Liam Lindsay

Raquel Pennington pulled through a tough start to win the vacant Women's Bantamweight title with a blank victory over Mayra Bueno Silva via a clear unanimous decision in the co-main event at UFC 297.

The first round was a rocky start for the newly crowned Champion, with Bueno Silva securing a takedown and taking the back of Pennington. However, in the second, Pennington rocked Bueno Silva but gave up her back again to end round two. Most of the third round was contested along the fence, with both girls landing clinch strikes. By the end of the third round, Bueno Silva looked to be tired, and her output lessened. Pennington started the fourth round strong, outstriking Bueno Silva on the ground and on the feet. In the final round, much of the same followed, with Pennington finding success everywhere the fight went.

> Mayra was tough; it's been a long five years, and I had to climb mountains to get back here. Stay believing. - Raquel Pennington

Who should the new Women's Bantamweight queen face next? As a member of the Verdict Community, let us know your thoughts in the comments below.


Raquel Pennington Wins Vacant Women's Bantamweight TItle at UFC 297

Joey Kolnicki

Tom Aspinall was born in Salford, England, on April 11, 1993. His martial arts journey started young, training jiu-jitsu from age seven. He would then train in boxing and wrestling before starting Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, following in his father’s footsteps. Aspinall won the British Open in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu in every belt class except black. When he was a teenager, his father became the BJJ coach at Team Kaobon, leading him to take an interest in MMA and ultimately transition to the sport. Not long after this, at 16, he grew from 5’8” to 6’5”, completely altering his athletic ability. He would make his amateur MMA debut at the age of 18, earning an amateur record of 9-1 with eight finish victories.

![aspinall6 (1).jpg](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/4e19e1a0-c23e-4d60-e5c8-719823f73100/public "Aspinall looks to unload a right hand onto Sofiane Boukichou. Credit: Cage Warriors.")

## MMA Beginnings

Aspinall made his professional MMA debut in 2014, earning a 5-2 record with all finish victories between 2014 and 2016. Following this, he would take a hiatus from the sport, unsure of what his future held. During this time, in 2015, he became a training partner for Tyson Fury, who was preparing for his title fight with Wladimir Klitschko. Aspinall intensely studied the legendary Heavyweight, absorbing as much information and experience as possible. He would make it his goal to replicate Fury’s unique footwork inside the cage. He credits Peter Fury as one of the best coaches he’s ever had, stating, “I try and confuse my opponents constantly, and that’s definitely something that’s come from Peter Fury and the Fury family.”

![aspinall7 (1).jpg](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/ca25ea76-c377-48f5-cc8a-c459e6199400/public "A young Tom Aspinall poses with Tyson Fury. Credit: Zuffa LLC.")

Following his 2-and-a-half-year break from MMA, Aspinall signed a five-fight contract with London-based promotion Cage Warriors. The UFC offered him a contract at this time, but he turned it down, claiming he didn’t feel ready to fight in the world’s premier promotion. With his passion renewed, he’d return to the cage in February 2019. Aspinall earned two consecutive finish wins in less than two minutes, both via TKO. Following these impressive victories, the UFC reached out again; this time, he accepted. Initially scheduled to make his promotional debut in March 2020, his opponent, Raphael Pessoa, pulled out and was replaced by Jake Collier. Ultimately, the event on which the fight was to take place was canceled due to COVID-19. 

## UFC Arrival

![aspinall8.jpg](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/00c70feb-d742-44df-8eba-8cbc26161300/public "Tom Aspinall lands a brutal knee on Jake Collier. Credit: MMA Fighting.")

Aspinall finally made his UFC debut in July 2020, winning the bout via TKO in less than one minute. He had a fantastic initial run in the promotion, going 5-0 and winning every bout via finish. He earned four Performance of the Night bonuses, three knockouts, and two submissions within his first five outings. Following two consecutive victories over ranked opponents, Aspinall was given a top-5 opponent in Curtis Blaydes. The two would meet in the octagon in July 2022, headlining a Fight Night card. Unfortunately, Aspinall tore his MCL within the first 15 seconds of the fight, losing the bout via TKO despite only absorbing three significant strikes. This injury would force him to return to the gym again and reassess his career.

