Liam Lindsay

At UFC 288, Kron Gracie finally returns to action after a nearly three-year layoff. The Jiu-Jitsu ace vanished from the fighting scene in 2019 following his sole MMA defeat to Cub Swanson but is finally returning in a highly anticipated matchup this weekend.

## Fighter Stats
**Record**: 5-1 (5 SUB)

**Age**: 34 (11-07-1988)

**Height**: 5'9" (175cm)

**Weight**: 145lbs (66kg)

**Reach**: 70 inches (180cm)

**Country**: Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

**Next Fight**: Charles Jourdain (13-6-1) at UFC 288

As a member of the Gracie family and the son of Rickson Gracie, Kron was destined to have a future in Jiu-Jitsu and began training as a child. The BJJ phenom became a yellow belt before he was ten and a black belt by nineteen. In 2008, Gracie competed in the BJJ World Championship but lost his debut to Sergio Moraes via bow and arrow choke. Yet, this loss wouldn't deter Gracie, as he would rack up many accolades in his following bouts. His achievements include the 2009 IBJJF European Champion, second place at the 2011 IBJJF World Championship, and the 2013 ADCC Submission Fighting World Championship winner. Throughout his grappling bouts, he also racked up victories over Beniel Dariush and Shinya Aoki.

![gracie-vs-dariush.jpg](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/badaa599-a024-4e98-ebea-594497f3ac00/pub "Kron Gracie grappling with Beniel Dariush at the ACBJJ World Trials in 2012. Credits to: Alicia Anthon - Aliciaphotos.com.")

At the end of 2013, Gracie expressed his interest in transitioning to MMA and took off a year before making his MMA debut in December 2014. In Tokyo, Japan, He fought in Real Fighting Championship: Real 1 against Hyung Soo-Kim, and won via first-round arm bar. Gracie would not return to combat for over a year, this time earning another submission victory against Asen Yamamoto under the RIZIN banner. His next two bouts would come in faster succession, and Gracie would move to 4-0 with submission victories over Hideo Tokoro and Tatsuya Kawajiri, still fighting for RIZIN. These victories, however, would earn him a crack at the UFC, and two years removed from his last bout, in 2018, he signed with the UFC. 

![gracie-in-rizin.jpg](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/beae43b3-60fd-4e28-b1f9-6b91ce8d8700/pub "Kron Gracie on top mout against Hideo Tokoro. Credits to: RIZIN.")

Gracie's UFC debut would come against top Featherweight contender Alex "Bruce Leroy" Caceres in February 2019. He would heavily impress in his performance, submitting the veteran in just over two minutes with a rear naked choke. This victory was the spotlight Gracie was looking for, and because of his quick victory, he earned a Performance of The Night bonus. After gaining some traction in his MMA career, he'd return in October 2019 against fan favorite UFC veteran Cub Swanson. Gracie would abandon all Jiu-Jitsu adroitness in an incredibly unexpected twist and engage in a stand-up war with Swanson throughout all three rounds. The grappling phenom would only shoot for two takedowns and racked up a measly four seconds of control time throughout the entire bout. Although Gracie would find great striking success despite his BJJ origins, he would be beaten across all three rounds and lose a unanimous decision, the first and only loss of his career. In the aftermath of the bout, Rickson and several members of the Gracie family criticized his performance. The bout would also earn Fight of The Night honors.

![GRACIE-VS-SWANSON.jpg](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/c4beb30d-e91e-4766-a72a-804f4cc6df00/pub "Kron Gracie and Cub Swanson in their Fight of The Night bout. Credits to: Reinhold Matay - USA TODAY Sports.")

Since his bout against Swanson, Gracie has not competed, and some believed he may have retired with his record standing at 5-1. However, his return will be against exciting Canadian Charles Jourdain, an always exciting striker with sneaky submissions. The Canadian will be looking to snap a two-fight losing streak, dropping decisions to Shane Burgos and Nathaniel Wood. Gracie's fight IQ is the most crucial factor of this bout; if he performs similarly to Swanson, the result could be the same as his last bout. Despite only having three bouts in the UFC, all his fights have been strict tests, and the classic phrase "no easy fights" can definitely be applied to Kron Gracie. 

This is a massive fight for Kron Gracie and could make or break his entire MMA career. Can the experienced BJJ ace secure another submission in this bout? Or will Charles Jourdain prove to be too much to handle? Either way, as a member of the Verdict Community, let us know your prediction for this bout in the comments below.

Fighter Spotlight: Kron Gracie

A bout between top-15 Middleweights Brendan Allen and Bruno Silva has just been announced for UFC Fight Night: Emmett vs. Topuria on June 24th at the VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena in Jacksonville, Florida, per Alex Behunin.

```iframe
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">The oddsmakers are always confident in Israel Adesanya.<br><br>He&#39;s lost 3 fights to Alex Pereira, but the oddsmakers still have him as a favorite heading into this weekend.<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/UFC287?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#UFC287</a> <a href="https://t.co/0MF4krsH1v">pic.twitter.com/0MF4krsH1v</a></p>&mdash; Verdict (@TournamentsMMA) <a href="https://twitter.com/AlexBehunin/status/1653165515601477632?s=20">April 5, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
```

Allen was previously scheduled to face Jack Hermansson for the main event of UFC on ESPN 45, but the headliner spot has now been replaced by top-10 Flyweights Kai Kara-France and Amir Albazi.

