Brazil’s Natalia Silva is ready for her shot at Valentina Shevchenko. Natalia Silva has positioned herself as a leading contender in the UFC women’s flyweight division following her unanimous decision victory over former champion Alexa Grasso at UFC 315 in Montreal. Silva controlled the bout from the outset, using her movement and striking to outwork Grasso across all three rounds.
Number One Contender Natalia Silva
The judges scored the fight 30-27 in Silva’s favor, marking her seventh consecutive win in the UFC and extending her overall win streak to 13 fights. After the fight, Silva made her intentions clear, stating that her focus is on the championship belt.
She addressed comments previously made by reigning champion Valentina Shevchenko, who had said she did not know Silva, “Valentina once said she didn’t know me, and I think it’s about time she knows me,” Natalia Silva said in her post-fight remarks. She also referenced Manon Fiorot, noting that Fiorot had replaced her in a previous bout when Silva was sidelined by injury, creating potential storylines with both fighters.
UFC Champion Valentina Shevchenko
Valentina Shevchenko is a Kyrgyz professional mixed martial artist and the reigning UFC women’s flyweight champion, widely regarded as one of the sport’s all-time greats. Born in 1988, Shevchenko has held multiple championship reigns, defended her title numerous times, and is celebrated for her technical skill and dominance in the division.
Natalia Silva is a Brazilian mixed martial artist competing in the UFC women’s flyweight division, currently recognized as a top contender after a series of notable victories, including a unanimous decision win over former champion Alexa Grasso at UFC 315. Silva has built a 13-fight win streak and is ranked among the division’s best.
Natalia Silva emphasized her readiness for a title shot, regardless of who holds the belt. Silva described her performance against Grasso as the result of focused preparation. She noted that her use of distance and kicks was effective in neutralizing Grasso’s attacks, and that she was able to avoid most of Grasso’s punches through head movement. Silva expressed satisfaction with her execution, stating, “I trained a lot for this movement, and I’m happy I was able to pull it off.”
With Shevchenko having recently defended her title against Manon Fiorot at the same event, Silva’s victory over Grasso has placed her at the forefront of the title conversation. Fans and analysts have called for Silva to receive a title opportunity following her dominant performance.
Saturday’s UFC 314 lineup is topped by a championship clash, with former featherweight kingpin Volkanovski looking to become a two-time titleholder at 145 pounds. If the Australian is to begin a new rule atop the featherweight mountain, he must stall the title ambitions of a rising name in Lopes. Since impressing in a short-notice debut against Movsar Evloev, the Mexico-based Brazilian has won five straight to earn a first shot at gold.
Before those two collide in the UFC 314 main event, there will be high stakes in the division above. Setting the stage for UFC 314’s title bout will be a key lightweight contest between Michael Chandler and Paddy Pimblett. While “Iron” will return five months on from a second defeat to Charles Oliveira that has left him 2-4 in the UFC, the surging Scouser will look to carry the momentum from his quick submission of King Green last July en route to a place in the 155-pound title picture.
Elsewhere on the UFC 314 card, the controversial Bryce Mitchell faces the power of Jean Silva, Bellator legend Patricio Pitbull debuts in the Octagon against Yair Rodriguez, and top 10 light heavyweights Nikita Krylov and Dominick Reyes collide.
UFC 314: MMA News Staff Predictions
Ahead of Saturday’s UFC 314 event, Thomas Albano, Ryan Jarrell, Pranav Pandey, and Aakrit Sharma have provided their picks for the five matchups set for the main card.
Below, you can check out the current leaderboard through three cards in 2025.
Thomas Albano (9-4) & Pranav Pandey (9-4)
Ryan Jarrell (7-5)
Aakrit Sharma (5-8)
And with that, it’s time for the team’s predictions for UFC 314.
Light Heavyweight: Nikita Krylov vs. Dominick Reyes
Images: UFC.com
Thomas Albano: Nikita Krylov hasn’t been seen in the Octagon in two years now, and it’s a long-awaited return at UFC 314 for a guy who’s looking to position himself for a future crack at the light heavyweight title. Dominick Reyes is a man who has had those shots at the gold previously, and it had been a rough road since that point. Admittedly, however, it has been nice to see him get his hand raised in his last pair of outings against Dustin Jacoby and Anthony Smith.
I’ll keep this one pretty simple: grappler vs. striker. Krylov will look to bring this one to the ground and control the action there. Reyes will look to prevent those takedowns and do work on the feet with his punches and kicks. Ultimately, I side with the man who – while not having competed for some time – is a strong finisher and has the true momentum between these two. (Prediction: Nikita Krylov)
Ryan Jarrell: What a fun fight to kick off the UFC 314 main card. Both of these guys have a ton of power and know how to close a fight. Krylov is dangerous wherever the fight goes and only actually loses fights to the best in the division. At one point in time, Reyes was considered one of the very best at 205 pounds. Now on a two-fight winning streak with huge wins over veterans Dustin Jacoby and Anthony Smith, the former title challenger is looking like his younger self again.
If Reyes shows up at his best, I expect him to continue his resurgence. But I am not super confident that will be the case, which makes me question if Reyes is the play here. I won’t be placing any bets on this one, but I’m leaning Reyes to get his hand raised. (Prediction: Dominick Reyes)
Pranav Pandey: I’ll be honest, this isn’t the most exciting matchup on the card for me, but it could still surprise us. On paper, it seems to lean toward Krylov. “The Miner” will likely aim to lean on his grappling and control Reyes from the outset. The big question is the layoff. Krylov has been out of action for more than two years, and it’s tough to tell whether he’ll return sharp or show signs of regression. On the other hand, “The Devastator” has looked solid in his last two outings and carries the more polished striking arsenal. That being said, my pick is Krylov. If he sticks to his strengths and avoids unnecessary exchanges, I think he gets the job done. (Prediction: Nikita Krylov)
Aakrit Sharma: This is a tough one to pick! The Reyes that showed up against Jon Jones should’ve been able to beat any light heavyweight on the planet with ease, but he went on a four-fight losing skid instead, which were all decent losses except the Ryan Spann knockout. Anyone can land a KO blow at a heavy division like light heavyweight, but because Reyes has looked crisp with his 1-2 in his last two victories, I’m backing him to continue his much-needed winning streak at UFC 314. Reyes’ chin and openness to body kicks are his biggest weaknesses, and I don’t think Krylov has the style to exploit any of these. (Prediction: Dominick Reyes)
Consensus: 2-2
Featherweight: Bryce Mitchell vs. Jean Silva
Images: UFC.com & Chris Unger/UFC/Zuffa LLC
Thomas Albano: As I’ve said in previous predictions pieces, if there’s one gym that is to watch for in 2025, it’s the Fighting Nerds. Jean Silva and his teammates have become some of the most entertaining fighters to watch in the Octagon and have developed such a system that has led to early success. If Silva is able to get a win over Bryce Mitchell, then the featherweight division needs to watch out.
“Thug Nasty” took a year off from the Octagon after getting brutally stopped by Josh Emmett. His return fight, unfortunately, I feel nothing can be taken away from because he defeated Kron Gracie in what was certainly one of the worst fights I’ve seen watching the UFC. Mitchell’s grappling is great, but that won’t help him here against a rising star in Silva, who is turning into one of the best all-around combatants at 145 pounds. (Prediction: Jean Silva)
Ryan Jarrell: The Fighting Nerds are on an absolute tear and Silva might be the most exciting fighter of them all. Mitchell has had a tough time as of late, and I believe that will continue in Miami. Silva moves so well and his striking is a thing of beauty. The Brazilian is now 4-0 in the UFC, stopping all of his opponents inside of the distance. The man nicknamed “Lord” will eventually land a shot that Mitchell will not be able to recover from and will continue his impressive rise toward stardom at UFC 314. (Prediction: Jean Silva)
Pranav Pandey: This one’s got some heat behind it, and I’m genuinely looking forward to seeing how it unfolds. On the feet, I don’t think Mitchell has much to offer against Silva’s striking. If this stays standing, “Lord” could pick him apart with ease. That said, Mitchell’s grappling-heavy approach is a real threat. If he’s able to drag Silva into his world, things could get tricky fast. But the key for Silva is to stay upright and avoid getting tangled in Mitchell’s grips. If he can do that, I see him taking over quickly. The way I picture it, once “Lord” starts finding his rhythm, it’s going to rain hard on “Thug Nasty.” (Prediction: Jean Silva)
Aakrit Sharma: Mitchell’s only two losses in MMA are to Josh Emmett, a KO machine who can knock out anyone, and Ilia Topuria, the former featherweight kingpin. On the other hand, Silva is riding one of the most impressive KO streaks in the UFC right now. I do think Mitchell has a good chin, and his ground game could be overwhelming for Silva, who hasn’t been tested by an elite grappler in the featherweight division yet. On the flip side, Mitchell is no stranger to taking on scary strikers, and his approach should be very similar to how he fought Edson Barboza.
Silva’s walking into the bout as a huge favorite, but I don’t think he’ll fire through “Thug Nasty” that easily. In fact, on paper, Mitchell has more tools to emerge victorious at UFC 314, and I’m expecting him to pull off a submission upset. (Prediction: Bryce Mitchell)
Consensus: 3-1 Jean Silva
Featherweight: Yair Rodriguez vs. Patricio Pitbull
Images: UFC.com & Bellator MMA
Thomas Albano: Man, do I pray that this ends up being a Fight of the Night style bout. It has been a long time coming that Patricio Pitbull into the Octagon after – like fellow card member Michael Chandler – being one of the faces of Bellator for years. Pitbull was dominant in his time with Bellator, being a longtime king of their featherweight division, as well as a one-time champ-champ. Pitbull may have had a couple of rough outings in recent fights against Sergio Pettis and Chihiro Suzuki, but his title defense over Jeremy Kennedy last year showed he’s still one of the best in the world.
And then you have Yair Rodriguez. His wins over Brian Ortega and Josh Emmett – as well as his gutty performance against Max Holloway – led him to challenge Alexander Volkanovski at UFC 290 for the featherweight title. Even though he did not come out on top, there was still plenty of high expectations and feelings of a bright future. The loss against Brian Ortega last year, however, may have spoiled some of that, and he’ll need a strong outing against Pitbull to maintain the idea that he is a viable title challenger, especially with names like Diego Lopes and Movsar Evloev jumping into the title picture over the last year or so.
This is a rough one to predict, and as I said, I hope this one is a back-and-forth war. Ultimately, I do see Pitbull doing just enough for a memorable UFC debut. (Prediction: Patricio Pitbull)
Ryan Jarrell: MMA fans have always speculated how Pitbull would do against the elite the UFC has to offer. It’s too bad we are just getting to see it now, when the former Bellator star is closing in on 40 years of age. That said, Pitbull is still competing at a high level and is fully capable of upsetting Rodriguez. If the Mexican fights smart and uses his length, he should be able to outpoint the veteran and cruise to a decision victory, which is what I expect to see in this one. (Prediction: Yair Rodriguez)
Pranav Pandey: This one has fireworks written all over it; props to the UFC matchmaking team for putting together such stylistic clash. “El Pantera” is pure artistry in motion. His striking flows effortlessly, and the way he blends creativity with chaos makes him a joy to watch. Add in his unorthodox style, and he becomes a puzzle not many can solve. However, Pitbull is a tank. He is powerful, relentless, and well-rounded. He is not just a knockout threat on the feet but also a seasoned grappler with a wealth of experience in high-pressure situations.
Sharing the cage with someone who brings that kind of forward pressure and physicality is never an easy task. I believe this one will remain close, but Pitbull might just tilt the momentum in his favor. (Prediction: Patricio Pitbull)
Aakrit Sharma: Pitbull claimed that he would’ve retired if he hadn’t signed with the UFC. Is it really the mindset with which you plan to take on a top contender like Rodriguez? Pitbull has a wealth of experience, but fighting in Bellator and Rizin, as harsh as it sounds, is not the truest test for a martial artist. Pitbull’s age is one of my first concerns, and I just see quite a many tools in Rodriguez’s arsenal to finish this fight. He’s just 32, which is why I am favoring him to win despite coming off consecutive losses to Volkanovski and Ortega as well.
Pitbull’s only path to victory here is an upset submission win, but I believe the Mexican has a solid ground game to get out of troubling positions. (Prediction: Yair Rodriguez)
Consensus: 2-2
Lightweight: Michael Chandler vs. Paddy Pimblett
Images: UFC.com
Thomas Albano: Michael Chandler couldn’t score the mega fight with Conor McGregor he’s been yearning for years. But Paddy Pimblett is probably the next best thing he can get, especially on the losing skid he has (and some may even feel this fight is a more entertaining one than McGregor-Chandler would have been). Pimblett has been a rising name in the lightweight division, and a win in this fight – namely a finish in this fight – would mean everything for his hype value. That being said, he’s taking on a veteran name in Chandler who has had his fair share of wars.
It will be interesting to see what happens if this fight goes to the ground, but it will be even more interesting to see if Chandler’s chin can hold up against a younger and speedier Pimblett – or if Pimblett’s weak striking defense hasn’t improved and Chandler lands a cracking shot. Pimblett has recently put out a big prediction that he’ll need just two rounds to finish Chandler, who has lost four of his last five fights. And it’s not out of the realm of possibility. (Prediction: Paddy Pimblett)
Ryan Jarrell: Any time “Iron Mike” steps inside of the UFC octagon, it is must see TV. I have never been completely sold on “Paddy the Baddy,” and I do believe he will be exposed in this fight. Chandler’s wrestling and takedown defense will allow him to dictate where this fight takes place. Ultimately, I think Chandler will stun the Englishman and capitalize with a barrage of unanswered shots leading to a much needed TKO victory. (Prediction: Michael Chandler)
Pranav Pandey: Another tricky one to call. I expect this to be a competitive fight, though not necessarily a striking clinic. I can see Pimblett relentlessly pursuing takedowns, trying to drag Chandler into grappling exchanges, while “Iron” will likely do everything he can to keep it standing — where he’s most dangerous. “The Baddy” is a real wildcard here. He’s unorthodox and can create problems if he finds the right position on the ground — or even on the feet. That said, for all the criticism Chandler receives, particularly regarding his recklessness and questionable fight IQ, he’s still a seasoned competitor with legitimate knockout power and a persistent pace.
I can see Pimblett getting caught in one of those chaotic exchanges. Chandler might just need one opening, and if he finds it, he’ll likely close the show. (Prediction: Michael Chandler)
Aakrit Sharma: Pimblett gets hit a lot, and it could very well cost him the fight against Chandler, even though the latter looked slow and inaccurate against Charles Oliveira. “Iron” has all the power in the world, and he showed that his cardio, even at 38, is still good enough for the lightweight division. Oliveira couldn’t submit Chandler despite almost always having his back for 20 minutes. This is as impressive as it gets, and I’m not expecting Pimblett to surprise the veteran in any way on the ground.
On the feet, again, Chandler has a titanium chin, and Pimblett hasn’t showcased KO potential at lightweight yet. My hot take is that the English fighter is just not that good and has been in really lucky matchups so far. At UFC 314, I’m picking Chandler to hand Pimblett his first UFC loss. (Prediction: Michael Chandler)
Consensus: 3-1 Michael Chandler
UFC Featherweight Title: Alexander Volkanovski vs. Diego Lopes
Thomas Albano: For the first time in over a year, Alexander Volkanovski is back in the Octagon. And just when we thought Ilia Topuria would rule over featherweight, in just 14 months it will end with his venture up to 155 pounds, leading to either Volk reclaiming the featherweight throne, or for it to be seized by the rising Diego Lopes.
Ever since coming in on short notice in his UFC debut and controversially losing to Movsar Evloev, Lopes quickly built a name for himself with wins over the likes of Dan Ige and Brian Ortega. His power is something to behold, and it will be interesting to see how Volkanovski’s accurate striking holds up against the wilder, but more powerful, shots that Lopes can deliver. And even though Volkanovski usually is able to bring the fight to the ground more than once during a fight, Lopes has some slick submissions that can catch him (or anyone for that matter) off guard.
This fight comes down to three things: How Volkanovski looks after more than a year away from the cage, if Lopes is able to get off to a strong start (which I feel he may need), and how Lopes is able to pace himself. That last part can be particularly important when considering that Lopes hasn’t gone five rounds before and he’s taking on a way-more experienced Volkanovski. Having said that, I’m getting this strange suspicion that youth will win out over experience here. (Prediction: Diego Lopes)
Ryan Jarrell: This is a very interesting fight for a number of reasons. The former champion has had a tough run as of late, but his only losses are to a couple of fighters considered the pound-for-pound best in the world. I think Volkanovski took the fight with Topuria way too soon and didn’t allow himself to fully recover from his KO loss to Makhachev. Now that he’s had a year off from active competition, I think we will see a vintage performance from the former champ and he will prove he’s still on that championship level. Lopes is legit and he very well may claim the title down the line. I just don’t see it happening here. Give me Volkanovski to win via decision. (Prediction: Alexander Volkanovski)
Pranav Pandey: This is one of those matchups where my heart wants Volkanovski to pull through, but my mind leans toward Lopes. As much as I want to back “The Great” given everything he’s accomplished and the kind of fighter he is, I can’t ignore what Lopes brings to the table. With Ilia Topuria no longer part of the featherweight equation, the Brazilian might be the most dangerous contender in the division right now. Lopes brings a potent blend of finishing instincts and high-level grappling that could create real problems for Volkanovski. Stylistically, he has the kind of game that can disrupt the former champion’s rhythm. Still, this isn’t unfamiliar territory for Volkanovski.
Back-to-back losses might suggest a decline, but with “The Great,” it’s never that simple. Volkanovski has a proven ability to read opponents, make adjustments, and exploit even the smallest gaps in their game. And while Lopes is a serious threat, he’s not flawless. I have a feeling the Aussie will weather the early storm, make the right reads, and gradually start pulling ahead. If it goes into deep waters, I think that’s where Lopes starts to fade. (Prediction: Alexander Volkanovski)
Aakrit Sharma: This was the toughest pick to make on the UFC 314 card. My heart wants Volkanovski to win, but it is factually proven that fighters, especially in lower weight classes, show a significant decline in performance and durability after 34. Lopes is powerful, but his fight against Dan Ige proves that he’s not at all ready to face the former UFC featherweight champ. However, again, age is a primary concern here, and I’m skeptical about Volkanovski’s ability to calm the early storm as he used to do gracefully.
This is a five-round fight, and I believe that Lopes only has the first two rounds to win the title. If the fight goes on to the later rounds, even a washed-up Volkanovski should be able to manhandle the Brazilian. My pick, though, is Lopes winning the title early by knocking out one of the greatest featherweight fighters of all time. (Prediction: Diego Lopes)
Consensus: 2-2
That’ll do it for our UFC 314 staff picks! What do you think? Do your predictions look similar? Let us know in the comments section! Also, you can check out the full UFC 314 card below.
Main Card:
Featherweight Championship: Alexander Volkanovski vs. Diego Lopes
Lightweight: Michael Chandler vs. Paddy Pimblett
Featherweight: Bryce Mitchell vs. Jean Silva
Featherweight: Yair Rodriguez vs. Patricio Pitbull
Light Heavyweight: Nikita Krylov vs. Dominick Reyes
Preliminary Card:
Featherweight: Dan Ige vs. Sean Woodson
Women’s Strawweight: Yan Xiaonan vs. Virna Jandiroba
Lightweight: Jim Miller vs. Chase Hooper
Featherweight: Darren Elkins vs. Julian Erosa
Early Preliminary Card:
Middleweight: Sedriques Dumas vs. Michal Oleksiejczuk
Flyweight: Sumudaerji vs. Mitch Raposo
Middleweight: Tresean Gore vs. Marco Tulio
Women’s Bantamweight: Nora Cornolle vs. Hailey Cowan
Be sure to keep it right here on MMANews.com for all the results, highlights, and updates on UFC 314!
The main event will see light heavyweight kingpin Alex Pereira defend his title for the fourth time since capturing it at the expense of Jiří Procházka 16 months ago. To continue his reign, “Poatan” is tasked with spoiling the ambitions of top contender Magomed Ankalaev.
Co-headlining will be former interim lightweight champion Justin Gaethje, who will look to bounce back from his brutal knockout loss to Max Holloway last April by once again getting the better of striking specialist Rafael Fiziev.
Elsewhere on the card, entertaining lightweights Jalin Turner and Ignacio Bahamondes collide, ex-strawweight title challenger Amanda Lemos looks to halt up-and-coming Iasmin Lucindo’s rise, and Fighting Nerds standout Mauricio Ruffy meets King Green.
UFC 313: MMA News Staff Predictions
Ahead of Saturday’s UFC 313 event, Thomas Albano, Ryan Jarrell, Pranav Pandey, and Aakrit Sharma have provided their picks for the five matchups set for the main card.
Below, you can check out the current leaderboard through two cards in 2025.
Thomas Albano (6-2) & Pranav Pandey (6-2)
Ryan Jarrell (4-4) & Aakrit Sharma (4-4)
And with that, it’s time for the team’s predictions for UFC 313.
Lightweight: King Green vs. Mauricio Ruffy
Images: UFC.com
Thomas Albano: I want to commend King Green for the run and wins that he continues to have all these years later in the UFC – at the age of 38. But this is a problem fight for him. Mauricio Ruffy and the Fighting Nerds have been the biggest names to watch for this year in the UFC. The team dominated the scene in 2024 and continues to rack up wins and popularity. Ruffy is a dangerous finisher who can give Green, who has finishing ability and power in his own right, trouble. Someone on the Fighting Nerds should be UFC champion within these next couple of years. Mark my words. (Prediction: Mauricio Ruffy)
Ryan Jarrell: I’ve always been a big fan of Green’s fan-friendly fighting style. He always comes to fight, even if it gets him into a bit of trouble. At some point, Father Time catches up to us all, and I think that time is getting very close for the 26-fight UFC veteran. Ruffy is just 28 years old and is coming into this fight with a ton of momentum and confidence. If he fights smart and doesn’t get dragged into a dog fight, then it’s his fight to lose. Give me the young lion to kick off the PPV card with a win. (Prediction: Mauricio Ruffy)
Pranav Pandey: This feels like a brutal assignment for the American, and I can’t help but think the matchmakers did him no favors with this one. Green brings swagger to the cage, pairing it with a slick boxing game, but he’s up against a relentless young menace with a knack for finishing fights. Ruffy’s surge is undeniable, and underestimating him would be a mistake. He’s got the power, elite grappling, and a killer instinct to make this a nightmare for Green — and I wouldn’t be surprised if he adds another stoppage to his record. (Prediction: Mauricio Ruffy)
Aakrit Sharma: Ruffy’s last win against James Llontop was a good showcase of his striking. He has yet another durable opponent in Green, who wouldn’t mind a standup battle for three rounds. The lightweight veteran looked impressive against Jim Miller, but he’s started to struggle against up-and-coming talent or explosive strikers such as Paddy Pimblett, Jalin Turner, and Drew Dober. At 38 years old, I’m not expecting him to get any better skill-wise, and at UFC 313, he’s likely being used to push Ruffy up the rankings and help the McGregor-esque striker become a bigger draw.
All things considered, this should be an easy win for the Brazilian at UFC 313, and I don’t think Green’s ground game is threatening enough to pull off a submission upset. (Prediction: Mauricio Ruffy)
Consensus: 4-0 Mauricio Ruffy
Women’s Strawweight: Amanda Lemos vs. Iasmin Lucindo
Images: UFC.com
Thomas Albano: Amanda Lemos is going to look for a needed bounce-back victory at UFC 313 after getting submitted by Virna Jandiroba in what some might consider an upset. Lemos is still a top name at 115 pounds but has now lost two of three, which includes an unsuccessful challenge of champion Weili Zhang. Iasmin Lucindo lost her UFC debut but has since won four straight, which includes wins over Polyana Viana, Karolina Kowalkiewicz, and Marina Rodriguez. A win over Lemos would vault her right into one of the names to consider as a top contender.
This is the experience vs. youth battle, and Lucindo may be able to battle for control in grappling situations against Lemos. The former title challenger, however, has power that Lucindo has not come across before, and that could spell trouble for the 23-year-old. (Prediction: Amanda Lemos)
Ryan Jarrell: In the fight game, the young usually eats the old. According to the odds, that’s what may happen here. But Lemos still has plenty left in the tank as far as I’m concerned. Yes, she was caught by Jandiroba in her most recent fight. But outside of that, she’s into lost to Weili and Jéssica Andrade. I just don’t think she is done just yet. Give me the veteran to hold off the charging youngster and win a decision. (Prediction: Amanda Lemos)
Pranav Pandey: The all-Brazilian duel I never knew I needed. Lemos, the seasoned veteran, undoubtedly holds the edge in experience, but the scales seem tilted against her in this matchup. The former title challenger is up against a younger, hungrier opponent with heavier hands, slicker grappling, and a growing reputation for dismantling strawweight veterans. If Lucindo can dictate the pace, I believe she’ll take control and make this fight her own. (Prediction: Iasmin Lucindo)
Aakrit Sharma: This is another veteran vs. newcomer matchup in the UFC women’s strawweight division. To be fair, it’s hard to pick who will favor the 14-year age gap more. While Lucindo, 23, has the potential to show up better with every new fight, Lemos has already faced the top competitors of the division and has impressive wins over the likes of Mackenzie Dern and Angela Hill. Lucindo is an undeniable prospect with a bright future ahead of her. However, after her last fight, I concluded that her time to grab or fight for the title is still far, and she needs to improve her striking significantly.
Even if she wins this weekend at UFC 313, she’ll be heavily outclassed by the division’s top five, which contains Jéssica Andrade, Tatiana Suarez, and Yan Xiaonan. Her last victory was a split decision that was only granted to her based on control, and she can’t afford to be hit that often against a strong opponent like Lemos. I do think this is a 50-50 fight, but I’ll pick Lucindo because of her activity and constantly improving game. If she feels threatened on the feet, she can take the fight to the ground, and Lemos will likely have a hard time getting back up. (Prediction: Iasmin Lucindo)
Consensus: 2-2
Lightweight: Jalin Turner vs. Ignacio Bahamondes
Images: UFC.com
Thomas Albano: Jalin Turner has lost three of his last four, though those losses have come against some great competition. Ignacio Bahamondes, however, has had a decent rise up the lightweight ranks since coming into the UFC in 2021, with just two losses in his Octagon run so far. Bahamondes has got the momentum, obviously. However, Turner has fought better competition and will have the physical advantage when it comes to his long limbs and lanky body. Bahamondes has shown some weakness in the ground game, and Turner should be smart and try to take advantage of that (especially after the bad fight IQ he displayed against Renato Moicano last year).
