ROUNDHOUSE MMA

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

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


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


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

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

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

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

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

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

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


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


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

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

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

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

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



PFL 3 Weigh-In Results

The fighters competing at **PFL 3: Kasanganay vs. Edwards** hit the scales in Orlando ahead of Friday’s event. Quarterfinal matchups in the Middleweight and Lightweight divisions are now official, with all fighters successfully making weight. Full results below.

## Main Card

**Middleweight:** Impa Kasanganay (**185.6 lbs**) vs. Fabian Edwards (**185.6 lbs**)

**Lightweight:** Gadzhi Rabadanov (**156 lbs**) vs. Marc Diakiese (**155.2 lbs**)

**Middleweight:** Sadibou Sy (**185.8 lbs**) vs. Dalton Rosta (**185.6 lbs**)

**Lightweight:** Mads Burnell (**155.8 lbs**) vs. Jay-Jay Wilson (**156 lbs**)

**Lightweight:** Clay Collard (**155.4 lbs**) vs. Alfie Davis (**155.6 lbs**)

---

## Prelims

**Middleweight:** Josh Silveira (**185.6 lbs**) vs. Mike Shipman (**186 lbs**)

**Lightweight:** Brent Primus (**155.6 lbs**) vs. Vinicius Sacchelli Cenci (**155.8 lbs**)

**Middleweight:** Aaron Jeffery (**185.4 lbs**) vs. Murad Ramazanov (**185.2 lbs**)

**Lightweight:** Antonio Caruso (**154.6 lbs**) vs. Robert Watley (**155.6 lbs**)

PFL 3: Kasanganay vs. Edwards Weigh-In Results

The Professional Fighters League continues its 2025 World Tournament with PFL 3: Kasanganay vs. Edwards, taking place this Friday, April 18, at Universal Studios Florida in Orlando. This event features some stacked quarterfinal matchups in the Middleweight and Lightweight divisions.

## Main Event: Impa Kasanganay vs. Fabian Edwards (Middleweight Quarterfinal)

Former PFL Light-Heavyweight Champion Impa Kasanganay (18-5) returns to the SmartCage, moving down a weight class following his knockout loss to Dovletdzhan Yagshimuradov in the PFL Finals last year. Kasanganay will be looking to put the pressure on Fabian Edwards with his boxing, to add a sixth finish to his PFL highlight reel. Fabian Edwards (13-4), the younger brother of UFC fighter Leon Edwards, fights a similar style to his brother with his precision kicks and movement. The winner of this matchup will be favored to win the whole tournament, so it's one to keep an eye on.

## Co-Main Event: Sadibou Sy vs. Dalton Rosta (Middleweight Quarterfinal)

2022 PFL Welterweight Champion Sadibou Sy (17-8-2) returns to Middleweight after a short stint at Light-Heavyweight to face prospect Dalton Rosta (9-1), a Bellator homegrown fighter. Sy, renowned for his flashy striking, aims to leverage his experience against Rosta's aggressive wrestling and knockout power. Rosta, making his PFL debut, looks to make a statement by adding Sy to his résumé.

## Gadzhi Rabadanov vs. Marc Diakiese (Lightweight Quarterfinal)

Gadzhi Rabadanov (24-4-1) is coming off a finish victory over Brent Primus in the PFL 2024 Finals, and will be looking to become a back-to-back Champion this year. He brings his relentless wrestling to the cage against England's Marc Diakiese (19-7), who's making his PFL debut after a long UFC run. Rabadanov, riding a ten-fight unbeaten streak, is known for his suffocating ground game. Diakiese will be looking to keep the fight standing so he can utilize his striking arsenal to halt the streak of Rabadanov.

PFL 3: Kasanganay vs. Edwards takes place on Friday, April 18, at Universal Studios Florida in Orlando. The main card airs live on ESPN2 and ESPN+ at 7 p.m. ET.

