Benjamin	Zeltser

Bellator kicks off its 2023 slate of events this Saturday with all-time legend Fedor Emelianenko facing off against Ryan Bader for the second time. This fight will mark Emelianenko's last time stepping into the cage but will allow him to attempt doing so with gold wrapped around his waist. In addition, the card features several marquis matchups, including Johnny Eblen's first title defense at middleweight against the streaking Anatoly Tokov.

Both title fights are set after all four fighters made weight. Let's see how they weighed in:

## MAIN CARD (START TIME 9:00 PM EST on CBS/Paramount Plus)

Heavyweight: *Champion Ryan Bader (234.4) vs. Challenger Fedor Emelianenko (236.2)* - Heavyweight Title Fight (Main Event)

Middleweight: *Champion Johnny Eblen (184) vs. Challenger Anatoly Tokov (184.8)* - Middleweight Title Fight (Co-Main Event)

Welterweight: *Sabah Homasi (170.8) vs. Brennan Ward (170.8)*

## PRELIMINARY CARD (START TIME 5:55 PM EST on YouTube/PlutoTV)

Welterweight: *Neiman Gracie (170.4) vs. Dante Schiro (170.6) (Late Replacement)*

Welterweight: *Mukhamed Berkhamov (171) vs. Lorenz Larkin (171)*

Featherweight: *Henry Corrales (145.6) vs. Akhmed Magomedov (145.2)*

Heavyweight: *Ali Isaev (261.8) vs. Steve Mowry (253.4)*

Lightweight: *Chris Gonzalez (155.6) vs. Max Rohskopf (155.6)*

Light Heavyweight: *Karl Albrektsson (205.2) vs. Grant Neal (205.2)*

Flyweight (W): *Alejandra Lara (125.8) vs. Diana Avsaragova (128.8)**

Bantamweight: *Darrion Caldwell (135.8) vs. Nikita Mikhailov (135.4)*

Bantamweight: *Jornel Lugo (135) vs. Jaylon Bates (136)**

Featherweight: *Isaiah Hokit (145.6) vs. Peter Ishiguro (145)*

Welterweight: *Ethan Hughes (170.8) vs. Yusuf Karakaya (170.2)*

_*Bates missed the bantamweight limit by .8 pounds on his first attempt. He then missed weight by .2 on his second attempt. He made weight on his third attempt._
_*Avsaragova missed the flyweight limit by 2.8 pounds. The fight will proceed as planned. Avsaragova will forfeit a portion of her purse to Lara._

Bellator 290 Weigh-In Results: Bader vs. Emelianenko II

Douglas Vegas Bets

The UFC goes to San Antonio, Texas, this week, and it's giving the crowd a Bantamweight main event sure to provide high pace action between Marlon "Chito" Vera +133 and Cory Sandhagen -172. This card features plenty of close matchups with live underdogs, so I will break down each fight from a betting perspective. 

**Odds provided by Stake.com accurate as of 7:00 AM EST 3/24/2023**

## Marlon Vera +133 vs. Cory Sandhagen -172

All action main event here between top tier Bantamweight contenders. Marlon Vera is one of the most dangerous finishers in the UFC with an insane knockdown rate that has resulted in a run to the division's elite since his win over Sean O'Malley despite a low-volume style. Cory Sandhagen is a very technical fighter with a high pace, creative striking, and a tricky ground game that he has used when he had that advantage.

I've got Sandhagen here as he will be winning most of the minutes in this fight, which I expect to go all five rounds as both men are very durable. I will play both the over in rounds and Sandhagen by decision, as I believe his high fight IQ will earn him a win against a very durable Vera. 

Pick: Sandhagen O/U: Over 4.5 -161

## Holly Holm -256 vs. Yana Santos +190

Veteran Bantamweights return from long layoffs here. Holly Holm comes off a close loss to Ketlen Viera, where she looked far from her old self as she was outstruck and relied on her grappling to remain competitive rather than her classic boxing. Yana Santos has been off for nearly two years, although going into her last fight, she was valued as near even with Irene Aldana in a high-stakes clash. 

Considering the position of both fighters, these odds are very wide, so I'll pick Santos. I am confident this fight will go the distance, so I will play Santos by decision. 

Pick: Santos O/U: Over 2.5 -294

## Nate Landwehr -227 vs. Austin Lingo +170

Chaos is expected in this Featherweight battle. Nate Landwehr returns after his wild win over David Onama, where he showed his high pace and durability. Austin Lingo has a series of fast finishes in LFA where he showed both power and grappling ability, although he has gone the distance in each of his UFC fights.

This fight should have lots of action, and both fighters will have moments, but I don't understand these odds as Lingo should have a durability edge, and other than cardio, I give no clear edge to Landwehr. 

Pick: Lingo O/U: Under 2.5 -130

## Andrea Lee +205 vs. Maycee Barber -270

Flyweights are trying to make a run in the newly revived division. Andrea Lee has had her ups and downs in the UFC, having dominant showings like her fight against Antonina Shevchenko, but she has yet to show the same skill against higher-level competition. Maycee Barber has had a lot of hype behind her since coming off Dana White's Contender series, and as a result, she has competed with the best in the division from a young age showing her strength. 

I like Barber here as she will be the aggressor and could dominate this fight from the top position. As one of the few favorites, I trust I will pair her with Tucker Lutz to bring their prices down.

Pick: Barber O/U: Over 2.5 -263

## Alex Perez +146 vs. Manel Kape -189

Intriguing matchup here at Flyweight. Alex Perez is a well-rounded fighter who has struggled to get much in-cage action over the last several years. Manel Kape is a flashy kickboxer with an aggressive submission game, although I question his approach to fights at times as he can be very low-volume.

I'll take Perez as the underdog in this fight as he has an advantage in grappling and could be the more active fighter on the feet as well.

Pick: Perez O/U: Over 2.5 +139

## Chidi Njokuani -167 vs. Albert Duraev +129

Finishers collide in this Middleweight matchup. Chidi Njokuani is a power puncher who entered the UFC with two quick knockout wins. Albert Duraev is a strong grappler, although he is coming off a tough loss to Joaquin Buckley, where he was dominated. 

I've got Duraev in this one, as he should have a large grappling edge, and his striking is not a weakness in the way some think it is. 

Pick: Duraev O/U: Under 1.5 -116

## Daniel Pineda +210 vs. Tucker Lutz -278

Featherweights return from layoffs in this one. Daniel Pineda has looked rough in his last few fights, being finished by Cub Swanson and being saved by an eye poke against Andre Fili. Tucker Lutz is coming off a tough loss to Pat Sabatini; however, prior to that, in his UFC debut, he looked fantastic mixing his striking and wrestling to dominate a lesser opponent. 

I'll take Lutz here as he has shown that he can compete at the UFC level, and after his last few showings and his age, I expect little from Pineda. I'll pair Lutz with Maycee Barber to get a better price on each of them.

Pick: Lutz O/U: Under 2.5 -200

## Steven Peterson -167 vs. Lucas Alexander +129

Fun fight here at Featherweight between a grappler and a striker. Steven Peterson is a durable grappler. Lucas Alexander returns after a disappointing debut where he was submitted early, although he still has dangerous striking. 

I'll pick Peterson here because he is so difficult to finish, and he should have a decent grappling edge, although I do not have a confident read on this fight. 

Pick: Peterson O/U: Over 2.5 -139

## Trevin Giles -118 vs. Preston Parsons -108

Good action here at Welterweight. Trevin Giles has displayed a good skillset in the UFC, including his powerful striking that works off his strong jab and an ability to compete with strong grapplers. Preston Parsons is a submission specialist who rarely makes it into the late portions of the fight as he is very fast-paced. 

I really like Giles here as he has a massive advantage in the striking and will be able to avoid the submission attempts of Parsons and finish him. 

Pick: Giles O/U: Under 2.5 -175

## CJ Vergara -256 vs. Daniel da Silva +195

This Flyweight matchup is expected to last briefly as these two are quick finishers. CJ Vergara is a tough fighter with heavy hands and a solid wrestling game. Daniel da Silva is a wildman who is known for having short fights as he throws everything at his opponents early in an attempt to finish, although his cardio doesn't last late into fights.

I've got Vergara here as he has shown his durability and is on another level to Silva. Considering the pace that Silva fights at, I will bring the price down by playing the knockout prop.  

Pick: Vergara O/U: Under 1.5 -185

## Manuel Torres -152 vs. Trey Ogden +119

Clash of styles here in this Lightweight matchup. Manuel Torres is a boxer who throws power into his shots, although I have some concerns about his cardio. Trey Ogden is mainly a grappler with little standup, although he is durable and has never been knocked out. 

This one is tough to pick as I see Torres having an advantage in the striking early; however, if he fades, there will be an opportunity for Ogden to take over, which makes me lean toward the underdog. 

Pick: Ogden O/U: Over 1.5 -135

## Vinicius Salvador -119 vs. Victor Altamirano -108

Flyweight strikers with power in their hands meet to start the card. Vinicius Salvador is a tricky striker with heavy power and a long reach for the division. Victor Altamirano is a high pace fighter who is most comfortable at close range, although he is willing to take a shot to get his offense off. 

I like Salvador in this matchup as he has shown real power, and despite having shown durability, Altamirano is very hittable. 

Pick: Salvador O/U: Over 1.5 -185

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

Alex Perez +146

Albert Duraev +152

Trevin Giles -118

Vinicius Salvador -119

Marlon Vera vs. Cory Sandhagen Over 4.5 Rounds -161

Cory Sandhagen by Decision +121

Yana Santos by Decision +320

Trevin Giles by TKO/KO +255

CJ Vergara by TKO/KO -159

Maycee Barber + Tucker Lutz -116

UFC Fight Night: Vera vs. Sandhagen Odds Breakdown

UFC Fight Night: Vera vs. Sandhagen takes place this Saturday in San Antonio, Texas, with plenty of exciting bouts that will alter the direction of several fighters’ careers. Away from the main event, one of the most exciting fights will be between two fighters entrenched in the UFC flyweight rankings, between Dana White’s Contender Series product Alex Perez and Manel Kape.

So where is Manel Kape from? The UFC flyweight hails from Angola but represents Portugal, where he spent much of his life. We’ve seen Manel Kape vs Alexandre Pantoja and Manel Kape vs Matheus Nicolau, and now we will finally see Manel Kape vs Alex Perez. Manel Kape came to the UFC with more hype than almost any other flyweight prospect, coming in as the RIZIN bantamweight champion. Kape is as dangerous as they come, racking up finishes against former UFC contenders like Ian McCall and Takeya Mizugaki on his way to the octagon. Unfortunately, as many newcomers do, Kape would start on the wrong foot with two consecutive losses in the UFC against two top-ranking fighters in the division. Although Kape is a finisher, Manel Kape vs Alexandre Pantoja would go the full distance. Given that Alexandre Pantoja’s next fight will be against champion Brandon Moreno, it was reassuring to see that Kape could hang with the best fighters in the division.

