Liam Lindsay

Sean Strickland was very vocal at the UFC 297 press conference about his beef with Dricus du Plessis. The current UFC Middleweight Champion was furious at the Q1 Seasonal Press conference but, since then, has embraced du Plessis.

> It was never personal. I go hard on everyone, so I deserve a little shit. I'm proud of the motherfucker (du Plessis); you don't see me lose my shit very often. - Sean Strickland

With the hatched finally buried, we now move forward to a promised "to the death" fight on Saturday. Who do you think will win? As a member of the Verdict Community, let us know your prediction in the comments below.


Sean Stricklands Shuts Down Dricus du Plessis Rivalry at UFC 297

Douglas Vegas Bets

The UFC is back in the Apex this weekend, headlined by Featherweight finishers Edson Barboza +113 and Lerone Murphy -133. I went over every fight on the card to give my predictions and best bets, so let's get into it.

**Odds provided by BetOnline.ag accurate as of 9:00 AM 5/16/2024**

## Edson Barboza +113 vs. Lerone Murphy -133

A tough test awaits an undefeated prospect in our main event at Featherweight. Edson Barboza is an explosive kickboxer coming off a tremendous comeback victory over Sodiq Yusuff, which proved he still has some left in the tank at thirty-eight years old. Lerone Murphy enters this undefeated with a well-rounded skillset that includes knockout power, as he showed against Makwan Amirkhani, and a solid wrestling game he has used on multiple occasions.

I've got Murphy here. I believe he is a good enough striker to keep it close and eventually take this fight to the ground and dominate. 

Pick: Murphy O/U: Under 3.5 +135

## Khaos Williams -122 vs. Carlston Harris +102

Solid clash of Welterweights on win streaks here in the co-main event. Khaos Williams is a powerful striker with a strong build and decent volume, although his grappling has yet to be tested much in the UFC. Carlston Harris is a long grappler with improving striking; his only loss in the UFC comes against Shavkat Rakhmonov, with him being 4-1 in the promotion, including three finishes.

I'll pick Harris here as I feel he will be able to get this fight to the ground and control Williams enough to negate the striking advantage on the other side,

Pick: Harris O/U: Under 2.5 -175

## Ramiz Brahimaj +125 vs. Themba Gorimbo -145

Welterweight grapplers will go head to head in this fun matchup. Ramiz Brahimaj is a talented submission artist with an excellent choke game that has helped him finish all ten of his professional wins by submission. Themba Gorimbo is a long and fast-paced fighter with decent striking that he used to knockout Pete Rodriguez in the first minute of his last appearance, although he has struggled against other grapplers like AJ Fletcher, who wore him down and secured a choke.

I like Brahimaj to find a submission here. He is very good at capitalizing on his opponents' mistakes on the mat, and I see Gorimbo eventually giving him an opportunity to secure a choke.

Pick: Brahimaj O/U: Under 1.5 +125

## Adrian Yanez -400 vs. Vinicius Salvador +330

Strikers with flashy styles will face off in this Bantamweight clash. Adrian Yanez is a very skilled boxer, coming off back-to-back stoppage losses, although those were large steps up in competition compared to previous opponents. Vinicius Salvador has an awkward striking style, throwing many unorthodox kicks; he is also moving up in weight here after missing in his last bout at Flyweight, which was a loss to CJ Vergara.

I see Yanez dominating this matchup. He will have a massive advantage in boxing, and I don't believe Salvador can do enough damage to stop his forward pressure.

Pick: Yanez O/U: Over 1.5 -165

## Angela Hill -140 vs. Luana Pinheiro +120

Strawweights open the main card as a fan favorite takes on an up-and-comer. Angela Hill is a tough veteran who has fought many top women in the division, showing a high-volume striking attack and good grappling defense. Luana Pinheiro is a solid grappler with improving striking, although her cardio failed when she was forced to fight at a high pace against Amanda Ribas.

I lean towards Hill to win a decision with higher output.

Pick: Hill O/U: Over 2.5 -450

## Tom Nolan -475 vs. Victor Martinez +375

Lightweight strikers matchup here, each looking to bounce back from rough debuts. Tom Nolan is a tall and powerful guy, although his striking defense leaves much to be desired, as we saw against Nikolas Motta, who finished him in just over a minute in his UFC debut. Victor Martinez returns after over a year off since his debut loss, where Jordan Leavitt, traditionally a grappler, knocked him out in the first round.

My pick is Nolan here, as he is the more dangerous threat, but I can't trust either of these men with my money at this stage in their careers.

Pick: Nolan O/U: Under 1.5 -150

## Oumar Sy -400 vs. Tuco Tokkos +300

Light Heavyweights, each making their UFC debut, face off in this one. Oumar Sy debuts here as a well-rounded finisher with six first-round stoppages in his nine wins, with four knockouts and two submissions, having also gone the distance in two of his wins, showing cardio is not an issue. Tuco Tokkos steps in on short notice, having won three straight, with two coming inside the first round, although many of his finishes come against lower-level competition. 

I'm picking Sy here because I see him as the more dangerous fighter. I believe he can get another first-round stoppage against his short-notice opponent.

Pick: Sy O/U: Under 1.5 -154

## Tamires Vidal +260 vs. Melissa Gatto -320

Bantamweights who are coming off split decision losses and look to return to the win column here. Tamires Vidal returns for her third UFC appearance here; she is a powerful striker who throws big shots but often fails to put much together in combination. Melissa Gatto looks to bounce back here after a couple of tough losses against solid competition; she has dangerous striking that she used to finish Sijara Eubanks and a good submission game, as well as holding a kimura win over Karol Rosa.

