Liam Lindsay

UFC 296 just got a last-minute addition. Stepping in on just ten days' notice, Josh Emmett will now face Bryce Mitchell on the featured prelim of UFC 296 at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada, on December 16th, per The UFC.
Giga Chikadze was initially supposed to face Josh Emmett but pulled out of the fight due to a groin injury.

**This fight takes place in the Featherweight (145 lbs) division**

Josh Emmett is ranked #6 at Featherweight and holds a professional record of 18-4 (9-4 UFC), with notable wins over Calvin Kattar, Michael Johnson, and Shane Burgos.

Bryce Mitchell is ranked #10 in the Featherweight division and holds a professional record of 16-1 (7-1 UFC), with noteworthy victories over Edson Barboza, Dan Ige, and Tyler Diamond.

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

This is a fantastic matchup in the division between two of Featherweight's strongest grapplers. Emmett is a wrestler who loves to mix in his striking, which has secured him highlight KO victories in the past. Mitchell, too, will mix in his grappling but has previously shown great striking offense when he dropped Edson Barboza and struck with Dan Ige in his last fight.

![emmet-t.webp](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/3f1f72f5-8b75-4974-d6f9-77905a0bc900/pub "Josh Emmetts fighting Ilia Topuria in his last bout. Credits to: David Yeazell - USA TODAY Sports.")

This fight is a fun matchup in the Featherweight division. As a member of the Verdict Community, let us know your prediction for the fight in the comments below.

Josh Emmett vs. Giga Chikadze OFF, Bryce Mitchell Steps Up

Douglas Vegas Bets

It was a valiant effort from the challenger, but Alex Pereira prevailed in the end, winning with a fourth-round knockout over Khalil Rountree Jr. to defend his Light Heavyweight title.

## Result: Alex Pereira def. Khalil Rountree Jr. via 4th Round TKO (4:36)

Early on, Rountree Jr. had some success with his boxing, landing several big right hands and seemingly winning through two rounds and early in the third. Late in the third round, it became clear that Pereira's damage was mounting, and Rountree Jr. was in real trouble. The fourth round saw Pereira dismantle a broken but tough Rountree Jr., eventually breaking him down late in the round to get the stoppage and defend the belt.


>"This division is great" - Alex Pereira

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

Alex Pereira Defends Title With Brutal Knockout at UFC 307

After a five-round battle, Julianna Pena had her hand raised in the UFC 307 co-main event to claim the Bantamweight title for the second time in her career.

## Result: Julianna Pena def. Raquel Pennington via Split-Decision (48-47, 47-48, 48-47)

The first round was a close striking match in which Pennington landed some clean shots with a nice uppercut. The second and third rounds saw Pena have success with her grappling, taking dominant positions and attempting submissions. The fourth round saw Pennington take back momentum with a head kick early and a big right hand that dropped Pena. The final round saw more striking, with Pennington maintaining the higher output until the final bell.


>"I'd really like Amanda Nunes to come back" - Julianna Pena

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

Julianna Pena Reclaims Title With Split-Decision Win at UFC 307

Mario Bautista used his pace and pressure to take the decision in a very close fight against Jose Aldo on the UFC 307 main card.

## Result: Mario Bautista def. Jose Aldo via Split-Decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)

The first round saw a lot of volume and some clinch control from Bautista, which got him off to a strong start. Round two saw Aldo do damage early with his jab and control the round with his striking. The final round had some back-and-forth striking but largely saw Bautista control the clinch to take the razor-close decision win.


>"He didn't get off the cage, not my problem" - Mario Bautista

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

Mario Bautista Wins Split Decision Over Jose Aldo at UFC 307

It was a strong performance from Roman Dolidze, who won the fight over Kevin Holland, who suffered a rib injury on the UFC 307 main card.

## Result: Roman Dolidze def. Kevin Holland via 1st Round TKO (Rib Injury)

The fight started with a takedown and some control from the full guard for Roman Dolidze before an eventual armbar attempt saw Kevin Holland give up his mount and injure his rib, which was enough to force the end of the fight.

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

Roman Dolidze Wins After Injury to Kevin Holland at UFC 307

Kayla Harrison likely secured her spot as the next challenger for the Bantamweight title with a decision win over Ketlen Viera to open the UFC 307 main card.

