Liam Lindsay

Roman Kopylov secured a unanimous decision victory over Cesar Almeida at UFC 302.

The first round was a clear one for Roman Kopylov, who dropped Almeida straight left hand, nearly finishing the fight with ground and pound. Kopylov also secured a takedown.

In the second round. Almeida found more success on the feet but was stifled in the latter half of the round with more wrestling.

The third round followed a similar trend, with Kopylov landing a crucial takedown which allowed him to control the fight on top.

What is next for Kopylov? As a member of the Verdict Community, let us know your thoughts in the comments below. 

Roman Kopylov Hands Cesar Almeida First Pro MMA Defeat

Douglas Vegas Bets

The UFC returns after a week away with an action-packed card from the Apex in Las Vegas headlined by Welterweight contenders Sean Brady and Gilbert Burns going head-to-head. I went over my prediction for that matchup and every other fight on the card, so let's get into it.

**Odds provided by Duelbits accurate as of 9/4/2024**

## Gilbert Burns +150 vs. Sean Brady -189

Grapplers clash in this main event at Welterweight. Gilbert Burns has been a top contender in the division for years, having come close to the title with his dangerous boxing and world-class jiu-jitsu skills; although he is now thirty-eight years old, he has likely seen his best days, especially coming off another knockout loss to Jack Della Maddalena. Sean Brady will enter the octagon for the first time this year after a dominant showing over Kelvin Gastelum his last time out, where he put his strong ground game on full display, earning a submission win, although when facing grapplers like Michael Chiesa and Belal Muhammad, he had trouble as the fight went on seemingly unable to handle the pressure at times.

I like Burns at these odds. We have seen Brady struggle against other high-level grapplers before, and Burns has the striking to make him pay in a stand-up battle.

Prediction: Burns by 3rd Round TKO

## Jessica Andrade +240 vs. Natalia Silva -303

It's a big test for a highly touted prospect here at Flyweight. Jessica Andrade is a dangerous knockout artist who has fought the who's who of Women's MMA across both Strawweight and Flyweight, gathering as much top-level experience as one can. Natalia Silva comes into this one after a perfect first five fights in the UFC; she has been on many people's radar as a top prospect since her impressive debut win over Jasmine Jasudavicius, and she has only improved since then.

I'll pick Silva here as she has all the skills to be a top contender in the division and is still improving, while Andrade has seen her best days.

Prediction: Silva by Decision

## Kyle Nelson +150 vs. Steve Garcia -185

Hard hitters collide in this fun Featherweight matchup. Kyle Nelson enters this one on an impressive three-fight win streak that has seen him become the first to finish Bill Algeo, along with two decision wins where he showed solid fight IQ. Steve Garcia comes into this on a streak of four straight knockout wins, showing his deadly power, although he remains very hittable and has taken a knockout loss to Maheshate Hayisaer earlier in his UFC run.

I took Nelson at these odds because I see this as a close fight in which Nelson will be the more defensively responsible of the two despite Garcia's power.

Prediction: Nelson by Decision

## Matt Schnell +255 vs. Cody Durden -333

A short-notice replacement saves a fight here at Flyweight. Matt Schnell looks to get back on track after suffering another knockout loss earlier this year, despite significant concerns about his chin, Schnell does have solid submission skills on the ground. Cody Durden steps in here as a very active and high-pressure wrestler with decent hands, having knocked out JP Buys in round one.

I'll take the dog in Schnell here, as Durden has only ever scored one UFC knockout and has durability concerns of his own, having been caught in several deep submissions.

Prediction: Schnell by 2nd Round Submission

## Trevor Peek -127 vs. Yanal Ashmouz +103

All-action Lightweights square off in this must-see matchup. Trevor Peek is an all-violence madman with little skillset to speak of, though his pure power and aggression have kept him around so far. Yana Ashmouz is a hard hitter who started his UFC run with a highlight KO of Sam Patterson, which has aged nicely.

I'll pick Peek here, but not with much confidence. He will force the action, although his defense remains questionable at best.

Prediction: Peek by 3rd Round TKO

## Rongzhu -250 vs. Chris Padilla +195

Lightweight finishers will clash in this fun matchup. Rongzhu returns after working his way back to the UFC through the Road to UFC tournament with his well-rounded finishing skills, which include knockout power and decent submissions. Chris Padilla looks to build off a UFC debut in which he survived some rough early striking exchanges before capitalizing on a mistake from his opponent to take the back and secure a choke.

