Abdullah Ouazri

The UFC Flyweight title is on the line, and for the first time since 2020, it's not being fought for by Brandon Moreno and Deveison Figueiredo. Instead, Brandon Moreno will defend the belt against his career boogeyman Alexandre Pantoja in their third meeting.

The fight goes down as the co-main event to International Fight Week's staple Pay-Per-View, headlined by Alex Volkanovski vs. Yair Rodriguez.

**This 5-round title fight takes place in the Flyweight (125 lbs) division.**

Brandon, 'The Assasin Baby' Moreno, holds a professional record of 21-6-2 (9-3-2 UFC) and is the current champion. His notable wins include Deveison Figueiredo x2, Kai Kara-France x2, and Brandon Royval.

Alexandre, 'The Cannibal' Pantoja, holds a professional record of 25-5-0 (9-3 UFC) and is currently ranked #2. His notable wins include Brandon Moreno x2, Alex Perez, and Manel Kape.

Moreno has firmly stamped himself the king of Flyweight after settling his four-fight rivalry with Deveison Figueiredo at UFC 283 in January. The pair were neck and neck and were 1-1-1 heading into the first quadrilogy in UFC history. Moreno stopped his rival in the 3rd round via doctor stoppage, settling the 3-year clog at the division's top. Moreno is one of three current Mexican champions in the UFC, alongside Yair Rodriguez and Alexa Grasso.

![CEF4CA2E-DEAD-40A2-8708-F02FFE5752C3.jpeg](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/39375757-84e1-43e7-260d-5102fd462a00/pub "Brandon Moreno lands the finishing blow on his longtime rival. Credits to: Zuffa LLC.")

The first fresh title challenger since 2020 to the Flyweight title is Alexandre Pantoja, despite being very familiar with the champion. They first met on The Ultimate Fighter season 24 in an exhibition bout where Pantoja submitted Moreno in the 2nd round. Their next meeting came two years later, in 2018, and Pantoja was dominant. He won the fight 30-26 and made easy work of Moreno a 2nd time.

![37D8D6E2-619B-4E6A-9443-F8A5C226E315.jpeg](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/b7544fbb-b333-4dfd-a67a-720822fdb000/pub "Alexandre Pantoja defeats Brandon Moreno in their second meeting. Credits to: Zuffa LLC.")

Will the champion avenge his losses, or will history repeat itself? Let us know your prediction in the comments.

Brandon Moreno vs. Alexandre Pantoja Trilogy Set For UFC 290

Taylor Dow

PFL 3 Post Fight Results







## Main Card

## Magomed Umalatov vs. Dilano Taylor

**Result:**  Magomed Umalatov def. Dilano Taylor by KO at 1:31 of round 1.

**Division:** Welterweight

**Referee:** Jacob Montalvo


Umalatov lands a quick right hand which stumbles Taylor, and Umalatov chases him down with a left hook to right hand that puts Taylor down and out. Umalatov earns the quick 6 points for his first-round KO and puts him as the number 1 seed for the Welterweights.

## Carlos Leal vs. David Zawada

**Result:**  Carlos Leal def. David Zawada by KO at 2:25 of round 1.

**Division:** Welterweight

**Referee:** Kerry Hatley


Leal lands a big counter overhand, which rocks Zawada back to the cage and chases him back with combos, ultimately getting the knockout finish. Leal earns the quick 6 points in the tournament for his first-round knockout and is now tied at number 1 with Umalatov.

## Cezar Ferreira vs. Denis Goltsov

**Result:** Denis Goltsov def. Cezar Ferreira by TKO at 2:07 of round 1.

**Division:** Heavyweight

**Referee:**  Mark Smith


The fight starts with Ferreira utilizing some nice blitzes to force Goltsov back. Goltsov then walks Ferreira back to the fence and lands a big right hand to engage a clinch against the fence. Ferreira fights to break the wrestling attempt of Goltsov and ends up keeping it standing, but ultimately Goltsov scores a big takedown at 1:30 into the first round and lands in the half guard. Goltsov is raining down massive shots from the top, which forces Ferreira to cover up. The referee calls a stop to the bout after 10 big shots get through to the chin of Ferreira. Goltsov earns the quick 6 points to put him as the number 1 seed for the Heavyweights.

## Clay Collard vs. Yamato Nishikawa

**Result:** Clay Collard def. Yamato Nishikawa by unanimous decision (30-27,  30-27, 30-27.)

**Division:** Lightweight

**Referee:** Chris Tognoni


Nishikawa starts the fight with big leg kicks, which Collard also returns. Nishikawa kicks the legs out from Collard. Collard lands a big 1-2, which stumbles Nishikawa, but Nishikawa wears the damage well. Round 1 is mostly Collard boxing Nishikawa against the fence for a clear 10-9 Collard round. Round 2 is a much better round for Nishikawa, utilizing his leg kicks, which affect Collard's movement. Ultimately, Collard still takes round 2 10-9 with his crisp boxing against the fence. Round 3 is another decent attempt for Nishikawa, with lots of leg kicks and, in the moments on the ground, lots of submission attempts, but Collard fights free and lands some damaging blows that secured him the final round with a third 10-9. Collard wins the unanimous decision, with all three judges giving him all three rounds. Collard earns 3 points for his performance. 