I'll take Gatto here, and I even believe she will get a finish here. She has proven to have dangerous power and good submissions.

Pick: Gatto O/U: Under 2.5 +115

## Abus Magomedov -255 vs. Warlley Alves +215

Middleweight finishers looking to get back on track face off here. Abus Magomedov is a dangerous and powerful striker, although his cardio has been a serious issue, with him gassing out badly against Sean Strickland and Caio Borralho. Warlley Alves is a tough veteran with power in his hands and a very strong guillotine that he used to beat Colby Covington back in the day.

I'll pick Magomedov to get an early finish, although, at this price, I can't put my money on him, as his cardio has always been a concern.

Pick: Magomedov O/U: Under 1.5 -135

## Piera Rodriguez -221 vs. Ariane Carnelossi +186

Strawweights who are looking to get things on track and make a big statement square off here. Piera Rodriguez has a good striking game with decent power in her hands and the ability to mix in the wrestling. Ariane Carnelossi is very strong for the weight class, having big power and explosive ability on the ground, although her wrestling technique has not been the best, with Lupita Godinez repeatedly taking her down in that matchup.

I'll pick Rodriguez here, as she will have a massive advantage in wrestling and cardio.

Pick: Rodriguez O/U: Over 2.5 -250

## Alateng Heili +132 vs. Kleydson Rodrigues -152

Strikers will match up in this fun clash at Bantamweight. Alateng Heili is a powerful counter-striker with a big right hand, although he is relatively low-volume in most fights. Kleydson Rodrigues is a solid kickboxer who has had a rough run in the UFC thus far, although it has not been against good matchups; he is now up a weight class where he is much better suited.

I've got Rodrigues here as I see him as the higher-volume and more dangerous striker, giving him the finishing edge or if it goes to the scorecards.

Pick: Rodrigues O/U: Over 2.5 -200

## Emily Ducote -340 vs. Vanessa Demopoulos +280

Strawweights open the card, looking to make a statement. Emily Ducote is a well-rounded fighter with good boxing and wrestling, although she doesn't push a very high pace. Vanessa Demopoulos is a solid grappler who is very active on the ground, although her wrestling has been a problem as she spends a lot of time on her back.

I've got Ducote here. She is better than Demopoulos everywhere and will take home a clear decision win.

Pick: Ducote O/U: Over 2.5 -470

## [DougLasVegasBets.net](https://douglasvegasbets.net) Plays

Lerone Murphy -150

Carlston Harris +112 

Ramiz Brahimaj +115

Kleydson Rodrigues -150

Adrian Yanez + Emily Ducote -155


UFC Fight Night: Barboza vs. Murphy Odds Breakdown

UFC Fight Night: Barboza vs. Murphy goes down tomorrow. Here are all the results from today's weigh-ins

## Main Card (ESPN+, 7 p.m. ET)

**_Featherweight:_** Edson Barboza (**145.5 lbs**) vs. Lerone Murphy (**146 lbs**)

**_Welterweight:_** Khaos Williams (**170 lbs**) vs. Carlston Harris (**169.5 lbs**)

**_Welterweight:_** Themba Gorimbo (**170.5 lbs**) vs. Ramiz Brahimaj (**170.5 lbs**)

**_Bantamweight:_** Adrian Yanez (**136 lbs**) vs. Vinicius Salvador (**136 lbs**)

**_Strawweight:_** Luana Pinheiro (**116 lbs**) vs. Angela Hill (**115.5 lbs**)

## Preliminary Card (ESPN+, 4 p.m. ET)

**_Lightweight:_** Victor Martinez (**156 lbs**) vs. Tom Nolan (**155.5 lbs**)

**_Light Heavyweight:_** Oumar Sy (**206 lbs**) vs. Tuco Tokkos (**205.5 lbs**)

**_Bantamweight:_** Tamires Vidal (**134.5 lbs**) vs. Melissa Gatto (**134.5 lbs**)

**_Middleweight:_** Abus Magomedov (**185.5 lbs**) vs. Warlley Alves (**186 lbs**)

**_Strawweight:_** Piera Rodriguez (**116 lbs**) vs. Ariane Carnelossi (**115.5 lbs**)

**_Bantamweight:_** Alatengheili (**136 lbs**) vs. Kleydson Rodrigues (**135.5 lbs**)

**_Strawweight:_** Vanessa Demopoulos (**116 lbs**) vs. Emily Ducote (**115.5 lbs**)

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

Joey Kolnicki

With yet another fantastic Fight Night card taking place this Saturday, plenty of fighters are looking to score a highlight victory. The entire card is loaded with fantastic matchups, with some being particularly underrated. The most underrated of these bouts is likely the fourth fight of the night, Magomedov vs. Alves.

**This fight takes place in the Middleweight (185 lbs.) division.**

Abus Magomedov has a professional record of 25-6-1 and has won three of his last five bouts. He holds a UFC victory over Dustin Stoltzfus.

Warlley Alves has a professional record of 15-7-0 and has won one of his last five outings. He holds UFC victories over Colby Covington, Mounir Lazzez, and Alan Jouban.

![amagomedov3.jpg](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/9bb78815-5902-43a3-116e-4e5990523f00/public "Abus Magomedov blasts Dustin Stoltzfus with an uppercut. Credit: DraftKings Network.")

Magomedov is a lengthy striker who prefers power over volume, typically blasting his opponents with a barrage of kicks. He throws everything with fight-ending intentions and is at his most dangerous early, with 15 of his 20 finishes coming in round one. He is always pressuring forward and constantly switching stances, dealing damage to his opponent's body and head evenly. Magomedov is willing to grapple and is a solid wrestler, able to land his takedowns and often reverse ones attempted on him to land on top. Training at UFD Gym, he transitions quickly on the ground and is active on top, always throwing ground-and-pound or pursuing a choke. Despite a brief UFC tenure, he has big-fight experience, having made a run through the playoffs to the PFL middleweight championship in 2018.

