Douglas Vegas Bets

It was all Joaquin Buckley for most of the final main event of the year as he dominated Colby Covington on his way to a TKO win in the final main event of the year from the Amalie Arena in Tampa, Florida.

## Result: Joaquin Buckley def. Colby Covington via 3rd Round TKO (4:42)

The first round saw Buckley land a nice right hand early that left a cut above the eye of Covington that clearly had an immediate effect with Covington repeatedly wiping at it for the rest of the fight. At the end of the first round, Buckley saw another big moment as he landed a big shot that sat Covington down and put him clearly in the driver's seat. The second and third rounds saw Covington have some wrestling success in spots but was mostly more of Buckley doing damage on the feet with the eye becoming more of an issue until the doctor eventually had to step in.

What did you think of Buckley's performance? Let us know in the comments.

Joaquin Buckley Forces a Doctor Stoppage Against Colby Covington at UFC Tampa

The UFC is back on pay-per-view for the first time this year this weekend from the Intuit Dome in Los Angeles, California. It is headlined by a Lightweight rematch years in the making, as champion Islam Makhachev takes on Arman Tsarukyan over five years after their first meeting. Also in the co-main event, Merab Dvalishvili will make the first defense of his Bantamweight title against the undefeated Umar Nurmagomedov. I went over that matchup and every other fight on this stacked card to give my predictions and best bets, so let's get into it.

**Odds provided by Duelbits accurate as of 1/13/2025**

## Islam Makhachev -400 vs. Arman Tsarukyan +300

The main event is the Lightweight title bout featuring two of the most talented grapplers in the division. Islam Makhachev has become a dominant champion but that has not stopped him from making improvements to his game as he continues to show more evolution in his striking with each outing while still having one of the best ground games in all of the UFC. Arman Tsarukyan has worked his way back from the debut loss to Makhachev to prove he is one of the best in the world having used his violent ground and pound to take out many of the best in the division including the dangerous Joel Alvarez, Charles Oliveira, and Beneil Dariush. 

This is going to look much different from the first time these two fought with both men having rounded out their skills tremendously but in the end, I see a similar result taking place as Makhachev still has the wrestling advantage and has shown much more polished striking.

Prediction: Makhachev by Decision

## Merab Dvalishvili +255 vs. Umar Nurmagomedov -333

This heated Bantamweight title clash has already arrived with little time since the announcement, but still enough time to create an interesting build-up. Merab Dvalishvili is a cardio machine with relentless wrestling that he uses to exhaust his opponents and overwhelm them over five rounds. Umar Nurmagomedov is a unique talent with solid striking behind a strong kicking game; still, his best attribute remains his wrestling, which he used to control a tough to hold down Cory Sandhagen for five rounds in his last matchup. 

I'm taking Nurmagomedov here as he is just too skilled on the ground for Dvalishvili to sustain enough success grappling to get a decision here and the striking also favors Nurmagomedov. 

Prediction: Nurmagomedov by Decision

## Jiri Prochazka -110 vs. Jamahal Hill -111

Knockout artists collide in this must-see Light Heavyweight matchup between former champions. Jiri Prochazka is an awkward but powerful striker with little regard for defense, although he has shown a great chin at times, and his power has proven to be the great equalizer as it was too much for Aleksandar Rakic, who seemed comfortably ahead to that point in the fight. Jamahal Hill is a big striker with real one-punch power in his hands that he can set up with a solid kicking game and the ability to keep a high pace throughout the fight, as he showed in his title-winning effort against Glover Teixeira. 

I like Hill here as he is the more defensively responsible fighter with the power to end this early if Prochazka hasn't learned to block punches with something other than his face yet.

Prediction: Hill by 1st Round KO

## Beneil Dariush +160 vs. Renato Moicano -196

Top-ranked Lightweight grapplers square off in this matchup, and neither man can afford to lose. Beneil Dariush has been a dark horse in the division for a long time, and he is looking to regain his form here after being out over a year coming off two knockout losses, although he remains a dangerous striker himself with a very credentialed ground game. Renato Moicano has become a fan favorite throughout his four-fight winning streak, which has seen him use his ground game to control several solid opponents and do real work to finish the fight once taking the top position, earning finishes in three of those wins, although with three knockout losses and some other close calls, his durability remains a concern.

This is a good stylistic matchup for Dariush so I'll bet him as the underdog here with Moicano being little threat to land another knockout and the grappling being a difficult path against someone who is the level of Dariush on the ground. 

Prediction: Dariush by 1st Round KO

## Kevin Holland -111 vs. Reinier de Ridder -110

An interesting stylistic matchup here at Middleweight opens our main card. Kevin Holland is a fun and dangerous striker with solid power in his hands and an ability to find awkward finishes, although he has struggled when facing strong grapplers, having been held on his back or submitted several times. Reinier de Ridder came back to win a tough UFC debut against Gerald Meerschaert, where he showed his grit and dangerous submission game as he was able to tap out one of the better grapplers in the division. 