![dm_210807_MMA_MANEL_KAPE_KO_FINISH1299.jpeg](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/2687e7da-512d-4952-9d0d-acda7604fa00/public "Manel Kape vs Ode Osbourne ended in the first round, with Kape putting him away via knockout. Photo by ESPN.")

Manel Kape’s next fight would age like fine wine. Manel Kape vs Matheus Nicolau went to a close split decision that many scored for Kape, but Nicolau ultimately took the victory. Still, as Matheus Nicolau’s stock rises, so does Kape. Matheus Nicolau’s next fight comes against Brandon Royval in a potential title eliminator. Following this close fight, Ode Osbourne vs Manel Kape would be next. While Kape was a more significant favorite for this fight than his previous ones, fans were starting to wonder if “Starboy” really did have a place in the UFC. Many Manel Kape vs Ode Osbourne predictions had Osbourne pulling out the upset performance, but Kape would finally return to his winning ways, finishing Osbourne with a flying knee in the first round.

Manel Kape would fight Zhalgas Zhumagulov in his next fight, and just as he did in his last fight, Kape finished Zhumagulov late in the first round. After that, Kape gained traction, and a Su Mudaerji vs Manel Kape fight was scheduled. Unfortunately, this fight would eventually fall through due to a positive test for a Turinabol metabolite on Kape’s side. Still, he would return late last December to beat David Dvorák and solidify his spot amongst the elite at 125.

![UFC-Fight-Night-216-David-Dvorak-vs.-Manel-Kape (.jpeg](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/803aa9d8-f907-40ee-7888-1d4729bc1e00/public "Manel Kape facing off against David Dvorak. He won the fight via unanimous decision. Photo by MMA Junkie.")
 
California’s Alex Perez has the unique distinction of being the first Dana White’s Contender Series product to fight for a UFC title. Eight fights into his UFC flyweight division run, Perez would fight Deiveson Figueiredo to become the UFC flyweight champion. Unfortunately, Perez would be submitted in the first round, but he should be praised for having gone on a 6-1 run to get to the championship fight.

Perez has struggled to find his way into the octagon since this loss, having only fought once since then against Alexandre Pantoja. Perez would also be submitted in the first round of this fight, but he was supposed to fight Askar Askarov two weeks before that, so other factors could have been at play regarding the quality of his performance. For one reason or another, Alex Perez has had eight scheduled fights canceled since 2020, so it will be a moral victory when he makes the walk this Saturday. At 31 years old, Perez is entering his fighting prime as he looks to get back on a winning streak.

![dm_200606_MMA_One-Play_Perez_leg_kick.jpeg](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/afbf91cc-890c-46bd-cea3-baee8b12d000/public "Jussier Formiga vs Alex Perez ended via leg kick TKO. Photo by ESPN.")

Alex Perez prefers to keep the fight at a distance, utilizing lethal leg kicks that earned him a first-round TKO against Jussier Formiga in 2020. If opponents enter the pocket against him, he usually opts to change levels and utilize his high-level grappling skills. However, Perez has run into issues with being overly optimistic in the grappling approach, so he will look to improve his decision-making regarding where he wants to keep the fight.

Manel Kape is more of an out-and-out striker. He loves to mix crazy techniques and keep an unpredictable flow on the feet, utilizing his power and athleticism to outclass fighters in the striking department. Kape’s power keeps grapplers from shooting sloppy takedowns on him, and his strong takedown defense will also work to his advantage. “Starboy” has been more gun-shy in his UFC fights than he was in his run fighting for RIZIN, which could partially be attributed to the weight cut to 125. However, at 5’5”, Kape knows that flyweight is his division for the foreseeable future, so he will look to increase the volume against Perez. Tune into the main card to catch this banger that will decide who edges closer to becoming a UFC flyweight champion.

![w640xh480_GettyImages-1201969170.jpeg](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/1002aa5b-a116-44fd-fec0-ae22b8192c00/public "Alex Perez is excited to make his octagon return. Photo by Jeff Bottari, Zuffa LLC.")

## ODDS AND BETTING

Manel Kape is a -180 favorite, having been a favorite in all his UFC fights. Alex Perez is a +155 underdog, his third time as the underdog in a row (he went 0-2 in these fights). Here are my best bets for this fight:

Total Rounds – Under 2.5: -175
Manel Kape ML: -180
Manel Kape to Win by Decision: +330
Alex Perez to Win by Submission or Decision: +275

Sleeper Fight of the Week: Alex Perez vs Manel Kape

Liam Lindsay

A brother-against-brother matchup between Mohammed Usman and Junior Tafa was announced for UFC Fight Night: Pavlovich vs. Blaydes on April 22nd in Las Vegas, Nevada, inside the UFC Apex, per Marcel Dorff.

**This bout takes place in the Heavyweight (265 lbs) division.**

Mohammed "The Motor" Usman holds a professional record of 8-2 (1-0 UFC), holding notable wins over Zac Pauga, Mitchell Sipe, and Eduardo Perez.

Junior "Juggernaught" Tafa has a professional record of 4-0 (0-0 UFC) and has significant wins over Tsuyoshi Sudario, Nicolas Djurdjević, and Kelvin Fitial.

**Odds have yet to be released.**

Mohammed Usman is the younger brother of former UFC Welterweight Champion Kamaru Usman, and he had a career-best year in 2022. Usman participated in the 30th season of The Ultimate Fighter, where Juliana Pena coached him against team Amanda Nunes. "The Motor" would pick up two decision victories across the season, grinding himself a ticket to the TUF Finale, taking a main card slot on UFC Fight Night: Santos vs. Hill. He would face fellow TUF teammate Zac Pauga and knock him unconscious at the beginning of the second round with a left hook, winning the tournament and the UFC contract. Now, Usman will face Tafa in his next matchup and will look to use his explosive striking and wrestling credentials to secure his second UFC win.

![USSSSman.jpg](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/76b2d016-5d20-4037-9aa6-4acc2c7b7000/pub "Mohammed Usman in his UFC debut against Zac Pauga. Credits to: Chris Unger - Zuffa LLC.")

Junior Tafa is the younger brother of UFC Heavyweight fighter Justin Tafa, who recently secured a colossal knockout over Parker Porter at UFC 284: Makhachev vs. Volkanovski. Although Tafa has only four MMA bouts, he's a former GLORY kickboxing fighter with a professional kickboxing record of 3-4 and a boxing record of 1-0-1. All four of Tafa's MMA victories have come by knockout, and he's yet to enter the third round. Not much is known about his MMA prowess, but many questions will be answered when he debuts in the octagon against Usman. "Juggernaught" will look to use his GLORY-level striking and knockout ability to secure victory in his UFC debut. 

![junior-tafa-glory.webp](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/37d26556-00db-4c9b-8ebc-65fbb2a31f00/pub "Junior Tafa fighting Quanchao Luo in his GLORY debut. Credits to: Glory FC.")

This should be an exciting matchup in the Heavyweight division. Which younger brother will reign supreme? As a member of the Verdict Community, let us know your prediction in the comments below. 

Mohammed Usman Booked Against Junior Tafa For April 22nd

A matchup between top-15 contenders Jack Hermansson and Brendan Allen has just been confirmed to headline UFC Fight Night 226 on June 3, 2023, at an unknown location and venue, per Brett Okamoto.

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

Jack Hermansson holds a professional record of 23-8 (10-6 UFC) and is ranked #10 at Middleweight. He holds notable wins over Edmen Shabazyan, Kelvin Gastelum, and Chris Curtis.

Brendan 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.

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

Jack Hermansson is currently on an unlucky stint, constantly missing out on fights and being pitted against new prospects. His last fight was against Roman Dolidze, and despite looking great throughout the majority of the contest, he would succumb to a calf slicer in the second and lose a TKO via punches. Hermansson has recently been forced out of matchups against Darren Till, Derek Brunson, and Kevin Holland but has never said no to a tough fight and is no stranger to short-notice opponents. He also has great main event experience, going the distance against Marvin Vettori and Sean Strickland. He'll be looking to use his long striking and great grappling to get back into the win column in this matchup.

![jack-hermnasson-vs-dolidze.webp](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/aec6999b-95bd-49c7-8aef-ac08bd4c1800/pub "Jack Hermansson striking against Roman Doldize at UFC Fight Night: Thompson vs. Holland. Credits to: Nathan Ray Seebeck - USA TODAY Sports.")

Brendan Allen secured his most significant career 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 a great 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.")

How do you see this fight going? As a member of the Verdict Community, let us know your prediction in the comments below.

Jack Hermansson vs. Brendan Allen Headlines June 3rd Event

The #5 ranked Middleweight Paulo "The Eraser" Costa has agreed on a new four-fight deal with the UFC following his previous contractual disputes with them, per Paulo Costa via PTV.

Costa was supposed to face Robert Whittaker back in Perth, Australia, at UFC 284, but the bout was scrapped as he wanted more money from UFC, believing he was on an unfavorable wage for a fighter of his caliber. During this period, Costa hinted that he might be leaving the UFC to visit other endeavors, with other MMA promotions and boxing mentioned in the conversation. However, now it appears he's back on good terms with the UFC and will continue to fight in the promotion.

In an interview with PTV on YouTube, Costa mentioned some names he could return against.

> The UFC wants to make sure the Khamzat Chimaev fight happens at all costs, but I want to make the Chimaev and Sean Strickland fights happen. We will see. - Paulo Costa

Paulo Costa remaining in the UFC will be a solace to fans, as "The Eraser" has become a fan favorite in recent years, gaining a large following on social media platforms, especially Twitter, for his fan-friendly fighting style and hilarious memes online. In his eight UFC bouts, he's earned himself four performance bonuses and a Fight of The Year contender against Yoel Romero in 2019. His last bout was a Fight of The Night decision victory against former Middleweight Champion Luke Rockhold at UFC 278. 

![costa-getting-the-w.jpg](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/895e1050-9165-4d3e-7556-3d1161c71000/pub "Paulo Costa celebrating after his Fight of The Night against Luke Rockhold. Credits to: Jeffrey Swinger - USA TODAY Sports.")

Are you excited to see Paulo Costa return to the UFC octagon, and who do you think he'll face next? As a member of the Verdict Community, let us know your feelings and prediction in the comments below.

Paulo Costa Agrees to Four-Fight Deal, Eyes Khamzat Chimaev or Sean Strickland Next

The UFC is rumored to return to Sweden sometime in 2023, per Ariel Helwani via The MMA Hour.