Turner’s three losses in his current downward trend aren’t bad considering the names, but four losses in five fights and a defeat in this fight may completely dash any chances of Turner reaching noteworthy contender status in the UFC again. I expect him to pull through with a second-round submission. (Prediction: Jalin Turner)
Ryan Jarrell: This is an interesting UFC 313 matchup considering the size of these two for the weight class. Both men are six foot three with a 75.5 inch reach. “The Tarantula” is two years older than Bahamondes, and has definitely faced the tougher competition during his tenure in the UFC. I think it’s Turner’s time to make a run. He’s a little older and probably feels the pressure to win now. Bahamondes will be around for years to come, but I am going with the American to get this win. (Prediction: Jalin Turner)
Pranav Pandey: I think this fight has all the makings of an all-out barnburner. I anticipate a striking-heavy battle, which undoubtedly favors Turner due to his towering reach advantage. However, “La Jaula” arguably possesses the sharper fight IQ — it’s just a matter of whether he can navigate the danger zones without getting tangled in “The Tarantula’s” grappling. With that in mind, Bahamondes is riding a strong wave from back-to-back finishes last year, and if he can find the openings and exploit them with precision, I can see him dishing out serious damage and putting the American through a punishing ordeal. (Prediction: Ignacio Bahamondes)
Aakrit Sharma: Turner looking really good against most of his opponents, including top-ranked fighters, thanks to his power and striking but then losing by a close margin really bugs me. Bahamondes, as good and dangerous on the feet as he is, isn’t a Dan Hooker, Renato Moicano or a Mateusz Gamrot. His submission win over Rongzhu has aged like fine wine, but I don’t see the unranked prospect moving past “The Tarantula” just yet because grappling is not his forte, and Turner is tough as nails on the feet. It’s important to remember that Turner could’ve registered a very impressive KO win over Moicano at UFC 300, and his career trajectory would’ve been completely different. I strongly believe he’s just been unlucky with the matchups and, well, is also competing in the toughest division in the promotion.
It’s unlikely for this fight to hit the ground unless one of the fighters uses it to recover from a knockdown. And because I believe Turner to be a better and more experienced striker, I pick him to win this fight. Both fighters are arguably in their physical primes, and this is easily a FOTN contender for UFC 313. (Prediction: Jalin Turner)
Consensus: 3-1 Jalin Turner
Lightweight: Justin Gaethje vs. Rafael Fiziev
Images: UFC.com
Thomas Albano: It’s absolutely heartbreaking that injury has cost us what could have been an amazing UFC 313 war between Justin Gaethje and Dan Hooker. But the consolation prize is great as well considering the close encounter these two had in their first fight, with Gaethje coming out on top at UFC 286 in a bout that was one of 2023’s best. Gaethje’s strategy will be more of the same – use leg kicks and combinations to deliver a star-stunning, highlight performance (no play on words intended). While there are questions about him being 36 and coming off the knockout loss to Max Holloway at UFC 300, there should be plenty of questions about Fiziev as well.
Fiziev entered the first fight with Gaethje a 12-1 rising star, but he’s now lost two straight, having not fought since injuring his ACL against Mateusz Gamrot. Overall, I feel Fiziev will be able to have a strong effort in his first fight back from injury, but Gaethje’s pressure and striking will give him the taste of victory once again. (Prediction: Justin Gaethje)
Ryan Jarrell: Two years later, we are getting a rematch that all combat sports will love. The first fight was very close, with both having their moments. I don’t want to see Gaethje walk off into the sunset anytime soon, but I am starting to wonder how many more fights we will see “The Highlight” compete in. After his lopsided loss to Holloway, it was smart to take time off and not book a fight too soon. Will that rest be enough for the 36-year-old to look like himself in this rematch? I’m not sure it is, so for that reason I’m going with the younger fighter in Fiziev to battle his way to a decision victory in this one. (Prediction: Rafael Fiziev)
Pranav Pandey: Both fighters have a deep understanding of each other’s arsenals, and that level of exposure breeds a more refined yet relentless brand of controlled mayhem — especially when Gaethje is involved. Their first encounter was razor-close, and this time, the short-notice booking makes it even more exciting. Both men are returning from a loss and an extended hiatus, but it’s “Ataman” who has been out of action for a significantly longer stretch. I believe that layoff could be a crucial factor in this rematch.
On the other hand, “The Highlight” endured a brutal beating in his last outing, and whether the aftermath of that fight still lingers remains to be seen. That said, I think his relentless aggression and spunk — while both a weapon and a liability — give him the edge in this matchup. One thing’s for sure: I don’t see this fight reaching the judges’ scorecards at UFC 313. (Prediction: Justin Gaethje)
Aakrit Sharma: Two things. First, I am in the minority of people who think Fiziev won the first fight due to the first two rounds. He did get battered in the third, but the eye poke from Gaethje definitely played a role in it. Second, Fiziev is more accurate and faster on the feet, which is not a huge surprise considering his kickboxing background. He proved he has all the tools to outstrike “The Highlight” on any day, but the veteran lightweight is as durable as they come, which helped him in the first fight, too. Gaethje, who’s become a very patient and calculated striker at this point, might want to mix things up by utilizing his wrestling in this fight, but as we know it, that’s not how he secures bonuses every time he enters the Octagon.
This fight will also reveal whether Gaethje has truly recovered from the Holloway KO. It is often said that fighters don’t remain the same after such crushing losses, but I still have faith in Gaethje’s ability to turn this into another brawl to be remembered for ages. Fiziev has had quite the time to recover from the knee injury that occurred in the Gamrot bout, and this time around, he’ll likely come to fight with the necessary adjustments against former interim UFC lightweight champ. Instead of trying to take out Gaethje early, it would make more sense for “Ataman” to spend his gas task wisely and keep up the high output of strikes and kicks across all rounds. I predict that he will perform better than UFC 286 and finally become worthy of a title shot. (Prediction: Rafael Fiziev)
Consensus: 2-2
UFC Light Heavyweight Title: Alex Pereira vs. Magomed Ankalaev
Images: @ufc/X & UFC.com
Thomas Albano: After a 2024 campaign that saw him in contention for the Male Fighter of the Year in MMA across various platforms, Alex Pereira looks to continue his dominant run at 205 pounds. He has saved the UFC a number of times with cards over the course of the last year, and now a win against Magomed Ankaleav could very well put him in the running for a potential superfight against Jon Jones or Tom Aspinall, if recent comments from Dana White are to be believed.
That said, Ankalaev, despite having his own kind of power, is going to need to utilize his takedowns and wrestling to its greatest potential. The Russian needs to set the pace early and may need to weather an early storm. It’s not what some people want to hear, but he needs to start scoring takedowns from the first round on. The more he can get this fight to the ground, the better the chances he has of walking out a champion. While Ankalaev has power in his leg kicks and his hands, we’ve seen how all Pereira needs to do is land one hook to put someone’s lights out. If Ankalaev is not careful at UFC 313, all it will take is just a mere few seconds for that to happen. (Prediction: Alex Pereira)
Ryan Jarrell: I keep going back and forth about this one. On paper, I think the safe bet is Pereira to continue his dominance and retain the title. But Ankalaev is a very interesting stylistic matchup for the champion. If this fight stays on the feet, it will be Pereira all day. But if Ankalaev can mix things up and get this fight to the ground, he could pull the upset and become the new champ. With how dominant the champion has been, I just can’t pick “Poatan” to lose his title. (Prediction: Alex Pereira)
Pranav Pandey: I believe the fight will exceed the expectations of what most are anticipating. That being said, while I think Ankalaev is undeniably a stylistic menace for Pereira, I can’t help but feel a certain frustration with the initial disrespect shown by the oddsmakers toward “Poatan”. Let’s not forget — he’s the reigning champion, and not just any champion, but an undeniable force of dominance. I think it’s crucial to remember that his striking prowess and his ability to control a fight elevate him to an entirely different level.
Ankalaev certainly possesses a well-rounded striking game, with solid reach and the added dimension of a wrestling threat that could pose some problems for Pereira. However, the reality is his takedown skills aren’t quite Khabib Nurmagomedov-esque. While Ankalaev will undoubtedly present challenges, we’ve already seen the blueprint laid out by Jan Błachowicz, who essentially handed every 205-pounder a game plan for neutralizing the Russian’s grappling — by relentlessly attacking his legs with a series of kicks. It’s a strategy that works, and it’s one that Pereira can certainly employ to his advantage.
If there’s one thing we know for certain, it’s that Pereira is a master at imposing his will on his opponents in ways that go beyond the ordinary with his powerful shots. I firmly believe that the prevailing notion — that Ankalaev is a challenge Pereira has never encountered — misses the mark. Honestly, Pereira presents a challenge Ankalaev has never faced. When all is said and done, I have no doubt that Pereira will rise to the occasion (again). (Prediction: Alex Pereira)
Aakrit Sharma: MMA math doesn’t work all the time, but the way Jan Blachowicz was able to trouble Ankalaev with his leg kicks, I can foresee Pereira’s gameplan heading into the UFC 313 main event. Ankalaev’s plan, on the other hand, is a slight mystery as he didn’t show any willingness to grapple against a solid striker like Aleksandar Rakic at UFC 308. He might’ve been proving a point about being good enough to stand and bang with the champ, but “Poatan” is undeniably miles ahead of the rest of the pack in striking and kickboxing.
The Russian is quick, and Pereira gets hit too, but the champ’s UFC 307 defense against Khalil Rountree made us realize that he has a solid chin at light heavyweight. He’s also fighting after a relatively long break, so I expect him to be in a better state physically. Ankalaev’s grappling advantage is being called the deciding factor for this fight. However, in a heavy division like light heavyweight, grappling exchanges lack the explosiveness, scrambles, agility, and technical intricacies seen in smaller divisions, which explains why upsets like Jiří Procházka submitting Glover Teixeira happen.
So, even with just brute strength and Teixeira’s continued training over the last couple of years, I think Pereira will be able to avert the threat on the ground against Ankalaev. The UFC light heavyweight kingpin also has decent cardio for his age. To win, he should be the one dictating the fight’s pace as usual, and I am picking him to end up with another highlight reel this weekend at UFC 313, as his knockout power is truly special at 205 pounds. (Prediction: Alex Pereira)
Consensus: 4-0 Alex Pereira
That’ll do it for our UFC 313 staff picks! What do you think? Do your predictions look similar? Let us know in the comments section! Also, you can check out the full UFC 313 card below.
Main Card:
Light Heavyweight Championship: Alex Pereira vs. Magomed Ankalaev
Lightweight: Justin Gaethje vs. Rafael Fiziev
Lightweight: Jalin Turner vs. Ignacio Bahamondes
Women’s Strawweight: Amanda Lemos vs. Iasmin Lucindo
Lightweight: King Green vs. Mauricio Ruffy
Preliminary Card:
Heavyweight: Curtis Blaydes vs. Rizvan Kuniev
Flyweight: Joshua Van vs. Rei Tsuruya
Middleweight: Brunno Ferreira vs. Armen Petrosyan
Welterweight: Alex Morono vs. Carlos Leal
Early Preliminary Card:
Featherweight: Mairon Santos vs. Francis Marshall
Featherweight: Chris Gutierrez vs. John Castañeda
Middleweight: Djorden Santos vs. Ozzy Diaz
Be sure to keep it right here on MMANews.com for all the results, highlights, and updates on UFC 313!
The UFC 312 main event will see middleweight kingpin Dricus Du Plessis defend his title for the second time since capturing it at the expense of Sean Strickland 13 months ago. To continue his reign, the South African is tasked with repeating that feat in a rematch opposite “Tarzan.”
Co-headlining UFC 312 will be another champ in Zhang Weili, who will look to maintain her status as strawweight queen by blemishing the currently perfect record of Tatiana Suarez.
UFC 312: MMA News Staff Predictions
Ahead of Saturday’s UFC 312 event, Thomas Albano, Ryan Jarrell, Pranav Pandey and Aakrit Sharma have provided their picks for the five matchups set for the main card.
Below, you can check out the current leaderboard through one card in 2025.
Thomas Albano (2-1) & Pranav Pandey (2-1)
Ryan Jarrell (1-2) & Aakrit Sharma (1-2)
And with that, it’s time for the team’s predictions for UFC 312.
Welterweight: Jake Matthews vs. Francisco Prado
Images: UFC.com
Thomas Albano: Francisco Prado did quite well for himself on the regional scene, but he enters tonight just 1-2 in the Octagon, competing in his first fight in about a year. He won’t be an easy pushover opponent for native hero Jake Matthews, however. Matthews has competed in the UFC for over 10 years now, and that experience will prove to be highly valuable in this kind of matchup. While Matthews has traded wins and losses since the end of a three-fight win streak that he had entering 2021, he’s got the reach advantage and a real developed all-around skillset that should net him a win at UFC 312. (Prediction: Jake Matthews)
Ryan Jarrell: Matthews looked impressive in his recent victory over Phil Rowe. The Aussie is 30 years old now and entering his athletic prime. Prado is 1-2 in the UFC and coming off a convincing loss to Daniel Zellhuber. On the other hand, Matthews is 13-7 in the UFC and looking like the best version of himself. The Australian does a good job of mixing things up and is very difficult to control when he’s mixing up his wrestling with his great striking. This should be another close fight overall, but if this goes to the judges, I’d be shocked if the hometown fighter doesn’t get the nod. (Prediction: Jake Matthews)
Pranav Pandey: This is a tough one to call, and honestly, I’m on the fence about picking a winner. But if we go by the numbers and odds, Matthews — a decade-long UFC veteran — has the experience edge and a reach advantage to work with. Add in the passionate Aussie crowd behind him, and he’s got the tools to take down the young and hungry Prado. If he plays his cards right at UFC 312, this could be another much-needed win in his rollercoaster of a career. (Prediction: Jake Matthews)
Aakrit Sharma: I can only see one upside for Matthews in this fight, and that’s the fact he’s been fighting at welterweight for quite some time. In terms of pure skill, Prado is really hard to deny, considering all 12 of his victories have been finishes (6 subs and 6 KOs). The loss to Zellhuber doesn’t take away a lot from Prado because the Mexican is easily one of the most durable and talented strikers in the lightweight division. The Argentine will carry more power at welterweight, which should concern Matthews because the Australian relies heavily on his chin and gets hit a lot.
The fact that Prado’s just 22 makes me confident that he’s constantly improving. I anticipate him to have a solid start, but if Matthews can weather the early storm as usual, he could very well wrestle his way to victory. I am expecting this to be one of the most exciting fights of the night, and although Matthews is a huge step up in competition, I’m picking Prado to emerge victorious at UFC 312. (Prediction: Francisco Prado)
Consensus: 3-1 Jake Matthews
Light Heavyweight: Jimmy Crute vs. Rodolfo Bellato
Images: UFC.com
Thomas Albano: It’s really unfortunate to see what’s happened to Jimmy Crute. He was being talked about with plenty of hype and hope after his performance on Dana White’s Contender Series, starting his Octagon run off with four wins in five fights, including a submission of Paul Craig in his UFC debut. Now, he’s gone winless in his last four fights, having not secured a win in the UFC since October 2020. And that isn’t good when taking on an up-and-comer like Rodolfo Bellato at UFC 312.
While he was unsuccessful in his first DWCS attempt, Bellato made a name for himself by becoming a champion in the LFA before securing a win in his second DWCS appearance. And in his UFC debut back in December 2023, Bellato put his name out there with a second-round finish of Ihor Potieria. While he hasn’t fought since, I feel confident in selecting Bellato based on momentum alone. (Prediction: Rodolfo Bellato)
Ryan Jarrell: This should be another fun, action-packed fight at UFC 312. There is no question that Crute has faced the tougher competition, and he will be fighting in front of his home crowd, which should juice him up ever more. Crute is in desperate need of a win if he wants to keep his job in the UFC. I think that Bellato is the more well-rounded fighter and deserves to be the favorite, which the odds reflect. But I think Crute will be energized by the Australian crowd and will exhibit the best of version of himself with his back against the wall at UFC 312. (Prediction: Jimmy Crute)
Pranav Pandey: Crute’s career hasn’t taken off the way many expected — it’s been four years since his last win, and that’s a brutal dry spell for the Aussie. On the flip side, Bellato has been turning heads, especially with his performance against Ihor Potieria. He’s anything but a one-dimensional fighter, bringing a well-rounded arsenal to the Octagon. Unless Crute finds a way to flip the script, this one’s looking like a smooth ride for Bellato at UFC 312. (Prediction: Rodolfo Bellato)
Aakrit Sharma: Both Crute and Bellato will be entering the Octagon at UFC 312 after a silent 2024 as they last fought in July 2023 and December 2023, respectively. This is an important fight for Crute as he’s lost three of his last four. Bellato is yet to face the best in the UFC light heavyweight division, but he’s walked through all of his opponents with ease, except Vitor Petrino. As much as I want Crute to get back to the win column, I believe it’ll be a rough night for him because Bellato boasts KO power and Crute simply hasn’t shown anything special since October 2020. (Prediction: Rodolfo Bellato)
Consensus: 3-1 Rodolfo Bellato
Heavyweight: Justin Tafa vs. Tallison Teixeira
Images: UFC.com
Thomas Albano: This UFC 312 fight is simple to predict, and while I understand putting Justin Tafa on the card given it’s Australia, it’s a shame that this fight is being placed as such a featured bout on the pay-per-view. Both men have finishing power and will be looking to end things rather quick. While Tafa doesn’t have a great track record in MMA when fights drag on, Tallison Teixeira has finished all five of the fights he’s had prior to UFC 312, four of them coming by KO/TKO.
This one will end early, but in favor of whom? Personally, I feel Teixeira’s youth and skillset (not to mention Tafa’s inconsistency) gives him the edge. (Prediction: Tallison Teixeira)
Ryan Jarrell: Someone is going to sleep in this one. I always seem to forget that Tafa is still just in his early 30s. Maybe it’s because he doesn’t fight very often and his last fight to Karl Williams was rather forgettable. Teixeira is undefeated at 7-0 and six of those wins are by TKO/KO. He looked impressive beating Arthur Lopes on DWCS. This is definitely a step up in competition, but I expect the Brazilian to rise to the occasion and notch a highlight finish in his UFC debut. (Prediction: Tallison Teixeira)
Pranav Pandey: When heavyweights collide, wild knockouts are almost inevitable — and I’ve got a strong feeling we’re in for another one in this showdown. Both Tafa and Teixeira pack serious firepower, but the young, undefeated Brazilian holds a massive reach advantage, making him an even bigger threat in the striking exchanges. That being said, “Bad Man” will have the Aussie crowd roaring behind him, and that energy could push him to turn this into a gritty test for Teixeira. However, I see “Xicao” rising to the occasion and delivering a statement performance under the brightest lights of his career at UFC 312. (Prediction: Tallison Teixeira)
Aakrit Sharma: This is a classic heavyweight bout where the first fighter to land the biggest blow should win via KO. The other potential outcome is that they both respect each other’s power too much and end up giving fans a snoozefest. Teixeira has won all seven of his fights in the first round, and the lack of big names on his record would’ve been a huge problem if this was a lower weight class. At heavyweight, pure knockout power is enough to help you climb the ranks, and the likes of Derrick Lewis and Francis Ngannou (early in his career) are perfect examples of that. Because Teixeira also has a significant reach advantage, I’m picking him to get another early KO win over Tafa at UFC 312. (Prediction: Tallison Teixeira)
Consensus: 4-0 Tallison Teixeira
UFC Strawweight Title: Zhang Weili vs. Tatiana Suarez
Images: @ufc/@tatianasuarezufc/Instagram
Thomas Albano: This is the toughest fight at UFC 312 to pick, for me. Zhang Weili has done incredible things in her time with the UFC, winning the UFC women’s strawweight title twice and putting on some of the more memorable performances in the Octagon. But you have to feel great for Tatiana Suarez to get this opportunity after all the injury time she has had to endure since the start of this decade. Suarez has continued to look well even in the time she’s been away from the cage. The only problem is “Magnum” is just simply incredible.
Zhang will have the clear striking advantage, and even if Suarez gets this fight to the ground, Zhang should have less of a difficult time in fighting back than some of Suarez’s other opponents have. There will hopefully be another time for Suarez to get a second crack at the gold (and maybe win it), but it won’t be on this night. (Prediction: Zhang Weili)
Ryan Jarrell: This is without question your typical striker versus wrestler matchup and I am here for it. At one point, I wasn’t so sure that anyone could beat the champion. Then I saw her fight with Yan Xiaonan and I started to feel very different. Zhang is not the indestructible force that some, including me, thought she was.
I expect the challenger to use her strength and wrestling to wear down the champ and drag her into deep waters. Zhang has the stand up skills to finish the fight against anyone, but I think Suarez will fight smart and stick to her gameplan through this fight. I can even see Suarez getting a finish at some point, but because I have so much respect for the current champion, I don’t think the finish will materialize at UFC 312. (Prediction: Tatiana Suarez)
Pranav Pandey: I’ll keep it simple — Zhang is an absolute machine. The sheer volume of strikes she unleashes is absurd, but that’s not even the scariest part. What truly makes her a dominant force is her near-impenetrable takedown defense and rock-solid grappling resistance. On the other hand, Suarez is a grappling phenom and a submission specialist who has made a habit of dismantling former champions. But here’s the catch — she’s spent a significant portion of her career on the sidelines, and I believe that layoff will play a massive role in this fight.
So, what happens if the challenger can’t keep Weili grounded? Simple — she’s going to get systematically picked apart by “Magnum.” And if that’s the case, this one’s looking like a clean, decisive win for the champ at UFC 312. (Prediction: Zhang Weili)
Aakrit Sharma: The undefeated Suarez deserves all the hype she’s getting ahead of UFC 312. Her wins over Carla Esparza, Jéssica Andrade, and Alexa Grasso have aged like fine wine, but it is very important to consider that she’ll be stepping into the Octagon after an 18-month layoff. Zhang hasn’t been too active as well, but her last four performances have removed every bit of doubt from my mind that emerged after her consecutive losses to Rose Namajunas.
Zhang’s almost the perfect women’s strawweight fighter thanks to her clean striking, strength, wrestling prowess and cardio. I’m not counting out Suarez entirely, but the challenger will surely need the best performance of her life to emerge victorious. The champion, on the other hand, already has a wealth of experience fighting the best of the best in the UFC, and it’s unlikely she’ll be overwhelmed by anything this weekend. So, I’m picking Zhang to retain her women’s strawweight championship at UFC 312. (Prediction: Zhang Weili)
Consensus: 3-1 Zhang Weili
UFC Middleweight Title: Dricus Du Plessis vs. Sean Strickland
Image: UFC.com
Thomas Albano: The first time Dricus Du Plessis and Sean Strickland met for the middleweight title, it was a fight that caused a lot of uproar in the MMA community. It appeared to be a closely contested fight, with many, including UFC CEO Dana White, feeling that Strickland deserved the nod. Despite this, White did not give Strickland an immediate rematch, instead favoring an eagerly anticipated bout between Du Plessis and Israel Adesanya. Now, at UFC 312, we finally see these two clash again.
Watching the fight live, I had it three rounds to two in favor of Du Plessis, and I still feel this way watching the rematch. Strickland landed some of the stronger strikes in the fight, and had a solid round five. Prior to that, however, Du Plessis not only matched or exceeded Strickland in terms of damage but also controlled the pace. This brings about plenty of questions as to how each made adjustments entering this next fight. Ultimately, however, when you consider both men’s fighting styles and compare their records, my UFC 312 pick is still with the man currently holding the gold. (Prediction: Dricus Du Plessis)
Ryan Jarrell: If this rematch is anything like the first fight, then we are in for a bloody treat. Considering the adjustments that could be made, the styles that these two both possess really line this rematch up for an interesting title fight. I feel like I’ve learned my lesson picking against Du Plessis at this point. The champion might not have the most appealing style, but you cannot argue with his effectiveness. I expect Strickland to give the champion some issues early on, but at the end of the day, the wrestling of the South African will be the difference in winning rounds en route to a successful defense of his title. (Prediction: Dricus Du Plessis)
Pranav Pandey: Both fighters know each other’s game inside and out, and with that burning familiarity comes a new level of calculated chaos. When it comes to chaos, “Stillknocks” is a walking nightmare. His wildly unpredictable style has turned every opponent he’s faced into a puzzle they couldn’t solve. But standing in his way is Strickland, armed with his unorthodox Philly shell stance, which enables him to apply relentless pressure. Their first encounter was a blood-soaked slugfest, and the sequel at UFC 312? I have a hunch this time, we won’t hear the final bell toll.
I’m backing DDP this time around, and for good reason. He’s a well-rounded wrecking machine, unloading power punches at will while keeping the constant danger of a submission lurking if the fight hits the canvas. And something tells me we’re in for a taste of that on Saturday night. Now, Strickland is undoubtedly one of the sharpest boxers in the middleweight division, but his game lacks variety. That could be his undoing. He’ll bring the heat and make life miserable for the champ, but nothing Du Plessis isn’t built to withstand. (Prediction: Dricus Du Plessis)
Aakrit Sharma: Here we go again! This is easily one of the weirdest matchups stylistically in the UFC middleweight division because Du Plessis’ style is incomprehensible on any given day, while Strickland just manages to make every fight close with his constant teeps, jabs, and defense. Strickland is undoubtedly a better striker than Du Plessis in my mind, and he was able to neutralize the South African’s wrestling to a large extent in the first fight. Having said that, it’s hard to pick against Du Plessis at this point in his career. He’s arguably in his physical prime, undefeated in the UFC, and has beaten the likes of Robert Whittaker, Strickland, and Adesanya in back-to-back fights.
Du Plessis has flaws — a lot of them, in fact. However, his willingness to never back down and come up with the most unorthodox techniques makes him the most dangerous middleweight in the world. Technically, there is no way to prepare for a fighter like this, as he rarely showcases any patterns in his striking or ground game. If Strickland yet again sticks to his overly defensive and safe style, I’m sure the champion will already be a lot more prepared than their last outing. The challenger also rarely shows the intent to finish his fights which should work against him at UFC 312.
Based on his grit and recent momentum, I’m picking Dricus Du Plessis to retain his middleweight championship at UFC 312 this weekend. (Prediction: Dricus Du Plessis)
Consensus: 4-0 Dricus Du Plessis
That’ll do it for our UFC 312 staff picks! What do you think? Do your predictions look similar? Let us know in the comments section! Also, you can check out the full UFC 312 card below.
Main Card:
Middleweight Championship: Dricus Du Plessis vs. Sean Strickland
Women’s Strawweight Championship: Zhang Weili vs. Tatiana Suarez
Heavyweight: Justin Tafa vs. Tallison Teixeira
Light Heavyweight: Jimmy Crute vs. Rodolfo Bellato
Welterweight: Jake Matthews vs. Francisco Prado
Preliminary Card:
Featherweight: Jack Jenkins vs. Gabriel Santos
Lightweight: Tom Nolan vs. Viacheslav Borshchev
Women’s Flyweight: Wang Cong vs. Bruna Brasil
Bantamweight: Colby Thicknesse vs. Aleksandre Topuria
Early Preliminary Card:
Lightweight: Rongzhu vs. Kody Steele
Welterweight: Kevin Jousset vs. Jonathan Micallef
Lightweight: Quillan Salkilld vs. Anshul Jubli
Flyweight: HyunSung Park vs. Nyamjargal Tumendemberel
Be sure to keep it right here on MMANews.com for all the results, highlights, and updates on UFC 312!
The main event will see lightweight kingpin Islam Makhachev defend his title for the fourth time since capturing it at the expense of Charles Oliveira over two years ago. To continue his reign, the Dagestani is tasked with spoiling the ambitions of a familiar foe in Arman Tsarukyan.