![aspinall9.jpg](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/051bc9b1-60c0-4259-0f6e-0248a8868800/public "Tom Aspinall writhes in pain after tearing his MCL against Curtis Blaydes. Credit: MMA Junkie.")

While injured, he admits he had to make alterations to his lifestyle. Deciding to truly focus on his training, he would cut off many friends and considerably reign in his social life. Explaining this, he said, “As ruthless as it sounds and as pigheaded as that sounds, sometimes you do have to believe that you’re better than people to get yourself to the next level. But to be elite at anything, you really have to believe: ‘Everyone around me has to be moving in the same direction.’” Following a year of training and recovery, he would return to the octagon almost exactly one year after suffering his injury to face Marcin Tybura in July 2023.

Aspinall would dominate in his return, scoring a TKO victory in 73 seconds and earning yet another Performance of the Night bonus. This victory projected him right back into the Heavyweight title picture, expected to be next in line following Jon Jones's title defense against Stipe Miocic, scheduled for UFC 295 in November 2023. Jones would suffer a pectoral injury just two weeks before the scheduled bout, leading the UFC to grant Aspinall a Heavyweight Interim title bout against Sergei Pavlovich in place of the Jones vs. Miocic fight. Despite a lack of time to prepare, he would impress again, defeating Pavlovich via knockout just 79 seconds into the first round, earning the Interim Heavyweight strap and another Performance of the Night bonus. In just 8 UFC fights, he’s earned numerous impressive accolades, including 6 Performance of the Night bonuses, the shortest average fight time in UFC history (2:10), the largest striking differential in UFC history (4.95), and the least bottom position time in UFC history (0:01).

![aspinall3.jpg](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/c4db25d8-2d0e-4d4b-4147-33c92f854a00/public "Tom Aspinall rocks Sergei Pavlovich. Credit: MMA Fighting.")

This Saturday, he will defend his Interim Heavyweight title against former foe Curtis Blaydes. Considering the unfortunate result and extremely short cage time of the first fight, there are many questions to be answered in this matchup. Aspinall, facing a dominant wrestler with heavy hands, can prove his well-roundedness and show off his entire skill set. Regardless of the outcome, he’s proven to be an exceptional fighter with impressive perseverance and will remain at the top of the Heavyweight division for years to come.


Fighter Spotlight: Tom Aspinall

Douglas Vegas Bets

The UFC is bringing a stacked card of PPV action to Manchester, England, this weekend, headlined by a pair of title fights featuring two hometown heroes as Tom Aspinall rematches Curtis Blaydes for the Heavyweight title in the co-main and Leon Edwards takes on Belal Muhammad for the Welterweight throne to end off the night. I went over those fights 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 7/24/2024**

## Leon Edwards -256 vs. Belal Muhammad +200

Unfinished business will be settled in our Welterweight main event, with the title on the line. Leon Edwards looks to add another title defense to his resume here using his technical kickboxing style and much-improved wrestling defense, which he showed off in the rematch against Kamaru Usman and Colby Covington. Belal Muhammad is an in-your-face pressure fighter with high-output striking that features solid boxing, body kicks, and a strong wrestling attack.

I'm going with Edwards here as he has been more active, is younger, has a striking advantage, and is likely to defend any grappling. I see him countering anything Muhammad may throw at him on the feet and dominating the matchup.

Prediction: Edwards by Decision

## Tom Aspinall -357 vs. Curtis Blaydes +275

The title is on the line as these two top Heavyweights rematch after an early end to their first clash. Tom Aspinall is a dominant finisher with incredible hand speed for his size and a strong ground game, having finished all his UFC wins, including six of seven coming in the first round, which does mean we have never seen him in an extended fight. Curtis Blaydes is a strong wrestler who has worked hard to improve his striking over his UFC run, now having real knockout power in his hands, although he has been knocked out several times when facing power punchers.

I see Aspinall's power being too much for Blaydes, who has suffered four knockout losses in the UFC, finishing him early in the fight, although if it extends, I am curious how it will play out, leading me to pass betting on this price.