The UFC has visited Sweden several times, with six events occurring there. All six events were held in Sweden's capital, Stockholm, with five being inside the Avicii Arena (previously known as the Ericsson Globe Arena) and the other inside the Tele2 Arena. 

Swede Alexander Gustaffson has headlined four out of the six events in Sweden, with his record there being 2-2, fighting against notable names such as Anthony Smith and former UFC Light-Heavyweight Champion Glover Teixeira. The other two events were headlined by Gegard Mousasi vs. Ilir Latifi and Rick Story vs. Gunnar Nelson. In addition, renowned fighters like Max Hollway, Jan Blachowciz, and Conor Mcgregor were part of the Sweden cards.

![alexander-gus-vs-glover.jpg](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/37c90bed-d9f9-4bf9-922e-de72f1664200/pub "Alexander Gustaffson battling Glover Teixeira in Stockholm, Sweden on May 2017. Credits to: Haljestam - USA TODAY Sports.")

Although no fights or dates are confirmed for the UFC Sweden event, it wouldn't be unreasonable to assume Swedish superstar Khamzat Chimaev would headline or be featured there. Chimaev has been gunning for a fight since his first-round submission over Kevin Holland at UFC 279, calling out Colby Covington, Robert Whittaker, and UFC Middleweight Champion Alex Pereira. The UFC also has options for Swedish fighters, such as Jack Hermansson, Guram Kutedeladze, and Alexander Gustaffson, all prominent names that could be featured on the card.

![chimaev-burns.webp](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/16c74410-6e95-4b80-ab3d-d28f0bc3e100/pub "Khamzat Chimaev during his bout against Gilbert Burns at UFC 273. Credits to: David Yeazell - USA TODAY Sports.")

Who would you like to see in the main event slot on the next UFC Sweden card? Will it be Khamzat Chimaev? Let us know your thoughts and prediction in the comments below.

The UFC's Return to Sweden is in The Works For 2023

Abdullah Ouazri

A top-5 Bantamweight banger goes down in the main event of this weekend's UFC card between Marlon 'Chito' Vera and Cory Sandhagen. Let's examine the odds for the bout:

**Odds provided by BetOnline.ag as of March 22, 3:35 PM EST.**

## Current Odds: 

**Marlon Vera +156, Cory Sandhagen -181.**

Despite being 3-3 in his last six, Cory Sandhagen has come back as a respectable favorite. His last three wins were all finishes, with a doctor's stoppage over Song Yadong, a flying knee knockout of Frankie Edgar in record time, and a spinning kick KO of Marlon Moraes. His losses were only to the best of the best. He dropped a split decision to TJ Dillashaw, a close UD against Petr Yan, and a submission loss to Aljamain Sterling- all former or current UFC champions. 

Marlon Vera's accrued some incredible stats in his last 3 fights. He's scored 7 knockdowns in his last three fights, and won a decision at the biggest significant strike deficit in UFC history against Rob Font. Font landed over 100 more strikes than Vera, at 271 compared to 159, but the damage of Chito's strikes was simply too heavy. Vera holds the record for most finishes in UFC Bantamweight history, with 11, and has never been knocked down in 20 UFC fights. He became the first person to defeat 'Sugar' Sean O'Malley, knocking him out inside of a round at UFC 252 in 2020.

Let's take a look at their previous betting odds:

## Past Betting Odds: Marlon Vera

![17299F2F-09AA-4685-9A36-0F1BAFD3CC64.jpeg](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/09c59d09-02b8-4d93-6048-d6d300d40700/pub "Marlon Vera after finishing Frankie Edgar. Credits to: Zuffa LLC.")

*Odds via fightodds.io*

Marlon Vera (-210) vs. Dominick Cruz (+190) UFC Fight Night: Vera vs. Cruz - Win (KO)

Marlon Vera(+100) vs. Rob Font (-110) UFC Fight Night: Font vs. Vera - Win (Dec)

Marlon Vera (-140) vs. Frankie Edgar (+130) UFC 268 - Win (KO)

Marlon Vera (-200) vs. Davey Grant (+185) UFC Fight Night: Zombie vs. Ige - Win (Dec)

Marlon Vera (+135) vs. Jose Aldo (-145) UFC Fight Night: Thompson vs. Neal - Loss (Dec)

## Past Betting Odds: Cory Sandhagen

![D6902892-20D0-412A-B910-C0FF0331BA02.jpeg](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/79ecbbbf-2875-4d3e-f5a6-6827d0e1da00/pub "Cory Sandhagen landing a flying knee on Petr Yan. Credits to: Zuffa LLC.")

*Odds via fightodds.io*

Cory Sandhagen (-185) vs. Song Yadong (+170) UFC Fight Night: Sandhagen vs. Song - Win (TKO)

Cory Sandhagen (+210) vs. Petr Yan (-250) UFC 267 - Loss (Dec)

Cory Sandhagen (-200) vs. TJ Dillashaw (+185) - UFC Fight Night: Sandhagen vs. Dillashaw - Loss (Dec)

Cory Sandhagen (-325) vs. Frankie Edgar (+295) UFC Fight Night: Overeem vs. Volkov - Win (KO)

Cory Sandhagen (-132) vs. Marlon Moraes (+122) UFC Fight Night: Moraes vs. Sandhagen - Win (KO)

Betting Odds: Cory Sandhagen vs. Chito Vera, See Who's Favored to Win

UFC Bantamweight fighter Kyler "The Matrix" Phillips has failed a drug test for the banned substance ostarine and has been suspended for one year. He has not fought since February 2021, and his inactive streak will persist for longer.

Phillips, who's 4-1 inside the UFC, is an exciting fighter who's already secured three performance bonuses across five bouts. His notable victories come over Song Yadong and Marcelo Rojo, and he also has a thrilling fight of the night decision loss to Raulian Paiva. 

![phillips-vs-paiva.webp](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/64970ca4-a27b-4989-9085-c0261ba8b200/pub "Kyler Phillips going to war against Ralian Paiva. Credits to: Jeff Bottari - Zuffa LLC.")

Over a dozen UFC fighters had tested positive for ostarine before, including Phillips's close teammate and training partner, the #2 ranked Bantamweight "Sugar" Sean O'Malley. His reasoning for the positive test was that he was taking a contaminated supplement, which was revealed to be genuine post-investigation.

![omalley-smile.jpg](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/583e146d-0560-467c-b3a0-f2935b5d7800/pub "Seam O'Malley getting the victory in his last bout against against Petr Yan at UFC 280. Credits to: Craig Kidwell - USA TODAY Sports.")

No statement has been released by Phillips yet. How do you think the increased layoff will affect "The Matrix"? As a member of the Verdict Community, let us know your prediction and thoughts in the comments below.

UFC Bantamweight Kyler Phillips Tests Positive For Banned Substance

Robert "The Reaper" Whittaker is among the best Middleweights we've seen inside the UFC octagon. Although the title has eluded him throughout the last few years, he's remained one of the most dominant fighters in the division and hasn't fallen outside the Middleweight top 3 since 2017. Despite being in the UFC since 2012, he's just 32 years old, and his last few wins, over names such as Marvin Vettori, Kelvin Gastelum, and Jared Cannonier, have been some of his most dominant victories yet. Whittaker's never been a trash-talking fighter and often disappears from the spotlight after his bouts, leaving many fans wondering about the future. So let's look at some likely opponents for "The Reaper's" next bout.

## Khamat Chimaev

Khamzat Chimaev caused havoc at Welterweight. After just four wins inside the UFC, he faced off against, at the time, the #2 ranked Welterweight, Gilbert Burns. After a back-and-forth war, Chimaev secured the decision and a place inside the top 5. But since then, he's had one fight against an unranked Kevin Holland after missing weight by 7.5 lbs and requiring an opponent change. To say the fans have been missing Chimaev is an understatement. With a high probability that his next fight will be at Middleweight, he's an ideal candidate for Whittaker, who could use a fresh face in the division.

![chimaev-vs-holland.webp](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/875449b1-34da-4e0c-003c-935defe25500/pub "Khamzat Chimaev in his last fight against Kevin Holland at UFC 279. Credits to: Joe Camporeale - USA TODAY Sports.")

## Dricus Du Plessis

Speaking of fresh faces, Dricus "Stillknocks" Du Plessis has burst into the Middleweight top 15 in the last six months. He first defeated Darren Till by third-round submission at UFC 282, then accepted another ranked fight against Derek Brunson at UFC 285. "Stillknocks" secured the second-round TKO victory and claimed the #6 ranking over Brunson. Although just shy of the top 5, Du Plessis would be a perfect opponent for Whittaker, who's already fought the #1, #3, and #4 ranked contenders. 

![du-plessis-vs-brunson.jpg](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/5721a4ba-04d3-4fca-b027-3cd062481000/pub "Dricus Du Plessis landing on Derek Brunson during their bout at UFC 285. Credits to: Dan Hiergesell - MMA Mania.")

## Paulo Costa

One fight we missed out on at UFC 284 was Whittaker vs. Costa. The two were previously scheduled to meet as the featured bout, but contract negotiations fizzled the matchup. This bout would be an excellent fight for Whittaker next, as he's already fought everyone else inside the top 5 apart from Costa. Furthermore, with both men being incredibly dangerous strikers, it could end up as an electric fight of the night. 

![paulo-costa-vs-rockhold.webp](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/55f81f39-098c-4a75-d033-1741e0c14200/pub "Paulo Costa brawling with Luke Rockhold at UFC 278. Credits to: Jeffrey Swinger - USA TODAY Sports.")

## Winner/Loser of Alex Pereira vs. Israel Adesanya 2

Middleweight Champion Alex Pereira will be looking to defeat Israel Adesanya for the second time in MMA at UFC 287 on April 7th. Although Whittaker has faced Adesanya twice already, their second fight was incredibly competitive, with many people believing he won. Pereira is an unfamiliar foe for "The Reaper," and because Whittaker is the #2 ranked contender, you can make an easy case for him to challenge for the Middleweight Championship following 287. Both fighters make sense for Whittaker next, and we could see him face either of these men in the future.

![ufc-281-alex-pereira-israel-adesanya-1.webp](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/848cba5b-2ad6-435b-19c3-4a01dfc43900/pub "Alex Pereira and Israel Adesanya exchanging at in the main event of UFC 281. Credits to: Jessica Alcheh - USA TODAY Sports.")

Who do you think the fan-favorite Aussie will fight next? As a member of the Verdict Community, let us know your prediction and thoughts in the comments below.

Robert Whittaker's Next Fight in The UFC

The champion of the world is the betting underdog again. 

