Liam Lindsay

Wow! The UFC have just confirmed that Alexandre Pantoja will defend his Flyweight title against Steve Erceg at UFC 301 in Rio De Janerio, Brazil, on May 4th.

**This fight occurs in the Flyweight (125 lbs) division.**

Alexandre Pantoja is the Flyweight Champion and holds a professional record of 27-5 (11-3 UFC), with notable wins over Brandon Moreno, Brandon Royval, and Manel Kape.

Steve Erceg is ranked #10 in the Flyweight division and holds a professional record of 12-1 (3-0 UFC), with credible wins over Matt Schnell, Alessandro Costa, and David Dvorak.

**Official odds have yet to be released.**

Alexandre Pantoja and Steve Erceg are a couple of gamers. Pantoja wants to stay active despite only fighting in December. "The Cannibal" is 8-0 against the top-15 at Flyweights, and now is taking on a rising contender who is undefeated in the UFC. Pantoja could've sat out and waited for a fight, but instead, he's staying active and giving a title shot to the next generation of fighters.

![Pantoja-vs-royval.webp](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/1f737081-7078-4d01-9354-85611072df00/pub "Alexandre Pantoja comfortable beat Brandon Royval with his grappling in his last bout. Credits to: Stephen R. Sylvanie - USA TODAY Sports.")

And how about Steve Erceg? "Astroboy" only two weeks ago, meaning he's making a two-month turnaround against the Champion of his division. Despite never seeing a fourth or fifth round, Erceg is taking a chance in Pantoja's backyard to try and become the first Flyweight Champion out of Australia.

![Erceg-win.webp](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/d4ffa02a-6c86-4974-850c-6407051ac600/pub "Steve Erceg made his UFC debout on June 10th, 2023, not even a year later, he'll fight for a title. Credits to: Sergei Belski - USA TODAY Sports.")

This is an unexpected but great fight for the Flyweight division. As a member of the Verdict Community, let us know what you think will win in the comments below.

Alexandre Pantoja Will Face #10 Ranked Contender Steve Erceg at UFC 301

Carlos Prates made a serious name for himself in 2024, arguably placing himself as the up-and-comer of the year, going 4-0 with four finishes. Fighting out of the powerhouse Fighting Nerds team (also including Mauricio Ruffy, Jean Silva, and Caio Borralho), Prates has shown some serious knockout power among the Welterweights that he'll be looking to display in 2025. Let's cover three different names that could be Carlos Prates' next fight in the UFC.

## 1. **Vicente Luque**  
Vicente Luque is a veteran of the Welterweight rankings, holding the #14 spot, which is a placement below Prates. He's coming off a first-round submission victory over Themba Gorimbo at UFC 310, which snapped his losing streak and proved to many that he's still dangerous. A matchup with Luque would be a step up for Carlos Prates, but it would also be a great chance for him to show off his striking prowess against a fighter known for his durability. For Prates, a win over Luque would increase his star power further and likely move him closer to the top 10 of the division.

![luque-vicente.webp](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/cb47e149-110f-4703-7f9e-ea5f2d3ecb00/pub "Vicente Luque setting up the d'arce choke against Themba Gorimbo in his last fight. Credits to: Stephen R. Sylvanie - Imagn Images.")

## 2. **Geoff Neal**  
Another name that could be a fun matchup for Prates next is Geoff Neal. Neal has fought some of the top names in the Welterweight division, including Shavkat Rakhmonov, Ian Machado Garry, and the aforementioned Vicente Luque, making this a great opportunity for Prates to prove he belongs at the elite level. **“Hands of Steel”** would be a significant step up from his previous opponents, but Neal is only ranked four spots ahead, meaning this matchup makes sense from a rankings standpoint too.

![shavkat-rakhmonov-geoff-neal-ufc-285-2.webp](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/16710d2f-8886-49f5-9f19-166426d56400/pub "Geoff Neal fighting Shavkat Rakhmonov at UFC 285. Credits to: Chris Unger - Zuffa LLC.")