Prediction: Aspinall by 1st Round KO

## Bobby Green -119 vs. Paddy Pimblett -103

Big personalities collide in this fun, Lightweight feature. Bobby Green is a flashy, hands-down boxer with high output that builds as the fight goes on, although he has been dropped and knocked out several times in the last few years, leaving some concern about his durability. Paddy Pimblett is a crafty finisher with a good ground game and some power in his striking, although his defense is not great, having been controlled on the ground for some time by lesser opponents and caught with big shots.

I like Green in this one as he is the much more experienced fighter with clear, striking, and cardio advantages. The only concerns are the grappling and durability.

Prediction: Green by Decision

## Christian Leroy Duncan -143 vs. Gregory Rodrigues +116

Middleweights known for their exciting styles square off in this must-see matchup. Christian Leroy Duncan is a very creative striker who uses explosive movements to cover distance, although his grappling could be an issue with him having been easily taken down by Armen Petrosyan, who is not known for his wrestling. Gregory Rodrigues is a dangerous finisher who creates chaos with his striking power and has also shown a very high-level ground game in his win over Denis Tiuliulin, although he has been knocked out several times, which does cause concern about his durability.

I've got Rodrigues in this one. He has a big advantage in grappling, and the pressure he forces on the feet may also give CLD trouble.

Prediction: Rodrigues by 2nd Round Submission

## Arnold Allen -244 vs. Giga Chikadze +195

Featherweights square off, looking to work their way into title contention to open the main card. Arnold Allen looks to get back on track here after back-to-back losses to the best in the division, where, despite coming up short, he showed very high-level striking against a legend in Max Holloway and good grappling against a very skilled Movsar Evloev. Giga Chikadze is a skilled kickboxer with lightning-fast kicks, including a signature shot to the liver that he used to finish Cub Swanson quickly, although when pressured like he was by Calvin Kattar, he struggled greatly, getting beat up for most of that fight.

I'm going with Allen here as he is the more active and well-rounded fighter who can replicate the performance of Kattar against Chikadze with his boxing and clinch work.

Prediction: Allen by Decision

## Nathaniel Wood -435 vs. Daniel Pineda +320

This is a fantastic matchup at Featherweight between two tough brawlers. Nathaniel Wood is a well-rounded fighter with very fast hands and a good pace, although he is hittable, which has led to him being dropped many times over his career. Daniel Pineda is a tough finisher, with all his career wins coming inside the distance as he loads up with big power shots and has a good submission game that he has used to earn nineteen of his twenty-eight pro wins, although he is older, and his durability may be fading.

I'll take the big underdog shot here on Pineda to get a knockout. Although he is outmatched skill for skill, the odds feel wide for a guy as powerful as Pineda against someone who gets hit as much as Wood.

Prediction: Pineda by 1st Round TKO

## Molly McCann -345 vs. Bruna Brasil +265

Strawweight strikers square off in this fun clash. Molly McCann is a fan favorite with a fun style of fast-paced striking, although she has made big improvements to her ground game, which she showed in her recent win over Diana Belbita, where she scored a submission win. Bruna Brasil is a clean kickboxer with good kicks, although she lacks much power behind her shots and struggles with physical fighters.

I've got McCann to get her hand raised here, as she will be the much stronger fighter and the one pushing the pace from the start.

Prediction: McCann by 2nd Round TKO

## Caolan Loughran -208 vs. Jake Hadley +165

Bantamweight grapplers are fighting close to home square off here. Caolan Loughran is a stocky wrestler with good ground and pound that he uses to create damage; his striking is somewhat limited but good enough to hold up in bursts. Jake Hadley moves up in weight on short notice here; he is a decent submission grappler, although he can get stuck on the bottom a lot and lacks the wrestling to get it to the ground on his own terms.

I like Loughran here, as he will be the stronger guy controlling the grappling exchanges and doing more damage throughout the fight.

Prediction: Loughran by Decision

## Modestas Bukauskas -159 vs. Marcin Prachnio +130

Light Heavyweight strikers go head-to-head in this close matchup. Modestas Bukauskas has been in good form lately, winning four of his last five fights, showing a very effective counter-striking style. Marcin Prachnio is a kickboxer with good leg kicks and solid boxing, although his cardio can sometimes be questionable.

