Odds provided by DuelBits accurate as of 4/21/2025

Ian Machado Garry -139 vs. Carlos Prates +114

Fast-rising Welterweights clash here, with both eyeing a title fight with a win. Ian Machado Garry is a tall and long fighter with an incredibly well-rounded game that includes very technical striking and a ground game that has seen him take the back against guys like Shavkat Rakhomonov and Michael Page. Carlos Prates is a slick and deadly striker from the red-hot Fighting Nerds gym who has finished each of his four UFC opponents with a highlight knockout.

I'll go with Garry here as he has a clear grappling advantage and has faced high-level strikers with success before, while Prates has never faced anyone on Garry's level.

Prediction: Garry by 2nd Round Submission

Anthony Smith +370 vs. Mingyang Zhang -526

This Light Heavyweight matchup features a former title challenger in his final walk against a dominant prospect. Anthony Smith is a tough veteran who has faced many killers over the years, although his best days are clearly behind him, with his last fight against Dominick Reyes being his eleventh knockout loss. Mingyang Zhang is a finisher who has ended his last eleven opponents inside the first round, including his first two UFC fights, where he showed his devastating power, getting both wins in less than half a round.

Zhang should get another finish here, as I don't think Smith has anything for him, and he probably won't shoot into a choke like Petrino did against Smith.

Prediction: Zhang by 1st Round KO

Giga Chikadze +145 vs. David Onama -179

Exciting Featherweights square off in this must-see matchup. Giga Chikadze is an incredibly fast and skilled kickboxer, although his grappling is questionable, and he has struggled to stay active. David Onama is a powerful and athletic fighter who has had some brawls with opponents he should have dominated but has also shown flashes of brilliance, like his knockout against Garbiel Santos.

I like Onama here as he can make this fight ugly where he is comfortable, and Chikadze has struggled while also being able to mix in the wrestling.

Prediction: Onama by Decision

Michel Pereira -156 vs. Abus Magomedov +128

Fast finishers collide in this Middleweight matchup. Michel Pereira is a complete wildman with big power and freak athleticism, although his fight IQ, grappling, and cardio have all failed him at times when he can't get the early finish. Abus Magomedov is a big and dangerous striker with solid wrestling; his issue has always been cardio, as he has been noticeably slower in the later stages of all his fights that have reached the later stages.

I lean towards Magomedov as he has shown big improvements to his ground game and cardio in recent wins, which is a clear path to victory against Pereira if he can survive the always dangerous first round.

Prediction: Magomedov by Decision

Randy Brown -238 vs. Nicolas Dalby +185

Veteran Welterweights with clashing styles square off in this one. Randy Brown is a long and slick striker with good boxing, but he trusts his head movement far too much, which often results in getting caught and hurt badly as he doesn't take damage well. Nicolas Dalby is a fast-paced wrestler with good cardio and durability that he uses to break opponents, as he did to the highly touted Garbiel Bonfim.

Brown should take this one, as he has the reach to keep Dalby at a distance and pick him apart. Also, I believe Brown's grappling is good enough to defend the takedowns of Dalby.

Prediction: Brown by Decision

Ikram Aliskerov -667 vs. Andre Muniz +450

Middleweights looking to establish their place in the division clash here to open the main card. Ikram Aliskerov is a well-rounded finisher who had highlight knockouts in his first two UFC wins and is now looking to bounce back from his short-notice loss to Robert Whittaker. Andre Muniz is a good submission grappler, although his game lacks much else as he struggles in striking and wrestling against other grapplers like Paul Craig or Brendan Allen.

This is a good matchup for Alikerov to get another knockout as he will comfortably be able to defend the wrestling, and Muniz doesn't have much for him in the striking.

Prediction: Aliskerov by 2nd Round KO

Matt Schnell -294 vs. Jimmy Flick +230

Flyweight grapplers are looking to get back in the win column as they square off in this one. Matt Schnell is a grappler with good submission skills, although his durability has proven a massive issue as he has been finished in three of his last four, and the he won was a fight with Sumudaerji that saw him dropped and nearly finished several times. Jimmy Flick is a tough submission artist with a flying triangle against Cody Durden on his resume, although outside of the moments he gets the finish, he is usually getting beat up.