PFL 3: Kasanganay vs. Edwards Preview

The Professional Fighters League returns with PFL 2: Higo vs. Alves, featuring the opening round of the Bantamweight and Women’s Flyweight tournaments. With a spot in the semi-finals on the line, fighters are looking to make a statement early in the season.

## Main Event: Leandro Higo vs. Marcirley Alves (Bantamweight Quarterfinal)
Originally scheduled to face Josh Rettinghouse, Leandro Higo (23-6) now meets Marcirley Alves (12-4) in the new main event. Higo, a former Bellator title challenger, has a depth of high-level experience and a dangerous submission game. Alves, stepping in on short notice as the Bantamweight alternative, is  Brazilian prospect riding who's fought in Bellator and LFA. Higo’s experience and composure under pressure make him the favorite, but Alves will look to play spoiler and earn himself a spot in the semi-finals.

## Co-Main Event: Liz Carmouche vs. Ilara Joanne (Women’s Flyweight Quarterfinal)
Former Bellator Women’s Flyweight Champion Liz Carmouche (22-8) makes her return to the PFL after a decision loss to Taila Santos, against Brazilian striker Ilara Joanne (12-9). Carmouche was a long reinging Champion in Bellator, and is known for her gritty wrestling style. She faces Joanne, who's comng off a victory over Shanna Young in the PFL Playoffs.

## Francesco Nuzzi vs. Mando Gutierrez (Bantamweight Quarterfinal)
In a potential fight of the night contender, Italian standout Francesco Nuzzi (10-1) takes on Contender Series alum Mando Gutierrez (10-3) in a Bantamweight quarterfinal. Nuzzi enters the PFL with a 9-fight win streak and also holds a win over UFC Fighter Benardo Sopaj. Gutierrez, known for his grappling, will aim to drag the fight into deeper waters and test Nuzzi’s takedown defense. With both men looking to make a splash in their PFL debuts, this has all-action written all over it.

## Justin Wetzell vs. Kasum Kasumov (Bantamweight Quarterfinal)
In the opening bout of the main card, rising prospect Justin Wetzell (10-2) meets Dagestani wrestler Kasum Kasumov (16-1) in another compelling Bantamweight quarterfinal. Wetzell’s striking and movement could pose problems early, but Kasumov’s smothering top game and control may dictate the pace. Kasumov’s only career loss came by decision, and he's eager to prove he’s the man to beat in the bracket. This bout will be a crucial litmus test for both fighters’ paths to the finals.

PFL 2 takes place tonight, April 11, at Universal Studios Florida in Orlando. The main card airs live on ESPN2 and ESPN+ at 11 p.m. ET.

PFL 2: Higo vs. Alves Preview

Douglas Vegas Bets

The UFC is back on PPV from the Kaseya Center in Miami, Florida, tomorrow, headlined by Alexander Volkanovski and Diego Lopes squaring off for the vacant Featherweight title. The official weigh-ins took place today, here are the results.

## Main Card 10 PM EST

**Featherweight Title Fight:** Alexander Volkanovski (145) vs. Diego Lopes (145)

**Lightweight:** Michael Chandler (156) vs. Paddy Pimblett (156)

**Featherweight:** Bryce Mitchell (146) vs. Jean Silva (146)

**Featherweight:** Yair Rodriguez (146) vs. Patricio Pitbull (145)

**Light Heavyweight:** Nikita Krylov (206) vs. Dominick Reyes (206)

## Prelims 6 PM EST

**Featherweight:** Dan Ige (146) vs. Sean Woodson (146)

**Strawweight:** Virna Jandiroba (116) vs. Xiaonan Yan (116)

**Lightweight:** Chase Hooper (156) vs. Jim Miller (156)

**Featherweight:** Darren Elkins (145) vs. Julian Erosa (145)

**Middleweight:** Sedriques Dumas (185) vs. Michal Oleksiejczuk (186)

**Flyweight:** Sumudaerji (126) vs. Mitch Raposo (126)

**Middleweight:** Tresean Gore (186) vs. Marco Tulio (186)

**Bantamweight:** Nora Cornolle (138)* vs. Hailey Cowan (136)

*Fighter Missed Weight

UFC 314 Weigh-In Results

The UFC is back on PPV this weekend with a stacked card from the Kaseya Center in Miami, Florida, headlined by former Champion and fan favorite Alexander Volkanovski taking on fast-rising contender Diego Lopes for the vacant Featherweight title. I went over that matchup and every other fight on this stacked card to give my predictions and the Underdog Best Bet of The Week, so let's get into it.