I lean towards Rongzhu in this one as he is the much better striker, but both men are dangerous on the ground if it gets there.

Prediction: Rongzhu by 3rd Round TKO

## Isaac Dulgarian -2500 vs. Brendon Marotte +1000

One of the biggest favorites in UFC history will look to show why in this one at Featherweight. Isaac Dulgarian is a dominant wrestler with crazy ground and pound that has helped him finish six opponents in round one, although his cardio suffered after he could not finish Christian Rodriguez early. Brendon Marotte had a rough UFC debut, where Terrance McKinney quickly finished him, though, before the UFC, he showed some decent striking, finishing five of his eight wins by knockout.

Dulgarian is the easy pick here, as he has looked like an absolute monster early in his career and will likely continue to improve. Meanwhile, Marotte has yet to prove he belongs at this level.

Prediction: Dulgarian by 1st Round TKO

## Andre Lima -185 vs. Felipe dos Santos +150

Flyweight strikers square off in this fun matchup. Andre Lima is an undefeated kickboxer with a high knockout percentage, and when you see him fight, it is easy to see why, as he has nasty elbows and boxing behind them, which often overwhelms his opponents. Felipe dos Santos looks to build off his first UFC win here, which was a close decision over Victor Altamirano, where he struggled to show the dangerous striking that helped him have such an exciting short-notice debut against highly ranked Manel Kape.

I like Lima in this one. He is the cleaner and more dangerous striker who will land the bigger shots, leading to either a clear decision or a knockout win.

Prediction: Lima by Decision

## Gabriel Santos -270 vs. Yizha +210

Featherweights clash here, each looking to pick up their first UFC win. Gabriel Santos hasn't gotten his hand raised yet but has shown some impressive skills in his short-notice debut against Lerone Murphy, which he arguably won with his wild striking and strong grappling game, although there are some fight IQ questions after his loss to David Onama. Yizha debuts here off of the Road to UFC tournament, where he showed dangerous submission skills, although not against very high-level competition.

I'm going with Santos here. He has proven himself against much higher-level competition and should be able to handle the submission attack on the other side.

Prediction: Santos by 2nd Round KO

## Jaqueline Amorim -313 vs. Vanessa Demopoulos +245

Strawweights are each looking to extend their win streak to three as they face off here. Jaqueline Amorim is a very skilled grappler who has finished back-to-back opponents with her skills on the ground, although her cardio is still a slight concern after a complete collapse in her debut. Vanessa Demopoulos comes in having won four of her last five on paper, although some of those are very questionable decisions, including her last fight against Emily Ducote, where she struggled with eating big shots on the feet and wasn't able to have much success grappling.

Amorim's advantage on the ground is too much for Demopoulos to overcome. I see her dominating to a submission or decision victory.

Prediction: Amorim by Decision

## Andre Petroski -286 vs. Dylan Budka +225

Middleweight grapplers collide in this intriguing matchup early on the card. Andre Petroski is a strong grappler with solid wrestling and a dangerous choke game, although his cardio and striking are weak points. Dylan Budka will look to bounce back from a tough debut in which he used his clinch to control the fight until he seemingly ran out of energy and was quickly knocked out when the fight turned to strike.

There are levels of fighting, and Budka is not on the same level as Petroski right now, so I will pick the big favorite to get the job done early here.

Prediction: Petroski by 1st Round Submission

## Zygimantas Ramaska +117 vs. Nathan Fletcher -143

This Featherweight clash was initially scheduled several weeks ago before a late cancellation delayed the fight until now, and my thoughts remain largely unchanged on the matchup. Zygimantas Ramaska is a big-swinging striker who keeps an insane pace, as he showed in his one fight on the show before being pulled from the semi-final with an injury. Nathan Fletcher is a dangerous submission grappler, with six of his eight wins coming by tapout, although he spent much of his TUF fight being controlled and taken down repeatedly.

I lean towards Fletcher here. His big advantage in grappling will help him negate Ramaksa's pressure and striking threat and eventually secure a finish.

Prediction: Fletcher by 2nd Round Submission

UFC Fight Night: Burns vs. Brady Odds Breakdown

The UFC returns to the Apex for another fight night, headlined by Middleweight contenders Jared Cannonier and Caio Borralho, who are looking to take another step toward the title. I went over that fight, as well as the Ultimate Fighter Finale matchups featured on the main card and every other fight on this deep card, so let's get into it.

