Jordan Lopez

Adrian Yanez will return to the Octagon tonight as he takes on Tony Kelley that has the fight world excited. Yanez is coming off his fourth-straight win in the UFC when he defeated Davey Grant in November of 2021 via decision. With a professional record of 15-3, Yanez remains undefeated in the UFC and will try to keep it that way after this weekend.

Yanez has had some very fun fights leading up to this one. He quickly became a fan-favorite with the way he fights and his exciting finishes. With that being said, let's take a look at his young UFC career so far. 

## Adrian Yanez's rise in the UFC

![Yanez.jpeg](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/ac744536-ee87-4b88-1cb4-f3fe18f72300/pub "Adrian Yanez after his win against Randy Costa. Credits to: Jeff Bottari-Getty Images.")

Adrian Yanez competed in season four of the Dana White Contender Series (DWCS) and earned a UFC contract by knocking out his opponent in just 39 seconds. After doing so, he would fight in his UFC debut on Halloween night and not disappoint. Yanez finished Victor Rodriguez in the very first round via KO (head kick). He would go on to get an extra $50,000 from Dana White with the Performance of the Night (POTN) bonus in his debut. 

Yanez then returned to the Octagon against Gustavo Lopez when he displayed a beautiful performance once again. He countered everything perfectly and kept picking apart his opponent on the feet. It wasn’t until the beginning of the third round when Yanez finally put him away to earn his second UFC win. He would go on to earn another POTN bonus for his victory. 

In his third UFC fight, Yanez would go on to face another young prospect, Randy Costa at UFC Vegas 32. The long jab of Costa presented problems in the first round for Yanez but once he found his range in the second round, Yanez decided to pour it on Costa. Throwing 78 significant strikes in the second round, Yanez found his groove and ultimately got the finish when attacking the body of Costa. The boxing display was one to watch as it earned Yanez his third consecutive win in the UFC and another $50,000 POTN bonus. 

In his most recent fight, Yanez got put to the test with the gritty veteran, Davey Grant. In what was an awesome fight, Yanez took control of this fight after going back and fourth with Grant. Yanez earned an odd split decision (when many thought it was unanimous) victory and looked great. The volume of Yanez was the determining factor as he would increase his output and look better as the fight goes on. He ended up with 45 significant strikes at the end of round three and looked phenomenal while doing so. The striking display from Yanez was beautiful to watch and it earned him his fourth consecutive win in the UFC. And just in case you were wondering, Yanez earned another $50,000 bonus, recieving Fight of the Night honors. 

## UFC Austin: Adrian Yanez vs. Tony Kelley preview

![Yanez2.jpeg](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/0f15675a-252a-4276-9336-5cbf9c8f2f00/pub "Adrian Yanez connecting with a fast jab on Davey Grant. Credits to: Chris Unger-Getty Images.")

Adrian Yanez will look to remain undefeated in the UFC but he will have his hands full with Tony Kelley at UFC Fight Night: Kattar vs Emmett. Kelley is coming off a TKO win against Randy Costa at UFC 269. The non-stop pressure of Kelley is what earned him the win against Costa and he will look implement the same plan this weekend. He has great endurance and attacks with a fast pace while switching stances. Kelley gives his opponents a lot of different looks while pressuring forward, which can cause his opponent problems. On the flip side, that is not the case.

Yanez provides a more technical and dangerous striking approach to his opponents. During the fight against Gustavo Lopez, Michael Bisping and Paul Felder brought up the comparisons of Jorge Masvidal to Yanez. A “Mini Masvidal” is what Felder was referring to because not only does he look a bit like him when Masvidal was young, but particularly the way he fights. Yanez has some similar resemblances to the BMF, in terms of his slick boxing skills. He has a very similar way of striking like him and it has been mentioned throughout his young career. 

Yanez has tremendous counter abilty with knockout power in both hands. He is at his best when he mixes in the low calf kicks while attacking the opponents body. Yanez is a dangerous striker with some of the best boxing technique. Yanez has also recently trained with the current UFC Bantamweight Champion, Aljamain Sterling and has made continous strides with his wrestling too. 

The future of the Bantamweight division is looking bright and Yanez is one of the fighters to look out for. With a win, Yanez can improve to 16-3 in his professional career and remain undefeated in the UFC with five consecutive wins (and possbily five straight bonuses as well). This will be no easy task, but Yanez does have the pleasure of fighting in his home state of Texas for the first time. At the end of the night, Yanez can be knocking on the door and make his way into the top 15 of the division.

The Rise of Adrian Yanez

Abdullah Ouazri

The PFL brings the action to the great city of Atlanta, Georgia with a banger of a card showcasing the return of the most electrifying fighter in the league, Clay Collard. He takes on an always game Alexander Martinez in hopes of advancing closer to the cash prize of $1 million. In the co-main event, heralded submission artist Antonio Carlos Junior meets Bruce Souto, a man on a mission to rebound from a recent defeat and continue his winning ways. 

Let's take a closer look at the main card of PFL 4: Collard vs. Martinez.


## Clay Collard vs. Alexander Martinez

The most exciting fighter under the banner of the Professional Fighters League has a name, and that name is Clay Collard (21-9). Possessing dynamite in his hands, and carrying a heavy boxing style, Collard has seen it all. From a UFC career spanning 2 years, to a wealth of experience in boxing, he's fought the likes of Max Holloway and Gabriel Benitez on his eventual path to the PFL. 

Alex Martinez (9-2) is a wrecking machine who'd be damned if he didn't give it his all every fight. Coming off of a big win against UFC veteran Stevie Ray, he's got his eyes on the prize and has no intention of letting any man stand in his way.

The predictions are not close for this fight, with nearly 85% of the Verdict Community predicting Clay Collard to win.

![Group 2.png](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/247a3b77-97c2-4f0b-99d0-43f8d3589a00/pub)

## Antonio Carlos Junior vs. Bruce Souto

Undefeated since his UFC departure, 2021 PFL champion Antonio Carlos Junior (14-5) is nothing short of a grappling wizard. Securing 3 first round submissions in his last 4 wins, he is coming off of a D'Arce choke against Delan Monte that took only 29 seconds to lock up. He's looked unstoppable on his way to the $1 million prize.

The man who aims to stop him though, is Bruce Souto (15-4). Looking to bounce back from a TKO loss to Rob Wilkinson, Souto has never been more motivated. Souto was riding a 9-fight win streak into his last bout, and is determined to build an even more impressive resume, starting with a win against his toughest challenge yet this Friday.

The Verdict Community does not give him much of a chance though, with approximately 84% predicting Carlos Junior to win, most commonly by submission in the first round. 

![Group 3.png](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/1cbee8fe-5e83-4560-2760-b4be26771100/pub)

## Raush Manfio vs. Olivier Aubin-Mercier

Riding a 5-fight winning streak, capped off by a stunning KO in his last outing vs. Don Madge, Raush Manfio (16-3) is looking to put on another stunning performance. The Brazilian became the 2021 PFL Lightweight Champion with wins over Anthony Pettis, Clay Collard, and Loik Radzhabov. Although he has continued to prove the doubters wrong, Raush finds himself in the familiar underdog position heading his next fight. 