UFC president Dana White told fans that Colby Covington will be next in line to face Leon Edwards for his Welterweight title. Covington opened at -190 over the champion, per BestFightOdds.com

The odds have since gotten closer on many books.

**Odds provided by betonline.ag as of March 18th, 2023, 4:20 PM EST.**

## Current Odds: Colby Covington -135, Leon Edwards +115

Despite claiming the title of best Welterweight fighter in the world from Kamaru Usman, then beating him again at UFC 286, Edwards is not the favorite against the fighter he's set to face next. Edwards holds the record for the longest unbeaten streak in the division, at 12, and is one of the top pound-for-pound MMA fighters in the world. From a poor shelter in Jamaica to the prelims to the champion of the world, Edwards has been counted out every step of the way and has proven doubters wrong each time, producing unbelievable results.

Fans were shocked to see Colby Covington weigh in as the backup fighter at UFC 286 after having been MIA since his last fight against Jorge Masvidal. After defeating 'Gamebred' at UFC 272, many fans assumed his next fight would be against Khamzat Chimaev in a title eliminator, but with the Chechen moving up in weight, Covington is next in line. Edwards becoming champion may be his last shot at the title, as he's reached the age of 35 and has two title losses to Kamaru Usman already. 

Let's take a look at some stats on their last fight odds:

## Past Betting Odds: Colby Covington

![FD69B180-5028-4EC3-B921-4C2B7DDC53E6.jpeg](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/0ac44231-7096-42b9-8d47-cf56523df600/pub "Covington after beating Jorge Masvidal. Credits to: Zuffa LLC.")

*Odds via fightodds.io*

Colby Covington (-295) vs. Jorge Masvidal (+265) UFC 272 - Win

Colby Covington (+250) vs. Kamaru Usman (-275) - Loss

Colby Covington (-325) vs. Tyron Woodley (+295) UFC Fight Night 178 - Win

Colby Covington (+165) vs. Kamaru Usman (-175) UFC 245 - Loss

Colby Covington (-135) vs. Rafael Dos Anjos (+125) - UFC on ESPN 5

## Past Betting Odds: Leon Edwards

![50C79A1A-619F-4413-9B59-27949C181747.jpeg](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/f29ae3dd-23d8-4369-8b68-fdc1dce4be00/pub "Headshot. Dead. Credits to: Zuffa LLC.")

*Odds via fightodds.io*

Leon Edwards (+225) vs. Kamaru Usman (-265) UFC 286 - Win

Leon Edwards (+315) vs. Kamaru Usman (-345) UFC 278 - Win

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

Leon Edwards (-265) vs. Belal Muhammad (+245) UFC Fight Night 187 - NC

Leon Edwards (-105) vs. Rafael Dos Anjos (-105) UFC on ESPN 4 - Win



Oddsmakers expect Covington's wrestling and pressure to be too much for the champion. Do you think the same? Let us know your prediction in the comments.

Betting Odds: Leon Edwards vs. Colby Covington, Covington Opens At Nearly 2:1 Favorite

The UFC fights tonight were amazing, and the main event delivered as well. It was the end of the trilogy between Leon Edwards and Kamaru Usman for the Welterweight title. 

The fight itself was entertaining, but the main story was the decision. Edwards took home a debated majority decision on home soil. Let's examine the fight, the judges' scorecards, and The Verdict Scorecard and compare the data:

## Official Judges: Ben Cartlidge, David Lethaby, Chris Lee.


![58D1310B-24D2-46C3-BFA6-6586EF82144E.jpeg](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/573c596d-6bd0-48c0-ebb2-2e8811b7e800/pub "The judges' scorecards for Leon Edwards vs. Kamaru Usman 3.")


![68CE452A-CCD9-4ACC-BAEC-F893EB72CDD7.jpeg](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/a108437c-53ee-486b-6639-0507ac085900/pub "The Verdict Scoredcard for Leon Edwards vs. Kamaru Usman 3.")

## Round 1

This was a tentative round by both. Edwards stayed on the outside and landed several more shots than Usman, including heavy body kicks. He also defended Kamaru's attempts to wrestle, taking home the round cleanly. 

**Judges Scorecard: 10-9 Edwards x3.**

**The Verdict Scorecard: 9.94-9.07 Edwards.**

## Round 2 

This round had more action from the get-go. Edwards chopped away at Usman's leg before landing a low blow, causing a brief pause in the fight. He then connects with a huge knee that stuns the former champ. Usman recovers and stuns Leon with a right hand of his own before slamming him to the ground. Usman lands more and then stuffs a takedown. They return to the feet, and Usman pressures to the bell.

**Judges Scorecards: Cartlidge 10-9 Edwards. Lethaby 10-9 Usman. Lee 10-9 Edwards.**

**The Verdict Scorecard: 9.67-9.35 Usman.**

## Round 3

This round loomed large in the fight. Edwards continues working on the legs but gets taken down. He's up briefly, and Usman tries to drag him back down, but a blatant fence grab stops the takedown. Despite Edwards' protest, Herb Dean takes a point, telling him it "was a horrible" fence grab. They continue trading shots after the fight resumes, Usman landing high and Edwards to the legs. Usman closes the round with a massive elbow and some clinch work.

**Note:** *Edwards was deducted a point from his total score this round.*

**Judges' Scorecards: Cartlidge 9-9. Lethaby 10-8 Usman. Lee 10-8 Usman.**

**The Verdict Scorecard: 9.63-8.31 Usman.**

## Round 4

Edwards spends the majority of the round landing leg kicks while Usman headhunts. The former champ is pressuring the entire time and gets a takedown near the end. They return to the feet, and Edwards lands a left hook. Usman continues to pressure and look for takedowns until the end of the round. 

**Judges' Scorecards: Cartlidge 10-9 Usman. Lethaby 10-9 Edwards. Lee 10-9 Edwards.**

**The Verdict Scorecard: 9.73-9.28 Edwards.**

## Round 5

Usman blocks a headshot and clinches after landing to the body. They break, and Edwards lands a knee before defending another takedown. Another knee and some more takedown defense. Usman finally gets him down, but the champion is back up and defends another one before the bell rings.

**Judges' Scorecards: 10-9 Edwards x3.**

**The Verdict Scorecard: 9.8-9.2 Edwards.**

*Official Result: Edwards via Majority decision: 48-46, 48-46, 47-47.*

## The Verdict Scorecard: 47.12-46.85 Edwards

Now that you've seen the numbers, data, and action, do you agree with the decision and The Verdict Scorecard? Let us know with a comment.

The Final Verdict: Leon Edwards vs. Kamaru Usman 3

Anderson Silva, one of the greatest mixed martial artists of all time, has been inducted into the UFC's Hall of Fame. 

His induction was aired on the Pay-Per-View broadcast of UFC 286, cementing one of the greatest UFC legacies of all time in the history books. Silva reigned as the Middleweight champion from 2006 to 2013 and holds the record for the longest UFC title reign, win streak, and most consecutive title defenses.

Silvia's legacy is worth its weight in gold as one of the true pioneers of modern MMA and the UFC. His legendary reign consists of wins over Chael Sonnen, Victor Belford, Demian Maia, and more. 

His anyone, anywhere, anytime attitude showed in his many outing at 205 lbs, even taking a fight against Danial Cormier on less than a week's notice at UFC 200.

![D98A033F-512B-4EE1-97AE-C0F42160869C.jpeg](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/a7db1a78-935f-4296-7963-b5745f570300/pub "Anderson Silva throwing a superman punch at Daniel Cormier. Credits to: Zuffa LLC.")

Following his UFC departure in 2020, Silva chased a career in boxing where he's seen great success. He defeated the like of Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. And Tito Ortiz. His last match took place against Jake Paul in 2022.

Silva's 16 wins in a row is a record that stands to this day. The next closest person is tonight's main event, Kamaru Usman, who put together 15 wins before being defeated by the other half of UFC 286, Leon Edwards.

Anderson Silva's Hall of Fame induction has been a long time coming, and he's finally gotten the honor he deserves. Who else should be inducted into the Hall of Fame this year alongside himself, Jose Aldo, and Jens Pulver?

Let us know in the comments below.

Anderson Silva Gets Inducted Into The UFC Hall of Fame at UFC 286

Find out who won tonight and how at UFC 286 with our full event coverage, from the undercard to the upcoming fights on the PPV main card. Let's take a look at the fights:

## Main Card (Start Time 5:00 PM EST on Pay-Per-View)

## Leon Edwards def. Kamaru Usman via majority decision: *48-46, 48-46, 47-47*

The fight was extremely close all throughout. Edwards landed clean shots and defended well. Usman kept the pressure on and had success of his own in both the striking and grappling. A point deduction for Edwards after he grabbed the fence left the decision in limbo, but Edwards retains in the end.

## Justin Gaethje def. Rafael Fiziev via majority decision: *29-28, 29-28, 28-28*

As advertised, this fight lived up to the hype and then some. Fiziev started strong in round 1, and turned Gaethje's body into minced meat with vicious kicks. Gaethje responded strong in the 2nd with his heavy output and boxing before Fiziev looked to make a comeback at the start of the third. But, the tides turned again, and Gaethje began pouring it on, landing heavy strikes until the final bell, where he scored a quick takedown to secure the round.

## Gunnar Nelson def Bryan Barberena via submission: *Armbar R1, 4:51*

It was a quick night at the office for Gunner Nelson. He took the center right away and moved Bam Bam to the fence before securing a single leg. Once down, it was only a matter of time before he locked up the armbar with just 10 seconds left, getting his first stoppage in 5 years.

## Jennifer Maia def. Casey O'Neil via unanimous decision: *29-28, 29-28, 30-27*

This is a big fight at women's Flyweight. Jennifer Maia and Casey O'Neil slugged it out on the feet in a semi-close yet clear fight. The Brazilian had the clear advantage throughout the fight, but was mostly strong early. In the end, she did enough to walk away the victor, handing 9-0 Casey O'Neil her first loss.

## Marvin Vettori def. Roman Dolidze via unanimous decision: *29-28, 29-28, 30-27*

Vettori and Dolidze went to war in the PPV main card opener. The Georgian got off to a strong start in round one on the feet, but Vettori responded strong in round 2. The third was closely contested and came down to who wanted it more. In the end, Marvin gave just a little extra and got the decision.

## Preliminary Card (Start Time 3:00 PM EST on ESPN+)

## Jack Shore def. Makwan Amirkhani via submission: *Rear-naked Choke R2, 4:27*

15th-ranked Bantamweight Jack Shore made the move up to Featherweight for this one. The first round started tough, with Amirkhani getting a takedown and securing over three minutes of control time. Shore proved to be the more conditioned fighter in round 2 as he took down a tired opponent and found the choke. He shouted out his father, who beat cancer late last year.