Co-headlining will be another champ in Merab Dvalishvili, who will look to maintain his status as bantamweight kingpin by blemishing the currently perfect record of Umar Nurmagomedov.
Ahead of Saturday’s UFC 311 event, Ryan Jarrell, Thomas Albano, Pranav Pandey, and Aakrit Sharma have provided their picks for the five matchups set for the main card.
A leaderboard will track the team’s scores throughout the year following the opening PPV of 2025 in Los Angeles.
And with that, it’s time for their predictions for UFC 311.
Middleweight: Kevin Holland vs. Reinier de Ridder
Images: Chris Unger & Jeff Bottari/UFC/Zuffa LLC
Thomas Albano: This one’s the fight that gives me the most trouble. I love the accomplishments Reinier de Ridder had while dominating the ONE Championship scene. But he had some struggles against Gerald Meerschaert, and he’s probably going to struggle against Kevin Holland too.
Holland himself isn’t in the best of all momentum places, with losses in five of his last eight fights, but what he does bring is some power that can certainly rock “The Dutch Knight.” De Ridder’s grappling abilities and his grit may very well get him a late victory, like what happened in his UFC debut. But if he doesn’t show strides in this outing, win or lose, that doesn’t smell good for his UFC tenure if he gets placed up against tougher competition. (Prediction: Reinier de Ridder)
Ryan Jarrell: De Ridder flashed moments of extreme talent in his UFC debut, but I think it’s safe to say his performance wasn’t what his team wanted or expected. He better bring his best against Holland because the American has pop on the feet and a very dangerous ground game. This is a very close fight to pick, but if you are forcing me to lean one way, give me the guy who has 23 UFC fights on his résumé. (Prediction: Kevin Holland)
Pranav Pandey: This matchup leaves me scratching my head, and I’m unsure of exactly what to make of it. RDR has a submission game that’s as smooth as it is dangerous. But don’t sleep on his striking either; the man’s well-rounded skill set is what has made him a two-division champion in ONE Championship. With only two losses on his record, both at the hands of Anatoly Malykhin, it’s clear that de Ridder is a tough riddle to solve.
“Trailblazer”, however, enters with his own set of advantages. While “The Dutch Knight” made quick work of Meerschaert in his UFC debut, it’s worth noting that he was getting clipped early in that fight. This is where I think Holland’s high-paced, dynamic striking could create some serious problems for de Ridder, especially if he can force the pace early. While it’s true Holland has experienced a few setbacks in recent bouts, I still think his striking style could catch the Dutchman off guard.
That said, I’m torn on this one. De Ridder has the tools to neutralize Holland’s striking and dictate the fight, but I’m leaning toward Holland here. He’s the more unpredictable of the two, and that could be the key to pulling off a win. (Prediction: Kevin Holland)
Aakrit Sharma: I just can’t bet against Holland. Even though he’s 5-5 in his last 10 fights, “Trailblazer” has the tools to knock out or submit some of the best fighters in the world on a good day. De Ridder’s run in ONE Championship was impressive, but the competition he’s faced so far cannot be compared to the UFC middleweight division. Submitting Meerschaert was a good start, but Holland should be a tougher opponent because of his toughness and creative arsenal.
At middleweight, “Trailblazer”, who’s also just 32, boasts more power and has a higher chance to survive the striking exchanges because the opponents are slower than welterweights. De Ridder’s path to victory is his submission and grappling game, but Holland has been to the ground with the likes of Michael Chiesa, Derek Brunson, and Khamzat Chimaev, so he definitely won’t be overwhelmed. As bad and risky this could be for my prediction record, I once again pick Holland to get a finish. (Prediction: Kevin Holland)
Consensus: 3-1 Kevin Holland
Lightweight: Beneil Dariush vs. Renato Moicano
Images: UFC.com
Thomas Albano: Entering 2023 off a win over Mateusz Gamrot, Beneil Dariush appeared to be on the doorstep of challenging for the UFC lightweight championship. But that year ended up being arguably Dariush’s worst. While getting finished by Charles Oliveira and Arman Tsarukyan is nothing to sneeze at, he didn’t look the greatest in either fight. And while he’s faced top-level competition, that could smell trouble when taking on a rising name like Renato “Money” Moicano.
Despite being sidelined for a while through injury, Moicano’s name has continued to rise since his famous money post-fight promo. The pair of fights he had last year against Jalin Turner and Benoît Saint Denis brought me some trepidation on how he’d be able to come out of both of those fights with his hand raised. Not only did he win both of those fights, but he also got finishes in both. Moicano is continuing to evolve, and if Dariush is not careful and can’t use his jiu-jitsu experience to dictate this fight, it’s going to be a painful defeat. (Prediction: Renato Moicano)
Ryan Jarrell: Moicano continues to impress me more and more each time he enters the UFC octagon. Dariush is a worthy adversary, but after seeing what the Brazilian did to Saint Denis, it’s going to be very difficult to pick against him unless he’s fighting someone closer to the top of the division. Dariush is a crafty veteran, so it may take a couple of rounds for Moicano to figure him out. But he will find a way to win this fight, whether it’s a finish or goes to the judges. (Prediction: Renato Moicano)
Pranav Pandey: Dariush vs. Moicano could be an all-out brawl, with the makings of a true dogfight. Dariush was on a tear before his recent setbacks, having delivered back-to-back standout performances against some of the most formidable contenders in the lightweight division. He’s demonstrated remarkable resilience and toughness in high-pressure situations. However, my concern for him lies in the aftermath of consecutive knockout defeats, compounded by an extended hiatus of over a year. Has this time away slowed him down, or has he used it to evolve and refine his skills? Only time will tell.
On the other hand, we have “Money” Moicano, who made a statement in his last outing against Saint Denis, showing that he’s a force to be reckoned with, capable of landing serious damage. But let’s not forget that Moicano’s black belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu is just as dangerous as his striking power, as he’s made a habit of submitting opponents who dare engage him on the ground. His consistent activity inside the cage should give him an edge over Dariush, who may look to take the fight into deeper waters. Ultimately, I think Moicano’s pace and versatility will grind Dariush down. (Prediction: Renato Moicano)
Aakrit Sharma: Dariush going on an eight-fight win streak and defeating Tony Ferguson and Mateusz Gamrot left him as easily one of the best lightweights in the world. However, now he’s 35 and coming off two consecutive first-round KO losses, and I believe that his best days are behind him. The defeats to Charles Oliveira and Arman Tsarukyan obviously aren’t a bad look on anyone’s record, and I still believe Dariush possesses the raw skills and IQ to beat Moicano. He simply doesn’t seem like an athlete who can withstand the natural decline that comes with age.
Moicano, also 35, has generated a ton of momentum and fans by looking great in all his last four victories. Although his striking still needs improvement, he’s showcased solid grappling, resilience, and pace against a variety of highly skilled lightweights. I wasn’t sold on his latest run until he outclassed Saint Denis. So, I pick Moicano to win this fight, hoping he then finally gets a big name like Paddy Pimblett. (Prediction: Renato Moicano)
Consensus: 4-0 Renato Moicano
Light Heavyweight: Jiří Procházka vs. Jamahal Hill
Images: UFC.com
Thomas Albano: If you want variety in your MMA card, look no further than UFC 311. While the title fights are filled with grappling specialists, this fight presents a battle of former UFC light heavyweight champions (neither of whom lost their title in the cage, but both of whom have come up short against Alex Pereira) who could turn the other’s lights off at any second. That said, I feel much safer picking Jiří Procházka to do that in this one.
This isn’t to knock Hill’s rise from Dana White’s Contender Series to the UFC, but when you look at the names Procházka has faced since entering the UFC in mid-2020, and the performances and hype surrounding his fights since then, I find myself questioning how Hill is going to be able to get that damaging, finishing blow on “BJP.” The Czech star is the pure definition of a warrior in our modern MMA world, and I can see him continuing to come forward, despite Hill’s best efforts, until he gets another highlight finish. (Prediction: Jiří Procházka)
Ryan Jarrell: This is such an interesting fight and an important one for both men. There has to be a nasty taste in both of their mouths from what Pereira did to each of them in their last fights. I think this comes down to which guy is in the better head space, and based on what we’ve seen from Hill at the UFC Performance Institute, I believe that man is Procházka right now. This will be a competitive fight and both men will have their moments. But I believe the Czech star will have the more meaningful moments and will catch “Sweet Dreams” at some point with a shot he won’t recover from. (Prediction: Jiří Procházka)
Pranav Pandey: Procházka vs. Hill has all the ingredients for a no-holds-barred showdown, and I can’t help but anticipate a wild ride. Both former champions have built reputations for their fearless, all-out fighting styles, often throwing caution to the wind in pursuit of a finish. While it’s easy to joke about the reckless nature of their approach, the reality is this clash promises to be an electrifying showdown that fans won’t want to miss.
“Sweet Dreams” possesses remarkable knockout power, which perfectly complements his solid striking arsenal. However, from what I’ve observed, his striking can occasionally look a bit awkward, especially when it comes to his footwork. There’s also the lingering question about his takedown defense, as it haven’t been truly tested at the highest level just yet. On the flip side, we have the enigmatic Procházka, whose striking style can often seem like organized chaos — unorthodox and unpredictable, but undeniably effective. His wild technique has proven to be a nightmare for opponents, and he’s no slouch when it comes to submissions either.
If “Denisa” can maintain distance and avoid the brute force of Hill’s strikes, I believe the Czech star will find himself in a position to dictate the pace and possibly even dominate this matchup. (Prediction: Jiří Procházka)
Aakrit Sharma: UFC 311 is full of evenly matched fights and this is one of them. While Procházka only has two losses (both to Pereira) in the last 10 years and looked great in his last outing, Hill is coming off a self-proclaimed controversial loss to “Poatan.” Both Procházka and Hill are crafty strikers and it would be surprising if either goes into the fight with a grappling-heavy gameplan. Hill, I think, is the more conventional striker, while his Czech opponent just walks into chaos and hopes to land the finishing strike first.
I wanted to give Procházka an edge because of his experience, but to be fair, he hardly makes use of it and ends up brawling after a point like Michael Chandler. This should work to Hill’s advantage as I consider him to be a smarter fighter between the two. It’s hard to bet against someone as likable and dynamic as Procházka, but I believe “Sweet Dreams” is severely underrated and the loss to Pereira has motivated him to gain the respect of the community back. If he lands constantly and shows the great chin he’s usually had, this should be a tough but very feasible win for him at UFC 311. (Prediction: Jamahal Hill)
Consensus: 3-1 Jiří Procházka
UFC Bantamweight Title: Merab Dvalishvili vs. Umar Nurmagomedov
Images: UFC.com
Thomas Albano: “The Machine” is such a perfect nickname for Merab Dvalishvili. After losing his first two UFC fights, he has since shown just how dominant of a takedown artist and wrestler he can be. He has made fights which looked even and interesting on paper not even close. Just look at the way he handled Sean O’Malley in his last fight to win the bantamweight championship. The Georgian has been an excellent source of talent and entertainment at 135 pounds…but so too has his challenger at UFC 311 – Umar Nurmagomedov.
Since joining the UFC in 2021, Nurmagomedov – cousin to Khabib and older brother of Usman – has enjoyed a fairly quick rise toward the top of the bantamweight rankings. Something the combat sambo specialist and champion possesses is striking that is continuing to develop well with every appearance he makes in the Octagon. The way he performed against Cory Sandhagen was a masterclass. While Dvalishvili and Nurmagomedov can certainly hang with each other, this feels like a fun fight to go along for a potential “and new” ride. (Prediction: Umar Nurmagomedov)
Ryan Jarrell: I am a big fan of Dvalishvili’s fighting style and how he constantly moves forward when inside the Octagon. Having said that, he may need to change things up a bit in the fight from a stylistic standpoint. Nurmagomedov is undefeated for a reason, and his wrestling and grappling is extremely elite. The Georgian clearly has the better overall résumé and has shared the cage with the more dangerous fighters, so I don’t expect him to be overwhelmed or outclassed. But when you have an undefeated guy with the last name Nurmagomedov, the smart thing is to predict he stays undefeated. (Prediction: Umar Nurmagomedov)
Pranav Pandey: I think this bout seems to be another captivating tactical battle on the UFC 311 card, with both fighters bringing their own brand of grappling artistry to the Octagon. it’s easy to see why many might favor the undefeated Dagestani, as he seemingly possesses all the tools required to stifle Dvalishvili’s relentless takedown game. Nurmagomedov’s grappling prowess is renowned, but it’s his striking that has truly set him apart at bantamweight — many believe he’s evolved into a well-rounded threat who can dictate the pace with his superior striking, all while maintaining a solid grappling foundation to neutralize the champ’s onslaught.
Still, I can’t help but feel that there’s a certain underestimation of “The Machine” at play here, both from fans and oddsmakers. The nickname speaks for itself — Dvalishvili is an unstoppable force, a man whose work ethic and unyielding style have broken many before him. In my opinion, there’s nothing that Nurmagomedov brings to the table that Dvalishvili hasn’t already encountered and overcome. Just look at how the Georgian bulldozed through opponents on his path to the title. It’s clear that while “The Young Eagle” may show plenty of promise, it won’t be enough to dethrone “The Machine” in this clash. (Prediction: Merab Dvalishvili)
Aakrit Sharma: It has been a trend to only appreciate fast-paced MMA when strikers like Dustin Poirier, Max Holloway, Justin Gaethje, Michael Chandler and Edson Barboza showcase it. It’s great that someone like Dvalishvili, who can somehow wrestle for five rounds straight, has finally gained the recognition of fans worldwide. I believe Petr Yan, Jose Aldo, and Henry Cejudo might have been superior to “The Machine” in terms of pure skill. However, the UFC bantamweight champion seems exceptionally powerful for the division, and his ability to never back down in a fight and maintain the same energy throughout the five rounds has helped him develop an invincible aura lately.
Nurmagomedov, like the champ’s past opponents, is undeniably skilled, but he doesn’t always go for the kill and boasts a lower finish rate than Makhachev, Usman Nurmagomedov, and Khabib Nurmagomedov. With such a style, I see him winning a round or two in the beginning but losing momentum as the fight goes into the championship rounds. Dvalishvili, on the other hand, will likely struggle to dominate Nurmagomedov entirely because the undefeated prospect will be able to get up and land punches as well as kicks. Having said that, the Georgian fighter’s cardio and chin should again carry him to victory.
He’s beat the best strikers and wrestlers out there, so Nurmagomedov would really have to bring something never seen before to surprise the champion. (Prediction: Merab Dvalishvili)
Consensus: 2-2
UFC Lightweight Title: Islam Makhachev vs. Arman Tsarukyan 2
Image: @ufc/X
Thomas Albano: The first time that these two faced off, it was a grappler’s paradise. They put on a display that showcased the true beauty of this side of MMA, and the two got a well-deserved Fight of the Night honor. Since then, Arman Tsarukyan has continued to improve his game in all manners of competition. There’s just one problem – Islam Makhachev has continued to improve his game, too, so much so that he is now the world champion and has racked off several excellent displays against ever-evolving, tough competition consistently over the last few years.
Tsarukyan will still most likely try to be on the front foot and bring the pressure early on in this contest. But the more this bout goes on, the more it’s going to be in Makhachev’s favor, showing why he is the top dog in the UFC at 155 pounds. (Prediction: Islam Makhachev)
Ryan Jarrell: This highly anticipated rematch goes all the way back to 2019 when Makachev beat Tsarukyan via unanimous decision in a three-round bout. Obviously, both men have improved dramatically since their first fight. With how action-packed I expect this fight to be, I’m intrigued to see who has the better gas tank if we hit championship rounds. The challenger is absolutely ripped heading into this fight, and definitely is a live dog. Tsarukyan has all the tools to be a champion, but can he actually beat Makhachev? I won’t believe until I see it, so give me the champion to retain his title and move up to 170 pounds to try and collect a second belt. (Prediction: Islam Makhachev)
Pranav Pandey: The rematch has all the makings of one of the most riveting and fiercely competitive showdowns the UFC has witnessed in recent years. It feels like a truly exceptional clash, where both fighters exhibit an uncanny parity across nearly every dimension of the game. Whether it’s striking, grappling, or wrestling, Makhachev and Tsarukyan operate nearly on the same elite wavelength. Makhachev has emerged as a relentless force in the lightweight division since his close friend and mentor, Khabib Nurmagomedov, bid farewell to the UFC. The reigning champion has systematically dismantled every challenger with dominant, one-sided performances.
While his matchups with Alexander Volkanovski and Dustin Poirier pushed him in unique ways, it was his first encounter with Tsarukyan that, in my opinion, presented the most formidable grappling challenge of his career — a challenge the Dagestani ultimately overcame. If you believe that Makhachev can still overpower “Ahalkalakets” as he did before, you’re in for a surprise. Tsarukyan has made significant strides in his game since their initial meeting, proving he is more than capable of matching Makhachev’s prowess. In my opinion, this showdown will go down as a blend of high-level grappling exchanges and fiery stand-up action.
This is the kind of fight where logic leans toward Makhachev, but there’s an undeniable allure in rooting for Tsarukyan. However, when it comes to making a choice, I’d side with Makhachev. I think he holds an edge in experience, skill, and even grit, which makes him the likely victor. (Prediction: Islam Makhachev)
Aakrit Sharma: Tsarukyan could easily be a top five pound-for-pound fighter in the UFC right now. However, I can’t imagine anyone dethroning Makhachev from top spot anytime soon. I agree with the sentiment that Tsarukyan’s grappling and wrestling prowess can trouble the champ more than anyone in the lightweight division, and he has also significantly improved his cardio and athleticism since the first fight. On the other end, though, Makhachev has evolved into one of the best strikers in the lightweight division, which surprisingly should be his path to victory this time around.
MMA math doesn’t work but comparing Tsarukyan’s and Makhachev’s performances against Oliveira seems fair due to the styles of these matchups. If the fight goes to the ground and Tsarukyan gets into troublesome positions like he did against the Brazilian, Makhachev won’t give him the room to slip out of his shorts and escape. Tsarukyan has displayed knockout potential, too, but having seen the champ comfortably trade in the pocket with Poirier in his last defense, it seems unlikely that the Armenian would be an equal, if not a bigger threat.
This definitely has Fight of the Night written all over it, and as talented and gifted as “Ahalkalakets” is, Makhachev looks like he’s leagues above the rest for now. (Prediction: Islam Makhachev)
Consensus: 4-0 Islam Makhachev
That’ll do it for our UFC 311 staff picks! What do you think? Do your predictions look similar? Let us know in the comments section! Also, you can check out the full UFC 311 card below.
Main Card:
Lightweight Championship: Islam Makhachev (C) vs. Arman Tsarukyan
Bantamweight Championship: Merab Dvalishvili (C) vs. Umar Nurmagomedov
Light Heavyweight: Jiří Procházka vs. Jamahal Hill
Lightweight: Beneil Dariush vs. Renato Moicano
Middleweight: Kevin Holland vs. Reinier de Ridder
Preliminary Card:
Bantamweight: Payton Talbott vs. Raoni Barcelos
Heavyweight: Jailton Almeida vs. Serghei Spivac
Light Heavyweight: Bogdan Guskov vs. Billy Elekana
Lightweight: Grant Dawson vs. Diego Ferreira
Early Preliminary Card:
Middleweight: Zachary Reese vs. Azamat Bekoev
Women’s Bantamweight: Karol Rosa vs. Ailín Pérez
Bantamweight: Rinya Nakamura vs. Muin Gafarov
Bantamweight: Ricky Turcios vs. Benardo Sopaj
Flyweight: Tagir Ulanbekov vs. Clayton Carpenter
Be sure to keep it right here on MMANews.com for all the results, highlights, and updates on UFC 311!
Of all the great pieces of art — from the Mona Lisa and The Kiss to The Scream and The Birth of Venus — I think we can all agree that nothing comes close to the esthetic of a perfectly done UFC/MMA event poster.
And of all the great artists throughout history — from Leonardo da Vinci and Vincent van Gogh to Salvador Dali and Pablo Picasso — I think we can all agree that nothing comes close to the creators of the UFC’s posters… Okay, that might not be true.
While most major promotions have a generic background for headliners, the UFC produces unique posters for all of its events. Unfortunately, a number of them are negatively received by the fanbase, some of whom actually create better ones for each card themselves.
But just how good (or bad) were the UFC’s selection of event artwork in 2024? Let’s find out by ranking them all — good, bad, and ugly — from worst to best.
42. UFC 300: Pereira vs. Hill
There are not enough words in the English language to do justice to how disastrous this poster truly was.
On the face of it, was it the worst design this year? I’m sure you’ll be seeing at least a few that are worse. But when it comes to the magnitude of the event and expectation? I’m not sure a design in sporting history has ever fallen so far short.
A flag with the event name on it. That is literally it. And it’s even a stretch to call the flag golden. It’s more a Colman’s English Mustard (other mustard brands are available) shade of yellow.
An incredible event. Undoubtedly the best I’ve covered in my career. But an absolutely diabolical poster.
41. UFC Fight Night: Hermansson vs. Pyfer
Excuse me, you can’t park there.
The poster for Jack Hermansson vs. Joe Pyfer appears to have stopped in the middle of the road. For me in the UK, yellow lines mean no parking zones. A brief Google search has taught me that in the Unites States, a solid yellow line indicates that passing is prohibited.
While clearly unintended given how much the promotion likely wanted Pyfer to win, that is an incredible piece of symbolism. The veteran contender whom many expected “Bodybagz” to make his name off of and rise into the rankings at the expense of held his ground and did not allow the young prospect to pass.
George Orwell would be proud.
If only that was deliberate, because the poster is ultimately garbage and has only been saved from bottom spot by the UFC 300 travesty.
40. UFC Fight Night: Rozenstruik vs. Gaziev
One of the worst posters of the year to accompany the worst main event.
It’s UFC 297 with blue instead of red. But to be honest, I’m not sure I’d try to create a good design for this absolute heavyweight slop.
So for that, congratulations. You created a boring poster that perfectly encapsulates the effort that went into forming that event.
39. UFC Fight Night: Pereira vs. Hernandez
I’m not sure any poster this year demonstrates the lack of creativity most struggle with quite like this.
I feel like I’ve seen this design at least 25 times in the last three years.
38. UFC Fight Night: Perez vs. Taira
The strip of color that “flyweight bout” is written on actually looks like a great concept for a poster. It’s just a shame they decided to go with 10 percent of that and 90 percent f**k all else, if you’ll excuse my French.
37. UFC Fight Night: Tuivasa vs. Tybura
Erm, are we sure this wasn’t just taken from the music video for Technotronic’s Pump Up The Jam?! It’s got to be either that or a graph signaling the epicenter of a hurricane…
36. UFC 304: Edwards vs. Muhammad
This will be the only poster where I use the vertical version, because the UFC isn’t getting away with the saving grace that comes with landscape.
I’m not one to advocate for sackings, but whoever pitched sideways fighters as a good poster idea needs at the very least a performance review.
Perhaps it’s supposed to represent how the headline athletes felt competing at 5 AM in the morning?!
35. UFC Fight Night: Whittaker vs. Aliskerov
Saudi Arabia = green.
That’s how I imagine the creative process for this poster went.
34. UFC Fight Night: Royval vs. Taira
Poor Tatsuro Taira, man. Give the boy a good poster, dammit!
I don’t hate the colors so, sure, let’s put this higher than Taira’s first headliner of the year.
33. UFC Fight Night: Namajunas vs. Cortez
If a poster this year had any interesting detail at all — and didn’t have a background that looks like skin — it’s probably higher than this…
32. UFC Fight Night: Lewis vs. Nascimento
What is it with Derrick Lewis and contour lines?
The poster for “The Black Beast’s” clash against Serghei Spivac last year looked like some kind of terrain guide for a mountain range, and the same can be said for his St. Louis battle with Rodrigo Nascimento.
But hey, at least the color scheme is unique this time. Every cloud…
31. UFC Fight Night: Nicolau vs. Perez
This event came one week after UFC 300. This event was nowhere near at the level of UFC 300. This event had a much better poster than UFC 300.
Make it make sense.
30. UFC Fight Night: Ribas vs. Namajunas
Can someone explain to me why the black paint covers the entire bottom of the poster but stops two thirds of the way across the top?!
I can’t unsee that.
29. UFC Fight Night: Ankalaev vs. Walker
I’ve seen worse, much worse. But I feel as though I also would have seen similar posters for a teen-centric vampire television series. 5/10, I guess?
28. UFC Fight Night: Moreno vs. Royval
Events overseas such as those in Mexico always present opportunities to create eye-catching designs connected to the country hosting Octagon action. But as far as this year’s visit to Mexico, slightly underwhelming.
It’s not bad, but it feels somewhat lazy for the location.
27. UFC Fight Night: Magny vs. Prates
My word, that is a luminous font.
If the Stake F1 Team had a UFC poster equivalent, this would be it.
26. UFC 309: Jones vs. Miocic
Don’t let your anger at Tom Aspinall not getting the fight influence where you put this poster. Don’t let your anger at Tom Aspinall not getting the fight influence where you put this poster. Don’t let your anger at Tom Aspinall not getting the fight influence where you put this poster.
It wouldn’t be a year of UFC action without at least one city skyline getting a look in. Unfortunately, this one slightly underwhelmed, in the same way a champion facing an ageing veteran coming off a near four-year layoff instead of the division’s interim titleholder does.
25. UFC Fight Night: Covington vs. Buckley
It’s not often you see orange.
That is my analysis for UFC Tampa.
24. UFC Fight Night: Cannonier vs. Borralho
I do like this poster (overall), and it probably should be much higher. I just can’t stop noticing the fact that Caio Borralho’s ear is clear and Jared Cannonier’s isn’t.
It’s the small things.
23. UFC Fight Night: Tybura vs. Spivac 2
This is the kind of poster I’d expect to see outside an underground fight club in which bails of hay create the ring.
For Central and Eastern European behemoths, it’s appropriate.
22. UFC Fight Night: Lemos vs. Jandiroba
It’s sometimes difficult to judge a poster for what it is rather than the fighters who have been chosen for it. Amanda Lemos vs. Virna Jandiroba is among the most questionable main event matchups in recent memory.
The poster itself, however? Solid futuristic vibes. It got some slack from the community, but had it been some bigger names and faces on it, I imagine this would have received better reviews.
21. UFC Fight Night: Burns vs. Brady
Let’s use some AI to explain why this poster isn’t the worst.
“Yellow and blue make a striking combination, and are often used together in design and fashion. Blue is a cool and calming colour, while yellow is warm and vibrant. Together, they can create a sense of balance and harmony.”
Nothing says balance and harmony like cagefighting.
20. UFC 297: Strickland vs. Du Plessis
I’m hoping the red mist between Sean Strickland and Dricus Du Plessis wasn’t meant to be a prediction of a bloody brawl between the pair. Anyone expecting that of a Strickland fight at this point is sorely mistaken…
That aside, a nice color scheme that makes for a solid design — despite the fact it likely took all of 15 minutes to create. But hey, at least that’s longer than UFC 300!
19. UFC 302: Makhachev vs. Poirier
If vanilla ice cream was a UFC poster.
Everybody likes it, but nobody loves it. At the end of the day, it’ll do.