## 3. **Jack Della Maddalena**  
Now this would be a sizeable step up, but who doesn’t want to see Jack Della Maddalena vs. Carlos Prates? This is the fight Prates called for after he KOed Neil Magny, and he’s down to travel to Australia to make it happen. Right now, it sounds like Kamaru Usman may not be fighting JDM at UFC 312, so this could be a matchup we see in Q1 of 2025. Jack Della Maddalena hasn’t fought since March, so it’s a good opportunity for him to return against a game opponent in his home country.

![JackDellaUFC299.webp](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/0885be9e-c062-4fb8-8995-165180a42e00/pub "Jack Della Maddanlena after finishing Randy Brown at UFC 284. Credits to: Chris Unger - Zuffa LLC.")

What do you think? How do you see 2025 panning out for Carlos Prates? As a member of the Verdict Community, let us know with a comment down below.

Carlos Prates Next Fight in The UFC

Verdict MMA

Mauricio Ruffy is quickly becoming one of the UFC Lightweight division's most exciting prospects. Hailing from the star-studded Fighting Nerds team (also featuring Caio Borralho, Carlos Prates, and Jean Silva), Ruffy has proven he’s ready for bigger challenges after going 2-0 in the UFC in 2024. The question now is: who will Mauricio Ruffy fight next? We've picked out three names that could make sense.

## 1. **Benoit Saint-Denis**  
Despite being on a two-fight skid, Benoit Saint-Denis remains a tough matchup for any Lightweight in the division. This fight would be a clash of styles: BSD’s relentless pressure versus Ruffy’s precision striking. Though this would be a significant step up in competition, Ruffy called for this matchup after his win against James Llontop. If he’s ready to back up his words, why deny him the opportunity?

![benoit.webp](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/7e2c20ee-8043-4f7b-346a-ad921e277000/pub "Benoit Saint-Denis trading with Thiago Moises. Credits to: Josh Hedges - Zuffa LLC.")

## 2. **Jai Herbert**  
A bit of a left-field matchup, and certainly a smaller step up in competition for Ruffy. But a matchup could come in the form of England’s Jai Herbert. Known for taking on rising contenders like Ilia Topuria and Fares Ziam, Herbert offers a striking test for Ruffy that his previous two opponents have been a step behind on. This fight could take place at UFC London, giving Ruffy the chance to fight in enemy territory, or it could land on an early 2025 PPV prelim spot. Either way, Herbert’s solid striking and experience make him an intriguing challenge against another prospect.

## 3. **Matt Frevola**  
Matt Frevola, while currently on a losing streak, is a logical next step in competition for Mauricio Ruffy. With a strong social media following for an unranked fighter, Frevola’s presence could make this fight worthy of a PPV main card spot. Steamrolla holds notable wins over Drew Dober and Jalin Turner, presenting challenges in both striking and wrestling. While Ruffy would likely be the betting favorite, Frevola is a gritty opponent who can’t be counted out.  

![matt-frevola-ottman-azaitar-ufc-281-5.jpg](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/22af604b-f0d5-4d7c-6f5b-3f04f90fb800/pub "Matt Frevola KOing Ottman Azaitar. Credits to: Chris Unger - Zuffa LLC.")

Which of these opponents do you like the most? Or do you have a different suggestion? As a member of the Verdict Community, let us know in the comments below!

Mauricio Ruffy's Next Fight in The UFC

Douglas Vegas Bets

Another year in the books for the great sport of mixed martial arts and with that we have had some incredible fights this year. With so many to go over it is impossible to give all of the great fights their spotlight but I narrowed it down to ten fights that stood out this year so let's take a look at the best fights of the year 2024.

## 10. Trey Waters vs. Billy Goff

This matchup saw two men coming in off impressive debut wins going head to head and it delivered as this wild fight saw both men land massive shots with Waters trying to keep Goff at range as he charged in with long combinations. The fight ended with a unanimous decision win for Waters although many believe Goff did enough to get his hand raised as he was the one pressuring for most of the fight.