**Odds provided by DuelBits accurate as of 4/10/2025**

## Alexander Volkanovski -128 vs. Diego Lopes +105

The newly vacant Featherweight title is on the line in this high-stakes main event. Alexander Volkanovski looks to reclaim the title he defended five times with his incredibly technical and powerful striking game, along with a dominant ground-and-pound attack and grappling defense that helped him escape a deep choke from Brian Ortega and survive a full round of Islam Makhachev being on his back. Diego Lopes has had a meteoric rise to this opportunity since coming in on short notice against Movsar Evloev less than two years ago; since then, he has won five straight fights, showing a combination of devastating power and nasty submission skills with an improved cardio game from the Dan Ige fight to the Brian Ortega fight.

I'm picking Volkanovski to get the belt back here as although I am concerned about his durability coming back from multiple knockout losses, he is the much more skilled fighter, especially on the feet, and I know he has five-round cardio. At the same time, I am not sure Lopes will be nearly as dangerous come round three, which gives him a short window to catch a very defensively responsible Volkanovski.

Prediction: Volkanovski by 5th Round TKO

## Michael Chandler +126 vs. Paddy Pimblett -156

Exciting Lightweights collide in this must-see co-main event. Michael Chandler is an always entertaining powerhouse with high-level wrestling and good power in his striking, although his defense and fight IQ have been inconsistent, to say the least. Paddy Pimblett is a dangerous grappler with decent striking, coming off a quick submission against Bobby Green, where he showed his slick skills on the ground, although his cardio has not been tested since he gassed badly against Tony Ferguson.

I'll go with Pimblett in this one, as he is a much younger fighter who is more dangerous on the ground and has good enough striking to find a finish there with Chandler's questionable durability.

Prediction: Pimblett by 2nd Round Submission

## Bryce Mitchell +185 vs. Jean Silva -233

This grudge match at Featherweight has many fans eager for violence. Bryce Mitchell is a strong wrestler with solid submission skills who has competed with strong competition over the years, such as Dan Ige, Josh Emmett, and Ilia Topuria. Jean Silva is a powerful striker who comes in having finished his first four UFC opponents, although he has yet to be tested against ranked opposition, and his grappling is questionable.

I lean towards Silva despite these being steep odds, as although I have some concerns about his takedown defense, I like his getup game, and I see Mitchell struggling to close distance without taking too much damage.

Prediction: Silva by 2nd Round TKO

## Yair Rodriguez -200 vs. Patrcio 'Pitbull' Freire +160

A fresh face with plenty of experience takes on a former title challenger in this pivotal Featherweight clash. Yair Rodriguez is a wild striker with some dangerous submissions off his back, but his wrestling is a weak point, with guys who are not wrestlers like Max Holloway being able to take him down repeatedly. Pitbull finally makes his debut here, and although his best days may be behind him, he remains a skilled and experienced striker with dangerous boxing and a good top game on the ground with a nasty guillotine.

I'm taking the newcomer in Pitbull as if he can avoid taking too much damage early, the striking will be close, and he can mix in some grappling, where he will have a significant advantage. I also trust his cardio more if this reaches the third round. With that, Patricio Pitbull Moneyline is this week's underdog best bet of the week.

Prediction: Pitbull by Decision (Best Bet)

## Nikita Krylov -182 vs. Dominick Reyes +147

Light Heavyweights are looking to push into the title picture as they square off here to open the main card. Nikita Krylov is a well-rounded finisher with a wild style who has struggled to reach the cage in recent years. Dominick Reyes looks to continue his resurgence here after back-to-back knockout wins over Dustin Jacoby and Anthony Smith, although his durability was not tested in those fights and could still be an issue with him being knocked out three times in a row before those wins.