I'll go with RDR here as Holland has consistently struggled with grapplers and has not made much effort to fix that weakness in his game to this point leading me to believe RDR will have success getting this fight to the floor and keeping it there.

Prediction: de Ridder by Decision

## Payton Talbott -1429 vs. Raoni Barcelos +750

One of the most hyped prospects in the sport takes on his toughest test yet here at Bantamweight. Payton Talbott has caught the attention of the entire MMA world, having shown the patience of a veteran through just nine fights, having finished seven in the second or third round. Raoni Barcelos is a tough veteran with solid striking and the ability to submit his opponent if given the opportunity, as he was in his last fight against Christian Quinonez, although his age and durability are both concerning at this point in his career.

Despite the tempting price on the other side, I'm still picking Talbott, and to be more specific, I expect him to take his time as he usually does to get a 2nd or 3rd round knockout finish.

Prediction: Talbott by 3rd Round TKO

## Jailton Almeida -435 vs. Serghei Spivac +320

Heavyweight grapplers go head to head here in this intriguing prelim clash. Jailton Almeida is a freak athlete with dominant skills on the ground that he has used to secure five first-round finishes in the UFC, including his last win, where he destroyed Alexandr Romanov. Serghei Spivac is a solid wrestler who has finished four of his last five opponents on the ground, although his durability is suspect with three knockout losses in the UFC, and he has given up top time to mediocre grapplers before. 

I see Almeida making quick work of this matchup, as his skills on the ground are going to be far too much for Spivac to deal with.

Prediction: Almeida by 1st Round Submission

## Grant Dawson -294 vs. Diego Ferreira +230

Fun matchup here between skilled Lightweight grapplers. Grant Dawson is a very strong grappler with great control, although he hasn't shown much high-level striking, and his chin is a concern, with him having been knocked out very quickly multiple times. Diego Ferreira is a crafty veteran with a solid ground game and dangerous striking that he used to get a highlight knockout against Michael Johnson. 

I'll pick Dawson here as I think he will be able to secure and hold top position long enough to wear down Ferreira although at these odds this fight is a pass from a betting perspective.

Prediction: Dawson by 3rd Round TKO

## Karol Rosa -217 vs. Ailin Perez +175

Bantamweights will look to enter the contender conversation with a big win in this one. Karol Rosa is a solid striker who has consistently competed with tough competition over her UFC run. Ailin Perez is a solid wrestler, although she struggles when she doesn't have a clear advantage on the ground.

I've got Rosa here as she is the much better striker who has competed against much tougher competition over her UFC run. I see her keeping this at range and landing the more effective strikes to win a decision.

Prediction: Rosa by Decision

## Rinya Nakamura -476 vs. Muin Gafurov +350

Another test here for an undefeated prospect at Bantamweight. Rinya Nakamura is another undefeated prospect on this card and he has maintained that record with a mix of a very strong wrestling base and knockout power in his hands. Muin Gafurov comes into this off his first UFC win where he beat Kyung Ho Kang, although he still showed some issues with his grappling that better opposition can expose.

This should be another win for Nakamura as he has a massive advantage in wrestling that he can use to dominate this matchup.

Prediction: Nakamura by Decision

## Ricky Turcios +270 vs. Benardo Sopaj -357

Two talented Bantamweights who came into the UFC with high hopes look to get things on track here. Ricky Turcios has struggled to find his footing in the UFC since winning The Ultimate Fighter several years ago, he is a high-volume striker with a decent ground game but he lacks much finishing ability. Benardo Sopaj returns looking to bounce back from a wild debut where he was on the wrong end of a brutal knockout against Vinicius Oliveira after a hard-fought back-and-forth battle.

There was a lot to like about Sopaj in his debut so I'll pick him here but I would caution against laying this price based on a losing performance.

Prediction: Sopaj by Decision

## Tagir Ulanbekov -323 vs. Clayton Carpenter +250

Fantastic matchup opens the card here at Flyweight. Tagir Ulanbekov is a very tall fighter for the division, which may have led to him missing weight the last time he was supposed to compete, although when he does make it to the octagon he is a dangerous grappler who uses his length to secure nasty chokes. Clayton Carpenter is a young and undefeated prospect who uses a smothering ground game and sneaky powerful striking to dominate or often finish his opponents.

I'll go with Carpenter as the underdog here as his skills are the ground are legit and he can give Ulanbekov real trouble there or force a striking match where he is the faster and harder hitter.

Prediction: Carpenter by Decision

## Best Bets

Jamahal Hill MoneyLine -105

Beneil Dariush MoneyLine +200

Reiner de Ridder MoneyLine +100

Clayton Carpenter MoneyLine +225

Jailton Almeida + Umar Nurmagomedov Parlay -135

Rinya Nakamura + Karol Rosa Parlay +102

UFC 311 Odds Breakdown

It is finally fight week for the first PPV of the year as Islam Makhachev is set to defend his Lightweight title against Arman Tsarukyan in the main event of UFC 311 from the Intuit Dome in Los Angeles, California. The odds for that matchup and the entire card have been released, check them out now.