I lean towards Prachnio here as I see him being the one pressing the action and winning the rounds, although Bukauskas is more likely to find the finish.

Prediction: Prachnio by Decision

## Oban Elliott +110 vs. Preston Parsons -135

High-pace action is expected in this Welterweight matchup. Oban Elliott is a solid and well-rounded fighter with good volume standing and a ground game that he used to beat Val Woodburn in his UFC debut, although his durability is questionable, and he can be put in bad spots by other grapplers. Preston Parsons is a high-output wrestler with good cardio and improving striking, though he has been finished in the first round twice over his career.

I'm taking Parsons as he is better than Elliott everywhere and will extend this matchup to the later rounds, where his cardio advantage will help him take over.

Prediction: Parsons by Decision

## Muhammad Mokaev -154 vs. Manel Kape +125

Top-ranked Flyweights clash here in a fight with massive title implications for the winner. Muhammad Mokaev is an undefeated prospect who has shown a very slick ground game during his time with the UFC, although his striking remains somewhat spazzy, leaving openings against higher-level opponents. Manel Kape is a clean and powerful kickboxer who also has an underrated ground game that he showed against David Dvorak, although he can be hesitant at times, leading to fights being closer than they should be like against Matheus Nicolau.

I've got Kape here. I see him being able to defend the grappling and do more damage with his dangerous striking attack.

Prediction: Kape by Decision

## Sam Patterson -435 vs. Kiefer Crosbie +320

Welterweight finishers collide in this fun matchup early on the card. Sam Patterson is a dangerous finisher with power in his hands and a slick submission game that earned him a quick win over Yohan Lainesse his last time out. Kiefer Crosbie is a decent boxer with some power in his hands, although he hasn't had much success at this level and has shown a hole in his grappling.

I see Patterson making quick work of this fight with his massive advantage on the ground, getting an early submission win.

Prediction: Patterson 1st Round Submission

## Mick Parkin -286 vs. Lukasz Brzeski +225

Next up are the Heavyweights, who are looking to build momentum. Mick Parkin looks to keep his unbeaten record here with his solid boxing, which he has used to defeat his first three UFC opponents. Lukasz Brzeski will look to build off his first UFC win over Valter Walker here, where he showed some solid striking, although his chin is questionable, and Karl Williams outwrestled him.

I lean towards Parkin here, but the price makes it difficult to play him. Heavyweight has a randomness that leads me to pass betting on this matchup.

Prediction: Parkin by Decision

## Shauna Bannon -169 vs. Alice Ardelean +137

Strawweights open the card, looking to make a name for themselves. Shauna Bannon looks to bounce back from a disappointing debut in which Bruna Brasil outstruck her; she has solid striking and can mix in grappling when needed. Alice Ardelean debuts here coming off three first-round finishes that include both knockout and submission wins, showing she is dangerous wherever the fight goes, although it was against very low-level competition, and she has not been tested since she fought Weili Zhang in 2016, when she was submitted.
 
I'll pick Bannon here as she has an advantage on the ground and can use it to control the fight.

Prediction: Bannon by Decision

UFC 304: Odds Breakdown

The UFC is back in the Apex this weekend with a solid card of action headlined by former Strawweight title challenger Amanda Lemos taking on fast-rising Virna Jandiroba in the main event. I went over that matchup and every other fight on the main card, so let's get into it.

**Odds provided by DuelBits accurate as of 7/19/2024**

## Amanda Lemos +110 vs. Virna Jandiroba -135

Strawweights looking to enter the conversation to be next in line for the title will battle it out in our main event. Amanda Lemos is a powerful striker who throws big shots in all fights and also has a solid submission attack; however, she has been controlled on the ground before, as she was much of her last fight against Mackenzie Dern and her title fight with Weili Zhang, Virna Jandiroba is a very strong grappler who has worked to improve her wrestling a lot recently which has helped her dominate three straight matchups including a win over another good wrestler in Loopy Godinez although her striking has remained a weak point throughout her career having struggled when unable to grapple consistently.