## 9. Jiri Prochazka vs. Aleksandar Rakic

This matchup years in the making went down on the historic UFC 300 card and lived up to the hype for how long it lasted. The first round saw Rakic put on a clinic landing big shots on Prochazka both to the head and legs although the former champion remained unfazed and continued to pressure Rakic no matter what came back his way. Early round two saw Rakic land a ridiculous elbow to the chin of Prochazka who somehow appeared completely unaffected continuing to press forward until he landed a massive right hand that had Rakic on the ropes which Prochazka did not let him off of by sending him to the canvas and ground and pounding his way to a wild comeback knockout win.

![2148556559.jpg](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/3ae3de4f-d828-44de-65c1-00d6bd4cc700/public "Jiri Prochazka finishes Aleksandar Rakic. Credit: Jeff Bottari/ Zuffa LLC via Getty Images")

## 8. Joshua Van vs. Edgar Chairez

One of two fights from this card makes the list here as these two Flyweights went to war on the prelims of one of the biggest cards of the year from the Las Vegas Sphere. With Van returning just a short time after suffering a knockout loss many questioned if his chin would hold up here and after eating some massive shots from Chairez there were no more concerns there although it did seem like the fight was getting away from him until he dropped Chairez and completely stole momentum late which he carried to a unanimous decision win. 

## 7. Petr Yan vs. Deiveson Figueiredo

One of the final main events of the year gave us five rounds of fun and violence as these two former champions collided at Bantamweight with heavy title implications. Both had their moments over five rounds, with Yan starting faster than usual and looking crisp but Figueiredo showed his power at times, wobbling Yan on multiple occasions. After five rounds, it was clear Petr Yan won the decision but Figueiredo still gave a solid showing and kept this one entertaining for every minute.

![2186477379.jpg](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/f62cfc05-f7fe-43ba-5e71-ebca21596e00/public "Petr Yan fighting with Deiveson Figueiredo. Credit: Jeff Bottari/ Zuffa LLC")

## 6. Islam Makhachev vs. Dustin Poirier

When this was first announced there was some debate as to whether or not Poirier should have gotten a shot at the title, but by the end of this fight there was no doubt he belonged in there with the pound-for-pound best in Makhachev. This was not an easy fight for the champ, who on paper got a finish and won the rounds, although that was not the story of this one, with Poirier having a lot of success stopping the dominant wrestling of Makhachev and landing hard combinations that led to some tense moments for team Makhachev. In the end, Makhachev secured the fight-ending choke to put a stamp on a gritty performance but from start to finish this fight had a certain energy that made it very fun to watch.

## 5. Ilia Topuria vs. Max Holloway

It did not last the five rounds scheduled, but the two and a bit we got was some of the most intense action I felt when watching a fight this year. The stakes of this fight were as big as any this year, with Topuria coming off his title-winning knockout of Alexander Volkanovski and Holloway having won the BMF title with his knockout of the year against Justin Gaethje. The fight was a very close striking battle for the most part, with Topuria landing a big takedown at one point, although not much was done with it. The third round saw Topuria land a straight right that had a clear effect on Holloway, who backed up and circled away as Topuria began to launch violent bombs at him until eventually landing the left hook that would crack the legendary chin of Holloway sending him to the floor and ending the fight.

![2181233611.jpg](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/0eff1029-2b9e-4b86-ca98-20248e18f200/public "Ilia Topuria lands a right hand on Max Holloway at UFC 308. Credit: Chris Unger/ Zuffa LLC")

## 4. Brandon Royval vs. Tatsuro Taira

This five-rounder from the Apex gave us one of the most technical matchups of the year, with both men showing well-rounded skillsets, although it was clear they each had a strategy. As the fight progressed, it became clear what each man had to do, with Royval getting the better of the striking and Taira being the much better grappler. The fight was as back and forth as any all year, with them trading rounds and neither man able to separate themself, leading to a split decision that came down to round one. Royval got his hand raised in the end, which most agreed with, as Royval received around 80% of the round one voting on the Verdict scorecard.