**Odds provided by Duelbits accurate as of 1/14/2025**

## Current Odds: Islam Makhachev -400, Arman Tsarukyan +295

These odds mean a bettor would need to risk $400 to win $100 on Islam Makhachev, and a risk of $100 on Arman Tsarukyan could win $295

This main event is a rematch over five years in the making with Tsarukyan having come in on short notice for his debut to take on a young Makhachev. Islam Makhachev comes into this fight off his fifth-round finish of Dustin Poirier which was his third defence of the Lightweight title. Arman Tsarukyan enters his first title opportunity off a split decision win over Charles Oliveira back at UFC 300.

## Past Odds: Islam Makhachev

*Odds via FightOdds.io*

Islam Makhachev (-660) vs. Dustin Poirier (+485) UFC 302 - Win

Islam Makhachev (-251) vs. Alexander Volkanovski (+211) UFC 294 – Win

Islam Makhachev (-355) vs. Alexander Volkanovski (+320) UFC 284 – Win

Islam Makhachev (-190) vs. Charles Oliveira (+165) UFC 280 – Win

Islam Makhachev (-840) vs. Bobby Green (+660) UFC Fight Night: Makhachev vs. Green – Win

## Past Odds: Arman Tsarukyan

*Odds via FightOdds.io*

Arman Tsarukyan (-220) vs. Charles Oliveira (+185) UFC 300 - Win 

Arman Tsarukyan (-290) vs. Beneil Dariush (+245) UFC Fight Night: Tsarukyan vs. Dariush - Win 

Arman Tsarukyan (-1050) vs. Joaquim Silva (+600) UFC Fight Night: Vettori vs. Cannonier - Win 

Arman Tsarukyan (-185) vs. Damir Ismagulov (+170) UFC Fight Night: Cannonier vs. Strickland - Win

Arman Tsarukyan (-240) vs. Mateusz Gamrot (+220) UFC Fight Night: Tsarukyan vs. Gamrot - Loss

## Full Card Odds

**Islam Makhachev -400 vs. Arman Tsarukyan +295, Lightweight Title Fight**

**Merab Dvalishvili +255 vs. Umar Nurmagomedov -333, Bantamweight Title Fight**

**Jiri Prochazka -110 vs. Jamahal Hill -111, Light Heavyweight**

**Beneil Dariush +141 vs. Renato Moicano -175, Lightweight**

**Kevin Holland -108 vs. Reinier de Ridder -114, Middleweight**

**Payton Talbott -1250 vs. Raoni Barcelos +740**

**Jailton Almeida -417 vs. Serghei Spivac +310, Heavyweight**

**Grant Dawson -270 vs. Diego Ferreira +210, Lightweight**

**Karol Rosa -278 vs. Ailin Perez +220, Bantamweight**

**Rinya Nakamura -526 vs. Muin Gafurov +380, Bantamweight**

**Ricky Turcios +275 vs. Benardo Sopaj -357, Bantamweight**

**Tagir Ulanbekov -333 vs. Clayton Carpenter +255, Flyweight**

Who are you taking in this high-stakes Lightweight rematch? Let us know in the comments.

Islam Makhachev Massive Favorite Over Arman Tsarukyan Ahead of UFC 311 Rematch

UFC Fight Night Dern vs. Ribas 2 goes down tomorrow night from the UFC Apex. The official weigh-ins took place today, here are the results.

## Main Card, 7 PM EST

**Strawweight:** Mackenzie Dern (116) vs. Amanda Ribas (116)

**Welterweight:** Carlston Harris (170) vs. Santiago Ponzinibbio (171)

**Middleweight:** Abdul Razak Alhassan (185.5) vs. Cesar Almeida (185.5)

**Middleweight:** Chris Curtis (185.5) vs. Roman Kopylov (185.5)

**Featherweight:** Austin Bashi (145.5) vs. Christian Rodriguez (145)

**Welterweight:** Uros Medic (171) vs. Punahele Soriano (171)

## Prelims, 4 PM EST

**Flyweight:** Felipe Bunes (126) vs. Jose Johnson (128.5)*

**Middleweight:** Ihor Potieria (188)* vs. Marco Tulio (185.5)

**Lightweight:** Thiago Moises (155.5) vs. Trey Ogden (155.5)

**Welterweight:** Preston Parsons (171) vs. Jacobe Smith (170.5)

**Flyweight:** Nicolle Caliari (125.5) vs. Ernesta Kareckiate (126)

**Light Heavyweight:** Magomed Gadzhiyasulov (205) vs. Bruno Lopes (205.5)

**Strawweight:** Victoria Dudakova (116) vs. Fatima Kline (116)

**Lightweight:** Nurullo Aliev (155.5) vs. Joe Solecki (155)

*Fighter missed weight

UFC Fight Night: Dern vs. Ribas 2 Weigh-In Results

The UFC is back with its first event of the year this weekend, with two Strawweight contenders headlining in a rematch from the Apex between fan favorites Mackenzie Dern and Amanda Ribas. I went over the entire card to give my predictions and best bets, so let's get into it.