## Chris Duncan def. Omar Morales via split decision: *29-28, 29-28, 27-30*

Chris Duncan and Omar Morales brought the heat in this one. Morales hurt Duncan early and looked close to a finish, but the Scott rallied back in rounds two and three with wrestling, striking, and pure heart to secure the decision win.

## Yanal Ashmouz def. Sam Patterson via KO: *Strikes and Ground and Pound R1, 1:15*


Yanal Ashmouz put Israel on the map in his first UFC fight with a brutal knockout over English hype train Sam Patterson. He landed on the feet and put him out on the ground. Patterson was severely dazed after the finish. He didn't know where he was and tried to fight the referee and his own corner.

## Muhammad Mokaev def. Jafel Filho via submission: *Rear-naked Choke R3, 4:32*

Muhammad Mokaev pulled a rally of all rallies in this one. 1-1 on the scorecards and seemingly pulling ahead, he gets caught in one of the most brutal knee bars in recent memory. Fans and fighters cringed at the sight of it and don't know how he didn't tap. Mokaev escaped and got on top to try to salvage the round, and with 28 seconds left in the fight, locks up a rear-naked choke and gets the tap.

## Early Preliminary Card (Start Time 12:30 PM EST on ESPN+)

## Christian Leroy Duncan def. Dusko Todorovic via TKO: *Knee Injury R1, 1:52*

An unfortunate injury to Dusko Todorovic's knee put an end to this fight just under 120 seconds in. CLD looked sharp before they clinched up, and Dusko twisted his knee in a suspected ligament/tendon tear, forcing the referee to stop the fight, taking the UK to 5-0-1 on the prelims today.

## Jake Hadley def. Malcolm Gordon via TKO: *Body Shot R1, 1:01*

'White Kong' Jake Hadley meant business, and he gave it to Gordon. Just 61 seconds into the fight he landed two body shots that crumbled Malcolm and quickly dispatched of him with ground and pound. He called out Muhammad Mokaev after the fight.

## Joanne Wood def. Luana Carolina via split decision: *29-28, 30-27, 28-29*

Another extremely competitive fight took place earlier on the prelims in the women's Flyweight division. The fight was a tight Muay Thai standup battle where Joanne Wood narrowly edged her opponent out.

## Jai Herbert vs. Ludovit Klein ends in a majority draw: *29-27, 28-28, 28-28*

A competitive fight from start to finish. The fight was 1-1 heading into the third in a close striking battle, but two incidental low blows from Herbert in round 3 caused him a point deduction, leading to the final result of a draw.

## Veronica Hardy def. Julianna Miller via unanimous decision: *30-27, 30-27, 30-27*

A complete blowout for Veronica Hardy, the newlywed to former UFC title challenger and friend of Verdict, Dan Hardy. She used all of her mixed martial arts tools to neutralize the TUF 31 winner for three rounds on the feet and on the ground.

UFC 286 Tonight: Full Card Live Results

Muhammad Mokaev might have just shown the biggest display of toughness ever.

Cruising to a decision win against Jafel Fialho at UFC 286, Muhammad Mokaev found himself in one of the tightest knee bars in MMA history. However, he showed otherworldly toughness in not tapping and eventually reversed the position.

![C7166F74-A8D8-4545-9208-47DAE6FE5D2D.jpeg](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/0b36008f-cf62-40cb-6440-e189d16a6b00/pub "Jafel Filho cranks the knee bar. Credits to: Per Haljestam-USA TODAY Sports.")

He didn't just get out, he got on top and choked his opponent out for revenge, improving his undefeated record to 10-0 at the age of 22, reaching a new career height. He is currently ranked 12 in the division and only climbing; he'll likely get a big fight next.

He made his UFC debut one day shy of exactly a year ago. He's accrued some incredible stats in such a short period, already being 4-0 with three finishes. The only man to survive all three rounds with him was Charles Johnson. The three who succumbed to his grappling are Cody Durden, Malcolm Gordon, and Jafel Filho.

It is unkown what knee injury Mokaev suffered exactly, but he was noticeably limping and could not put weight on it. 

![9545345C-E3C4-4B05-A35D-77734C2B96F1.jpeg](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/78c4ca34-ef23-4929-885f-f74c33bf9900/pub "Muhammad Mokaev celebrating on top of the cage after his win at UFC 286 despite the knee injury. Credits to: Per Haljestam-USA TODAY Sports.")

Mokaev may be the brightest prospect in MMA today, and is the only viable fighter to have a shot at breaking Jon Jones' record for UFC champion. Mokaev has until the first quarter of next year to be champ to do so. 

How bad is this Muhammad Mokaev knee injury? Do you think he's a future champion? Let us know with a comment. 

‘My Knee Was Cracking’ Gruesome Muhammad Mokaev Knee Injury at UFC 286

Lerone Murphy remained unbeaten today with a split-decision win over Gabriel Santos at UFC 286 in London, England. The fight was a high pace back and fourth affair, with Murphy landing more strikes while Santos had more control time. 

The official decision has received some criticism, so let's look at each round and see if the judges got this right. 

## Official Judges:

**Mark Collett, Vito Paolillo, Clemens Werner**

## Round 1

The fight started quickly, with both men throwing hard in a competitive first round. Santos was landing land hard shots and mixing in takedowns in the early frame giving him the edge after the first. 

**Judges Scorecards: 10-9 Santos x3**

**Verdict Scorecard: 10-9 Santos (Close Round)**

## Round 2

Lerone Murphy got off to a strong start in round 2 as he began to land more frequently and hit the body, draining Santos. Later in the round, Santos was able to secure a body triangle position where he controlled and threatened until the end of the round, which was enough to swing it back in his favor. 

**Judges Scorecards: 10-9 Murphy x2, 10-9 Santos x1**

**Verdict Scorecard: 10-9 Santos (Close Round)**

## Round 3

The final round was the clearest of the fight as Lerone Murphy came out late as the fresher fighter and was landing at a higher rate and effectively defending against the grappling attack of Santos, winning this round. 

**Judges Scorecards: 10-9 Murphy x3**

**Verdict Scorecard: 10-9 Murphy (Clear Round)**

## Official Scorecards: 10-9 Murphy x2, 10-9 Santos x1

![FrhjUfPWcAIAi-t.jpg](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/ea505ac4-09f1-4feb-aea5-98a75cccae00/public "Official Judges Scorecards for Lerone Murphy vs. Gabriel Santos Credits to: UFC News")

The judges gave the win to Murphy in the end. How do you feel about the judges' decision? Did they get this one right? 

The Final Verdict: Lerone Murphy vs. Gabriel Santos

The MMA World was up in arms this week after a leaked video of UFC Flyweight Jeff Molina being intimate with a male partner began circling the internet. The Twitter video was Molina servicing another man many initially thought was fellow bi-sexual MMA media member Ben 'The Bane' Davis.

Molina responded to the video on Twitter the same day and came out as a long-time bearer of mixed feelings to men and women. Since then, the tape has been removed from all platforms despite fans searching for the full video. 

> Welp, this f***king sucks. - Jeff comments on the situation.

*"TLDR: I'm bi.*

*Not the way I warned to do this bet the Chanel to do it when I was ready was taken from me. I've tried to keep my dating life private from social media. I've dated girls all throughout high school, being on the wrestling team, and even after making part of the dream happen and getting into the UFC.*

*I'm a pretty masculine dude, and that bro-y banter and sus sense of humor has always been how I am. The thought of my buddies, teammates, and people I look up to looking at me differently, let alone treating me differently, for something I can't control was something I couldn't fathom. In a sport like this, where the majority of the fans being the homophonic c*cksuckers they are, I didn't see myself doing this during this part of my career. I wanted to be known for my skills and what I've dedicated the last ll years of my life to and not the 'bi UFC fighter' that I'm sure would just be translated to 'gay UFC fighter.'*

*To the awful disturbed person that decided to post this ish, I hope it was worth it.*

*At the end of the day, I know my character, morals, and who I am as a person. As much as I'm getting hated/sh***ted on, I'm getting an equal amount of support, and it means a lot.*

*Last but not least, Ben Davis, you a freak."* - Molina comes out as bi-sexual and teases at Ben Davis.

This isn't Molina's first time under the spotlight for queer reasons. He faced severe fan backlash after wearing his name in rainbow colors on his official fight shorts during pride month. 

![1B5C4E0C-CC10-4C26-9670-DCACBE512705.jpeg](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/f3b91e29-d9ec-4923-c4cd-c51ab4d6a200/pub "Jeff Molina's pride month fight gear. Credits to: Zuffa LLC.")

His response kept things clear and concise, assuring fans he was straight and had the right to represent whomever he wanted on The MMA Hour with Ariel Helwani. 

A product of James Krause, Molina is a promising prospect in the UFC, holding a 3-0 record in the promotion with wins over Aoriqileng, Daniel Da Silva, and Zhalgas Zhumagulov.

He's currently suspended from fighting due to his involvement with coach James Krause's betting scandal. The case is under investigation, and Molina has not fought since June last year.

Molina has received overwhelming support from the core members of the MMA community since his announcement and plans to continue his career just as before.

UFC Fighter Jeff Molina Comes Out as Bi-Sexual After Leaked Video

An enormous bout between former rivals Tony Ferguson and Kevin Lee was just confirmed for UFC 290 on July 8 in Las Vegas, Nevada, in the T-Mobile Arena, per Helen Yee.

**This bout will take place at a currently unknown weight class.**

Tony Ferguson holds a professional record of 25-8 (15-6 UFC) and notable wins over Edson Barboza, Rafael Dos Anjos, and Donald "Cowboy" Cerrone. He is unranked at Lightweight.

Kevin Lee has a professional record of 19-7 (11-7 UFC) and has credible wins over Diego Sanchez, Gregor Gillespie, and Michael Chiesa. He is also unranked.

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

Tony Ferguson has reached the twilight stage of his career. Once on a twelve-fight win streak, Ferguson was considered one of the most dangerous fighters in the division. However, after losing a short-notice matchup to Justin Gaethje, he's fallen to a five-fight losing streak. While still having competitive bouts against Michael Chandler and Nate Diaz, Ferguson has been winless since 2019 and was dominated by Charles Oliveira and Beniel Dariush in the process. His last bout saw him take on Diaz, and despite a decent performance compared to his previous ones, Ferguson would be submitted in the fourth round. Now outside of the rankings for the first time in years, he'll be looking to repeat the victory over Lee using his unorthodox striking and Jiu-Jitsu skills. 