![amagomedov4.jpg](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/a9dcc78e-c881-4124-b3e1-ec3d2067c600/public "Abus Magomedov exchanges blows with Sean Strickland. Credit: MMA Fighting.")

Alves is a wild, aggressive fighter who always comes out guns blazing. He throws every shot with knockout intentions and often drops his head and blitzes forward to throw big combinations. Training at Rizzo RVT, he was the winner of TUF Brazil 3 and is very unpredictable, with a slick submission game to back up his powerful striking. Four of Alves’ six career submissions have come via guillotine, so he’s incredibly dangerous if he can get a hold of his opponent’s neck. He pushes a high pace and slows down as the fight continues, but is willing to eat a shot to land one and is always comfortable in a brawl. He tends to headhunt and always comes forward, fighting with a “kill or be killed” attitude. 

![walves2.jpg](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/21a77c20-61f9-4888-0d94-953085c62800/public "Warlley Alves rains down ground and pound onto Nordine Taleb. Credit: MMA Fighting.")

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


Verdict's Sleeper Fight of the Week: Magomedov vs. Alves

Tom Aspinall will defend his interim Heavyweight title in his home country as Dana White announced he is set to rematch Curtis Blaydes at UFC 304 in Manchester, England. The odds have been released; check them out below.

**Odds from BetOnline.ag accurate as of 5/16/2024**

## Current Odds: Tom Aspinall -220, Curtis Blaydes +185

This rematch will go down years after the first meeting, which was cut short after Aspinall suffered a knee injury in the first minute. Aspinall is coming off his first-round knockout of Sergei Pavlovich to claim the interim title. Curtis Blaydes earned his first title opportunity with a knockout of Jailton Almeida at UFC 299 earlier this year.

## Past Odds: Tom Aspinall

*Odds from FightOdds.io*

Tom Aspinall (-115) vs. Sergei Pavlovich (-105) UFC 295 - Win

Tom Aspinall (-500) vs. Marcin Tybura (+375) UFC Fight Night: Aspinall vs. Tybura – Win

Tom Aspinall (-135) vs. Curtis Blaydes (+125) UFC Fight Night: Blaydes vs. Aspinall – Loss

Tom Aspinall (-125) vs. Alexander Volkov (+105) UFC Fight Night: Volkov vs. Aspinall – Win

Tom Aspinall (-240) vs. Sergey Spivac (+220) UFC Fight Night: Brunson vs. Till – Win

## Past Odds: Curtis Blaydes

*Odds from FightOdds.io*

Curtis Blaydes (+107) vs. Jailton Almeida (-127) UFC 299 - Win 

Curtis Blaydes (-155) vs. Sergei Pavlovich (+145) UFC Fight Night: Blaydes vs. Pavlovich - Loss

Curtis Blaydes (+125) vs. Tom Aspinall (-135) UFC Fight Night Blaydes vs. Aspinall - Win

Curtis Blaydes (-525) vs. Chris Daukaus (+450) UFC Fight Night: Blaydes vs. Daukaus - Win

Curtis Blaydes (-305) vs. Jairzinho Rozenstruik (+275) UFC 266 - Win

Who do you have in this highly anticipated Heavyweight rematch? Let us know in the comments below!

Betting Odds: Tom Aspinall favored over Curtis Blaydes for rematch at UFC 304

UFC 304 will go down in Manchester, England, on July 27th inside the Co-op Live Arena. Dana White took to social media today to announce the entire main card for the event, which includes two title fights and a UK superstar.

## Two Title Fights

The main event for UFC 304 will be Leon Edwards vs. Belal Muhammad. This fight is a rematch, with their first fight occurring in March 20221, which was a No Contest following an illegal eye poke from Edwards.

Since the No Contest with Muhammad, Edwards has been on a  winning streak. He has secured wins over Nate Diaz, Kamaru Usman, and Colby Covington, successfully defending his title twice. As he steps into the octagon in Manchester for the first time, he aims to add another impressive win to his record.

Muhammad has won five straight since the Edwards fight, racking up important wins over Gilbert Burns, Vicente Luque, and Sean Brady. This will be his first UFC Championship fight but his third promotional main event.

The co-main event will feature Tom Aspinall, who is looking to defend his Interim Heavyweight Championship against Curtis Blaydes. This matchup is also another rematch stemming from a controversial first fight, with Blaydes TKOing Aspinall in 12 seconds due to the Englishman suffering a leg injury.

## Featured Fights

Also on the card will be UK superstar Paddy "The Baddy" Pimblett. He will take on his first UFC-ranked opponent, Bobby "King" Green, in a three-rounder. Pimblett is undefeated in the UFC, having won impressive wins over Tony Ferguson and Jordan Leavitt, whereas Green is a longtime veteran coming off a classic performance vs. Jim Miller.

Arnold Allen vs. Giga Chikadze has also been confirmed for the card, as has a bout between Flyweight prospects Muhammad Mokaev and Manel Kape. The undercard will also feature notable UK talent like Nathaniel Wood and Molly McCann.

What do you think of this card so far? And what fights would you add to it? Let us know with a comment down below.

UFC 304 Main Card Released by Dana White

Dana White announced that a rematch between Welterweight champion Leon Edwards and Belal Muhammad will headline UFC 304 from Manchester, England, and the odds have been released. 