**Odds provided by Duelbits accurate as of 1/8/2025**

## Mackenzie Dern +160 vs. Amanda Ribas -200

The main event this week is a Strawweight rematch between two contenders looking to enter the title conversation. Mackenzie Dern is a very dangerous submission grappler, although she has struggled to bring the other aspects of her game up to that level, with her striking and wrestling failing her often. Amanda Ribas is a high-paced fighter with a well-rounded skill set that helped her get the win the first time these two fought as she controlled the grappling from the top and got the better of the striking. 

I like Ribas to win again, as she is still the better striker and wrestler. Also, it is unlikely that Dern will be able to take advantage of any durability issues on the Ribas side, as Dern has never won by KO/TKO, and Ribas has never been submitted. 

Prediction: Ribas by Decision/ Best Bet: Ribas MoneyLine

## Santiago Ponzinibbio -128 vs. Carlston Harris +104

Welterweight veterans look to get back on track here in the co-main event. Santiago Ponzinibbio is a crafty striker with solid power although he has gotten noticeably slower with age. Carlston Harris is an underrated fighter who can be very dangerous with his long limbs that he uses to secure nasty chokes and keep opponents at range on the feet although he has been knocked out in the first round of both his UFC losses leaving some durability concerns.

I lean towards Ponzinibbio here as he has faced much tougher competition and is the more dangerous striker but I'll pass on this fight from a betting standpoint.

Prediction: Ponzinibbio by Decision

## Abdul Razak Alhassan +220 vs. Cesar Almeida -286

Powerful punchers clash here in this must-see Middleweight matchup. Abdul Razak Alhassan is a powerhouse with several very quick knockouts and the ability to go deep into gritty fights with his clinch and judo game. Cesar Almeida is a good kickboxer although he is getting up there in age and his lack of MMA experience really shows with Roman Kopylov having taken him down with ease repeatedly.

I'll take Alhassan here as he has a big advantage on the ground and could end the fight with one strike at any time.

Prediction: Alhassan by Decision/ Best Bet: Alhassan MoneyLine

## Chris Curtis +205 vs. Roman Kopylov -256

Middleweight strikers square off here in this fight of the night contender. Chris Curtis returns after a hamstring injury that has left him out since last April, he is a slick boxer who does good work to the body and has solid takedown defense. Roman Kopylov is a very fast kickboxer with good kicks coming off an impressive win where he dropped Cesar Almeida early and used some wrestling to secure the decision.

I'll go with Kopylov here as I see him being the faster and more diverse striker but this fight is a pass from a betting perspective at this price.

Prediction: Kopylov by Decision

## Austin Bashi -270 vs. Christian Rodriguez +215

An interesting prospect takes on a tough test in his debut here at Featherweight. Austin Bashi is an undefeated twenty-three-year-old grappler who comes in off an impressive performance on Dana White's Contender Series where he extended his streak to thirteen wins already having some five-round experience as well. Christian Rodriguez takes on another solid youngster as he has several times before showing good grappling defense and solid boxing although he was controlled early by both Raul Rosas Jr. and Isaac Dulgarian.

I'll take Bashi to get a decision win here, as he is a good enough grappler to control this fight, but Rodriguez is a tough guy to finish so I'll go with the decision prop to bring the price down significantly.

Prediction: Bashi by Decision/ Best Bet: Bashi on Points

## Punahele Soriano +165 vs. Uros Medic -204

Dangerous finishers collide here at Welterweight. Punahele Soriano returns here after a successful debut at this weight, where he showed off improved wrestling and cardio to go with his dangerous punching power. Uros Medic is a powerful striker with real knockout power; although his ground game is a concern, with both of his losses coming by submission. 

I'll go with Soriano here as he showed the ability to lean on his ground game heavily for three rounds in his last fight, and if he can do that again, there is a clear path here,

Prediction: Soriano by Decision

## Thiago Moises -196 vs. Trey Ogden +155

Lightweight veterans go head to head here in this one. Thiago Moises has proven a good test for up-and-coming fighters with his well-rounded game exposing holes in many fighters games although when he doesn't have a clear advantage he can struggle to get offense going. Trey Ogden should be credited with wins in four of his last five coming into this one having used his coaching skills to help find his path to victory with that often coming using his smothering ground game that had Nikolas Motta and Kurt Holobaugh completely stuck.

I lean towards Moises as my pick with him likely being the better striker and defending takedowns but my bet here was to parlay the fight to go the distance, as both of these men are pretty durable with little finishing threat.

Prediction: Moises by Decision/ Best Bet: Fight Goes The Distance (Parlay Piece)

## Preston Parsons +350 vs. Jacobe Smith -476

A very highly touted prospect makes his debut on short notice here at Welterweight. Preston Parsons is a solid wrestler with basic striking coming off an unimpressive showing where he failed to get anything going against Oban Elliott. Jacobe Smith makes his debut here with many very excited to see what he can do at this level with his wrestling credentials and the finishing ability he has shown in his nine wins so far with seven coming by knockout including a dominant showing on Dana White's Contender Series that earned him this opportunity.