The man favored to defeat him is Olivier Aubin-Mercier (14-5). Aubin-Mercier has put together a 3-fight wining streak that last saw him grind out a win over Natan Schulte. He possesses incredible experience, having fought UFC stars like Gilbert Burns, Arman Tsarukyan, Carlos Diego Ferreira, and Drew Dober. He looks to put that to use this Friday in an attempt to advance one step closer to the PFL finals.

Although it's the closest fight on the main card, he is still heavily favored to defeat Raush Manfio with almost 70% of the Verdict community predicting him to win. 

![Group 4.png](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/15822a25-9062-40fe-6904-ac2b20f87100/public)

## Jeremy Stephens vs. Myles Price 

The hardest hitting 145'er on the planet, Jeremy Stephens (28-20 1 NC), enters this bout looking to correct a 6-fight skid that has seen him lose only to top tier competition such as Jose Aldo, Zabit Magomedsharipov, and Clay Collard. Stephens has been a pro since 2005, and is far from being done. During his illustrious UFC career, he picked up wins against Rafael Dos Anjos, Renan Barao, Josh Emmett, and many more. Battle tested and proven, Stephens will try to make it a quick night at the office against Myles Price at PFL 4.

A man who's ready for a long night at the office is his opponent, Myles Price (11-8). Price is a competitor through and through, his last win coming against Bellator title challenger Peter Quealy. He returns to acton after a quick triangle choke submission loss to Anthony Pettis, and will try to earn the biggest win of his career.

Although he is not the biggest underdog this Friday, he is still heavily favored against by the Verdict Community, with only about 80% predicting him to lose.

![33.png](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/ae05b1df-86a7-46e3-2f2a-6a7edcad7400/public)

PFL 4: Collard vs. Martinez Main Card Preview

Akash Hothi

The UFC returns this Saturday with an action packed card headlined by Calvin Kattar (-220) vs Josh Emmet (+200). In the Co-Main event we see a battle of two MMA legends in Donald 'Cowboy' Cerrone (-160) vs Joe Lauzon (+145). The action all takes place at the Moody Center in Austin, Texas. This is a great card, so let's dive into this and get you fight fans some value.

All odds provided by Stake.com accurate as of 06/16/22. 

## Calvin Kattar -220 VS Josh Emmet +200

This is personally one of my favourite fights of the entire year. To be clear, for me I am on the side of Calvin Kattar all the way. The price I do agree is steep, but with Josh at his age of 37, I think Calvin is the crisper boxer of the two and has a solid takedown defence. This should allow for him to keep it at a distance where he boxes his way to a decision. I see this fight going as the Josh Emmet vs Michael Johnson fight did, but without the knockout at the end. Michael was doing well, but just got caught with a great punch. I love Calvin's durability and even though Josh has dynamite in his hands, I see Calvin avoiding the big punch and winning a decision. I would advise to take him outright, but a possible play is taking Calvin by decision valued at +140. 

## Donald "Cowboy' Cerrone -160 VS Joe Lauzon +145

This fight was supposed to take place a little over a month ago at UFC 274, but Cowboy pulled out do to a illness. I still feel the same about the fight. Its hard to predict what we will see out of these two legends. Both have been in the fight game forever and have continued to progress and adapt as fighters as they advanced in age. I personally would advise to stay away from this fight, but a possible play is the will the fight go the distance and I think it does. It is valued at +175 which is solid value and thats what I would lean instead of picking one on the moneyline.

## Tim "The Dirty Bird" Means +245 vs Kevin Holland -270

Right out of the gate, I'm going to be honest, I am all over Kevin Holland here. Even though I think the price is a little high, I just don't see how the Dirty Bird gets it done here. Kevin is almost a decade younger, he's the sharper striker of the two, he's faster and stronger. This will be Holland's second fight at Welterweight and I think it will only help him as he will be even more seasoned at the weight. Tim Means is still dangerous evident of his 2 fight winning streak against the likes of Nicholas Dalby and Mike Perry. He is a good striker and I see this as a mostly standup fight, but Tim possess the fight IQ to if he sees fit to take the fight to the ground to shake things up. Even though it's pricey, the play here is Kevin Holland with a slight lean on him winning by finish valued at +225.

## Albert "Machete" Duraev -220 VS Joaquin Buckley+200

This is a fascinating fight. On one side, we have the flashy hard hitting Joaquin Buckley and on the other side we have Albert Duraev who has really good takedown game and solid top control. He also possess enough talent to stay in the fight on the feet with Buckley, but that comes at a great risk. I see this as one of the hardest fights to call on this card. Not to mention Duraev is undefeated since 2014. Even still I don't like taking Duraev at a over 2-to-1 favourite. Personally, with the power of Buckley and his chance at a fight ending shot, I favour him at +200. A slight lean I have is taking a shot at Duraev by submission valued at +250. If the fight goes late, I could see a possibilty of a Duraev submission. Not to mention Duraev is undefeated since 2014.

## Damir Ismalgulov -160 VS Guram "Georgian Viking" Kutateladze +150

This is one of my favourite fights on the card right up there with the main event. Both are coming off layoffs, Damir close to a year and Guram nearing a two year hiatus due to injuries and other issues. I was very impressed with Guram's win against Mateusz Gamrot even though it was a close fight. I was impressed with how he fought, because I view Gamrot in high regard. Damir is on a 18 fight unbeaten run which includes wins over Joel Alvarez, Thiago Moises and Rafael Alves. On paper, this is one of the closest fights on the card and should be a barnburner. I am leaning the way of Guram as I like the value, but the play here would be the fight going the distance valued at -190. It is high, but I do think either are too well matched to be finished and with be a very close fight on the cards so that makes me think its the better decision to pick it goes the distance over an outright winner. 

## Julian "The Cuban Missile Crisis" Marquez +160 VS Gregory Rodrigues -170

To be honest, I do not know what to expect from this fight. Julian Marquez is a wild man and is going to provide an high action fight. Julian is however coming off a year long layoff while Gregory has stayed active fighting already this past February albeit in a losing manner. He has also had grappling matches which I like and shows he is staying ready and improving. I like his style and think he mixes it up well to get the nod on the judges scorecard. The play here is Gregory Rodrigues outright. 

## Adrian Yanez -280 vs Tony 'Primetime" Kelley +255

I am a huge fan of Adrian Yanez. I love his boxing and he reminds me alot of a young Jorge Masvidal. There's emotion in this fight and I think that's going to favor Yanez. Tony Kelley is a good fighter and his win against Randy Costa surprised me. Kelley could provide some problems for Yanez in the way of his wrestling, but I think Yanez is used to tough fights and can weather that to a mid-to-late stoppage. I am going heavy on the money line, but also on Adrian by knockout which is valued at +160.

## Best of the rest

Now to some other really solid fights. I am super excited to see the return of Ricardo Ramos (-285) as he faces Danny Chavez (+255) which should provide us with a action packed fight for as long as it lasts. Even though its steep I think Ricardo takes it, so him on the moneyline as well as him by KO if you would like to get some extra value (+800) which I am going to take. Another great fight is Eddie Wineland (+440) VS Cody Stamann (-500). I would advise to stay away from this fight, but a slight shot could be putting some money on Wineland by KO (+1100). We've seen crazier things happen. Lastly Phil Hawes (-250) VS Deron Winn (+225) I am all over Phil Hawes here and thinks he wins it quite decisively. 