At these odds, I'll go with Flick based on the difference in durability, as he has never been submitted, and it will be tough for Schnell to KO him.

Prediction: Flick by 3rd Round Submission

Evan Elder -256 vs. Gauge Young +205

Short notice replacement steps up here at Lightweight. Evan Elder is a tough and high-paced fighter with well-rounded skills, as he showed in his back-and-forth war with Nazim Sadykhov and his submission against Darius Flowers. Gauge Young is a dangerous knockout puncher who failed to secure a contract on Dana White's Contender Series last season but impressed enough to get a shot now.

I'll go with Elder here as he has proven to belong at the UFC level, and while Young is dangerous, Elder is durable and more well-rounded.

Prediction: Elder by Decision

Chris Guttierez -139 vs. John Castaneda +113

Usually, Bantamweights will try again with this matchup at Featherweight. Chris Guttierez is a veteran striker known for his strong leg kicks, solid boxing, and cardio. John Castaneda is a high-paced grinder with decent boxing skills, although he has struggled to stay active.

I lean towards Castaneda here as he is the higher-output fighter with the wrestling advantage.

Prediction: Castaneda by Decision

Da'Mon Blackshear -385 vs. Alatengheili +285

An intriguing clash of styles goes down here in this Bantamweight matchup. Da'Mon Blackshear is a strong and skilled grappler coming off a finish over Cody Gibson, where he showed his continued improvements since joining the UFC. Alatengheili is a stocky boxer with decent wrestling, although he possesses little finishing threat, with just one UFC ending inside the distance in eight appearances.

I like Blackshear in this one, as he will have a significant advantage on the ground and won't be facing the same type of KO threat he was against guys like Montel Jackson.

Prediction: Blackshear by 3rd Round Submission

Cameron Saaiman -106 vs. Malcolm Wellmaker -115

Two exciting Bantamweight prospects square off here. Cameron Saaiman returns here after a year away from the octagon following his first two losses, although he is still just twenty-four and has shown a well-rounded skill set. Malcolm Wellmaker makes his debut here with a decent amount of hype following a first-round knockout win on Dana White's Contender Series, his sixth finish in eight career fights.

I've got Saaiman in this one, as he is still very young but has more UFC experience. Also, I like the time off at his age and would like to see some improvements with how early he is in his career.

Prediction: Saaiman by Decision

Jaqueline Amorim -625 vs. Polyana Viana +420

Strawweight submission artists test their skills against each other in this one. Jaqueline Amorim is a grappler coming in off three straight finish wins, showing a nasty submission game, good ground and pound, and improved cardio compared to her debut. Polyana Viana is a good submission grappler, although she has struggled when facing decent competition, which has resulted in her losing three of her last four, with her last two fights being finish losses.

This is a good spot for Amorim to test her grappling against another skilled grappler, but Amorim is on another level here and is only getting better, so I expect a finish from her here.

Prediction: Amorim by 2nd Round Submission

Timmy Cuamba -106 vs. Roberto Romero -114

It should be a very entertaining matchup here at Featherweight early on the card. Timmy Cuamba is a fast and hard-hitting boxer with decent wrestling skills, although he has failed to get his hand raised in two UFC showings. Roberto Romero comes in off a short-notice debut against David Onama, where he had some good moments early but was overwhelmed late.

I love Cuamba in this matchup as he is the faster and technically more skilled striker who has also shown he can mix in the wrestling and keep fighting after being hurt. With that, Timmy Cuamba MoneyLine is this week's Underdog Best Bet of the Week.

Prediction: Cuamba by Decision (Best Bet)

Chelsea Chandler +230 vs. Joselyne Edwards -294

Bantamweights looking to move up in the division open the card here. Chelsea Chandler is a big and tough fighter with solid grappling, although she has struggled to make weight, and her striking is slow. Joselyne Edwards is a very experienced veteran with a well-rounded game, although she has also struggled to make weight, having missed the mark going into her last three wins.

I'll go with Edwards here, as she is a more experienced and well-rounded fighter with a clear striking advantage.

Prediction: Edwards by Decision