I have Smith in a parlay here as I am very high on him and struggle to see a path to victory for Parsons who is simply outgunned in every aspect here.

Prediction: Smith by 2nd Round TKO/ Best Bet: Smith MoneyLine (Parlay Piece)

UFC Fight Night: Dern vs. Ribas 2 Odds Breakdown 

RIZIN returns to the iconic Saitama Super Arena on December 31, 2024, for RIZIN.49: Decade, celebrating its 10th anniversary with a stacked card that promises fireworks. A lot of new fans may be new to RIZIN, so we're going to preview the main card and tell you all you need to know about the upcoming matchups.

## Main Event: RIZIN Featherweight Championship

**Chihiro Suzuki (c) vs. Kleber Koike Erbst**

This is a rematch that sees reigning RIZIN Featherweight Champion Chihiro Suzuki defend his title against the jiu-jitsu specialist Kleber Koike Erbst. Their first meeting at RIZIN 43 ended in controversy when Koike missed weight, nullifying his submission victory. In RIZIN, if you miss weight, you are ineligible for a win over your opponent, so even though he defeated Suzuki via armbar, it was overruled to a no contest. Suzuki is a striker with elite precision riding a big win streak in his career, including a first-round knockout over former Bellator Featherweight and Lightweight Champion, Patricio Pitbull. Suzuki will look to keep the fight standing, while Koike aims to reclaim his throne by dragging the fight to the ground. Koike holds a 93% finish rate, and Suzuki's last five fights haven't left the first round, so we're in for a crazy fight while it lasts.

## Co-Main Event: RIZIN Flyweight Championship

**Kyoji Horiguchi (c) vs. Nkazimulo Zulu**

Kyoji Horiguchi, is one of RIZIN's and Japan’s most accomplished fighters, with the most wins in the orginization at 14. He puts his title on the line against South Africa’s Nkazimulo Zulu, who's coming off a first round TKO over RIZIN veteran Joe Arai. Horiguchi’s versatility, blending elite striking and grappling, has made him a dominant fighter in RIZIN, with an impressive 13-1 record there, but Zulu’s explosive striking and unpredictability could pose a threat to the much shorter Horiguchi. A win for Horiguchi would further cement his legacy, while Zulu looks to make history as RIZIN’s first African champion.

## RIZIN Lightweight Championship

**Roberto “Satoshi” de Souza vs. Vugar Karamov**

Roberto de Souza defends his RIZIN Lightweight Championship against former RIZIN Featherweight Champion Vugar Karamov. De Souza, renowned for his world-class Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, claimed the title in 2021, and has since defended it two times. He's also participated in multiple Bellator vs. RIZIN matchups, remaining active outside of title fights. Karamov is fighting back at Lightweight for the first time since 2016, and looks to claim his second title in the RIZIN promotion. This bout is a classic grappler-vs-striker contest with a world title on the line.

## Yuki Motoya vs. Kyoma Akimoto

Yuki Motoya squares off against rising star Kyoma Akimoto in a classic bout of experience versus youth. Motoya the veteran, and a well-rounded fighter with 22 career finishes (14 via sub, 8 via KO/TKO) and has faced some of the division’s toughest names. Akimoto enters undefeated with a 7-0 record with four KO/TKOs. Akimoto is only eighteen years of age, and now he's got his biggest career moment and challenge. A victory for Motoya could reassert his relevance in the bantamweight rankings, while Akimoto has a chance to cement his status as a top contender.

## Seika Izawa vs. Lucia Apdelgarim

Unbeaten Seika Izawa is on a tear in RIZIN. She's undefeated with a 14-0 record with some insane submission skills. To name a few, she has won fights and grappling matches with a ninja choke, front chokes and a heel hook . Izawa’s relentless pressure and well-rounded game have made her a standout in the super atomweight division. Apdelgarim will be looking to earn a big upset and hand Izawa her first loss, but as a +1600 underdog, that task is going to be a massive one.

RIZIN.49: Decade Preview

Carlos Prates made a serious name for himself in 2024, arguably placing himself as the up-and-comer of the year, going 4-0 with four finishes. Fighting out of the powerhouse Fighting Nerds team (also including Mauricio Ruffy, Jean Silva, and Caio Borralho), Prates has shown some serious knockout power among the Welterweights that he'll be looking to display in 2025. Let's cover three different names that could be Carlos Prates' next fight in the UFC.

## 1. **Vicente Luque**  
Vicente Luque is a veteran of the Welterweight rankings, holding the #14 spot, which is a placement below Prates. He's coming off a first-round submission victory over Themba Gorimbo at UFC 310, which snapped his losing streak and proved to many that he's still dangerous. A matchup with Luque would be a step up for Carlos Prates, but it would also be a great chance for him to show off his striking prowess against a fighter known for his durability. For Prates, a win over Luque would increase his star power further and likely move him closer to the top 10 of the division.