**Odds provided by DuelBits accurate as of 8/22/2024**

## Jared Cannonier +190 vs. Caio Borralho -238

It's a big test for a Middleweight prospect in our main event as a battle-tested veteran returns. Jared Cannonier is a high-volume striker with big power and a solid clinch attack, although he is now forty years old and is coming off a tough fight with Nassourdine Imavov not long ago. Caio Borralho is an explosive and athletic grappler who showed his striking is no joke either with a knockout win over Paul Craig his last time out which extended his UFC win streak to six.

This price feels wide, considering Cannonier had better odds against Imavov just months ago. The way that fight played out didn't indicate any decline from Cannonier to me that would suggest he can't hang with Borralho.

Prediction: Cannonier by 4th Round KO

## Angela Hill -125 vs. Tabatha Ricci +102

It's an interesting veteran vs. prospect and striker vs. grappler matchup here at Strawweight. Angela Hill is a tough striker with as much experience as anyone. Tabatha Ricci is a very good grappler with dangerous submissions and improving wrestling, although her striking is still a weak point, with Tecia Pennington having success there against her in her last fight.

At these odds, I'll take Ricci, the much younger fighter with the grappling upside, although I'm expecting a close fight.

Prediction: Ricci by Split-Decision

## Ryan Loder +150 vs. Robert Valentin -189

This is the TUF Middleweight Finale, with the last two men competing to be The Ultimate Fighter. Ryan Loder is a good wrestler with decent striking basics, although he lacks much of a finishing threat against better competition. Robert Valentin is a crazy and dangerous striker with a good submission game, although his general defense is a concern as he can be taken down and hit with big shots.

This is a tough fight to call, but I'll go with Valentin as I see him carrying more of a finishing threat and being the aggressor from the start.

Prediction: Valentin by 2nd Round TKO

## Kaan Ofli +147 vs. Mairon Santos -182

This Featherweight clash will crown the first Ultimate Fighter of the season. Kaan Ofli is a strong wrestler who punches into his takedowns, where he maintains control and defends submissions well, although he doesn't move his head much when striking. Mairon Santos is a patient kickboxer who mixes up his targets very well, although he was outwrestled at times in his first fight on the show, which almost cost him.

I like Santos here. He showed solid takedown defense as fights went on and a good counter-striking game that could give Ofli trouble closing the distance.

Prediction: Santos by Decision

## Michael Morales -909 vs. Neil Magny +560

Another young prospect will face the Magny test here at Welterweight. Michael Morales is an undefeated fighter, a big and athletic striker who has had some very strong showings in his young UFC career, with wins over experienced competition like Max Griffin and Jake Matthews. Neil Magny is a durable grappler who proved he is still a tough out in his insane comeback win over Mike Malott at the beginning of this year, although he was dominated on the ground for most of that fight.

I'm going Morales to get a late finish here. He has shown crazy potential at a young age and will likely keep this one standing and land big shots for however long this goes.

Prediction: Morales by 3rd Round TKO

## Edmen Shahbazyan -303 vs. Gerald Meerschaert +235

It's a very exciting matchup here at Middleweight, with two finishers of the highest order going head-to-head. Edmen Shahbazyan was once a highly touted prospect, although, in recent years, he has shown that with his early power and the finishing threat comes a severe lack of cardio. Gerald Meerschaert is a dangerous submission artist, with the most ever in the division, being able to get them early or survive an early onslaught and take advantage of a gassed opponent.

This is exactly the kind of fight we have seen Meerschaert win by surviving an early onslaught and getting a late sub, so at this price, this has to be the pick despite the risk of an early Shahbazyan finish.

Prediction: Meerschaert by 3rd Round Submission

## Dennis Buzukja +118 vs. Francis Marshall -145

Short-notice replacement steps in for a fun fight here at Featherweight. Dennis Buzukja is a hard hitter with a big right hand who put serious damage on Connor Matthews in his last fight, although his grappling is a bit questionable, with Sean Woodson dominating that department against him. Francis Marshall takes this fight on less than a week's notice as a young wrestler with solid boxing, although he has lost his last two, including a first-round TKO against Isaac Dulgarian in his most recent performance.

I took Marshall here because, despite the short notice, I see him as the much better wrestler with the ability to keep the striking close, and he's younger.

Prediction: Marshall by Decision (Best Bet)

## Jose Medina +400 vs. Zach Reese -556

Middleweights, each with a reputation for entertaining shows, square off here. Jose Medina comes into this after having been signed off Dana White's contender series despite losing a fight where he spent much of his time taunting rather than throwing strikes back, although he did show a good chin. Zach Reese is a quick finisher with a nasty submission attack and good power, as he showed by knocking out Julian Marquez in his last fight.