## UFC Austin Parlay

Kattar, Holland, Yanez valued at +270. Enjoy the fights my friends!




UFC Austin: Kattar vs Emmet Betting Preview

Douglas Vegas Bets

The PFL returns to competition this week as we get another quality card headlined by 
Alex Martinez facing off in a Lightweight clash with Clay Collard coming off his win over former UFC fighter Jeremy Stephens, who takes on Myles Price to kick off the main card. There are some steep favorites on this card, so let's see whos worth the price.

**All Odds Provided by Stake.com Accurate as of 8:00 AM EST 6/16/2022

## Clay Collard -188 Alex Martinez +150*

Collard gets another main event spot after his impressive win in this role in week one of the PFL season. Collard has proven a tough competitor, and his only PFL loss was a controversial decision in the semi-finals. Martinez is coming off a good win over Stevie Ray, although Ray had been on a long layoff, and he has been labeled a considerable underdog in each of his PFL fight prior. 

I like Collard here as he has looked very good and consistent in each of his PFL showings thus far. His price tag is within reason to make a play on his Moneyline, or it could be brought down using one of the large favorites before this fight. 

Pick: Collard 

*Odds Unavalible at Stake.com

## Antonio Carlos Junior -1000 Bruce Souto +500

Last season's light heavyweight champion comes in a massive favorite again here as Antonio Carlos Junior looks to continue his unbeaten PFL run with a win over Bruce Souto. Carlos Junior is known for his world-class grappling, which has led him to three first-round submissions over his PFL run. Souto has bounced around different organizations for the past few years and is coming off a loss in his PFL debut.

Souto may not be on the same level as the PFL champ, but this price is way too much to get anything out of, even as a parlay piece. Just leave this fight alone; there is nothing to gain from betting on either side. 

Pick: Carlos Junior 

## Raush Manfio +160 Olivier Aubin-Mercier -227

Here we get a good matchup between the former PFL Lightweight champion and a former UFC fighter, with both coming off wins to start their season. Manfio looked rough to start his last fight but managed to pull through with a huge third-round knockout to cash his underdog ticket. Aubin-Mercier put on an impressive performance over another former champ in Natan Shulte, using his striking to get the win.

I understand why they are giving Olivier Aubin-Mercier the respect on the line here, as he has looked very good of late. Still, Raush Manfio has cashed five straight tickets as an underdog in the PFL, and there is no way I am putting my money against that streak at this steep a price. 

Pick: Aubin-Mercier

## Jeremy Stephens -667 Myles Price +370

Many may be surprised to see Stephens this size a favorite despite his losing streak; however, I think he is going to dominate this fight as the line would suggest. Stephens has had a rough run lately, but this looks to be a nice step down in competition compared to each fight he has lost. Price is coming off a first-round loss to Anthony Pettis, who was on a similar slide to Stephens, and in that fight, he did not put up much resistance, which I do not expect to change in this fight.

This price is justified as the bookies know better than to leave this low enough as they did with Price's last fight leaving him under -300. Despite the tough line, I am eager to bet on Stephens in this spot and will likely use him in a parlay or look for a finish prop. 

Pick: Stephens 

## DougLasVegasBets.net Plays

Collard/Stephens Moneyline Parlay -130

PFL Week 4 Betting Preview 

Jack MacCool

Very rarely is a fighter able to go out on their own terms, but when you’re as universally beloved as Donald ‘Cowboy’ Cerrone, the wins and losses towards the end of a career cannot do justice to the amazing journey that got him the universal love he sees today.  Over the course of his career, Cerrone shared the Octagon with icons such as Conor McGregor, Rafael Dos Anjos, Robbie Lawler, Nate Diaz, and many more, all of which helped build the legend of the “anytime, anyplace, anywhere” fighter from Denver, Colorado.  

Today, we sit just over five days away from what could possibly be Cerrone’s last UFC bout against another OG of the fight game, Joe Lauzon.  Whether this is the final walk of Cerrone’s career or not, he has painted the UFC record books with his name during his 11-year UFC run, so let’s take a look back on the record setting career of Donald ‘Cowboy’ Cerrone.

## Walks and Wins

As mentioned above ‘Cowboy’ prides himself on being willing and able to take on any opponent at any time, even on short notice.  This has helped catapult him up the UFC rankings in both total fights and wins.  He currently sits in third for total fights at 37 and can move into a tie with former Heavyweight Champion Andrei Arlovski for second with a win this weekend.  Jim Miller currently sits atop the rankings with 39 UFC appearances, so if ‘Cowboy’ has another bout in him after the Lauzon fight, he could potentially hold the top spot with Miller in the future.  

In terms of wins, Cerrone’s 23 put him in a three-way tie for first with Arlovski and Miller.  Those 23 wins also put him ahead of legends like Jon Jones, Georges St-Pierre, and RDA whom he shared the cage with.  Cerrone’s success in the win column didn’t come against easy opposition whatsoever, with some of the names on his resume including; Charles Oliveira by KO, Edson Barboza by submission, the aforementioned Jim Miller by KO, and former champions Eddie Alvarez and Benson Henderson.  A win over Lauzon on June 18 would put him in sole possession of first place on the wins list, a feat that would cement his legacy forever.

## Finishes

Donald Cerrone is a natural closer.  He currently sits at second in the record books for most finishes in UFC history behind current (yes I’m calling him the current) lightweight champion Charles Oliveira, who also happens to be on Cerrone’s list of finishes.  ‘Cowboy’ can get it done in just about any way, whether it is a nasty combination involving his beautiful kicks, or a technically sublime submission from his back or his opponents’.  Some of his best finishes recently include the head kick KO of Matt Brown, his incredible combination that led to the finish of Rick Story, or his armbar victory over Mike Perry in 2018.  

Not only is Cerrone featured on the list of total finishes, but his name is also etched in on the all time knockouts list as well. He is currently in a six way tie for sixth on the list with double digit UFC knockouts, something only 12 other fighters can say.  He is also one of the lightest fighters on this list, alongside Matt Brown, and Dustin Poirier as the only fighters 170 pounds or below with 10 knockouts.  

## Donald ‘Performance Bonus’ Cerrone

Perhaps the two best ways to gain fans in MMA are to put on exciting fights and finish said fights–two things ‘Cowboy’ does excellently.  The thing that comes out of putting on exciting fights and hunting finishes is the Fight Night Bonus, and Donald currently sits atop the list with Charles Oliveira for the most bonuses in UFC history with an astounding 18. What makes this even more impressive is that Donald gets a bonus in nearly half of his bouts, with a 48.6% bonus rate, win or lose.  His 18 bonuses are also more than a lot of other fan favourites and action fighters such as; Nate Diaz, Anderson Silva, Tony Ferguson, Conor McGregor and Justin Gaethje.


In conclusion, it’s no coincidence that the well-rounded fighter Donald Cerrone is also a well-rounded record holder with his versatility and never say die attitude.  Whether or not his next bout truly will mark the end of his legendary career, it is important to celebrate this man while he is still here and still making a mark in the hearts of combat fans everywhere.  There will never be another like Donald ‘Cowboy’ Cerrone.