**Odds via BetOnline.ag accurate as of 5/16/2024**

## Current Odds: Leon Edwards -225, Belal Muhammad +185

This will be Leon Edwards's third defense of the Welterweight title. His last win was a dominant decision over Colby Covington at UFC 296. Belal Muhammad will return here after over a year off since his last fight, a clear decision win over Gilbert Burns at UFC 288.

## Past Odds: Leon Edwards

*Odds via Fightodds.io*

Leon Edwards (-163) vs. Colby Covington (+143) UFC 296 - Win

Leon Edwards (+225) vs. Kamaru Usman (-265) UFC 286 – Win

Leon Edwards (+315) vs. Kamaru Usman (-345) UFC 278 – Win

Leon Edwards (-460) vs. Nate Diaz (+410) UFC 263 – Win

Leon Edwards (-260) vs. Belal Muhammad (+245) UFC Fight Night: Edwards vs. Muhammad - NC

## Past Odds: Belal Muhammad

*Odds via Fightodds.io*

Belal Muhammad (+125) vs. Gilbert Burns (-135) UFC 288 - Win 

Belal Muhammad (+110) vs. Sean Brady (-120) UFC 270 - Win

Belal Muhammad (+155) vs. Vicente Luque (-165) UFC Fight Night: Luque vs. Muhammad 2 - Win

Belal Muhammad (+185) vs. Stephen Thompson (-200) UFC Fight Night: Lewis vs. Daukaus - Win

Belal Muhammad (-200) vs. Demian Maia (+185) UFC 263 - Win

Who do you have in this rematch? Let us know in the comments below!

Betting Odds: Leon Edwards sizeable favorite over Belal Muhammad at UFC 304

The UFC is bringing the action to St.Louis, Missouri, this weekend as fan favorite Derrick Lewis -170 takes on Rodrigo Nascimento +145 in the main event from the Enterprise Center. I went over every fight on this deep card to give my picks and best bets, so let's get into it.

**Odds provided by BetOnline.ag accurate as of 10:55 AM 5/9/2024**

## Derrick Lewis -170 vs. Rodrigo Nascimento +145

Heavyweight finishers take center stage for our main event, which is unlikely to go all five rounds. Derrick Lewis is the knockout king of the UFC with his always dangerous power and sneaky athleticism; his grappling has never been great, and he is getting up there in age, but his power and experience make him live to end a fight at any moment. Rodrigo Nascimento takes a massive step up in competition here, having shown decent skills on the ground for the division, although he has also failed to separate himself from several lower-tier opponents such as Ilir Latifi and Tanner Boser, winning each of those fights in close split-decisions. 

I'll pick Lewis to get an early knockout here, as his power and experience will be too much for Nascimento to handle. 

Pick: Lewis O/U: Under 1.5 -150

## Joaquin Buckley -129 vs. Nursulton Ruziboev +109

A short notice matchup here at Welterweight sees Buckley get his wish to fight in his hometown. Joaquin Buckley is an explosive and athletic striker who has had tremendous success since moving down in weight, dominantly beating solid veterans Vicente Luque and Alex Morono. Nursulton Ruziboev returns here after an odd finish to his last fight with Sedriques Dumas; he moves down in weight here, which is an interesting move as he has struggled at this weight in the past, and being 6'5 it will presumably be a difficult cut on short notice. 

I lean towards Ruziboev to get an early finish, although the longer this fight goes, the more I would favor Buckley.

Pick: Ruziboev O/U: Under 1.5 +115

## Alonzo Menifield +230 vs. Carlos Ulberg -270

Powerful Light Heavyweights will face off in this high-stakes clash. Alonzo Menifield is a strong puncher with a much-improved ground game, which he has used to finish Jimmy Crute and Askar Mozharov. Carlos Ulberg is a clean, hard-hitting kickboxer with a devastating left hook, which he has used to finish Nicolae Negumereanu and Ihor Potieria. 

I'll go with Ulberg here as I see him controlling the distance and landing big shots from the outside to eventually find the knockout. 

Pick: Ulberg O/U: Under 1.5 +115

## Diego Ferreira +300 vs. Mateusz Rebecki -400

Step up in competition for a highly touted Lightweight as he takes on his most experienced test yet. Diego Ferreira has faced many tough tests in the division, showing his slick ground game and solid striking that he used to knock out Michael Johnson in his last fight. Mateusz Rebecki is a tank who enters this, having finished his last two fights by submission and knockout, redeeming his somewhat disappointing debut and showing he is dangerous wherever the fight goes.

I've got Rebecki here as he has shown he has all the skills to compete with top Lightweights, while Ferreira is nearly forty and has not been very active.

Pick: Rebecki O/U: Under 2.5 -170

## Alex Caceres +185 vs. Sean Woodson -220

It's a fun matchup between a veteran and a hometown guy here at Featherweight. Alex Caceres is a veteran with a crafty style, having shown his unique, striking attack and solid grappling over his UFC career. Sean Woodson is a tall and long fighter who uses his length mostly to avoid striking exchanges, as he did in his split-decision win over Charles Jourdain. 

I lean towards Woodson to keep at a distance with his jab and take home a low-volume decision.

Pick: Woodson O/U: Over 2.5 -280

## Waldo Cortes-Acosta +209 vs. Robelis Despaigne -244

Hard-hitting Heavyweights open the main card in this big-time matchup. Waldo Cortes-Acosta is a durable boxer with a big right hand that he swings wildly; he can be low-volume at times, as he showed in his lackluster performance against Andrei Arlovski. Robelis Despaigne is one of the most unique prospects we have ever seen, with an incredible record, having finished all five of his fights in the first round, four of them inside the first twenty seconds.

I'll pick Despaigne here, although I can't bet on him at this steep price because of his lack of experience. 