I think Reese gets a quick submission here, as we have seen Medina finished by sub before, and Reese is very quick to grab chokes and armbars.

Prediction: Reese by 1st Round Submission

## Viacheslav Borshchev -227 vs. James Llontop +180

Lightweight strikers look to get back in the win column here. Viacheslav Borshchev is a very clean and technical kickboxer with good cardio, although he has been dropped in each of his last two fights, and his grappling is not very good. James Llontop is a striker with solid power and a good low kick, although he lacks much speed with his strikes and doesn't grapple offensively.

I like Borshchev here, as this will likely be a striking match where I give him a speed and power edge despite his slight durability concerns.

Prediction: Borshchev by Decision

## Josiane Nunes +175 vs. Jacqueline Cavalcanti -217

Bantamweights are looking to build momentum as they square off here. Josiane Nunes is a short and stocky fighter with a big overhand that she swings a lot, although the much bigger Chelsea Chandler overpowered her in her last fight. Jacqueline Cavalcanti looks to build off her UFC debut win against Zarah Fairn where she showed where she showed clean, high-volume striking along with a good pace over three rounds.

I'll pick Cavalcanti to take a decision here as she will be the much higher-output fighter and have a sizable height edge.

Prediction: Cavalcanti by Decision

## Zygimantas Ramaska +138 vs. Nathan Fletcher -169

Two finishers, each making their UFC debut off the recent season of The Ultimate Fighter, clash here early on the card at Featherweight. Zygimantas Ramaska is a big-swinging striker who keeps an insane pace, as he showed in his one fight on the show before being pulled from the semi-final with an injury. Nathan Fletcher is a dangerous submission grappler, with six of his eight wins coming by tapout, although he spent much of his TUF fight being controlled and taken down repeatedly.

I lean towards Fletcher here. His big advantage in grappling will help him negate Ramaksa's pressure and striking threat and eventually secure a finish.

Prediction: Fletcher by 2nd Round Submission

UFC Fight Night: Cannonier vs. Borralho Odds Breakdown

In a crazy Middleweight showdown, Dricus du Plessis pulled off a stunning victory over Israel Adesanya, securing a submission win in the fourth round to retain his title.

The fight began with du Plessis focusing on a heavy leg kick strategy, while Adesanya responded with sharp kicks of his own. Both fighters traded hard body shots, and by the end of the first round, du Plessis was already bleeding from his forehead, but he landed a solid left hand and kept the fight competitive. 

In the second round, du Plessis took control by landing a well-timed takedown and applying relentless pressure on the ground. Although Adesanya managed to return to his feet, du Plessis kept him pressed against the cage.

Adesanya came out strong in the third round, landing a series of head and body shots, showcasing his striking. However, du Plessis remained dangerous, landing big shots of his own and even stunning Adesanya with a right hand.

After a strong start from Adesanya in the fourth, du Plessis landed a big left hook, followed by a series of powerful strikes that sent Adesanya to the canvas. Seizing the opportunity, du Plessis quickly transitioned to Adesanya's back and locked in a rear-naked choke, forcing the tap at 3:38 of the round.

```iframe
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">The oddsmakers are always confident in Israel Adesanya.<br><br>He&#39;s lost 3 fights to Alex Pereira, but the oddsmakers still have him as a favorite heading into this weekend.<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/UFC287?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#UFC287</a> <a href="https://t.co/0MF4krsH1v">pic.twitter.com/0MF4krsH1v</a></p>&mdash; Verdict (@TournamentsMMA) <a href="https://twitter.com/SpinninBackfist/status/1825032938951413851">April 5, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
```


What a main event! How did you have the fight scored going into the fourth? Let us know with a comment below.

Dricus du Plessis Defends Title in Insane UFC 305 Main Event

In the co-main event, Kai Kara-France shocked the crowd with a stunning first-round knockout victory over Steve Erceg.