**This fight takes place in the Middleweight (185 lbs) division.**

Brendan "All In" Allen has a professional record of 21-5 (9-2 UFC) and is ranked #12 at Middleweight, holding credible wins over André Muniz, Karl Robertson, and Kevin Holland.

Bruno "Blindado" Silva holds a professional record of 23-8 (4-2 UFC) and is unranked at Middleweight. He holds noteworthy victories over Brad Tavares, Jordan Wright, and Andrew Sanchez.

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

Brendan Allen is currently riding the most significant win streak of his career and is coming off a highlight win in his last matchup, submitting André Muniz in the third round. An unfortunate fight-day illness would push Nikita Krylov out of his main event bout against Ryan Spann, forcing Allen and Muniz to take center stage. He wouldn't waste the opportunity, and despite being a considerable underdog, would beat Muniz throughout the bout before finishing him in the third. Allen has an incredible resume at Middleweight and will look to up his winning streak to five by using his powerful striking and underrated Jiu-Jitsu in this matchup.

![Muniz-Allen-headliner.jpg](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/d7d0fe11-d6a7-4bf0-ca48-16f874f4ed00/pub "Brendan Allen outstriking André Muniz in their main event clash. Credits to: Chris Unger - Zuffa LLC.")

Bruno Silva has been nothing but must-see TV in his six UFC bouts. Despite signing with the UFC in early 2020, he would not return to competition until mid-2021 due to a USADA suspension. "Blindado" did not disappoint in his return and racked up three consecutive knockouts over Wellington Turman, Andrew Sanchez, and Jordan Wright. These wins earned him a highly anticipated matchup against Alex Pereira, and he would go to war with the former GLORY kickboxing champion. Although he would lose his next two bouts to Pereira and Gerald Meerschaert, Silva returned to the win column in April with a first-round TKO against Brad Tavares. He'll now look to get his biggest career win over Brendan Allen in their matchup, using his powerful striking.

![bildado-vs-poatan.webp](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/6a1190c6-b1e8-4d7a-9a5e-a7610f80c400/pub "Bruno Silva striking with GLORY kickboxing champion Alex Pereira. Credits to: Chris Unger - Zuffa LLC.")

This bout is a phenomenal matchup in the Middleweight division, so who do you have winning? As a member of the Verdict Community, let us know your prediction in the comments below.

Hermansson OUT, Brendan Allen faces Bruno Silva on June 24th

Liam Mooney

**Preliminary Card**

**Hailey Cowan vs. Jamey-Lyn Horth**

**Result:** Jamey-Lyn Horth def. Hailey Cowan via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)

**Division:** Women's bantamweight

**Referee:** Chris Tognoni

Undefeated Jamey-Lyn Horth makes her UFC debut and starts with an impressive first round, showcasing good wrestling and striking abilities. She has success with her body kicks and leaves a cut above Cowan's left eye prior to the start of the second. However, Cowan makes some adjustments in the second round. She is wiser to the body kick and catches it this time, resulting in a couple of takedowns. With more success on the feet, the fight is more than likely 1-1 going into the final round. Finishing a very close fight, where both women are clearly showing signs of fatigue, Horth has more success on the feet, but Cowan gets the late takedown and is able to control her opponent until the final bell. A good showing from both athletes, but Horth extended her undefeated record and picked up a win on her UFC debut. 

**Marcus McGhee vs. Journey Newson**

**Result:** Marcus McGhee def. Journey Newson via submission (rear-naked choke) – Round 2, 2:03

**Division:** 140-pound contract weight

**Referee:** Mark Smith

With McGhee taking the fight on just three days' notice, this bout was fought at an agreed catchweight, 5 lbs heavier than the usual 135lb bantamweight limit. In the first round, both men are able to avoid any real damage, and McGhee does well to avoid Newson's takedown attempts. Through the first, McGhee was the busier fighter, using his pressure well to keep his opponent on the back foot. In the second round, McGhee lands a big left hand, dropping his opponent, which allows him to pounce and take the back while Newson is down. McGhee soon after sinks in a rear naked choke and gets the submission victory on an impressive UFC debut.

**Irina Alekseeva vs. Stephanie Egger**

**Result:** Irina Alekseeva def. Stephanie Egger via submission (kneebar) – Round 1, 2:11

**Division:** Women's bantamweight

**Referee:** Jason Herzog

Another UFC debutant, Irina Alekseeva, spent the first-minute trading blows in the center of the octagon with Egger. Then, Alekseeva managed to clinch up and take her opponent's back; from that position, she was able to roll into a knee bar submission and, after some slight adjusting, forced her opponent to tap. 

**Cody Durden vs. Charles Johnson**

**Result:** Cody Durden def. Charles Johnson via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)

**Division:** Flyweight

**Referee:** Chris Tognoni

A fast pace is set in the first round, where Durden showcases his wrestling ability. He spent some time on Johnson's back after forcing his opponent up against the cage, but Johnson was able to fight the hands well and avoid any danger. Durden landed some nice punches, completed another takedown late in the round, and was briefly caught in a reverse triangle before the bell sounded. Still leading with the wrestling-heavy approach, Durden could control Johnson for the most part. However, both men were showing signs of fatigue in this round. Johnson showed good takedown defense throughout the fight, but Durden's pressure and pace were too much. In the final round, Durden landed some good right hands that seemed to wobble Johnson, but ultimately the story was the same throughout the fight, and Durden's impressive wrestling got him the victory.

