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

Josh Emmett +255 vs. Lerone Murphy -333

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

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

Prediction: Murphy by Decision

Joanderson Brito -233 vs. Pat Sabatini +185

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

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

Prediction: Brito by 1st Round KO

Cortavious Romious +110 vs. Chang Ho Lee -135

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

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

Prediction: Lee by Decision

Kennedy Nzechukwu -357 vs. Matrin Buday +275

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

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

Prediction: Nzechukwu by 2nd Round TKO

Gerald Meerschaert +185 vs. Brad Tavares -233

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

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

Prediction: Tavares by 3rd Round TKO

Robert Valentin +235 vs. Torrez Finney -303

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

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

Prediction: Finney by Decision

Luis Gurule -263 vs. Ode Osbourne +210

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

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

Prediction: Osbourne by 1st Round KO

Davey Grant +126 vs. Daniel Santos -154

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

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

Prediction: Santos by Decision

Dione Barbosa -909 vs. Diana Belbita +580

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

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

Prediction: Barbosa by 2nd Round Submission

Rhys McKee +127 vs. Daniel Frunza -156

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

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

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

Victor Henry -217 vs. Pedro Falcao +175

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

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

Prediction: Henry by Decision

Vanessa Demopoulos -109 vs. Talita Alencar -112

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

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

Prediction: Alencar by Decision

Loma Lookboonmee -769 vs. Istela Nunes +520

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

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

Prediction: Lookboonmee by 3rd Round Submission