I've got Jandiroba here. Although she is at a large striking disadvantage, I see her getting this to the ground early, often with little resistance, and not allowing Lemos back to her feet.

Pick: Jandiroba by Decision

## Brad Tavares +134 vs. Jun Yong Park -164

Veterans with plenty left in the tank will go head-to-head in our Middleweight co-main. Brad Tavares has battled with the best the division offers, having had a competitive fight with champion Dricus Du Plessis, showing his solid pace, durability, and overall striking ability to go with his renowned takedown defense. Jun Yong Park has quietly risen the ranks with three finishes in his last four fights, showing a well-rounded game with solid boxing and strong wrestling, although he has been fighting relatively low-level competition.

I'm taking Tavares as the underdog in this one, as I see it as a very close fight. Park is unlikely to succeed with grappling, and the striking is very even, maybe giving Tavares a slight edge.

Pick: Tavares by Decision

## Steve Garcia -152 vs. Seung Woo Choi +123

Featherweights who like to get into wild firefights clash in what should be an incredible matchup. Steve Garcia is a hard-hitting brawler who enters this one off three straight knockout wins, showing his aggressive style. Seung Woo Choi is a tough veteran who has had some wild fights, including his back-and-forth battle with Mike Trizano, which saw both simultaneously knocked down early, showing he has power, but he is very hittable and has been finished before on several occasions.

I lean towards Garcia to get a knockout as I trust his durability slightly more in what will be a wild matchup where both men are live to get the finish at any point.

Pick: Steve Garcia by 1st Round TKO

## Kurt Holobaugh +111 vs. Kayan Kruschewsky -135

Lightweights looking to establish their place in a very deep division square off here. Kurt Holobaugh looks to get back on track after losing his first fight back with the UFC after winning his season of The Ultimate Fighter, where he showed a brawling striking style and some submission skills, finishing two of the three fights on the show via sub. Kayan Kruschewsky is a dangerous finisher looking to get his first UFC win here after drawing a tough debut against Elves Brener, where he was finished in the first round, showing some concerns about his durability, although, outside the UFC, he showed a good finishing ability, having earned many knockouts and submissions, along with solid cardio having gone into a fifth round and scored a finish. 

I'll pick Kruschewsky here as I see him as the much more dangerous fighter who will be pushing the pace.

Pick: Kruschewsky by Decision

## Cody Durden -109 vs. Bruno Silva -112

This is a closely lined matchup between two Flyweights looking to earn their place in the rankings with a win. Cody Durden is a fast-paced wrestler who has proven to be a tough out for anyone in the division, although he has been caught in several submissions throughout his career. Bruno Silva enters this one with three straight finishes, having shown he has real fight-ending power in his hands and that his submission game can also prove dangerous, although he did struggle earlier in his UFC run against stronger grapplers. 

I like Durden here as I feel he will win the minutes in this one with his wrestling-heavy attack, although Silva does have the finishing edge, which is a concern.

Pick: Durden by Decision

## Doo Ho Choi +134 vs. Bill Algeo -167

We have a banger to open the main card as two Featherweights with fan-friendly styles meet in this one. Doo Ho Choi returns once again looking to show off his powerful boxing in the cage once again as he has many times in the past, including his hall-of-fame war with Cub Swanson, where he was able to display his toughness and power against the gritty veteran Swanson despite coming up short in the end. Bill Algeo will look to bounce back here after being stopped by TKO for the first time in his career, the last time out against Kyle Nelson, where he showed that his style of pressure and volume comes with risks as his chin is often very exposed.

I see Choi taking this one as he is the cleaner and harder-hitting striker, which will be a problem for Alego, whose durability may be fading.

Pick: Choi by 2nd Round TKO

UFC Fight Night: Lemos vs. Jandiroba Odds Breakdown

The UFC heads to Denver, Colorado, this weekend with Flyweight contenders Rose Namajunas and Tracy Cortez going head-to-head in the main event from the Ball Arena. I went over that matchup and every other fight on the card to give my predictions and best bets, so let's get into it.