![luque-vicente.webp](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/cb47e149-110f-4703-7f9e-ea5f2d3ecb00/pub "Vicente Luque setting up the d'arce choke against Themba Gorimbo in his last fight. Credits to: Stephen R. Sylvanie - Imagn Images.")

## 2. **Geoff Neal**  
Another name that could be a fun matchup for Prates next is Geoff Neal. Neal has fought some of the top names in the Welterweight division, including Shavkat Rakhmonov, Ian Machado Garry, and the aforementioned Vicente Luque, making this a great opportunity for Prates to prove he belongs at the elite level. **“Hands of Steel”** would be a significant step up from his previous opponents, but Neal is only ranked four spots ahead, meaning this matchup makes sense from a rankings standpoint too.

![shavkat-rakhmonov-geoff-neal-ufc-285-2.webp](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/16710d2f-8886-49f5-9f19-166426d56400/pub "Geoff Neal fighting Shavkat Rakhmonov at UFC 285. Credits to: Chris Unger - Zuffa LLC.")

## 3. **Jack Della Maddalena**  
Now this would be a sizeable step up, but who doesn’t want to see Jack Della Maddalena vs. Carlos Prates? This is the fight Prates called for after he KOed Neil Magny, and he’s down to travel to Australia to make it happen. Right now, it sounds like Kamaru Usman may not be fighting JDM at UFC 312, so this could be a matchup we see in Q1 of 2025. Jack Della Maddalena hasn’t fought since March, so it’s a good opportunity for him to return against a game opponent in his home country.

![JackDellaUFC299.webp](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/0885be9e-c062-4fb8-8995-165180a42e00/pub "Jack Della Maddanlena after finishing Randy Brown at UFC 284. Credits to: Chris Unger - Zuffa LLC.")

What do you think? How do you see 2025 panning out for Carlos Prates? As a member of the Verdict Community, let us know with a comment down below.

Carlos Prates Next Fight in The UFC

Verdict MMA

Mauricio Ruffy is quickly becoming one of the UFC Lightweight division's most exciting prospects. Hailing from the star-studded Fighting Nerds team (also featuring Caio Borralho, Carlos Prates, and Jean Silva), Ruffy has proven he’s ready for bigger challenges after going 2-0 in the UFC in 2024. The question now is: who will Mauricio Ruffy fight next? We've picked out three names that could make sense.

## 1. **Benoit Saint-Denis**  
Despite being on a two-fight skid, Benoit Saint-Denis remains a tough matchup for any Lightweight in the division. This fight would be a clash of styles: BSD’s relentless pressure versus Ruffy’s precision striking. Though this would be a significant step up in competition, Ruffy called for this matchup after his win against James Llontop. If he’s ready to back up his words, why deny him the opportunity?

![benoit.webp](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/7e2c20ee-8043-4f7b-346a-ad921e277000/pub "Benoit Saint-Denis trading with Thiago Moises. Credits to: Josh Hedges - Zuffa LLC.")

## 2. **Jai Herbert**  
A bit of a left-field matchup, and certainly a smaller step up in competition for Ruffy. But a matchup could come in the form of England’s Jai Herbert. Known for taking on rising contenders like Ilia Topuria and Fares Ziam, Herbert offers a striking test for Ruffy that his previous two opponents have been a step behind on. This fight could take place at UFC London, giving Ruffy the chance to fight in enemy territory, or it could land on an early 2025 PPV prelim spot. Either way, Herbert’s solid striking and experience make him an intriguing challenge against another prospect.

## 3. **Matt Frevola**  
Matt Frevola, while currently on a losing streak, is a logical next step in competition for Mauricio Ruffy. With a strong social media following for an unranked fighter, Frevola’s presence could make this fight worthy of a PPV main card spot. Steamrolla holds notable wins over Drew Dober and Jalin Turner, presenting challenges in both striking and wrestling. While Ruffy would likely be the betting favorite, Frevola is a gritty opponent who can’t be counted out.  

![matt-frevola-ottman-azaitar-ufc-281-5.jpg](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/22af604b-f0d5-4d7c-6f5b-3f04f90fb800/pub "Matt Frevola KOing Ottman Azaitar. Credits to: Chris Unger - Zuffa LLC.")

Which of these opponents do you like the most? Or do you have a different suggestion? As a member of the Verdict Community, let us know in the comments below!

Mauricio Ruffy's Next Fight in The UFC

Another year in the books for the great sport of mixed martial arts and with that we have had some incredible fights this year. With so many to go over it is impossible to give all of the great fights their spotlight but I narrowed it down to ten fights that stood out this year so let's take a look at the best fights of the year 2024.

## 10. Trey Waters vs. Billy Goff

This matchup saw two men coming in off impressive debut wins going head to head and it delivered as this wild fight saw both men land massive shots with Waters trying to keep Goff at range as he charged in with long combinations. The fight ended with a unanimous decision win for Waters although many believe Goff did enough to get his hand raised as he was the one pressuring for most of the fight.