## Olivier Aubin-Mercier vs. Shane Burgos

**Result:** Olivier Aubin-Mercier def. Shane Burgos by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27.)

**Division:** Lightweight

**Referee:** Jacob Montalvo


The fight starts with a short feeling-out process. Then, Aubin-Mercier lands a big uppercut that knocks the mouthguard out of Burgos' mouth; Burgos wears the damage well. Round 1 comes to a close and looks relatively close, but Aubin-Mercier takes it 10-9. Round 2 features a wrestling-heavy gameplan from Aubin-Mercier, but struggles to keep Burgos on the canvas. Aubin-Mercier takes the back of Burgos while standing and begins looking for the choke. Round 2 ends with wrestling dominance from Aubin-Mercier, which wins him the round 10-9. Aubin-Mercier again dominates round 3 with the same game plan. Burgos gets free with 10 seconds remaining in the round and unloads, but ultimately it's too late, and Aubin-Mercier wins the round 10-9. All 3 judges give all 3 rounds to Aubin-Mercier for the unanimous decision victory and 3 points in the Lightweight tournament.

## Postliminary Card


## Natan Schulte vs. Stevie Ray

**Result:** Natan Schulte def. Stevie Ray by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27.)

**Division:** Lightweight

**Referee:** Kerry Hatley


Ray begins the fight by pressing forward, and Schulte returns with big leg kicks. Schulte scores a takedown and ends up on top, then slides into the half-guard. Round 1 ends with Schulte on top to win the round 10-9. Round 2 begins very similar to the previous round; Schulte gets the takedown and keeps Ray on the mat. Schulte keeps Ray on the ground to win the round 10-9. Schulte scores another early takedown, keeps Ray on the floor, and grinds him for another 10-9 round. Schulte wins the fight and 3 points in the Lightweight tournament.




## Zach Juusola vs. Brandon Jenkins

**Result:** Zach Juusola def. Brandon Jenkins by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-27.)

**Division:** Lightweight

**Referee:** Mark Smith

Round 1 starts fast, with both men swinging. Both men rush each other, clinch knees, head kicks, and right hands. Juusola lands a big shot at the end of round 1, which leaves Jenkins on wobbly legs going into round 2; round 1 looks like a clear 10-9 Juusola. However, Jenkins recovers well and rocks Juusola back in round 2. Juusola looks tired after rushing for the finish in round 1. Jenkins lands a huge right hook and a flying knee that rocks Juusola, which forces him to shoot for a takedown. Jenkins hunts for the finish but is unable to get it. Jenkins takes round 2, 10-9. Round 3 continues to be back and forth until Jenkins lands a huge head kick and accidentally throws an illegal elbow which is against the rules in the PFL. The action stops briefly for Juusola to recover from the illegal blow. They return to work, and Juusola gets Jenkins to the mat and delivers massive body shots to end the round. Round 3 ends and is close, it could go either way, but potentially Juusola wins the round 10-9 by finishing strong. Juusola wins the judge's decision and 3 points in the regular season.



## Bruno Miranda vs. Ahmed Amir

**Result:** Bruno Miranda def. Ahmed Amir by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27.)
 
**Division:** Lightweight

**Referee:** Chris Tognoni


This fight begins slowly until Amir shoots for a takedown incorrectly and rushes into Miranda's hips which rocks him; Miranda follows this up with a big shot and starts letting his hands go. Miranda lands another big bomb that drops Amir to close out round 1, a clear 10-9 to Miranda. Round 2 begins with Miranda landing more big shots and dropping Amir again, which forces Amir to get desperate in a hunt for a takedown. Miranda is landing counter shots whenever Amir blitzes in, but Amir eats them well. Miranda continues landing bombs, but ultimately Amir survives the round. Miranda takes round 2, 10-9. Miranda lands a massive left hook to open round 3, which drops Amir, but Amir is tough as nails and is right back to his feet and back in the fight. Amir finally gets a takedown with a minute to go in the fight and takes the back, but Miranda successfully fights the hands and breaks free to which Miranda fires a flying knee that drops Amir with mere seconds to go. Again, Amir survives to hear the bell. Miranda takes round 3 based on the considerable damage he dished out, 10-9. Miranda wins the bout on all 3 scorecards and earns 3 points in the Lightweight bracket.


## Shane Mitchell vs. Nayib López

**Result:** Naylib López def. Shane Mitchell by unanimous decision (29-27, 29-27, 29-27.)

**Division:** Welterweight

**Referee:** Jacob Montalvo

López shoots for an early takedown and secures it; as Mitchell makes his way to his feet, López throws an illegal knee to the head to a downed opponent and is deducted a point, as well as losing the position. When the action resets, Mitchell lands a big right hand, and López shoots another takedown which briefly floors Mitchell, but he quickly gets back up. López keeps the wrestling pressure on Mitchell, but Mitchell is able to get back to the neutral position. Mitchell's counterpunching is excellent in the final minute of the round, but López uses it to sneak in a takedown to finish the round. López wins the round with a 9-9 score after the point deduction. López begins the round with another takedown under a missed shot from Mitchell. Mitchell ends up in the top position and sits tight in a headlock; Mitchell abandons the attempt and gets back to his feet. López kept the heavy wrestling pressure on the Australian to secure round 2. López finishes the round on top for a 10-9 score. López starts round 3 with the same game plan and scores a quick takedown. Every time Mitchell tries to get back up, López floors him. López ends the round in side control for a 10-9 score and relentless wrestling victory. López remains undefeated and earns 3 points for the Welterweight bracket.