**Odds provided by DuelBits accurate as of 7/10/2024**

## Rose Namajunas -217 vs. Tracy Cortez +175

Flyweights looking to enter the title conversation headline in this high-stakes clash. Rose Namajunas has been a fan favorite for years since her title-winning knockout over Joanna Jedrzejczyk, where she proved her striking was as good as dangerous as anyone in the division; she has since continued to evolve her game, showing solid wrestling while maintaining her striking dominance. Tracy Cortez steps in here in a big jump in competition; she has shown a strong ground game with great wrestling, and in her last outing against Jasmine Jasudavicius, she showed much-improved boxing.

I lean towards the former champ in Namajunas. She has proven that her striking is up there with the best in the world, a step above Cortez, who may have trouble implementing a heavy grappling attack.

Pick: Namajunas by Decision

## Santiago Ponzinibbio -196 vs. Muslim Salikhov +160

Veteran Welterweight strikers square off in this one. Santiago Ponzinibbio returns here looking to show he still has something left in the tank; he is a crafty and dangerous striker, although he is less explosive than he once was. Muslim Salikhov is an old kickboxer looking to get back on track after losing three of his last four; he has trouble keeping a high pace but has power in his strikes when he lands.

I'll pick Ponzinibbio here as he has shown that he still has some effective striking tactics that can steal him rounds and do more damage.

Pick: Ponzinibbio by 3rd Round TKO

## Gabriel Bonfim -345 vs. Ange Loosa +260

Up-and-coming welterweights look to make a statement in this pivotal matchup. Gabriel Bonfim is a very dangerous submission artist with a nasty choke attack early in fights, although he has shown problems when forced to go deeper in fights like Nicolas Dalby forced him to. Ange Loosa is a stocky, well-rounded fighter with solid power in his hands and a decent ground game that he has used when he has that advantage.

I believe Bonfim will get back on track here and use his dangerous submission game to win, as Loosa has never faced a threat like him on the ground.

Pick: Bonfim by 1st Round Submission

## Cody Brundage +141 vs. Abdul Razak Alhassan -175

Middleweight finishers go head to head in this must-see clash. Cody Brundage is a hard-hitting wrestler who has had some inconsistent performances, having been finished three times in the UFC. Abdul Razak Alhassan is a dangerous knockout artist, with all his wins coming inside two rounds; he has developed his wrestling since joining the UFC, but that and his cardio remain issues.

This is a tough fight to trust either guy too much but I'll pick Alhassan to get an early knockout as Brundage can get wild early but if the fight goes past round one Brundage could take over.

Pick: Alhassan by 1st Round KO

## Christian Rodriguez -222 vs. Julian Erosa +180

Featherweights known for putting on fun fights face off to open the main card here. Christian Rodriguez has been on the rise of late with impressive victories over Cameron Saaiman and Isaac Dulgarian where he showed his toughness along with a mix of good boxing and a good defensive grappling game. Julian Erosa is a wild brawler with a crazy pace and good submission attack although his durability is a massive concern at this point with him being hurt badly in each of his last three fights.

I'm taking Rodriguez to get a knockout here, as he has solid hands, and Erosa's chin has shown to be a massive issue for him lately.

Pick: Rodriguez by 2nd Round TKO

## Drew Dober -110 vs. Jean Silva -111

Lightweight power punchers collide here in this short-notice clash. Drew Dober has as many knockouts as anyone at Lightweight, with big power in his hands and a brawling style with his strong chin. Jean Silva steps up here for his second fight in just a few weeks after knocking out Charles Jourdain at UFC 303, showing his big power very recently, although I still have questions about his ability to go deeper into high-volume fights.

I like Dober here as he is the more natural Lightweight with more experience both going deep in fights and against tough competition.

Pick: Dober by Decision

## Luana Santos -385 vs. Mariya Agapova +290

Flyweight grapplers square off in this intriguing matchup. Luana Santos is a solid grappler who has also shown some power in her hands with her early finish of Juliana Miller. Mariya Agapova is a submission artist with an up-and-down run in the UFC, showing issues with her submission defence.

Santos should dominate this matchup as she has clear striking, grappling and cardio advantages.