The Record Setting Career of Donald 'Cowboy' Cerrone

Taylor Dow

It is said that nerds and athletes do not co-exist within one another; a nerd does not have the physical capabilities to do well in sport, and an athlete lacks the cognitive power to solve complex problems, Joe Lauzon puts these stigmas to rest. 

Joseph “J-Lau” Edward Lauzon Jr. was born on May 22, 1984, in Brockton, Massachusetts to Joseph and Debbie Lauzon. As a child, Joe lived on a farm where he enjoyed riding horses and re-enacting professional wrestling moves on his trampoline with his friends. He lived in Brockton until he was 8 years-old, when his family moved to East Bridgewater where he still lives today. 

![IMG_3133.jpeg](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/ea3a38df-3d19-49b5-6292-c89bb804fd00/pub "Joe Lauzon defeating former UFC Champion Jens Pulver in his UFC debut. Credits to: Getty Images")

Joe found an interest in computers at an early age after taking one apart and learning how it worked, after which he was obsessed. When he got to East Bridgewater High School, the classroom computer was faulty, so he opened it up and fixed it, the school’s I.T person noticed this and later offered him a job on the school’s payroll to help with I.T. The same year Joe would be introduced to combat sports via grappling classes which he decided to take as a hobby, but the competitive nature of Joe’s young mind made him want to train and compete every single day. He began fighting at an amateur level in 2002 and finished with a 5-3 record. In 2004 he took his first professional fight where he won by submission in the first round. Joe would close out 2004 at 7-0 with all finishes and the Combat Zone Lightweight Championship. 

![110_jim_miller_vs_joe_lauzon_gallery_post.0.jpg](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/a6c83e39-8379-4713-b0b1-c92e1e0c9300/pub "Joe Lauzon and Jim Miller going to war. Credits to: Esther Lin-MMAFighting")

Joe entered Wentworth Institute of Technology as a computer science major after already having experience in the field. He graduated in 2007 with a bachelor’s degree and got a job as a network administrator in Cambridge, Massachusetts before deciding to train martial arts full-time. Now equipped with boxing, wrestling and Jiu-Jitsu experience, Joe took his professional career to the next level when he was offered a one-fight contract in the UFC to fight against former Lightweight champion, Jens Pulver, who had left the UFC and been dominating for 4 years in other promotions.

Going into the fight as a 7-to-1 underdog, Joe only needed 48 seconds to land the big shot that knocked Pulver out and awarded him his first performance of the night bonus, which was the start of a record-breaking collection of bonuses for Joe. “J-Lau” leapt at the opportunity to compete on The Ultimate Fighter Season 5 for a six-figure UFC contract where he finished his first two fights by submission and TKO, but sadly came up short in the semi-finals losing by unanimous decision to Manny Gamburyan. Joe was offered a fight on the finale where he faced Brandon Melendez and won by submission in round 2 to be awarded his second bonus.

Since debuting in the UFC, Joe has finished every win except two, scored 7 Fight of the Night awards, 8 Performance of the Night awards and is one of the only fighters to score a Fight of the Night and Performance of the Night award in the same bout. These days, when Joe is not fighting, training or teaching the next generation of MMA fighters, you might find him doing commentary for CES MMA or playing some of his favorite games on Xbox.

![4c6e1d80-f440-11e9-9fbf-3800b0479af1.jpeg](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/77a29aad-38f6-4982-6d2d-3af900581700/pub "Joe Lauzon celebrating his win against Jonathan Pearce in October of 2019. Credits to: Getty Images")

Joe currently holds a 28-15 record (14-12 UFC) and is tied for third-most post-fight bonuses in history with Nate Diaz. Whether it be putting on a show in the octagon or fighting his brother Dan at a family barbeque, Joe always entertains the fans and will continue to do so when he fights one of the only people to have more performance bonuses than him, Donald “Cowboy” Cerrone. Watch the two go head-to-head on the co-main event of UFC Fight Night: Kattar vs. Emmett this Saturday. 

![1395805220.0.webp](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/54add697-c3da-43d5-e3b6-08fb02c4f600/pub "Joe Lauzon and Donald Cerrone faceoff before their cancelled bout at UFC 274. Credits to: Chris Unger-Getty Images")


What Makes Joe Lauzon Special

What a fantastic weekend of fights we got from Singapore at UFC 275 as we saw a new champion, Jiri Prochazka (-204), crowned to end off the night. Before that, we saw many impressive performances, like Jake Matthews (+138) getting the finish on the main card and Joshua Culibao (+215) getting a split decision on the prelims. With lots to go over from a betting perspective, let us see what we learned from each fight. 

## Glover Teixeira +175 Jiri Prochazka -204

This fight was unbelievable from start to finish, with one of the most unexpected ends in UFC history as Prochazka gets the submission in the final minute. As a Prochazka by knockout bettor, I am disappointed but must learn a lesson from this: if the line is close, just bet the fighter to win inside the distance rather than knockout, as it covers wild scenarios like this. Glover did what he does in this fight which is outperform his price tag; however, his wild streak did come to an end, but he is set to keep fighting, and if he is an underdog again with the right matchup somehow, a forty-two-year-old Glover could still be a good bet in the future. 

## Valentina Shevchenko -556 Taila Santos +460

The first of the two title fights on this card was a close split decision that saw the champ retain her belt. I scored it for Valentina and expected the judges to do the same as we have seen damage take significant priority over control in many recent close decisions, as it did again here, if they do a rematch I will likely still favor Shevchenko and I hope the line is much closer. Santos had the best performance we have seen against Shevchenko, but she faded badly in the later stages of the fight, which many will blame on the clash of heads; however, I believe she was tired as this was her first-ever five-round fight, and I still think she could have used some more time before getting this shot. 

## Weili Zhang -167 Joanna Jedrzejczyk +147

What a showing this was from Weili as she destroyed the former champ with devastating ground and pound and a knockout shot on the feet. Weili Zhang will be fighting for the title next, and I will be betting on her no matter the price, as based on what I saw this weekend, Carla Esparza has no chance in that matchup. Joanna has retired following this performance which is sad, but she has nothing left to prove and will go down with the greats as she should; congrats, champ. 

## Jake Matthews +138 Andre Fialho -156

This went even better than I expected as a Matthews bettor as he looked to have found a new level with his striking this weekend. Matthews surprised me by not trying to take this fight to the ground at all, but why would he when he was having non-stop success standing as it felt like he could not miss all fight. Tough loss for Fialho, who just looked lost in the cage; perhaps a little layoff and focus on more development is what should be next. 

## Jack Della Maddalena -156 Ramazan Emeev +138

To open the main card, we had a great round of action with Maddalena escaping a submission attempt to eventually secure the finish for himself. Maddalena had to fight through some adversity in this one but still impressed as he became the first to finish Emeev in the UFC. Despite almost getting the finish, Emeev comes out with a loss that I am not sure what to make of, but I believe we do know what we will get from him in the future based on past performances. 