## 3. Myktybek Orolbai vs. Mateusz Rebecki

This fight showed the depth of the Lightweight division as these two battled looking to earn a shot at the rankings. The damage built up early in this one with Orolbai's face being a complete mess that would've caused many doctors to stop the fight but he was allowed to continue and he did by pressuring like a zombie as the two traded big shots with Rebecki getting the better of most exchanges. The fight ended in a split-decision win for Rebecki who was a sizeable underdog entering the matchup.

![Mateusz-Rebecki-def.jpg](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/a9bf709f-aea8-442d-dc7a-65e9a5b66000/public "Mateusz Rebecki vs. Myktybek Orolbai. Credit: Craig Kidwell via MMA Junkie")

## 2. Alex Pereira vs. Khalil Rountree Jr.

This fight was a shocker when it was first announced as Rountree Jr. was ranked much lower and came in off a win over a short-notice Anthony Smith that hardly warranted a title shot yet when it came time to fight Rountree Jr. came out ready to go, winning the first two rounds and even dropping the dominant champion early although it was in the third round that Pereira found his rhythm. The damage of Pereira's jab had started to mount on Rountree and it was clear he couldn't keep up the rate he had in the past few rounds so with him slowing we saw Pereira enter flow state landing beautiful combos eventually crumbling a badly damaged Rountree to the canvas in the fourth round, ending what was a phenomenal striking display from both men.

## 1. Esteban Ribovics vs. Daniel Zellhuber

This gets my Fight of the Year award as it was the definition of non-stop action. The first two rounds were back-and-forth battles with Zellhuber using his length to try and maintain range and Ribovics charging in with ridiculous combos to get inside. The third round was when this went from a great fight to an all-time great as early on Zellhuber landed an elbow that dropped Ribovics and put him in a good position to win the fight. Then Ribovics landed a huge right hand that completely took Zellhuber's balance and had him running to try and survive for almost the rest of the round. The scorecards were split, with the first two rounds being very close but the clear third round for Ribovics helped get him the decision win. 

![ribovics-zellhuber-action.jpg](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/f9b295c1-eebb-4340-779c-a51bf250b100/public "Esteban Ribovics vs. Daniel Zellhuber at UFC 306. Credit: Getty Images")

What was your favorite fight this year? Let us know in the comments!

Top 10 Fights of 2024

Last night saw the final fight night of the year and it was an action-packed card that saw many fighters raise their stock and some lower theirs alike. With that now comes the question, what's next? I went over a few possible matchups that I would like to see next for the fighters we saw compete last night.

## Joaquin Buckley vs. Ian Garry

I know Buckley made a great callout of Kamaru Usman in his post-fight interview but with rumors of him being matched up with Jack Della Maddalena, I thought why not give this matchup another try with a little added backstory now? I get that the circumstances have changed since this fight was first booked with Buckley winning and Garry losing but I think it important to consider Garry was fighting down to begin with and his stock is also at an all-time high despite the loss to Shavkat Rakhmonov with how close that fight played out.

![1471304275.jpg](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/4a30c2f6-998a-4820-cf3e-32ed21380200/public "Ian Garry Hits the Griddy. Credit: Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images")

## Cub Swanson vs. Sodiq Yusuff

Swanson has reached a stage in his career where he should just get fun striking matches and that is exactly what this one is as Yusuff is a dangerous striker who has had some incredible battles in the past including his Dana White's Contender Series fight with Mike Davis. This matchup would be a guaranteed fight-of-the-night contender on any card and is a slam dunk booking.