I lean towards Krylov here as I trust him a lot more from a durability standpoint, and he has the grappling upside.

Prediction: Krylov by 1st Round TKO

## Dan Ige +143 vs. Sean Woodson -175

It's an intriguing matchup of strikers here in this Featherweight featured-prelim. Dan Ige is a stocky striker with insane durability and serious knockout power, as he has shown against Damon Jackson and Andre Fili. Sean Woodson is a tall and slick boxer who uses his reach to keep opponents at range, although when blitzed by guys like Alex Caceres, he has had trouble.

I'll pick Ige as the underdog here, as he has all the finishing upside, and I believe he can get inside Woodson's reach enough to cause more damage.

Prediction: Ige by 2nd Round KO

## Virna Jandiroba -149 vs. Xiaonan Yan +122

Strawweights looking to earn the next shot at the title go head-to-head in this one. Virna Jandiroba is a strong and dangerous grappler with excellent control on top and a submission game that she used to finish Amanda Lemos her last time out. Xiaonan Yan is a long striker who picks opponents apart at the range, but her grappling has proven to be a weak point despite some improvements shown in the Tabatha Ricci fight.

I like Jandiroba here as she has proven to have elite grappling skills for the division, and I don't believe Yan has made the necessary improvements to stop her from getting there.

Prediction: Jandiroba by 1st Round Submission

## Chase Hooper -833 vs. Jim Miller +540

Lightweight grapplers born generations apart collide in this fun matchup. Chase Hooper is a tricky grappler who has made clear improvements since joining the UFC at a very young age. Jim Miller is the most experienced man in UFC history, having shown a strong ground game and decent boxing, although his age is becoming a concern as he is forty-one and has taken a lot of damage.

Hooper is the rightful favorite here with his youth and grappling advantages. Still, these odds are very steep to take against a veteran Miller who has the striking and experience advantages. Passing on this fight from a betting perspective.

Prediction: Hooper by 2nd Round Submission 

## Darren Elkins +265 vs. Julian Erosa -345

Veteran Featherweights with a long history of entertaining fights between them square off here. Darren Elkins is a tough grappler known for his ability to take damage and grind out wins, although his age and durability have caused a decline. Julian Erosa is an exciting finisher who keeps high pace striking and has a nasty submission game that he has used on guys like Ricardo Ramos and Christian Rodriguez, although his chin is a serious concern, with him having suffered seven knockout losses.

I'll go with Erosa to get a finish here as he has a massive striking advantage along with the grappling to finish there, and he will not gas out like some of Elkins's past opponents.

Prediction: Erosa by 3rd Round TKO

## Sedriques Dumas +160 vs. Michal Oleksiejczuk -200

This is an interesting matchup at Middleweight between two exciting fighters who could use a big win. Sedriques Dumas is a tall and long fighter who has developed his game from a kickboxer to more of a grappler since joining the UFC, although he struggles with physicality. Michal Oleksiejczuk is a powerful striker who constantly pressures opponents, although his grappling has looked terrible, having been submitted three times in his last five fights.

I'm going with Oleksiejczuk as, despite his deficiencies on the ground, we saw Dumas struggle to take down Denis Tiuiulin, which leads me to believe Oleksiejczuk can keep this standing where he will do much more damage. 

Prediction: Oleksiejczuk by 1st Round KO

## Sumudaerji -175 vs. Mitch Raposo +143

It's a fun veteran vs. prospect matchup early on the card at Flyweight. Sumudaerji is a tall striker with good weapons at range but struggles with grappling, having been submitted in two of his last three fights. Mitch Raposo is a young and athletic prospect coming off a tough debut matchup against Andre Lima, where he wasn't able to show much of the well-rounded offensive game he showed on his regional tape.

