Liam Lindsay

The final fight of the early prelims at UFC 298 was a striking lesson from Danny Barlow, who grew into the fight and impressed the crowd with a third-round finish over the tough Josh Quinlan.

Danny Barlow threw a myriad of attacks at Quinlan in the first round, dicing up flying knees and head kicks. Quinlan stunned Barlow with a sharp jab at the midpoint of the round, giving him more confidence and allowing him to pressure forward more. 

The second round followed a similar pace, with Barlow shooting his jab out at range and Quinlan trying to break the distance between the two. A flying knee got through for Barlow, but Quinlan shook it off. A low blow briefly halted the action, but Barlow recovered, and the fight continued. Barlow easily won the last half of the round, confidently outstriking Quinlan.

The third round was a statement from Danny Barlow, who dropped Quinlan early with a left hand. From there, it was already over, with Barlow following up with massive strikes, forcing referee Jason Herzog to stop the fight.

> "I broke my right arm in the first round, maybe my left hand too. But it's good man. We here to stay, man! - Danny Barlow

As a member of the Verdict Community, let us know what you thought of Danny Barlow's TKO in the comments below.



Danny Barlow Secures Nasty TKO Over Josh Quinlan in UFC Debut

It was a competitive fight, but Myktybek Orolbai was able to come out with the unanimous decision victory.

Orolbai started the fight very strong, clearly showing a power advantage in the striking exchanges. He was also relentless with his takedowns, but Brenner showed to me more composed on the ground than he was on the feet. More of the same followed in the second, with Brenner succumbing to Orolbai everywhere the fight went. However, in the third, Brenner rallied with a much better round, reversing Orolbai on multiple occasions, but it was Orolbai who was able to secure the lone knockdown of the fight in the third round. A bizarre point deduction following a fence grab also happened during the action of the fight, but it wasn't enough from stopping Orolbai from getting the decision.


```iframe
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">The oddsmakers are always confident in Israel Adesanya.<br><br>He&#39;s lost 3 fights to Alex Pereira, but the oddsmakers still have him as a favorite heading into this weekend.<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/UFC287?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#UFC287</a> <a href="https://t.co/0MF4krsH1v">pic.twitter.com/0MF4krsH1v</a></p>&mdash; Verdict (@TournamentsMMA) <a href="https://twitter.com/ufc/status/1786925737934832070">April 5, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
```

What did you think of the call? As a member of the Verdict Community, let us know in the comments below.

Myktybek Orolbai Wins Competitive Decision Over Elves Brenner

Drakkar Klose spoils the undefeated Brazillian run at UFC 301, claiming a decision win over Joaquim Silva to kick off the prelims. 

Klose was successful in rounds 1 and 2, pot-shotting Silva and managing to control the distance. He is also utilizing the clinch to negate Silva's powerful striking offense. In the third, Silva landed some big shots and nearly secured a guillotine, but it wasn't enough to finish Klose, who got the nod from all three judges.


```iframe
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">The oddsmakers are always confident in Israel Adesanya.<br><br>He&#39;s lost 3 fights to Alex Pereira, but the oddsmakers still have him as a favorite heading into this weekend.<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/UFC287?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#UFC287</a> <a href="https://t.co/0MF4krsH1v">pic.twitter.com/0MF4krsH1v</a></p>&mdash; Verdict (@TournamentsMMA) <a href="https://twitter.com/ufc/status/1786916672164790621">April 5, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
```

What did you think of the fight? Let us know in the comments below.

Drakkar Klose Edges Out Klose Decision vs. Joaquim Silva

Ismael Bonfim is now back in the win column following his first UFC defeat to Benoit Saint-Denis, defeating Vinc Pichel via unanimous decision at UFC 301.

Pichel came in with the correct game plan, attempting to attack Bonfim's legs. But in the second and third rounds, Bonfim was able to light Pichel up on the feet, landing huge body shots and blows to the head. He had moments, but he also displayed patience and was able to secure 30-27s on all scorecards.

> I changed my whole life. I'm back! - Ismael Bonfim

Who would you like to see Ismael Bonfim fight next? As a member of the Verdict Community, let us know in the comments below.

Ismael Bonfim Puts on Impressive Display to Beat Vinc Pichel

After brutalizing his leg in the second round, Alessandro Costa kicks off UFC 301 with a nasty TKO victory over Kevin Borjas.

The first round was a close affair, with both men finding success with their boxing on the feet. Costa was able to drop Borjas at the end of the round with a lead hook but couldn't finish the job. However, in the second round, he timed a perfect leg kick on Borjas's calf and was able to follow up with ground strikes to close the show.

What did you think of Costa's performance? Let us know with a comment down below.

Alessandro Costa TKOs Kevin Borjas to Open UFC 301

UFC 301 goes down this weekend in Brazil, featuring a Flyweight title bout in the main event between Alexandre Pantoja and Steve Erceg. The co-main event will see the final bout of Jose Aldo's UFC career, as he takes on surging prospect Jonathan Martinez. Here are the results from today's weigh-ins.