![ferguson-diaz.jpg](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/9535e383-3e5a-4916-3fd8-85cbcf130e00/pub "Tony Ferguson and Nate Diaz after their bout at UFC 279. Credits to: Jeff Botari - Zuffa LLC.")

Kevin Lee's had some obstacles in his career as well recently. He's been suffering from both inactivity and his weight. Lee falls into a small category of fighters who are too big for Lightweight but too small for Welterweight. This has been evidenced in his bouts against Charles Oliveira, where he missed weight, and against Daniel Rodriguez, where Lee was by far the smaller man. Since the Rodriguez loss, he picked up in win in former Lightweight Champion Khabib Nurmagomedov's promotion, Eagle FC, defeating Diego Sanchez by a dominant unanimous decision. Now he's back in the win column; Lee will be looking to use his wrestling and powerful striking to get revenge on Ferguson.

![Kevin-Lee-vs-Diego-Sanchez.webp](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/1165c7bd-135e-40a9-6747-986cc1feed00/pub "Kevin Lee beating Diego Sanchez in the main event of Eagle FC 46. Credits to: Ryan Loco - Eagle FC.")

This is a highly anticipated rematch between two veterans of the UFC. So who do you have taking this one? As a member of the Verdict Community, let us know your prediction in the comments below.

Tony Ferguson vs. Kevin Lee Rematch Set For UFC 290

Taylor Dow

To cap off a 1-1 trilogy, Leon Edwards and Kamaru Usman take center stage in a highly anticipated title fight to settle the score for Welterweight gold. Colby Covington makes an unexpected appearance as a backup for the main event. In the co-main event, 2 of the most exciting Lightweights, Justin Gaethje and Rafael Fiziev, will throw down for a potential future title shot. Gunnar Nelson and Bryan Barberena meet at Welterweight in a pivotal matchup. Jennifer Maia faces off against up-and-comer Casey O'Neill. Marvin Vettori puts his top five ranking on the line against the surging Roman Dolidze.


Let's see how they weighed in.

## MAIN CARD (START TIME: 5:00 PM EST ON PPV)

_Welterweight_: (C) Leon Edwards (***170***) vs. #1 Kamaru Usman (***170***) Welterweight Title Fight. Five-Round Main Event*

_Lightweight_: #3 Justin Gaethje (***156***) vs. #6 Rafael Fiziev (***156***)


_Welterweight_: Gunnar Nelson (***170***) vs. Bryan Barberena (***171***)


_Women's Flyweight_: #8 Jennifer Maia (***126***) vs. #12 Casey O’Neill (***125***)


_Middleweight_: #4 Marvin Vettori (***185.5***) vs. #9 Roman Dolidze (***186***)


## PRELIMS (START TIME: 3:00 PM EST ON ESPNEWS/ESPN+)


_Featherweight_: Jack Shore (***146***) vs. Makwan Amirkhani (***146***)


_Lightweight_: Chris Duncan (***156***) vs. Omar Morales (***156***)


_Lightweight_: Sam Patterson (***155.5***) vs. Yanal Ashmoz (***155***)


_Flyweight_: #12 Muhammad Mokaev (***126***) vs. Jafel Filho (***125.5***)


## EARLY PRELIMS (START TIME: 1:00 PM EST ESPN+/UFC FIGHTPASS)


_Featherweight_: Lerone Murphy (***145.5***) vs. Gabriel Santos (***145.5***)


_Middleweight_: Christian Leroy Duncan (***185.5***) vs. Dusko Todorovic (***186***)


_Flyweight_: Malcolm Gordon (***129.5***) vs. Jake Hadley (***126***)


_Women's Flyweight_: Joanne Wood (***126***) vs. Luana Carolina (***126***)


_Lightweight_: Jai Herbert (***156***) vs. Ludovit Klein (***156***)


_Women's Flyweight_: Juliana Miller (***125.5***) vs. Veronica Hardy (***125.5***)


*Colby Covington weighs in as backup for the main event at 170 lbs.


***Malcolm Gordon missed the Flyweight limit at 129.5 lbs and will be fined a percentage of his purse.

Here’s a look at the betting lines and sleeper picks for the headline events this Saturday Night.
All the odds have been provided by [<u>DraftKings Massachusetts</u>](https://www.betmassachusetts.com/draftkings) so head over to get the latest
promos as online sports betting is now live in the state of Massachusetts.

UFC 286: Edwards vs Usman Weigh-In Results

The UFC has just announced that they will return to Abu Dhabi for UFC 294 in the Etihad Arena.

Pre 2020, the UFC had only been to Abu Dhabi three times: for UFC 112: Silva vs. Maia, UFC Fight Night: Nogueira vs. Nelson, and UFC 242: Nurmagomedov vs. Poirier. 

![that-NURMAGOMEDOV-SQUEEZE.jpeg](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/f166fb4e-b440-4b86-1bcb-9db7a8980000/pub "Khabib Nurmagomedov choking out Dustin Poirier in Abu Dhabi at UFC 242. Credits to: Per Haljestam-USA TODAY Sports.")

Since 2020, the UFC has returned to Abu Dhabi thirteen times. This includes multiple PPVs and closed doors events, as Abu Dhabi became a critical home for the UFC during the COVID-19 pandemic. Dana White used Yas Island, an island in the UAE, as a bubble during the pandemic due to the U.S. travel restrictions preventing fighters from entering America. Their latest return saw the crowning moment of Islam Makhachev, who defeated Charles Oliveira in the main event of UFC 280 to win the Lightweight Championship. The card also saw Bantamweight Champion Aljamain Sterling make the second defense of his title, defeating T.J. Dillashaw via second-round TKO. The card also featured contenders Sean O'Malley and Petr Yan battling it out in a three-round fight of the night. Abu Dhabi has also hosted legendary fighters such as Conor Mcgregor, Michael Chandler, and Israel Adesanya.

![omalley-the-goat.jpg](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/e1079f4e-4dae-46f5-c9cf-c5ae30133600/pub "Sean O'Malley and Petr Yan going to war in the featured bout of UFC 280. Credits to: Craig Kidwell-USA TODAY Sports.")

Who would you like to see on the Abu Dhabi card? Perhaps the return of Lightweight Champion Islam Makhachev? Whoever it may be, as a member of the Verdict Community, let us know in the comments below.

The UFC Makes a Return to Abu Dhabi for UFC 294

Leon Edwards and Kamaru Usman will matchup for a third and presumably final time this weekend at UFC 286. Their rivalry has spanned since the beginning of their respective UFC careers, and the odds of each fight tell a story of how far they have come. 

**Odds provided by FightOdds.io**

## UFC on FOX 17: Dos Anjos vs. Cowboy 2

Odds: Kamaru Usman -230, Leon Edwards +210

The first fight had the closest odds of the three coming into the fight, which makes sense as this was when we knew little about just how good each of these men would be. Entering the first matchup, Kamaru Usman was preparing for his first official UFC bout after winning The Ultimate Fighter 21 over Hayder Hassan. Leon Edwards had gained momentum by this point, having won his last two fights, including an eight-second knockout win. Despite Edwards having the experience edge, Usman was seen as a great prospect with his very high-level wrestling already having shown itself on TUF, and with Edwards having lost his UFC debut because of his grappling, this gave Usman the edge. 

## UFC 278: Usman vs. Edwards 2

Odds: Kamaru Usman -345, Leon Edwards +315

Many years after Usman won the first matchup, these two were set to meet again with entirely new resumes behind each fighter. Usman was the reigning Welterweight champ, with five title defenses and the number one pound-for-pound spot coming off his second decision win over Colby Covington. Edwards had not lost since his first fight with Usman in ten fights, although entering this, he was coming off a fight with Nate Diaz that was going his way until a late moment from Diaz left many concerned about Edwards. Although it was clear, Edwards was the rightful challenger; the odds indicate that most believed Usman would retain with relative ease. 

## UFC 286: Edwards vs. Usman 3

Odds: Kamaru Usman -250, Leon Edwards +210

The epic comeback set up the third meeting between the two, with Usman coming in as a favorite for all three matchups. Edwards enters this fight with newfound confidence with the home crowd behind him, giving many belief that he will perform better than their second matchup. Usman will need to overcome the devastating knockout here to reclaim his title, which few have done in the past, as few have seen champions like Anderson Silva knocked out and never return to form. The odds have thinned out since the rematch, with many questions about how Usman will return and with confidence in Edwards at an all-time high, although oddsmakers still believe Usman to be the superior fighter.

Let us know your prediction for the third fight in the comments below!

Examining the betting odds of all 3 fights between Leon Edwards and Kamaru Usman

The UFC is rumored to return to Vancouver, Canada, on June 10th at a currently unannounced venue for UFC 289, per Cole Shelton. 

Canada has been frequently visited, with the UFC already holding thirty-one events there, including nineteen PPV events. However, Canada last held an event for UFC Fight Night: Cowboy vs. Gaethje on September 14th, 2019, over three years ago. The main event saw former interim Lightweight Champion Justin Gaethje TKO Donald Cerrone in the first round. 

![gaethje-in-vancouver.jpg](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/6f463d39-e228-4354-3074-9a2acf52f400/pub "Justin Gaethje after his TKO victory over Donald Cerrone in Vancouver, Canada. Credits to: Jeff Botari - Zuffa LLC.")

Canada has seen many fighters throw down in the octagon, including notable names like  Max Holloway, Dustin Poirier, Robbie Lawler, Amanda Nunes, and Valentina Shevchenko.

Canada has also hosted former Welterweight and Middleweight Champion Georges St-Pierre, who headlined five times in Montreal and Toronto. St-Pierre headlined UFC 129, which would have the third-highest attendance at a UFC event, with 55,724 attendees.

![georges-st-seller.jpg](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/3a4c7b7f-84d1-48e9-4ab0-a2ff7c0fb600/pub "Georges St-Pierre beating Jake Shields at UFC 129. Credits to: Esther Lin - MMA Fighting.")

The fights currently announced for this card are:

Women's Flyweight: _Miranda Maverick vs. Jasmine Jasudavicius_

Middleweight: _Eryk Anders vs. Marc-André Barriault_

Canadians Jasmine Jasudavicius and Marc-André Barriault are already booked for the card, and we'll likely get some more fight announcements soon. Are you excited about the UFC's return to Canada? Who would you like to see headline the card? As a member of the Verdict Community, let us know your thoughts in the comments below.

The UFC is Rumored to Return to Canada for UFC 289

A massive fight between top-15 contenders Arman Tsarukyan and Renato Moicano has just been announced as the main event for UFC Fight Night 223 at an undisclosed location and venue, per MMA Meta.