I bet Raposo as the underdog here, as he has the wrestling pedigree to take this fight to the ground, and his striking is good enough to keep it close or hurt Sumudaerji as we saw Charles Johnson do.

Prediction: Raposo by 2nd Round Submission

## Tresean Gore +290 vs. Marco Tulio -385

Middleweight finishers look to make a name for themselves in this must-see matchup. Tresean Gore is a stocky striker with big power and a strong guillotine choke that he has used to secure back-to-back wins. Marco Tulio looks to build off a strong UFC debut here after showing off his dangerous knockout power against Ihor Potieria.

I'll go with Tulio to find a knockout here, as I feel he will be the higher-output fighter putting the pressure on, and I don't trust Gore's durability after Cody Brundage knocked him out.

Prediction: Tulio by 1st Round TKO

## Nora Cornelle -182 vs. Hailey Cowan +147

Bantamweights, each looking to bounce back from a loss, open the card here. Nora Cornelle is an aggressive striker with a high finishing rate for the division. Hailey Cowan returns from a two-year layoff here, having shown decent grappling skill in her UFC debut despite the loss to Jamey-Lyn Horth.

I'll pick Cornelle here as she has been the much more active fighter against tougher competition, and she will have a massive striking advantage.

Prediction: Cornelle by Decision

UFC 314 Odds Breakdown

The first round of the PFL World Tournament between the Bantamweights and Women’s Flyweights goes down tomorrow night. Here are the weigh-in results.

## Main Card

**_Bantamweight:_** Leandro Higo (**? lbs**) vs. Marcirley Alves (**? lbs**)M

**_Women’s Flyweight:_** Liz Carmouche (**126 lbs**) vs. Ilara Joanne (**124.8 lbs**)

**_Bantamweight:_** Francesco Nuzzi (**135 lbs**) vs. Mando Gutierrez (**135.8 lbs**)

**_Bantamweight:_** Justin Wetzell (**? lbs**) vs. Kasum Kasumov (**? lbs**)

## Prelims

**_Women’s Flyweight:_** Ekaterina Shakalova (**125.8 lbs**) vs. Juliana Velasquez (**126 lbs**)

**_Bantamweight:_** Matheus Mattos (**135.6 lbs**) vs. Jake Hadley (**135.8 lbs**)

**_Women’s Flyweight:_** Kana Watanabe (**125.2 lbs**) vs. Jena Bishop (**125.6 lbs**)

**_Women’s Flyweight:_** Diana Avsaragova (**125.4 lbs**) vs. Elora Dana (**124.6 lbs**)

**_Bantamweight:_** Marcirley Alves (**? lbs**) vs. Vilson Ndregjoni (**? lbs**)

PFL 2 takes place on Friday, April 11, at Universal Studios Florida in Orlando. The main card begins at 11:00 PM ET and on ESPN2 and ESPN+.

PFL 2: Higo vs. Alves Weigh-in Results

It was a closely contested affair in the main event from the UFC Apex as Featherweight contenders went all five rounds, with Lerone Murphy getting his hand raised in the end against Josh Emmett via unanimous decision.

## Result: Lerone Murphy def. Josh Emmett by Unanimous Decision (48-47, 49-46, 48-47)

It was a very technical fight, with Murphy landing at a higher volume and mixing in low kicks, while Emmett had some big moments and had some success with his wrestling. The final round saw Murphy land a big left hand that wobbled Emmett and likely won him the fight.


>"Give me anybody in that top five" - Lerone Murphy

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

Lerone Murphy Stays Undefeated With Decision Win Over Josh Emmett

The UFC is back in the Apex tomorrow night for this fun card headlined by former Featherweight title challenger Josh Emmett taking on rising contender Lerone Murphy. The official weigh-ins took place today; here are the results.