Pick: Despaigne O/U: Under 1.5 -225

## Chase Hooper +120 vs. Viacheslav Borshchev -140

The classic striker vs. grappler matchup goes down here at Lightweight. Chase Hooper is a slick grappler who continues to develop after joining the UFC at a very young age; his striking defense is concerning, with him having been hurt badly early by Steve Garica at Featherweight. Viacheslav Borshchev is a very talented kickboxer with devastating leg kicks and strong power in his hands; however, he has been out-grappled several times in the UFC, showing an evident lack of skill on the ground. 

I'll go with Hooper here. Despite his deficiencies in striking, he should be able to get this fight to the ground rather quickly, where he can dominate and avoid the damage coming back. 

Pick: Hooper O/U: Over 1.5 -130

## Terrance McKinney +140 vs. Esteban Ribovics -160

Two very exciting Lightweights go head-to-head in this must-see matchup. Terrance McKinney is a fast starter with big power and strong wrestling; his issue is his cardio and durability, as he has yet to win a UFC fight that has gone over half a round. Esteban Ribovics is a dangerous striker with decent submission skills and fantastic cardio; he has been taken down and controlled by wrestlers but showed good defense when on the ground. 

I'm taking Ribovics to get the finish here, as he is a better striker, and if McKinney doesn't secure a submission early, he will likely gas out from wrestling as he has before.

Pick: Ribovics O/U: Under 1.5 -260

## Tabatha Ricci -142 vs. Tecia Pennington +122

This will be a Strawweight clash of styles here as a veteran returns. Tabatha Ricci has used her high-level grappling to win four of her last five, although when faced with a strong wrestler in Loopy Godinez, she was forced to strike where she could be better. Tecia Torres returns from a long layoff here after having a child; she is a solid striker with good defensive grappling and a high pace. 

I've got Pennington here. If she returns similarly to where she was, she can defend the grappling and dominate the striking. 

Pick: Pennington O/U: Over 2.5 -400

## Trey Waters -160 vs. Billy Goff +140

Welterweights, each coming off impressive debut victories, face off in this one. Trey Waters is a huge and powerful guy for the division, coming off an impressive debut in which he dominated Josh Quinlan. Billy Goff is a tough brawler who comes into this one after finishing his last five opponents by knockout, with four coming in the first round, including his wild UFC debut win over Yusaku Kinoshita. 

I'll pick Waters here to use his size advantage, pick Goff apart in the striking, and eventually find a finish. 

Pick: Waters O/U: Under 2.5 -165

## Jake Hadley -141 vs. Charles Johnson +121

Intriguing matchup here at Flyweight between two guys with something to prove. Jake Hadley came into the UFC with high hopes, although he has struggled thus far, showing solid submission skills, although his wrestling needs to be better to compete with other grapplers. Charles Johnson is a striker with good cardio who can push opponents late, although he can start slowly, and wrestlers like Cody Durden and Muhammad Mokaev have controlled him. 

I lean towards Johnson as the underdog, as he showed solid defensive wrestling last time out against Azat Maksum. 

Pick: Johnson O/U: Over 2.5 -260

## Jared Gooden +195 vs. Kevin Jousset -230

Welterweight strikers square off in this fun matchup. Jared Gooden is a durable striker with a hands-down style and very powerful punches, as he showed with his knockout over Niklas Stolze. Kevin Jousset is a good kickboxer who can keep a solid pace, as he showed in his win over Song Kenan, where he was able to win every round.

I took Jousset here and paired him with the over 1.5 rounds to bring the price down, as I see Gooden being able to take his punches at least early in the fight.

Pick: Jousset O/U: Over 1.5 -220

## JJ Aldrich +121 vs. Veronica Hardy -141

Flyweights looking to move up in the ranks clash here. JJ Aldrich is a well-rounded fighter who has competed with high-level competition, even having some success against top-ranked Erin Blanchfield in striking and finishing Na Liang with ground and pound. Veronica Hardy has looked much improved since returning from a multiple-year layoff, although she has yet to be tested against any solid competition. 

I'm taking Aldrich as the underdog here. She has proven herself at a much higher level and has all the tools needed to dictate how this fight plays out.

Pick: Aldrich O/U: Over 2.5 -500

## [DougLasVegasBets.net](https://douglasvegasbets.net) Plays

Chase Hooper +125

Tecia Pennington +120

JJ Aldrich +115

Esteban Ribovics Inside The Distance -140

Kevin Jousset + Over 1.5 +100

UFC Fight Night: Lewis vs. Nascimento Odds Breakdown

The UFC hits St. Louis for this weekend's Fight Night. In the co-main event, hometown brawler Joaquin Buckley takes on the red-hot Nursulton Ruziboev. In the main event, a legendary veteran will face off against a newly ranked scrapper when Derrick Lewis takes on Rodrigo Nascimento. The entire card is packed from top to bottom with fantastic matchups. Let's take a look at the fights on the main card. 

## Waldo Cortes-Acosta vs. Robelis Despaigne

![cortesacosta1.jpg](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/22c830eb-fadd-409f-9c85-b087c5681a00/public "Waldo Cortes-Acosta launches a right hand at Danilo Suzart. Credit: MMA Junkie.")

Acosta has won four of his last five outings and has UFC victories over Andrei Arlovski (34-23-0), Chase Sherman (16-12-0), and Jared Vanderaa (14-11-0). He is a powerful striker, utilizing a boxing style, and has quick hands for a Heavyweight. His best weapon is his right hand, regularly throwing wide hooks and devastating overhands. Training at UKF Gym, Acosta seems to be most at home in a brawl, working inside the pocket and throwing knees and elbows in the clinch. When he lets his hands go, he’s shown he can throw long, technical combinations but will often throw single shots. While he won’t usually initiate grappling exchanges, he has demonstrated a solid ability to return to his feet. When Acosta is on top, he throws plenty of elbows and does a great job keeping himself in advantageous positions.