**Martin Buday vs. Jake Collier**

**Result:** Martin Buday def. Jake Collier via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)

**Division:** Heavyweight

**Referee:** Mark Smith

Both heavyweights started with intensity and were swinging from the off. Both men landed big shots that looked to cause damage early on in the fight; Collier landed a kick late in the round that knocked Buday down and allowed him to finish the round on top. However, Buday found more success as the fight progressed and seemingly hurt Collier, who was visibly fading in the second round. In the final round, Buday was clearly the sharper fighter and a late reversal let Buday control the fight and land some big blows towards the end of the fight.

**Main Card**

**Josh Quinlan vs. Trey Waters**

**Result:** Trey Waters def. Josh Quinlan via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)

**Division:** Welterweight

**Referee:** Jason Herzog

Another UFC debutant looking to impress, Trey Waters, showcased an incredible display of using his reach and managing distance well throughout the fight. Heavy-handed Quinlan could not land anything significant throughout the fight, as he couldn't get close to Waters. Quinlan had success with his leg kicks, particularly calf kicks, but it wasn't enough to change the outcome of the fight, and Waters was yet another UFC debutant picking up a win.

**Waldo Cortes-Acosta vs. Marcos Rogerio**

**Result:** Marcos Rogerio de Lima def. Waldo Cortes-Acosta via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)

**Division:** Heavyweight

**Referee:** Herb Dean

Rogerio leaned heavily on the leg kicks throughout the fight and found the mark in the first two rounds. Completing takedowns in both rounds, too, Roderio was fighting well and threatening with submissions. On the other hand, Cortes-Acosta was defending well and came out into the third, firing like a man down two rounds. The pace had noticeably slowed down in the final round, but it was the best round for Cortes-Acosta, unfortunately, wouldn't be enough. 

**Julian Erosa vs. Fernando Padilla**

**Result:** Fernando Padilla def. Julian Erosa via TKO (punches) – Round 1, 1:41

**Division:** Featherweight

**Referee:** Chris Tognoni

Both men exchange in the center of the octagon early, looking to establish dominance. Padilla lands a strong jab that sends Erosa backward and looks to have hurt him; looking to take advantage of this, Padilla chases down Erosa and drops him with a flurry of more punches. But, as Erosa pops back up, the referee has already called the fight. Erosa protests the stoppage, but the referee has already made the call.

**Cody Brundage vs. Rodolfo Vieira**

**Result:** Rodolfo Vieira def. Cody Brundage via submission (arm triangle) – Round 2, 1:28

**Division:** Middleweight

**Referee:** Mark Smith

Brundage starts the fight with bad intentions as he lands a series of powerful punches on Vieira. Vieira is forced to clinch and already looks beaten up and bleeding early in the opening round. Not long after a pause in action due to a low blow, Brundage drops Vieira with a huge right hand and follows up with more shots on the ground. Vieira looks in real trouble, and the referee calls for him to fight back. Doing just enough to survive, Vieira makes it through the first round. Vieira comes out in the second round looking for an early takedown; as he works for the takedown against the fence, Brundage goes for a guillotine choke. However, Vieira works free and instantly begins attacking an arm triangle choke. After some readjusting and turning from Brundage, Vieira can get his opponent to tap and secures an incredible comeback victory.

**Caio Borralho vs. Michal Oleksiejczuk**

**Result:** Caio Borralho def. Michal Oleksiejczuk via submission (rear-naked choke) – Round 2, 2:49

**Division:** Middleweight

**Referee:** Jason Herzog

Oleksiejczuk starts the fight well, landing impressive punches and avoiding the takedown. Unfortunately, Borralho is unsuccessful with his takedown attempts early in the fight, and Oleksiejczuk is causing problems with his movement and punches. Borralho gets a takedown in the later stages of the round, but the clock is against him before he can do any real work. Oleksiejczuk starts similarly, pressing his opponent; this time, however, Borralho blitzes and completes an impressive, powerful double-leg takedown. Borralho now has time to work from this position and can land punches and do damage. He continues this motion as he locks up a body triangle and rear naked choke forcing the tap. 

**Ricky Simon vs. Song Yadong**

**Result:** Song Yadong def. Ricky Simon via TKO (punches) – Round 5, 1:10

**Division:** Bantamweight

**Referee:** Herb Dean

The first round is spent with both men feeling each other out, with no real action or commitment from either side. Both men land some nice combinations, but they have yet to really set the pace. In the second round, Song has now taken the center of the octagon and is walking his opponent down. An accidental clash of heads does momentarily drop Simon, who is swarmed with follow-up punches, but he recovers well and is ok to continue. Simon is able to complete a takedown in the last few seconds of the fight and land some hammer fists, but Song is also throwing up fists and elbows from the bottom. Simon is able to get an early takedown in this round, but Song is up almost instantly. Song showcases a lot of excellent bodywork this round ripping punches to the body throughout. As the fight progresses, Song increasingly hurts Simon as his punches seem to add up. The next round is more similar; Song stalks Simon around the octagon and lands the better punches in the exchanges; in the final seconds of the round, Song lands a stiff counter left that floors Simon. Song looks at the referee waiting for a call to stop the action, but the horn sounds, and we will see a fifth and final round. Song keeps up the pressure he had for most of the fight; later in the round, Song drops Simon again with a similar shot to the previous round. This time, however, Song has time to pounce and get the finish. 