## 9. Jiri Prochazka vs. Aleksandar Rakic

This matchup years in the making went down on the historic UFC 300 card and lived up to the hype for how long it lasted. The first round saw Rakic put on a clinic landing big shots on Prochazka both to the head and legs although the former champion remained unfazed and continued to pressure Rakic no matter what came back his way. Early round two saw Rakic land a ridiculous elbow to the chin of Prochazka who somehow appeared completely unaffected continuing to press forward until he landed a massive right hand that had Rakic on the ropes which Prochazka did not let him off of by sending him to the canvas and ground and pounding his way to a wild comeback knockout win.

![2148556559.jpg](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/3ae3de4f-d828-44de-65c1-00d6bd4cc700/public "Jiri Prochazka finishes Aleksandar Rakic. Credit: Jeff Bottari/ Zuffa LLC via Getty Images")

## 8. Joshua Van vs. Edgar Chairez

One of two fights from this card makes the list here as these two Flyweights went to war on the prelims of one of the biggest cards of the year from the Las Vegas Sphere. With Van returning just a short time after suffering a knockout loss many questioned if his chin would hold up here and after eating some massive shots from Chairez there were no more concerns there although it did seem like the fight was getting away from him until he dropped Chairez and completely stole momentum late which he carried to a unanimous decision win. 

## 7. Petr Yan vs. Deiveson Figueiredo

One of the final main events of the year gave us five rounds of fun and violence as these two former champions collided at Bantamweight with heavy title implications. Both had their moments over five rounds, with Yan starting faster than usual and looking crisp but Figueiredo showed his power at times, wobbling Yan on multiple occasions. After five rounds, it was clear Petr Yan won the decision but Figueiredo still gave a solid showing and kept this one entertaining for every minute.

![2186477379.jpg](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/f62cfc05-f7fe-43ba-5e71-ebca21596e00/public "Petr Yan fighting with Deiveson Figueiredo. Credit: Jeff Bottari/ Zuffa LLC")

## 6. Islam Makhachev vs. Dustin Poirier

When this was first announced there was some debate as to whether or not Poirier should have gotten a shot at the title, but by the end of this fight there was no doubt he belonged in there with the pound-for-pound best in Makhachev. This was not an easy fight for the champ, who on paper got a finish and won the rounds, although that was not the story of this one, with Poirier having a lot of success stopping the dominant wrestling of Makhachev and landing hard combinations that led to some tense moments for team Makhachev. In the end, Makhachev secured the fight-ending choke to put a stamp on a gritty performance but from start to finish this fight had a certain energy that made it very fun to watch.

## 5. Ilia Topuria vs. Max Holloway

It did not last the five rounds scheduled, but the two and a bit we got was some of the most intense action I felt when watching a fight this year. The stakes of this fight were as big as any this year, with Topuria coming off his title-winning knockout of Alexander Volkanovski and Holloway having won the BMF title with his knockout of the year against Justin Gaethje. The fight was a very close striking battle for the most part, with Topuria landing a big takedown at one point, although not much was done with it. The third round saw Topuria land a straight right that had a clear effect on Holloway, who backed up and circled away as Topuria began to launch violent bombs at him until eventually landing the left hook that would crack the legendary chin of Holloway sending him to the floor and ending the fight.

![2181233611.jpg](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/0eff1029-2b9e-4b86-ca98-20248e18f200/public "Ilia Topuria lands a right hand on Max Holloway at UFC 308. Credit: Chris Unger/ Zuffa LLC")

## 4. Brandon Royval vs. Tatsuro Taira

This five-rounder from the Apex gave us one of the most technical matchups of the year, with both men showing well-rounded skillsets, although it was clear they each had a strategy. As the fight progressed, it became clear what each man had to do, with Royval getting the better of the striking and Taira being the much better grappler. The fight was as back and forth as any all year, with them trading rounds and neither man able to separate themself, leading to a split decision that came down to round one. Royval got his hand raised in the end, which most agreed with, as Royval received around 80% of the round one voting on the Verdict scorecard.

## 3. Myktybek Orolbai vs. Mateusz Rebecki

This fight showed the depth of the Lightweight division as these two battled looking to earn a shot at the rankings. The damage built up early in this one with Orolbai's face being a complete mess that would've caused many doctors to stop the fight but he was allowed to continue and he did by pressuring like a zombie as the two traded big shots with Rebecki getting the better of most exchanges. The fight ended in a split-decision win for Rebecki who was a sizeable underdog entering the matchup.