## Manel Kape vs. Brandon Royval

Last night felt like we finally got to see Kape live up to his potential although it was a considerable step down in competition which gives me hesitation about giving him a title shot. Royval meanwhile holds the number one contender spot but with two previous losses to the champ Alexandre Pantoja, he needs another big win to make himself undeniable for another chance at the title making this fight a perfect fight to determine a new challenger.

![230419royval1.jpg](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/6472205d-a669-4739-2737-b443bd76d900/public "Brandon Royval lands a knee that knocks out Matheus Nicolau. Credit: Zuffa LLC via Getty Images")

## Daniel Marcos vs. Jonathan Martinez

Marcos maintained his undefeated record and showed a bit more offensive grappling than he has in the past last night but I still want to see him against another striker and with Martinez in a position where he will likely need to defend his ranking I like this matchup a lot. Also worth noting that Martinez earned his shot at the rankings with his win over Martinez which could now be the case for Marcos.

## Navajo Stirling vs. Devin Clark

It wasn't the dream debut that Stirling hoped for last night but with his lack of experience, it is to be expected that there is some work to do on his skillset. It may be a bit early to test him against someone as experienced as Clark but if he wants to make a push anytime soon this is the type of matchup I would like to see him take to prove he can handle high pace wrestling.

## Michael Johnson vs. Matt Frevola

Johnson proved he is still as dangerous as ever last night with a highlight knockout against an opponent who Frevola knocked out faster some time ago. So with these two having been booked earlier this year before an injury caused it to be canceled, I'd like to see them rebook this one as both men are dangerous and fun strikers who are sure to put on a show.

![matt-frevola-ottman-azaitar-ufc-281-5.jpg](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/22af604b-f0d5-4d7c-6f5b-3f04f90fb800/public "Matt Frevola knocking out Ottman Azaitar Credit: Jessica Alcheh-USA TODAY Sports")

## Joel Alvarez vs. Benoit Saint-Denis

It is time Alvarez got a ranked opponent and coming off a pair of stoppage losses the once very hyped Saint-Denis needs a big win to turn things back around making this matchup of pure violence a logical next move for both men. This matchup would also test the striking defense of Saint-Denis and the takedown defense of Alvarez both of which have proven questionable at times. 

What would you like to see next for last night's winners? Let us know in the comments!

Fights To Make After UFC Tampa

It was all Joaquin Buckley for most of the final main event of the year as he dominated Colby Covington on his way to a TKO win in the final main event of the year from the Amalie Arena in Tampa, Florida.

## Result: Joaquin Buckley def. Colby Covington via 3rd Round TKO (4:42)

The first round saw Buckley land a nice right hand early that left a cut above the eye of Covington that clearly had an immediate effect with Covington repeatedly wiping at it for the rest of the fight. At the end of the first round, Buckley saw another big moment as he landed a big shot that sat Covington down and put him clearly in the driver's seat. The second and third rounds saw Covington have some wrestling success in spots but was mostly more of Buckley doing damage on the feet with the eye becoming more of an issue until the doctor eventually had to step in.

What did you think of Buckley's performance? Let us know in the comments.

Joaquin Buckley Forces a Doctor Stoppage Against Colby Covington at UFC Tampa

Dana White posted a video this morning officially announcing the UFC is returning to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on February 1st with a stacked fight night card. The card will be headlined by former Middleweight champion Israel Adesanya taking on streaking contender Nassourdine Imavov.

![r1343535_1296x518_5-2 (1).jpg](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/6cc5c0e6-4faf-487c-ca62-21e758b3b100/public "Nassourdine Imaov celebrates after a knockout win against Jared Cannonier. Credit: Getty Images")

The matchup has been rumored for some time with Adesanya having posted a video of himself watching Imavov's fight with Jared Cannonier earlier this year. This will be Adesanya's first non-title fight since 2019 when he faced Anderson Silva. For Imavov this will be his fourth top-ten opponent in a calendar year with him having won each of the previous three matchups with Roman Dolidze, Jared Cannonier, and Brendan Allen.