## Main Card (ESPN+ PPV at 10 p.m. ET)

**_Flyweight:_** Alexandre Pantoja (**125 lbs**) vs. Steve Erceg (**125 lbs**)

**_Bantamweight:_** Jonathan Martinez (**136 lbs**) vs. Jose Aldo (**136 lbs**)

**_Light Heavyweight:_** Anthony Smith (**205.5 lbs**) vs. Vitor Petrino (**206 lbs**)

**_Middleweight:_** Michel Pereira (**186 lbs**) vs. Ihor Potieria (**185 lbs**)

**_Middleweight:_** Paul Craig (**185 lbs**) vs. Caio Borralho (**186 lbs**)

## Preliminary Card (ESPN2/ESPN+ at 8 p.m. ET)

**_Featherweight:_** Jack Shore (**145.5 lbs**) vs. Joanderson Brito (**146 lbs**)

**_Strawweight:_** Karolina Kowalkiewicz (**116 lbs**) vs. Iasmin Lucindo (**116 lbs**)

**_Lightweight:_** Elves Brener (**156 lbs**) vs. Myktybek Orolbai (**155.5 lbs**)

**_Featherweight:_** Jean Silva (**146 lbs**) vs. William Gomis (**143 lbs**)

## Early Preliminary Card (ESPN2/ESPN+ at 6 p.m. ET)

**_Lightweight:_** Joaquim Silva (**155.5 lbs**) vs. Drakkar Klose (**156 lbs**)

**_Lightweight:_** Mauricio Ruffy (**156 lbs**) vs. Jamie Mullarkey (**155 lbs**)

**_Flyweight:_** Dione Barbosa (**126 lbs**) vs. Ernesta Kareckaite (**125.5 lbs**)

**_Lightweight:_** Ismael Bonfim (**156 lbs**) vs. Vinc Pichel (**156 lbs**)

**_Flyweight:_** Alessandro Costa (**125 lbs**) vs. Kevin Borjas (**125.5 lbs**)

Jean Silva vs. William Gomias has been removed from the card following a bad weight cut from Gomis.


UFC 301 Weigh-In Results

Douglas Vegas Bets

The UFC is back on PPV live from the Jeunesse Arena in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. This card is headlined by Alexandre Pantoja, -182, defending his Flyweight title against the fast-rising Steve Erceg, +157. I went over every fight on the card to give my picks and best bets, so let's get into it.

**Odds provided by BetOnline.ag accurate as of 11:00 AM EST 5/2/2024**

## Alexandre Pantoja -182 vs. Steve Erceg +157

The Flyweight title is on the line here in a surprising main event. Alexander Pantoja has been a dominant force of late, showing his relentless pressure, powerful striking, tremendous grappling, and durability, which has proven to be a weapon in itself. Steve Erceg jumps the ranks here after a highlight knockout of Matt Schnell, where he showed he has solid striking, although he did need to rely on grappling to get the win over Alessandro Costa prior to that.

I took Pantoja here because I see him being better everywhere and having much more top-level experience. I see him finishing Erceg within the first three rounds.

Pick: Pantoja O/U: Under 3.5 +125

## Jonathan Martinez -145 vs. Jose Aldo +125

The return of the King of Rio goes down in our Bantamweight co-main event. Jonathan Martinez has proven to be a deadly striker with some of the best leg kicks in the UFC and improved boxing to go with solid defensive grappling, which he showed in his upset win over Said Nurmagomedov. Jose Aldo returns here off his retirement, and he will do so, having stayed somewhat active in the boxing scene; he has, of course, had his ten-year title reign in the UFC, where he used his freak athleticism to dominate opponents before transitioning to a more boxing heavy style later in his career. 

I've got Aldo to come back and get a win at home here. I see him defending Martinez's leg kicks, as he has always had fantastic defense and is using his hands to get inside and do more damage. 

Pick: Aldo O/U: Under 2.5 +200

## Anthony Smith +425 vs. Vitor Petrino -600

It's a classic veteran vs. prospect matchup here at Light Heavyweight. Anthony Smith has been around this division for a long time, having used a well-rounded style to grind out tough wins, although he enters this having lost three of his last four, with the win being a controversial split decision, and his chin is not holding up the same anymore. Vitor Petrino is a physical specimen with insane strength and power that he has used to quickly reach four victories in the UFC, showing both knockout power and submission skills.

I have to pick Petrino here. He will be much too powerful for Smith and will likely find a knockout finish in this one.

Pick: Petrino O/U: Under 1.5 +160

## Michel Pereira -600 vs. Ihor Potieria +425

Middleweight strikers with flashy styles will go head to head in his electric matchup. Michel Pereira is a wildman with a crazy striking style and big power behind those strikes; he seems to have learned from his early career mistakes against Tristan Connelly and Diego Sanchez and is now on a seven-fight win streak, including two finishes in just over a minute since moving up in weight. Ihor Potieria enters this off a strong showing against Robert Bryczek, where he showed he could strike for three rounds in his debut at this weight class. 

I'll go with Pereira here as I am not sold that Potieria can compete at this level of competition. 

Pick: Pereira O/U: Under 1.5 -165

## Paul Craig +475 vs. Caio Borralho -650

Middleweight grapplers square off in this very intriguing matchup. Paul Craig is a fantastic submission grappler, although his game has always lacked much roundedness, with him struggling whenever he faces other competent grapplers who can shut down his submissions. Caio Borralho is an athletic and explosive athlete with a strong ground game that he has used to shut down all of his UFC competition thus far.

I'm taking Borralho here as I see him having a good enough ground game to control where this fight takes place and dominating either the striking or from top position.

Pick: Borralho O/U: Over 1.5 -200

## Joanderson Brito -164 vs. Jack Shore +144

Featherweights on the rise will clash here. Joanderson Brito is a tank with dangerous finishing ability wherever the fight goes, with his knockout power in his hands and a slick submission game that he used to steal a victory away from Jonathan Pearce in his last fight. Jack Shore is a strong grappler with good control and pace, although he has been outmatched physically before in his fight with Ricky Simon down a weight class.