## Seung Woo Choi -250 Joshua Culibao +215

This was a wild one that saw the underdog put on a show and get the hard-fought win on the scorecards. Culibao showed him power in this fight by making sure he got the best of each early exchange. Choi never seemed to recover fully after eating a lot of shots in a wild first round; not a bad performance, and I think more of a case of a betting line just being wrong going into a fight. 

## Brendan Allen -294 Jacob Malkoun +250

I severely underestimated Jacob Malkouns wrestling ability in this fight, which nearly cost me big time. Allen got the win but certainly did not cover his price tag as he was controlled for long sections of the fight and needed a solid third round to get the win. Malkoun did what he has done in all his fights by sticking himself to Allen and staying there for long chunks of rounds; however, he will need to figure out a way to produce some damage or a submission threat if I am ever willing to back him with my money. 

## Hayisaer Maheshate +150 Steve Garcia -169

This was an impressive display from the young Maheshate as he showed his finishing ability early with a couple of knockdowns and the finish. Maheshate gets a good win here and proves his striking is real, and he is a prospect to watch for future fights. Garcia had a bad night here as it seemed his defense abandoned him early, costing him the fight. 

## Kyung Ho Kang +118 Batgerel Danaa -133

Back and forth brawl in this one that saw the jab of Kang control the fight enough to get his hand raised. Kang looked good in this fight despite not using his grappling at all; he showed an ability to fight behind a strong jab which has proven to be able to win a fight. Danaa has some work to do as he has a lot of power, but when that fails him, he can't land enough volume or defend well enough to win a decision. 

## Silvana Gomez Juarez -141 Na Liang +124

Big knockout win by Gomez Juarez to get the first finish of the night as she avoids the grappling and lands her shot. This is what will happen when a striker like Gomez Juarez can keep a fight standing long enough as she has real power, but I still have a hard time betting her as she did grab the fence, and I am still very concerned about her submission skills. Liang could not get this one down and paid for it, this was simply a failure to execute the game plan. 

## Joselyne Edwards -161 Ramona Pascual +143

The first fight of the night had some good action and saw the favorite take home a close decision win. Edwards struggled early but eventually found her rhythm in the later stages of the fight; despite the win, I was not impressed with Edwards and am hoping I get an opportunity to bet against her in her next matchup. Pascual looked better than I expected in the striking but could not implement her wrestling enough to get the job done. 

UFC 275 Betting Review

Evan Montgomery

The Light Heavyweight division crowned a new king at UFC 275, with Jiri Prochazka taking home the belt after a five-round war that saw him secure a submission with 28 seconds remaining in the 5th round.

There is no shortage of contenders at 205 pounds, with fighters like Jan Blachowicz waiting in the wings. A number of top ranked matches are currently booked in the division, with Anthony Smith fighting Magomed Ankalaev and Thiago Santos squaring off opposite Jamahal Hill. 

Let's get into the top five fights to be made next at 205 pounds!

## Jiri Prochazka vs. Glover Teixeira Rematch

Jiri Prochazka certainly made a statement with this win, identifying himself as one of the most all-action fighters on the UFC roster. There are a plethora of challengers waiting for a crack at the gold, but for my money, I would love to see a Teixeira rematch. Glover Teixeira looked poised to take home his first title defense, before he was caught in a last second submission attempt from Prochazka. The veteran has made no secret that retirement is around the corner, but he wants at least one more bout before hanging up the gloves. Dana White has made comments about the upcoming July bout between Anthony Smith and Magomed Ankalaev as the number one contender fight, but either fighter likely would need another win, and would not be on the same timeframe for a turnaround as Teixeira. After a wild fight of this magnitude, there are few fight fans who would not sign up for another meeting.

## Jan Blachowicz vs. Winner of Smith/Ankalaev

Jan Blachowicz won the belt with a knockout over Dominick Reyes and defended the title against Israel Adesanya. After dropping the title to Glover Teixeira, he got back on track with a win over Aleksander Rakic, though the fight ended by disappointing injury. He is certainly a contender for the title, but with the anti-climactic performance in his last bout, he may not get it. A faceoff with the winner of the upcoming Anthony Smith and Magomed Ankalaev fight would determine a clear number one contender.


## Aleksander Rakic vs. Dominick Reyes

After his gruesome injury opposite Jan Blachowicz, Aleksander Rakic will likely remain on the shelf for some time. However, that gives the rest of the division some time to sort itself out before his return. I like a top-flight bout with Dominick Reyes, that could get him back into the title picture with a dominant win. Dominick Reyes has not competed since a May 2021 knockout loss to the aforementioned Prochazka, and will be looking to re-establish himself at the top of the rankings. A fight between these top 5 prospects would be fireworks and establish a threat to the title.

## Jimmy Crute vs. Johnny Walker

I like this top 15 bout between strikers, sure to produce a knockout or Fight of the Night. Jimmy Crute came off the Contender Series, and proved his prospect status with four finishes in his first five Octagon bouts. He has dropped his last two bouts, suffering a leg injury to Anthony Smith before being knocked out by Jamahal Hill. Johnny Walker immediately made headlines upon joining the UFC, picking up three straight sub-minute finishes. He is also coming off two losses, to Thiago Santos and Jamahal Hill. 

## Ovince Saint Preux vs. Ryan Spann

Ovince Saint Preux dropped back down to Light Heavyweight after a loss to Tanner Boser up at 265 pounds. He got back on track with a split decision over Shogun Rua in their rematch, looking to set up another run at the LHW rankings. Ryan Spann is another Contender Series product who favors the finish. After dropping a submission to Anthony Smith, Spann picked up a first round submission over Ion Cutelaba in his last outing. Looking to progress in the rankings, a clash with a proven veteran like OSP would give Spann a chance to get another win streak together.

Five Fights To Make in the UFC's Light Heavyweight Division

Tim Witton

For the first time in nearly three years, the UFC made its return to Singapore, where Glover Teixeira put his championship on the line against Jiří Procházka, the first time since gaining the Light Heavyweight title back in October 2021, in an outstanding back and forth battle between the two elites, whilst Shevchenko put her title on the line against the streaking Brazilian Taila Santos. We saw the hotly anticipated rematch of Joanna Jędrzejczyk and Weili Zhang, and elsewhere, new contenders shined. Let's have a look at what happened.

## WOMEN PUT IT ALL ON THE LINE

![silvana-gomez-juarez-na-liang-ufc-275-6.jpeg](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/523179a5-8bee-486a-74f0-01bef83d6a00/pub "Referee Marc Goddard waves off the action after Suarez knocks out Na Liang. Credit: Paul Miller-USA TODAY Sports")

Kicking off the early prelims, Panama's Joselyne Edwards endured a gruelling fifteen minutes and a slow start against Hong Kong's Ramona Pascual to turn in a convincing decision in the eyes of the judges. After spending the majority of the first round on the receiving end of some heavy kicks and takedowns from Pascual, Joselyne adjusted and was able to defend takedowns and outpointed Pascual for the remainder of the fight.

Silvana Gomez Suarez, coming off the back of two successive armbar losses, was potentially fighting for her contract in the UFC against China's Na Liang, a formidable grappler with a penchant for armbars. Any concerns about Suarez were allayed quickly, as her vaunted knock out power was quickly on show, flatlining Liang just over a minute into the first round. Suarez is clearly a powerhouse in the women's Strawweight division, if she can put together a string of performances like she did today, the division may have a new contender to keep an eye on.


