Max Holloway vs Charles Oliveira 2
- Max Holloway
- Age: 34
- UFC Record: 2-1 at 155 lbs. 23-7 overall.
- Key Losses: Split decision loss to Alexander Volkanovski.
- Key Wins: Knocked out Justin Gaethje, The Korean Zombie, Brian Ortega, Jose Aldo (twice), Anthony Pettis, and Charles Oliveira. Beat Dustin Poirier, Arnold Allen, Yair Rodriguez, Frankie Edgar, Jeremy Stephens and Ricardo Lamas.
- Striking: near plus plus (75)
- Power: near plus (65)
- Wrestling: plus (70)
- Charles Oliveira
- Age: 36
- UFC Record: 24-11
- Key Losses: Split decision loss to Armen Tsarukyan.
- Key Wins: Submitted Mateusz Gamrot, Justin Gaethje, Dustin Poirier, Kevin Lee, Jim Miller, and David Teymur. Knocked out Beneil Dariush, Michael Chandler and Nik Lentz. Beat Michael Chandler and Tony Ferguson.
- Striking: plus (70)
- Power: plus (70)
- Grappling: near plus plus (75)
Chris’ Pick: Holloway by decision.
What odds I think the favorite should be at: Holloway -200
Caio Borralho vs Reinier de Ridder
- Caio Borralho
- Age: 33
- UFC Record: 9-1
- Key Wins: Knocked out Paul Craig and an 8-3 grappler. Submitted Michal Oleksiejczuk and a well rounded 5-2 fighter. Beat Jared Cannonier, Makhmud Muradov, Armen Petrosyan, Gadzhi Omargadzhiev, a 10-2 striker, and a 7-0 grappler.
- Striking: near plus plus (75)
- Power: near plus plus (75)
- Wrestling: near plus plus (75)
- Reinier de Ridder
- Age: 35
- UFC Record: 4-1
- Key Wins: Submitted Kevin Holland, Gerald Meerschaert, a well rounded 12-2 fighter, a 17-1 grappler, and a well rounded 23-4 fighter. Knocked out Bo Nickal, a 6-1 striker, and a well rounded 30-6 fighter. Beat an 11-3 striker. Split decision over Robert Whittaker.
- Striking: plus (70)
- Power: plus (70)
- Grappling: plus (70)
The Borralho we saw against Nassourdine Imavov wasn’t the real Borralho as he depleted himself making two tough weight cuts in about a week’s time. Before the Imavov fight, Borralho out struck Cannonier 129 to 82.
Chris’ Pick: Borralho by decision.
What odds I think the favorite should be at: Borralho -250
Raul Rosas Jr vs Rob Font
- Raul Rosas Jr
- Age: 21
- UFC Record: 6-1
- Key Wins: Knocked out Terrence Mitchell. Submitted Ricky Turcios and Jay Perrin. Beat Vince Morales, Aoriqileng, and a 7-1 grappler.
- Striking: above average (60)
- Power: above average (60)
- Grappling: plus (70)
- Rob Font
- Age: 38
- UFC Record: 11-8
- Key Wins: Submitted Douglas Silva de Andrade. Knocked out Marlon Moraes and Thomas Almeida. Beat Kyler Phillips, Cody Garbrandt, Ricky Simon, and Sergio Pettis. Split decision over Jean Matsumoto.
- Striking: plus (70)
- Power: above average (60)
- Wrestling: near plus (65)
Chris’ Pick: Rosas Jr by 1st round submission.
What odds I think the favorite should be at: Rosas Jr -135
Michael Johnson vs Drew Dober
- Michael Johnson
- Age: 39
- UFC Record: 14-13 at 155 lbs.
- Key Losses: Split decision loss to Jamie Mullarkey.
- Key Wins: Knocked out Ottman Azaitar, Alan Patrick and Dustin Poirier. Beat Daniel Zellhuber, Darius Flowers, Marc Diakiese, and Edson Barboza.
- Striking: plus (70)
- Power: plus (70)
- Wrestling: near plus (65)
- Drew Dober
- Age: 37
- UFC Record: 14-11
- Key Wins: Knocked out Kyle Prepolec, Ricky Glenn, Bobby Green, Terrance McKinney, Alexander Hernandez, and Nasrat Haqparast. Beat Scott Holtzman.
- Striking: near plus (65)
- Power: near plus (65)
- Wrestling: near plus (65)
Going into Johnson’s fight with Zellhuber, the market was pricing Zellhuber’s striking as a 70, despite getting out struck by Esteban Ribovics 154 to 117. Big mistake as Johnson, who I thought only had 65 striking, proceeded to out land Zellhuber 77 to 50. Wow. I don’t think Zellhuber’s striking is worse than a 65 so it appears that peak Johnson is probably back. Amazing at 39 years of age.