![mvp-ufc-entrance (1).jpg](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/eec1425d-3c86-461c-e0d5-79c59e5b7800/public "Michael Venom Page does his signature entrance. Credit: Getty Images") 

The co-main event for the card was also announced to be a Middleweight bout between Shara "Bullet" Magomedov and Michael "Venom" Page in a clash of flashy strikers with impressive highlight reels. Magomedov enters this matchup coming off his impressive knockout win over Armen Petrosyan at UFC 308. This will be Page's first UFC fight at Middleweight after losing his last fight in a close decision against Ian Machado Garry.

What do you think of these big-time matchups? Let us know in the comments!

Israel Adesanya vs. Nassourdine Imavov Set to Headline UFC Event in Saudi Arabia

The UFC heads to sunny Tampa, Florida for an action-packed fight night from the Amalie Arena headlined by Welterweight contenders Colby Covington and Joaquin Buckley going head to head. I went over that fight and every other matchup on the card to give my predictions and best bets so let's get into it.

**Odds provided by Duelbits accurate as of 12/12/2024**

## Colby Covington +215 vs. Joaquin Buckley -278

Short notice swap added some chaos to this Welterweight main event. Colby Covington looks to get back on track here after failing for a third time to capture the title last year when he lost to Leon Edwards in a rough performance where he was unable to push his usual pace. However, at his best, he has shown some of the best cardio and wrestling in the UFC. Joaquin Buckley has been on a roll since moving down in weight with his most recent win being a knockout against Stephen Thompson where he showed his explosive power although he was outstruck by Thompson for most of the fight.

It's tough to back Covington with his recent performance and layoff but I'll pick him at this price against a much less proven opponent and I'll bet the over as Covington has proven durable with his main path to victory also being a decision.

Prediction: Covington by Decision

## Cub Swanson +132 vs. Billy Quarantillo -161

Two men known for putting on must-see action collide here in the co-main event at Featherweight. Cub Swanson is a slick striker with crisp and powerful boxing that he has used to go to close decisions against solid and younger opponents in his last two fights. Billy Quarantillo is a high pace striker with great cardio and a solid ground game although he is very hittable and coming off a rough loss to Youssef Zalal.

I lean towards Swanson here as I feel he is the more effective striker who has proven to still have some left in the tank.

Prediction: Swanson by Split-Decision

## Manel Kape -370 vs. Bruno Silva +280

Flyweights looking to enter the title conversation in a division desperate for a contender clash here. Manel Kape is an explosive counterstriker with good ground skills as well my only issue with his game is he is very hesitant at times when I feel if he was more aggressive he would have success. Bruno Silva gets a big fight here after finishing his last four opponents when it seemed like he was on the verge of being cut after not getting his hand raised through three fights with the promotion.

I'm taking Kape here as I give him the edge wherever the fight may take place and he is very difficult to finish which has proven to be Silva's path to victory.

Prediction: Kape by Decision

## Dustin Jacoby +245 vs. Vitor Petrino -313

Two men looking to get back in the win column after rough performances clash here at Light Heavyweight. Dustin Jacoby is a solid kickboxer with good volume although his durability has been an issue in recent fights with Alonzo Menifield knocking him down several times and Dominick Reyes knocking him out in the first round. Vitor Petrino is an athletic and powerful guy although he has shown some technical deficiencies that make me hesitate before getting excited about him.

I'll go with Petrino here as he has the explosive power to finish this fight on the feet along with a significant advantage if the fight hits the ground.

Prediction: Petrino by 1st Round Submission

## Daniel Marcos -208 vs. Adrian Yanez +165

Bantamweight strikers square off here in what should be a fun matchup. Daniel Marcos is an unbeaten striker who has consistently improved over his time with the UFC showing a career-best form against John Castaneda his last time out. Adrian Yanez is a good boxer coming off a strong bounce-back performance after several tough outcomes when he stepped up in competition.