## Result: Kayla Harrison def. Ketlen Viera via Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)

The first round saw some Harrison control the clinch before securing a takedown and scoring some serious damage at the end. Round two was rather close, with some control from Harrison but more damage from Viera. Round three saw some good early striking exchanges before Harrison secured a takedown and controlled the remainder of the fight.


>"I came here cause I wanna be the best in the world" - Kayla Harrison

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

Kayla Harrison Wins Decision Over Ketlen Viera at UFC 307

The UFC is back for its yearly trip to Salt Lake City, Utah, at the Vivint Arena, headlined by the promotion's most active champion as Light Heavyweight king Alex Pereira looks to defend his title for a third time this year against Khalil Rountree Jr. I went over that fight and every other matchup on the card to give my predictions and best bets, so let's get into it.

**Odds provided by DuelBits accurate as of 10/1/2024**

## Alex Pereira -500 vs. Khalil Rountree Jr. +360

This is a surprising matchup for the Light Heavyweight title in our main event. Alex Pereira has taken his powerful kickboxing style and used it to dominate every opponent thus far during his Light Heavyweight run, which has seen him finish three straight title fights inside two rounds, with two of those finishes coming from his signature left hook. Khalil Rountree Jr. takes a massive step up here after knocking out Anthony Smith late last year to extend his win streak to five, with four coming by finish. However, the one decision against Dustin Jacoby was somewhat disputed, with Rountree being out volumed through most of the fight and not landing anything of major significance.

In my eyes, this is Pereira's fight to lose, as he is on another level with the striking and has been more active against tougher competition than Rountree, who has some tough losses on his record, including Johnny Walker and Marcin Prachnio.

Prediction: Pereira by 1st Round KO

## Raquel Pennington -169 vs. Juliana Pena +137

Bantamweights will finally meet in the octagon with a belt on the line after a decade of buildup since their time on The Ultimate Fighter. Raquel Pennington is on a six-fight win streak, including her title, claiming victory over Mayra Bueno Silva early in the year, where she showed her well-rounded skillset with good boxing, wrestling, and her ability to defend a dangerous submission attack. Juliana Pena is a tough grappler who returns here from several years away since her defeat to Amanda Nunes, where she was dominated for five rounds in the rematch after her shocking upset victory in the first fight between the two.

I like Pennington to win by decision in this one. She has been the more active of the two and should have the advantage everywhere the fight goes, with much better striking and solid wrestling.

Prediction: Pennington by Decision

## Jose Aldo +120 vs. Mario Bautista -147

A legend returns once again to continue a late-career run at Bantamweight. Jose Aldo looks to turn back another up-and-comer here with his high-level boxing and renowned grappling defense, which he proved still holds up despite his age in his last performance against Jonathan Martinez. Mario Bautista has quietly won six straight fights and shown a very strong skill set, including a dangerous ground game that has helped him beat and submit several other solid grapplers. 

I've got Bautista in this one, as he is in his prime, facing a much older and once-retired opponent. I think he will be able to give Aldo trouble with his relentless grappling, especially later in the fight, and take home a decision win.

Prediction: Bautista by Decision

## Kayla Harrison -833 vs. Ketlen Viera +550

The winner of this pivotal matchup at Bantamweight will likely be next in line to fight for the title. Kayla Harrison looks to make another statement after dominating Holly Holm in her UFC debut with her strong grappling base, which she showed by dominating the PFL for years. Ketlen Viera comes into this after having won three of her last four, with the only loss coming to the champion in Raquel Pennington by a split decision, having shown a good ground game and solid boxing at times.

As tempting as the price is, I can't pick against Harrison here. She will have a big edge on the ground and will likely hold top position until the final bell or she finds a finish.

Prediction: Harrison by 2nd Round TKO

## Roman Dolidze +135 vs. Kevin Holland -167

Middleweight finishers face off in this must-see clash. Roman Dolidze returns to Middleweight after a quick trip to take on Anthony Smith up at Light Heavyweight during the summer. He is a hard-hitting puncher who doesn't throw much volume, but he also has a tricky submission game if the fight goes to the ground. Kevin Holland remains active here, facing another tough challenge. He has been inconsistent with his showings, sometimes being controlled on the ground and taking significant strikes with little defense, although he does have good hands and a solid submission game.