I've got Brito here, as I see him being too strong for Shore and finding a finish within the first two rounds.

Pick: Brito O/U: Under 1.5 +160

## Karolina Kowalkiewicz +330 vs. Iasmin Lucindo -400

It's a fantastic matchup that puts a veteran against a bright prospect at Strawweight. Karolina Kowalkiewicz has revived her career by entering this matchup on a four-fight win streak, although it has all been against relatively low-level competition without high-level grappling. Iasmin Lucindo is a very young prospect who has shown a tremendous skill set, including a dangerous submission game and strong striking.

I like Lucindo here as she has the skillset and the physical ability to dominate this matchup completly.

Pick: Lucindo O/U: Under 2.5 +170

## Elves Brenner +207 vs. Myktybek Orolbai -242

Lightweights with plenty of fans behind them will go head-to-head in this fun clash. Elves Brenner is an always dangerous action fighter capable of setting a very high pace; he fights out of the Chute Boxe gym with Charles Oliveira, so we know he will be prepared for war. Myktybek Orolbai impressed many with his short-notice domination of Uros Medic, where he showed a high-level wrestling game before securing the submission in round two. 

I'm taking Brenner as the underdog here as he is much more proven at this level, and Orolbai has been caught with big shots before, which could cost him here.

Pick: Brenner O/U: Under 2.5 +105

## Jean Silva -122 vs. William Gomis +102

Featherweights looking to establish themselves as real threats in the division meet in this one. Jean Silva is a patient but powerful striker with good forward pressure, although he is still unproven against UFC-level competition. William Gomis is a tall striker with fast kicks and a decent defensive ground game, but he can struggle to separate himself in close fights.

I lean toward Silva here as I believe he will be doing more damage and will be able to work inside to negate the height disadvantage.

Pick: Silva O/U: Over 2.5 -180

## Joaquim Silva +145 vs. Drakkar Klose -170

Veteran Lightweights matchup in this one. Joaquim Silva is a powerful striker, which he showed against Arman Tsarukyan by hurting him badly; he is not the most durable, having been knocked out three times in his UFC career. Drakkar Klose is a well-rounded guy who has come close to pushing to the top of the division with decent striking and a good ground game, although he is hittable and doesn't react well to big shots. 

I'll pick Silva as the underdog here as I believe he will have the striking edge here and can defend the grappling enough to force some standup where he could find a knockout.

Pick: Silva O/U: Under 1.5 +200

## Mauricio Ruffy -205 vs. Jamie Mullarkey +175

The debut of a Lightweight finisher goes down here against a veteran looking to get back on track. Mauricio Ruffy makes his debut here as a dangerous knockout artist, with all of his fights ending with knockouts or TKOs. Jamie Mullarkey is a high pace striker with good reach, although he has not been able to take damage well throughout his career, having suffered many knockout losses, including two in the last year alone.

I'm taking Ruffy here as he has proven to be a dangerous puncher, and Mullarkey's durability is completely gone.

Pick: Ruffy O/U: Under 1.5 +125

## Ismael Bonfim -550 vs. Vinc Pichel +400

Lightweights who were supposed to meet earlier this year now square off here. Ismael Bonfim is a fast-paced finisher who swings big and hunts the knockout sometimes too much, as he did against Benoit Saint-Denis, where he was over-aggressive and got finished early. Vinc Pichel is a gritty veteran striker returning from a two-year layoff here; he is getting up there in age, which is a massive concern here, especially with the layoff.

I'll pick Bonfim as he is the more dangerous fighter, and the layoff for an older Pichel is a major concern, but this price is out of control, and I have no interest in betting on Bonfim at this price.

Pick: Bonfim O/U: Over 1.5 -250

## Alessandro Costa -130 vs. Kevin Borjas +110

Flyweights get the card started in this fun matchup. Alessandro Costa is a solid striker who showed good submission skills before joining the UFC; he lost a competitive decision to now-title challenger Steve Erceg in his last fight, where he had good moments despite being controlled for the third round, which cost him the fight. Kevin Borjas is a fast-paced brawler who can crack, as he showed by dropping Joshua Van early in his wild UFC debut, where he also showed good cardio and durability. 

I like Borjas here as I give him the finishing upside, with Costa being knocked out several times in his career. I also believe he can win a decision and defend any grappling.

Pick: Borjas O/U: Under 2.5 -120

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

Alexandre Pantoja -205

Jose Aldo +100

Joanderson Brito -150 

Elves Brenner +205 

Kevin Borjas +116

Caio Borralho/ Iasmin Lucindo -110

UFC 301 Odds Breakdown

ROUNDHOUSE MMA

Hopefully, everybody's UFC 300 hangover has worn off, as the UFC is in full force from now through the summer with some stacked fight cards. After a week off, the premier combat sports promotion will return to its second home in Las Vegas at the UFC APEX. Headlining this card will be two top-ten Flyweights Matheus Nicolau and Alex Perez. These two have come up short when it comes time to face a big name, but have remained staples of the division for many years. For all you bettors, let's take a good look at each line, and find some value to make some picks. 

Odds are provided via Bet Online AG, as of April 23rd at 9:00 PM. 

## Matheus Nicolau (-190 fav) vs Alex Perez (+165 dog)

This is a close fight to call. It seems that both fighters match up well against one another, but there are some red flags. Nicolau is very low volume with a questionable chin, he has very good grappling but just hasn't been able to take that leap into contention. Perez made weight, but he has been submitted multiple times in his career. That could be an area Nicolau could exploit, and I think he wins via decision this weekend. 