I like Marcos here as he is the more diverse striker who's easier to trust from a defense and durability standpoint.

Prediction: Marcos by 3rd Round TKO

## Navajo Stirling -769 vs. Tuco Tokkos +500

An intriguing Light Heavyweight prospect makes his debut here in the main card opener. Navajo Stirling enters this one off an impressive win on this season of Dana White's Contender Series where the City Kickboxing product moved to five wins with no losses showing his striking skills are already at UFC level with very little in cage time. Tuco Tokkos looks to bounce back after an unsuccessful debut where he was submitted showing against Oumar Sy although he has had some solid wins in the past like a finish over former PFL fighter Ty Flores.

This seems like a setup fight to get Stirling a win and maybe a nice highlight which I expect him to get by cruising through Tokkos here who is not on his level of striking.

Prediction: Stirling by 1st Round KO

## Michael Johnson -208 vs. Ottman Azaitar +165

Knockout punchers collide here in this Lightweight matchup. Michael Johnson is a veteran with fast hands although he has become known for his inconsistency with some performances having him look like a world-beater and others seeing him finished out of nowhere. Ottman Azaitar is a big knockout puncher although his last few fights have shown he is not much else as he has lacked speed and technique resulting in two first-round knockout losses.

I'll pick Johnson here as his speed advantage will be massive although I would advise against laying this price on him based on his age and history.

Prediction: Johnson by 2nd Round TKO

## Drakkar Klose +320 vs. Joel Alvarez -435

Lightweights just outside of the rankings face off here in a pivotal clash. Drakkar Klose is a well-rounded fighter with a strong ground game and basic striking skills although he does look stiff in the stand up and his durability is a concern. Joel Alvarez is a huge finisher with dangerous punching power that helped him become the first man to finish Elves Brenner in his last fight and a nasty submission game that he used to finish Marc Diakiese after hurting him.

I like Alvarez to get another finish here as he has big power and Klose reacts poorly to big punches which I believe Alvarez will capitalize on early.

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

## Sean Woodson -159 vs. Fernando Padilla +129

Tall and long Featherweights collide in this semi-mirror matchup. Sean Woodson is a freakishly tall fighter for this weight and he uses his length well to keep opponents away with his straight shots although his durability is questionable and Alex Caceres gave him trouble when blitzing in. Fernando Padilla is a dangerous and durable fighter with knockout power that he showed against Julian Erosa and submission skills that he showed in his last fight against Luis Pajuelo.

I'll take Padilla as the underdog here mainly because he has all the finishing upside with him having never been finished and Woodson having been submitted by Erosa and hurt badly by Luis Saldana.

Prediction: Padilla by 2nd Round TKO

## Miles Johns +205 vs. Felipe Lima -256

Bantamweights looking to keep their momentum square off here. Miles Johns is a stocky wrestler with solid power in his hands who comes in on a four-fight unbeaten streak with all wins coming by decision. Felipe Lima impressed many when he came in for his UFC debut and showed urgency in the third round of a close fight helping him secure the submission finish over Muhammad Naimov who had previously never been stopped before.

I lean towards Lima here as I feel he will be the more active fighter on the feet with an advantage on the ground as well.

Prediction: Lima by Decision

## Miranda Maverick -556 vs. Jamey-Lyn Horth +390

Flyweights looking to build moment go head to head here. Miranda Maverick has shown the potential to be one of the best in the division with her strong wrestling game and improving striking although she has had issues stringing together consistent performances. Jamey-Lyn Horth enters this one having had two close fights to start her UFC career where she showed a very basic skillset and failed to separate herself.

I don't see Horth being able to keep this one competitive as Maverick is just on a much higher level than her and still improving at just twenty-seven years old.