18. UFC Fight Night: Dolidze vs. Imavov
I’m torn. On one hand, it’s different. On the other hand, the UFC’s graphic designer has brought in a piece of A4 paper that their kid went to town on with some crayons and added the heads of Roman Dolidze and Nassourdine Imavov…
A for creativity. C for delivery.
17. UFC Fight Night: Sandhagen vs. Nurmagomedov
It was a good year for orange (see UFC Tampa).
16. UFC Fight Night: Cannonier vs. Imavov
It’s giving cargo ship container.
Some lovely shadow work though, I must say.
15. UFC 307: Pereira vs. Rountree
Simplicity can go one of two ways. In this instance, I think it worked.
Black and gold (shoutout Sam Sparro) is hard to beat as a combination, and that just about saves this from steering toward the outright bad section of this list.
14. UFC Fight Night: Allen vs. Vettori
Well how about that? It’s not often you see purple.
The design is super simple, but also satisfyingly clean. Sharp, that’s the word to describe this. Double point for strong purple utilization has this poster in the mid range (it’s saying something that we’re approaching the top 10 and still describing posters as “mid”).
13. UFC Fight Night: Blanchfield vs. Fiorot
Any poster that doesn’t follow a ‘choose a color, add fighters facing each other’ format tends to find itself relatively high up this list, even if they aren’t that spectacular.
That was the case for the Atlantic City-held event this year, which was solid enough without being special. Although, I’m not sure about the red space created in the outline of each fighter’s head. It’s given Joaquin Buckley a somewhat Vulcan look…
12. UFC Fight Night: Moreno vs. Albazi
I feel almost tied to putting this right next to UFC Atlantic City because they are so similar. So, which was better?
Well, I prefer the blue and black over red, and the addition of the matchups in brick-like blocks is a nice touch. Oh, and there’s no shoddy Microsoft Paint work with shadows.
11. UFC Fight Night: Yan vs. Figueiredo
Pink to make the MMA fans wink.
Image: UFC
10. UFC Fight Night: Moicano vs. Saint Denis
I appreciate the fact that the designer was so desperate to sneak the Eiffel Tower in while avoiding a cliche “we’re in Paris” poster that they snuck in a little drawing in the bottom corner.
I’m a fan of rippy posters — to use a technical term. With that, it’s a shame Imavov and Brendan Allen block the bottom of it, but this design is still good nonetheless.
9. UFC Fight Night: Barboza vs. Murphy
We often get two to four big heads plastered on posters, so it was refreshing to see half-body Edson Barboza and Lerone Murphy donning a cracked wall for their Apex-held UFC Fight Night main event.
8. UFC 306: O’Malley vs. Dvalishvili
I’m not one to question somebody’s choice of tattoo, but the green “Suga” ink on Sean O’Malley’s face gets a prominent look here…
Nevertheless, the poster itself was one of the year’s strongest, largely because of the glimpse of the Sphere at the bottom. Basically, lots of golden spherical lines equals something suitable for such an event.
7. UFC 310: Pantoja vs. Asakura
“I’m a fan of rippy posters” – Harvey Leonard, two posters up.
6. UFC 299: O’Malley vs. Vera
Eye. Catching.
UFC 299 was one of the most stacked and highly anticipated events of the year. And in somewhat of a rarity, the poster design matched the occasion. The gold glints are cool, but how about the shining outline of the fighters?
Dustin Poirier really was shining bright like a…you know the rest.
5. UFC 308: Topuria vs. Holloway
This poster almost has a stained glass window affect to it, sort of akin to what you’d see behind the alter in a church.
I’m not a religious man, but Ilia Topuria vs. Max Holloway was such a good matchup that I’d happily pray to a higher power if knelt underneath this design.
4. UFC 303: Pereira vs. Procházka 2
I didn’t think much of this poster when it was Conor McGregor vs. Michael Chandler headlining International Fight Week. After all, an inactive Irishman who often has beer in hand and an inactive Chandler who does whatever said Irishman says isn’t exactly fitting for what are supposed to be intimidating screams.
But a stoic knockout machine like “Poatan” and an opponent who sits in a dark room alone for days on end?! Better.
3. UFC 305: Du Plessis vs. Adesanya
In a word? Atmospheric.
If you swap Dricus Du Plessis and Israel Adesanya for Matthew McConaughey and Anne Hathaway, Christopher Nolan would have a decent poster for Interstellar.
2. UFC 298: Volkanovski vs. Topuria
Yes, yes, yes. Yes. YES.
Sometimes the UFC’s poster simplicity pays off in a big way. UFC 298 was one such moment. Perhaps that’s because the beautiful gold font looks like it was written by the prized gel pens that teachers used to keep behind lock and bolt in school art lessons.
1. UFC 301: Pantoja vs. Erceg
An absolute beauty.
You could have told me this was a recently discovered design from Vincent van Gogh that fetched millions at a Sotheby’s auction and I’d have believed you.
Today, it’s time to reveal our second winner, as we determine which athlete among the UFC, PFL, and ONE Championship rosters emerged as 2024’s Male Fighter of the Year.
Voting Panel:
Harvey Leonard, Kyle Dimond, Andrew Starc, Thomas Albano, Ryan Jarrell, Andrew Ravens
Honorable Mentions:
10. Renato Moicano – UFC lightweight contender
9. Belal Muhammad – UFC welterweight champion
8. Joaquin Buckley – UFC welterweight contender
7. Shamil Musaev – PFL welterweight champion
6. Alexandre Pantoja – UFC flyweight champion
Now, on to the five male fighters who received the most votes for this year’s award, including the 2024 winner.
5. Diego Lopes – UFC Featherweight Contender
The highest-ranked non-champion in this year’s award, Diego Lopes has enjoyed a quick rise from prospect to legitimate title contender in MMA’s leading promotion.
The catalyst for that surge was a standout performance on the milestone UFC 300 card this past April, where he stopped veteran Sodiq Yusuff in under 90 seconds. Just two months later, Lopes first accepted a short-notice assignment against Brian Ortega for International Fight Week before accepting an even shorter notice one opposite Dan Ige after “T-City’s” fight-day withdrawal.
A win at UFC 303 ensured the Brazilian was able to keep his sights on the top five, and when the Ortega bout was rebooked for the Sphere in September, Lopes broke through at the expense of the former two-time title challenger.
What the new year will hold for Lopes remains to be seen, with the 29-year-old targeting either Ilia Topuria’s featherweight belt or an interim title clash with Alexander Volkanovski. For now, he’ll be looking back on a memorable 12 months in the UFC.
Image: UFC.com
4. Merab Dvalishvili – UFC Bantamweight Champion
It’s titleholders from here on out, starting with bantamweight champ Merab Dvalishvili.
A nine-fight winning run and victories over ex-kings José Aldo and Petr Yan wasn’t enough for “The Machine” to enter 2024 with a first shot at gold on the calendar. But that was no worry for “The Machine,” who dominated combat sports legend Henry Cejudo in February to make his case undeniable.
Dvalishvili won’t have long to celebrate his successful 2024, as he’s just weeks away from a first defense against the undefeated Umar Nurmagomedov.
Image: @ufc/Instagram
3. Dricus Du Plessis – UFC Middleweight Champion
Another champion cracking this year’s top five is middleweight kingpin Dricus Du Plessis.
The South African entered 2024 having most recently continued to prove his many doubters wrong in a big way, knocking out the highly regarded Robert Whittaker to earn top contender status. And it didn’t take him long to add champ status to his résumé on MMA’s biggest stage after he narrowly outpointed MMA News’ 2023 Male Fighter of the Year, Sean Strickland.
There are star-making years, and then there’s Alex Pereira’s 2024.
While his middleweight crowning and series with Israel Adesanya established himself as a major name in MMA, “Poatan” has gone above and beyond at 205 pounds this year. In three fights in a record timespan, the Brazilian former kickboxing champ has added Jamahal Hill, Jiří Procházka (again), and Khalil Rountree to the list of victims who have fallen to his famed power.
From his post-low blow KO and celebration against the confident Hill to his memorable comeback against “The War Horse” — not to mention his results this year coming while saving the UFC at major events — Pereira’s year in the cage would normally leave him as a shoo-in for top spot.
But…
Image: UFC/Zuffa LLC
1. Ilia Topuria – UFC Featherweight Champion
Quality over quantity was the name of the game in this year’s award.
While he fell one win short of Pereira’s run in 2024, Ilia Topuria’s two victories were evidently deemed as more impressive by the majority of the voting panel. After opening his year by knocking out Alexander Volkanovski, a featherweight GOAT contender who was previously undefeated in the weight class, “El Matador” became the first person to knock out the great Max Holloway eight months later to record his first successful title defense.
Having brutally dispatched of two names who likely sit on the 145-pound Mount Rushmore for most, Topuria is MMA News’ Male Fighter of the Year.
The major MMA promotions have wrapped up their schedules for 2024, so it’s time to crown this year’s MMA News award winners.
Getting the ball rolling will be the Female Fighter of the Year, as we determine which woman among the UFC, PFL, and ONE Championship rosters stood out from the rest in 2024.
Voting Panel:
Harvey Leonard, Kyle Dimond, Andrew Starc, Thomas Albano, Ryan Jarrell, Andrew Ravens
Honorable Mentions:
8. Zhang Weili – UFC strawweight champion
7. Natália Silva – UFC flyweight contender
6. Virna Jandiroba – UFC strawweight contender
Now, on to the five female fighters who received the most votes for this year’s award, including the 2024 winner.
5. Jasmine Jasudavicius – UFC Flyweight Contender
2024 marked flyweight Jasmine Jasudavicius’ third calendar year competing under the UFC banner, and it was by far her best.
After going 1-1 in 2022 and 2-1 in 2023, the Canadian standout enjoyed an unbeaten 3-0 year in the Octagon. After initially bouncing back from her setback against Tracy Cortez by submitting Priscila Cachoeira on home soil this past January, the 35-year-old outpointed highly regarded debutant Fatima Kline in Colorado before getting another finish in front of her compatriots at the expense of Ariane Lipski da Silva.
Having risen to #12 in the rankings with three straight wins, two of which earned her Performance of the Night bonuses, Jasudavicius has earned fifth place in this year’s MMA News award.
MMA legend Cris Cyborg marks one of two fighters to crack the top five with just one fight in 2024.
The former UFC featherweight queen and current Bellator champion spent much of this year expressing discontent at her struggle to secure a debut in the PFL. But that finally came to fruition at the Battle of the Giants pay-per-view in October, where she competed for the inaugural PFL Super Fights featherweight belt against the promotion’s first and only two-weight title winner, Larissa Pacheco.
The 39-year-old showed that she’s got plenty left in the tank, emerging victorious from a brutal five-round battle. In doing so, Cyborg ended Pacheco’s 10-fight win streak, which included a victory over Kayla Harrison and consecutive PFL season triumphs at 155 and 145 pounds.
Image: Jose Peñuela/PFL MMA
3. Valentina Shevchenko – UFC Flyweight Champion
Like Cyborg, another all-time MMA great in Valentina Shevchenko also delivered in a big way with her sole appearance in the cage this year.
After a defeat and draw against Alexa Grasso in 2023, many had written off “Bullet’s” chances of returning to the flyweight throne when she and the Mexican completed their trilogy at Noche UFC inside the Sphere this past September. But more than just proving her detractors wrong, Shevchenko utterly dominated Grasso across five rounds to begin a second reign at 125 pounds.
The top UFC fighter in the 2024 award is Kayla Harrison, whose debut year on MMA’s biggest stage couldn’t have gone much better.
The two-time Olympic gold medalist in Judo swapped the PFL for the UFC, arriving in the Octagon for the first time at the milestone UFC 300 event this past April. The 2019 and 2021 PFL title winner was tasked with beating Holly Holm if she was to immediately stake her claim for a bantamweight title shot.
More than just beat the former champion, Harrison ran through her en route to finding the submission finish in round two. And after missing out on the next opportunity at the gold, the Ohio native extended her UFC record to 2-0 by outpointing another top-five contender in Ketlen Vieira.
The rise of Dakota Ditcheva has been quite something, and 2024 saw her break through on the global stage.
After going 3-0 in 2023 to achieve regional title glory under the PFL Europe banner, the British striking specialist set her sights on emerging victorious from the PFL’s inaugural flyweight season. With the likes of Liz Carmouche and Taila Santos on the roster, the year promised to provide answers to those who questioned Ditcheva based on her level of competition.
Through the regular season and semifinal, “Dangerous” dispatched Lisa Mauldin, Chelsea Hackett, and Jena Bishop with first-round finishes. Her journey to the championship final in Riyadh last month only boosted the hype — but it increased dramatically when she entered the cage on Nov. 29.
To secure gold and $1 million in prize money, Ditcheva had to get the better of Santos, a longtime top-five contender in the UFC whom many believe deserved the nod over Shevchenko in their 2022 title fight. The undefeated 26-year-old passed the test with flying colors, dominating the Brazilian before blitzing her with body shots in round two for the finish.
With a 4-0 year to capture another PFL title and establish herself as one of the world’s best in MMA at 125 pounds, top spot was only ever going to “Dangerous” Dakota Ditcheva in 2024.
The main event will see flyweight kingpin Alexandre Pantoja defend his title for the third time since capturing it at the expense of Brandon Moreno 16 months ago. To continue his reign, “The Cannibal” is tasked with spoiling the ambitions of incoming ex-Rizin champion Kai Asakura.
Co-headlining will be top welterweight contender Shavkat Rakhmonov, who will look to maintain his status as next in line for a shot at Belal Muhammad by defeating a fellow undefeated name at 170 pounds in Ian Garry.
Elsewhere on the card, top heavyweights Ciryl Gane and Alexander Volkov run it back, Movsar Evloev and Aljamain Sterling look to stake their claim for a featherweight title shot, and light heavyweight veterans Dominick Reyes and Anthony Smith collide.
UFC 310: MMA News Staff Predictions
Ahead of Saturday’s UFC 310 event, Kyle Dimond, Ryan Jarrell, Thomas Albano, Pranav Pandey, and Andrew Starc have provided their picks for the five most important matchups set for the card.
Below, you can check out the current leaderboard through nine cards.
Thomas Albano (34-10)
Ryan Jarrell (29-15)
Kyle Dimond (26-18)
Pranav Pandey (17-8)
Andrew Starc (13-11)
Aakrit Sharma (12-8)
And with that, it’s time for the team’s predictions for UFC 310.
Bantamweight: Movsar Evloev vs. Aljamain Sterling
Images: UFC.com
Kyle Dimond: I think Sterling has a pretty good counter-wrestling game, even if he hasn’t dealt with this particular style before. His striking should make it hard for Evloev to time takedowns because Sterling doesn’t overcommit. Neither are known for landing damage, and though I don’t expect Sterling to cause him problems on the feet like Arnold Allen did, his output is going to be big in this fight because it might be the only thing that separates them.
The former bantamweight champion shouldn’t have an issue getting up to his feet over and over again either due to his training with Merab Dvalishvili. I’ve not seen anything from Evloev that makes me think he will make the most of the grappling exchanges that he does initiate, so I can see Sterling winning a fight that probably won’t do amazing things for both men’s public perception. (Prediction: Aljamain Sterling)
Ryan Jarrell: This is such an intriguing matchup between an undefeated fighter and a former champion. Evloev has the potential to be a future champion himself, and a win over Sterling would get him extremely close to a title shot. After seeing the Russian beat the likes of Diego Lopes and Allen, I feel confident he will find a way to get past Sterling as well. I wish this was a five-round fight, and we may be left with more questions that aren’t answered when this clash ends. But I see Evloev winning a decision over a very game Sterling. (Prediction: Movsar Evloev)
Thomas Albano: Sterling was given a test in his featherweight debut at UFC 300, and he passed it with flying colors by securing a solid decision win over Calvin Kattar. But now, he gets a jump up in competition against an undefeated rising star who finds himself a fight or two away from securing a title shot at 145 pounds in Evloev. Though he’s only fought at about a once-a-year pace the last few years, Evloev has fended off tests in his most recent fights, from a short-notice and hungry Diego Lopes who troubled him in their fight to another contending name in the division in Allen.
I lean with Evloev either way that this fight plays out. Since we’ve got two great wrestlers here, you could ultimately see them start to have a striking battle during this fight – in which case, I feel Evloev has the better repertoire. If this fight goes to the ground, I think the Russian will be able to hold his own despite Sterling’s experience. (Prediction: Movsar Evloev)
Pranav Pandey: Grappling enthusiasts, get ready! This is a clash that showcases the best of ground combat in the featherweight division. While Evloev is widely regarded as the favorite in this bout, I believe it’s a disservice to count out “Funk Master.” If the former bantamweight champion can keep the action standing, he’ll undoubtedly boost his chances against the undefeated Russian, who has yet to finish an opponent in his eight UFC appearances. Even if Evloev does manage to take the fight to the canvas, Sterling’s experience and resilience should not be underestimated. The seasoned veteran has proven time and again that he can escape submission threats and work his way through adversity. (Prediction: Aljamain Sterling)
Andrew Starc: This is an intriguing battle between two strong grapplers. The undefeated Evloev is coming off a decision win over Allen in January, while Sterling most recently got it done on the cards against Calvin Kattar in April. I think this will be a close encounter, but Evloev will show his superior wrestling in this matchup to get a decision. (Prediction: Movsar Evloev)
Consensus: 3-2 Movsar Evloev
Light Heavyweight: Anthony Smith vs. Dominick Reyes
Images: UFC.com
Kyle Dimond: It really doesn’t feel that long ago that this would have been a title eliminator. Time flies I suppose. I’m picking Reyes here, and it very much might be a case of what have you done for me lately. It’s probably going to be a striking match, and though I think Smith is probably more powerful, I think Reyes is the better technician. So if he can avoid getting into a brawl, he should win a lot of the exchanges. (Prediction: Dominick Reyes)
Ryan Jarrell: Reyes made a huge statement in his most recent win over Dustin Jacoby. The 34-year-old picked up his first win since he beat Chris Weidman in 2019, which is so crazy to think about. But in beating “The Hanyak,” he fully cemented himself in the mix again at 205 pounds. Smith, meanwhile, is a very different and much older fighter than the “Lionheart” we saw even a couple of short years ago. I don’t expect Smith to be able to have an answer for the striking of Reyes. Ultimately, “The Devastator” will clip his fellow former title challenger and find a TKO finish. (Prediction: Dominick Reyes)
Thomas Albano: It breaks my heart to see the two of these guys fighting in the conditions of their careers that they’re in right now. Reyes was once a rising star in the light heavyweight division who found himself one win away from the light heavyweight championship on more than one occasion. Smith, meanwhile, had a career surge at the same time Reyes was rising up, coming up short in a fight against Jon Jones. Starting from his own loss to Jones, Reyes dropped four straight between 2020 and 2022, finally breaking that skid (and inactivity) with a two-minute knockout of Jacoby in June. Smith, on the other hand, has been on a rollercoaster since that loss to Jones. He’s lost four of his last six – granted that came against competition like recent title challenger Khalil Rountree and anticipated next challenger Magomed Ankalaev.
This is a fight where, if I’m a betting man, I’m honestly staying away, with not as much confidence in this pick compared to the other fights on this card. I have questions about both men’s chins. That said, I can see Reyes using leg kicks, which has troubled Smith before, to his advantage and setting up for a finish. (Prediction: Dominick Reyes)
Pranav Pandey: With all due respect, both fighters seem to have passed their primes, with Smith in particular having spent a long time in the game. That being said, it would be a mistake to write him off entirely. Despite the wear and tear of his career, “Lionheart” has continually proven that he truly lives up to his moniker. I have no personal animosity toward “The Devastator,” but I do have reservations about his ability to absorb damage, especially considering his recent performances. Additionally, he lacks experience in the Octagon compared to Smith. With that in mind, I foresee this bout swinging in “Lionheart’s” favor. (Prediction: Anthony Smith)
Andrew Starc: It was heartening to see Reyes snap his losing streak by knocking out Jacoby in June, and while his chin may be very suspect now, I think he matches up well against Smith. “Lionheart’s” record has been very patchy over the last few years, and I don’t think he has the KO power to trouble Reyes. I’m predicting a finish for “The Devastator” here. (Prediction: Dominick Reyes)
Consensus: 4-1 Dominick Reyes
Heavyweight: Ciryl Gane vs. Alexander Volkov
Image: Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC/UFC
Kyle Dimond: Volkov has looked great as of late, but in his first fight with Ciryl Gane, it really seemed like he had no answers for “Bon Gamin.” The Russian has shown lately what makes him so good but he’s done so against fairly stationary opponents, and Gane is anything but that. I’d like to see “Drago” really try and put a pace on Gane to make him work, but I just think the Frenchman’s movement is going to be too much and he’s going to potshot away at Volkov before getting his hand raised. (Prediction: Ciryl Gane)
Ryan Jarrell: These two giants first met in 2021 and Gane won by decision rather handily. Since that main event fight at the UFC Apex, the Frenchman has won three out of his last five fights. Keep in mind those two losses were to Jon Jones and Francis Ngannou. I don’t think we will see a very different fight this time around either. Gane is a master on the feet, and unless you are the absolute best in the world, he will more than likely outpoint you. (Prediction: Ciryl Gane)
Thomas Albano: Gane cruised to a one-sided decision win when these two faced off for the first time over three years ago. Since then, Volkov has given himself a bit of a renaissance of sorts, winning five of his six fights since (his sole loss coming against Tom Aspinall). Gane, meanwhile, will be competing in his first fight in over a year, having not fought since his September 2023 finish of Serghei Spivac. Despite the Russian’s resurgence, I don’t see how this fight plays out too different from their first. Volkov may win a round, but I still see the Frenchman as the quicker, more athletic, more well-rounded fighter. (Prediction: Ciryl Gane)
Pranav Pandey: Frankly, this rematch fails to stir much enthusiasm. After witnessing their first encounter back in June 2021, it’s clear that Gane and Volkov are closely matched, both capable of exchanging heavy strikes with precision. If their striking doesn’t yield immediate results, don’t be surprised if either fighter looks to implement takedowns. I think, “Bon Gamin” possesses a more polished skill set compared to the Russian, who enters the rematch riding a wave of momentum of four straight wins. However, that momentum may not be enough to help him even the score with Gane. (Prediction: Ciryl Gane)
Andrew Starc: Gane seemed to comfortably coast to victory when he met Volkov in 2021, but the Russian has since had a resurgence. He’s on a four-fight win streak, having beaten Sergei Pavlovich in June, while Gane hasn’t fought in over a year since he beat Spivac via TKO. While the Frenchman’s inactivity may work against him in this matchup, I still think he’ll be too quick and evasive for Volkov and get a decision win here. (Prediction: Ciryl Gane)
Consensus: 5-0 Ciryl Gane
Welterweight: Shavkat Rakhmonov vs. Ian Garry
Images: UFC.com
Kyle Dimond: What happens in training stays in training and, hey, it’s not a real fight… but, Rakhmonov said that he submitted Garry at Kill Cliff FC for a reason. The Irishman has clearly been working on his jiu-jitsu since then. I mean he’s literally got Charles Oliveira in his corner, but I think that it still might be his Achilles heel in this fight. He can do a great job of chipping away at “Nomad” and staying out of the way, but doing that for five rounds will be so tough, and Rakhmonov doesn’t get discouraged. Adesanya vs. Du Plessis style, I think once the fight hits the later rounds, Rakhmonov will be able to secure an opportunistic submission. (Prediction: Shavkat Rakhmonov)
Ryan Jarrell: This is the fight I am most excited to see on the whole card. Garry is a very polarizing guy to say the least. He has proven to be one of the best in the division, but beating the boogeyman of the weight class might be where he finally falls short. I love the fact that the UFC made this a five-round co-main event because three frames would not be enough for what should be Fight of the Night.
In the end, I expect Rakhmonov to have the bigger moments and utilize his grappling to secure rounds when things get a little too chaotic. Give me the Kazakh standout to win by decision and finally get the title shot he deserves. (Prediction: Shavkat Rakhmonov)
Thomas Albano: I feel for Rakhmonov here – going from main eventing this card, one win away from securing the UFC welterweight title, to co-main eventing and now needing to fend off another undefeated contender to just keep that shot intact. For Garry, meanwhile, this is a short-notice opportunity that he rightfully needed to take full advantage of. Having said that, this might be a case of too much, too soon for the Irish rising star.
I feel Rakhmonov will have a little extra fire under him after seeing the title shot slip out of his grasp, needing a win to reclaim it. And while it might be an unpopular opinion, I feel Garry’s three most recent wins against Neil Magny, Geoff Neal, and Michael “Venom” Page were missing something. Ultimately, “Nomad’s” key to success is going to be to get inside and grab a hold of Garry, dictating the fight from the clinch and on the ground. The Irishman, meanwhile, is going to want to use his reach and fight from range, keeping away from Rakhmonov and landing from a distance. I’ll lean toward the former happening, even if Garry will make it a tougher, grindier fight for the Kazakh fighter. (Prediction: Shavkat Rakhmonov)
Pranav Pandey: In my view, this is a remarkably balanced matchup, one that promises fireworks for the fans. The odds may not fully capture the true potential of this fight, as both fighters bring a wealth of skill. What makes this encounter even more intriguing is their shared history. Having trained together in the past, Rakhmonov and Garry are intimately familiar with each other’s strengths and weaknesses. One thing is certain — both fighters are certainly vulnerable to strikes, yet each possesses an impressive ability to absorb them and keep pushing forward. Their fighting styles are distinct and unique in their own right. While “Nomad” boasts grappling skills that are truly elite, Garry counters with takedown defense that’s nothing short of relentless. On the feet, “The Future” is known for his sharp, precise striking, but Rakhmonov’s movement and fluidity allow him to navigate the distance with grace.
With both Rakhmonov and Garry putting their undefeated records on the line, the stakes couldn’t be higher, especially with title implications attached. I believe “Nomad” will emerge victorious, maintaining his perfect finish rate, but it’s unlikely to come easily. (Prediction: Shavkat Rakhmonov)
Andrew Starc: I think this one will come down to Garry’s ability to stave off takedowns from Rakhmonov. The Irishman will likely have the edge on the feet, and while Rakhmonov is known for his submissions, he also has a number of KOs on his resume. Over five rounds, I think it’s unlikely “The Future” will be able to hurt the durable Rakhmonov and curtail his relentless pressure. I think the Kazakh will get a submission here. (Prediction: Shavkat Rakhmonov)
Consensus: 5-0 Shavkat Rakhmonov
UFC Flyweight Title: Alexandre Pantoja vs. Kai Asakura
Images: UFC.com
Kyle Dimond: Everything about this fight pushes me toward Pantoja but I am a combat sports romantic at my core. If you were going to pick a fighter to beat Asakura on his debut, you’d want someone who is excellent on the ground and is a nightmare to get out of there. However, the Brazilian has been known to get a little reckless on the feet. I would love to see Asakura become a huge star for the UFC, he has that aura about him. I think he’s going to have to battle through some tough rounds early on but if he can get Pantoja to trade with him once the champ feels confident, he’s so much more dangerous than his previous opponents. History awaits Asakura. (Prediction: Kai Asakura)
Ryan Jarrell: I must admit that I haven’t seen nearly as much tape of Asakura as I have of the current UFC flyweight champion. I did my homework and it’s clear that the former Rizin titleholder is the real deal. But let’s be honest, there is a giant jump coming from another promotion to the UFC.