![Mateusz-Rebecki-def.jpg](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/a9bf709f-aea8-442d-dc7a-65e9a5b66000/public "Mateusz Rebecki vs. Myktybek Orolbai. Credit: Craig Kidwell via MMA Junkie")

## 2. Alex Pereira vs. Khalil Rountree Jr.

This fight was a shocker when it was first announced as Rountree Jr. was ranked much lower and came in off a win over a short-notice Anthony Smith that hardly warranted a title shot yet when it came time to fight Rountree Jr. came out ready to go, winning the first two rounds and even dropping the dominant champion early although it was in the third round that Pereira found his rhythm. The damage of Pereira's jab had started to mount on Rountree and it was clear he couldn't keep up the rate he had in the past few rounds so with him slowing we saw Pereira enter flow state landing beautiful combos eventually crumbling a badly damaged Rountree to the canvas in the fourth round, ending what was a phenomenal striking display from both men.

## 1. Esteban Ribovics vs. Daniel Zellhuber

This gets my Fight of the Year award as it was the definition of non-stop action. The first two rounds were back-and-forth battles with Zellhuber using his length to try and maintain range and Ribovics charging in with ridiculous combos to get inside. The third round was when this went from a great fight to an all-time great as early on Zellhuber landed an elbow that dropped Ribovics and put him in a good position to win the fight. Then Ribovics landed a huge right hand that completely took Zellhuber's balance and had him running to try and survive for almost the rest of the round. The scorecards were split, with the first two rounds being very close but the clear third round for Ribovics helped get him the decision win. 

![ribovics-zellhuber-action.jpg](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/f9b295c1-eebb-4340-779c-a51bf250b100/public "Esteban Ribovics vs. Daniel Zellhuber at UFC 306. Credit: Getty Images")

What was your favorite fight this year? Let us know in the comments!

Top 10 Fights of 2024

Last night saw the final fight night of the year and it was an action-packed card that saw many fighters raise their stock and some lower theirs alike. With that now comes the question, what's next? I went over a few possible matchups that I would like to see next for the fighters we saw compete last night.

## Joaquin Buckley vs. Ian Garry

I know Buckley made a great callout of Kamaru Usman in his post-fight interview but with rumors of him being matched up with Jack Della Maddalena, I thought why not give this matchup another try with a little added backstory now? I get that the circumstances have changed since this fight was first booked with Buckley winning and Garry losing but I think it important to consider Garry was fighting down to begin with and his stock is also at an all-time high despite the loss to Shavkat Rakhmonov with how close that fight played out.

![1471304275.jpg](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/4a30c2f6-998a-4820-cf3e-32ed21380200/public "Ian Garry Hits the Griddy. Credit: Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images")

## Cub Swanson vs. Sodiq Yusuff

Swanson has reached a stage in his career where he should just get fun striking matches and that is exactly what this one is as Yusuff is a dangerous striker who has had some incredible battles in the past including his Dana White's Contender Series fight with Mike Davis. This matchup would be a guaranteed fight-of-the-night contender on any card and is a slam dunk booking.

## Manel Kape vs. Brandon Royval

Last night felt like we finally got to see Kape live up to his potential although it was a considerable step down in competition which gives me hesitation about giving him a title shot. Royval meanwhile holds the number one contender spot but with two previous losses to the champ Alexandre Pantoja, he needs another big win to make himself undeniable for another chance at the title making this fight a perfect fight to determine a new challenger.

![230419royval1.jpg](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/6472205d-a669-4739-2737-b443bd76d900/public "Brandon Royval lands a knee that knocks out Matheus Nicolau. Credit: Zuffa LLC via Getty Images")

## Daniel Marcos vs. Jonathan Martinez

Marcos maintained his undefeated record and showed a bit more offensive grappling than he has in the past last night but I still want to see him against another striker and with Martinez in a position where he will likely need to defend his ranking I like this matchup a lot. Also worth noting that Martinez earned his shot at the rankings with his win over Martinez which could now be the case for Marcos.

## Navajo Stirling vs. Devin Clark

It wasn't the dream debut that Stirling hoped for last night but with his lack of experience, it is to be expected that there is some work to do on his skillset. It may be a bit early to test him against someone as experienced as Clark but if he wants to make a push anytime soon this is the type of matchup I would like to see him take to prove he can handle high pace wrestling.

## Michael Johnson vs. Matt Frevola

Johnson proved he is still as dangerous as ever last night with a highlight knockout against an opponent who Frevola knocked out faster some time ago. So with these two having been booked earlier this year before an injury caused it to be canceled, I'd like to see them rebook this one as both men are dangerous and fun strikers who are sure to put on a show.

![matt-frevola-ottman-azaitar-ufc-281-5.jpg](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/22af604b-f0d5-4d7c-6f5b-3f04f90fb800/public "Matt Frevola knocking out Ottman Azaitar Credit: Jessica Alcheh-USA TODAY Sports")

## Joel Alvarez vs. Benoit Saint-Denis

It is time Alvarez got a ranked opponent and coming off a pair of stoppage losses the once very hyped Saint-Denis needs a big win to turn things back around making this matchup of pure violence a logical next move for both men. This matchup would also test the striking defense of Saint-Denis and the takedown defense of Alvarez both of which have proven questionable at times. 

What would you like to see next for last night's winners? Let us know in the comments!