_Pick: Over 4.5 rounds_

## Ryan Spann (-200 fav) vs Bogdan Guskov (+170 dog)

In terms of skill, Ryan Spann is without a doubt the superior fighter. He's a grappler who can also strike and has fought much better competition, while Bogdan Guskov got submitted by Volkan Oezdemir in his UFC debut. Guskov is very hittable, and if Spann can take him down, I see no issue in him being able to find the submission. 

_Pick: Spann _

## Ariane Da Silva (+125 dog) vs Karine Silva (-145 fav)

This is a fun featured bout on this card. Karine Silva is a young, up-and-coming prospect at 115 who's on an eight-fight win streak. Silva has a 100% finish rate, something you don't see often in female fighters, while Ariane Da Silva is on a very nice run of her own. Da Silva has some fantastic wins, but also has blown fights she was meant to win, so she's very inconsistent. I think Silva has the advantage everywhere, so I'm picking her to win this fight, inside the distance. 

_Pick: Silva_ 

## Austen Lane (+205 dog) vs Jhonata Diniz (-240 fav)

This fight is your typical Fight Night main card bout, there is no shot this fight goes the distance. Austen Lane has a 100% finish rate and has lost all of his fights by knockout. Lane's striking defense is very poor, and this seems like a set-up fight for Jhonata Diniz, who is coming into the UFC with a kickboxing background. Diniz also has a 100% finish rate. Lane should utilize his wrestling if he wants a chance at winning this fight, but I think Diniz will find a finish very early. The odds on the Diniz side and total are very inflated, so either option would make for a good parlay piece. If you just want to take action on this fight alone, I don't see any value on these lines.

_Pick: N/A_

## Jonathan Pearce (-170 fav) vs David Onama (+145 dog)

We have a very fun striker versus grappler matchup on our hands here. I love both fighters, both are very exciting to watch and are always looking for finishes, and it's simple, whoever can execute their game plan will win this fight. I like Pearce here because he can grind and break you down as the fight goes on. If he doesn't land a takedown, he will try and try again until he gets you down. Onama's 45% takedown defense is alarming, so I think Pearce will be able to take him down and win the fight with the wrestling. If you like lottery bets, Pearce in rounds 2 or 3 isn't a bad look. 

_Pick: Pearce_

## Tim Means (+260 dog) vs Uros Medic (-310 fav)

Uros Medic is one of my favorite prospects at 170 lbs, his striking is very, very good and just seems to get better every time he steps into the octagon. On the other hand, Tim Means is near the end of his long UFC career. Means has lost three of his last four, while Medic's only two losses in the UFC have come to Myktybek Orolbai and Jalin Turner, so absolutely no shame in that. He's finished every single one of his nine wins. I like Medic here, his line is also very inflated, so could be a good addition to a parlay. Otherwise, I don't see any value in this fight. 

_Pick: N/A_

## Rani Yahya (+355 dog) vs Victor Henry (-455 fav)

Victor Henry is a crazy favorite against Rani Yahya here, and while he should win with ease, it's hard to find value betting on either guy who's over 35 years old. This is a very tough matchup for Yahya, Henry is the superior striker, and should just piece him up on the feet. I don't see any action with this fight. 

_Pick: N/A_

## Austin Hubbard (+145 dog) vs Michal Figlak (-170 fav)

The Ultimate Fighter veteran Austin Hubbard takes on Michal Figlak, who we haven't seen compete since 2022. We can only hope that Figlak has improved since his last outing, a really bad loss to Fares Ziam in which he was taken down three times and controlled the whole fight. Hubbard is a decently skilled fighter, I like the over in this fight. 

_Pick: Over 2.5 rounds_

## DonTale Mayes (-107 dog) vs Caio Machado (-113 fav)

This fight opened up as a pick 'em, with Machado moving to a very slight favorite. I think Machado looked good in his debut against Mick Parkin, and while he doesn't have the best ground game, I don't think Don'Tale Mayes will be looking to wrestle. He doesn't go for takedowns, and so if this fight is purely on the feet, I'm picking Machado all day. 

_Pick: Machado _

## Marnic Mann (+275 dog) vs Ketlen Souza (-335 fav)

Souza is a huge favorite against Marnic Mann. I think there's a clear path to victory for Souza with her striking, and she will put damage on Mann throughout the fight. Unfortunately, I don't see any value here. 

_Pick: N/A_

## James Llontop (-350 fav) vs Chris Padilla (+285 dog)

Another big favorite in James Llontop here, he seems to be a good up-and-coming prospect coming out of Dana White's Contender Series, he'll take on a fellow debutant in Chris Padilla. I like Llontop here, but see no value in any plays. 

_Pick: N/A_

## Ivana Petrovic (-465 fav) vs Liang Na (+365 dog)

Liang Na is the most exciting fighter you've never heard of, be sure to tune in to watch this early prelim. Na is the definition of kill or be killed, she is all gas no brakes in round one, and if she survives onto the second, she's completely gassed. This likely will be her last fight in the UFC if she doesn't get a win here, but her style speaks for itself, I like an under one-and-a-half round here. 

_Pick: Under 1.5 rounds_

## Gabriel Benitez (+167 dog) vs Maheshate (-192 fav)

The opening fight of the card features two fighters on losing streaks who look to rebound. Maheshate is eleven years younger and will have a four-inch height advantage, and we've seen Gabriel Benitez take a lot of damage over his last few fights. I think Maheshate gets him out of there before the judges scorecards. 