![despaigne1.jpg](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/f3162e1b-fc01-4aff-0a29-59d10cd25300/public "Robelis Despaigne blasts Josh Parisian with ground and pound. Credit: Zuffa LLC.")

Despaigne is undefeated and has a UFC victory over Josh Parisian (15-8-0). He’s a former Olympic-level Taekwondo practitioner with one-shot knockout power. In his brief MMA career, he’s had a total cage time of 5:31 and has finished every fight in the first round. Despaigne is very fluid for a Heavyweight, fighting with his hands down and head up, regularly blitzing forward to throw bombs. Training at MMA Temple, he fights behind his jab and throws everything straight, regularly opening combinations with head kicks. He has excellent distance management and footwork, often gliding along the outside before closing the distance and throwing combinations. Despaigne is an enormous Heavyweight at 6’7” and makes excellent use of his size, able to damage his opponents at range and in the pocket.

## Alex Caceres vs. Sean Woodson

![caceres1.jpg](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/474cffc3-9b1a-4287-4016-4fb320803c00/public "Alex Caceres stuns Chase Hooper with a left straight. Credit: Essentially Sports.")

Caceres has won three of his last five outings and has UFC victories over Daniel Pineda (27-15-0), Julian Erosa (29-12-0), and Chase Hooper (13-3-1). He is a lengthy striker with slick striking and is always in perpetual motion. He often throws more kicks than punches and has a large arsenal of kicks, attacking from different angles and favoring his lead leg. Caceres is very elusive and has defended 63% of significant strikes attempted on him in the UFC. Training at MMA LAB, he won’t enter the pocket often, tending to throw single shots and kicks at range with significant power. He won’t typically initiate grappling exchanges but has excellent chokes and takedown defense. Caceres is a tenured veteran, holding the fifth most bouts in UFC Featherweight history, along with eight post-fight bonuses. 

![swoodson1.jpg](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/06f270b8-4379-47ba-901f-115d3dc15300/public "Sean Woodson cracks Kyle Bochniak with a right hand. Credit: DraftKings Network.")

Woodson has won 4 of his last 5 bouts with one draw and has UFC victories over Charles Jourdain (15-7-1), Youssef Zalal (14-5-1), and Dennis Buzukja (12-4-0). He’s an experienced striker with an amateur boxing record of 46-3, and it shows in the octagon, using fluid boxing to piece his opponents up. He is the tallest active Featherweight in the UFC at 6’2 he uses his length well, throwing long punches and kicks from range along with plenty of feints. Woodson is willing to throw wild shots, particularly flying knees, and has various kicks to back up his boxing. He’s excellent at switching up his strikes, often throwing devastating uppercuts to the body and has finished fights with body shots. Training at Glory MMA, he’s typically hard to take down, especially against the fence, using his size to keep the fight on the feet. When he is taken down, Woodson does a good job of returning to his feet quickly and to the center of the cage where he’s most comfortable. 

## Diego Ferreira vs. Mateusz Rebęcki

![ferreira1.jpg](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/956ad92f-472d-4437-5d56-0fa6cc9f5b00/public "Diego Ferreira rains down ground and pound on Kyle Nelson. Credit: MMA Fighting.")

Diego Ferreira has won two of his last five outings and has UFC victories over Michael Johnson (23-19-0), Anthony Pettis (25-14-0), and Kyle Nelson (16-5-1). Training at Fortis MMA, he utilizes a brawling style, throwing a lot of heavy straight punches, looping hooks, and constantly coming forward. He has excellent BJJ and is at his best to take on the ground, but he is more than willing to stand and exchange. An accomplished grappler, Ferreira is a former medalist in both the Pan-American and Nogi World Jiu-Jitsu Championships. His grappling ability keeps his opponents concerned enough about takedowns, improving the effectiveness of his striking much of the time. He’ll often blitz forward to unload wild combos, throwing every shot with knockout intentions. Five of Ferreira’s seven submissions are via choke, and he’s highly effective if he can find his opponent’s neck.

![rebecki1.jpg](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/16c50f07-9d25-4db2-6610-774d2629a600/public "Mateusz Rębecki stuns Loik Radzhabov with a left straight. Credit: MMA Fighting.")

Rębecki is on a 16-fight win streak and has UFC victories over Roosevelt Roberts (12-5-0), Loik Radzhabov (18-5-1), and Nick Fiore (6-2-0). He’s an excellent, technical striker with fantastic grappling to back it up. He lands, on average, twice as many significant strikes as he absorbs and throws with both power and volume. Rębecki has great head movement, always keeping his head off the centerline and often slipping shots after landing his own. He’s averaging over four takedowns landed and over one submission attempted per fifteen minutes and is a powerful wrestler. Training at American Top Team, he lands takedowns quickly and efficiently, has smothering top control, and fantastic joint lock submissions. Rębecki has finished thirteen fights on his lengthy win streak and always pushes a furious pace. 

## Alonzo Menifield vs. Carlos Ulberg

![menifield1.jpg](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/0515c652-4760-45c4-e54c-0d9d46e21d00/public "Alonzo Menifield throws a powerful right hand at Vinicus Moreira. Credit: MMA Fighting.")