Pick: Santos 2nd Round Submission

## Josh Fremd -111 vs. Andre Petroski -110

Middleweight finishers, looking to bounce back from tough losses, face off in this fun clash. Josh Fremd is a big athletic puncher with decent wrestling, although he has sometimes shown questionable cardio. Andre Petroski is a strong grappler with dangerous chokes early in fights although he doesn't have very good striking and has shown cardio issues in the past.

I lean towards Petroski as he is dangerous when hunting submissions early and although his cardio issues may come into play, Fremd may also be tired late.

Pick: Petroski by 1st Round Submission

## Joshua Van -213 vs. Charles Johnson +170

Fan favorite Flyweights square off here. Joshua Van is a young prospect that has caught the eye of many with his powerful striking attack although he has been a bit of a slow starter he has made up for it with strong finishes to all his fights. Charles Johnson is a high volume striker who builds his attack as the fight goes on with his best round often being the third which he usually see's with his impressive durability and lack of finishing threat.

I like Van to win this one by decision. He is the more impactful striker, and I see that swaying the judges' favor in a fight that is likely to go the distance. 

Pick: Van by Decision

## Montel Jackson -149 vs. Da'Mon Blackshear +121

One of several matchups that came together on short notice goes down here at Bantamweight. Montel Jackson is a very tall fighter for the division, and he uses his length well with powerful straight punches. Da'Mon Blackshear is a tricky grappler who uses his tremendous athleticism to get opponents down and submit them; he has also been working on his striking to round out his game.

I'll take Blackshear as the underdog in this one. He should have a clear advantage in the grappling and has prepared for and beaten a taller fighter before, Jose Johnson.

Pick: Blackshear by Decision

## Jasmine Jasudavicius -109 vs. Fatima Kline -112

Short notice debut for a top Flyweight prospect here, and it comes against a tough veteran. Jasmine Jasudavicius is a high pace grappler coming off an amazing performance against Priscila Cachoeira where she showed off her ground and pound. Fatima Kline is a very impressive prospect making her UFC debut on short notice here with a dominant and well rounded attack that includes technical striking and physical grappling.

I lean towards Kline as I believe she can live up to the hype she has and will have a striking edge here with the ability to defend much of the grappling.

Pick: Kline by Decision

## Evan Elder vs. Darrius Flowers

A Fun Welterweight fight that was a last-minute addition to the card goes down here. Evan Elder is a tough, high-volume striker coming off two strong showings against Nazim Sadykhov and Genaro Valdez. Darrius Flowers is a decent striker who has been out grappled in each of his UFC fights and also shown questionable cardio.

I like Elder in this one as I see him having a striking and massive cardio advantages.

Pick: Elder by 3rd Round TKO

UFC Fight Night: Namajunas vs. Cortez Odds Breakdown

The odds have been released for the highly anticipated clash between Middleweight champion Dricus Du Plessis and former multiple-time champ Israel Adesanya, and some are surprised by the favorite. This matchup is set for August 18th at UFC 305 from the RAC Arena in Perth, Australia.

**Odds provided by DuelBits accurate as of 7/7/2024**

## Current Odds: Dricus Du Plessis +102, Israel Adesanya -125

This will be Du Plessis' first title defense after claiming the title earlier this year at UFC 297 with a split-decision win over Sean Strickland. Israel Adesanya returns to action for the first time since losing his title to Sean Strickland in Australia at UFC 293.

## Past Fight Odds: Dricus Du Plessis

*Odds provided by FightOdds.io*

Dricus Du Plessis (-110) vs. Sean Strickland (-110) UFC 297 - Win

Dricus Du Plessis (+262) vs. Robert Whittaker (-312) UFC 290 – Win

Dricus Du Plessis (-200) vs. Derek Brunson (+185) UFC 285 - Win

Dricus Du Plessis (-165) vs. Darren Till (+155) UFC 282 - Win

Dricus Du Plessis (-167) vs. Brad Tavares (+157) UFC 276 - Win

## Past Odds: Israel Adesanya

*Odds from FightOdds.io*

Israel Adesanya (-670) vs. Sean Strickland (+495) UFC 293 - Loss

Israel Adesanya (-130) vs. Alex Pereira (+120) UFC 287 – Win

Israel Adesanya (-215) vs. Alex Pereira (+195) UFC 281 – Loss

Israel Adesanya (-500) vs. Jared Cannonier (+435) UFC 276 – Win

Israel Adesanya (-260) vs. Robert Whittaker (+240) UFC 271 – Win

Who are you taking in this intense Middleweight matchup? Let us know in the comments!