## Raush Manfio vs. Alexander Martinez

**Result:** Raush Manfio def. Alexander Martinez by unanimous decision ( 29-28, 29-28, 30-27.)

**Division:** Lightweight

**Referee:** Kerry Hatley

The fight starts with a feeling-out process. Manfio's cage control is winning him this fight so far. Manfio is just walking Martinez down. No deciding strikes to win either man the round over the opening stanza, but Manfio's control of the distance wins him the round with a 10-9. Round 2 begins with a takedown attempt from Martinez, which Manfio stops. Manfio catches a kick, sweeps the leg to get Martinez to the mat, and ends up in the full guard. Marinez gets to his feet but makes the same mistake and is swept from a caught leg kick again. Manfio takes the back at 1:40 of round 2, but Martinez gets back to his feet and into the neutral position. Martinez's leg kicks have slowly added, and Manfio is limping slightly. Manfio ends the round on top for a 10-9 score. Manfio begins round 3 by walking Martinez back to the cage and keeping the pressure on Martinez. Manfio scores a trip that puts Martinez down momentarily. Manfio unloads combos on Martinez for the final 30 seconds and seems to have done enough to win all 3 rounds with a 10-9. Manfio wins the fight and 3 points in the Lightweight standings.



## Magomed Magomedkerimov vs. Ben Egli

**Result:** Magomed Magomedkarimov def. Ben Egli by KO at 1:03 of round 1.

**Division:** Welterweight

**Referee:** Chris Tognoni

Magomedkarimov starts the bout by throwing bombs; one rocks Egli and Magomedkarimov follows it up with a head kick that puts Egli down and out. Magomedkarimov earns the quick 6 points for his first-round finish and sits atop the Welterweight standings.



## Sadibou Sy vs. Jarrah Al-Silawi

**Result:** Sadibou Sy def. Jarrah Al-Silawi by TKO at 1:14 of round 2.

**Division:** Welterweight

**Referee:** Mark Smith

Both men start slow for the first 5 minutes. However, the last few seconds of round 1 see some action as Sy lands on top of Jarrah Al-Silawi and throws some good ground and pound. Close, uneventful round 1, but Sy takes it 10-9. Then, 1 minute into round 2, Sy lands a big knee to the body that folds Jarrah Al-Silawi, and Sy leaps in for the finish. Sy scores the TKO victory and 5 points for a round 2 finish in the Welterweight bracket.


What was your favorite fight of the night? Let us know in the comments below.


PFL 3 Post Fight Results

Jordan Lopez

All 28 fighters stepped on the scale as they all will compete at UFC Kansas City as the main event is headlined by Max Holloway and Arnold Allen. The winner of this Featherweight fight puts them righ in the mix for the next title shot as Holloway and Allen both rank inside the top five. The co-main event is headlined by the devestating striker in Edson Barboza. He will fight the tough and formidable Billy Quarantillo. The rest of the card is stacked with fighters like Dustin Jacoby, Tanner Boser, Pedro Munhoz, Clay Guida, and more. Fans should expect a great night of fights.

Let's see how they weighed in.

## MAIN CARD (START TIME: 8:30 PM EST ON ESPN/ESPN+)

_Featherweight_: #2 Max Holloway (***146***) vs. #4 Arnold Allen (***146***)


_Featherweight_: #14 Edson Barboza (***146***) vs. Billy Quarantillo (***146***)


_Light Heavyweight_: #13 Dustin Jacoby (***206***) vs. #15 Azamat Murzakanov (***205***)


_Light Heavyweight_: Tanner Boser (***203***) vs. Ion Cutelaba (***206***)


_Bantamweight_: #9 Pedro Munhoz  (***136***) vs. #13 Chris Gutierrez(***136***)


_Lightweight_: Clay Guida  (***154.5***) vs. Rafa Garcia (***155***)


## PRELIMS (START TIME: 5:30 PM EST ON ESPN+)


_Featherweight_: Bill Algeo (***146***) vs. TJ Brown (***146***)


_Flyweight_: #4 Brandon Royval (***126***) vs. #5 Matheus Nicolau (***126***)


_Light Heavyweight_: Zak Cummings (***206***) vs. Ed Herman (***206***)


_Women's Strawweight_: Gillian Robertson (***116***) vs. Piera Rodriguez (***116***)


_Lightweight_: Lando Vannata (***156***) vs. Daniel Zellhuber (***156***)


_Women's Strawweight_: Bruna Brasil (***116***) vs. Denise Gomes  (***115***)


_Bantamweight_: Aaron Phillips (***136***) vs. Gaston Bolanos (***136***)


_Women's Bantamweight_: Joselyne Edwards (***136.5***) vs. Lucie Pudilova (***136***)

_Joselyne Edwards has missed the Bantamweight limit by 0.5 pounds. All other fighters have weighed in and the fights will proceed as planned._

Who will get their hands raised this weekend? Let us know in the comments below.

UFC Fight Night: Holloway vs. Allen weigh-in results

Liam Lindsay

A massive bout between top 10 Flyweights Deiveson Figueiredo and Manel Kape has just been announced for July 8th at UFC 290 in Las Vegas, Nevada, inside the T-Mobile Arena, per ESPN Deportes.