_Pick: Under 2.5 rounds_



UFC Vegas Odds Breakdown

Joey Kolnicki

The UFC returns to the APEX with another fantastic Fight Night card. In the co-main, two heavy-handed finishers will collide when Ryan Spann takes on Bogdan Guskov. In the main event, two premiere Flyweights look to insert themselves back into the title picture, Matheus Nicolau and Alex Perez. From top to bottom, this card is stacked with quickly-rising prospects and established veterans. Let's take a look at the fights on the main card. 

## Tim Means vs. Uros Medic

![tmeans1.jpg](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/266acb81-3876-4ddc-8860-9d1f7ccfea00/public "Tim Means blasts Nicolas Dalby with a body shot. Credit: MMA Fighting.")

Means has won two of his last five outings and has wins over Mike Perry (14-8-0), Nicolas Dalby (23-4-1), and Andre Fialho (16-8-0). He’s about as gritty as they come and is always down for a good scrap. He has excellent dirty boxing in the clinch and devastating knees and elbows. Despite Means’ tendency to brawl, he remains technical and won’t overextend or overexert himself, always throwing efficiently. He has crisp boxing, underrated power, and does an excellent job of equally attacking the head and body. Training at Fit NHB, he uses an upright stance on the feet but moves his head very well and is willing to eat a shot to land one. Means averages over one takedown landed per fifteen minutes and is willing to mix it up, doing a great job of controlling his opponent when he’s on top. He always pushes the pace and hangs in the pocket, averaging about 79 significant strikes landed in his last five wins. 

![medic1.jpg](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/7c5f9685-06c5-48e9-4abe-9c4d348a0400/public "Uros Medic blasts Omar Morales with a right hand. Credit: MMA Fighting.")

Medic has won three of his last five bouts and has UFC victories over Matthew Semelsberger (11-7-0), Omar Morales (11-4-0), and Aalon Cruz (11-5-0). He’s a powerful kickboxer with great footwork and excellent kicks. He does a great job varying his shots, attacking the head and body evenly. Medic throws everything with power but doesn’t telegraph; often, mixing kicks in at the end of combinations. Training at Kings MMA, he favors power to volume but has solid cardio and can push a consistent pace across fifteen minutes. He’s highly accurate, landing 60% of the significant strikes he’s attempted in the UFC, and can produce a flash knockout at any time. He won’t typically initiate grappling exchanges but will not accept position on his back and will pursue submissions. Medic has only seen the third round once, with seven of his eleven fights ending in round one.

## Jonathan Pearce vs. David Onama

![jpearce1.jpg](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/923f01ac-ddbc-4fc0-d22f-4c2b94a39000/public "Jonathan Pearce fires off ground and pound at Kai Kamaka. Credit: MMA Fighting.")

Pearce has won four of his last five fights and has UFC victories over Darren Elkins (28-11-0), Christian Rodriguez (11-1-0), and Makwan Amirkhani (17-10-0). He’s a well-rounded scrapper who is willing to engage the fight anywhere. He’s an accurate, technical striker on the feet that throws everything tight and straight, never getting sloppy. Pearce has excellent head movement, footwork, and distance management, often avoiding strikes before countering with big shots. He’s averaging over five takedowns landed per fifteen minutes and is a very fluid grappler, transitioning quickly in top position. Training at Fight Ready, he’s always active on top and will constantly throw brutal ground and pound while looking for submission openings. Pearce is unpredictable, will attempt wild strikes like jumping knees, and continually creates scrambles. 

![onama1.jpg](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/facec732-7c17-4142-157b-6fddc2c69700/public "David Onama lands a brutal right hand on Nate Landwehr. Credit: MMA Mania.")

Onama has won three of his last five fights, with his UFC victories coming over Gabriel Benitez (23-11-0) and Garrett Armfield (8-3-0). He is in perpetual motion on the feet and constantly switches stances. He’s always coming forward, fights behind his jab, and throws every shot with fight-ending intentions. Onama has finished all ten of his wins, with six coming in the first round, so he’s most dangerous early in the fight. He manages distances well and will land damage from the outside, but is more than willing to bang inside the pocket. Training at FactoryX Muay Thai, he’s a solid grappler with great clinch control, decent takedowns, and advances position quickly on the ground. Onama is likelier to pursue a submission than a ground-and-pound finish and has excellent chokes, with all his submission wins coming via some form of strangulation.

## Austen Lane vs. Jhonata Diniz

![alane2.jpg](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/d668bc58-d2b6-41cf-0c50-eacf99e47c00/public "Austen Lane rains down ground and pound on Richard Jacobi. Credit: MMA Junkie.")

Lane has won three of his last five outings with one No Contest and is looking to score his first UFC victory. He is a lengthy striker who often opens up with a barrage of kicks before blitzing in to unleash combinations. He’s very explosive, throws everything in combination, and spends much of his time in the cage brawling inside the pocket. Training at Bulldog Boxing, Lane has solid power in his hands and decent cardio, carrying his punching capacity across 15 minutes. He is a former NFL player and has finished all his wins, with only two fights in his career seeing a second round. While he won’t typically engage in grappling exchanges, he will throw heavy ground-and-pound if he finds himself in top position. Lane has shown an ability to survive off his back and will pursue submissions if given the opportunity.

![diniz1.jpg](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/bbece7ed-3f9a-4b57-e3fa-b69dc3c32300/public "Jhonata Diniz looks to land a final shot against Eduardo Neves. Credit: Zuffa LLC.")