From the opening bell, Kara-France appeared aggressive, quickly establishing his striking game. Erceg tried to find his footing, attempting to plant and counter, but Kara-France's speed and power proved too much. Midway through the first round, Kara-France connected with a devastating overhand that sent Erceg crashing to the canvas, and "Don't Blink" followed up with hard strikes that closed the show.

```iframe
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">The oddsmakers are always confident in Israel Adesanya.<br><br>He&#39;s lost 3 fights to Alex Pereira, but the oddsmakers still have him as a favorite heading into this weekend.<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/UFC287?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#UFC287</a> <a href="https://t.co/0MF4krsH1v">pic.twitter.com/0MF4krsH1v</a></p>&mdash; Verdict (@TournamentsMMA) <a href="https://twitter.com/SpinninBackfist/status/1825021653958422761">April 5, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
```


Is Pantoja next for Kai Kara-France? As a member of the Verdict Community, let us know in the comments below.

Kai Kara-France Secures Upset KO over Erceg at UFC 305

What a battle! Dan Hooker narrowly secures a decision victory over Mateusz Gamrot in an all-out battle.

The fight between Dan Hooker and Mateusz Gamrot showcased a high level of determination from the "Hangman." In the opening round, Gamrot dropped Hooker early and landed a flurry of ground and pound shots, but Hooker survived and managed to drop Gamrot at the end of the round.

As the fight progressed into the second and third rounds, Hooker continued to find success with his striking, mixing in kicks and body shots that visibly slowed Gamrot down. Gamrot managed to land a few shots of his own, but Hooker's striking remained the story of the fight.

```iframe
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">The oddsmakers are always confident in Israel Adesanya.<br><br>He&#39;s lost 3 fights to Alex Pereira, but the oddsmakers still have him as a favorite heading into this weekend.<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/UFC287?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#UFC287</a> <a href="https://t.co/0MF4krsH1v">pic.twitter.com/0MF4krsH1v</a></p>&mdash; Verdict (@TournamentsMMA) <a href="https://twitter.com/espnmma/status/1825016430305083641">April 5, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
```

In the end, Hooker's superior striking and ability to thwart Gamrot's takedowns earned him a well-deserved victory via split decision.

Do you agree with the decision? And what is next for Dan Hooker? As a member of the Verdict Community, let us know in the comments.

Dan Hooker Thrives in FOTN Contender at UFC 305

Jairzinho Rozenstruik proved to be too technical for Tuivasa at UFC 305.

The opening round saw a cautious but clear performance from Rozenstruik, who effectively utilized his jab and low kicks to control the distance. Tuivasa struggled to connect with his punches, though he managed to land a couple of low kicks. This pattern continued into the second and third rounds, as Tuivasa found it challenging to close the gap, absorbing a steady stream of jabs and low kicks. Ultimately, Rozenstruik's superior striking carried him to the end of the fight.
Bizarrely, one judge scored the fight 30-27 for Tuivasa, which is undoubtedly one of the worst scorecards in UFC history.

```iframe
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">The oddsmakers are always confident in Israel Adesanya.<br><br>He&#39;s lost 3 fights to Alex Pereira, but the oddsmakers still have him as a favorite heading into this weekend.<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/UFC287?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#UFC287</a> <a href="https://t.co/0MF4krsH1v">pic.twitter.com/0MF4krsH1v</a></p>&mdash; Verdict (@TournamentsMMA) <a href="https://twitter.com/VerdictMMA/status/1825008880360808552">April 5, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
```

What's next for both fighters? As a member of the Verdict Community, let us know in the comments down below.

Jairzinho Rozenstruik Picks Up Bizzare Split Decision Win

The main card of UFC 305 opened with a fiery fight in the Welterweight division and saw Carlos Prates come out on top with a brutal second-round KO victory.

The fight began with intensity as both fighters exchanged powerful strikes, but Prates showcased his superior striking, utilizing his length and repeatedly knocking Li down with precise straight punches. In the second round, Prates turned up the heat, applying relentless pressure before delivering a brutal left hook that sent Li crashing to the canvas.


```iframe
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">The oddsmakers are always confident in Israel Adesanya.<br><br>He&#39;s lost 3 fights to Alex Pereira, but the oddsmakers still have him as a favorite heading into this weekend.<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/UFC287?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#UFC287</a> <a href="https://t.co/0MF4krsH1v">pic.twitter.com/0MF4krsH1v</a></p>&mdash; Verdict (@TournamentsMMA) <a href="https://twitter.com/SandhuMMA/status/1824997909454078038">April 5, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
```

Is that a lock for a performance of the night bonus? Let us know with a comment down below.

Carlos Prates Dominates with Knockdowns and a Devastating KO at UFC 305

UFC 308 is fast approaching, and with its first official announcement just made, the event will soon start to fill up with fights. We'll give you all the information available for UFC 308.