UFC Fight Night: Song Vs Simon Results

A bout between top-10 contenders Vicente Luque and Rafael Dos Anjos has just been confirmed to headline UFC Fight Night 226 on July 15th at a currently undisclosed location, per MMA Fighting.

**This five-round fight takes place in the Welterweight (170 lbs) division.**

Vicente Luque holds a professional record of 21-9-1 (14-5 UFC) and is ranked #10 at Welterweight. He has notable wins over Michael Chiesa, Belal Muhammad, and Tyron Woodley.

Rafael Dos Anjos holds a professional record of 32-14 (21-12 UFC) and is ranked #9 in the Lightweight division. He holds credible wins over Robbie Lawler, Nate Diaz, and Renato Moicano.

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

Vicente Luque looked like a future champion throughout his rise during 2020 and 2021 but was set back in 2022 following back-to-back losses to Belal Muhammad and Geoff Neal. Luque was riding a four-fight winning streak before facing Muhammad, including finishes over Michael Chiesa and former Welterweight Champion Tyron Woodley. However, he would lose via unanimous decision to Muhammad and then suffer a third-round TKO to Neal in his comeback. He'll be looking to snap his two-fight losing streak heading into this matchup against the veteran Dos Anjos.

![RDA-vs-bambam.webp](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/a88e35aa-36e7-4801-512d-3805457ccd00/pub "Rafael Dos Anjos outgrappling Bryan Barberena in his last matchup. Credits to: Nathan Ray Seebeck - USA TODAY Sports.")

It feels like Rafael Dos Anjos has been around forever, and with his UFC epoch starting in 2010, it's only natural to feel that way. Dos Anjos has expressed his interest in only taking exciting fights from here on and, in recent years, has put on some fantastic performances. He would have phenomenal back-to-back fights against Renato Moicano and Rafael Fiziev and then put on a shutout performance against Bryan Barberena in his last bout. A victory over Luque will place him directly inside the top 10 at Welterweight, and he'll be looking to use his complete skillset to gain his twenty-second octagon win.

![luque-L.webp](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/ab82f93f-8a58-4b81-338c-18747dce3a00/pub "Vicente Luque striking with Geoff Neal before suffering a third-round TKO. Credits to: Chris Unger - Zuffa LLC.")

This is a brilliant matchup inside the Welterweight division. So who do you have winning? As a member of the Verdict Community, let us know your prediction in the comments below.

Vincente Luque Meets Rafael Dos Anjos in Five-Round Main Event

ROUNDHOUSE MMA

Song Yadong and Ricky Simon are set to clash in the main event this weekend at the UFC APEX in Las Vegas, in what should be an amazing fight between two bantamweight title hopefuls. With a last minute cancellation of a fight between lightweights Arman Tsarukyan and Renato Moicano, Song and Simon were thrust into the main event spotlight on a card that is featuring a lot of younger UFC talent. In the co-main event, middleweight prospect Caio Borralho is looking to keep his undefeated record in the UFC intact as he faces Polish finisher Michal Oleksiejczuk. Also on the card, jiu-jitsu ace Rodolfo Vieira will face Cody Brundage, and Marcos Rogerio de Lima will clash with Waldo Cortes-Acosta in a heavyweight featured bout. 

Let's see how everyone weighed in. 

## MAIN CARD (START TIME: 7:00 PM EST ON ESPN+/ESPN2)

_Bantamweight:_ Song Yadong (***136***) vs Ricky Simon (***136***)

_Middleweight:_ Caio Borralho (***185.5***) vs Michal Oleksiejczuk (***185.5***)

_Middleweight:_ Rodolfo Vieira (***186***) vs Cody Brundage (***185.5***)

_Featherweight_ Julian Erosa (***145.5***) vs Fernando Padilla (***145.5***)

_Heavyweight:_ Marcos Rogerio de Lima (***262.5***) vs Waldo Cortes-Acosta (***258***)

_Welterweight:_ Josh Quinlan (***169***) vs Trey Waters(***171***)


## PRELIMS (START TIME: 4:30 PM EST ON ESPN+/ESPN2)

_Heavyweight:_ Martin Buday (***265***) vs Jake Collier (***265.5***)

_Flyweight:_ Cody Durden (***126***) vs Charles Johnson (***125.5***)

_Women's Bantamweight:_ Stephanie Egger (***135***) vs Irina Alekseeva (***140***)**

_Catchweight:_ Journey Newson (***138.5***) vs Marcus McGhee (***140***)

_Women's Bantamweight:_ Hailey Cowan (***137.5***)* vs Jamey-Lyn Horth (***135.5***)


*Hailey Cowan missed weight by 1.5 lbs. 

**Irina Alekseeva missed weight by 4 lbs. 

Which fight are you most excited to watch this weekend? Let us know down in the comments. 


UFC FN: Song vs Simon Weigh-In Results

Douglas Vegas Bets

The UFC is back at the Apex this week for a huge Bantamweight main event between Yadong Song -105 and Ricky Simon -120. This card also features a Featherweight war between Julian Erosa -139 and Fernando Padilla +110 that I have a strong bet and prediction on, so don't miss out! 