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

Deiveson "Deus Da Guerra" Figueiredo is ranked #1 at Flyweight and holds a professional record of 21-3-1 (10-3-1 UFC). He holds notable wins over Brandon Moreno, Alexandre Pantoja, and Joseph Benavidez.

Manel "Starboy" Kape holds a professional record of 18-6 (3-2 UFC) and is ranked #9 at Flyweight. He holds credible wins over David Dvořák, Zhalgas Zhumagulov, and Ode Osbourne.

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

Deiveson Figueiredo is coming off the only homegrown UFC quadrilogy in UFC history, where he fought his long-term rival, Brandon Moreno, four times back-to-back. "Deus Da Guerra" would come out the loser of the quadrilogy, drawing once, winning once, and losing twice, and will be breaking many trends in his next bout, as this will be Figueiredo's first non-title bout in over three years, and his first time not fighting Brandon Moreno in two and a half years. Despite teasing a move to Bantamweight, he appears to remain at Flyweight for the foreseeable future. Figueiredo has phenomenal knockout power and dangerous submissions, which he'll be looking to be using against Manel Kape.

![moreno-figgy-4.webp](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/0ccf32a9-6d0e-4404-2128-a00b98b8fe00/pub "Deiveson Figueiredo and Brandon Moreno grappling in their forth fight at UFC 283. Credits to: Jason da Silva - USA TODAY Sports.")

Manel Kape has had a very unlucky UFC career so far. After losing a unanimous decision in his debut to the currently #2 ranked contender Alexandre Pantoja, "Starboy" would suffer a second consecutive loss where he would lose a very controversial decision to Matheus Nicolau. However, since then, Kape has put a three-fight win streak together, gathering knockout victories over Ode Osborne and Zhalgas Zhumagulov and a dominant decision win over David Dvořák. His UFC run has suffered from numerous pullouts, where he was supposed to face Rogério Bontorin twice and Alex Perez. Kape is now looking to make a statement and will seek to use his dynamic striking skillset to win over the former Flyweight Champion Figueiredo.

![kape-knee.webp](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/4c9ed757-8b61-4a6c-c4c5-c407004a5900/pub "Manel Kape moments after landing a flying knee on Ode Osborne at UFC 265. Credits to: Troy Taormina - USA TODAY Sports.")

This is an incredible matchup inside the Flyweight division, with the winner of this bout bouncing right into title contention. So who do you have winning this matchup? As a member of the Verdict Community, let us know your prediction in the comments below.

Deiveson Figueiredo Booked to Face Manel Kape at UFC 290

## Fighter Stats
Record: 15-3 (5 KO, 5 SUB)

**Age**: 32 (19-03-1991)

**Height**: 5'11" (180cm)

**Weight**: 156lbs (70kg) - Previously 146 (66kg

**Reach**: 75.5 inches (192cm)

**Country**: USA

**Next Fight**: Olivier Aubin-Mercier (17-5) at UFC PFL 3

After making a massive name inside the UFC, "Hurricane" Shane Burgos is gearing up for his Professional Fighters League (PFL) debut this weekend. Burgos made his professional MMA debut in 2013 after training MMA since he was fourteen years old, where he scored seven straight wins, all via finish, leading him to the UFC and the PFL. He would debut in the UFC in 2016 against Tiago Trator and win by unanimous decision, showing off his striking by dropping Trator in the second round.

![shane-vs-trator.jpg](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/02345de6-2dc0-4994-c414-1c2f51c2b900/pub "Shang Burgos clipping Tiago Trator in his UFC debut. Credits to: Michael Adamucci - USA TODAY Sports.")

In 2017, Burgos would rack up two more wins before getting his first high-profile fight, including a Fight of The Night TKO victory over Charles Rosa and a decision win over Godofredo Pepey. At UFC 220 in January 2018, he would face Calvin Kattar in the featured bout of the main card and lose a Fight of The Night TKO to Kattar. Despite a momentum-changing second round, "Hurricane" would be caught early in the third and be finished via ground strikes.

![burgos-vs-quarantillo.webp](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/6e91a5a8-ee0d-4c00-4e23-03349c0f1e00/pub "Shane Burgos scrapping with Calvin Kattar in one of his many FOTN bouts. Credits to: Bob DeChiara - USA TODAY Sports.")

This loss wouldn't deter Burgos, as he would rack up three straight victories, including two finishes, across 2018 and 2019. First, ten months after his loss to Kattar, he would submit Kurt Holobaugh via first-round armbar at UFC 230. Then, he'd win a split decision against UFC veteran Cub Swanson before finally TKOing Makwan Amirkhani in the third round at UFC 244.

![burgos-vs-amirkhani.webp](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/048869c9-c9e5-404c-049f-f99658b1c400/pub "Shane Burgos landing a headkick on Makwan Amirkhani before finishing him in the third. Credits to: Sarah Stier - USA TODAY Sports.")

In the final leg of "Hurricane's" UFC career, he would take on Josh Emmett and Edson Barboza in back-to-back Fight of The Night performances. He would lose to Emmett via decision and Barboza by third-round KO but rebound in style on the main card of UFC 286 in 2021 against Billy Quarantillo. On any other occasion, Burgos would've received his fifth FOTY bonus. Unfortunately, the two fought just after the Fight of The Year contender Justin Gaethje vs. Michael Chandler, stealing the bonus away from the two. Regardless, Burgos would return to the win column after three years in his hometown of New York City.