Chris’ Pick: Johnson by decision.
What odds I think the favorite should be at: Johnson -250
Gregory Rodrigues vs Brunno Ferreira
- Gregory Rodrigues
- Age: 33
- UFC Record: 9-4
- Key Losses: Lost a split decision to Armen Petrosyan.
- Key Wins: Submitted a 4-1-1 grappler. Knocked out Jack Hermansson, Brad Tavares, Dennis Tiuliulin, Chidi Njokuani, Julian Marquez, Jun Yong Park, an 8-3 striker, a well rounded 7-1 fighter, a well rounded 3-0 fighter, and a 4-1 grappler. Beat Roman Kopylov, Christian Leroy, Duncan, and Dusko Todorovic.
- Striking: plus (70)
- Power: plus (70)
- Wrestling: plus (70)
- Brunno Ferreira
- Age: 33
- UFC Record: 7-2
- Key Wins: Submitted Jackson McVey, Armen Petrosyan, and a 3-1 striker. Knocked out Dustin Stoltzfus, Phil Hawes, Gregory Rodrigues, a well rounded 10-1 fighter, and a well rounded 10-3 fighter. Beat Marvin Vettori.
- Striking: near plus (65)
- Power: near plus (65)
- Grappling: near plus (65)
Ferreira’s striking is getting really close to a 70 grade but not quite there yet.
Chrs’ Pick: Rodrigues by 2nd round knockout.
What odds I think the favorite should be at: Rodrigues -225
Cody Garbrandt vs Long Xiao
- Cody Garbrandt
- Age: 34
- UFC Record: 9-6 at 135 lbs. 9-7 overall.
- Key Losses: Knocked out by Pedro Munhoz.
- Key Wins: Knocked out Raphael Assuncao and Thomas Almeida. Beat Trevin Jones and Dominick Cruz.
- Striking: near plus (65)
- Power: near plus (65)
- Wrestling: near plus (65)
- Xiao Long
- Age: 27
- UFC Record: 3-3
- Key Losses: Split decision loss to Chang Ho Lee.
- Key Wins: Knocked out Quang Le. Submitted a 5-0 striker. Beat a well rounded 5-1 fighter and a 5-1 grappler. Split decision over a 10-3 grappler. Majority decision over a 13-1 grappler.
- Striking: above average (60)
- Power: average (50)
- Wrestling: above average (60)
Chris’ Pick: Garbrandt by decision.
What odds I think the favorite should be at: Garbrandt -250
Donte Johnson vs Cody Brundage
- Donte Johnson
- Age: 26
- Pro Record: 7-0
- UFC Record: 2-0
- Key Wins: Submitted Sedriques Dumas. Knocked out a well rounded 3-0 fighter.
- Striking: above average (60)
- Power: above average (60)
- Grappling: above average (60)
- Cody Brundage
- Age: 31
- UFC Record: 5-8-1
- Key Draws: Fought Mansur Abdul-Malik to a draw.
- Key Wins: Knocked out Julian Marquez, Zachary Reese and Tresean Gore. Submitted Dalcha Lungiambula and a 4-1 grappler. Split decision loss to Eric McConico.
- Striking: above average (60)
- Power: above average (60)
- Wrestling: near plus (65)
- Grappling: above average (60)
Chris’ Pick: Brundage by split decision.
What odds I think the favorite should be at: Brundage -125
Ricky Turcios vs Alberto Montes
- Ricky Turcios
- Age: 32
- UFC Record: 2-4
- Key Losses: Lost to Boston Salmon.
- Key Wins: Knocked out a 4-1 wrestler. Beat a 9-1 wrestler, a well rounded 5-0 fighter, and a 10-2 grappler. Split decision wins over Kevin Natividad, Brady Hiestand, and Steve Garcia.
- Striking: near plus (65)
- Power: a little above average (55)
- Wrestling: plus (70)
- Alberto Montes
- Age: 31
- Pro Record: 8-1
- UFC Record: 1-0
- Key Wins: Submitted a well rounded 6-2 fighter, an 8-2 grappler, and a well rounded 5-1 fighter.
- Striking: a little above average (55)
- Power: fringe average (45)
- Grappling: above average (60)
Chris’ Pick: Turcios by decision.
What odds I think the favorite should be at: Turcios -350
Cody Durden vs Nyamjargal Tumendemberel
- Cody Durden
- Age: 34
- UFC Record: 6-7-1
- Key Draws: Fought Chris Guttierez to a draw.