Menifield has won four of his last five contests with one draw and has UFC victories over Dustin Jacoby (19-8-1), Jimmy Crute (12-4-1), and Paul Craig (17-8-1). He is an explosive striker with serious power in both hands and constantly pursues a finish. He throws constant looping shots and overhands and can do damage from anywhere. Menifield has excellent leg kicks and can land damage even when moving backward, making him always dangerous. He has ten first-round finishes, with five of them scored with less than ten punches landed, proving he’s at his most dangerous early. He averages just under a takedown landed per fifteen minutes and can land devastating ground and pound if he secures top position. He has heavy top pressure, brutal ground and pound, and great chokes. Menifield does fade as the fight continues, with all of his finishes coming before the third round and 2 of his three career losses coming via decision.

![ulberg1.jpg](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/0af93ea6-4c5a-4287-8ffd-135213a7a900/public "Carlos Ulberg catches Ihor Potieria with a lead hook. Credit: MMA Fighting.")

Ulberg is on a five-fight win streak and has UFC victories over Nicolae Negumereanu (13-2-0), Da Woon Jung (15-5-1), and Ihor Potieria (20-6-0). He’s an accurate, technical striker with excellent power and speed. He remains patient and technical throughout, floating on the outside, looking for openings, and throwing everything straight and tight. Training at City Kickboxing, Ulberg will often lure his opponent into a slower pace before exploding with huge shots. He fights behind his jab, has excellent distance management, and is in perpetual motion. He won’t usually initiate grappling exchanges but is capable on the mat and has solid defensive grappling. Ulberg has only seen a decision once in his UFC tenure and constantly pursues a finish. 

## #11 Joaquin Buckley vs. Nursulton Ruziboev

![buckley3.jpg](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/1e9d28c1-9ecb-4b0f-5dba-fc0bdd024f00/public "Joaquin Buckley lands a brutal head kick on Andre Fialho. Credit: MMA Fighting.")

Buckley has won three of his last five bouts and has UFC victories over #14 Vicente Luque (22-10-1), Alex Morono (24-9-0), and Albert Duraev (16-5-0). He is a highly aggressive striker with serious power in both hands. He perpetually moves and pursues a finish, throwing every shot with bad intentions and often mixing in kicks at the end of combinations. Although Buckley throws every shot with power, he does his best work with his kicks, never telegraphing them and throwing them from different angles. Training at Murcielago MMA, he throws everything in combination and pushes a frantic pace, willing to throw wild attacks like flying knees or spinning kicks. His UFC finishes have all come in round 2 or later, so he gets increasingly dangerous as the fight continues. He’s averaging over one takedown landed per fifteen minutes and has decent takedown defense, but he’s most effective on his feet.

![ruziboev1.jpg](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/9c92e82e-5889-437c-8235-904ae0be0800/public "Nursulton Ruziboev flattens Brunno Ferreira with a right hand. Credit: MMA Fighting.")

Ruziboev is on a ten-fight win streak and has UFC victories over Brunno Ferreira (11-1-0) and Sedriques Dumas (9-2-0). On the feet, he throws a lot of single shots with plenty of power and loves to throw flashy spinning kicks. He’s constantly pressuring forward and will typically pursue takedowns early, often using his wild offense to set up his wrestling. Ruziboev has a dangerous submission game and can finish the fight on top or off his back. He’s highly active on the ground and never stops moving, but he is much more of a wild man than a technician and can put himself in bad spots. Training at Renzo Gracie Philly, he’s always looking to finish the fight, often choosing not to defend takedowns to pursue a kimura instead. Ruziboev has heavy ground-and-pound and is excellent at changing grappling positions, especially reversing position from bottom to top.

## #12 Derrick Lewis vs. #15 Rodrigo Nascimento

![dlewis4.jpg](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/a42e886e-2075-4e5e-34bb-c0d5658fa900/public "Derrick Lewis blasts Marcos Rogerio De Lima with a flying knee. Credit: Essentially Sports.")

Lewis has won one of his last five fights and has UFC victories over #4 ranked Heavyweight Curtis Blaydes (18-4-0), #6 ranked Heavyweight Alexander Volkov (37-10-0), and #8 ranked Heavyweight Marcin Tybura (25-8-0). Famous for his kill-or-be-killed approach, he is arguably the most powerful puncher in the Heavyweight division. Training at 4oz Fight Club, he has a unique, patient style, often going from 0-100 in the blink of an eye. Along with his punching power, Lewis has a surprising arsenal of flashy attacks, particularly jumping kicks and flying knees. He doesn’t often initiate grappling exchanges and is well known for his non-technical wrestling style of “just getting up,” but he can do severe damage if he gets on top of someone. He’s incredibly resilient and is never truly out of a fight, especially since he only needs to land one clean shot to find a finish. Lewis is the all-time record holder for UFC knockouts at 14 and looks to add to that number every time he fights. 

![nascimento3.jpg](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/920f77a5-3240-4934-7274-ce20338c6700/public "Rodrigo Nascimento takes Tanner Boser off his feet with a takedown. Credit: MMA Fighting.")

Nascimento has won three of his last five bouts with one no-contest and has victories over Tanner Boser (21-10-1), Ilir Latifi (17-9-0), and Don’Tale Mayes (11-6-0). He’s a well-rounded scrapper with excellent grappling and solid cardio. On the feet, he’s always coming forward, throws everything in combination, and is willing to eat a shot to land one. Nascimento tends to drop his head and throw big overhands and looping hooks, throwing every punch with knockout intentions. Training at American Top Team, he has great timing on his takedowns, usually getting in deep and using his weight and size to drag his opponent to the mat. He has excellent top pressure and advances position quickly, never just sitting in his opponent’s guard. Although he can push a consistent pace across 15 minutes, six of his eight career finishes came in round one, making him most dangerous early on.