Betting Odds: Israel Adesanya Favoured to Regain Title Against Dricus Du Plessis at UFC 305

The UFC ANZ Instagram page has just confirmed multiple matchups for UFC 305, which will take place in Perth, Australia, on August 17th. The card now has eight confirmed fights, so let's cover each of them.

## Dricus du Plessis vs. Israel Adesanya

The main event of UFC 305 will be a Middleweight title fight between current Champion Dricus du Plessis and former title holder Israel Adesanya. Du Plessis will be looking to make the first title defence of his reign, whereas Adesanya will be aiming to become a 3x Champion after losing the title to Sean Strickland back in September.

## Main Card Fights

While not officially confirmed as main card fights, these bouts will likely feature on the Pay-Per-View of UFC 305. 

The first is Tai Tuivasa vs. Jairzinho Rozenstruik, which was first reported by Tuivasa himself. Rozenstruik is coming off an impressive fifth-round TKO over Shamil Gaziev and is looking to continue his win streak. Tuivasa, on the other hand, has suffered four straight TKO losses, which may be his last chance at the company.

Another confirmed matchup is an all-ANZAC Flyweight fight between Kai Kara-France and Steve Erceg. Kara-France is coming off a massively controversial decision loss to Amir Albazi in June 2023. Erceg is also coming off a controversial decision to current Flyweight Champion Alexandre Pantoja. 

## Other Confirmed Bouts

Here are all the other confirmed bouts for UFC 305:

**- Justin Tafa vs. Valter Walker**

**- Tom Nolan vs. Alex Reyes**

**- Casey O'Neill vs. Tereza Bledá**

**-Josh Culibao vs. Ricardo Ramos**

**-Jack Jenkins vs. Gavin Tucker**

What do you think of the card for UFC 305 so far, and what matchups would you add to it? As a member of the Verdict Community, let us know with a comment down below.

Multiple UFC 305 Fights Confirmed, Including Main Event

Alex Pereira defended his Light Heavyweight title yet again with a second-round knockout over Jiri Prochazka in the main event at UFC 303.

The first round saw Pereira landing hard shots and dropping Prochazka badly at the end of the round with his signature left hook. Immediately in round two, Pereira landed a huge head kick that put Pereira down before pounding away to a finish.


>"I do think that's in my future" - Alex Pereira on Heavyweight move

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

Alex Pereira Scores Highlight Knockout In Rematch Against Jiri Prochazka at UFC 303

Diego Lopes got off to a strong start and survived a late push to take a decision win over Dan Ige in short notice co-main at UFC 303.

Lopes started strong, with much more volume on the feet and some submission attempts. In the second round, Ige landed a big head kick that ended with him being taken down and controlled for the rest of the round from the back, with more submission threats from Lopes. Round three was all Dan Ige, as he landed big power shots throughout the round and had Lopes holding on in guard until the final bell.


>"All the respect to Dan Ige" - Diego Lopes

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

Diego Lopes Survives to Win Decision Over Dan Ige at UFC 303

Roman Dolidze gets a unanimous decision win against Anthony Smith in a short-notice Light Heavyweight clash at UFC 303.

The fight was largely a low-paced kickboxing match until the late second round when Dolidze capitalized on a Smith slip and landed some big ground and pound. The third continued at a similar pace until the final bell.


>"I am top ten ranked in two weight classes" - Roman Dolidze

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

Roman Dolidze Beats Anthony Smith at UFC 303


Macy Chiasson got her hand raised in a wild fight, earning a doctor's stoppage victory in round two over Mayra Bueno Silva at UFC 303.

In the first round, both girls landed big strikes, with Bueno Silva often getting the better of it. In round two, Chiasson landed a takedown and a huge elbow that cut Bueno Silva. When they returned to the standup, the referee elected to end the fight.


>"I was hoping we would continue" - Macy Chiasson

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