## PRELIMS SET THE STAGE

![kyung-ho-kang-danaa-batgerel-ufc-275-14.jpeg](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/70f231dc-c03a-4282-bf9b-8acd7e518b00/pub "Kang lands a straight left against Mongolia's Batgerel. Credit: Paul Miller-USA TODAY Sports")

The prelims were not devoid of action, with South Korea's Kang Kyung-Ho immediately going to war against Danaa Batgerel. Both fighters landed increasingly heavy leg kicks throughout the fight, with Danaa's power punching prowess eventually wilting to the lightning fast speed of Kyung-Ho. The back and forth fight somehow went to the judges, with both fighters having their moments, but Kang proved he was the better man on the night, bagging a unanimous 29-28 decision across the scorecards.


The Bantamweights were quickly followed up by a war of attrition between Brendan Allen and Jacob Malkoun, with Brendan's ground game being heavily tested by the wrestling heavy Jacob Malkoun. Allen's ability to manouvre out of troubling positions on the bottom ended up being the deciding factor. Turning bottom position into top heavy ground control, Allen landed twice as many significant ground strikes against the fatiguing Malkoun, who wilted towards the end to concede his second loss in the UFC.

## DEVASTATING KNOCKOUT

![hayisaer-maheshate-steve-garcia-ufc-275-3.jpeg](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/5b92f334-c5b1-4f48-4063-cdd61f5aac00/public "Maheshate lands a knee against Steve Garcia. Credit: Paul Miller-USA TODAY Sports")

China's debuting Maheshate came into his fight against USA's Steve Garcia as an underdog, who was coming into the fight on the back of a frightening knockout in his last fight against Charlie Onteveros. The bookmaker's were proven wrong very quickly, with Maheshate landing heavy punches immediately, knocking Garcia down quickly in the first round. The relentless pressure continued, and after Garcia returned to his feet his raw aggression ended up being his demise, being caught on the wrong end of a devastating counter hook and face planting into the canvas to be out cold. Maheshate's UFC career couldn't have gotten off to a better start, and he will no doubt be one to keep an eye on in future fights.


## CHOI AND CULIBAO GO TO WAR

The feature prelim of the night was without a doubt a huge feature - Australia's Joshua Culibao turning the doubters away with a phenomental performance, scoring knockdowns against Seung-Woo Choi in both one and two, and battering him in the process. The fight could have been stopped in multiple moments, but Choi dug deep to stick it out, albeit severely compromised. Culibao's waning stamina almost proved costly, with Choi nearly wrapping up a rear naked choke late in the third. His late rally proved futile however, as Culibao's defense stood up and lasted until the final bell to secure the victory.

##  MAIN CARD KNOCKOUTS GALORE

The main event of UFC 275 at Singapore Indoor Stadium got off to an insanely quick start, with Australia coming up trumps in both Jack Della Maddalena and Jake Matthews' fights. Maddalena saw some adversity early on, almost succumbing to a head and arm choke before escaping back to the feet and lighting Dagestan's Ramazan's Emeev up on the feet. The end was nigh when Jack landed a heavy liver shot, with Emeev slowly falling to the ground, absorbing multiple punches on the way. The referee stepped in, waving the fight off halfway through the first round, taking Maddalena to 2-0 in the UFC with two first round finishes. Expect to see a big step up in competition for the young Aussie in his next fight.

Jake Matthews also did not take long to dispatch Portugal's Andre Fialho. After swarming him with unrelenting aggression for the first round, Jake showed a crispness to his standup that we didn't see in his last fight. Fialho was coming into the fight looking for his third win and third finish in three months, but the repeated short turnaround proved to be a mountain too tall to climb, as immediately from the outside he was unable to keep up with both the pace and power of Jake Matthews. Looking for the counter on the outside that just didn't eventuate, Andre couldn't keep up and was repeatedly wobbled, until his chin eventually faltered and Jake pounded Fialho into the ground. Jake Matthews rebounded from his last loss well to maintain his position on the fringes of UFC's Welterweight rankings.


## WEILI SHINES IN ANOTHER CLASSIC, JOANNA RETIRES

![zhang-weili-ufc-275-1.jpeg](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/ba56d99c-3611-4a95-852f-c5b2505e7b00/pub "Weili Zhang celebrates after knocking out Joanna Jędrzejczyk. Credit: Paul Miller-USA TODAY Sports")

The stage was set for a rematch of epic proportions, as Zhang Weili and Joanna Jędrzejczyk rematched in the second edition of the all time classic that was produced between the two back in 2020. Immediately, both fighters brought the action, with an epic back and forth first round picking things up immediately from where they left them. Both women landed extremely heavy shots, with Weili mixing in heavy takedowns on top of her elite level striking to show everyone what she's been working on since her two battles against Rose Namajunas. Weili's ground game was devastating, raining down heavy elbows on the mat to leave Joanna looking frazzled at the end of round one.

Round two began with Weili fired up, and after some back and forths that ended up in the clinch, Weili fired in a lethal spinning back fist to put Joanna out cold on the mat in a phenomenal knockout of the year contender. A stunning show from the former Strawweight contender, the incredible knockout has lined Weili up for another stab at the crown of the division against the queen Carla Esparza.


An emotional Joanna retired at the end of the fight, her impressive career ending at 16-5. Joanna thanked her teammates and coaches, stating she didn't expect the power and strength brough by Weili, and was apologetic for her performance to Dana and the rest of the UFC. Joanna, however, has nothing to apologise for, having graced us with an array of phenomenal performances throughout her career. and a title reign amongst the best of them all. From the Verdict community, we all thank you, Joanna, for an incredible career.

## SANTOS BRINGS IT AGAINST THE FLYWEIGHT GREAT

![valentina-shevchenko-taila-santos-ufc-275-5.jpeg](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/03595ca3-ab28-4f4b-7902-3fb5a1a4d500/public "Shevchenko lands a flurry against Taila Santos in a thrilling war. Credit: Paul Miller-USA TODAY Sports")

In the co-main event of the evening, many were expecting another showcase performance from the indomitable Valentina Shevchenko. The 19-1 Taila Santos came in to prove the doubters wrong, with the Brazilian looking to show that her four fight win streak was worthy of champion status. Santos immediately brought the fight, with aggressive clinch work and takedown proving to be the decider of round one, and spent the last minute of the first round wrapping the champion up in a body triangle threatening a rear naked choke, and rounding out the round in a dominant position.

Round two and three showed further grappling ability from Santos - her ability to control Shevchenko against the cage surprising many. Shevchenko's offense was starting to show however, and her combinations on the feet landed well. With momentum building for Valentina, Santos landed a critical takedown in the second half of round three and controlled Valentina for long enough to arguably snatch the round out of the grasp of Shevchenko. Santos' confidence was building, as the prospect of a potential UFC belt was now more real than ever before.