## Main Card 9 PM EST

**Featherweight:** Josh Emmett (146) vs. Lerone Murphy (145.5)

**Featherweight:** Joanderson Brito (146) vs. Pat Sabatini (145.5)

**Bantamweight:** Cortavious Romious (139.5)* vs. Chang Ho Lee (136)

**Middleweight:** Gerald Meerschaert (185) vs. Brad Tavares (185.5)

**Flyweight:** Luis Gurule (125) vs. Ode Osbourne (125.5)

**Middleweight:** Rob Valentin (185.5) vs. Torrez Finney (186)

## Prelims 6 PM EST

**Bantamweight:** Davey Grant (135.5) vs. Daniel Santos ()**

**Flyweight:** Dione Barbosa (126) vs. Diana Belbita (125.5)

**Welterweight:** Rhys McKee (171) vs. Daniel Frunza (170.5)

**Strawweight:** Loma Lookboonmee (115) vs. Istela Nunes (115)

**Bantamweight:** Victor Henry (135.5) vs. Pedro Falcao (136)

**Heavyweight:** Martin Buday (266) vs. Uran Satybaldiev (222.5)

**Strawweight:** Vanessa Demopoulos (116) vs. Talita Alencar (115)

*Fighter Missed Weight

**Santos did not weigh-in. His fight against Davey Grant has been canceled. 

UFC Fight Night: Emmett vs. Murphy Weigh-In Results

The UFC is back in the Apex this weekend with a card of action headlined by Featherweight contenders Josh Emmett and Lerone Murphy squaring off. I went over that matchup and every other fight on the card to give my predictions and the underdog best bet of the week, so let's get into it.

**Odds provided by Duelbits accurate as of 4/3/2025**

## Josh Emmett +255 vs. Lerone Murphy -333

Featherweights looking to put their name into top contention collide in this main event matchup. Josh Emmett is an extremely hard hitter with lots of experience in hard-fought wars against top contenders, although he is now forty years old and hasn't fought in over a year. Lerone Murphy is a technically sound boxer who comes in undefeated, having shown he has the skills to outpoint good strikers like Edson Barboza and Dan Ige, but both of those men did have him hurt badly in the early stages, which is a concern.

I'll go with Murphy here as he has a significant speed advantage, especially as he is a younger and more active fighter. I see Murphy building as the fight progresses to take over in the later rounds and win a decision.

Prediction: Murphy by Decision

## Joanderson Brito -233 vs. Pat Sabatini +185

Two Featherweights will try to make a statement as they square off in this co-main event. Joanderson Brito is a powerhouse with knockout power on the feet and a dangerous ground game, although his aggression has caused him to slow down late in fights. Pat Sabatini is a dangerous submission grappler who has proven he can exploit weaker grappling games to dominate, but when forced to strike, he is very hittable and doesn't take damage well, having suffered several early knockout losses.

Brito likely finds a knockout here as he has the grappling to defend Sabatini's best weapons, plus his power on the feet against Sabatini's durability issues, which is a recipe for disaster.

Prediction: Brito by 1st Round KO

## Cortavious Romious +110 vs. Chang Ho Lee -135

These Bantamweights look to make a name for themselves in this intriguing matchup. Cortavious Romious is a solid submission grappler coming off a tough UFC debut where he showed his struggles when he can't get a fight to the ground. Chang Ho Lee is a wrestler with good control on the ground, although he still works to finish from the top position.

I'll go with Lee here as this will mostly be a grappling match, and his wrestling ability will help him secure more top time where he is better at getting off damage.

Prediction: Lee by Decision

## Kennedy Nzechukwu -357 vs. Matrin Buday +275

Hard-hitting Heavyweights trying to build momentum collide here. Kennedy Nzechukwu has won two straight, both by first-round knockout, since moving up in weight, showing that his power translates well, although he has yet to face any tough competition in this division. Martin Buday is a big guy, even for Heavyweight, with a solid top game decent but low-volume striking and bad cardio.

Nzechukwu should win here as his striking and cardio advantages give him plenty of advantages to work with; however, given some past performances, I can't bet on him at this price.