## Location and Venue

UFC 308 will go down in the Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, inside the Etihad Arena. It will take place on October 26th, and will be the 11th Pay-Per-View of the year.

The last PPV in the Etihad Arena was UFC 294, which featured a rematch between Islam Makhachev and Alexander Volkanovski after their first fight went down in Perth.

## Confirmed Fights

The main event for UFC 308 will be a Featherweight title bout between current Champion Ilia Topuria and BMF Champion Max Holloway. Both men are coming off with their respective career-best performances. Topuria defeated Volkanovski to capture the throne at 145 lbs, and Holloway upset Gaethje to steal his BMF title in a legendary last-second KO moment. 

```iframe
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">The oddsmakers are always confident in Israel Adesanya.<br><br>He&#39;s lost 3 fights to Alex Pereira, but the oddsmakers still have him as a favorite heading into this weekend.<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/UFC287?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#UFC287</a> <a href="https://t.co/0MF4krsH1v">pic.twitter.com/0MF4krsH1v</a></p>&mdash; Verdict (@TournamentsMMA) <a href="https://twitter.com/AbsolutlyNobode/status/1822085648540651919">April 5, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
```

The co-main event will be a five-round Middleweight fight between Robert Whittaker and Khamzat Chimaev. The two were previously supposed to fight in June, but Chimaev withdrew due to illness and was replaced by Ikram Aliskerov, who Whittaker defeated.

Here are the rest of the fights on the card.

**Heavyweight**:	Ciryl Gane vs. Alexander Volkov

**Light Heavyweight:** Magomed Ankalaev vs. Aleksandar Rakić

**Featherweight:** Lerone Murphy vs. Dan Ige

**Welterweight:** Geoff Neal vs. Rafael dos Anjos

**Heavyweight:** Marcos Rogério de Lima vs. Kennedy Nzechukwu

**Middleweight** Abusupiyan Magomedov vs. Brunno Ferreira

**Welterweight:** Rinat Fakhretdinov vs. Nursulton Ruziboev

## Cancelled Bouts

The original headliner for the event was supposed to be Islam Makhachev vs. Arman Tsarukyan 2. However, Makhachev received an undisclosed injury and will likely not compete until 2025. This leaves Arman Tsarukyan without an opponent, and it is unknown if he will wait for Makhachev or take another fight.

Keep watching this space for more updates on UFC 308.


UFC 308 Date, Location, Rumors, Confirmed Fights and Betting Odds

Dana White has just announced via Instagram the main card lineup and one extra fight for UFC 307, including the location and venue. Six fights have been confirmed for the event, with more likely to come soon.

## Two Title Fights

The main event will feature current UFC Light-Heavyweight Champion and Brazillian superstar Alex Pereira as he attempts to make his third title defense. His opponent will be #8 ranked Khalil Rountree Jr, riding a five-fight win streak, with notable wins over Anthony Smith and Dustin Jacoby. This will be Pereira's third fight this year, previously having fought on UFC 300 and UFC 303.

The co-main event will feature the Women's Bantamweight division, and new 135 lb Champion Raquel Pennington will attempt to defend her title against Juliana Pena. Pena hasn't fought since 2022, when she lost her title to Amanda Nunes.

```iframe
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">The oddsmakers are always confident in Israel Adesanya.<br><br>He&#39;s lost 3 fights to Alex Pereira, but the oddsmakers still have him as a favorite heading into this weekend.<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/UFC287?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#UFC287</a> <a href="https://t.co/0MF4krsH1v">pic.twitter.com/0MF4krsH1v</a></p>&mdash; Verdict (@TournamentsMMA) <a href="https://twitter.com/danawhite/status/1824476079509372997">April 5, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
```



## Multiple Ranked Bouts

The first confirmed non-title fight for UFC 307 falls in the Featherweight division, where Mosvar Evloev fights former Bantamweight Champion Aljamain Sterling. Evloev is unbeaten in the UFC with an eight-fight winning streak, and "Funkmaster" is coming off a dominant win over Calvin Kattar. The winner of this fight could fight for the Featherweight title next.

"The King of Rio" Jose Aldo, who's ranked #8 in the Bantamweight division, will also return on this card, fighting his second prospect in a row, Mario Bautista. Aldo denounced his retirement earlier this year in the co-main event of UFC 301, where he defeated Jonathan Martinez. Bautista is also coming off his first-ranked win, where he defeated Ricky Simon earlier this year.