![burgos-vs-quarantillo.webp](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/6e91a5a8-ee0d-4c00-4e23-03349c0f1e00/pub "Shane Burgos and Billy Quarantillo throwing down at UFC 286. Credits to: Ed Mulholland - USA TODAY Sports.")

The final fight of Burgos' career came against Charles Jourdain in July 2022, where he defeated the Canadian by a majority decision. With this being the final fight on his UFC contract, Burgos tested free agency and signed a massive deal with the PFL that the UFC couldn't match. 

![burgos-vs-jourdain.webp](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/4f479ab1-8a65-4b5f-d1b2-0da2ffe7c300/pub "Shang Burgos beating Charles Jourdain with his grappling in his final UFC bout. Credits to: Ed Mulholland - USA TODAY Sports.")

Now, Burgos heads into the biggest fight of his career, headlining against Olivier Aubin-Mercier, the 2022 PFL Lightweight Tournament winner. A win over Aubin-Mercier can skyrocket "Hurricane's" career and could earn him up to six points in the 2023 PFL Lightweight Tournament, putting him well on his way to winning the million doller prize. Do you think Shane Burgos will win the 2023 PFL Lightweight Tournement? As a member of the Verdict Community, let us know you prediction in the comments below.

Fighter Spotlight: Shane Burgos

Douglas Vegas Bets


>"They don’t know what’s coming. They have no idea. I’m ready to come out and show the world what’s up" - Clay Collard

Clay Collard has become must-see TV throughout his underdog story, and now with the spotlight bright as ever, Collard is just coming into his prime, and it’s no accident that he made it here. 

## Fighter for Life

Collard has been training to be a fighter since he was a young kid from Utah, having started wrestling at the age of just six and boxing with Mark Montoya when he was eleven. Despite being late for his first practice and expecting to be suplexing his friends from day one, he quickly fell in love with the sport of wrestling. After learning boxing with his grandfather, it was a perfect storm when Forrest Griffin vs. Stephan Bonner came on the TV and led Collard down his path in mixed martial arts. 


>“I was born for this, I got it tatted on me.” - Clay Collard 

![download (4).jpg](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/d2853447-ca60-40b9-b960-56ef62550f00/public "Clay Collard's Hand tattoo that reads 'Born To Fight'.")

## UFC Run

Early in his MMA career, Collard was given an opportunity to fight for the UFC on just a week’s notice against none other than future Featherweight champion Max Holloway. Although Collard feels good about the early portion of that fight, he faded, likely due to his self-admitted lack of proper preparation at the time. He fought three more times in the UFC before being let go after a split decision loss to Tiago Trator that Collard said he didn’t think he should have even been fighting in to his manager before the fight. 


>"I don't think that (UFC run) defines me as a fighter." - Clay Collard

![013_Tiago_Trator_vs_Clay_Collard.0.0.jpg](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/51b8d01c-5883-44a0-6644-27be116bfd00/public "Collard during his fight with Tiago Trator. Credits to: Esther Lin - MMA Fighting")

## The Shift

After some ups and downs in his MMA run, Collard decided it was time to move back home for a while and rethink his path. After spending some time working in more traditional positions, it was clear to Collard that he was meant to be fighting. 


>“I hate working for the man.” - Clay Collard

## Boxing Career

In 2020 before joining the PFL, Collard had been active outside of MMA with several boxing fights on high-profile cards. Despite initially only taking fights for money to fix his car, Collard made a name for himself by taking on several undefeated prospects and pulling off the upset on multiple occasions. 

![Collard-Williams.webp](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/b37687d4-3183-4365-c0f3-8fd267416a00/public "Clay Collard lands a jab in his boxing match against Maurice Williams. Credits to: Mikey Williams - Top Rank")

## PFL Career

In 2021 Collard would get the fight that would put his name on the radar of MMA fans worldwide as he was slated to take on former UFC champion Anthony Pettis to open the PFL season. Since that fight, Collard has only improved, having had another stellar performance against Jeremy Stephens. Going into this season, Collard has an intense feel to him as he says he is looking to dominate this season and prove the PFL is "His house." 


>“I need the backyard my dog deserves.” - Clay Collard 

![Clay Collard PFL 06092022.jpg](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/23eee321-a396-44d7-6c5b-ce8d11561500/public "Clay Collard lands a right hand on Jeremy Stephens. Credits to: PFL")

Collard takes on Yamato Nishikawa at PFL 3: 2023 on April 14th in his next fight to begin his quest to become the Lightweight champion and win one million dollars. 

Tough times make hard men: The Clay Collard Story

ROUNDHOUSE MMA

The PFL is back with another great card this Friday, featuring the welterweights and the lightweights. This card, is headlined by a welterweight matchup between 2022 welterweight champion  Sadibou Sy and Jarrah Al-Silawi. Also on the card, Magomed Magomedkerimov will look to start the 2023 season off on the right foot against Ben Egli, Natan Schultze will take on Stevie Ray, Raush Manfio will meet Alexander Martinez, and Shane Burgos will make his PFL debut against former UFC fighter and PFL champion Olivier Aubin-Mercier. 

Let's take a look at how each fighter weighed in. 