Pantoja has been fighting the absolute best in the world every single fight, and his experience in high-level matchups will serve him well in this scrap. I see “The Cannibal” overcoming some early adversity from a tough debuting title challenger and winning judges scorecards. (Prediction: Alexandre Pantoja)
Thomas Albano: You can talk about how Asakura receiving a title shot in his UFC debut might be because no one else in the flyweight division has stood out enough to lock in a title shot. But I think that downplays the highlights and accomplishments that he’s had in Rizin. Asakura has plenty of power behind his strikes and is a known finisher throughout his career thus far. What will be interesting to see is how he manages himself at 125 pounds. He’s fought in the weight class before, but his main success came at 135 pounds.
Over the last few years, of course, Pantoja has come into his own. He’s fought in some of the UFC’s closest and most competitive fights within the last couple of years and has turned away some of the best competition currently at flyweight. He’s already solidified himself as the UFC’s 125-pound king, and his impact inside the Octagon will only increase with a win over Asakura. Though the Japanese newcomer is solid with his striking, I see Pantoja still as the better all-around performer, especially if this fight goes to the ground. I lean toward the champ here. (Prediction: Alexandre Pantoja)
Pranav Pandey: I think this matchup has all the makings of an unpredictable barnburner. Pantoja thrives in the chaos of an all-out brawl. His relentless pressure is a hallmark of his fighting style, one that leaves no room for breathing space as he hounds his opponents throughout the full 25 minutes. While “The Cannibal’s” striking and stand-up game are his primary weapons, the Brazilian champion is far from a one-dimensional fighter. He’s a seasoned veteran of the sport, fluid and adaptable, capable of taking the fight to any terrain. On the flip side, we have Asakura, a fighter who has faced considerable scrutiny from a portion of fans for securing a title shot in his promotional debut. Despite the controversy, the Japanese sensation’s record and his explosive ability to overwhelm opponents speak volumes about the hype surrounding him — and I must admit, I’m inclined to buy into it. However, Asakura’s path to pulling off an upset in his first Octagon appearance is far from straightforward.
There are several significant hurdles. For one, he’s never competed in a five-round fight, while Pantoja has honed his endurance in championship bouts. Additionally, Asakura will be cutting down to an unfamiliar weight class — a move that could have a profound impact on his performance, especially if the fight extends past the third round. All things considered, this fight won’t be an easy puzzle for either fighter to solve. However, I believe that if “The Cannibal” can weather Asakura’s early storm of power strikes, his experience will become the deciding factor. Once he takes control of the pace, it will be hard to imagine the Japanese fighter staying afloat. (Prediction: Alexandre Pantoja)
Andrew Starc: At 34 years old, Pantoja is now getting up there in age, but he’s on a six-fight win streak that’s seen him overcome the flyweight division’s best. The Brazilian is good on the feet and the ground, and while Asakura could threaten with his KO power, I expect Pantoja’s experience and all-round skills will determine this matchup. I think the pressure of making his UFC in a title fight will be too much for Asakura. (Prediction: Alexandre Pantoja)
Consensus: 4-1 Alexandre Pantoja
That’ll do it for our UFC 310 staff picks! What do you think? Do your picks look similar? Let us know in the comments section! Also, you can check out the full UFC 310 card below.
Main Card:
Flyweight Championship Main Event: Alexandre Pantoja (C) vs. Kai Asakura
Welterweight Co-Main Event: Shavkat Rakhmonov vs. Ian Garry
Heavyweight: Ciryl Gane vs. Alexander Volkov
Featherweight: Bryce Mitchell vs. Kron Gracie
Featherweight: Nate Landwehr vs. Dooho Choi
Preliminary Card:
Light Heavyweight: Anthony Smith vs. Dominick Reyes
Welterweight: Vicente Luque vs. Themba Gorimbo
Featherweight: Movsar Evloev vs. Aljamain Sterling
Welterweight: Randy Brown vs. Bryan Battle
Early Preliminary Card:
Middleweight: Chris Weidman vs. Eryk Anders
Flyweight: Cody Durden vs. Joshua Van
Welterweight: Michael Chiesa vs. Max Griffin
Lightweight: Clay Guida vs. Chase Hooper
Heavyweight: Kennedy Nzechukwu vs. Łukasz Brzeski
Be sure to keep it right here on MMANews.com for all the results, highlights, and updates on UFC 310!
The main event will see heavyweight kingpin Jon Jones defend his title for the first time since capturing it at the expense of Ciryl Gane 20 months ago. To continue reign, “Bones” is tasked with spoiling the ongoing ambitions of returning former champ Stipe Miocic.
Co-headlining will be a former titleholder in Charles Oliveira, who will look to record his first victory of 2024 to book himself another shot at regaining the lightweight gold. In his way will be a familiar foe in Michael Chandler, whom he runs it back with after “Iron” finally moved on from a long-desired clash with Conor McGregor.
Elsewhere on the main card, Bo Nickal gets his toughest test to date opposite formerly ranked submission specialist Paul Craig, Brazilian flyweights Karine Silva and Viviane Araújo battle to advance their title aspirations, and the entertaining Mauricio Ruffy gets his second taste of Octagon action.
UFC 309: MMA News Staff Predictions
Ahead of Saturday’s UFC 309 event, Kyle Dimond, Ryan Jarrell, Thomas Albano, Pranav Pandey and Aakrit Sharma have provided their picks for the five matchups set for the main card.
Below, you can check out the current leaderboard through eight cards.
Thomas Albano (30-9)
Ryan Jarrell (25-14)
Kyle Dimond (22-17)
Pranav Pandey (13-7)
Andrew Starc (13-11)
Aakrit Sharma (9-6)
And with that, it’s time for the team’s predictions for UFC 309.
Welterweight: Mauricio Ruffy vs. James Llontop
Images: DWCS/UFC/Zuffa LLC
Kyle Dimond: Let’s be honest, this fight is here to showcase Ruffy. That performance against Mullarkey earlier this year was incredibly exciting, and I don’t see the winning streak of the Fighting Nerds ending here against an opponent that has lost his first two fights inside the Octagon. It would be a huge moment for Llontop if he does it, but as far as uphill battles go on this card, he may have the steepest one. (Prediction: Mauricio Ruffy)
Ryan Jarrell: Ruffy looked impressive in his UFC debut win over Jamie Mullarkey and kept his 100 percent finishing record in tact with his 10th stoppage win. I just don’t see a path to victory for Llontop in this fight. He is now 0-2 in the UFC, and this matchup stylistically isn’t a good one for him. Ruffy will find Llontop’s chin at some point early in the fight and close the show. (Prediction: Mauricio Ruffy)
Thomas Albano: These are two names from the 2023 season of Dana White’s Contender Series whose time in the UFC has gone in two different directions. Ruffy made his Octagon debut at UFC 301 and made an impact with a strong flying knee KO of Jamie Mullarkey. And though that’s been his only UFC fight to date, he and his team, the Fighting Nerds, have surged in popularity and recognition this year, not only putting up strong performances but also earning key victories as well. Llontop has a cool nickname (“Goku”), but he’s dropped both of his UFC fights this year, and missed weight for one of them in the process.
I’d say more about this fight, but I’ll be blunt and say what this is and what’s going to happen. The UFC is going to continue to push the Fighting Nerds (and I don’t blame them), and this fight is going to be used to give Ruffy and the team another strong, impressive outing. Meanwhile, Llontop moves to 0-3 in the UFC, causing his release (because that’s just the model of their fighter roster at this point). Ruffy is a tough-as-nails finisher, and that will occur again in this outing. (Prediction: Mauricio Ruffy)
Pranav Pandey: At this stage, it would be foolish to bet against a Fighting Nerds standout, so I’m all in on Ruffy and fully aboard the hype train. My pick isn’t just a blind leapof faith — Ruffy truly earned my confidence with his stunning knockout of Mullarkey in promotional debut at UFC 301. With a flawless 100 percent knockout rate in all his victories, the Brazilian has left no doubt that he’s a devastating force in the octagon. I’m confident he’ll dominate every facet of the fight against Llontop. Additionally, with “Goku” stepping in on just two weeks’ notice, it’s hard to see how he can match Ruffy’s intensity. (Prediction: Mauricio Ruffy)
Aakrit Sharma: I believe this to be a fairly easy fight for Ruffy, who’s fighting on a UFC PPV main card for the first time. He’s won all his fights via KO/TKO so far, and he should be able to get the same result this weekend. Ruffy’s a tall lightweight who utilizes his range well and possesses KO power. He’s only lost to Manoel Sausa, which was more or less a result of him not keeping his guard up while striking. Llontop will likely be overwhelmed by his opponent’s pace as well. I hope Ruffy performs spectacularly and gets booked against an exciting striker like Daniel Zellhuber next. (Prediction: Mauricio Ruffy)
Consensus: 5-0 Mauricio Ruffy
Women’s Flyweight: Viviane Araújo vs. Karine Silva
Images: UFC.com
Kyle Dimond: Araújo has got some good wins on her record but she does tend to lose to the contenders that are climbing the rankings and passing her by. It seems like Silva could be one of those opponents. In 11 UFC fights, Araújo has never been finished, so I think she’ll put up a good fight against Silva but won’t have enough to secure the win. (Prediction: Karine Silva)
Ryan Jarrell: Silva has 17 total finishes and hasn’t lost since 2019. Her well-rounded game will give her the advantage in this fight regardless of where it goes. Araújo is a decision machine, which means she is durable and tough to put away. I expect her to fight out of any real bad spots and survive to lose on the scorecards to Silva. (Prediction: Karine Silva)
Thomas Albano: Silva is looking to continue her rise up the UFC’s women’s flyweight division, while Araújo is looking to break her way back into the upper echelon of contenders. Silva has impressed with a 4-0 Octagon record thus far, taking care of Poliana Botelho, Ketlen Souza, and Maryna Moroz with three first-round submissions. Then, earlier this year, she bested Ariane Lipski da Silva via decision. Silva is developing well into an all-around fighter, and now she gets her toughest test.
Araújo is in the twilight of her career and has lost three of her last five, but she has continued to hold strong, such as with her win over former title challenger Jennifer Maia last year. She has faced some solid competition in her losses, including recent UFC flyweight champion Alexa Grasso and former title challenger Amanda Ribas, but there is a sense of concern with the downward momentum she’s on, going up against a woman who is on a nine-fight win streak. Silva has the youth advantage, the speed, the momentum and the skillset all on her side. (Prediction: Karine Silva)
Pranav Pandey: Silva has made an undeniable impact since her UFC debut through Dana White’s Contender Series, securing three back-to-back first-round submission victories. With a dangerous striking game and a knack for finishing fights, she’s quickly become one of the division’s hot prospects. Alternatively, I’m not entirely convinced by Araújo, mainly due to her tendency to be inconsistent in securing victories. Despite being with the UFC since 2019, she has only notched a single knockout win, although her resilience is certainly admirable.
With Silva’s youthful energy and momentum, I believe she’ll smoothly handle this matchup and come out on top. (Prediction: Karine Silva)
Aakrit Sharma: Araújo has been in the UFC for over five years, and despite never losing more than two fights in a row, she’s not been able to win against elite competition. Silva, on the other hand, is riding an impressive nine-fight win streak in her pro career. I believe Silva has all the tools to beat Araújo. She’s been relying a lot on her submission skills lately, securing seven submissions in a row before her last decision win. However, she also boasts KO power and I find it hard to see a path to victory for Araújo. (Prediction: Karine Silva)
Consensus: 5-0 Karine Silva
Middleweight: Bo Nickal vs. Paul Craig
Images: UFC/Zuffa LLC
Kyle Dimond: Many have counted out Craig in the past and been wrong, but when you look at his losses in the UFC, they usually come when he’s unable to get his opponents to the ground, either by taking them down or pulling guard. Though Nickal seems to be suggesting that he will grapple with Craig if he needs to, I think he’ll be able to keep the fight standing, where I think he holds the striking advantage. I’d love for “Bearjew” to shock the world yet again but it seems unlikely if Nickal decides to avoid the grappling altogether. (Prediction: Bo Nickal)
Ryan Jarrell: This will be the stiffest test for the young wrestling phenom to get through, but I do expect him to get the job done. Craig is dangerous on the ground and has a ton of power on the feet. I just think the unreal wrestling acumen that Nickal possesses and his eagerness to bring the fight to his opponents will be the difference. Nickal will wear the veteran down and sink in a submission at some point in round two. (Prediction: Bo Nickal)
Thomas Albano: Time for another step up in competition for Nickal, huh? The UFC is pushing him to be a star for them, and so far, he’s off to a decent start. After a pair of wins on Dana White’s Contender Series in 2022, Nickal has three straight finishes against Jamie Pickett, Val Woodburn, and Cody Brundage. But now presents an opportunity for him to take on a featured name for the first time – and it’s someone who’s a grappling specialist in the man Craig. The problem with this? Craig isn’t the same guy he was just from even just a couple of years ago.
Craig has lost four of his last five, and a pair of those defeats have come when he was bested on the ground. Now you’re going to take this soon-to-be 37-year-old fighter and put him against a young man like Nickal, who has a solid wrestling background and can transition that into strong ground and submission game, while also developing his striking. This doesn’t smell good for “Bearjew.”
This may turn out to be the most impressive that Nickal looks in the Octagon (though maybe his sub-minute finish of Woodburn will have something to say about that), and this fight may leave us wondering where Craig goes from here… (Prediction: Bo Nickal)
Pranav Pandey: On paper, this might look like a bread-and-butter victory for Nickal, but I don’t think it’ll be as easy as the oddsmakers suggest. Nickal’s fighting style is undeniably dominant, bolstered by his impressive NCAA-level wrestling, which makes him a force to be reckoned with. However, don’t sleep on “Bearjew.” Craig may not have Nickal’s wrestling pedigree, but he’s a seasoned veteran with a wealth of experience. He’s battled with some of the best in the octagon, and his submission game is a constant danger — his threats come from every angle.
I believe Craig will present Nickal with a myriad of puzzling challenges, but I have faith that the All-American wrestler will be equipped to handle them and ultimately secure the victory. (Prediction: Bo Nickal)
Aakrit Sharma: I initially had a weird feeling Craig would pull off an unexpected submission like he did against Magomed Ankalaev. However, after rewatching his performance against Brendan Allen, I’m unsure if he’ll be able to survive Nickal’s wrestling. Nickal seems to have decent power in his hands, too, giving Craig another thing to worry about. After an impressive win streak at light heavyweight, “Bearjew” hasn’t looked the same at middleweight, and Nickal is yet another rough opponent for him. (Prediction: Bo Nickal)
Consensus: 5-0 Bo Nickal
Lightweight: Charles Oliveira vs. Michael Chandler 2
Images: UFC/Zuffa LLC
Kyle Dimond: This fight is deceptively close I think because Oliveira does get hit and Chandler can finish anyone. That being said, the Brazilian’s recent performances don’t give me the impression that he’s had some kind of steep decline from his championship run. Losing to Islam Makhachev and having a close fight with Arman Tsarukyan are not results that come with red flags. I think Oliveira has the edge, partly because of his strength of schedule, but I am expecting some more wild moments between these two. Ultimately, I just think “Do Bronx” is better right now. (Prediction: Charles Oliveira)
Ryan Jarrell: Chandler looks amazing heading into this fight. He has had a lot of time to work on his body and looks to be in the best shape of his career. He also has a massive chip on his shoulder from the fallout of the elusive Conor McGregor fight that never happened. Chandler is always dangerous and has the ability to finish anyone in the division. But Oliveira is a unique matchup for the heavy-handed striker.
If Chandler wins, I expect it to be an early finish from some big bombs that land. But the safe bet is to lean “Do Bronx” to survive an early onslaught and submit “Iron” Mike. (Prediction: Charles Oliveira)
Thomas Albano: So, at this point, the future of McGregor in the Octagon looks to be up in smoke (at least in my eyes it’s been). Sorry to you, Chandler, for wasting your time chasing him. As an apology gift, you now get an opportunity at revenge against the man you fell just short against at UFC 262 – when you were mere seconds away from scoring a finish and the UFC lightweight title.
This will be Chandler’s first fight since losing to Dustin Poirier in the same venue two years earlier. Oliveira, meanwhile, missed out on a rematch with Makhachev for the UFC lightweight title and then dropped a decision to Tsarukyan at UFC 300. As mentioned, Oliveira and Chandler fought a really competitive outing at UFC 262, with both men having their moments before “Do Bronx” pulled off a comeback, second-round finish to capture the then-vacant championship.
Both of these men are in must-win situations in their own right, with Chandler maybe much more so. He was already in a must-win from the perspective that if he lost, maybe – despite previous claims from UFC CEO Dana White – the fight with McGregor goes up in smoke (if it isn’t already). But now, this is an all-or-nothing situation. If he wins, he gets his revenge and is right back into the lightweight title picture with a potential No. 1 contender’s fight next. A loss? At his age, and those opportunities gone, would there be anywhere for him to go? And unfortunately for Chandler, after this long layoff, and now going against a different (albeit familiar) opponent than the one he’s trained for – and a hungry former champion at that, this doesn’t look great. Second verse, same as the first. (Prediction: Charles Oliveira)
Pranav Pandey: In my opinion, this will be an absolute fireworks show! Honestly, I can’t see this one going the distance — much like their thrilling title fight at UFC 262. That being said, “Iron” is a formidable force in the early moments of a fight, and his confidence is only bolstered by his ability to drop Oliveira in their previous encounter. On the other hand, “Do Bronx” is also no slouch, whether on the feet or on the canvas. His striking has evolved, and if the fight hits the mat, his submission game is always a looming threat.
Should Oliveira successfully navigate Chandler’s early onslaught or endure the storm, there’s no doubt in my mind that he’ll find a way to finish him. No disrespect to Chandler, but when his early aggression doesn’t pay off, he often freezes up like a deer in headlights. As the rounds go on, his mistakes become more glaring, and those costly errors have repeatedly snatched victory from his grasp. (Prediction: Charles Oliveira)
Aakrit Sharma: Chandler risked a lot by waiting for McGregor for such a long time, but considering most of his fights are outright brawls, I believe spending over two years away from the Octagon will benefit “Iron.” Him being 38 should not be a factor, and now that he’s committed to winning the UFC lightweight championship, he might fight in a more calculated manner than before.
Oliveira, meanwhile, didn’t hurt his brand despite losing at UFC 300, and he’s still one of the most dangerous lightweights out there. However, I think Chandler will be way too powerful for the Brazilian and should be able to get out of any submissions. “Iron” just needs to avoid adrenaline-sponsored mistakes in this fight, as Oliveira can capitalize on them better than almost anyone.
I highly doubt this fight will go the distance. Even though “Do Bronx” emerged victorious the last time, I feel Chandler will finally have a more careful approach like Justin Gaethje and Francis Ngannou adapted toward the latter parts of their careers. (Prediction: Michael Chandler)
Consensus: 4-1 Charles Oliveira
UFC Heavyweight Title: Jon Jones vs. Stipe Miocic
Images: UFC.com
Kyle Dimond: I really want this fight to be competitive, for Miocic to turn back the clock and really test Jones at heavyweight. Unfortunately, like the vast majority, I struggle to overlook the facts in this one regardless of how good Miocic has been in the past. I will be delighted if it doesn’t go the way that most expect it to, and I do think it’s going to surprise people early on. But I just think the timing of this fight tips the scale massively in Jones’ direction, especially as the fight goes on. (Prediction: Jon Jones)
Ryan Jarrell: I would love to pick Miocic to beat Jones and reclaim the heavyweight throne. But I just don’t see it happening at this point of his career. The former champ is much older now and hasn’t been fighting consistently at all. It’s been three years since Miocic last fought and he didn’t look very good in that fight.
I know there are a lot of people who don’t like Jones for a variety of reasons, but you cannot deny his greatness inside of the Octagon. He is smart to ask for this fight now and not risk losing to Miocic in his prime. At some point, Jones will clip the former champ and end the fight with some vicious strikes. (Prediction: Jon Jones)
Thomas Albano: It’s the fight no one asked for, nobody wants to see, a year-plus removed from when it should have happened, and a whole lot of other slogans and phrases you can attach onto this fight. As a hot take, I don’t mind this main event. It’s perhaps the greatest fighter this sport has ever seen versus the man who ruled over the heavyweight division for the better part of 2016-2020 – the GOAT of the UFC’s heavyweight division. That kind of fight and its stakes speak for itself. I know plenty of people are unhappy with it because of where Tom Aspinall (and Alex Pereira) falls into the picture – but I consider that a separate issue I’ll go into later.
One thing I will give to the detractors – both guys have fought a combined one time (one time) since Miocic lost the heavyweight championship to Francis Ngannou in March 2021. Miocic waited on the sidelines for another title fight to come his way, accepting nothing less (as he did when the Daniel Cormier vs. Brock Lesnar rumors came and went in 2018-19). It took years, but he got his wish. Jones, meanwhile, vacated the light heavyweight title for the final time (we think) in 2020, with the UFC finally giving into his wishes to move up to heavyweight. He took years off to build his body and train correctly and then dominated Ciryl Gane for the championship. Unfortunately, it wasn’t the fight everyone wanted since Ngannou and the UFC parted ways at the start of 2023. Then this fight got delayed after Jones’ torn pec, paving the way for Aspinall to enter the title picture.
Let’s start with the fight itself. Jones has fought plenty of specialists before (be it wrestling, grappling, submissions, etc.). Miocic definitely has KO power in his own right, but Jones has managed to dominate, finish, or sometimes survive (barely) them all since he’s made his UFC debut. Sure, he has that one controversial DQ loss, but those 12-6 elbows are legal now! And wouldn’t it be something if those elbows came out to play in this fight? My point being – Miocic has fought no one before Jones that’s still on the current, active UFC roster. He’s fought no one other than Ngannou or Cormier since 2018. He hasn’t fought since his loss to Ngannou. We’ve seen fighters take long breaks and come out victorious (see GSP, Julianna Peña, and Jones himself), but I just don’t know if Miocic can do that with the limited competition he’s faced over recent years, especially when going up against one of the sport’s greatest fighters ever. Miocic loses this fight easily (I give it about 10 minutes at most) and lays his gloves down.
…And so, too, does Jones. He has teased that this would be his last fight, and it’s honestly a great storybook ending. He finally gets to compete in his birthplace of New York, in the World’s Most Famous Arena, and go out as a heavyweight champion. The problem? How is that fair to Tom Aspinall? As an interim champion, he’s earned the right to try and unify the belt against whoever holds the gold. Sure, he can just be promoted to heavyweight champion, but that feels rather anti-climactic. Jones is even teasing that he’d rather fight light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira. Don’t get me wrong, that’s a legendary fight, but Aspinall is feeling like a side piece in all of this. And I feel bad for him. (Prediction: Jon Jones)
Pranav Pandey: I believe this bout goes beyond the UFC heavyweight title. To me, it’s a showdown between two of the sport’s most legendary figures, and I couldn’t be more hyped for it. Both fighters are entering the Octagon after extended layoffs, with Miocic especially nearing the twilight of his illustrious career. However, this doesn’t mean we should expect either of them to show signs of slowing down.
“Bones”, in particular, has consistently demonstrated the full spectrum of his diverse skillset, proving time and again why he remains one of the most dangerous and well-rounded mixed martial artists the sport has ever seen. Meanwhile, Miocic is arguably the greatest heavyweight to ever step into the UFC Octagon. His fists pack devastating power, a potential trump card for Jones if he’s not careful. On top of that, the former champion possesses remarkable takedown defense, a crucial asset that will undoubtedly play a pivotal role in this high-stakes battle.
When it comes to my prediction, my heart leans toward Miocic, but my mind can’t help but favor Jones. While I believe Miocic will undoubtedly push Jones to the brink and give him one of his toughest challenges, “Bones” possesses a vast array of tools that, in my opinion, just edge him ahead. (Prediction: Jon Jones)
Aakrit Sharma: Unfortunately, many people don’t realize how talented Miocic is. Jones might be one of the best mixed martial artists of all time, but the heavyweight division is a completely new puzzle to solve. The quick win over Ciryl Gane helped “Bones” become the UFC heavyweight kingpin, but he was barely tested and I wouldn’t be shocked if he’s surprised by Miocic’s athleticism and fight IQ.
I don’t expect Jones to shut out Miocic entirely. This should be a competitive fight as Miocic is one of the most creative heavyweight strikers ever and he boasts powerful grappling too. The only reason I’m picking Jones is because Miocic is way past his prime and he’s likely just fighting for a huge payday. (Prediction: Jon Jones)
Consensus: 5-0 Jon Jones
That’ll do it for our UFC 309 staff picks! What do you think? Do your picks look similar? Let us know in the comments section! Also, you can check out the full UFC 309 card below.
Main Card:
Heavyweight Championship Main Event: Jon Jones (C) vs. Stipe Miocic
Lightweight Co-Main Event: Charles Oliveira vs. Michael Chandler
Women’s Flyweight: Viviane Araújo vs. Karine Silva
Middleweight: Bo Nickal vs. Paul Craig
Lightweight: Mauricio Ruffy vs. James Llontop
Preliminary Card:
Bantamweight: Jonathan Martinez vs. Marcus McGhee
Middleweight: Eryk Anders vs. Chris Weidman
Lightweight: Jim Miller vs. Damon Jackson
Featherweight: David Onama vs. Roberto Romero
Early Preliminary Card:
Heavyweight: Marcin Tybura vs. Jhonata Diniz
Welterweight: Mickey Gall vs. Ramiz Brahimaj
Welterweight: Bassil Hafez vs. Oban Elliott
Women’s Flyweight: Veronica Hardy vs. Eduarda Moura
Be sure to keep it right here on MMANews.com for all the results, highlights, and updates on UFC 309!
The main event will see featherweight kingpin Ilia Topuria defend his title for the first time since capturing it at the expense of Alexander Volkanovski eight months ago. To continue reign, “El Matador” is tasked with spoiling the title ambitions of former champ Max Holloway
Co-headlining will be a former titleholder in Robert Whittaker, who will look to make it three wins from three outings in 2024 to book himself another shot at regaining the middleweight gold. In his way will be the undefeated Khamzat Chimaev, who faces his toughest test to date in Abu Dhabi.
Elsewhere on the main card, Magomed Ankalaev and Aleksandar Rakić meet in a likely title eliminator at 205 pounds, Lerone Murphy looks to stay unbeaten with a victory over Dan Ige, and the extremely active Sharabutdin Magomedov has his next assignment.
UFC 308: MMA News Staff Predictions
Ahead of Saturday’s UFC 308 event, Kyle Dimond, Ryan Jarrell, Thomas Albano, Pranav Pandey, Andrew Starc, and Aakrit Sharma have provided their picks for the five matchups set for the main card.
Below, you can check out the current leaderboard through seven cards.
Thomas Albano (27-7)
Ryan Jarrell (22-12)
Kyle Dimond (19-15)
Pranav Pandey (9-6)
Andrew Starc (8-11)
Aakrit Sharma (5-5)
And with that, it’s time for the team’s predictions for UFC 308.