I lean Dolidze here as he can land the bigger shots on the feet, get the fight to the ground, and control things from there, as Holland has struggled to wrestle up at this weight.

Prediction: Dolidze by Decision

## Stephen Thompson +160 vs. Joaquin Buckley -200

This is a fun matchup between two exciting ranked fighters at Welterweight. Stephen Thompson has long been known as one of the best strikers in the UFC with his unique karate style, although he has struggled with grappling in the later stages of his career, having lost three of his last four due to being outgrappled. Joaquin Buckley has quickly become a name to watch at this weight, having won his first four fights since moving down from Middleweight, showing dangerous striking and mixing in some wrestling with strong ground and pound.

I'll pick Thompson here, but this one is very tough to call. Generally, I would take the younger fighter with Buckley's wrestling upside, but I feel his blitzing striking style may get him countered by the very experienced Wonderboy Thompson.

Prediction: Thompson by Decision

## Marina Rodriguez +141 vs. Iasmin Lucindo -175

Big test here for a fast-rising prospect at Strawweight. Marina Rodriguez is a high-volume kickboxer with a long reach, although she reacts poorly to damage coming her way, as that was the difference in a close fight with Jessica Andrade earlier this year, and she can be controlled on the ground as was the case against Virna Jandiroba. Iasmin Lucindo has burst onto the scene with several dominant wins already at the early age of twenty-two, having shown powerful striking and a strong ground attack.

I'm taking Lucindo here as I see her as the more powerful and well-rounded fighter who is still improving, while Rodriguez has likely peaked.

Prediction: Lucindo by Decision

## Ihor Potieria +290 vs. Cesar Almeida -385

All-action Middleweights go head-to-head in this exciting matchup. Ihor Potieria is a wild-style striker who has shown a willingness to fight anyone anytime, although he has not had much success in those fights, having won just one of his last four, with all three losses ending inside two rounds. Cesar Almeida is a very experienced kickboxer with dangerous power on the feet, although his wrestling was exposed in his last fight, with Roman Kopylov taking him down and holding him there whenever he wanted.

I'll pick Almeida, as he will have a massive striking advantage, and Potieria has struggled against solid competition.

Prediction: Almeida by 1st Round KO

## Alexander Hernandez -213 vs. Austin Hubbard +170

Lightweights are looking to get back into the win column as they square off in this one. Alexander Hernandez was once a top prospect with his strong wrestling and big punching power, although after some ups and downs, he has found himself moving around in weight and struggling to string together wins. He is back at Lightweight here, where he has looked better, in my opinion which is an encouraging sign. Austin Hubbard is a veteran striker on his second UFC run here who comes into this one off a very controversial decision win over Michal Figlak.

I lean towards Hernandez as he is the more dangerous fighter with a better wrestling game, although his cardio is a concern, especially at altitude.

Prediction: Hernandez by Decision

## Carla Esparza +142 vs. Tecia Pennington -175

The final fight in a storied career goes down here at Strawweight. Carla Esparza makes her final walk here as a two-time champion, having used her wrestling game to overcome a lack of size and power to claim the title. It is worth noting that she has taken a long time away since her last fight to give birth to her child. Tecia Pennington is an experienced striker who comes in having lost two straight very close decisions against high-level grapplers, both of which easily could've gone her way as she was mostly able to keep both fights standing and display a clear advantage on the feet.

I'm going with Pennington here. She has been able to keep it standing in her last two against young contenders in their prime, so I expect she will be able to do the same against Esparza at this stage of her career and have an even bigger striking advantage than she is used to. 

Prediction: Pennington by Decision

## Ovince St.Preux +206 vs. Ryan Spann -241

Light Heavyweights look to finally settle it here after a late cancelation postponed this fight from last month. Ovince St. Preux is a tricky veteran who has hung around with his toughness, striking, and submission game, often leaving opponents wondering what happened. Ryan Spann is a dangerous finisher with good boxing and strong wrestling, although his durability is a concern as he takes punches poorly and struggles to recover.

I have my concerns with Spann, but he is the much younger and more dangerous fighter here, and I see him getting an early finish by overwhelming OSP with power shots.