## MAIN CARD (START TIME: 9:30 PM EST ON ESPN+)


_Welterweight:_ Sadibou Sy (**171**) vs Jarrah Al-Silawi (**170.5**)

_Welterweight:_ Magomed Magomedkerimov (**171**) vs Ben Egli (**170.2**)

_Lightweight:_ Natan Schulte (**155.6**) Stevie Ray (**155.8**)

_Lightweight:_ Raush Manfio (**155.8**) vs Alexander Martinez (**155.2**)

_Welterweight:_ Shane Mitchell (**171**) vs Nayib Lopez (**170.4**) 

_Lightweight:_ Bruno Miranda (**156**) Ahmed Amir (**155**)

_Lightweight:_ Zach Juusola (**170.8**) vs Brandon Jenkins (**170.6**)


## PRELIMS (START TIME: 7:00 PM EST ON ESPN/ESPN+)


_Lightweight:_ Olivier Aubin-Mercier (**155.4**) vs Shane Burgos (**156**)

_Lightweight:_ Clay Collard (**154.4**) vs Yamato Nishikawa (**153.4**) 

_Heavyweight:_ Denis Goltsov (**245.4**) vs Cezar Ferreira (**215.8**)

_Welterweight:_ Carlos Leal (**168.8**) vs David Zawada (**170.6**)

_Welterweight:_ Magomed Umalatov (**170.4**) vs Dilano Taylor (**169**)



PFL 3 Weigh-In Results

The UFC is returning to Kansas City, Mo., for the first time in nearly four years with a great main event that headlines the card. Former UFC Featherweight Champion and No. 2 ranked contender Max Holloway will take on the No. 4 ranked contender Arnold Allen. This Featherweight main event is significant for both men and has title implications. 

This card has a great co-main event as well as Edson Barboza and Billy Quarantillo will battle it out at 145 lbs. Dustin Jacoby will also compete on the main card alongside Pedro Munhoz, Clay Guida and others. The main card is filled with fantastic fights and incredible talent. These are my predictions for the five main card fights. 

## Max Holloway vs. Arnold Allen

![Max.jpeg](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/2d60064b-3ad9-4273-948d-bda6dfb61200/pub "Max Holloway before his fight at UFC 276. Credits to: Chris Unger-Zuffa LLC.")

The former Featherweight champion wants to get back into the win column over a formidable opponent in Arnold Allen. Holloway is coming off a brutal loss to Alexander Volkanovski at UFC 276. It was a one-sided affair and had many fight fans in shock with how the fight went. That was the most damage Holloway had absorbed ever in his career, and he did the right thing by taking appropriate time off to heal and rest. He is back in the main event against Allen, who is on a ten-fight winning streak. Allen is a devastating striker who has knockout power in both hands. He is coming off a win against Calvin Kattar that unfortunately had to be stopped due to a knee injury to Kattar. The previous victory was over Dan Hooker via TKO when he landed 49 significant strikes halfway through the first round.

A stat to keep in mind for this terrific main event is Holloway going against southpaw fighters, like Allen, is 0-3 in his career. Those three losses were to Conor McGregor and twice to Dustin Poirier. So the most significant adjustment for Holloway will be setting up traps against an aggressive southpaw fighter to get the victory. Allen has been on a tear but has not fought anyone quite like Holloway in his young career. 

Pick: Max Holloway

## Edson Barboza vs. Billy Quarantillo 

![Edson.jpeg](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/b1e41e1a-1d85-446e-ffda-f520de460e00/pub "Edson Barboza after defeating Shane Burgos. Credits to: Cooper Neill-Zuffa LLC.")

The co-main event has all the makings to be the fight of the night and for both men to earn that $50,000 bonus at the end of the night. One of the most devastating strikers the UFC has ever had makes his return as Edson Barboza takes on Billy Quarantillo. Since 2020, Barboza has a 2-3 record in the Featherweight division, but the split decision loss to Dan Ige could have gone either way. The Brazilian's knockout victory over Shane Burgos was his first since defeating Dan Hooker in 2018, and was his standout performance in the division. In contrast, Quarantillo just defeated Alexander Hernandez in his lone match of 2022 by TKO in the second round. After being on the losing end of a classic back-and-forth fight against Burgos, in which they landed a combined 357 significant strikes, Quarantillo put up a tremendous comeback performance. Quarantillo has an overall record of 5-2 in the UFC and looks to get his sixth win in the organization. 

The most significant difference in this fight will be the five-inch reach advantage Barboza has against Quarantillo. Barboza is already a dangerous striker, and having a five-inch reach advantage doesn't help Quarantillo's case in winning this fight. 

Pick: Edson Barboza 

## Dustin Jacoby vs. Azamat Murzakanov

![DJ.jpeg](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/cb98ce20-7a7b-47c0-aaf4-adb553b36c00/pub "Dustin Jacoby after earning his sixth win in the octagon. Credits to: Jeff Bottari-Zuffa LLC.")

Dustin Jacoby will try to get back on track after losing to Khalil Rountree by a razor-thin split decision in October of 2022. He had previously won six of seven fights, including a split draw, during his second run in the UFC. Since getting signed after appearing on Dana White's Contender Series in 2020, Jacoby has had three first-round finishes and is known as one of the best kickboxers in the Light Heavyweight division. Conversely, Azamat Murzakanov has an undefeated record of 12-0 and is a lethal finisher. He has a 2-0 record in the UFC, as he made an impression on DWCS in 2021 by finishing Matheus Scheffel. Since then, he has also defeated Tafon Nchukwi and Devin Clark in the UFC. 