Middleweight: Shara Magomedov vs. Armen Petrosyan
Images: UFC.com
Kyle Dimond: I think this is a good test for Magomedov against a very good striker in Petrosyan. I’m yet to really be on the hype train for “Bullet” and I’m expecting this to be a fight where it’s hard for him to look good. I think it might come down to a close decision where I think Magomedov might just edge it out to get the victory. Fun fight though. (Prediction: Shara Magomedov)
Ryan Jarrell: I have been waiting for Magomedov to lose his first fight, and I think “Superman” is just the guy to do it. “Bullet” did not impress me in his most recent win over Oleksiejczuk, and he will need to be significantly better to get the job done against Petrosyan. This will be a close fight throughout, with both men having their moments, but give me “Superman” to be Magomedov’s kryptonite. (Prediction: Armen Petrosyan)
Thomas Albano: Having Magomedov in the first bout of the pay-per-view will bring a flavorful kick (pun intended) to the start of the main card. This summer, Magomedov’s praises were sung thanks to his third-round finish of Antonio Trócoli and going on short notice to defeat Michał Oleksiejczuk in the Fight of the Night at UFC Saudi Arabia. The unbeaten Magomedov is known for his kick-heavy style, which may prove an interesting challenge for Petrosyan.
Having said that, Petrosyan has kickboxing and Muay Thai talent to his name as well, and he’ll look to get in on Magomedov to do damage and prevent “Bullet” from taking control of the fight. This should be an absolutely fun striking battle to get the night off on the right foot (no pun intended this time). I love the path Magomedov has been on and the upward momentum he’s got, and I expect that to continue into this battle. (Prediction: Shara Magomedov)
Pranav Pandey: Although it’s evident that Magomedov can be quite hittable when opponents close the distance, I firmly believe this matchup is intricately designed for him and could emerge as one of the most one-sided contests on the UFC 308 card. I foresee that Petrosyan lacks any standout attributes that “Bullet” couldn’t adeptly counter, whether in striking exchanges or grappling scenarios. (Prediction: Shara Magomedov)
Andrew Starc: Magomedov, though undefeated, has yet to face a high-level grappler in the UFC, and this matchup against Petrosyan seems tailored to showcase his striking skills. Petrosyan is also a kickboxer, and while he’s beaten better competition, this fight plays into Magomedov’s strengths. Given “Bullet’s” hometown advantage and the favorable stylistic matchup, this could be a close contest that leans toward Magomedov on the judges’ scorecards. (Prediction: Shara Magomedov)
Aakrit Sharma: Caio Borralho showed that taking Petrosyan down and controlling him is the easiest way to beat “Superman.” Magomedov is unlikely to head into UFC 308 with a similar gameplan, but I would give still him a slight edge on the feet. “Bullet” is quicker with his punches and it will be interesting to see how effectively he uses his kicks against a relatively higher level opponent. I expect Magomedov to walk away with a knockout win. (Prediction: Shara Magomedov)
Consensus: 5-0 Shara Magomedov
Featherweight: Lerone Murphy vs. Dan Ige
Images: UFC.com
Kyle Dimond: Ige is one tough customer but I think he’s going to struggle with the range and diversity from Murphy. If he was to mix in some takedowns, that would really help him, but I just think his boxing-heavy approach is going to have him walking into a buzzsaw whenever he gets close to. Murphy has consistently shown how good he is in all striking ranges. I expect him to pick Ige off for a lot of this fight, landing elbows and knees when it gets up close. (Prediction: Lerone Murphy)
Ryan Jarrell: I love the toughness that Ige possesses, and he will need every bit of it to get the win over Murphy. I expect the Brit to get the better of Ige on the feet and stuff most takedowns throughout the fight. “50K” could have some moments of top control in this one, but give me “The Miracle” to get his hand raised in the end. (Prediction: Lerone Murphy)
Thomas Albano: This should be a fun, striking-filled contest, with a bonus of high stakes attached as both men looked to get into (or in Ige’s case, return to) the top 10 of the UFC’s featherweight rankings. Murphy is unbeaten as a fighter and has tremendous boxing – a perfect blend of speed and accuracy in his strikes. He’s able to hold his own on the ground, though Ige may have an edge in that department. That said, Ige and his toughness (and you only need to look at what he did at UFC 303 during the summer to know how tough he is) will most likely keep this fight standing and make it a fire fight.
This is a fight that deserves more attention. I will never question Ige’s heart, chin, and toughness. Murphy, however, just seems more complete of a striker and will be able to do more than enough to do damage and score the win. (Prediction: Lerone Murphy)
Pranav Pandey: In my opinion, Murphy vs. Ige promises to be an authentic toss-up. This is a difficult fight to call, as I see both fighters — who are primarily strikers — holding viable chances for victory. Ige is incredibly resilient and gritty, as demonstrated in his bout against Diego Lopes, and he has never been finished in his career. However, while Murphy may have less experience, he brings a more refined skillset to the table. I believe he can push “50K” to his limits and grind his way to victory, even when faced with adversity. (Prediction: Lerone Murphy)
Andrew Starc: The undefeated Murphy is coming off a dominant win against Edson Barboza in May, where his elite striking and speed were put on show. Ige, meanwhile, is also a great boxer who showed his toughness in giving Diego Lopes a run for his money after stepping up on a few hours’ notice. This is set to be a close, competitive striking battle, but I think Murphy has the edge in striking and will get the decision. (Prediction: Lerone Murphy)
Aakrit Sharma: Murphy looked better than ever against Barboza and I expect his striking to overwhelm Ige as well. He mixes things up well and can piece “50K” up on the feet. Ige’s path to victory could be his grappling but I wouldn’t count out the “The Miracle” as he’s hard to take down and dominate on the ground. Both Murphy and Ige are tough featherweights, and I expect the undefeated prospect to win via decision. (Prediction: Lerone Murphy)
Consensus: 5-0 Lerone Murphy
Light Heavyweight: Magomed Ankalaev vs. Aleksandar Rakić
Images: MMA Crazy/YouTube & UFC.com
Kyle Dimond: There isn’t a performance that I can point to that makes me think Rakić wins this fight. He’s looked good and he’s dangerous, but I just think Ankalaev will be too much for him. Standing with the Austrian could get risky for him, but mixing in the takedowns is going to give Rakić some big issues. Ankalaev falling in love with his striking is the only cause for concern, but I think he’ll be smart enough to take this fight to the floor. (Prediction: Magomed Ankalaev)
Ryan Jarrell: This is such an important fight for both of these men, with the winner in line for a title shot against Alex Pereira. Rakić really impressed me early on in his last fight against Jiří Procházka. Obviously, we know what ultimately happened in that fight, but if “Rocket” can be the best version of himself, he could present some real problems for his opponent in this one. In the end, I expect mixing up the striking and grappling will work well for Ankalaev en route to a somewhat dominant victory. (Prediction: Magomed Ankalaev)
Thomas Albano: I am one of those who is a firm believer that Ankalaev should have won the UFC light heavyweight championship back in December 2022 – let alone that he should be challenging for the UFC light heavyweight championship again now. Nevertheless, he gets an opportunity here against Rakić. With a strong performance, UFC CEO Dana White claims, Ankalaev will receive a title shot.
These are two well-rounded fighters. With a background in sambo, Ankalaev’s striking and power came on full display in his pair of fights with Johnny Walker, but he has wrestling to depend on if need be. Rakić, meanwhile, is a successful kickboxer and holds a brown belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu. “Rocket” has had a tough road of late, however, and I feel Ankalaev is just the better fighter all around. I’m not sure if the Russian earns the finish here, but everything leans in his favor. (Prediction: Magomed Ankalaev)
Pranav Pandey: This matchup is particularly challenging for me to predict. Both fighters are predominantly powerful strikers, but Rakić boasts a significant reach advantage, which he can leverage to keep the Russian at bay while controlling the distance. However, Ankalaev presents a formidable threat with his superior wrestling skills and ability to execute takedowns, which could tilt the scales in his favor. (Prediction: Magomed Ankalaev)
Andrew Starc: Ankalaev is a dangerous, well-rounded fighter with KO power and solid wrestling, even by Dagestani standards. Meanwhile, Rakić is a highly technical kickboxer with good takedown defense, but his striking, while elite, has been exposed by fighters like Procházka. Ankalaev’s ability to mix his striking with grappling could be the difference here. (Prediction: Magomed Ankalaev)
Aakrit Sharma: Rakić is definitely one of the most talented fighters in the UFC light heavyweight division. His loss to Volkan Oezdemir was razor close (and controversial), and he’s looked great against elite competition such as Jiří Procházka and Jan Błachowicz as well. Ankalaev has already fought, survived, and beat better competition in his career, which makes him a favorite. However, I don’t believe he has a significant advantage on the feet against “Rocket”. Rakić’s leg kicks could trouble the Russian and I predict him to win the early rounds. However, Ankalaev should set the pace in the later rounds and get a decision win. (Prediction: Magomed Ankalaev)
Consensus: 5-0 Magomed Ankalaev
Middleweight: Robert Whittaker vs. Khamzat Chimaev
Images: UFC.com & UFC/YouTube
Kyle Dimond: We’ve had to wait a long time to see Chimaev face a top middleweight over five rounds, and the more time has passed, the more I’m leaning toward Whittaker in this fight. I do think there’s a chance “Borz” can overwhelm the former champ early, a bit like he did to Kamaru Usman when he took his back. However, if he’s going to be his usual aggressive self, I haven’t seen anything from Chimaev that makes me think he can maintain that, and without that blitz approach, I don’t see him getting Whittaker down. (Prediction: Robert Whittaker)
Ryan Jarrell: Full disclosure, Whittaker is one of my all-time favorite fighters. I am going to do my best to make this prediction with my head and not my heart, but I’m not sure how to distinguish between the two. Having said all of that, I still believe the well-rounded skillset of the former champion will be enough to get his hand raised. Whittaker will have to be very careful of the power that Chimaev possesses, especially early on in the fight. However, if he can weather the early storm from “Borz,” I believe the veteran will use his movement and precision to outpoint him and potentially get a finish late in the fight. (Prediction: Robert Whittaker)
Thomas Albano: It’s not good that when this fight was rescheduled for UFC 308, there were bets out there as to if this fight would get scrapped again – and yes, was somehow the favorite. Nevertheless, we are here. It’s Chimaev’s biggest opportunity to show he’s ready to challenge for the UFC middleweight championship. And it’s Whittaker’s opportunity to show he’s ready for a rematch with Dricus Du Plessis and one last crack at regaining the 185-pound gold.
Since moving up to 185 pounds a decade or so ago, Whittaker has only ever lost to talents who went on to win the gold in Israel Adesanya and Du Plessis. Chimaev is talented, but it’s been a rough go for him over the last few years due to inactivity, illness, and a significant weight miss. Chimaev will bring a flurry of activity early, but we’ve seen Whittaker handle up-and-comers with ease, staying back and finding the timing and power to keep them at bay.
Chimaev will look to come out strong and look for an early finish, the same way Adesanya and Du Plessis got their wins. The longer this fight goes on, however, Whittaker will be more and more favored. This is the fight I’m least confident in picking, and I want to believe in “Borz.” Right now, however, there are more questions than answers regarding him, and I don’t know if he’s truly ready for Whittaker yet – let alone Whittaker who has the motivation of fighting for his own title opportunity (again). (Prediction: Robert Whittaker)
Pranav Pandey: Both fighters bring their unique styles and elite skill sets to the Octagon. I foresee this bout unfolding like a strategic chess match. Chimaev is notorious for his relentless pace, coming out of the gate with an aggressive, hunting style, overpowering his opponents with sheer physicality. “Borz” has indicated that he’s made significant adjustments to his training regimen, placing a strong emphasis on wrestling and grappling — his primary weapons. However, a crucial point to consider is that he has yet to see beyond the third round in his career, leaving me uncertain about his durability to withstand Whittaker’s pressure as the fight progresses.
Meanwhile, Whittaker stands out as a highly dynamic fighter, adept at mixing up his techniques with remarkable finesse when necessary. One pivotal element that I believe will significantly influence the outcome is “The Reaper’s” wealth of experience. I predict that while Whittaker may encounter challenges in the grappling exchanges, he possesses the stylistic versatility to take Chimaev into uncharted territory. With his astute fight IQ, Whittaker could potentially create openings to finish the Chechen if the opportunity arises. (Prediction: Robert Whittaker)
Andrew Starc: Chimaev has fallen out of favor with many fans who expected so much more from him at this stage of his career. Many weren’t convinced by his win over Usman a year ago, and he’s tried fans’ patience by pulling out of previous fights on short notice. As much as Whittaker looks to be in a great form – coming off a first-round TKO of Ikram Aliskerov in June – I think Chimaev will redeem himself in this one, doing what he usually does to overwhelm the Australian early on, before getting victory on the scorecards. (Prediction: Khamzat Chimaev)
Aakrit Sharma: Chimaev will return to the Octagon against Whittaker a year after defeating Usman via decision. The first round of his last fight proved he has elite grappling and power but the next two are hard to evaluate since he broke his hand. I feel that Chimaev won’t surprise Whittaker with anything in the Octagon. “The Reaper” has been there with the best of the best and should be able to get a finish in the later rounds.
It’s unlikely Chimaev’s cardio has improved dramatically from what we saw against Burns and Usman, so all Whittaker needs to do is survive the early wrestling onslaught. My pick is Whittaker winning by knockout, especially because this is a five-rounder. (Prediction: Robert Whittaker)
Consensus: 5-1 Robert Whittaker
UFC Featherweight Title: Ilia Topuria vs. Max Holloway
Images: UFC/YouTube & UFC.com
Kyle Dimond: This fight is absolutely incredible and is absolutely a back and forth prediction in my mind. I’m really interested to see if Topuria uses his grappling, which is his strongest area. Holloway isn’t easy to takedown but it’s also been a good while since he fought a strong wrestler like “El Matador.” If I had seen him use it more frequently in the UFC, I think that would sway my pick.
I can see Topuria stopping him, and that’s a scary thought indeed. But I also felt that way about Holloway’s fight against Gaethje and he made that look easy at points. It’s a coin flip between the power of Topuria and the output of Holloway. Given the experience, I’ll take the latter, but I truly think these two are two of the very best in the sport today. (Prediction: Max Holloway)
Ryan Jarrell: There is no argument that Holloway has competed against the best of the best in his hall of fame career. I cannot wait to see what adjustments are made by both men in what we hope is a competitive firefight. Although “Blessed” is still only 32 years old, the fight mileage he has accumulated on his body tells me he is outside of his true prime. I still think Holloway can compete at the highest level, but reclaiming belt and becoming the champion is seems just outside of his reach, in my humble opinion.
I will be cheering for the Hawaiian to win and sit atop the featherweight mountain again, but I just don’t see it happening. I think Topuria is too technical and will use his speed and youth to his advantage to defend the title. (Prediction: Ilia Topuria)
Thomas Albano: Ever since knocking out Alexander Volkanovski earlier this year to capture the UFC featherweight championship, there have been questions about the future and star potential of Topuria. Right from the get-go of that moment: How soon can we get a UFC pay-per-view to Spain? Can Topuria become one of the greatest featherweight fighters that this sport has ever seen? But before we get anywhere on that, we need to see him defend the belt first. And with Volkanovski still making his way back after consecutive knockout losses, it’s time for Topuria to face off with another featherweight great and former champion in Max “Blessed” Holloway.
From 2017 through 2019, Holloway reigned over this division. And even in the times when he has not held the championship, Holloway has shown that no one other than Volkanovski has been kryptonite for him at 145 pounds. Then, when it looked like he was in a bit of limbo, not only did “Alexander the Great” lose the strap to Topuria, but Holloway went and had one of the greatest knockouts in UFC history with his last-second KO of Justin Gaethje. I will not take away anything that Topuria has done in the Octagon in the lead up to his championship win – and people love him. Having said that, the resume and accomplishments of Holloway are too hard to ignore. And considering Topuria’s reaction to Holloway’s KO at UFC 300 – and the fact Volkanovski may not have been 100 percent when defending his title against Topuria at UFC 298 – this fight here with Holloway may be the toughest task Topuria has ever taken on in his MMA career.
Expect Topuria to rush things out and try and take control of the fight right away. But if Holloway’s boxing is as up to par as it is – one of the best boxing in the UFC – then Holloway could avoid Topuria’s attacks, and he could land some quick, hard power on the defending champ. And it’ll be a long night for Topuria, and his chances get slimmer the longer this fight goes, in my eyes. Call me still living in the past, but I’ll take the chance here and say: #AndNew. #AndOnceAgain “The Blessed Era.” (Prediction: Max Holloway)
Pranav Pandey: From my vantage point, this showdown between Topuria and Holloway feels like a rare gem in the fight game — one of those matchups you only witness once every so often. “El Matador” steps into the Octagon armed with an array of skills, from his sharp, almost surgical boxing to footwork that dances circles around his opponents. His explosive power can change the course of a fight in an instant, and his grappling and wrestling pedigree make him a truly well-rounded mixed martial artist. On the other hand, you’ve got Holloway, a fighter who’s been trading punches with the crème de la crème of the UFC for years. “Blessed” may assert that he’s “the best boxer in the UFC,” and whether that’s up for debate or not, what’s undeniable is his striking prowess. Holloway is a high-level technician on the feet, with an iron chin that can weather the storm. The real question is, who will prevail when the dust settles?
Holloway’s legendary durability and elite takedown defense are well known, and he’s savvy enough to avoid a firefight with Topuria up close. However, I foresee the Georgian-Spaniard using his devastating power to hunt for a finish early on. There’s always a chance that if the fight drags into the later rounds, the Hawaiian could take over and dominate. But I’m convinced “El Matador” has done his homework — he’s more than ready to back up his words and deliver on fight night. (Prediction: Ilia Topuria)
Andrew Starc: Topuria proved he was the real deal by backing up his promise to knock out Volkanovski in their February title match. He’s now vowed to do the same against Holloway, a man who’s yet to be knocked out. “Blessed” is on a three-fight win streak since losing to Volkanovski for the third time in 2022, having knocked out his last two opponents. But I think Topuria is simply going to be too fast and powerful for the Hawaiian. (Prediction: Ilia Topuria)
Aakrit Sharma: The UFC 308 main event could easily be one of the year’s best fights. Holloway’s high-volume striking against Topuria’s powerful hooks will be a treat and I don’t see either of them being finished. While the contender’s cardio has never been in question, “El Matador” looked dominant across five rounds against Josh Emmett.
Holloway has a chance to look better on the feet because of his pace, but Topuria can sway the judges with control time. I expect the UFC featherweight champion to rely considerably on his grappling as Holloway has the striking prowess to pick him apart on the feet as the fight progresses. As hard as it is to predict this fight, I’m favoring Topuria to win by decision. (Prediction: Ilia Topuria)
Consensus: 4-2 Ilia Topuria
That’ll do it for our UFC 308 staff picks! What do you think? Do your picks look similar? Let us know in the comments section! Also, you can check out the full UFC 308 card below.
Main Card:
Featherweight Championship Main Event: Ilia Topuria (C) vs. Max Holloway
Middleweight Co-Main Event: Robert Whittaker vs. Khamzat Chimaev
Light Heavyweight: Magomed Ankalaev vs. Aleksandar Rakić
Featherweight: Lerone Murphy vs. Dan Ige
Middleweight: Sharabutdin Magomedov vs. Armen Petrosyan
Preliminary Card:
Light Heavyweight: Ibo Aslan vs. Raffael Cerqueira
Welterweight: Geoff Neal vs. Rafael dos Anjos
Lightweight: Mateusz Rębecki vs. Myktybek Orolbai
Middleweight: Abus Magomedov vs. Brunno Ferreira
Heavyweight: Kennedy Nzechukwu vs. Chris Barnett
Bantamweight: Farid Basharat vs. Victor Hugo
Middleweight: Ismail Naurdiev vs. Bruno Silva
Welterweight: Rinat Fakhretdinov vs. Carlos Leal
Be sure to keep it right here on MMANews.com for all the results, highlights, and updates on UFC 308!
The main event will see Alex Pereira attempt to record his third successful title defense of 2024. Following on from knockout wins over Jamahal Hill at UFC 300 and Jiří Procházka at UFC 303, “Poatan” will headline another PPV, this time against a surprise challenger in #8-ranked light heavyweight Khalil Rountree.
Co-headlining will be another titleholder in Raquel Pennington, who returns nine months on from her crowning to defend the women’s bantamweight belt against fellow TUF 18 competitor Julianna Peña, who has been out of action for over two years.
Elsewhere on the main card, the legendary José Aldo kicks off a new UFC contract, Kayla Harrison makes her sophomore Octagon appearance against the #2-ranked Ketlen Vieira, and Kevin Holland shoots for the middleweight top 10 opposite Roman Dolidze.
UFC 307: MMA News Staff Predictions
Ahead of Saturday’s UFC 307 event, Kyle Dimond, Ryan Jarrell, Thomas Albano, Pranav Pandey, and Aakrit Sharma have provided their picks for the five matchups set for the main card.
Below, you can check out the current leaderboard through six cards.
Thomas Albano (23-6)
Ryan Jarrell (17-12)
Kyle Dimond (15-14)
Andrew Starc (8-11)
Pranav Pandey (4-6)
Aakrit Sharma (2-3)
And with that, it’s time for the team’s predictions for UFC 307.
Middleweight: Roman Dolidze vs. Kevin Holland
Images: UFC.com
Kyle Dimond: Holland up at middleweight against a grappler just seems like a recipe for disaster. Considering that Dolidze has fought up at light heavyweight, that only makes me more confident in him being able to take Holland down and hold him there. Enough said. (Prediction: Roman Dolidze)
Ryan Jarrell: This is a tricky fight to pick because I can see paths both men have to a victory here. I think Holland is the more polished striker and could be able to get the better of Dolidze on the feet. But the Georgian is a wild man and can mix things up and make it very dangerous for Holland. I expect Dolidze to have the bigger moments in this fight. I want to say he wins via TKO but Holland is tough, so the pick is Dolidze by decision. (Prediction: Roman Dolidze)
Thomas Albano: After his win over Anthony Smith, questions emerged about Roman Dolidze: will he try to go for another fight among the middleweight contender scene (after a loss to Nassourdine Imavov)? Or will he try his hand at 205 pounds again? Ultimately, he chooses the 185 route, replacing an injured Chris Curtis against Holland. “Big Mouth” has lost four of his last seven, though he enters off a win over Michał Oleksiejczuk at UFC 302.
Nothing to say about this one other than striker vs. grappler – simple as that. If this fight gets to the ground, Holland is in trouble. Even if he’s improved his takedown defense game, Dolidze will be able to control the fight there. If Holland keeps the fight on the feet, then he’ll be able to pick Dolidze apart. Admittedly, this is a coin flip, but I think Dolidze will have the chin and endurance to outlast Holland’s strikes – and enough strength to take Holland to the ground. (Prediction: Roman Dolidze)
Pranav Pandey: From what I can gather, this matchup promises to be a true 50/50 affair, with both fighters showcasing their unique and dynamic styles that have consistently led them to success. Dolidze seemed a bit derailed after suffering the first back-to-back losses of his career, but “The Caucasian” rebounded spectacularly with a dominant performance against Smith at UFC 303. The Georgian packs some serious power in his hands and is equally adept in grappling.
As for Holland, he enjoys a notable reach advantage and displays impressive fluidity in his footwork, complemented by solid takedown defense. However, my only concern with “Trailblazer” is that, in his recent fights, he hasn’t appeared fully invested in competing and hasn’t looked as sharp as he once did. Despite this, you can never count Holland out. That said, I believe Dolidze will take this matchup, successfully keeping Holland at bay while leveraging his strengths. (Prediction: Roman Dolidze)
Aakrit Sharma: There are ways for both Holland and Dolidze to emerge victorious here. Dolidze can utilize his size and wrestling to shut down his opponent’s offense, while Holland can rely on his speed and movement to overwhelm the Georgian on the feet. Holland has only suffered one TKO loss in his career, while Dolidze has never been finished via strikes or submission. I’m predicting the fight goes the distance and Holland wins via decision. Even if he gets taken down, “Trailblazer” has the potential to pull out a submission. (Prediction: Kevin Holland)
Consensus: 4-1 Roman Dolidze
Women’s Bantamweight: Ketlen Vieira vs. Kayla Harrison
Images: UFC.com
Kyle Dimond: I struggle to see how Vieira is able to make this fight competitive once Harrison gets hold of her. The big question ahead of her debut at UFC 300 was making bantamweight and, sure, it likely wasn’t an easy cut, but she made the weight and looked good inside the Octagon. The bantamweight division needs a big performance from her and a just as important post-fight interview. I don’t see anyone causing her too many problems in this division right now. I predict she’ll find a second-round TKO in Utah. (Prediction: Kayla Harrison)
Ryan Jarrell: The odds in this fight make it pretty hard to go against the American. We all know the insane skillset that Harrison possesses. I do think Vieira is a live underdog here, and I can see her surprising the masses and pulling off the upset. But that doesn’t mean I feel confident enough to pick her to beat the two-time Olympic gold medalist. Give me Harrison to win via second-round submission. (Prediction: Kayla Harrison)
Thomas Albano: There are plenty of people who feel Harrison should have been the one challenging for the women’s bantamweight title this weekend. But Peña played her cards right and it paid off. So Harrison, just in her second UFC fight, has to go against another dangerous name in the women’s 135-pound division in Vieira. The Brazilian, meanwhile, has won three of her last four, though she hasn’t fought since the summer of 2023. Viera’s most recent win came against Pannie Kianzad, and her other victories were decisions over Holm and Miesha Tate. Her only loss in this span? Raquel Pennington – the current champ.
Stylistically, this could be a really good fight considering Vieira, with her own skillset in judo and jiu-jitsu, could try to have a grappling battle with the two-time Olympic gold medalist – or try to use striking to counter Harrison’s game. That said, Harrison is just so good all around, putting that on display against Holm after building herself up with a pair of title wins in the PFL (and coming just short of a third). Harrison should be able to win this one and lock up a guaranteed shot against the Pennington vs. Peña winner. (Prediction: Kayla Harrison)
Pranav Pandey: I think this could be one of the most lopsided matchups we’ll witness on Saturday night. Vieira is undeniably tough and has a solid grappling foundation, but the real question is whether she can keep someone like Harrison grounded — and if so, for how long? In my opinion, Harrison’s sheer dominance is likely too overwhelming for the Brazilian to manage, making it an uphill battle for Vieira from the start. The two-time Olympic gold medalist will bring a fierce intensity no matter where the fight unfolds. Whether it’s on the feet, on the mat, or anywhere in between, her dynamic style is set to take control at every turn. (Prediction: Kayla Harrison)
Aakrit Sharma: Now that we know Harrison can make weight for the UFC women’s bantamweight division, I do not doubt she’ll be champion by the end of 2025, especially in Nunes’ absence. Harrison should rely on the same game plan that helped her win her UFC debut against Holly Holm, the wrestling. However, fighting at altitude following a brutal weight cut could be a problem for the Olympian and she should avoid trading shots with Vieira as the Brazilian possesses decent power and accuracy on the feet for the division.