White also announced that Kevin Holland will remain on the UFC 307 card. He was previously supposed to face Chris Curtis however this fight has now changed, with Roman Dolidze stepping in to replace Curtis. This bout will go down in the Middleweight division.

Stephen Thompson and Joaquin Buckley was the final fight Dana White announced, a Welterweight attraction Buckley has been calling for since his victory over Nursulton Ruziboev.

How do you rate this card out of 10? Which other fights would you book for the card? Let us know with a comment down below.

Dana White Confirms Full Main Card for UFC 307, Alex Pereira Headlines

The UFC is back on PPV this weekend, with two Middleweight rivals headlining. Dricus Du Plessis +102 will look to defend his title against former champion Israel Adesanya -125 at the RAC Arena in Perth, Western Australia. 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 8/15/2024**

## Dricus Du Plessis +102 vs. Israel Adesanya -125

This Middleweight rivalry will finally be settled in our main event as two dangerous strikers face off. Dricus Du Plessis is an all-action powerhouse with an awkward kickboxing style that mixes in high-level grappling, where his physical strength really shows, although he can be countered on his blitzes as was shown against Brad Tavares and Darren Till. Israel Adesanya is a slick kickboxer with a long reach that he uses well to manage distance and counter opponents entries between hammering leg kicks at range. He has been controlled with grappling several times before, which is a concern as Jared Cannonier, Robert Whittaker, and Jan Blachowicz were each able to take rounds off Adesanya using control time either on the ground or in the clinch.

I've got Adesanya to reclaim his belt. I feel he will be able to keep things close early, using his movement to avoid taking big shots and taking over as the fight goes on and Du Plessis starts to slow down. His counter-striking and grappling defense are the keys to victory here.

Prediction: Adesanya by 5th Round KO

## Kai Kara-France +139 vs. Steve Erceg -172

Flyweight's looking to work their way to another shot at the title clash in this high-stakes co-main clash. Kai Kara-France is a powerful striker with a long reach for the weight that he takes advantage of with powerful boxing combinations; he has also developed some of the best grappling defense in the division with a very high takedown defense percentage. Steve Erceg burst onto the scene with a competitive fight for the title against Alexandre Pantoja just a few months ago, where he showed more of the solid boxing that earned his highlight knockout over Matt Schnell and that his ground game held up at the highest level despite coming up short against the champion.

I took Kara-France as the underdog because I feel this may actually be a worse matchup for Erceg than Pantoja. Kara-France's striking ability and grappling defense make it more difficult for Erceg to implement his offense, and as we saw against Alessandro Costa, Erceg can be forced backward by hard hitters. 

Prediction: Kara-France by Split Decision

## Mateusz Gamrot -345 vs. Dan Hooker +265

Lightweights with opposite styles square off in this exciting matchup. Mateusz Gamrot is a fast-paced wrestler with incredible chain wrestling skills and cardio, which he showed in his main event win over Arman Tsarukyan. However, he is very hittable on the feet, having eaten some big shots during his UFC run despite not having suffered a knockout loss. Dan Hooker is a tall and long striker with dangerous knees in the clinch and solid boxing on the outside, which helped him earn a big comeback win over Jalin Turner his last time out. One thing is he has rarely faced high-level grapplers, with the Islam Makhachev fight being on very short notice, which makes it difficult to gauge his skill on the ground.

I like Gamrot here. He has displayed his grappling skills against some very tough matchups, which makes me think he will have a massive advantage there despite the power difference on the feet.

Prediction: Gamrot by 2nd Round Submission

## Tai Tuivasa +185 vs. Jairzinho Rozenstruik -233

Hard-hitting Heavyweight strikers collide in this must-see matchup featuring two fan favorites. Tai Tuivasa is a pure brawler who has struggled lately, losing four in a row against some of the tougher opponents in the division, having had some moments of success with his boxing and leg kicks, but his grappling and durability have let him down each time. Jairzinho Rozenstruik is a solid kickboxer with serious power, which he has displayed with several knockouts in under a minute during his UFC run, although he also does have good cardio, having scored a win over Alistair Overeem in the final round and won his last fight with Shamil Gaziev by outlasting him.

I'll pick Rozenstruik here as I see him being the more technical striker and countering Tuivasa with big shots early and often. 

Prediction: Rozenstruik by 1st Round TKO

## Li Jingliang +270 vs. Carlos Prates -357

Welterweight strikers open the main card in this fun matchup. Li Jingliang returns from a long layoff here looking to pull off an upset as he did against Santiago Ponzinibbio years ago using his dangerous boxing. Carlos Prates is a powerful kickboxer with a sniper-like approach that he has shown off with two highlight knockouts over Trevin Giles and Charles Radtke.