Diniz is undefeated and making his UFC debut. He’s a former professional kickboxer with a record of 29-7 and fifteen knockout wins. He throws everything with power and can produce a knockout with a single clean shot. Diniz constantly presses forward and cuts off the cage well, often closing the distance to unload hooks. He remains technical throughout and varies his shots well, attacking the head, body, and legs. Training with the Santa Fe Team, he throws bombs but won’t telegraph and does an excellent job of mixing kicks into combinations. Diniz has finished all his MMA wins in round one, along with eight of his kickboxing wins, and is most dangerous early on.

## #12 Ariane Lipski vs. #13 Karine Silva

![lipski1.jpg](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/df11681d-7f6f-414d-aed3-755172c50300/public "Ariane Lipski brutally submits Casey O'Neill. Credit: MMA Fighting.")

Lipski has won four of her last five fights and has UFC victories over #14 ranked Casey O’Neill (9-2-0), Melissa Gatto (8-2-2), and JJ Aldrich (13-6-0). She is a classic Muay Thai fighter with constant forward pressure, great clinch striking, and voluminous striking. She does an excellent job of varying her shots, often opening combos with a body jab before attacking upstairs. Lipski has great footwork and typically holds the center of the octagon, keeping her opponent on their heels. Training with Team Nunes, she remains technical across all 15 minutes and often looks to counter-strike, waiting for her opponent to open up before unleashing combinations. She’s willing to grapple and has great defensive wrestling, with 79% takedown defense and a fantastic ability to reverse attempts and land on top. Lipski is at her best in a technical striking battle where she can hold the center and control the pace.

![ksilva1.jpg](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/a01c3c27-a5ed-4ee4-49fd-cc39b128a600/public "Karine Silva forces Ketlen Souza to submit to a leg lock. Credit: MMA Fighting.")

Silva is on an eight-fight win streak and has UFC victories over Maryna Moroz (11-6-0), Ketlen Souza (13-4-0), and Poliana Botelho (9-5-0). She is a dangerous submission artist with solid power in her hands. She’s in perpetual motion on the feet, constantly feinting and opening combinations with kicks. Silva throws everything in combination and has excellent clinch striking, often using it to set up her grappling. Training with the Gile Ribeiro Team, she’s averaging over 2 takedowns landed and over 4 submissions attempted per fifteen minutes. She has excellent takedown entries, transitions quickly in top position, and can wrap up submissions seemingly in the blink of an eye. Silva has found six of her eight submissions in round one and has only seen the second round once in her last eight fights. 

## #11 Ryan Spann vs. Bogdan Guskov

![spann1.jpg](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/82bb0f2c-85df-4c0e-50e4-03007a1c6600/public "Ryan Spann exchanges punches with Sam Alvey. Credit: DraftKings Network.")

Spann has won two of his last five outings and has UFC victories over #14 ranked Light Heavyweight Dominick Reyes (12-4-0), Misha Cirkunov (15-9-0), and Ion Cutelaba (17-10-1). He’s exceptionally dangerous early on, with 16 of his 18 career finishes coming in the first round. He pushes a heavy pace from the starting bell, constantly throwing overhands and hooks. Spann is dangerous on top and on his back, especially if he can get ahold of his opponent’s neck, with all of his submission wins coming via some form of choke, with nine of those being guillotines. On the feet, he throws everything with fight-ending intentions and possesses one-shot knockout power, especially in his right hand. Training at Fortis MMA, Spann fights with a kill-or-be-killed mentality on the feet and on the ground, with 5 of his seven losses coming via finish and only three of his wins coming via decision. 

![guskov1.jpg](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/f054f016-e0c0-4068-eb2e-550023a27c00/public "Bogdan Guskov exchanges punches with Volkan Oezdemir. Credit: MMA Junkie.")

Guskov has won four of his last five bouts and has a UFC victory over Zach Pauga (6-3-0). He’s a heavy-handed striker who comes out guns blazing. He applies heavy forward pressure and always looks for a knockout, throwing every shot with fight-ending intentions. Training at GOR MMA, Guskov will throw the occasional kick but does most of his damage in the pocket, fighting in a phonebooth. He has power in both hands but is seemingly always looking to set up his right, constantly unleashing devastating overhands. He has 12 finishes in the first round and has only gone to one decision, as well as only seeing the third round twice in his career. Guskov tends to headhunt and is willing to eat a shot to land one, but he has good head movement and moves in and out of the pocket very efficiently.

## #5 Matheus Nicolau vs. #8 Alex Perez

![nicolau1.jpg](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/da23cef1-3c38-4d70-631d-f54b3d87e200/public "Matheus Nicolau throws a front kick at Matt Schnell. Credit: Zuffa LLC.")

Nicolau has won four of his last five outings and has wins over #6 ranked Flyweight Manel Kape (19-6-0), #9 ranked Flyweight Tim Elliot (21-13-1), and #11 ranked Flyweight Matt Schnell (16-8-0). He is very defensively sound on the feet and won’t stay in one spot for long, with only 34% of significant strikes attempted on him landing. He often floats on the outside and has excellent distance management, regularly darting in and out of the pocket to land damage. Training at Novo União, Nicolau is a counter-striker who will often dip his head to throw overhands, especially with his right. He is a black belt in BJJ, averaging over one takedown landed and one submission attempted per fifteen minutes, but often prefers to keep it standing. His pace tends to increase as the fight continues, and he does a great job of changing levels and attacking both the head and body. All of Nicolau’s submissions have come via choke, and he’s extremely dangerous if he finds his opponent’s neck. 

