of their regular season. Let's take a look at all of the fights on the main card.

## Bruno Cappelozza vs. Stuart Austin

In July of 2018, Bruno Cappelozza fought current UFC Light Heavyweight title contender Jiri Prochazka. After losing to Prochazka, Cappelozza had a 3 year absence away from the sport and it seemed like he wouldn’t be returning. It was in early 2021 when Cappelozza was offered a contract from the PFL to compete in their 2021 Season as a Heavyweight. Cappelozza signed the contract and made the most of it as he went on to win the PFL Championship and $1 Million. He went through a rollercoaster of emotions the night he won the Championship. After he had his hand raised, his corner informed him that his father had died. His team didn’t want to let him know of his father’s passing because they didn’t want him to be distracted heading into the biggest fight of his life. Cappelozza returns to the PFL this Thursday and will once again try to earn a Championship and $1 Million. He’s a big favorite on Verdict, with 82.3% of the community predicting him to defeat Stuart Austin in his season opener.

![Group 4.png](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/cdfeb623-eb96-4dbe-0357-2fbd7c464500/public)

## Lance Palmer vs. Chris Wade

Lance Palmer has had great success in the PFL, as he’s won 2 PFL Championships and a total of $2 Million in 2018 and 2019. However, 2021 didn’t go that way for Palmer. He failed to win a single fight and his streak of winning PFL Championships came to an end. He’ll take on Chris Wade who competed in last year’s PFL Championship but lost to Movlid Khaybulaev. Both Palmer and Wade have had great success in the PFL and they’ll finally compete against each other this Thursday in their 2022 season opener. 

![Group.png](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/e3bfbd30-6926-4aec-af90-f51441e2c900/public)

## Renan Ferreira vs. Jamelle Jones

Of all of the Heavyweights competing for the PFL this year, Renan Ferreira might be the most dangerous. He’s 6’8 and 253 lbs. of lean muscle. He's only had 1 real loss in his 9 year career and that came in 2016. He’s finished 7 out of his 8 wins. His nickname “The Problem” is fitting because he really is a problem for every Heavyweight in the division. His fight against Fabricio Werdum ended in controversy last year after the athletic commission ruled it a no contest. The original ruling of the fight was Ferreira winning by TKO. The fight was overturned to a no contest after the athletic commission ruled that Ferreira had tapped to a triangle choke that the referee didn’t notice. This prevented Ferreira from advancing to the PFL Championship event. He’ll get a fresh start this Thursday when he takes on Jamelle Jones.

![Group 3.png](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/ac8dc338-801a-4fa9-67dc-d04c17937300/pub)

## Brendan Loughnane vs. Ryoji Kudo

You might remember Brendan Loughnane from Dana White’s Contender Series. Loughnane won his fight, but was refused a UFC contract by the President after he shot for a takedown late in the fight. Since then, Loughnane signed to compete for the PFL. Many expected Brendan Loughnane to win the PFL Championship in 2021, but those dreams were spoiled by Movlid Khaybulaev. With Khaybulaev out of this years competition, Loughnane returns to the league to finish what he started: Become a PFL Champion.

![Group 2.png](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/bd403716-9ea7-46e3-95de-5c8ae0048500/pub)


The PFL returns for their 2nd event of the Regular Season

The final event of the first half of the 2022 PFL Regular Season will take place on May 6th. This is arguably the most stacked PFL card of all time as it features the likes of Kayla Harrison, Anthony Pettis, Rory MacDonald, and Ray Cooper III. Let’s take a deeper look at all of the fights on the main card.

## Kayla Harrison vs. Marina Mokhnatkina

After Kayla Harrison won the 2021 PFL Championship, she entered the free agency market. There was interest from all promotions including the UFC and Bellator. She was even shown on camera before Julianna Pena fought Amanda Nunes. Had Amanda Nunes won, the UFC was looking to make a super fight between Nunes and Kayla Harrison. The plans changed after Nunes lost to Julianna Pena. Harrison ultimately re-signed with the PFL. She’s a former 2x PFL Champion, has won over $2 Million with the promotion, and is the face of the organization. She’s more motivated than ever and is coming into this season with bad intentions. She’s a massive favorite with over 91% predicting her to defeat Marina Mokhnatkina.

![Group 4.png](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/b84f0b50-11e6-489a-3385-5340fa27ad00/pub)

## Ray Cooper III vs. Carlos Leal

Like Kayla Harrison, Ray Cooper III is a 2x PFL Champion that’s won $2 Million. In the last Championship event, Cooper competed against Magomed Magomedkerimov who had previously defeated him. Cooper had an opportunity to avenge a loss and that’s what he did. After being rocked badly in the 1st round, Cooper rallied back and finished Magomedkerimov by 3rd round knockout to win the 2021 PFL Welterweight Championship. He’ll take on Carlos Leal who hasn’t lost a fight since 2015.

![Group 6.png](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/ae215655-091f-448d-59a7-ccf95c832a00/pub)

## Anthony Pettis vs. Myles Price

Anthony Pettis’ entry to the PFL didn’t go as he expected as he failed to win a single fight in 2021. He was the former UFC Champion that was favored to win the PFL Championship. Clay Collard spoiled his PFL debut as he defeated him by unanimous decision. Pettis lost a unanimous decision to eventual PFL Lightweight Champion Raush Manfio in his next fight. Pettis returns to the PFL this season for another attempt at a Championship and $1 Million. His first fight takes place against Myles Price who hasn’t competed since 2019. Pettis is a big favorite, with 82% of the Verdict Community predicting him to win.