Jacoby will be six inches taller and have a seven-inch reach advantage against Murzakanov. The kickboxer will utilize these physical advantages to his benefit as the more experienced fighter in this bout. 

Pick: Dustin Jacoby

## Tanner Boser vs. Ion Cutelaba

![Tanner.jpeg](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/ce04aa15-586e-4a5e-e671-0574b4455200/pub "Tanner Boser raising his hands after his fight. Credits to: Chris Unger-Zuffa LLC.")

This weekend in Kansas City, Tanner Boser will compete for the first time at Light Heavyweight when he takes on veteran Ion Cutelaba. Boser hasn't competed at Light Heavyweight in nearly a decade, but he's been hinting at it in his last several fights. Watching how the former heavyweight looks and performs after moving down a division will be intriguing. Boser must rely on his experience and knockout power the night of the fight. 

Cutelaba enters the fight to put an end to a three-fight losing streak. The "Hulk" has only won once in his last seven fights, going 1-5-1 during that time. Cutelaba has been susceptible to being knocked out as of late, and it only plays to the advantage of Boser. 

Pick: Tanner Boser

## Pedro Munhoz vs. Chris Gutiérrez

![Chris.jpeg](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/3f1e4b57-b82a-45ce-666a-6768fc6ef300/pub " Chris Gutierrez after defeating former Lightweight champion Frankie Edgar. Credits to: Chris Unger-Zuffa LLC.")

The Bantamweight division is arguably the best in the UFC. This fight between Pedro Munhoz and Chris Gutiérrez only proves how much depth the division has with these talented fighters. Munhoz is making his return to the octagon after his "No Contest" fight against Sean O'Malley. Munhoz has lost four of his last five fights, despite the fact that they had all been against former champions. In the blue corner, Gutierrez had a highlight-reel performance against Frankie Edgar with a first-round knockout in November of 2022. After defeating Danaa Batgerel with a spinning backfist, he earned two incredible knockout wins. He has won all eight of his fights, with one resulting in a draw. Gutiérrez hasn't dropped a fight since Raoni Barcelos submitted him in his first appearance in the UFC in 2018. Munhoz is a tough opponent for anyone, but he tends to get hit too often, and Gutiérrez will take advantage of this the night of the fight.

Pick: Chris Gutiérrez

## Clay Guida vs. Rafa García

![Guida.jpeg](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/2a3a4ca2-6521-4f39-1e6c-da8acb11e400/pub "Clay Guida getting his hand raised as the winner. Credits to: Jeff Bottari-Zuffa LLC.")

Clay Guida, who made his professional debut over 20 years ago, is still winning fights today and will want to make it two straight wins when he takes on Rafa Garcia. Guida outperformed Scott Holtzman in December of 2022, winning via split decision. It would be Guida's first winning streak since 2017 if he were to win against Garcia, but it will be no easy task. Garcia rebounded from a rough start in which he lost two decisions and then prevailed in winning three of his next four fights, with his lone defeat being via decision to Drakkar Klose. This will be a classic fight between two takedown-heavy fighters as they both average over three takedowns per 15 minutes. That said, the veteran will utilize his experience in this fight. 

Pick: Clay Guida

UFC Fight Night: Holloway vs. Allen Predictions

After an unforgettable UFC 287 card, the UFC will return to Kansas City six years from the day it held its first event in 2017. On that UFC on Fox card, Demetrious Johnson defeated Wilson Reis with a third-round armbar. Five UFC fighters previously held, or fought for a title on that card. 

This KC card is stacked from top to bottom, filled with some amazing fights that will lead up to one of the most anticipated fights of 2023, a main event featuring Max Holloway and Arnold Allen. 

Let's take a look at the card as it appears on Verdict. 

## Max Holloway vs Arnold Allen

![[GetPaidStock.com]-643707066c466.jpg](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/2780df74-1757-4538-bb60-e98a7d5a1f00/public "Max Holloway stands on the scale prior to his fight against Alexander Volkanovski. Credits to: Carmen Mandato - Zuffa LLC")

With UFC Featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski defending his title against interim champion Yair Rodriguez later this year at UFC 290, there are extremely high stakes for this fight, as the winner could have a serious say in the direction the division goes in next. Max Holloway is 0-3 against Volkanovski but remains the number-one-ranked Featherweight in the world. 

On the other hand, Arnold Allen is a serious threat to that goal. At 19-1, Allen has surged up the 145 ranks and has won twelve fights in a row. Wins over Calvin Kattar, Dan Hooker, Sodiq Yusuff, and Makwan Amirkhani have gotten Allen up to the number four-ranked Featherweight in the world, and a win over Holloway will put him next in line for a title shot. These are two of the best Featherweights on the planet, so this main event is expected to be one of the best fights of the year. 

## Edson Barboza vs Billy Quarantillo

![[GetPaidStock.com]-643707e77d1f1.jpg](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/9cd42eff-882e-491d-3104-eed3de14c500/public "Billy Quarantillo celebrates after his win against Alexander Hernandez. Credits to: Chris Unger - Zuffa LLC")

Intimate MMA fans should be very excited about this co-main event, featuring a future UFC Hall of Famer and an up-and-coming fighter who just knows how to entertain. Edson Barboza vs Billy Quarantillo is the perfect co-main event for this card. Edson is one of the best strikers the UFC has ever seen. Although he is in the later stages of his career and has recently found a home at featherweight, Barboza is still dangerous and presents the toughest test of Quarantillo's young career. Billy Q is coming off of a huge win against Alexander Hernandez back at UFC 282 and lost a close Fight of The Night with Shane Burgos in a fight where nobody lost. This is a very entertaining matchup, and if Quarantillo can get the win, he'll find himself with a number next to his name the following week, and some great fights in his future as he climbs the Featherweight rankings. 