![perez2.jpg](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/3af3d7a5-6a88-4eb7-2b1c-ab5c84bf3100/public "Alex Perez forces Jussier Formiga to crumble from his leg kicks. Credit: MMA Fighting.")

Perez has won two of his last five fights and has UFC victories over Jussier Formiga (24-8-0), Jordan Espinosa (15-10-0), and Mark De La Rosa (11-5-0). He is a well-rounded fighter with brutal leg kicks and solid wrestling. He pushes a heavy pace from bell to bell, constantly pressuring forward, dipping his head, and throwing bombs. Perez varies his shots well, attacking the head and body evenly and regularly targeting his opponent’s legs. He is averaging over two takedowns landed per fifteen minutes and has heavy top control. He’ll usually pursue a submission over ground and pound, and with six of his seven submissions coming via choke, he’s very dangerous if he finds his opponent’s neck. He’s always pursuing a finish, with eight of his eleven UFC fights not seeing the judge’s scorecards. Perez has gone to the second round twice since 2018 and is at his best early in the fight.

## Best Bets

_Jonathan Pearce **Moneyline:**_ This is one of the most interesting matchups on the card. Both are rising prospects and very well-rounded. Although Onama likely has a power advantage on the feet, I believe Pearce's wrestling will be the key in this fight. I expect Pearce to land repeated takedowns, control Onama, and earn a victory.

_Jhonata Diniz by **KO/TKO:**_ Although he's young in his MMA career, he competed professionally in kickboxing for well over a decade and is highly experienced. His opponent, Austen Lane, has solid power but proven to be rather finishable. Now facing a heavy-hitting, experienced striker, I don't expect him to fare much better than he did in his last fight. Diniz should be able to produce a knockout early on.

_Matheus Nicolau **Moneyline:**_ A bit of an odd matchup, both fighters are coming off tough losses and looking to put themselves back in the title conversation. While this will likely make both man push the pace, I believe Nicolau is the more well-rounded fighter and is a bit more dangerous all around. Perez is very tough, so I wouldn't rely on a finish, but Nicolau has the skills to pick up a win and re-enter title contention. 

UFC Fight Night: Nicolau vs. Perez Preview

The PFL is set to kick off the season for another pair of weight classes this Friday as Featherweights and Welterweights take center stage. This event will be held on April 19th at the Wintrust Arena in Chicago, Illinois, beginning at 6:30 PM EST. 

Today, we'll go over the Featherweights (145 Ibs) competing in the PFLs 2024 regular season, highlighting their resumes, skillsets, and matchups this weekend.

## Enrique Barzola

Record: 20-7-2 (4-2 Bellator)

Height: 5ft 7in

Reach: 70in

Nationality: Peruvian

Fighting out of: Lima, Peru

Opponent: Adam Borics

Barzola first turned pro in 2012 before earning a spot on The Ultimate Fighter Latin America Season 2, which helped him earn a place in the UFC, where he eventually compiled a 6-3-1 record.

![enrique-barzola-ufc-fight-night-78.jpg](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/a143c4f5-efea-4edb-ea70-d6ab3c796500/public "Enrique Barzola during his UFC run. Credits: MMA Junkie")

Since joining Bellator, he has had mixed success, although he enters this matchup having won each of his last two fights against Jaylon Bates and Erik Perez.

## Adam Borics

Record: 18-2-0 (9-2 Bellator)

Height: 5ft 11in

Reach: 70.5in

Nationality: Hungarian

Fighting out of: Fort Lauderdale, Florida

Opponent: Enrique Barzola

Borics turned pro in 2014 and began his career on a 14-0 run before facing Darion Caldwell, who remains one of just two losses on Borics' record.

![Borics-vs-Hamel-1.jpg](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/167f3c67-2449-4c2d-9c40-3722e7e77c00/public "Adam Borics walking out. Credits to: Bellator MMA")

He enters this season off a failed attempt to claim the Bellator title from Patricio Pitbull, where Borics would lose a unanimous decision.

## Gabriel Braga

Record: 12-1 (4-1 PFL)

Height: 5ft 9in

Reach: 72in

Nationality: Brazilian

Fighting out of: Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Opponent: Justin Gonzales

Braga debuted in 2018 and made his way to the PFL through the challenger series with a win over Ago Huskic. 

![9f516ce57c9ebf219f71596f180169e1 (1).jpg](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/2756ee37-e5b3-42d7-b719-4660e70bee00/public "Gabriel Braga before the 2023 PFL World Championship. Credits: Cooper Neill/PFL")

After making a run to the championship last year, Braga was handed his first career loss in a rematch with Jesus Pinedo, who won by stoppage despite some argument about the ending being premature.

## Pedro Carvalho

Record: 13-8 (6-5 Bellator)

Height: 5ft 11in

Reach: 70.5in

Nationality: Portuguese

Fighting out of: Dublin, Ireland

Opponent: Brendan Loughnane

Carvalho debuted on the regional scene in Portugal, where he began to develop his skills as a talented submission artist.

![pedro-carvalho-bellator-europe-2.jpg](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/691f2706-10bf-46e8-a95e-41e70700e200/public "Pedro Carvalho weighs in with Bellator MMA. Credits: MMA Junkie")

Carvalho enters this season having lost three of his last four, with the most recent being a first-round finish by Aaron Pico.

## Justin Gonzales

Record: 14-3 (3-3 Bellator)

Height: 5ft 9in

Reach: 72in

Nationality: American

Fighting out of: Greely, Colorado

Opponent: Gabriel Braga

Gonzales turned pro in 2016 after a solid amateur career.