![Group 2.png](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/d7ccad47-674a-476b-2c3b-554a20bb4300/pub)

## Rory MacDonald vs. Brett Cooper

Rory MacDonald had a great start to the 2021 PFL season as he finished Curtis Millender by 1st round submission. It was in his next fight that his season went downhill. He lost a highly controversial decision against Gleison Tibau. This fight had the biggest final score difference in the history of the Verdict Scorecard where the opposite fighter had won. It seemed as if MacDonald’s will to compete diminished after this fight as he lost a decision to Ray Cooper III in a fight where he looked like he wasn’t driven. Now that he’s been off for 9 months, it will be interesting to see if MacDonald can re-spark his motivation and come to win. The Verdict Community certainly believes so, as 87% are predicting him to win.

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## Larissa Pacheco vs. Zamzagul Fayzallanova

In 2021, Larissa Pacheco won both of her fights by 1st round knockout. It seemed as if she was well on her way to compete for a PFL Championship, but a failed weight cut forced her out of competition. The failed weight cut cost her a chance at a Championship and $1 Million. Pacheo is back this year and will look to correct her mistakes. She’ll take on Zamzagul Fayzallanova who’s making her PFL debut.

![Group.png](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/59c1a056-931f-488e-80fd-571f72687200/public)

 Perhaps the most stacked PFL card of all time

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The UFC has confirmed an upcoming Light Heavyweight clash between former title challenger Thiago Santos and rising star Jamahal Hill on August 6th at a location to be determined.

Jamahal Hill made a statement in his last performance inside the Octagon when he finished Johnny Walker by 1st round knockout in what was his first UFC main event. Hill looks to carry that momentum to his fight against Thiago Santos.

![2199CB91-5E8F-4BA0-ACE5-3BB993A83033.jpeg](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/2d88da63-cf47-47a5-2a36-c76195b02200/pub "Jamahal Hill ends Walker with a massive blow. Credits to: Corey Brennan")


Since losing a split decision to Jon Jones in July of 2019, Thiago Santos has lost 3 out of 4 fights, most recently losing a unanimous decision at the hands of Magomed Ankalaev. Santos suffered career altering knee injuries in his fight against Jones and he hasn't looked the same since. 

If Jamahal Hill secures a win against Santos, he'll take a big leap towards a title shot.

Thiago Santos vs Jamahal Hill official for August 6

UFC and Strikeforce legend Nick Diaz has revealed plans to fight Kamaru Usman by the end of 2022. 

>I want to fight for that title. I think I'll beat him, I'd love if they gave me a shot.- Nick Diaz said to TMZ.

This would mark Diaz's first fight since his TKO loss to Robbie Lawler in September of last year, at UFC 266, a fight that followed a near 7 year layoff. Though he lost the fight, Diaz still feels he performed well against Lawler and has what it takes to become the UFC Welterweight Champion.

His desired adversary and Welterweight Champion, Kamaru Usman, is currently sidelined with a hand injury, coming off a unamimous decision win against bitter rival Colby Covington in November of last year at UFC 268. 

UFC President Dana White has previously dismissed Nick Diaz's wish to fight Kamaru Usman. Though it's unlikely that the UFC will book Nick Diaz in a title fight against the #1 pound for pound fighter in the world, this does indicates Diaz's desire to continue fighting.

Nick Diaz wants to fight Kamaru Usman for the UFC Welterweight title at the end of 2022

Featherweight contenders Brian Ortega and Yair Rodriguez are set to meet in the Octagon on July 16th, in Long Island, New York. This news was first reported by ESPN's Carlos Legaspi.

The two have been on each other's radars for years now, and will finally meet in what can only be a called a fight fan's dream matchup. An exciting bout between opposing styles, each bringing the excitement every single time. 

Ortega is coming off of a fight of the year contender in 2021 vs Featherweight champion Alex Volkanivsi. A fight that was largely a monumental showing for the champion. This doesn't mean it was a completely one-sided affair, however. Ortega nearly claimed gold with a guillotine in the 3rd round, almost putting the champion to sleep. The round that ensued was all Volk before T-City put together a brilliant round 5 that can only be explained as pure heart.

![77FC9161-9D9E-4C07-A151-C6E6B31C2D0E.jpeg](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/cd187ba2-f8b9-4181-c75b-92635b056d00/pub "Ortega nearly submits the champion, Alex Volkanovski. Credits to: Cooper Neill")

Yair Rodriguez was likewise involved in a fight of the year contender, meeting former champion Max Holloway in a war that saw both men leave it all inside the cage. A much closer affair than Volkanovski vs Ortega, Yair had a stock-rising showing against Blessed, earningnhim the respect of the entire MMA community in his first fight following a two year layoff. 


Now the number 2 and 3 Featherweights in the workd face off at UFC Long Island, the victor sure to loom heavy in the upcoming title picture.

Brian Ortega vs Yair Rodriguez official for July 16

A Flyweight fight between Katlyn Chookagian vs Manon Fiorot has been added to UFC Paris, first reported by Boxe Mag.

In their first ever event in France, the UFC has put together a fight between surging Flyweight Manon Fiorot and long-standing veteran Katlyn Chookagian, seemingly for number 1 contendership. 

Chookagian is coming off of a hard earned split decision win over Amanda Ribas earlier this month, defending her first place ranking. The bout saw her unanimously lose the first round and rally to win the second and third.

![6B91A21B-7EDF-4EEB-97F1-39EC3C8CCBF8.jpeg](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/070bb131-63b3-46ab-6289-6e747135dd00/pub "Chookagian earns a difficult win vs Ribas. Credits to: Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC")

Fiorot is riding the waves of her clinical performance against former title challenger Jennifer Maia. After her impressive victory, Manon lobbied for a hometown showdown against the aforementioned Chookagian. 

Answering her call, the UFC has given her just that in what will be her first ever home soil fight within the promotion. Both fighters seem to believe that this fight warrants a title shot, does the Verdict community agree?

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