Prediction: Nzechukwu by 2nd Round TKO

## Gerald Meerschaert +185 vs. Brad Tavares -233

Veterans with opposing styles go head to head in this Middleweight matchup. Gerald Meerschaert is a skilled submission artist who has made a career off of surviving early onslaughts to drag guys into deep waters where he submits them. Brad Tavares is a solid kickboxer who has shown good takedown defense over the years, although he lacks much finishing ability.

This is a good matchup for Tavares, as when he has struggled, it has been against high-level strikers, and he has proven his takedown defense to be high quality over his entire career.

Prediction: Tavares by 3rd Round TKO

## Robert Valentin +235 vs. Torrez Finney -303

It's a matchup of The Ultimate Fighter and Dana White's Contender Series products set to open the main card here at Middleweight. Robert Valentin is an ultra-aggressive finisher with dangerous skills in striking and a unique submission game, although he has obvious technical flaws that can be exploited. Torrez Finney is a stocky wrestler who many know from his three appearances on DWCS, where he was successful all three times with two finishes.

I like Finney, as he can get on top and maintain control while doing damage or hunting submissions. Meanwhile, Valentin remains a dangerous finisher, although he is not great when it comes to winning minutes, which I believe will cost him here. 

Prediction: Finney by Decision

## Luis Gurule -263 vs. Ode Osbourne +210

It's a debutant vs. struggling veteran matchup in this Flyweight featured prelim. Luis Gurule is a pressure fighter who makes his debut here off a close win on Dana White's Contender Series, where he showed some weakness in the wrestling early. Ode Osbourne is an athletic striker with a long reach and good power, although his durability and fight IQ have cost him several times.

I'll bet Osbourne at these odds, as he can use his reach advantage to land big shots at range and has much more high-level experience.

Prediction: Osbourne by 1st Round KO

## Davey Grant +126 vs. Daniel Santos -154

Bantamweights known for putting on a show square off in this one. Davey Grant is a gritty veteran striker who has held his own with some of the best in the division over the years. Daniel Santos is an exciting striker from the famous Chute Boxe gym who returns from a nearly two-year layoff here.

I'll go with Santos on this one, as he is a much younger fighter who lands at a higher rate and has better defensive statistics as well.

Prediction: Santos by Decision

## Dione Barbosa -909 vs. Diana Belbita +580

Two Flyweights looking to return to the win column are matched up here. Dione Barbosa is a well-rounded fighter with a good kicking game and solid grappling in close. Diana Belbita is a kickboxer who comes in after more than a year away after losing three of her last four, mainly due to her struggles in grappling.

Barbosa should win here and even get a finish if she gets this fight to the ground.

Prediction: Barbosa by 2nd Round Submission

## Rhys McKee +127 vs. Daniel Frunza -156

These Welterweights will try to make a statement here in this preliminary clash. Rhys McKee is a tough finisher who has yet to win a fight in the UFC, although he worked his way back to the promotion with an impressive Cage Warriors run not long ago. Daniel Frunza debuts here off of Dana White's Contender Series, where he showed good striking but was dropped and held on the ground for a concerning amount of time before finding the finish.

I'll bet McKee here, as he is the more well-rounded, experienced fighter with the longer reach, and he will not fade like Frunza's DWCS opponent. With that, Rhys McKee MoneyLine is this week's Underdog Best Bet of the Week.

Prediction: McKee by 2nd Round TKO (Best Bet)

## Victor Henry -217 vs. Pedro Falcao +175

Both these Bantamweights are trying to get a bounce-back win here. Victor Henry is a high pace fighter with a well-rounded game and good durability, although he doesn't have much of a finishing threat. Pedro Falcao looks to bounce back from a debut loss where he did show good things like the ability to wrestle hard for three rounds and solid boxing despite coming up short.

I lean towards Henry here as he has the striking advantage, good takedown defense, and has proven he can match the pace Falcao can set.

Prediction: Henry by Decision

## Vanessa Demopoulos -109 vs. Talita Alencar -112

Strawweight grapplers face off in this fun matchup. Vanessa Demopoulos is a solid grappler with decent volume on the feet, although she fails to separate herself and is very hittable. Talita Alencar is a submission grappler with a dangerous game early, although when she is stuffed in the grappling, she has trouble in the striking.