![justin-gonzales-dwcs-18-weigh-in.jpg](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/9dfe6ba7-9b95-4747-07d3-dea75269c100/public "Justin Gonzales weighing in before his Contender Series fight. Credits: MMA Junkie")

He enters this season, losing each of his last two via decision to Timur Khizriev and Mads Burnell.

## Bubba Jenkins

Record: 21-7 (7-3 PFL)

Height: 5ft 8in

Reach: 72in

Nationality: American

Fighting out of: California

Opponent: Kai Kamaka

Jenkins has been a well-known name in the MMA world for some time. His debut came back in 2011, and he has competed in both Bellator and PFL for lengthy periods. He has used his wrestling style to dominate many opponents and his fun personality to gain many fans.

![36595e5f-097a-4ca4-a769-9987461798f3-1651090003113 (1).jpg](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/f2519eac-1715-4700-83d9-c641cb92d800/public "Bubba Jenkins smiles for a picture at a PFL media day. Credits: Matt Ferris / PFL")

After earning the top seed last season, Jenkins was upset by eventually champion Jesus Pinedo in the playoffs as Pinedo survived early to secure a late second-round knockout.

## Brett Johns

Record: 20-3 (1-0 PFL)

Height: 5ft 7in

Reach: 69in

Nationality: Welsh

Fighting out of: Swansea, Wales

Opponent: Timur Khizriev

After a solid start to his career, mostly in Cage Warriors, Johns joined the UFC, where he put together a respectable 5-2 run. His only losses were to future champion Aljamain Sterling and established veteran Pedro Munhoz.

![NINTCHDBPICT000556634349.jpg](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/5f3c40e3-edc2-4310-e4e1-a40a7f32d400/public "Brett Johns before one of his UFC fights. Credits: Zuffa LLC via Getty Images")

Johns is coming off a win on PFL Europe over David Tonatiuh Crol, which extended his victory streak to three entering this season.

## Kai Kamaka

Record: 12-5-1 (6-1 Bellator)

Height: 5ft 7in

Reach: 68in

Nationality: American

Fighting out of: Pearl City, Hawaii

Opponent: Bubba Jenkins

Kamaka, who has a background in kickboxing, made his pro debut in 2011. He then made his way to the UFC, where he left the organization with a 1-2-1 record before joining Bellator.

![kai-kamaka-bellator-272-weigh-ins.jpg](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/72d55b92-4991-412e-b33e-426ae2805700/public "Kai Kamaka at a weigh-in with Bellator. Credits: MMA Junkie")

He enters this season having won three straight, most recently with a decision over Henry Corrales at Bellator 300.

## Timur Khizriev

Record: 14-0 (3-0 Bellator)

Height: 5ft 9in

Reach: 68.5in

Nationality: Russian

Fighting out of: Makhachkala, Dagestan, Russia

Opponent: Brett Johns

Khizriev debuted in 2014, but shortly after his debut, he took two years away before returning in late 2016.

![timur-khizriev-bellator-288-ceremonial-weigh-ins (1).jpg](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/c424a5ba-0267-4f28-b994-7378f5f34e00/public "Timur Khizriev at weigh-ins during his time with Bellator. Credits: Lucas Noonan/ Bellator MMA")

Khizriev enters this season off his win over Justin Gonzales, bringing his Bellator run to 3-0.

## Brendan Loughnane

Record: 27-5 (9-2 PFL)

Height: 5ft 9in

Reach: 71in

Nationality: English

Fighting out of: Manchester, England

Opponent: Pedro Carvalho

Loughnane has become a very recognizable face in the PFL, and his background in the organization is interesting. Despite winning over Bill Algeo on Dana White's Contender Series, he was not offered a contract, which led him to sign with the PFL.

![0_C1N06399.jpg](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/633de18f-c3f7-4ec0-5ae3-e13b7115f400/public "Brendan Loughnane during his championship win over Bubba Jenkins in 2022. Credits: Cooper Neill / PFL") 

Despite winning the championship in 2022, Loughnane's season was cut short last year after he was upset by Jesus Pindeo in the regular season.

Who are you most looking forward to out of these fighters? As a member of the Verdict Community, let us know in the comments below.

PFL 2024 Season: Featherweight Spotlight

This weekend, one of the PFLs most exciting fighters, Bubba Jenkins, returns for his first fight of the 2024 Regular Season, taking on former UFC and Bellator veteran Kai Kamaka III. Ahead of Friday night, the “Bad Man” spoke with the media to discuss his upcoming matchup.

Bubba Jenkins has competed in the PFL tournament three times in his career, making it to the semi-finals twice and the finals the other time, but has never been able to capture PFL gold. When asked what’s different this year, Jenkins had an optimistic response.

> I’m putting it all together this year; I’ve gotta have the right mindset… I’ve got more experience, and I think we put it all together this year. - Bubba Jenkins

Jenkins was also asked about his desire to return to the PFL and, with the Bellator merger and PFL Champions series, why Jenkins opted to come back for his fourth straight PFL tournament.

> Because I haven’t won a Championship; the jobs not done. - Bubba Jenkins

We also asked his thoughts on his opponent, Kai Kamaka III, riding a three-fight win streak in Bellator.

> Kai is an awesome fighter and a good person. My head coach is Dewey (Cooper), and he is Eric Nicksick, so there’s a rivalry. He’s also coming off a motivational weekend with Holloway winning, but I’m not Gaethje, and he’s not Max. - Bubba Jenkins

Tune in to PFL 3 (2024) this Friday to see Bubba Jenkins alongside the Welterweights and Lightweights of the PFL Regular Season.