MMA is a sport based on opportunity and split second decision making. The breakdowns that we try to focus on here will be looking at stylistic differences between fighters and how they will impact the card. Although the breakdowns won't usually be long, they'll have info on fighter strengths and weaknesses and how we expect them to be exploited. Towards the end of the article there will be the five best bets on the slate for you to tail!
All my information is from https://fightodds.io/ and https://paydirtdfs.com/mma-ranks-and-leverage-model/
Sam Hughes (Striker) vs Jaqueline Amorim (Grappler)
Interesting one here. Jaqueline has not faced any adversity in the UFC yet. She is a good grappler, but Sam has been working on her grappling as well. I always like picking big dogs to start the night.
Hughes +220
Steve Garcia (Striker) vs Yilan Sha (Striker/Grappler)
Steve NEEDS to strike well and hard before Yilan can take him down. I like taking him to get an early win. If it doesn’t happen, Yilan should control the fight.
Garcia +160
Ignacio Bahamondes (Striker) vs Trey Ogden (Grappler)
Tough spot to be in for Ogden. Ignacio has great takedown defense and is a much tougher fighter than what Trey was going to fight.
Lupita Godinez (Striker/Grappler) vs Cynthia Calvillo (Grappler)
Both of these ladies have a grappling background, so I expect this one to get decided on the feet. Lupita is much better at striking and I think it will be the deciding factor here.
Godinez -275
Karl Williams (Striker/Wrestler) vs Chase Sherman (Striker)
Bleh. Karl should dominate here.
Gerald Meerschaert (Striker/Grappler) vs Joseph Pyfer (Striker/Grappler)
Big step up in competition for Joe here. Gerald hasn’t looked great in there, but I think he upsets Joe in this one.
Meerschaert +160
Michelle Waterson (Striker/Grappler) vs Luana Pinheiro (Grappler)
Pinheiro loves to start quick and fades later in the fight and Michelle is the other way around. I don’t know how this one will play out. It’ll be interesting!
Kelvin Gastelum (Striker/Wrestler) vs Chris Curtis (Striker)
As you know I am a Curtis lover. Gotta root for my Cincy boys. This will be a very boring fight. I just hope he gets more strikes in.
Curtis +110
Raul Rosas Jr. (Grappler) vs Christian Rodriguez (Striker)
The UFC wants and needs the kid to win here. Don’t see him losing here.
Rosas -250
Kevin Holland (Striker) vs Santiago Ponzinibbio (Striker/Grappler)
Santiago has been fading as of late. I think he needs to get past the early portion of the fight, and if he does, I think he has a good chance of winning.
Rob Font (Striker/Grappler) vs Adrian Yanez (Striker)
This should be a fun one and I really like both of these men. I just think they are each going in different directions. I like the upside of Yanez and I really like how he fights. I’ll give it to him.
Yanez -185
Gilbert Burns (Grappler) vs Jorge Masvidal (Striker)
As Jorge said, “Put your house on it.” Put it on Burns.
Burns -360
Alex Pereira (Striker) vs Israel Adesanya (Striker)
This is tough because it has to start getting into the head for Izzy. He has not beat him once and if you lose to him a fourth time? That’s bad. I really do think he wins here though. I thought he looked good in the last fight and that he could have finished Alex if he had 10 more seconds. It’ll be a great fight!
Adesanya -130