Prediction: Spann by 1st Round TKO

## Tim Means -200 vs. Court McGee +170

Veteran Welterweights open the card in what should be a fun scrap. Tim Means is a brawler who brings it every time he fights, although he is forty years old and has lost four of his last five, leaving questions about how much is left in the tank. Court McGee is a solid wrestler who has been in the UFC for over a decade, although his time is nearly up as he has lost three straight, including two first-round knockouts, and he has not scored a finish of his own since 2010.

I'll pick Means here as I see him doing the damage and avoiding McGee's wrestling, although, at this price, this fight is an easy pass from a betting perspective with McGee's wrestling upside.

Prediction: Means by Decision

UFC 307 Odds Breakdown

The UFC returns to Paris, France, this weekend with a card full of French fighters ready to represent their country, including headliner Lightweight star Benoit Saint-Denis, who prepares to take on the streaking Brazilian Renato Moicano. I went over each fight on the main card to give my predictions and best bets, so let's get into it.

**Odds provided by DuelBits accurate as of 9/26/2024**

## Renato Moicano +220 vs. Benoit Saint-Denis -278

Lightweight contenders clash in our main event. Renato Moicano is a very slick grappler coming off an impressive comeback against Jalin Turner. In that fight, he survived getting dropped in round one to win in the second by getting the fight to the ground and dominating from top mount. Benoit Saint-Denis is a well-rounded and all-action fighter who had finished five straight opponents before losing to Dustin Poirier in a back-and-forth battle earlier this year. In that fight, he showed his strong wrestling early, although his striking defense looked bad as he continued to charge in with reckless abandonment.

I'm taking Saint-Denis to get a knockout here. He is strong enough to force a striking match, and his power and pressure will be too much for Moicano to handle.

Prediction: Saint-Denis by 1st Round TKO

## Nassourdine Imavov -222 vs. Brendan Allen +175

Fast-rising Middleweights, each coming off main event wins, clash in this intriguing matchup. Nassourdine Imavov is a highly skilled striker with good power and timing, but he can be held in clinch positions for longer than he should with some of the grappling skills he has showcased. Brendan Allen has grown to be a solid fighter with his always dangerous grappling and decent striking, although his durability remains a big concern for me as he doesn't react well to big punches.

I've got Imavov in this one. I feel his striking is much better than Allen's, and he will be able to time his big counter shots and eventually find a finish.

Prediction: Imavov by 2nd Round KO (Best Bet)

## William Gomis +235 vs. Joanderson Brito -303

Featherweights looking to break into the rankings go head to head here. William Gomis is a tall kickboxer with solid strikes at range, although his volume is relatively low, and Francis Marshall got him into some very bad spots on the ground. Joanderson Brito is a tank who will come forward and go for the finish from the first second with dangerous power in his hands and a nasty submission game as well.

I'll pick Brito here as although Gomis can have some success striking, I see Brito having a big advantage on the ground and using it to secure a submission win.

Prediction: Brito by 1st Round Submission

## Kevin Jousset +144 vs. Bryan Battle -179

It's a fun matchup here at Welterweight featuring an Ultimate Fighter winner from a few seasons ago. Kevin Jousset is a solid kickboxer who isn't afraid to grapple when he has the advantage, as he did in his UFC debut win over Kiefer Crosbie. Bryan Battle has looked great in his last few fights, showing dangerous power in his striking and using his length well since moving down in weight, although I still have concerns about his wrestling since his loss to Rinat Fakhretdinov, where he was dominated on the ground.

I'm going with Jousset as the underdog here. He can keep it close on the feet and is more likely to succeed in grappling.

Prediction: Jousset by Decision

## Morgan Charriere -714 vs. Gabriel Miranda +460

It's a clash of styles in this Featherweight matchup. Morgan Charriere is a slick kickboxer with a very fun style and a wealth of high-level experience from his time in Cage Warriors, having faced names like Jordan Vucenic and Paul Hughes. Gabriel Miranda is a solid submission grappler coming off his first UFC win, where he scored a quick choke against veteran Shane Young.

This price is high, but I will pick Charriere as I see him avoiding the grappling and slowly breaking down a tough Miranda with his massive striking advantage for a late knockout win.