**Odds provided by Stake.com are accurate as of 9:00 AM EST 4/27/2023**

## Yadong Song -105 vs. Ricky Simon -120

The new main event at Bantamweight has two battle-tested contenders ready to prove they belong in the title conversation. Yadong Song is a powerful boxer with very clean counters; however, he has struggled in the UFC when forced to grapple frequently. Ricky Simon has quietly been competing with top Bantamweights for years now, having broken out in his last performance with a dominant win over highly touted Jack Shore, where he showed power in his hands and strength in his wrestling. 

I’ll take Simon here as he has the wrestling advantage and cardio for days, making me think five rounds favor him. 

Pick: Simon O/U: Over 4.5 +108

## Caio Borralho -370 vs. Michal Oleksiejczuk +265

Clash of styles here at Middleweight. Caio Borralho has demonstrated impressive skills and athleticism so far in his UFC run with a smothering ground game. Michal Oleksiejczuk is a hard hitter who has looked good since moving down in weight, but his grappling is bad, as he has been immediately taken down in several fights. 

I’ve got Borralho to finish this one, as his edge in grappling is so large, and his control time should eventually lead to a submission or ground-and-pound victory. 

Pick: Borralho O/U: Under 2.5 -175

## Cody Brundage +195 vs. Rodolfo Viera -256

Two different types of grapplers meet here in a wrestler vs. jiu-jitsu practitioner matchup at Middleweight. Cody Brundage has shown he is a solid wrestler with enough power to knock out Tresean Gore, but I am not overly impressed by his fight IQ and durability. Rodolfo Viera is a phenomenal submission artist, and despite his struggles of late, he remains capable of submitting anyone and showed development in the striking against Chris Curtis. 

I like Viera to get an early submission here as he has competed with fighters who are much higher level than Brundage on the mat and dominated them. 

Pick: Viera O/U: Under 1.5 -112

## Julian Erosa -139 vs. Fernando Padilla +110

High-pace action is expected in this Featherweight firefight. Julian Erosa is a wild fighter with tremendous cardio and an aggressive grappling attack; however, his durability is a major concern, with him having been finished multiple times. Fernando Padilla makes his debut after some time off; he appears to be an aggressive striker who attacks submission off the ground but can be controlled and outpaced. 

I’ll pick Erosa here as I believe he is the better fighter all around with more experience; the only reason I feel he is not a larger favorite is durability concerns. 

Pick: Erosa O/U: Over 2.5 +126

## Waldo Cortes-Acosta +147 vs. Marcos Rogerio de Lima -189

Heavyweight brawlers open the main card here. Waldo Cortes-Acosta has shown he can box during his UFC run, although he has taken leg kicks frequently and has yet to demonstrate much of a ground game. Marcos Rogerio de Lima is a powerful kickboxer, although he sometimes struggles to keep up the pace. 

I’ll lean with de Lima here, but as his price gets steeper and steeper, I am less interested in betting on this fight, especially with it at Heavyweight. 

Pick: de Lima O/U: Over 1.5 -147

## Josh Quinlan -189 vs. Trey Waters +145

Fun matchup here between intriguing prospects to watch at Welterweight. Josh Quinlan has proven to be a dangerous finisher with powerful boxing. Trey Waters comes into this just weeks off a comeback win for the LFA title, where he was able to knock out Jalin Fuller; he is very tall for the weight class and has never gone the distance in his pro career.

I’ve got Quinlan in this one as he has had the time to properly prepare for this matchup, while Waters is coming off a tough fight not long ago. 

Pick: Quinlan O/U: Under 1.5 -125

## Martin Buday -110 vs. Jake Collier -115

Solid clash of Heavyweights in this matchup. Martin Buday is a grueling fighter to face as he uses his size and grappling ability to wear opponents down. Jake Collier is a well-rounded fighter with decent hands and a good submission game for the division. 

I’ll lean with Buday mostly because it is difficult for me to pick Collier after his last fight against Chris Barnett, but I see no value in betting on either side at this price. 

Pick: Buday O/U: Over 2.5 -135

## Cody Durden +114 vs. Charles Johnson -145

Great matchup at Flyweight here on the prelims. Cody Durden is a great wrestler for the weight class, although lesser grapplers have caught him in submissions. Charles Johnson has been one of the most active fighters in the UFC this year, and he has shown some improvements in his grappling, although that is still his weak point, with his strong suit being his tremendous cardio. 

I like Durden here as the underdog, so I took him to win by decision, as Johnson has never been finished, but I also played Johnson by submission as the number is wide, and this is a very possible outcome. 

Pick: Durden O/U: Over 2.5 -208

## Stephanie Egger -312 vs. Irina Alekseeva +235

The veteran takes on the newcomer in this Bantamweight matchup. Stephanie Egger is an aggressive grappler, with her last four fights ending inside the distance. Irina Alekseeva enters this matchup with minimal high-level experience, although we know she is a capable grappler.

I’m picking Egger here, and I think she finishes this fight as she has with other matchups which were not ranked-caliber opponents. 

Pick: Egger O/U: Under 2.5 +120

## Journey Newson vs. Marcus McGhee

Short notice change here at a Catchweight of 140Ibs. Journey Newson is a striker who throws a lot of unnecessary kicks and has struggled with an unimpressive UFC schedule. Marcus McGhee makes his debut here with plenty of knockout finishes on his record, although he has not fought much real competition and has only been competing professionally since 2020. 

I went into this matchup wanting to bet against Newson as he has not impressed me during his time in the UFC, but I need more than this price and opponent. 