I lean towards Alencar here, as Demopoulos has struggled against good grapplers, and I believe Alencar is the more dangerous submission threat.

Prediction: Alencar by Decision

## Loma Lookboonmee -769 vs. Istela Nunes +520

Strawweights on opposite trajectories open the card here. Loma Lookboonmee has developed into a well-rounded fighter on a three-fight win streak, building a strong grappling attack off her Muay Thai base. Istela Nunes looks to end her winless UFC run after losing her only four fights with the promotion, where she has shown decent striking and poor grappling.

I expect Lookboonmee to dominate here as she has proven she can easily handle lower-level competition. At the same time, Nunes has yet to show she can compete with anyone at this level.

Prediction: Lookboonmee by 3rd Round Submission

UFC Fight Night: Emmett vs. Murphy Odds Breakdown

Liam Lindsay

**PFL 1: Jackson vs. Koreshkov – Main Card Preview**

The Professional Fighters League (PFL) launches its 2025 World Tournament with PFL 1 tonight at Universal Studios Florida in Orlando. This event features a four-fight main card with the quarterfinal matchups in the Welterweight and Featherweight divisions. The winners of these matchups will advance to the semi-finals for a chance at winning $500,000.

## Main Event: Jason Jackson vs. Andrey Koreshkov (Welterweight Quarterfinal)

In a battle of former Bellator MMA champions, Jason "The Ass-Kicking Machine" Jackson faces Andrey "Spartan" Koreshkov. Jackson (18-5) aims to rebound after a title loss to Ramazan Kuramagomedov in June 2024, which ended his impressive eight-fight winning streak that included victories over Ray Cooper III and Yaroslav Amosov. Jackson seeks to reassert his dominance in the Welterweight division with a win over Koreshkov. Koreshkov (28-5) is a seasoned striker with a diverse skill set. He had a mixed 2024 season, including a loss to Magomed Umalatov and a victory over Goiti Yamauchi. Koreshkov is an explosive striker, with fourteen wins coming via KO/TKO. This bout is pivotal for both fighters to establish momentum in the tournament.

## Co-Main Event: Jesus Pinedo vs. Adam Borics (Featherweight Quarterfinal)

2023 PFL Featherweight Champion Jesus Pinedo (23-6) returns to the SmartCage to face Adam Borics (19-2). Pinedo's path to the 2023 title was marked by significant TKOs over Brendan Loughnane, Bubba Jenkins, and Gabriel Braga. Borics, after a hiatus following his 2022 title challenge against Patricio "Pitbull" Freire, secured a unanimous decision win over Enrique Barzola in April 2024. Pinedo will look to become a two-time PFL Champion, while Borics aims to spoil the show.

## Joseph Luciano vs. Logan Storley (Welterweight Quarterfinal)

With Magomed Umalatov's withdrawal due to a weight miss, Joseph Luciano steps in to face Logan Storley in a Welterweight Quarterfinal. Luciano (10-2), an Australian prospect, has an opportunity to make a significant impact in his PFL debut. Storley (16-3), a former Bellator interim Welterweight Champion, brings a wrestling-heavy approach, making this a classic striker vs. grappler contest.

## Jeremy Kennedy vs. Movlid Khaybulaev (Featherweight Quarterfinal)

Canadian Jeremy Kennedy (19-4) takes on undefeated 2021 PFL Featherweight Champion Movlid Khaybulaev (21-0-1). Kennedy's well-rounded skill set will be tested against Khaybulaev's dominant wrestling, which he's used to secure wins over Tyler Diamond, Brendan Loughnane, and Damon Jackson. This bout is crucial for both fighters aiming to make a statement in the Featherweight bracket. Kennedy is a significant underdog but will be looking to earn a huge upset victory here.

PFL 1 sets the stage for the new tournament season, with each fighter ready to earn their spots in the semi-finals.