**This fight takes place in the Lightweight (155 lbs) division.**

Arman Tsarukyan is ranked #8 at Lightweight, and holds a professional record of 19-3 (6-2 UFC), holding credible victories over Damir Ismagulov, Joel Alvarez, and Matt Frevola.

Renato Moicano is ranked #13 at Lightweight, and has a professional record of 17-5-1 (9-5 UFC). He holds notable wins over Alexander Hernandez, Calvin Kattar, and Cub Swanson.

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

Arman Tsarukyan recently rebounded from his loss to Mateusz Gamrot with a decision victory over Damir Ismagulov. He would showcase his dominant wrestling and improved striking game to secure the victory, again proving himself to be a threatening contender. Tsarukyan is one of the most prominent prospects in the division, only losing decisions against Gamrot and the Lightweight Champion Islam Makhachev. He'll look to secure his first UFC main event win by using his complete martial arts skillset in this matchup.

![arman-spinurkyan.webp](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/232fda46-fa6a-4d60-ffd8-e64eb0558300/pub "Arman Tsarukyan landing a spinning back kick against Damir Ismagulov en route to a decision victory. Credits to: Jeff Botari - Zuffa LLC.")

Renato Moicano captured the attention of many fans in his last bout at UFC 281. After defeating Brad Riddell in the first round with a rear naked choke, he seized the microphone to deliver one of the best post-fight interviews in UFC history. He screamed down the mic about wanting more money and feeling disrespected after only losing to the most elite in the UFC, referencing his losses to Rafael Dos Anjos, Jose Aldo, and "The Korean Zombie" Chan Sung Jung. This interview seized the engagement of many fans, and Moicano will be looking to use his powerful striking and dangerous submissions to secure the biggest win of his career in this matchup.

![renato-moicano.webp](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/14e3f04a-7e80-440b-c641-add5af61b100/pub "Renato Moicano keeping Brad Riddell at bay at UFC 281. Credits to: Jessica Alcheh - USA TODAY Sports.")

This is a banger of a fight in the Lightweight division, which is constantly proving to be one of the UFC's most entertaining and competitive divisions. So who do you have winning this one? As a member of the Verdict Community, let us know your prediction in the comments below.

Arman Tsarukyan vs. Renato Moicano Confirmed for Main Event on April 29

A top-15 matchup between Tim Elliot and Allan Nascimento has just been announced for UFC Fight Night 226 on June 3; location and venue are currently unannounced, per Tim Elliot via The Patrick McCory Sports Show.

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

Tim Elliot is ranked #11 at Flyweight and holds a professional record of 18-12-1 (7-10 UFC), claiming notable victories over Tagir Ulanbekov, Jordan Espinosa, and Louis Smolka.

Allen Nascimento has a professional record of 20-6 (2-1 UFC) and holds notable wins over Carlos Hernandez, Jake Hadley, and Elivaldo Lima. He is currently unranked at Flyweight.

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

Tim Elliot is coming off an incredible and contentious fight against Tagir Ulanbekov. He would clearly take the first round but would be controversially awarded the second round on all three judges' scorecards. Furthermore, he openly admits to cheating during the bout, grabbing his opponent's glove and throwing strikes, infuriating the corner of Ulanbekov, which included former UFC Lightweight Champion Khabib Nurmagomedov. Despite this, Elliot is a widely entertaining fighter who's fought some of the best in the division, including former Flyweight Champion Demetrious Johnson, Deiveson Figueiredo, and Brandon Royval. He'll look to use his crafty style to defend his ranking and get the victory in this bout.

![elliot-vs-ulanbekov.webp](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/dba211e5-a41f-486a-fba4-915216c52300/pub "Tim Elliot scrapping with Tagir Ulanbekov at UFC 272. Credits to: Stephen R. Sylvanie - USA TODAY Sports.")

Allan Nascimento had a bumpy start in the UFC, debuting as a heavy underdog and losing a decision against Ulanbekov. However, since then, he's picked up two wins, including an upset over English prospect Jake Hadley and a performance of the night submission bonus against Carlos Hernandez. He would control the bout against Hernandez using his elite Jiu-Jitsu and finish the bout with a rear naked choke in the first round. Nascimento has phenomenal grappling, which he'll look to use to get the victory over Tim Elliot.

![nascimento-hernandez.webp](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/8af6fc55-9cb8-468f-16e5-42e25a89b500/pub "Allan Nascimento staring down Carlos Hernandez during their bout. Credits to: Chris Unger - Zuffa LLC.")

This should be an exciting matchup in the elite Flyweight division. As a member of the Verdict Community, let us know your prediction for this bout in the comments below.

Tim Elliot set to Make Return vs. Allan Nascimento on June 3


This weekend's co-main event will feature what is presumed to be one of the most exciting fights of the year, Justin Gaethje vs. Rafael Fiziev. These two men have made names by scoring knockouts in nearly all their wins and putting on a show in the process.

To highlight two of the most exciting fighters on the current roster, let's take a look at 10 of the most exciting fighters still fighting right now.


# 10. Tony Ferguson

![tferg.jpg](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/57252014-dcde-41ce-a6a8-b032f7ca6100/public "Tony Ferguson showcases a blood-covered smile. Credit: Harry How - Getty Images.")

Tony Ferguson is a fan favorite for one main reason; he goes to war. Whether it be a bloodbath victory or a losing effort, Ferguson is always there to entertain the fans.

Tony Ferguson made a name for himself by winning The Ultimate Fighter Season 13 and earning knockout wins in every leg of the tournament bracket. However, his historic TUF run was just the beginning of his exciting career, as he would go 15-1 (5 KO, 5 SUB) to start his UFC run.

Ferguson's flashy style of mixing all the arts effortlessly with spinning attacks, rare submissions, and great wrestling made the fans tune in, but on top of all this was the heart he displayed in the Octagon. Opponents could not rock Ferguson without him leaping into a roll to spring back to his feet and keep the fight going.

Although now on a little losing stint, we still love to watch the excitement Tony Ferguson brings into the cage.

# 9. Amanda Nunes

![nunes gwoat.jpg](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/dfec2775-089d-4d7f-8f6f-88ec1d931700/public "Amanda Nunes flaunts her two belts. Credit: Carmen Mandato - Getty Images.")

Amanda Nunes is easily the greatest female mixed martial artist of all time, and her numerous victories in the UFC have cemented her status as such. Nunes has an impressive record of 22-5, with 14 of those wins coming by way of knockout. Her greatness is a massive part of what excites the viewer; her ability to knock women out or dominate them makes her a draw among fans.


Nunes has excitingly defeated many top-ranked fighters, including Ronda Rousey, Cris Cyborg, and Holly Holm. Her victories have been characterized by her explosive power, technical proficiency, and ability to finish fights early.


One of Nunes' most impressive wins came in 2019 when she moved up a weight class to challenge Cris Cyborg for the Featherweight title. In a massive upset, Nunes knocked out Cyborg in spectacular fashion in just 51 seconds, becoming the first woman to hold UFC titles in two weight classes simultaneously.

After taking her first loss in 7 years at the hands of Juliana Peña, she redeemed herself in a big way, returning to dominate the new champion over all 5 rounds, dropping Peña a record-breaking 3 times throughout the fight.

Nunes has defeated every female champion from Flyweight to Featherweight (Besides Nico Montaño) and does not look to be losing again any time soon. 

# 8. Yair Rodriguez

![yair.jpg](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/4b62474c-a98c-4985-350a-3fbd7d345600/public "Yair Rodriguez after winning the Interim title. Credit:  Chris Unger - Zuffa LLC via Getty Images.")

Yair Rodriguez's exciting fighting style has made him a standout fighter in the UFC. From upward elbows to jumping round kicks, Rodriguez is as flashy as they come. 

The creativity on display when Rodriguez fights is pivotal to his success. We rarely see a young fighter with such a diverse arsenal, but Rodriguez has it locked down.

Rodriguez's knockout wins have earned him a reputation as one of the most exciting fighters in the UFC, but even if he doesn't get the knockout, he still entertains with edge-of-your-seat action.

Rodriguez's most impressive finish came when he faced The Korean Zombie in 2018; after what looked like a fight of the year contender, Rodriguez landed an upward elbow with 1 second left in the fight, which left Zombie unconscious on the canvas. Many people regard this as one of the greatest UFC knockouts of all time, myself included.

In Rodriguez's most recent outing, he faced Josh Emmett for the Interim Featherweight title and scored a second-round submission to get his first UFC belt. The unification bout with champion Alexander Volkanovski is scheduled to take place at UFC 290, and I know I can't wait for it.

# 7. Michael Chandler

![mike.jpg](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/a9d82235-1398-4e3d-5e0e-ff9f51a1c600/public "Michael Chandler in the UFC Octagon. Credit: Zuffa LLC.")

Michael Chandler's UFC run has been one of the most exciting of all time, and he's only 5 fights into it. But even before his UFC tenure, Chandler has been putting on fight-of-the-year fights since he started in MMA. During Chandler's Bellator run, he engaged in 2 of the best fights of all time against Eddie Alvarez and became one of the most talked about fighters outside the UFC.

In Chandler's UFC debut, he faced Dan Hooker and won by impressive knockout in the first round. Following this, Chandler was set up for a shot at the vacant title against Charles Oliveira in his second fight in the UFC. Chandler would, unfortunately, come up short on the title shot, but not after giving the future champion a run for his money.

Chandler was then scheduled to face Justin Gaethje in an immensely anticipated fight featuring 2 of the most explosive lightweights in the division. This fight lived up to expectations as the 2 went to war and earned themselves Fight of the Year in 2021, with Gaethje winning the unanimous decision.

Chandler would return with a Knockout of the Year finish against Tony Fergusson, where he landed a viral front kick that left Fergusson face-first on the canvas.

Finally, Chandler's most recent fight saw him engage in a Fight of the Night winning battle against Dustin Poirier, where the usual Michael Chandler showed up ready for war. The 2 went toe-to-toe, throwing strikes back and forth, ultimately with Poirier scoring a third-round submission.

Michael Chandler's UFC run has been like no other; he has shown up dedicated to entertaining the fans and putting on a show. Every time Chandler walks to the cage, you can expect fireworks.

# 6. Justin Gaethje

![gaethje.jpg](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/26a8d07c-917d-4c77-86ee-866c456dfb00/public "Justin Gaethje celebrates atop the cage. Credit: Jeff Bottari - Getty Images.")

Justin Gaethje had one of the most exciting debuts of all time when he faced Michael Johnson in one of the best fights of all time in 2017. Both men came out swinging, looking for the knockout. Gaethje was rocked early but overcame adversity to score the knockout in round 2. Now that the fans had a taste of Gaethje's fighting style, we couldn't wait to see more.