Round four saw Valentina fired up like never before, and her elite Muay Thai backround began to show. Lighting Santos up on the feet, Valentina brought the pressure and urgency that was missing in the beginning of the fight. Landing some heavy combinations, Santos' eye began closing up before an inadvertent clash of the heads brought a small pause to the action. Santos looking worse for wear was unabated, and come forth with more relentless offence, however with momentum building for Shevchenko, it looked like the championship rounds were the moment Shevchenko was going to snatch the fight from Santos.


An urgency was needed from Shevchenko, as the fight was very much in the balance. Santos was looking damaged and fatigued, whilst Shevchenko was just getting into her groove. Mixing in some excellent Muay Thai and takedowns, Valentina dominated the round from the beginning to the end, locking down Santos on the mat looking for a crucifix position towards the end of the round to seal the victory. It wasn't to be found however, yet a dominant round in the bag for Shevchenko ended the fight. With the full 25 minutes being needed, Santos proved to be the toughest fight of Valentina's Flyweight career, and she no doubt won the respect and admiration of fans around the world. With the score in the balance, it looked like there may have been a new champion in the Flyweight division for the first time in four years. A split decision saw Shevchenko scrape through though, her championship mentality proving to be enough to carry her to the victory. With Valentina's Flyweight record now at 9-0 and the division seemingly cleaned out, all eyes are on a move up to Bantamweight for Valentina against the winner of the Nunes/Pena rematch.

## TEIXERA AND PROCHAZKA GO TO WAR IN FOTY CONTENDER

![jiri-prochazka-glover-teixeira-ufc-275-1.jpeg](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/48c03f44-c674-4c06-2b9e-f47ee2644500/public "Glover and Jiri exchange blows in a wild back and forth. Credit: Paul Miller-USA TODAY Sports")

At 42 years of age, and seemingly towards the end of his career. Glover had experienced a resurgence like no other, capping a six fight win streak off with the UFC Light Heavyweight title in October 2021. His first title defence came against the dynamic power puncher from Czech Republic, Jiří Procházka, in what was expected to be a firefight that was going to be decided quickly. That wasn't to be the case, as Glover and Jiří went to war for nearly five rounds, dropping each other multipli times in a fight that could have ended in any round, with heavy punches, slick grappling exchanges and momentum shifts that made the UFC crowd roar non stop.

In every round, there were moments for both fighters, as Jiří showed electric speed on the feet, whilst Glover used his experience and pedigree to force uncomfortable exchanges. Round one saw Glover land two takedowns and secure mount position with both, raining down heavy punches and elbows on Prochazka, whilst the explosive Czech was able to pop back up and bully Glover in pivotal moments. Glover's ground game proved decisive though, as he came out feeling the better of the two after the first five minutes.

Round two saw a fast start from Jiri, as some quick combos momentarily stunned Glover. The wild Jiri that UFC fans have quickly come to know and love was showing, and his relentless aggression gave a rocked Glover an opportunity to counter with a heavy left and knock Jiri off balance. With Glover quickly jumping on Jiri's back, he managed to get off some more of his relentless ground and pound that worked so well for him in the first round. Towards the end of the round, a hellacious elbow from Glover splits the eyebrow of Jiri, with blood gushing profusely to end the round. What was originally Jiri's round had quickly swung back in Glover's favour.

With two rounds in the bag, Glover was looking good, although he had certainly met his match. A stuffed takedown from Glover was met with a huge strike from the Czech, and now both fighters were bleeding badly. With Glover down on the ground, Jiri waved him up to continue the battle on the feet. The two continued to trade shots back and forth, with every punch landing on both sides looking like it could spell the beginning of the end. One last takedown attempt from Glover is stuffed, resulting in Jiri taking a half guard position and returning the ground and pound that had plagued him so much for the first two rounds. The fight was well and truly on.

Round four was upon us, and both fighters, battered, bruised and bloody were both moving slower. A big right hand from Glover wobbled Jiri, and Glover wrapped up Jiri and took him down. Glover's Jiu Jitsu was starting to come through now, and as they transitioned from position to position, Teixera attempted to wrap up a head and arm choke to no avail. Jiri manages to reverse position, and brings down some more heavy strikes on the champ in an entertaining back and forth that was as even as you could ever hope for in a championship fight. After twenty minutes, both fighters were in it, and you knew that this was going to be a final round for the ages.

The final five minutes began with a warm embrace from both fighters and a roar from the crowd, acknowledging the insanity that we had all just beared witness to. Jiri, now markedly slower than before, was starting to eat some big punches from the champion. Glover wobbled the challenger, before diving in for a body lock and looking for the takedown which he was not able to find. After breaking free, the two fighters exchanged hands again, with Glover once again getting the better of Jiri, wobbling him once more and diving in for another body lock. Whether it was fatigue, or just the fact that he was unaware of how hurt Jiri was, Glover had missed two opportunities to put the final touches on a stellar performance and put Jiri away. Glover finally bullies Jiri to the mat, and looks for a head and arm choke that seemed incredibly tight, that he may have finally pulled off the unlikely. A thumbs up from Jiri to the ref said otherwise, and Jiri exploded off the fence into taking Glover's back before somehow wrapping up the most unlikely rear naked choke and forcing a quick tap from the champion with 28 seconds remaining in the final round. An outrageous ending to what is surely one of the fights of the year, and one of the greatest fights of all time. Jiri by submission was so unlikely that only 1% of the Verdict Community called it - an incredible feat by those who did.

![jiri-prochazka-title-belt-ufc-275-1.jpeg](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/909f4c7f-49a3-455f-86f0-2908a4914b00/pub "Newly crowned UFC Light Heavyweight champion Jiri Prochazka. Credit: Paul Miller-USA TODAY Sports")

In his post fight interview, after being asked if he would continue fighting by Daniel Cormier, Glover responded by asking if he looked good in the fight. After an emphatic yes by Daniel, an opinion undoubtedly shared by all, Glover said he would continue fighting, a decision we are all looking forward to.

Jiri, the new Light Heavyweight Champion, has now only just begun the next phase of his career, with a whole host of lethal killers lining up to fight him next. Whoever it may be for his first title defence, he will no doubt have his hands full, and the Brazilian with Hands of Stone, Glover Teixera, will always be there, looking over his shoulder.

All in all, tonight was jam packed with non stop action from top to bottom. UFC fans were treated to phenomenal performances from numerous fighters, with not a moment to breath. The level of quality was incredibly high this week, and next week's card headlined by Calvin Kattar and Josh Emmett will be looking to follow up with another wild night of fights. Stay tuned for more as we look forward to next week's exciting match ups.

UFC 275 delivers perhaps the greatest PPV of the year so far

This weekend, the UFC travels to Singapore for June's Pay-Per-View card, stacked to the brim with excellent matchmaking. 
In the main event, Light Heavyweight UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Glover Teixeira will look to defend his title for the first time against rising star Jiri Prochazka. Valentina Shevchenko looks to tighten her ever-increasing hold on the Flyweight division with another defense against Taila Santos, fresh off a submission win over Jojo Calderwood. Finally, the featured bout is a rematch of the greatest Women's UFC fight of all time, as Weili Zhang and Joanna Jedrzejczyk battle it out for the next shot at Strawweight gold. 

With that being said, let's get into this incredible card and break down every fight featured on Verdict.