- Key Wins: Knocked out JP Buys and a 6-2 grappler. Submitted Matt Schnell and a 10-3 wrestler. Beat Jake Hadley, Charles Johnson, Carlos Mota, and Qileng Aori.
- Striking: near plus (65)
- Power: a little above average (55)
- Grappling: plus (70)
- Nyamjargal Tumendemberel
- Age: 27
- Pro Record: 9-1
- UFC Record: 3-1
- Key Losses: Split decision loss to Carlos Hernandez.
- Key Wins: Submitted Terrance Saeteurn and a well rounded 6-0 fighter. Split decision over a 9-4 striker.
- Striking: above average (60)
- Power: above average (60)
- Grappling: above average (60)
Chris’ Pick: Durden by decision.
What odds I think the favorite should be at: Durden -225
Sumudaerji vs Jesus Aguilar
- Sumudaerji
- Age: 30
- UFC Record: 5-4
- Key Losses: Submitted by Louis Smolka and a 10-4 grappler.
- Key Wins: Knocked out Malcolm Gordon, a well rounded 5-0-1 fighter, and a 4-0 grappler. Beat Kevin Borjas and Zarrukh Adashev. Split decision over Mitch Raposo.
- Striking: near plus (65)
- Power: near plus (65)
- Wrestling: above average (60)
- Jesus Aguilar
- Age: 29
- UFC Record: 5-2
- Key Wins: Submitted Stewart Nicoll, Edgar Chairez, an 11-1 striker, a well rounded 5-2 fighter, and a well rounded 8-3 fighter. Knocked out Shannon Ross. Beat Luis Gurule and a 6-2 grappler. Split decision over Mateus Mendonca.
- Striking: above average (60)
- Power: average (50)
- Grappling: above average (60)
Sumudaerji just completely wiped out Borjas out striking him by a mind boggling 67 to 10. Crazy. Possible the striking could be as high as a 70 but I doubt it with Borjas slightly edging Sumudaerji out in the wrestling.
Chris’ Pick: Sumudaerji by 2nd round knockout.
What odds I think the favorite should be at: Sumudaerji -250
Rafael Tobias vs Diyar Nurgozhay
- Rafael Tobias
- Age: 22
- Pro Record: 13-1
- UFC Record: 1-0
- Key Wins: Submitted a well rounded 6-0 fighter. Knocked out a well rounded 12-4 fighter.
- Striking: above average (60)
- Power: above average (60)
- Grappling: above average (60)
- Diyar Nurkozhay
- Age: 28
- Pro Record: 10-2
- UFC Record: 1-2
- Key Wins: Knocked out a well rounded 8-2-1 fighter. Beat a 12-3 grappler.
- Striking: above average (60)
- Power: above average (60)
- Wrestling: above average (60)
Chris’ Pick: Tobias by 1st round knockout.
What odds I think the favorite should be at: Tobias -135
Jeongyeong Lee vs Gaston Bolanos
- Jeongyeong Lee
- Age: 29
- UFC Record: 4-1
- Key Wins: Knocked out a 7-0 grappler and a well rounded 8-3 fighter. Submitted a well rounded 8-3 fighter. Beat Blake Bilder. Split decision over Zha Yi.
- Striking: near plus (65)
- Power: near plus (65)
- Wrestling: above average (60)
- Grappling: a little above average (55)
- Gaston Bolanos
- Age: 33
- Pro Record: 8-5
- UFC Record: 2-2
- Key Losses: Submitted by a well rounded 6-3 fighter. Beat Cortavious Romious.
- Striking: above average (60)
- Power: above average (60)
- Wrestling: a little above average (55)
Chris’ Pick: Lee by 2nd round knockout.
What odds I think the favorite should be at: Lee -300
Luke Fernandez vs Rodolfo Bellato
- Luke Fernandez
- Age: 30
- Pro Record: 6-0
- UFC Record: 1-0
- Key Wins: Knocked out a 5-0 striker.
- Striking: above average (60)
- Power: above average (60)
- Wrestling: a little above average (55)
- Rodolfo Bellato
- Age: 29
- UFC Record: 2-2-1
- Key Draws: Fought Jimmy Crute to a majority draw.
- Key Wins: Knocked out Ihor Potieria, a well rounded 6-0 fighter and a 4-1 striker. Submitted a 5-1 striker and an 11-4 striker. Beat a 15-5 wrestler.
- Striking: near plus (65)
- Power: near plus (65)
- Grappling: near plus (65)
Chris’ Pick: Bellato by 1st round knockout.
What odds I think the favorite should be at: Bellato -225