Pick: Newson O/U: Under 2.5 

## Hailey Cowan +119 vs. Jamey-Lyn Horth -152

Debuting Women's Bantamweights clash to start the card here. Hailey Cowan makes another attempt at her debut here after two fight-week fallouts. Jamey-Lyn Horth enters this matchup unbeaten, with all finishes on her impressive record, including knockouts and submissions. 

I’ll pick Horth here, but with very little information on this fight, I am not eager to bet on either side. 

Pick: Horth O/U: Over 2.5 -204

## [DougLasVegasBets.net](https://douglasvegasbets.net) Plays

Ricky Simon -115

Julian Erosa -127

Caio Borralho Inside the Distance -120

Rodolfo Viera Submission -125

Cody Durden by Decision +260

Charles Johnson Submission +700

UFC Fight Night: Song vs. Simon Predictions

UFC 291 is closing in on us for the Summer, so let's go over some of the information we know about the event. Firstly, UFC 291 will be on July 29th in Salt Lake City, Utah. The venue is inside the Vivint Arena.

## Confirmed Fights

The headliner for the main event will be a rematch between Lightweights Dustin Poirier and Justin Gaethje, and the two will fight for the vacant BMF title. In their previous match, Poirier defeated Gaethje via fourth-round TKO. The last time the BMF title was competed for was in 2019 when Jorge Masvidal beat Nate Diaz at UFC 244.

![rollingggg-THUNDERRRRR.jpg](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/b082ecef-0f49-405f-91af-8c4503b2e500/pub "Justin Gaethje throwing a rolling thunder against Dustin Poirier in their chaotic first bout. Credits to: Mark J. Rebilas - USA TODAY Sports.")

The co-main event will be a featured bout in the Light-Heavyweight division. Jan Blachowicz will take on the former Middleweight Champion Alex Pereira, who will make his 205 lbs debut in the UFC.

Tony Ferguson will also be returning since his loss to Nate Diaz, taking on similar veteran Bobby Green. Fans speculate this may be the final bout of both men's careers.

Also on the main card, Paulo Costa will return against Middleweight prospect Ikram Aliskerov, who's coming off a huge win against Phil Hawes at UFC 288. Costa has not fought since UFC 278 due to multiple bouts against Robert Whittaker and Khamzat Chimaev falling out.

![paulo-eraser.jpg](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/5e2c80fb-87f2-49dc-0f6f-9bba2b995900/pub "Paulo Costa after his last bout against Luke Rockhold at UFC 278. Credits to: Jeffrey Swinger - USA TODAY Sports.")

The main card opener will be a bout between Kevin Holland and Michael Chiesa. Holland is riding a victory over Santiago Ponzinibbio, and Chiesa will be looking to make a successful return after not fighting in over two years.

After multiple reschedulings, Welterweight strikers Stephen Thompson and Michel Pereira will meet on this card. The two were supposed to meet at UFC 289 and then again at UFC Fight Night: Rozenstruik vs. Almeida. 

Heavyweight star Derrick Lewis will return on this card to take on rising contender Marcos Rogério de Lima. Lewis has lost four of his last five and will desperately try to secure this win, whereas de Lima has won four of his last five and will be looking to add a big name to his resume.

**Other bouts booked for this card include:**

Welterweight bout: Matthew Semelsberger vs. Yohan Lainesse

Middleweight bout: Roman Kopylov vs. Claudio Ribeiro

Flyweight bout: C.J. Vergara vs. Vinicius Salvador

Welterweight bout: Trevin Giles vs. Gabriel Bonfim

Women's Flyweight bout: Joanne Wood vs. Priscila Cachoeira

## Rumored Bouts

The only rumored bout for this card was Leon Edwards vs. Colby Covington. The Welterweight Champion Leon Edwards was interested in fighting on the UFC 294 card; however, Justin Barrasso previously reported that this matchup was being looked at to headline the UFC 291 card. Dana White has already announced that Colby Covington will be challenging for the Welterweight title next, which was confirmed at the UFC 286 post-fight press conference. While it is now unlikely this bout will come to fruition, we know it will happen at some point this year.

![leon-edwards-kamaru-usman-ufc-286-29.jpg](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/710e05b3-4417-45b0-beff-98ab82005000/pub "Leon Edwards at UFC 286 defending his Welterweight Championship vs. Kamaru Usman. Credits to: Haljestam - USA TODAY Sports.")

## Betting Odds

Dustin Poirier has opened as a -125 favorite, and Gaethje is a +105 underdog. The odds between the two are skinny, so expect some fluctuation. Nevertheless, there's money to be made on both sides here.

Jan Blachowicz currently stands as a slight favorite over Alex Pereira, with the Pole at -150, whereas "Poatan" is at +130.

Paulo Costa has surprisingly come in at a minuscule underdog, currently standing at +105, whereas Ikram Aliskerov, despite having just one fight in the promotion, is the favorite at -125.

Tony Ferguson is a massive underdog at +275 against Bobby Green, a -330 favorite.

Who would you like to see headline this card? As a member of the Verdict Community, let us know your thoughts in the comments below.

UFC 291 Date, Location, Rumors, Confirmed Fights and Betting Odds

The UFC returns to action this weekend inside the UFC Apex in Enterprise, Nevada, for UFC Fight Night: Song Yadong vs. Ricky Simón. Let's break down the main card and examine the fights for the card.