Although Vieira boasts 93 percent takedown defense in the UFC, she’s yet to face someone as powerful and experienced as Harrison. Thanks to the constant takedown threat, Vieira might not be as comfortable and fluid on the feet as well, helping Harrison get an unexpected KO victory. (Prediction: Kayla Harrison)
Consensus: 5-0 Kayla Harrison
Bantamweight: José Aldo vs. Mario Bautista
Images: UFC.com
Kyle Dimond: Bautista has looked impressive on this winning streak but the Aldo that showed up against Jonathan Martinez looked like he hadn’t lost a step. I still think he’s going to be too much for the guys that aren’t in the top tier of the division — guys like Petr Yan and Merab Dvalishvili that he has already lost to. I haven’t seen anything from Bautista to make me think he’s at that level yet. (Prediction: José Aldo)
Ryan Jarrell: Father Time has a pretty good track record unless your Tom Brady. But this is not football, and Bautista is a hungry, young Lion looking to make his mark against the legend in Aldo. This fight will be very competitive and Aldo will have his moments, but I believe Bautista is diverse enough to win a decision in what could be Fight of the Night. (Prediction: Mario Bautista)
Thomas Albano: Just when we thought Aldo’s time in the Octagon was done, he comes back earlier this year to put on a solid performance against Martinez. Now, Aldo gets a lower-ranked contender in Bautista. Despite the Brazilian’s age and brief retirement, he has won four of five fights he’s had since December 2020. The only loss in that span came against current bantamweight champion Merab Dvalishvili. Bautista, meanwhile, is sporting a six-fight win streak that includes submissions of Brian Kelleher and Benito Lopez, as well as a decision over Ricky Simón in his most recent outing.
While I won’t argue much with anyone who feels Bautista’s ranked status, along with him being the younger fighter, leads to their prediction for him. But for me, it’s hard to pick against the “King of Rio” when he continues to put on the showings that he does and competes with the best in the game still. Aldo may likely never be a UFC champion again, but that doesn’t mean he isn’t a top-quality fighter anymore with the way he’s performing. Add that this is a big step up for Bautista, and it’s hard for me to go against Aldo here. (Prediction: José Aldo)
Pranav Pandey: There’s no slowing down the “King of Rio.” After his return at UFC 301 following a hiatus, Aldo reminded everyone exactly why he’s held in such legendary esteem. The Brazilian icon masterfully dismantled Martinez, showcasing his trademark distance control and fluid in-and-out striking, leaving his opponent with little room to counter. Despite entering the sunset years of his illustrious career, the former 145-pound kingpin remains fully engaged, showing no signs of losing his edge. But while it’s tough for me to go against Aldo, Bautista presents a serious challenge.
The American brings a well-rounded grappling game, seamlessly blending feints with takedowns, and has been on an impressive run lately. The real question, though, is whether Bautista can apply enough pressure to disrupt Aldo’s rhythm. I believe he can. Bautista’s youth, freshness, and relentless pace, coupled with the potential impact of Utah’s altitude, could very well wear Aldo down and make it difficult for him to keep up with such a high-octane style. (Prediction: Mario Bautista)
Aakrit Sharma: This is my FOTN contender for UFC 307. The Bautista that showed up in the third round against Simón was truly special. The pace, the volume, the accuracy, and the timing would trouble anyone in the UFC men’s bantamweight division. Bautista is dangerous because he has several tools in his arsenal. He can kick, strike, and most importantly, hurt you with knees and elbows. For the rising American prospect, the path to victory should be to keep Aldo in the clinch and land in the pocket as much as possible. He has a great ground game and takedown defense, but it’s unlikely to work against Aldo, who also boasts one of the highest takedown defense rates in UFC history.
The “King of Rio” can shut Bautista down if he maintains distance and keeps attacking the legs. Stylistically, I don’t think Aldo is a good matchup for Bautista and I’m picking the Brazilian to win via decision. Fighting one of the best fighters of all time after beating your first ranked opponent in a division is a huge bump in competition, and Bautista might suffer a fate similar to Martinez, Rob Font, Pedro Munhoz, and Marlon Vera. (Prediction: José Aldo)
Consensus: 3-2 José Aldo
UFC Women’s Bantamweight Title: Raquel Pennington vs. Julianna Peña
Images: UFC/Zuffa LLC
Kyle Dimond: This one is a really tough one to call. I think Peña at her best is probably better than Pennington, and I think I’d lean that way if it was over three rounds. This is one I’ve gone back and forth on and I can totally see another grinding performance from Pennington to retain the title. But, I’m gonna back Peña. My major concern is that she doesn’t have a win over anyone in the UFC righ tnow. However, many of Pennington’s wins haven’t been massively impressive either, so maybe that will level things out. (Prediction: Julianna Peña)
Ryan Jarrell: The dislike these two ladies have for one another will add to the build-up of this fight. However, I think the bout itself will be somewhat of a snooze fest. Mostly, because I believe Peña will dominate the wrestling and grappling exchanges and spend a lot of time in top control. I expect “The Venezuelan Vixen” to win a decision here. (Prediction: Julianna Peña)
Thomas Albano: It’s not the most popular choice of fight, but there’s credit that has to be given out. The unpopular manner Pennington won the women’s bantamweight championship at the start of the year does not fall all on her. And though Peña has not fought since UFC 277, and has complained about not receiving a trilogy fight with Amanda Nunes, she’s got another opportunity at the title now. In fairness, Peña did score one of MMA’s greatest upsets when she finished Nunes at UFC 269. There is certainly merit to her game. Pennington, meanwhile, was pretty dominant when she won the then-vacant title at UFC 297 in a fight with Mayra Bueno Silva that went the distance – a fight that honestly showed Bueno Silva did not belong there.
These two ladies are two of the best that the UFC’s 135-pound division has to offer. Both these two also have history with one another as members of Team Tate during season 18 of The Ultimate Fighter – which Peña won, with Pennington falling in the semifinals. Pennington is the defending champion and is on a six-fight win streak, but I feel that Peña just has more power, a better well-rounded skillset, and better wins and experience in terms of competition. That may probably play out on Saturday night with “The Venezuelan Vixen” getting the gold back. (Prediction: Julianna Peña)
Pranav Pandey: This matchup between Pennington and Peña is one that, in my view, could swing in either direction at any moment. Pennington, the reigning champion, comes in riding the wave of a five-fight win streak. Known for her relentless pace, “Rocky” brings a high-volume striking game that methodically wears down her opponents over the course of a fight. However, Pennington’s lack of knockout power often pushes her bouts to go the distance, which could be a disadvantage against someone as tough and relentless as Peña.
“The Venezuelan Vixen” is a durable powerhouse with an unwavering pace, constantly pressuring her adversaries with ceaseless activity. She’s not the type to let her opponents settle into their rhythm easily, and against someone like Pennington, she’ll be looking to turn this into a gritty war. The way I see it, Pennington will undoubtedly have her moments of success, but Peña possesses the full arsenal needed to prevail and reclaim the championship. (Prediction: Julianna Peña)
Aakrit Sharma: As a women’s UFC fighter, it’s hard to have a bigger flex than beating Nunes. However, the rematch being a complete shutout definitely hurt Peña’s brand, with many questioning this title shot against Pennington. I do believe Peña to be tough and skilled enough to grab the belt from “Rocky,” though.
“The Venezuelan Vixen” should benefit greatly from setting the pace of the fight early on and mixing things up, as taking down the UFC women’s bantamweight champion won’t be an easy task. She’ll have to give the champ several things to worry about for winning on the scorecards as I don’t think either of them will be finished. My pick for this one is Peña winning by decision. (Prediction: Julianna Peña)
Consensus: 5-0 Julianna Peña
UFC Light Heavyweight Title: Alex Pereira vs. Khalil Rountree
Images: UFC.com
Kyle Dimond: I like watching Rountree a lot. His striking style is tons of fun to watch. He also certainly has the power and skill to knock anyone in this division out. I would have liked to have seen the Jamahal Hill fight first, though, because frankly, I’m not sure I could back anyone to beat Pereira when their best win is Anthony Smith.
Rountree is dangerous, but when you’re talking about Pereira, you’re talking about an all-time great in kickboxing. “Poatan” could get caught if he’s overly aggressive, but I think he’ll pick Rountree apart before ending it in the second. (Prediction: Alex Pereira)
Ryan Jarrell: I’m excited for this fight. We all know the power that both of these guys possess. It should make for an exciting finish one way or another. As much as I like Rountree, I just don’t see him as a champion. I think the four-inch reach advantage that Pereira has will be the difference in this fight. Give me “Poatan” via second-round TKO. (Prediction: Alex Pereira)
Thomas Albano: I don’t want to come off like a Rountree hater – he has seemed like a cool dude in the interviews that he does. And stylistically, this fight can be fun considering how these two can be creative and powerful as strikers. Having said that (and yes, I know the UFC’s ranking system is skewed, but nevertheless…) why is the #8 contender getting a title shot? I truly feel that the UFC probably wanted Ilia Topuria vs. Max Holloway for this card. But with that fight moved to UFC 308, and the UFC probably wanting a better headliner than Pennington vs. Peña, they called up Pereira to save their butts (again).
Pereira has retained the light heavyweight title against Jiří Procházka and Jamahal Hill. Rountree’s win streak, meanwhile, has seen him go through the likes of Smith, Chris Daukaus, and Karl Roberson. This will be a calculated kickboxing-style matchup as both men look for the key opportunity to land a devastating shot on the other. Unfortunately for Rountree, Pereira’s strikes are just too powerful, and he’s dominated against much stronger competition. You’ll see a frenzy if Rountree gets the win (lest anything else in the second half of 2024 UFC be crazier), but Pereira should probably take this in the first six minutes or so. (Prediction: Alex Pereira)
Pranav Pandey: From where I stand, this clash is one of the most direct and explosive matchups on the UFC 307 card. With both Pereira and Rountree being strikers, I don’t foresee any room for grappling or takedowns coming into play. Rountree has proven time and again that he can weather the storm against elite-tier kickboxers, and respond with even greater force. “The War Horse” boasts a lethal kicking arsenal, complemented by knockout power in his fists. However, ‘Poatan’ is far from an ordinary kickboxer, having carved a path through several former champions during his brief yet immensely successful tenure in the Octagon.
“Poatan’s” exceptional fight IQ and thunderous striking ability allow him to methodically dismantle his opponents. Rountree will need to close the distance early to nullify Pereira’s reach, but doing so may leave him dangerously exposed to Pereira’s counters, particularly his devastating left hook. I believe Pereira’s significant reach advantage, along with the unrelenting ferocity in his attacks, will overwhelm Rountree and make it incredibly difficult for him to land his best shots. The Brazilian’s calculated pressure and ability to dictate the fight’s tempo will likely cause Rountree to unravel under the onslaught. (Prediction: Alex Pereira)
Aakrit Sharma: Yes, Rountree can pull off a huge upset against Pereira if he lands a good shot. Will he, though? “Poatan” just looks unstoppable at the moment, and it seems to be a matter of time before he finds his opponent’s chin one way or another. Considering Glover Teixeira corners and trains Pereira, I actually won’t be surprised if the UFC light heavyweight champ shoots for a takedown and showcases some of his wrestling. Considering he’s already mastered striking and kickboxing, I’m sure Pereira focuses a lot on filling the holes in his game to prepare for opponents like Magomed Ankalaev.
Rountree’s a great striker and his momentum through a five-fight win streak is undeniable. “The War Horse” can trouble the champ with leg kicks and powerful shots, but I simply don’t see anyone taking out Pereira on the feet. (Prediction: Alex Pereira)
Consensus: 5-0 Alex Pereira
That’ll do it for our UFC 307 staff picks! What do you think? Do your picks look similar? Let us know in the comments section! Also, you can check out the full UFC 307 card below.
Main Card:
Light Heavyweight Championship: Alex Pereira vs. Khalil Rountree
Women’s Bantamweight Championship: Raquel Pennington vs. Julianna Peña
Bantamweight: José Aldo vs. Mario Bautista
Women’s Bantamweight: Ketlen Vieira vs. Kayla Harrison
Middleweight: Roman Dolidze vs. Kevin Holland
Preliminary Card:
Welterweight: Stephen Thompson vs. Joaquin Buckley
Women’s Strawweight: Marina Rodriguez vs. Iasmin Lucindo
Lightweight: Austin Hubbard vs. Alexander Hernandez
Middleweight: César Almeida vs. Ihor Potieria
Early Preliminary Card:
Light Heavyweight: Ryan Spann vs. Ovince Saint Preux
Women’s Strawweight: Carla Esparza vs. Tecia Pennington
Welterweight: Court McGee vs. Tim Means
Be sure to keep it right here on MMANews.com for all the results, highlights, and updates on UFC 307!
On Saturday night, the mixed martial arts leader returned for its latest pay-per-view event.
Noche UFC… I mean UFC 306… I mean Riyadh Season Noche UFC — that’s far too much choice for my brain to handle — was no ordinary MMA card. It was the very first live sporting event to take place inside the unique surroundings of the Sphere.
Dana White’s initial anger at the MGM for not alerting him to the PBC’s quick claim to the September 14 date to stage an always highly anticipated Canelo Álvarez outing birthed a new opportunity. The chance to put on an elaborate and expensive spectacle. The possibility to move beyond the arena setup we’re used to.
With great risk comes great reward. But with great superlatives — and boy did White and other UFC figures throw them around when describing what fans could expect — comes pressure to deliver.
Did they? More on that later.
Tasked with delivering in a different realm of entertainment were the fighters themselves, chief among them the four athletes entering the Octagon with gold on the line. The main event saw Sean O’Malley defend his belt against Merab Dvalishvili in a clash I’d have comfortably placed as the toughest to predict in 2024 in the lead-up. Oh, and the second toughest to predict came right beforehand as flyweight queen Alexa Grasso and Valentina Shevchenko completed their historic trilogy.
Elsewhere, the hottest rising name in the game Diego Lopes had his chance to climb into the featherweight top five against Brian Ortega, while Mexican standouts Daniel Zellhuber and Ronaldo Rodriguez looked to celebrate their nation’s independence in style.
But did all those names — and the $20 million Sphere show — come together to put on an exciting night of fights? Let’s find out with all the positives and negatives from Noche UFC 306.
Is getting value for money just not a thing in North America?
Best believe that if I’m spending thousands on cageside tickets to a UFC event (probably should have chosen a career other than MMA writer…), I’m not missing a punch, kick, eye poke, low blow, stance switch or damn syllable that comes out of Bruce Buffer’s mouth.
It seems my fellow Europeans largely feel the same. It is rare to see a super empty venue upon the start of any preliminary card on this side of the pond. In the US, however, it seems to be the opposite. Countless T-Mobile Arena-held PPVs have shown that even the top lineups and spectacles don’t draw those affluent enough for the top seats to the venue on time.
But for the very first live sporting event at the Sphere, that was bound to change. Right? RIGHT?! Miraculously, no. We had the usual selection of absent attendees.
Is it really too much to ask for fighting events to be watched by people who actually like and are there for fighting? Can we not have some sort of 20-question quiz to weed out the fakes? Perhaps that would have given the opening fight of Noche UFC 306 less of an Apex feel to it.
Some empty seats probably didn’t warrant a full negative here, I admit. But it pissed me off and, well, this is my editorial, so that’s that.
The talk of Las Vegas for the past week has been the famed Mexican fighting spirit and toughness. We didn’t get a strong display of that in fight one at Noche UFC 306, but boy did we in the second.
Mexicali’s Edgar Cháirez may not have had many bouts in the UFC, but he’s done his nation proud plenty of times. From going toe-to-toe with the undefeated Tatsuro Taira in defeat on just two weeks’ notice to a first-round triangle choke submission against Daniel Lacerda, “Puro Chicali’s” Octagon fights (no contest aside) haven’t been short on highlights.
Well, we can add the best yet to that after Saturday night. In fact, we can add one of the best highlights of 2024 to the end-of-year reels.
The Mexican produced that in his clash with Joshua Van inside the Sphere. Cháirez found himself in all sorts of trouble midway through round two when he was badly hurt to the liver and the victim of an absolute onslaught of hooks and uppecuts.
As he turned his back against the cage, Mark Smith looked a second away from stepping in. What happened next defied any and all expectation, as “Puro Chicali” uncorked a spinning backfist to rock Van and turn the tables.
Unfortunately for Cháirez, that moment of success wasn’t enough to carry him to victory on the scorecards. But when it comes to the “fight like a Mexican” saying, he fulfilled that and then some to bring some momentum back to the Sphere show alongside an impressive Van.
We completed the trifecta of snoozefest, barnburner, and finish in the opening three fights of the night at Noche UFC 306. And when it comes to the first stoppage inside the Sphere, it was certainly worth the brief wait.
Ketlen Souza continued the trend set by Cháirez and Van by delivering utter violence. Poor Yazmin Jauregui essentially fell to both a knockout and a submission, first being flattened after falling on the much worse side of an exchange of left hooks.
As the Mexican barely woke back up and was probably filled with confusion about the spherical building she found herself in, her Brazilian counterpart met her on the ground, locked in a rear-naked choke, and rendered her unconscious again.
As far as the first finish to take place inside the Sphere, Souza couldn’t have delivered much better.
Souza definitely held on for an extra second, and that is not good to see. We’ve certainly seen more egregious instances of athletes not releasing submissions, but that doesn’t make the Brazilian’s decision to keep choking an unconscious opponent for longer than required any less disappointing.
Positive – A Mexican Warrior
This is the second positive that focuses on a losing Mexican. While a number of results went against the nation on Saturday’s preliminary card, the likes of Cháirez and Irene Aldana did not go down without a fight.
Off the top of my head, it’s certainly up there. But the former title challenger was not deterred, continuing her immense forward pressure through punches coming back her way that no doubt turned he cut from a bad blemish to a gaping wound in the final frame. Aldana’s commitment to throwing the kitchen sink in pursuit of a finish even saw her using her shirt as a blood towel in-between charges forward.
Aldana may not have gotten the result she wanted, but you won’t see many displays of toughness like that. And for that to come after a Fight of the Year contender in 2023, the Mexican is on a bloody run of brutality.
Of course, this fight wouldn’t have been a positive overall without the input of Norma Dumont, who showed her talents fighting off the back foot to actually outbox a boxing specialist in Aldana.
Her performance was impressive, and provided that her weight issues are a thing of the past, the Brazilian is well and truly in title contention at 135 pounds.
Positive – THAT’S How You Open
Raul Rosas Jr. did not really get the memo on what was required to enter bonus contention at the Sphere — or how to open the card at such a special event. Ronaldo Rodriguez and Ode’ Osbourne did.
Saturday’s prelims were strong aside from the dud of a first bout, which was quick to kill the immediate momentum that existed thanks to the intrigue surrounding the Sphere. But when it came to the PPV opener, Rodriguez and Osbourne put on a flyweight firecracker (yes alliteration was taught in junior school, and no, I won’t abandon it as I near 26) that only added to the occasion after the opening two chapters of “For Mexico, For All Time.”
Rodriguez was almost left with egg on his face after his confident walkout and in-cage dancing were quickly followed by a vicious right hand by “The Jamaican Sensation” that appeared set to see the Mexican finished in one round.
Somehow, someway, Rodriguez survived. And more than that, he went about delivering offense of his own en route to taking rounds two and three for the victory on the judges’ scorecards.
I really do hate having to include judging in the negative column because I’d like to avoid re-enforcing people’s often warped view of the scoring criteria and what constitutes a ‘robbery’.
But this can’t be ignored.
Two judges scored the main card opener 29-27 for Rodriguez, granting him a 10-8 in round two. The idea that the Mexican did enough for that and Osbourne didn’t in the first stanza is ludicrous.
The culprits? No prizes for correctly guessing Adalaide Byrd, who evidently has the job security of a worker walking in on their boss cheating on his wife with his assistant to still be judging at the highest level. She joined Ron McCarthy in turning in a real puzzler.
It would have been nice to emerge from such an incredible fight without a judging controversy. But nice things are difficult to come by in MMA.
#UFC306 Official Scorecard: Ronaldo Rodriguez vs Ode Osbourne
Whether down to the magnitude of the event — Sphere debut, Mexican Independence Day celebration, and all that jazz — or simply the fighters put on the lineup by the UFC, the sheer number of matchups that delivered fireworks on Saturday night was obscene.
The battle to secure Fight of the Night honors was already three contenders deep when Daniel Zellhuber and Esteban Ribovics entered the Octagon. They stole it in emphatic fashion and have likely left themselves as the current leaders in the race for 2024’s Fight of the Year.
The star of the show was round three, which began with the Mexican dropping his Argentine foe with a brutal elbow, transitioned to Ribovics pursuing a finish after putting Zellhuber on wobbly legs, and ended with both men trading bombs to the horn.
The fight was utter insanity and, incredibly, once again marked an instance of a Mexican displaying immense toughness and resolve but ultimately falling short when it came to the decision.
But since then, Lopes has continued to impress more and more with each outing. And after doing so with his game attitude against same-day opponent Dan Ige in late June, the up-and-comer let his incredible skills do the talking inside the Sphere, first by dropping “T-City” early and then by dominating the remainder of the contest.
Does Lopes beat champion Ilia Topuria or UFC 308 challenger Max Holloway? Anything can happen, but I don’t think so. But will he give us an entertaining title fight against either man? Absolutely.
The champion may well have been fortunate to escape last year’s Mexican Independence Day celebration with the title still in her possession, but that fight was the furthest thing from the shutout “Bullet” pitched inside the Sphere.
The main negative here is Grasso’s performance, which peaked at some submission attempts that were never really close to putting Shevchenko in too much trouble. And when it came to altering the course of the fight, not much of use came out of the Mexican’s corner, who appeared resigned to simply urging the champ to strike as if she was choosing for the bout to hit the mat.
Shevchenko’s performance was smart and unwavering, and does not contribute to this negative. But after a thrilling main card up to that point — and the expectation of a highly competitive clash — the first women’s trilogy in UFC history was a complete disappointment.
First and foremost were some strange antics from Merab Dvalishvili, who spent the opening seconds screaming at Sean O’Malley’s corner, where Tim Welch was evidently up to his old tricks again. Referee Herb Dean warned him for “excessive coaching.” Does ‘attempting to trick the opposition fighter’ really fall into that bracket? Also, what could have come from said warning should it have been ignored? Are we talking a WWE-style banishment to the back for the coach?
Speaking of Herb…
What on Earth was going through his head toward the end? The veteran official was throwing around some misplaced “keep working” comments during grappling exchanges but it was the final seconds when he went utterly mad, urging the pair to “work” as Dvalishvili circled to protect his guaranteed title win. When did referees’ job description include ‘try to force athletes into a Max Holloway vs. Justin Gaethje ending’?
Dvalishvili deserves credit for an impressive display of dominance. Wow is he relentless, and wow is his cardio legendary. But when the main talking points from a pay-per-view main event don’t include the fight itself, it has to go into the negative column.
ELEVEN IN A ROW FOR THE MACHINE@MerabDvalishvil is taking home bantamweight GOLD tonight!
It would be remiss of me not to conclude this by commenting on what was, let’s be honest, the main show.
It’s important to note the sheer number of prominent fans and pundits online who decided the Sphere experiment was a failure within five minutes of the prelims. Not only had we been told to expect the big stuff during the main card, but did they really expect one of the card’s main drawing points to be revealed prior to the pay-per-view? For free?!
I have my fair share of criticism for the UFC, but anyone who gave their review of the Sphere’s use on Saturday night during the opening fights was simply always going to be negative about the experience whatever they witnessed.
Sure, things started off slowly, but the increasing spectacle built anticipation heading into the PPV main card, and then things well and truly picked up. While I had little doubt that things would be impressive in-person, I was skeptical about the extent to which the experience would translate to television.
How did it translate? Well, very well.
Even on a desktop screen, the 90-second films had the kind of trippy effect I imagine those in attendance felt (amplified, of course). And the ‘worlds’ that the arena transformed into for each fight were spectacular. The final film wasn’t the strongest and felt like a slightly anticlimactic end, but that by no means takes away from the overall show.
And a word on the ring girls, whose attire matched each chapter of the main card film and provided a fantastic aesthetic. All eyes were on the Sphere, but small details like the selection of ring girls and their elaborate clothing made this even feel even grander.
Now, if you showed me the event without any knowledge of the cost that White and co. have long discussed and told me what we saw was the result of $20 million investment, I’d be shocked. But I admit to being out of the loop when it comes to the price of technology like this, and MMA media doesn’t pay well enough for me to have any grasp of what would be worth $20 million.
The other point to highlight is the UFC CEO’s pre-event remarks, which honestly set the bar to an unattainable level. The event was unbelievable, and I was in awe of the visuals in a way I never have been before when watching a sporting event. In that regard, mission accomplished for the UFC.
But I can’t help feeling the overall consensus would have been stronger had White not spent months on a tour of superlatives that only widened the chance for some detractors to feel underwhelmed.
A hunch or a leak? Dustin Poirier’s teammate appeared confident when predicting a month and opponent for his farewell fight in the UFC.
It initially appeared as though fans had seen Poirier make the walk for the final time this past summer. After a vintage knockout of Benoît Saint Denis in March, the former interim UFC lightweight champion had one last opportunity to achieve undisputed status.
But while he gave it his all through four rounds against Islam Makhachev at UFC 302 in Newark, “The Diamond” succumbed to a rear-naked choke in the final frame of the pay-per-view main event.
The veteran’s Octagon interview suggested that an official retirement was on the way, but the fire beneath Poirier has not fully diminished. And after pondering a farewell fight, the Louisianan has appeared to make that decision final.
A man who knows Poirier well from their ongoing stint as teammates over at American Top Team recently picked one out…
Dawson Predicts Poirier vs. Gaethje 3 In February 2025
During a recent interview with MMA News’ Ryan Jarrell, Dawson spoke on the current status of Poirier’s career and apparent plans to compete one final time before hanging up the gloves.
While reiterating his belief that “The Diamond” is not yet done, “KGD” predicted a February 2025 return for his ATT training partner but insisted that didn’t come from a place of insider knowledge.
“I think he’ll fight in February. I don’t have any insider information,” Dawson told MMA News. “I don’t know anything. There’s no (set) date or anything like that. I just don’t think he’s done. I’ve texted him a couple times and he sounds like a man who wants to fight again.”
But when pondering a date for his own next appearance inside the Octagon, the same month reared its head…
“Let’s do February, on Dustin’s card.”
In terms of an opponent, Dawson was 100 percent certain in stating that a rumored clash with former ATT standout Colby Covington is not on the table. Instead, the 30-year-old displayed a grin while producing a different name.
“I know for a fact he’s not fighting Colby Covington. I called him and asked him about it, and he said, ‘Heck no.’ He said something a little worse than ‘heck,’” Dawson said, before smiling and taking a long pause when asked who he thinks Poirier will face. “Justin Gaethje.”
Shot-in-the-dark prediction, educated guess or a statement of fact? We’ll let you decide.
Regardless, it would appear that Poirier’s mind is indeed made up and that his memorable championship clash with Makhachev won’t mark the final chapter in his story.
I will.