Prediction: Charriere by 3rd Round TKO

## Fares Ziam -132 vs. Matt Frevola +107

Lightweights kick off the main card in this must-see clash. Fares Ziam enters this matchup on a three-fight win streak, having shown solid improvements to his striking and grappling game since his early days in the UFC. Matt Frevola is a very offensive-minded fighter with solid boxing and strong wrestling, although his defense is sometimes suspect, which is a concern.

I lean towards Ziam here as he is the younger of the two, showing more improvements to his game. I see him having success striking at a distance, avoiding much of Frevola's wrestling threat.

Prediction: Ziam by Decision

UFC Fight Night: Moicano vs. Saint-Denis Odds Breakdown

Joey Kolnicki

The UFC visits the Accor Arena in Paris with an outstanding Fight Night card. The entire card is filled with exciting fights, established names, and rising stars. While there are multiple ranked matchups and hot prospects on the main card, the prelims also have some fantastic fights. Of these preliminary bouts, the best matchup may be Bolaji Oki vs. Chris Duncan. 

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

Bolaji Oki has a professional record of 9-1-0 and is on a nine-fight win streak. He has a UFC victory over Timmy Cuamba.

Chris Duncan has a professional record of 11-2-0 and has won four of his last five bouts. He has UFC victories over Yanal Ashmouz and Omar Morales. 

![oki2 (1).jpg](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/877a5901-3e92-42d6-7d16-77980aa7bb00/public "Bolaji Oki fires a right hand at Dylan Salvador. Credit: MMA Junkie.")

Oki is a powerful, technical striker who’s constantly coming forward. He has excellent distance management and can do damage at range and inside the pocket while remaining elusive. He fights behind his jab and tends to counterstrike, looking to draw reactions out of his opponents so he can land strikes. Training with Da Vinci Fighting, his pace increases as the fight continues, and he’ll regularly look to blitz forward and unload heavy hooks and straights. Oki has heavy kicks and power in both hands, remains technical throughout, and won’t load up or telegraph his attacks. He has found four of his six finishes in the first round but carries his power throughout the fight and is always dangerous.

![cduncan3.jpg](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/0d9e6a82-bdab-402c-f585-cf06d67e9000/public "Chris Duncan flattens Charlie Campbell with a right hand. Credit: MMA Junkie.")

Duncan is a well-rounded fighter with a solid wrestling game and dangerous power in his hands. He’s constantly pressuring forward, remaining patient, and looking for openings before unloading overhands and hooks. He has one-shot knockout power and can produce a knockout at any moment. Training at American Top Team, Duncan is averaging nearly four takedowns landed per fifteen minutes and has heavy top and clinch control. He’s always working to improve position or land damage when he’s on top. He has great cardio and will push a consistent pace across all fifteen minutes.

![cduncan2.jpg](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/68431c41-bf69-40d0-6867-5fbda5865f00/public "Chris Duncan lands a stinging right hand on Yanal Ashmouz. Credit: MMA Junkie.")

This is a fight you definitely won’t want to miss.


Verdict's Sleeper Fight of the Week: Oki vs. Duncan

Merab Dvalishvili used his pace and wrestling to control Sean O'Malley over five rounds to claim the Bantamweight belt with a decision win in the UFC 306 main event.

## Result: Merab Dvalishvili def. Sean O'Malley via Unanimous-Decision (49-46, 48-47x 2)

It was a wrestling clinic from new champion Merab Dvalishvili, who kept a high pace and repeatedly took down Sean O'Malley over the course of five rounds to claim the title. There was a late scare as Merab appeared to be very hurt to the body after a kick, but he survived to reach the scorecards, where he was victorious.

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

Merab Dvalishvili Claims Title in UFC 306 Main Event

Valentina Shevchenko looked dominant in the third fight with Alexa Grasso as she reclaimed her belt with a decision win in the UFC 306 co-main event.

## Result: Valentina Shevchenko def. Alexa Grasso via Unanimous-Decision (50-45x 3)

There was no controversy around the decision this time around, as Valentina Shevchenko used her sharp striking and strong wrestling to reclaim her title. Alexa Grasso did have several submission attempts that seemed very close, but Shevchenko survived all of them.

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