Prediction: Maverick by Decision

## Davey Grant -106 vs. Ramon Taveras -114

Veteran and prospect square off at Bantamweight in this solid prelim matchup. Davey Grant is a tough-as-nails striker who has earned some gritty wins and proven he can hang with up-and-comers like he did against Daniel Marcos in their close fight. Ramon Taveras is a powerful puncher coming off a wild debut where he won a close decision after hurting and dropping Serhiy Sidey several times over three rounds.

I lean towards Taveras here as he is the younger and more powerful guy.

Prediction: Taveras by 1st Round TKO

UFC Fight Night: Covington vs. Buckley Odds Breakdown

UFC Fight Night Covington vs. Buckley goes down tomorrow night from the Amalie Arena in Tampa, Florida. Here are the results from today's weigh-ins.

## Main Card, 10 PM EST

**Welterweight:** Colby Covington (171) vs. Joaquin Buckley (171)

**Featherweight:** Cub Swanson (146) vs. Billy Quarantillo (146)

**Flyweight:** Manel Kape (125) vs. Bruno SIlva (126)

**Light Heavyweight:** Dustin Jacoby (205.5) vs. Vitor Petrino (204.5)

**Bantamweight:** Daniel Marcos (136) vs. Adrian Yanez (136)

**Light Heavyweight:** Navajo Stirling (206) vs. Tuco Tokkos (206)

## Prelims, 7 PM EST

**Lightweight:** Ottman Azaitar (156) vs. Michael Johnson (156)

**Lightweight:** Joel Alvarez (156) vs. Drakkar Klose (156)

**Featherweight:** Fernando Padilla (145.5) vs. Sean Woodson (145.5)

**Featherweight:** Miles Johns (146) vs. Felipe Lima (146)

**Flyweight:** Jamey-Lyn Horth (126) vs. Miranda Maverick (126)

**Bantamweight:** Davey Grant (136) vs. Ramon Taveras (136)

**Strawweight:** Josefine Knutsson (116) vs. Piera Rodriguez (116)

UFC Fight Night: Covington vs. Buckley Weigh-In Results

After saying he was planning a move up to Lightweight earlier in the week, Ilia Topuria's head coach Jorge Climent has now also stated that the plan is to move up and vacate the Featherweight title rather than defend it in what was expected to be a rematch with the former champion Alexander Volkanovski.

Topuria has targeted Charles Oliveira for his return in April or May although his coach also threw the name Dustin Poirier out as a potential opponent. Poirier has shown some interest having shared a post about the matchup on his X account.

![image_2024-12-12_101113425.jpg](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/32f5e2ba-c886-48ed-311b-29089de2e300/public "Dustin Poirier's X Account sharing a post about a fight with Ilia Topuria")

Coach Jorge Climent stated to Submission Radio that the reason for the move was due to an increasingly difficult weight cut, with Topuria weighing around 190 lbs outside of camp.

![download (8) (1).jpg](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/36a73b17-fafb-4dd3-2cd1-a817d7ff9300/public "Ilia Topuria lands a right hand against Max Holloway at UFC 308. Credit: AP Photo/ Altaf Qadri")

Topuria will end his time as Featherweight champion with one title defense coming against Max Holloway at UFC 308 where Topuria won via knockout. He won the title at UFC 298 earlier this year with a knockout win over Alexander Volkanovski.

What do you think of this move from Topuria? Let us know in the comments.

Ilia Topuria Planning Full Time Move to Lightweight.

It was a fantastic performance from the UFC Flyweight champion Alexandre Pantoja as he defended his title with a second-round submission win over Kai Asakura at UFC 310.

## Result: Alexandre Pantoja def. Kai Asakura via 2nd Round Submission/Rear-Naked-Choke (2:05)

From the very beginning of the fight, Pantoja was putting pressure on getting right in the face of Asakura, who nearly landed a flying knee very early but ended up on his back for most of the first round. The second round saw more pressure from Panoja, who eventually jumped on the back and quickly locked up the choke that ended the fight.


>"That's the UFC level" - Alexandre Pantoja

What did you think of Pantoja's performance? Let us know in the comments.