## Song Yadong vs. Ricky Simón

The always-entertaining Bantamweight division has another firecracker on its hands this weekend, as the #8 ranked Chinese superstar "The Kung Fu Kid" Song Yadong is taking on the dark horse of the division, Ricky Simón. The two fighters hold a combined eight performance bonuses and nine finishes across their UFC bouts. Yadong is one of the hardest hitters in the division and accompanies that with an exceptional striking arsenal. He proved his standup capabilities in his last bout against one of the best strikers in the division, Cory Sandhagen. Yadong would crack Sandhagen multiple times throughout the bout and showed many people he could hang with the top of the division, despite losing a fourth-round doctors stoppage. Simón also enjoyed the spotlight in his last bout, handing Jack Shore his first professional loss. Entering the fight as an underdog, Simón silenced the hype of Shore after dropping him in the second round and following up with a devastating arm-triangle choke. These Bantamweights are incredibly well-rounded fighters who always leave everything inside the octagon. This is absolutely not a main event to miss.

![yadong-vs-sandhagen.jpg](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/58462fc3-ced3-4d43-347a-1f67b4f3cc00/pub "Song Yadong clashing with Cory Sandhagen in their main event. Credits to: Chris Unger - Zuffa LLC.")

## Caio Borralho vs. Michał Oleksiejczuk

Middleweights take the co-main event slot this weekend, and both will be looking for the biggest victory of their careers. Brazillian prospect Caio Borralho will be looking to pick up his fourth consecutive victory inside the UFC, remain undefeated inside the promotion, and acquire his first finish in the UFC. Oleksiejczuk has had a stop-and-start run inside the UFC, with a record of 6-3-(1NC) inside the promotion. With victories over Sam Alvey and Cody Brundage in his last two bouts, he'll be looking to piece together his first three-fight win streak in this matchup. Borralho is an elite grappler who, in just three bouts, already has twenty-five minutes of control time, and he'll be looking to increase that stat this weekend. Oleksiejczuk, on the other hand, is an elite striker in the Middleweight division, with 72% of his victories coming via KO/TKO. He'll want to keep this fight standing to secure the upset victory over Borralho.

![caio-borralho.webp](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/f09ef3fa-c09c-4a20-c3a3-ad1f037efa00/pub "Caio Borralho in his last victory against Makhmud Muradov at UFC 280. Credits to: Craig Kidwell - USA TODAY Sports.")

## Cody Brundage vs. Rodolfo Viera

The other Middleweight bout on the card is a hybrid of the classic "striker vs. grappler" matchup. In this instance, we have elite wrestler Cody Brundage taking one of the greatest active Middleweight jiujiteiro, Rodolfo Viera. Brundage was a standout college wrestler with a record of 128-22 before transitioning to MMA in 2019. Viera competed in grappling matches between 2009-2018 and compiled an elite record of 100-9, only ever losing via submission once. This matchup could end up as a striking affair on the feet or a competitive grappling match on the ground, but with a combined 93% finish rate between the two fighters, expect a finish in this bout.

![brundage-gore.jpg](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/ed5539a0-3363-4b36-a9ba-d3fcc5117400/pub "Cody Brundage stricking with Treasan Gore at UFC on ESPN: dos Anjos vs. Fiziev. Credits to: Chris Unger - Zuffa LLC.")

## Julian Erosa vs. Fernando Padilla

Fight fans who enjoy violence need to keep their eye on this matchup, where the multiple-time performance of the night winner Julian Erosa meets UFC debutante Fernando Padilla. Veteran Erosa will be looking for his seventh UFC victory after going 6-6 in his first twelve. While sometimes coming up short against the highest level of competition, "Juicy J" always brings the fight and has achieved highlight victories over Nate Landwehr, Charles Jourdain, and Hakeem Dawodu. Padilla last fought in 2021, earning his UFC contract at Fury FC 46: Lookin' For a Fight. The Mexican prospect will be looking to debut his style and get upset over the always-entertaining Erosa.

![juicy-j-erosa.jpg](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/7b41e7cd-6402-481a-08eb-62ba8e4e3e00/pub "Julian Erosa at UFC 279 beating Hakeem Dawodu. Credits to: Joe Camporeale - USA TODAY Sports.")

## Marcos Rogério de Lima vs. Waldo Cortes-Acosta

Heavyweight prospects Marcos Rogério de Lima and Waldo Cortes-Acosta will be looking to secure a vital career win, with a top-15 ranking likely on the line in this matchup. Rogério de Lima has struggled to piece together more than a couple of wins across his UFC career, which dates back to 2014. However, he's now 3-1 in his last four bouts, with his only loss being a controversial decision loss to Blagoy Ivanov. Cortes-Acosta will be looking to keep his undefeated record and move to 10-0. After a perfect 2022, the Dominican will be on the hunt for his biggest career win when he takes on the toughest test of his career.

![waldito.jpg](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/385e679d-fcc1-4403-c54b-6f7fdd379a00/pub "Waldo Cortes-Acosta in his last bout vs. Chase Sherman. Credits to: Chris Unger - Zuffa LLC.")

## Josh Quinlan vs. Trey Waters

This battle of new Welterweights should be an exciting one while it lasts. Josh Quinlan has a 100% finish rate and won his UFC debut last year with a massive left hook against Jason Witt. Although young in his career, "Bushido" will be looking for his seventh career win and stoppage to keep his undefeated record intact. Trey Waters will debut inside the octagon this weekend, stepping in on very short notice after competing just two weeks ago when he captured the LFA Welterweight title vs. Jalin Fuller.