I lean towards Prates here, but it's a pass at this price as there are too many questions around this fight for me, with it being a step up in competition against a long layoff.

Prediction: Prates by 2nd Round TKO

## Junior Tafa -132 vs. Valter Walker +108

Heavyweight finishers are looking to return to the win column in the featured prelim. Junior Tafa is a powerful kickboxer with very heavy hands and kicks, although he lacks much speed, as was shown in his last fight against Marcos Rogerio de Lima. His grappling has also been poor, with Mohammed Usman dominating him in the wrestling. Valter Walker had a disappointing UFC debut, although he appears to be in much better shape now, looking to return to the form he had when he finished four straight opponents to get to this level.

I took Walker here because, despite his tough debut, he is going to have a big grappling advantage, which I see him using to steal rounds away from Tafa.

Prediction: Walker by Decision

## Josh Culibao -152 vs. Ricardo Ramos +123

Featherweights, both with a history of fun fights, clash in this one. Josh Culibao is a long striker who keeps a solid pace over his fights, although he has been controlled on the ground before. Ricardo Ramos is a slick striker with a solid ground game, although he has been caught in a submission in each of his last two and has questionable cardio.

I'll pick Culibao as I trust him to be the smarter fighter with a higher output and better cardio. 

Prediction: Culibao by Decision

## Casey O'Neill +119 vs. Luana Santos -147

Two Flyweights looking to push into the rankings of this deep division square off here. Casey O'Neill is a long fighter with a good offense that includes strong striking and ground and pound, although she has lost her last two, with the most recent being a very bad showing against Ariane Lipski. Luana Santos is a dangerous submission artist, with four of her eight wins coming by tapout, although she has shown questionable cardio and striking in her debut against Stephanie Egger.

I lean towards O'Neill here as she will have considerable advantages in the striking and cardio departments. If she can avoid the grappling early, it becomes her fight to lose at an underdog price.

Prediction: O'Neill by Decision

## Jack Jenkins -769 vs. Herbert Burns +520

Featherweight finishers collide in this fun matchup featuring one of many Australians fighting at home. Jack Jenkins is a good striker with a signature legkick that has ruined many opponents' nights, although he also has solid ground and pound when on top. Herbert Burns is a decent submission grappler who struggles with getting the fight to the ground on his terms, and striking, not to mention his cardio is very concerning, with him completely gassing out against Bill Algeo after a round.

I'm picking Jenkins as he should defend the grappling and have a large cardio edge, but these odds are far too steep for me to make any bet on this fight.

Prediction: Jenkins by Round 3 TKO

## Tom Nolan -1250 vs. Alex Reyes +700

A native prospect gets a showcase matchup at Lightweight. Tom Nolan is a tall striker with dangerous knees and punches, although he has shown some serious durability concerns, being dropped in both his UFC fights, which weren't against great competition. Alex Reyes gets another shot here after being knocked out in round one of each of his UFC showings so far; he does have some early submissions on his resume from before his time in the promotion, although his last win was in 2017.

Nolan is going to make quick work of this one, as the odds suggest, as his power is too much for Reyes.

Prediction: Nolan by 1st Round KO

## Kenan Song -175 vs. Ricky Glenn +143

Veteran Welterweights go head to head here early on the card. Kenan Song is a tough striker with solid boxing and pretty good submission defense, although he can be controlled on the ground. Ricky Glenn is a gritty wrestler who is moving up in weight here after suffering back-to-back first-round knockout losses.

I'll pick Song here, as he is going to be landing hard shots whenever they are standing, and I don't see Glenn submitting him or holding him down for three rounds.

Prediction: Song by 3rd Round TKO

## Stewart Nicoll -227 vs. Jesus Aguilar +185

Flyweights open the card, with the first Australian of the card entering the octagon. Stewart Nicoll makes his debut here with an undefeated record, he is rather untested when it comes to competition, but he has dominated thus far using a solid top game with powerful ground and pound, helping finish seven of his eight wins. Jesus Aguilar is a decent grappler with a good guillotine that has earned most of his wins, although he is often easy to take down as he tries to get a submission, and his short reach limits his striking ability.

I lean towards Aguilar at these odds as he has shown his skills at this level and could easily score a submission or take a decision here.

Prediction: Aguilar by 1st Round Submission