## Glover Teixeira vs. Jiri Prochazka 

Our main event of the evening holds Light Heavyweight in the balance as Glover Teixeira looks to defend his title and cement his legacy against Jiri Prochazka, who has been nothing but personified violence since making his UFC debut.

The ageless wonder Glover Teixeira (33-7) began competing as a professional over 20 years ago in 2002, but his greatest career achievement came last October, where he captured the UFC Light Heavyweight title with a second round submission over Jan Blachowicz. Teixeira is a veteran of the UFC and the WEC, where he has been a consistent force at the top of the division, battling it out with greats like Jon Jones, Rampage Jackson, and Anthony Johnson. A finisher by trade, Teixeira has a stunning 28 career finishes, with 17 of those coming via knockout. Well-rounded and dangerous on the feet and the mat, Teixeira has never been submitted in his pro career.

Jiri Prochazka (28-3-1) entered the UFC in 2019 after a career made in RIZIN, claiming and defending their 205 pound title. Jiri lives and dies by the sword with 25 wins by knockout and only seeing the judges' scorecards once in his pro career. He has an extremely unorthodox style, fighting with low hands and constant movement. He uses an incredible diversity of attacks, with his strikes coming from all different angles. Prochazka cites his mentality as his best weapon, fighting and living by the Bushido samurai code. While Prochazka is a striker at his best, he has stout defensive grappling. 

This is one of the closer fights on the main card, but 90% of the Verdict Community is expecting a finish in our main event. The community favors Prochazka to capture the title this Saturday, with 61.4% siding with the Czech knockout artist. 56% have Prochazka scoring the knockout win, with the world's most common pick being Prochazka by knockout in the second round. 

![teixjiri.png](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/c7bd1f0c-8559-46b4-d216-fff2f026a500/pub)

## Valentina Shevchenko vs. Taila Santos 
Our co-main has the Women's Flyweight belt on the line as Valentina Shevchenko looks to score her seventh straight defense opposite the oncoming Taila Santos.

Valentina Shevchenko (22-3) has been nothing short of dominant since dropping down to the Flyweight division, claiming gold with a decision win over Joanna Jedrzejczyk. She has since rattled off 6 straight title defense, finishing 4 of those before the final bell. "Bullet" is as well-rounded as they come, with technical Muay Thai striking and masterful positioning with slick jiu-jitsu on the mat. Her record reflects her diverse skillset, with 8 wins by knockout and 7 in submission. Her volume and fight IQ are second to none, with the cardio and pace to go ten rounds, if need be.

Taila Santos (19-1) stumbled out the gate in her UFC debut, dropping a split decision to Mara Romero Borella and losing her undefeated record in the process. She has since bounced back with four straight wins, though none more impressive than her first round submission over Joanne Wood in her last bout. Santos is another fighter who can compete on both the feet and the mat, though her specialty is certainly in her powerful Muay Thai attack. She has great footwork and can fight off the front and back foot, with grappling prowess in her back pocket, as she demonstrated against Wood. Of her 13 career stoppages, 10 have come by knockout. 

The Verdict Community is expecting Valentina to continue her dominance, with over 90% expecting her to get the nod. 64% of the community is expecting a Shevchenko stoppage, with an even 50% selecting that to come via knockout. 

![shevsantos.png](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/e796b0df-f39b-402f-9508-bfc3f6316a00/pub)

## Weili Zhang vs. Joanna Jedrzejczyk II

Our featured bout for the evening is the highly anticipated rematch of Weili Zhang and Joanna Jedrzejczyk, who earned Fight of the Year for their 2020 war. A shot at reclaiming gold opposite Carla Esparza also hangs in the balance for the victor, ensuring the fans are in for another round of fireworks.

Weili Zhang (21-3) claimed Strawweight gold with a first round knockout of Jessica Andrade, and defended in Feb. 2020 opposite Jedrzejczyk. Her second defense against Rose Namajunas ended in tragedy for the Chinese fighter, losing by head kick KO in the first round, and losing a split decision in the pair's rematch. Zhang is an aggressive striker, keeping up a high pace with massive damage from the clinch and in the pocket. Joanna Jedrzejczyk (16-4) has not been seen since the first Weili fight, as she chose to wait for a high-profile bout. The former champion holds the record for most title defenses in the division at 5. She is an elite Muay Thai practitioner, with an inhuman pace and cardio. Her teep kicks and range management let her choose the distance of the fight, and expert takedown defense to keep the bout standing. 

The fans, including myself, are geared up for this one, and we have all the makings for another classic ebtween these two strikers. Almost 54% of the Verdict community expects Zhang to get the nod again, though the community is fairly split on this one. 79% of users are expecting this fight to see the judges' scorecards, so prepare for five rounds of all-out striing action.

![zhangvqueen.png](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/6871d84b-4e92-45f7-9981-f44547aaac00/public)

## Andre Fialho vs. Jake Matthews

After Rogerio Bontorin fell ill to kidney issues from his weight cut, his scheduled bout with Manel Kape was scrapped. In its place, a Welterweight scrap from the prelims has been pulled up to the main card!

Andre Fialho (16-4) stepped in on short notice in January to face Michel Pereira in his UFC debut. Though he lost by decision in a fun affair, he turned around to knock out Miguel Baeza in April, then dispatch of Cameron VanCamp just a month later in under three minutes. Fialho cut his teeth in Bellator and the PFL, prior to rattling off a four fight knockout streak in UAE Warriors that brought him to the UFC. Fialho is an aggressive knockout artist with 13 of his 14 wins coming via KO or TKO. An Octagon veteran since 2014, Jake Matthews (17-5) has evolved as a martial artist during his time in the promotion. First billed as an elite submission artist, Matthews has shown his polished wrestling and ever improving striking technique, along with great cardio. "The Celtic Kid" has 11 stoppages to his name, with 7 coming by way of submission.

70.8% of the Verdict community has Fialho winning this fight. 52% expect him to get the knockout, with the most common pick being for him to get the KO in the second round.

![fialhomatt.png](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/f9efc5bc-7c14-431e-69d2-e5b6aedd6c00/public)

## Jack Della Maddalena vs. Ramazan Emeev
We open up the main card with a Welterweight clash between an emerging prospect and Octagon veteran. 

An entertaining decision on the Contender Series earned Jakc Della Maddalena (11-2) his UFC contract. He wasted little time once on the roster, knocking out Pete Rodriguez in under three minutes. That Contender Series win was the first time Maddalena had seen the cards as a pro, finishing 9 of his wins by knockout. The Aussie has crisp boxing and effortless movement, with great scrambling skills as well. Ramazan Emeev (20-5) has been in the UFC since 2017, most recently dropping a split decision to Danny Roberts. Emeev is a dominating grappler, favoring position over submission. He has 10 career stoppages with 7 by submission, though every one of his UFC fights has gone the distance.

The Verdict community is expecting Maddalena to continue his rise in the division, with 64.7% of users picking him to defeat Emeev. Though 59% of the community expects this fight to go the distance, 27% do see Maddalena scoring another knockout in his sophomore UFC appearance.

![maddemeev.png](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/1d4d2a8a-c94d-4ced-450e-a9941e81dc00/pub)