## Dustin Jacoby vs Azamat Murzakanov

![[GetPaidStock.com]-6437155f68036.jpg](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/8f76f3a1-8138-41e9-dbcd-0c210a612600/public "Dustin Jacoby celebrates after his fight against Khalil Rountree Jr. Credits to: Jeff Bottari - Zuffa LLC")

This is another great fight on the card in the Light Heavyweight division featuring Dustin Jacoby and Azamat Murzakanov. Jacoby and Murzakanov are ranked #13 and #15, respectively, and are looking to move up the division with a win. Jacoby is an established kickboxer who fought the likes of Alex Pereira in GLORY, while Murzakanov is a 34-year-old rookie in the Light Heavyweight division, who is 2-0 with two knockouts in his young UFC career thus far. Both are great strikers, and this fight should be a standup fight that has a great chance of ending in a KO. 

## Tanner Boser vs Ion Cutelaba

![[GetPaidStock.com]-6437158c346a8.jpg](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/8a1f4328-73f9-4797-d788-666997546b00/public "Ion Cutelaba steps on the scale at the ceremonial weigh-ins at UFC 279. Credits to: Amy Kaplan - Zuffa LLC")

Another firefight on the card, Tanner Boser and Ion Cutelaba are set to appear on this main card, where someone's likely going to get finished. Both men combine for 23 knockouts in their professional careers. These two bring a different level of ferociousness and power to their game, and I'm expecting both men to collide in a big way. 

## Pedro Munhoz vs Chris Gutierrez

![[GetPaidStock.com]-643709445770d.jpg](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/6cb7e0bf-9a91-4be1-2c4e-6bae06361900/public "Chris Gutierrez embraces Frankie Edgar at their fight at UFC 281. Credits to: Jeff Bottari - Zuffa LLC")

This might be the hardcore MMA fan's favorite fight on the card. Chris Gutierrez is in the midst of his rise at 135 pounds, and he has a great opportunity to get a win over a staple of the division, Pedro Munhoz. This fight should deliver and has a great chance of being awarded the Fight of The Night.  

## Clay Guida vs Rafa Garcia

![[GetPaidStock.com]-643714b361bcf.jpg](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/5eb4c1bf-5594-4759-cc20-4dff25dd7c00/public "Clay Guida prepares for his fight against Scott Holtzman. Credits to: Jeff Bottari - Zuffa LLC")

This card will feature a sixth fight on the main card featuring Clay Guida, who will be fighting for the 58th time in his professional career, and Mexican sensation Rafa Garcia who is looking for a big win against a notable UFC name.  This should be a very fun fight to kick off the main card. 

Overall, this is a fantastic main card with a lot of action on the prelims as well. Brandon Royval and Matheus Nicolau will likely fight to determine who the next title challenger at 125 is, Bill Algeo will fight TJ Brown, and Zak Cummings and Ed Herman will slug it out in a battle between two UFC veterans. 


UFC Returns to Kansas City With a Fantastic Card

Jake Paul is set to make his return to the boxing ring this August against former UFC star Nate Diaz in Dallas, Texas. Paul has opened as a large favorite for the bout that is expected to take place on August 5th.

**Odds provided by BetOnline.ag accurate as of 1:40 PM EST 4/12/2023**

## Current Odds: Jake Paul -300, Nate Diaz +240

These odds mean a bettor would need to wager $300 on Jake Paul to return $100, while a bet of $100 on Diaz would return $240. 

Today's announcement came with many rumors about Jake Paul's next opponent circling. Jake Paul is coming off a split-decision loss to Tommy Fury earlier this year; before that, he has wins over Anderson Silva and Tyron Woodley. Nate Diaz makes his boxing debut here after fighting out of his UFC contract by submitting Tony Ferguson at UFC 279 last September.

## Past Fight Odds: Jake Paul

*Odds provided by Tapology.com*

Jake Paul (-165) vs. Tommy Fury (+135) Paul vs. Fury - Win

Jake Paul (-250) vs. Anderson Silva (+205) Paul vs. Silva - Win

Jake Paul (-270) vs. Tyron Woodley (+210) Paul vs. Woodley 2 - Win

Jake Paul (-200) vs. Tyron Woodley (+150) Paul vs. Woodley - Win

Jake Paul (-170) vs. Ben Askren (+150) Paul vs. Askren - Win 

## Past Fight Odds: Nate Diaz

*Odds provided by Fightodds.io*

Nate Diaz (+137) vs. Tony Ferguson (-147) UFC 279 - Win 

Nate Diaz (+410) vs. Leon Edwards (-460) UFC 263 - Loss  

Nate Diaz (+130) vs. Jorge Masvidal (-140) UFC 244 - Loss 

Nate Diaz (+105) vs. Anthony Pettis (-115) UFC 241 - Win 

Nate Diaz (+120) vs. Conor McGregor (-130) UFC 202 - Loss

Are oddsmakers underestimating Nate Diaz to pull off another spectacular upset? Let us know your predictions in the comments below. 