![josh-quinlan-mandown.jpg](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/93f6486f-8236-40ad-d232-64b3a4cc8e00/pub "Josh Quinlan after knocking Jason Witt unconscious at UFC Fight Night: Vera vs. Cruz. Credits to: Joe Camporeale - USA TODAY Sports.")

This vastly underrated could produce some fierce matchups this weekend, and the main event fight is guaranteed fireworks in the Bantamweight division. What's your prediction for the main event? As a member of the Verdict Community, let us know in the comments below.

UFC Fight Night: Song vs. Simón Preview

A top-15 matchup between contenders Sean Brady and Jack Della Maddalena has been announced for July 8 at UFC 290 in Las Vegas, Nevada, inside the T-Mobile Arena, per Bendaman2001 via Twitter.
 
**This bout takes place in the Welterweight (170 lbs) division.** 
 
Sean Brady holds a professional record of 15-1 (5-1 UFC) and is ranked #9 in the Welterweight division. He holds notable wins over Michael Chiesa, Jake Matthews, and Ismail Naurdiev. 

Jack Della Maddalena holds a professional record of 14-2 (4-0 UFC) and is ranked #13 in the Welterweight division. He holds credible wins over Randy Brown, Danny Roberts, and Ramazan Emeev. 
 
**Official odds have yet to be released.** 
 
Sean Brady was tearing through the Welterweight division through 2020 and 2021, putting together a five-fight winning streak, including two submissions. However, his streak ended abruptly at UFC 280: Oliveira vs. Makhachev, where he lost for the first time against Belal Muhammad via second-round TKO. Despite being wrestlers, the two would strike for the entire contest, and although Brady showed improved and accurate striking, it wouldn’t be enough to get past top contender Muhammad. He’ll now be looking to prove that he can bounce back from a loss and look to use his dominant wrestling against Della Maddalena. 
 
![muhammad-vs-brady.jpg](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/9f18cca3-b850-4523-bd2b-fe517f08c700/pub "Sean Brady landing a huge straight on Belal Muhammad at UFC 280. Credits to: Craig Kidwell - USA TODAY Sports.")
 
Jack Della Maddalena had an electrifying first year inside the UFC. He debuted at UFC 270: Ngannou vs. Gane and would secure a first-round TKO over Pete Rodriguez dominantly. He would go on to secure two more first-round TKO wins over Emeev and Roberts and faced his biggest test in February of this year on the undercard of UFC 284: Makhachev vs. Volkanovski. Della Maddalena would face Randy Brown and KO him in the first round. Now, riding four straight first-round finishes, he’ll look to use his dominant striking to secure his largest victory over Sean Brady. 
 
![JDM-TNG.jpg](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/a64e6b07-e9dc-4e71-8a55-9d916b868b00/pub "Jack Della Maddalena facing off against Randy Brown at UFC 284. Credits to: Jasmin Frank - USA TODAY Sports.")

This is an excellent matchup for the stacked UFC 290 card. So who do you have winning? As a member of the Verdict Community, let us know your prediction in the comments below. 

Sean Brady vs. Jack Della Maddalena Added to UFC 290

Robert Whittaker has become a large favorite in his highly anticipated number-one contender fight vs. Dricus Du Plessis. This fight is set to take place at Middleweight on the main card of UFC 290 from the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas on July 8th. 

**Odds provided by BetOnline.ag accurate as of 12:30 AM EST 7/3/2023**

## Current Odds: Robert Whittaker -410, Dricus Du Plessis +310

These odds mean a bettor would need to risk $410 on Robert Whittaker to win $100, while a $100 bet on Dricus Du Plessis could win $310

The winner of this fight is expected to be next in line for Middleweight champion Israel Adesanya. Robert Whittaker enters this matchup coming off his dominant performance against Marvin Vettori at UFC Paris last September. Dricus Du Plessis makes his second appearance of the year after finishing Derek Brunson at UFC 285 in March. 

## Past Fight Odds: Robert Whittaker

*Odds provided by FightOdds.io*

Robert Whittaker (-192) vs. Marvin Vettori (+177) UFC Paris - Win

Robert Whittaker (+240) vs. Israel Adesanya (-260) UFC 276 - Win

Robert Whittaker (-255) vs. Kelvin Gastelum (+235) UFC Fight Night: Whittaker vs. Gastelum - Win

Robert Whittaker (+105) vs. Jared Cannonier (-115) UFC 254 - Win

Robert Whittaker (-142) vs. Darren Till (+132) UFC Fight Night: Whittaker vs. Till - Win 

## Past Fight Odds: Dricus Du Plessis

*Odds provided by FightOdds.io*

Dricus Du Plessis (-200) vs. Derek Brunson (+185) UFC 285 - Win

Dricus Du Plessis (-165) vs. Darren Till (+155) UFC 282 - Win

Dricus Du Plessis (-167) vs. Brad Tavares (+157) UFC 276 - Win

Dricus Du Plessis (-112) vs. Trevin Giles (+102) UFC 264 - Win

Dricus Du Plessis (-165) vs. Markus Perez (+155) UFC Fight Night: Moraes vs. Sandhagen - Win

Are oddsmakers underestimating Dricus Du Plessis in this matchup? Let us know your prediction in the comments below.