Gaethje would follow up this debut with performance bonus after performance bonus, racking up a record-setting 6 bonuses in a row to start a UFC career. Of Gaethje's 10 UFC fights, 6 have earned him Fight of the Night and 2 Fight of the Year.

Gaethje's style has become a fan favorite after one of the most exciting careers in the UFC, which draws in more and more fans every time he puts on the gloves.

# 5. Max Holloway

![itiswhatitis.jpg](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/fcb8aee2-b12e-4bcb-f6c2-c288fe99cf00/public "Max Holloway on the scale for the UFC 276 ceremonial weigh-ins. Credit: Carmen Mandato - Getty Images.")


Max Holloway is a fighter with a devoted following of fans, and justifiably so. Every time Holloway fights, he puts on entertaining and enticing performances. The self-proclaimed "best boxer in the UFC" has had a 10-year career within the UFC,  beginning with a relatively rocky start to his run; after a loss to an up-and-coming Conor McGregor, Holloway went on a 13-fight win streak that won him the Featherweight title and 3 title defenses.

After losing the title to Alexander Volkanovski, Holloway returned with back-to-back Fight of the Night performances against Calvin Kattar and Yair Rodriguez.

Holloway's unbreakable chin has gained him notoriety among the fans; after 30 fights, Holloway has not been knocked out once. 

Max Holloway is an all-around fun fighter inside and outside of the Octagon, and regardless of who he fights, he brings the number 1 version of himself into the cage. With a main event spot against Arnold Allen in April, we are excited to see how it goes down.



# 4. Charles Oliveira

![charlie olives.jpg](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/9a0d74b3-0474-46e1-41c0-f77b35769600/public "Charles Oliveira takes a moment of serenity in the UFC Octagon. Credit: Louis Grasse - PxImages - Icon Sportswire via Getty Images.")

It would be crazy to make a list of exciting fighters and not include the all-time finishes leader, all-time submissions leader, and all-time bonuses leader; that man is Charles Oliveira. 

Oliveira has 12 Performance of the Night bonuses and 6 Fight of the Night bonuses, for 18 bonuses in total, putting him tied at the top with Donald Cerrone. Oliveira currently holds 16 submission wins in the UFC, the most in company history, and 3 KO/TKO finishes, 19 total finishes, again the most in company history.

The insane heart that Oliveira has shown in fights is inspiring, as are the crazy comebacks he has pulled off. But not only has he made comebacks mid-fight, but he also made an entire career comeback after an average UFC run; then something just changed for the Brazilian, and no one could finish him; he was scoring win after win until he got to 8-in-a-row and earned a title shot.

The 3 title fights that followed were some of the most exciting in UFC history, scoring comeback wins in all three.

After losing his title to Islam Makhachev in his most recent outing, Oliveira is still determined to regain his gold. He will face Beneil Dariush at UFC 288 for the number 1 contender spot.




# 3. Jon Jones

![hw jones.jpg](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/d80338ad-7ef5-42d9-5933-54843875e100/public "Jon Jones weighing in for his Heavyweight debut. Credit: Jeff Bottari - Zuffa LLC via Getty Images.")

Most fans place Jon Jones in the number 1 spot of greatest of all time, and with his most recent win in the next weight class up for the Heavyweight title, it's hard to deny.

Jon Jones has only one loss on his record, and although it's a loss, it certainly isn't a defeat. In his only loss, Jones was in the mount position raining down shots onto Matt Hamil when he threw 2 illegal 12-to-6 elbows, and the referee stopped the bout. Jones got up thinking he had won, but when Bruce Buffer read the verdict, Jones had been disqualified for illegal strikes.

Jones' record currently sits at 27-1-1 (10 KO/TKO, 7 SUB) with 9 bonus awards. Every time Jones fights, you can expect greatness to be on display. 

Jones is also an entertaining and exciting trash-talker on the microphone, being one-half of the biggest rivalry in the UFC with Daniel Cormier. The 2 men talked back and forth for months before their 2 fights, where neither man showed respect to the other. Jones would win both fights, with the second by head-kick knockout, which was later overturned to a no-contest after Jones tested positive for a banned substance.

We are excited to see where Jones goes from here now that he is the world's Heavyweight champion. With talks of a first defense against Stipe Miocic, Jones can cement his spot as the greatest.




# 2. Conor McGregor

![mystic mac.jpg](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/9180b378-90e0-4924-c559-d144cdde7a00/public "Conor McGregor during his boxing match against Floyd Mayweather. Credit: Ethan Miller - AFP.")


Conor McGregor is the reason majority of fans are watching today. He introduced so many of us to this incredible sport and all it offers. McGregor is exciting inside and outside the Octagon and always enters trying to land the left hand.

McGregor's power is on another level; his record-setting 13-second knockout to win the Featherweight title against José Aldo put this on display. When McGregor's left-hand lands clean, his opponents usually wind up on the canvas. But the power is not the only thing that sets up his knockouts; his timing and precision with counter shots are his bread and butter. 

A dominant force in the Octagon, McGregor scored 6 UFC wins in a row with 5 knockouts to earn a title shot. But the knockouts were just the tip of the iceberg for getting fans to tune in. McGregor could talk effortlessly in promoting his fights, going viral in many interviews and media appearances. 

McGregor's most famous bouts have been against Nate Diaz, Khabib Nurmagomedov, Dustin Poirier, and a boxing match against Floyd Mayweather. 

In his most recent fights, he faced Dustin Poirier back-to-back, losing the first by TKO and the second by doctor stoppage due to a broken tibia he received during the fight. McGregor has not fought since this injury but is expected to return against Michael Chandler after a new season of The Ultimate Fighter featuring the 2 men aires.

You can always count on McGregor to deliver hilarious lines and spectacular knockouts. This season of TUF should be incredible, and we are all waiting anxiously.



# 1. Anderson Silva


![spider goat.jpg](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/cc4d7fbe-e0fc-4259-a5d7-b619ab3f2e00/public "Anderson Silva smiles with the Brazilian flag. Credit: Mike Roach - Zuffa LLC via Getty Images.")


Anderson Silva is a fighter with all types of finishes and submissions. Silva holds the record for the most Knockout of the Night awards at 7, a record he will likely keep forever as these awards have since been changed to "Performance of the Night." On top of his knockout bonuses, Silva also has 2 Submission of the Night awards and 5 Fight of the Night awards.

Although not the type of fighter to engage in a back-and-forth brawl, Silva's finishes are what make him so exciting. Silva has incredible knockouts over Stephen Bonnar, Chael Sonnen, Yushin Okami, Vitor Belfort, Forrest Griffin, Rich Franklin, and Chris Leben. Ranging from front kicks to one-punch knockouts, Silva has done it all and to some of the best in the world.

Silva most recently faced Jake Paul in an exhilarating boxing fight that seemed like the 47-year-old could have been winning until he was knocked down in the final round. However, Jake Paul would go on to win the decision and show respect to the veteran. Regardless of the result, it was evident that Silva still had some fight left in him, and we shouldn't count him out so soon.

No matter where Anderson Silva goes from here, whether he fights again or retires to live a simple life, he will always be one of the best and an inspiration to millions. 


Top 10 Most Exciting UFC Fighters

Islam Makhachev is currently one of the UFC's most dominant and entertaining champions. With finishes in 5 of his last six fights, and the only decision being the consensus greatest Lightweight title fight of all time against Alexander Volkanovski, fans are raving over his next fight. 

Let's look at three of the most likely opponents for Islam Makhachev's next fight in the UFC.

## Winner of Charles Oliveira vs. Beneil Dariush

![6447A5D3-24D0-41F9-862D-2D6287D0BC17.jpeg](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/d5b847cd-409d-4c35-884d-0de1b8381f00/pub "Oliveira is looking to rematch Islam, while Beneil is a fresh new contender. Credits to: Zuffa LLC.")

The winner of this bout is the current front-runner for the #1 contender status. Charles Oliveira is the former Lightweight Champion and is 11-1 in his last 12 fights. His most recent fight was a 2nd round submission loss to Makhachev at UFC 280. The fight before was against Justin Gaethje and should have been a dominant title defense with how quickly he dispatched his opponent with a knockdown and choke. Unfortunately, 'Do Bronx' missed weight by 0.5 lbs before the bout, meaning he was stripped of the title before it began.

Beneil Dariush is currently at the height of his career on an 8-fight win streak, and the results of a win here would likely be a title shot. The Iranian's last two wins are dominant decisions over Tony Ferguson and Mateusz Gamrot, and he hasn't suffered a loss since 2018. He looks to start another finishing streak at UFC 288 against Charles Oliveira.

## Dustin Poirier

![D33E8E52-8942-4FFE-A40E-F13A951521B3.jpeg](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/17071c46-24ff-4a77-d5ea-4aced64f4e00/pub "Dusting Poirier has been gunning for a title shot. Credits to: Zuffa LLC.")

Outside of Benei Dariush, Dustin Poirier is the only person in the Lightweight division's top 5 rankings currently riding a win. His last fight was a Fight of The Year contender vs. Michael Chandler at UFC 281. He rallied from early trouble to submit 'Iron Mike' in the 3rd round with a rear-naked choke. His 2021 was also prominent, with a pair of knockout wins over Conor McGregor and a title shot against Charles Oliveira. At the age of 34 and with two failed title shots already against the aforementioned Oliveira and consensus Lightweight GOAT Khabib Nurmagomedov, this may be his final hope at gold. 

## Winner of Justin Gaethje vs. Rafael Fiziev

![C4E5DDBC-9241-4802-B96F-F4811C574C4D.jpeg](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/d9d43c4a-e6ef-431c-68f4-1f2a89b97f00/pub "Two of the most dangerous strikers in the Lightweight division are set to clash. Credits to: Zuffa LLC.")

The most explosive fight of the year goes down this weekend at UFC 286 between two of 155's most vicious strikers. Justin Gaethje is the former interim Lightweight champion, currently ranked #3 in the division. His 2021 Fight of The Year winner (free on YouTube) is arguably the most action-packed ever. Seeing his fights live is one of the most desired privileges in MMA. His last time out came against Charles Oliveira at UFC 274, where he was unsuccessful at capturing the Lightweight title.

Rafael Fiziev is the hottest prospect in the Lightweight division. His recent two wins are a pair of knockouts over Rafael Dos Anjos and Brad Riddell, the latter of whom he finished with a wheel kick. His combination of explosiveness and unparalleled technique make him one of, if not the most dangerous striker in the division. Fans have expressed more interest in his fight vs. Gaethje at UFC 286 than the Welterweight title trilogy bout in the main event between Leon Edwards and Kamaru Usman- for good reason.

Let us know with a comment who you think should be Islam Makhachev's next fight in the UFC.