## Best Bets

_Mateus Rębecki by **KO/TKO**:_ Rębecki is the biggest favorites on the main card for a reason. Ferreira is an excellent, experienced veteran, but I believe Rębecki is one of the most underrated prospects in the UFC right now. Possessing fantastic technical skill on the feet and on the ground, he can certainly grapple with Ferreira, but I expect him to overwhelm him on the feet and secure a KO victory.

_Ulberg vs. Menifield to **Not Go the Distance**:_ One of the closer matchups on this card, both have fantastic power and knockout ability. This is a classic matchup of brawler vs technician, making it very tough to predict a winner. One thing is virtually guaranteed though, and that's somebody going to sleep.

_Derrick Lewis by **KO/TKO**:_ Well, here we are again, another Derrick Lewis main event. These tend to be a bit cut and dry; he's either getting fed to someone, or being fed someone. This is a bit less black and white though, as I wouldn't consider Nascimento a hot prospect nor a can. Either way, this is the type of matchup Lewis can flourish in: someone who wants to throw bombs and is willing to exchange blows. Lewis always has the power to knock someone out, and I think he has the opportunity to add to his knockout record this weekend.

UFC Fight Night: Lewis vs. Nascimento Preview

The main event of UFC 301 was a closely contested bout between dominant Flyweight Champion Alexandre "The Cannibal" Pantoja and streaking #10 ranked contender Steve "Astroboy" Erceg. Pantoja won a UD, with two judges scoring it 48-47 and the other 49-46.

However, many fans disagree with the decision, especially with the 49-46 scorecard. Let's examine the fight round by round and break it down. Then, we'll compare the judges' scorecards to the Verdict Scorecard and ultimately see who should've won this fight.

## Official Judges: Fabio Alves, Sal D'Amato, David Tirelli

```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/UFCNews/status/1786984418453938540">April 5, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
```

```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/1786982522905039083">April 5, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
```

## Round 1

The clearest round for Pantoja came in the first, like it usually does, with the Brazillian firing on all cylinders. It's a comfortable round to score, with Pantoja out-damaging Erceg with his blitzing shots and out-grappling him, with the Australian trying to find his shots in between. The two main focuses of the scoring criteria favor Pantoja, so he wins the round.

**Judges Scorecards: 10-9 Pantoja x3**

**Verdict Scorecard: 10-9 Pantoja**

## Round 2

The second round was far more competitive, with Erceg finding more shots on the feet and establishing his jab and teep kicks. Pantoja secured two takedowns but couldn't achieve much on top, with no submission attempts and only three ground strikes in the final seconds of the round. Erceg landed a beautiful elbow around 3:30 into the round and, before that, was finding a lot of striking success, too. This round comes down to the value of the strikes on the feet, and Erceg put his foot down in the final two minutes.

**Judges Scorecards: Fabio Alves, Sal D'Amato 10-9 Erceg, David Tirelli 10-9 Pantoja.**

**Verdict Scorecard: 9.66-9.36 Erceg**

## Round 3

Easily, the most competitive round of the fight was round three. Pantoja realized more success with his volume and grappling, but Erceg was still finding some damaging shots between Pantoja's blitzes. "The Cannibal" really ripped to the body in this round, especially with the knees in the clinch. Erceg, however, had the biggest shot of the round, landing a massive elbow that split Pantoja open badly. Pantoja secured a much-needed takedown with the cut gushing blood, but didn't achieve too much with it. This round really comes down to how much you value Pantoja's bodywork and Erceg's elbow.

```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/afeldMMA/status/1786979843910820347">April 5, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
```

**Judges Scorecards: 10-9 Pantoja.**

**Verdict Scorecard: 9.57-9.46 Erceg**

## Round 4

The fourth was a clear round for the challenger, Erceg, who outstruck the Champion and did not allow him to secure takedowns. Erceg continued to pop away at Pantoja with his long shots and managed to sneak in more elbows on Pantoja, who was second-best in this round. Much like the first, it was a straightforward round to score.

**Judges Scorecards: 10-9 Erceg.**

**Verdict Scorecard: 9.93-9.08 Erceg**

## Round 5

The fifth round was another competitive round. Pantoja attempted to blitz Erceg down but got caught at range by Erceg, who was fighting better on the feet. However, Erceg attempted two takedowns and got reversed both times, allowing Pantoja to rack up nearly 3 minutes of control time. This time, he did land ground strikes in the closing minute of the round, albeit not massive punches. This round asks, "Did Erceg create enough damage on the feet to outweigh Pantoja's significant control time?" Either way, there's no doubt shooting the takedowns cost "Astroboy" this fight.

**Judges Scorecards: 10-9 Pantoja.**

**Verdict Scorecard: 9.80-9.21 Erceg**

## The Verdict Scorecard

**Final Score: Alexandre Pantoja 47.69-47.37 Steve Erceg**

The Verdict Scorecard shows the story of the fight, with Erceg winning the middle rounds competitively, but Pantoja had the higher overall score due to his success in rounds 1 and 5.

How did you score the fight? As a member of the Verdict Community, let us know with a comment below.

The Final Verdict: Alexandre Pantoja vs. Steve Erceg

Alexandre Pantoja had to dig deep, and maybe rely on the inexperience of Steve Erceg, but he got the job done and successfully defends the title for the second time.

The fight was a close contest, with Pantoja starting and finishing strong, but a lot of close middle rounds where Erceg proved to be the more effective striker. However, two wayward takedowns from Erceg in the 5th round allowed Pantoja to secure some much needed control time, narrowling earning him the decision against the game Aussie.

```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/ufc/status/1786982051532714195">April 5, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
```

What did you think of the decision? Let us know your thoughts with a comment below.