Once more into the fray, into the last good fight I’ll ever know. Live and die on this day, live and die on this day https://t.co/N9H3j2OR5p
UFC welterweight prospect Bryan Battle doesn’t see anything special in the arsenal of ranked contender Ian Garry.
Garry, a former Cage Warriors champion, has extended his perfect professional record to 15-0 with eight victories since signing with mixed martial arts’ leading promotion in 2021.
The latter half of the Irishman’s UFC career thus far has seen him rise the ranks against stiffer competition, defeating notable names in Daniel Rodriguez, Neil Magny, Geoff Neal, and Michael “Venom” Page en route to #7 in the pecking order at 170 pounds.
Despite that run and his firm prediction of title success soon enough, not everyone has been impressed by “The Future” and the manner with which he’s emerged victorious in two fights this year.
That evidently includes a welterweight peer in Battle…
Battle Likes His Chances Against Garry
During a recent interview with MMA News’ Ryan Jarrell, Battle assessed the skillset of Garry, who sits among the top contenders that the TUF 29 winner has his sights on for the future.
“He’s not — I mean, you’ve gotta give a motherf*cker credit where credit’s due. He’s undefeated. He’s been undefeated in the UFC,” Battle said. “One thing I’ve come to appreciate in the UFC is no matter how someone looks to an extent, if they’re being successful in the UFC, then that means they’re good.
“Eye test and like, my opinion, is that he’s not that good,” Battle continued. “But you have to give credit where credit’s due. He’s out there, he’s doing his thing. He’s fast. He’s sharp. I think I would whoop his ass, but you know, whatever. Hopefully he stays undefeated until we fight each other. Hey, I’d be interested to see how he does against an elite grappler, you know what I’m saying?”
Perhaps Battle will get the chance to prove his remarks correct inside the Octagon down the line.
The first step in his pursuit of closing the gap on Garry in the welterweight division comes later this month in the French capital, where “The Butcher” is tasked with stalling the rise of another highly touted up-and-comer in City Kickboxing’s Kevin Jousset.
Great time catching up with @BryanBattle10 as he prepares to fight next at #UFCParis on 9/28
The next UFC heavyweight title fight would appear to be pitting arguably the greatest of all time against the best fighter we have seen in this weight class inside the Octagon.
Despite the pedigree that both Jon Jones and Stipe Miocic bring to the table, there are two other names that the majority of fans would rather see face off with “Bones”.
Interim champion Tom Aspinall is seen by many as the future of the division and with his speed and ability to finish fights, he’s a test that many want to see Jones face.
Though he may have never competed at this weight, the idea of seeing light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira move up is another incredibly enticing prospect following the run that he has been on, which has turned him into one of the biggest names in the sport.
Mario Bautista Gives His Take On How Alex Pereira, Tom Aspinall & Jon Jones Match Up
Elsewhere on the main card, Bautista is set to take on his biggest challenge to date when he faces off with a legend of the game in Brazil’s José Aldo.
The bantamweight contender spoke in a recent interview with MMA News about whether he thinks Pereira would be able to mix it up with the heavyweight division’s two current champions.
He explained why, in his opinion, Aspinall would be the tougher match-up for the elite striker at 205-pounds.
“It’s hard to say, it’s very interesting you know. He has that power and I think Jon Jones did fight at 205 too so I’d give him a shot at Jon Jones. Tom Aspinall, he can move pretty fast for how big he is so that’s the iffy one for me.”
In a follow-up question, Bautista was asked whether this means that based on MMA math, he would also pick Aspinall to beat Jones, therefore seeing him come out on top in this little fantasy round-robin tournament.
“I think he could. Tom Aspinall, for how big he is and how fast he moves, I don’t think Jon Jones has kind of seen anything like that so I would go with Tom on that one.”
Though Marshall is focused on keeping this dream going by continuing to pick up wins and evolve as a martial artist, he does have another pursuit and passion.
The 25-year-old doesn’t carry the nickname “Fire” just because that’s what he always looks to bring when stepping inside the cage.
Alongside his MMA career, Marshall works as a firefighter, though for obvious reasons, that’s currently on hold because of his fight career.
Francis Marshall Talks About The Rewarding Nature Of Being A Fire Fighter
In a recent interview with MMA News, Marshall spoke about his love for being a firefighter where getting to help others is incredibly rewarding for him.
Competing as a professional athlete has become a career option for him at this stage in his life so his other job has had to be left in the background for the time being.
That being said, it isn’t something that he plans on leaving behind for good depending on what happens during his MMA journey.
The 155-pound fighter said that being there for others in their most desperate time of need isn’t something he takes for granted, even if he’s competing at the highest level in MMA.
“Right now, I’m on the leave of absence from work so I’m training full-time. I got to see where my future goes. Obviously, I would love to fight forever and then see what happens after that but I mean, it’s a great career. It’s a great job, it’s great to help people like that. It was always like, you’re going to someone’s house on the worst day of their life like nobody wants that. So you kind of go there with the respect of that, with the courtesy, like you don’t wanna ruin their day anymore than it is. You’re going there to help so whatever that homeowner or that resident needs in that time, that’s what we’re kinda there for.”
On Saturday night, the mixed martial arts leader returned for its latest pay-per-view event, UFC 305.
For the first time this year, the UFC was Down Under this week, where Perth’s RAC Arena played host to the promotion’s latest Australian show. And the promotion brought with it across the globe a notable lineup that included a title fight and a host of intriguing undercard scraps.
The championship clash at the top of the billing saw Dricus Du Plessis and Israel Adesanya’s heated feud finally reach the the Octagon, with the South African’s middleweight belt on the line seven months on from his crowning at the expense of Sean Strickland in “The Great White North.”
Elsewhere, former flyweight title challengers Kai Kara-France and Steve Erceg looked to stake their claims for a second shot at UFC gold in the co-main event, while Oceanic fan favorites Dan Hooker and Tai Tuivasa also hoped to deliver standout triumphs on the main card.
But did all those names come together to put on an entertaining night of fights? Let’s find out with all the positives and negatives from UFC 305.
Jesus Aguilar has two hobbies (among other things, I’m sure. Perhaps he’s partial to some ballroom dancing. Who knows?) — fighting Australians and locking in guillotine chokes. Combining them must have been like Christmas at UFC 305.
The Mexican entered the cage as an underdog for the first fight of the night in Perth, which many expected to be a coming out party for Australia’s newest hot prospect, the previously undefeated Stewart Nicoll.
But the 29-year-old fell to the same fate as his fellow countryman Shannon Ross did at UFC 290 in July 2023 — being left unconscious in the very first round.
In Las Vegas last year, Ross was absolutely obliterated on the feet by Aguilar in just 17 seconds in one of 2023’s most brutal knockouts. Nicoll’s demise came on the ground when he had his strong start rendered null after getting caught in Aguilar’s favorite submission move. The Mexican was, indeed, not silly. When the opportunity presented itself, he jumped the gilly and put Nicoll out — not that anybody bar Aguilar actually noticed.
That left a scary visual of the Aussie wide-eyed as his sleeping body fell back. On another note, could the referee not have maybe caught his head as it thundered onto the canvas? It feels like we regularly see superhero saves from officials in Muay Thai fights over in Asia, but on this occasion, it looked like the ref practically dodged Nicoll’s head.
Regardless, the finish was incredibly impressive from Aguilar, who now has five guillotines out of his six fight-ending chokes.
Accept a bout with Aguilar at your peril, Australian flyweights!
Negative – What One Burns Can Do, The Other Burns… Well, Can’t
With the watering down of the UFC product, there’s been quite a few instances of fighters entering the cage this year who simply aren’t of a sufficient quality to be competing on the sport’s biggest stage.
Herbert Burns, however, is a veteran of that group.
It’s fascinating to watch back Burns’ knockout of Nate Landwehr in 2020. I try not to buy into ‘fluke’ narratives, but that is a compelling one. Since then, the Brazilian has lost four straight by TKO, two of which have been the same type of retirement.
Against both Bill Algeo in 2022 and Jack Jenkins on Saturday night, “The Blaze” — an apt moniker for someone whose UFC career has gone up in smoke — responded to adversity by attempting to pull guard and collapsing to his back when desperation takedowns failed.
After a while of doing so in both instances, Keith Peterson and Marc Goddard waved the bouts off. With the memory of the Algeo fight growing ever clearer as Burns’ UFC 305 bout played out, I remarked to colleagues, “He’ll do it (fall to his back) enough times until Goddard stops it.” Like clockwork.
You know it’s bad when your brother’s own podcast is flaming you on social media, before hastily deleting…
Of course, credit has to go to Jenkins for his performance on home soil. Regardless of the opposition level, “Phar” looked on it in the striking realm. But his crisp boxing wasn’t enough to override the negative that is Burns’ latest disastrous display inside the Octagon.
Negative – A Mess
Well, the UFC 305 featured prelim when swimmingly, didn’t it?
The fight’s conclusion came after the Brazilian clutched onto his Aussie counterpart’s leg and locked in a heel hook. Things suddenly came to an end, with replays showing that Tafa had yelled out in pain. That stoppage ended up being controversial, not because it was wrong, but because the sport’s leading promotion employs commentators who don’t know the ruleset of what they’re tasked with describing to a global audience.
It’s remarkable to say, but we had two legendary former champions, Daniel Cormier and Dominick Cruz, questioning the third man inside the cage. The latter — who never shies away from using his agenda against Keith Peterson to slam referees — even went as far as to group the moment with instances of fighters having their chance to compete cruelly taken away.
Guys…Read. The. Rules.
Verbal tap out: When a contestant verbally announces to the referee that he or she does not wish to continue or makes audible sounds such as screams indicating pain or discomfort.
The fact we had to sit through five minutes of doubting the referee’s decision before texts from those better informed arrived to save the day is yet further evidence as to why Laura Sanko needs to be a permanent fixture on the commentary desk.
#UFC305 Official Result: Valter Walker defeats Junior Tafa by Technical Submission at 4:56 in Round 1.
An unhappy Tafa responded by butting heads with Walker before slapping him. The UFC has been pretty inconsistent when it comes with dealing with similar instances — Khabib Nurmagomedov continued his title reign post-instigating the UFC 229 brawl, while Paul Daley was cut and forever ousted from the promotion for his sucker punch against Josh Koscheck at UFC 113.
What happens next in the career of Tafa remains to be seen, but a release shouldn’t be out of the question.
Positive – Nightmare? I’ll Say
The welterweight division always seems to have one major prospect establishing himself as one to watch, with recent years seeing Shavkat Rakhmonov and Ian Garry following successful arrivals with climbs into title contention.
All signs point toward Carlos Prates joining them soon enough.
There aren’t enough superlatives to do justice to the Brazilian’s performance. He became the first man to knock out Li Jingliang, but his display was by no means defined by a sudden fight-ending sequence. Prates frankly beat “The Leech” up for the best part of nine minutes.
That’s evidently what it was going to take to get the returning Chinese fighter out of there — soften up what’s long been an iron chin with knockdown after knockdown, before uncorking one of the most clubbing hooks in recent memory to finish the job.
Add Prates to the list of, “Oh, he’s on the card? Hell yeah,” fighters in the UFC.
Considering I’m often leaping to the defense of judges, who frequently come under fire from individuals with no concept of how mixed martial arts fights are scored, it feels good to be able to grab a pitchfork this time around.
“Bigi Boy” was clinical with his performance, piecing Tuivasa up while avoiding virtually all of the home favorite’s power shots. Judge Howie Booth, however, must have gotten the red and blue corners confused because it’s hard to see any other explanation for his work at UFC 305.
Thankfully, he was relieved from his duties for the rest of the night (not that it mattered anyway given how the co-main event finished…more on that soon). But, to be honest, that scorecard is so bad that Howie probably shouldn’t be with scorecard in hand ever again.
Even hours later, I’m still trying to recall a scorecard that even comes close. Chris Lee’s 48-47 in favor of Paul Felder over Rafael dos Anjos, perhaps?
It’s 2024 and Dan Hooker is in the lightweight top five (or at least should be come next week’s update). Redemption arcs don’t come much better than that.
Hooker entered the cage at UFC 305 with an almighty task ahead of him, getting his wish to feature on the card granted in the form of a showdown with the highly regarded Mateusz Gamrot. Be it odds, fans, or analysts, basically every metric had “The Hangman” falling short to the smothering grappling of “Gamer.”
Round one saw both men exchange knockdowns, before the second frame was more a tail of the Polish fighter’s control versus Hooker’s strikes while defending Gamrot’s wrestling. And the concluding stanza was just a war that can be summed up by two-and-a-half minutes of striking success each.
Judge that.
Two cageside scorers ultimately leant the way of “The Hangman,” and with that he’s rendered the 1-4 run he entered UFC 281 in 2022 riding a distance memory. And with three straight wins and a triumph over a name like Gamrot, he is well and truly back in the mix.
If Dustin Poirier is looking for one last hurrah…rematch, anyone?
He wants it ALL! 😤@DanTheHangman is talkin' his talk after beating Mateusz Gamrot at #UFC305!
Speaking of underdogs who made a mockery of their betting lines…
Steve Erceg was perhaps one or two ill-advised takedowns away from a shock title win in Brazil this past May. And his efforts left many heavily favoring him to bounce back at the expense of the returning Kai Kara-France at UFC 305.
But in the words of the New Zealander’s teammate Israel Adesanya, “Y’all must have forgot.”
With Kai Asakura’s signing and Kara-France’s emphatic performance on Saturday night, Alexandre Pantoja isn’t short on possible challenges. And with that, the flyweight division remains among the most exciting, and one in which you absolutely should not blink.
it always seemed unlikely that the UFC 305 main event would disappoint. It was just always going to deliver, wasn’t it? But even so, what we got in Perth was special.
Add in a bit of a feud, the story of Adesanya’s return, and Du Plessis’ continued habit of proving his sizable group of doubters wrong, and you’ve got all the ingredients for a Fight of the Year contender.
Through three rounds, I had the champ leading 29-28, but that was by no means a clear and easy score. As has been the case with the South African in the past, the tale was his power shorts versus his opponents’ volume. In the end, after that had already put him up on the scorecards, “Stillknocks” connected hard in a fourth frame that had been all Adesanya, eventually putting him down and locking in a rear-naked choke.
The positives here are all around, from the entertaining nature of the fight to the pair’s respectful exchange in the Octagon in the aftermath to Adesanya’s humble approach to another setback.
Du Plessis, of course, deserves the main plaudits. He is beginning to amass a largely unrivaled résumé in the UFC, with his 8-0 record including a knockout of Robert Whittaker and the feat of being the first to submit another all-time great in “The Last Stylebender.”
UFC lightweight champion Islam Makhachev has made it very clear that competing at a higher weight class is in his future plans.
The pound-for-pound #1 wants to add a second belt to his collection after giving Alexander Volkanovski the opportunity to do the same on two occasions.
Having had a behind the scenes look at one of Makhachev’s earlier UFC fight weeks, Ricky Glenn is surprised that it hasn’t happened already.
Makhachev’s coach and long-time teammate Khabib Nurmagomedov cut a lot of weight in order to make 155-pounds and it caused issues at points in his career.
Whilst the current champion hasn’t had too many concerns in recent years, Glenn recently recalled his experiences of watching what he would put himself through to make the 155 pound limit.
Ricky Glenn Recalls Watching Islam Makhachev Train Like A ‘Zombie’ During Tough Weight Cut
Glenn is set to return this weekend at UFC 305 where he will compete at welterweight for the first time in his UFC career against Song Kenan.
When giving his thoughts on Makhachev’s current title reign, Glenn recalled how he previously shared a training room with him during fight week for the Iowa native’s UFC debut back in 2016.
He said that he wouldn’t be surprised to see someone stop the current champion in the future if he remains at lightweight, with what he puts his body through to make the weight.
In fact, this fight week that Glenn was reflecting on saw Makhachev bounce back from his one and only career defeat, when he was knocked out by Adriano Martins at UFC 192.
“He’s just on a whole other level and he cuts a lot of weight. I’m surprised he hasn’t moved up because man, I’ve shared a training room with him. I think it was, it might have been my debut fight, he fought Chris [Wade] but days before weigh-ins and just zaps. Could barely move and they’re just throwing punches like this fast, it’s just super slow, like a zombie.
“But, he makes the weight somehow and can recover but I’d be worried eventually if he can’t recover good enough, someone’s going to TKO or knock him out I think with cutting that much weight. It’s impressive how much he cuts and fills back up.”
Several big fights are to take place in the UFC’s middleweight division following the title fight this weekend between Dricus Du Plessis and Israel Adesanya.
Though their fight would likely be a title eliminator in most circumstances, the five round co-main event of UFC 308 in October between Robert Whittaker and Khamzat Chimaev also has the potential to set either man up for a shot at the belt.
Brendan Allen Says That He No Longer Sees Robert Whittaker & Other Top Contenders The Same Way
In a recent interview with MMA News, Allen was asked to give his thoughts on this rescheduled match-up between Whittaker and Chimaev that could have an impact on his bout with Imavov.
When approaching the subject of the former champion, he spoke about how his opinion of Whittaker has changed over the years.
Allen is currently riding a seven-fight win streak that puts him right in the mix with the top names at 185-pounds.
As a result, he now sees his fellow contenders as competition rather than fighters that he is able to admire from the outside looking in.
“I used to be a big fan of Robert [Whittaker], I’m not really anymore but I used to be a big fan. I’m just, I don’t know, it’s like maybe it’s just one of those things, how the idols become your rival type thing. Now I just like, I don’t f*** with any of y’all. I want y’all to know that I don’t f*** with any of y’all. So, I don’t know, I just mind my business and try to stay to myself just because I don’t want any problems with nobody but as soon as someone ask me something, I’m going to answer how I want to answer and then they’re going to feel some type of way and whatever.”
UFC middleweight contender Brendan Allen believes the result of Dricus Du Plessis’ upcoming first title defense will be determined by which version of Israel Adesanya shows up.
Seven months on from reaching the throne with his perfect UFC record intact, Du Plessis will look to add another achievement to his ever-growing résumé on mixed martial arts’ biggest stage by successfully defending the title for the first time.
To do so, the South African is tasked with stalling the three-time ambitions of Adesanya in the main event of Saturday’s UFC 305 pay-per-view, set for the RAC Arena in Perth, Australia.
In the lead-up to his comeback from an 11-month layoff post-shock defeat to Sean Strickland, Adesanya has dismissed regaining the 185-pound gold as being his focus, instead stating that he’s back to “take heads.”
Whatever his motivation is, Allen thinks it has to be strong enough to bring back the formidable Adesanya who got the better of names like Alex Pereira and Paulo Costa if he’s to have his hand raised on August 17…
Allen On Du Plessis vs. Adesanya: ‘If It’s The Motivated Izzy…’
The #7-ranked contender suggested the result will be determined by which iteration of Adesanya returns to action. Rejuvenated and motivated? ‘And new’. Lackluster? ‘And still’.
“To be honest, I really don’t care (who wins). I don’t like either one of them,” Allen told MMA News. “I’m gonna watch it, of course, because I want to see. But I don’t care. I think we’ll see what Izzy comes back and how he’s been. I think that’s a big tell; what Izzy comes back. Is it a resurged, re-energized Izzy? Or is it like, ‘I don’t know if I wanna be here.’ It’s easy to talk it, it’s easy to watch it, it’s easy to fake it. But you can’t fake it when it’s fight time. That’s the only time we’ll know for sure.
“Obviously Dricus is super confident. He’s at the height of his career. He’s insanely confident, insanely lucky,” Allen continued. “I don’t know, man. I don’t really care who wins. To me, it just depends which Izzy comes back. if it’s the motivated Izzy, I would say Izzy. If it’s the Izzy that fought like, Paulo or Alex the last time, that Izzy is a tough Izzy to beat, man. … If it’s the lackluster one, i don’t think he’s gonna win. Dricus is just gonna keep pushing the pace.”
But before attention on the middleweight division turns to that co-headliner in the French capital this fall, all eyes are on the impending grudge match between Du Plessis and Adesanya Down Under.
UFC middleweight contender Brendan Allen is not impressed by Nassourdine Imavov’s alleged decision not to share the cage over 25 minutes next month.
Allen will head to enemy territory to throw down with a fellow up-and-comer at 185 pounds in Imavov at the Paris-held UFC Fight Night on September 28. The pair will co-headline the event, much to the American’s frustration.
With five-round co-main events becoming more common, Allen says he pushed for that against “The Sniper,” but the Frenchman refused. Having had three of his last four outings scheduled for 25 minutes, the 28-year-old is not pleased about Imavov’s apparent reluctance to prepare for the longer distance…
Allen Tells Imavov: You Want To Fight For The Title? 5 Rounds Is How You Do It
During a recent interview with MMA News’ Ryan Jarrell, Allen looked ahead to his second Octagon appearance of 2024, which comes a few months on from his memorable victory over Chris Curtis in their barnburner at the Apex.
That result added to “All In’s” five-round experience, and Imavov isn’t short on it himself having gone the 25-minute distance with both Sean Strickland and Roman Dolidze, as well as recently entering a fourth frame with Jared Cannonier prior to the TKO stoppage.
Despite that, though, Allen says the three-round stipulation for the Paris co-main event is entirely down to Imavov and his team, a decision he has a firm view on.
“Some people just need all the deck in their favor to try to win. But it’s not gonna be enough. I’m still gonna win,” Allen told MMA News. “I accepted the five rounds; I asked for the five rounds. I’ve heard the explanations but I still don’t agree or understand it. But it’s above my pay grade. I think it’s bullsh*t that 10 and 12 guys are main event over four and seven, where we have title contentions possibly surrounding our fight.
“I think it’s kind of a b*tch move that he (Imavov) doesn’t want to accept five rounds. Even as a co-main, he doesn’t want to accept five rounds,” Allen continued. “You wanna fight for the belt? You wanna stake your claim? Like, that’s how you do it. You go out there and win a five-round fight, even if it doesn’t go five rounds. … I don’t fully understand his reasoning, but I understand their logic. Some people just need all the cards in their favor as much as possible.”
Regardless, Allen will still be looking to deliver a standout performance in the French capital to stake his claim for a long-awaited first shot at title glory on mixed martial arts’ biggest stage.
Having already won seven straight, perhaps the addition of the #4-ranked contender to his ever-growing résumé is the piece of the puzzle Allen needs to secure his spot opposite the champion next time out.
UFC welterweight veteran Neil Magny still has his eyes on the ultimate prize, and he’s being spurred on by similar late-career success stories.
Magny has long had the largely unwanted ‘gatekeeper’ label attached to him at 170 pounds, a weight class in which he holds the records for most wins, most fights, and most Octagon time.
His most recent victory over Malott came in memorable fashion, as Magny overcame a two-round deficit to stall the highly regarded Canadian’s expected arrival into contention with just 15 seconds remaining at UFC 297 this past January.
And it’ll be a similar assignment for Magny later this month, with the New York City native tasked with defending his spot against another up-and-comer in the unbeaten Michael Morales at the UFC Fight Night on August 24. The bout will mark his first fight since signing a new four-fight contract.
The welterweight vet is expecting to have his hand raised, and more than just keeping out the hungry prospects, he still has his eyes on gold…
Magny Wants To Be More Than Just ‘Competitive’ As He Approaches 40
During an interview with MMA News, Magny looked ahead to his second Octagon outing of 2024 and reiterated his continued championship hopes on mixed martial arts’ biggest stage.
Title success at such a late age is rare, but certainly not unheard of. Magny specifically pointed to the careers of Glover Teixeira and Randy Couture, both of whom had gold wrapped around their waist after passing 40.
“I have the opportunity to go out there and show them (UFC) I’m still able to be one of the best guys in the world,” Magny said. “Realistically, I have to look at what some of the guys have done before; look at guys like Glover Teixeira and that kind of thing. Glover Teixeira was not only able to be competitive well into his early forties, but also win a championship at 42.
“So, when I look at guys in MMA for longevity, I’m not just looking at guys who were able to just show up to fight and have a coin toss, ‘Maybe I win, maybe I lose.’ I’m looking at the guys who were able to compete at a high level,” Magny continued. “Glover Teixeira, Randy Couture; those guys are the actual examples for the guys that managed to be successful and very competitive well into their forties. For me, that’s my standard. Those are the guys that have done it before, that let us know it could be done.”
Magny will look to move closer to joining the likes of Teixeira and Couture in the champs’ club by making it two wins from two fights against highly touted prospects in 2024.
The UFC just announced their August 24 card headlined by Jared Cannonier vs. Caio Borralho with Neil Magny vs. Michael Morales serving as the co-main event.
Neil Magny will have plenty of chances to extend his lead for multiple UFC records after extending his stint on mixed martial arts’ biggest stage.
Magny — a welterweight veteran who boasts the most wins, most fights, and most Octagon time in the division’s history — has exchanged wins and losses since 2022. But he’s coming off a major result from UFC 297 this past January, where he stalled the surge of the highly touted Mike Malott.
And following that major comeback in Canada, “The Haitian Sensation” has been rewarded with a fresh UFC contract.
The 37-year-old, who has competed inside the Octagon ever since a successful debut at UFC 157 in 2013, revealed to MMA News that he’s put pen to paper on a new four-fight deal with the promotion.
“I just signed a new four-fight contract,” Magny said. “We have four more to go out there and get the job done; continue to climb the ranks, continue getting things done, and keep moving forward.
“I’m happy (with the money), definitely thrilled,” Magny continued. “We invested a lot of real estate for my family and I after this fight, so I’m definitely thrilled about it.”
Magny To Kickstart New UFC Deal Against Another Rising Name On Aug. 24
After putting a stop to Malott’s charge for the time being, the #12-ranked contender must once again defend his position on the ladder from a man outside the top 15, the undefeated Michael Morales.
The Ecuadorian will have the biggest assignment of his young career to date when the pair collide at the upcoming Apex-held UFC Fight Night on August 24.
At 16-0 as a professional, the 25-year-old has shown significant promise to date, most recently by recording his fourth UFC victory at the expense of Australia’s Jake Matthews last November.
While Morales will have ambitions of a rise into contention by the end of this month, Magny has proved time and again that he is no easy path into the welterweight rankings, and “The Haitian Sensation” will look to show that once more by blemishing the prospect’s record.
On Saturday, the mixed martial arts leader returned for its latest event, UFC Fight Night: Cory Sandhagen vs. Umar Nurmagomedov.
After staging its return to Manchester, England, for the UFC 304 pay-per-view last weekend, MMA’s leading promotion remained on the road for a card inside the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi.
Before returning to the venue for its annual numbered event this October (Topuria vs. Holloway! Topuria vs. Holloway! Topuria vs. Holloway!), the UFC put on a Fight Night event topped by elite bantamweight contenders Cory Sandhagen and Umar Nurmagomedov. The former interim title challenger and his undefeated Russian opponent were looking to stake their claims for a shot at the winner of Sean O’Malley vs. Merab Dvalishvili.
Saturday’s co-headliner, meanwhile, saw another fighter look to keep their 0 as Sharabutdin Magomedov attempted to make it three from three in the UFC at the expense of Michał Oleksiejczuk.
Before that, a second crucial contest at 135 pounds went down. Making the walk for the first time since his defeat to O’Malley in their UFC 299 title fight, Marlon Vera hoped to revive his championship ambitions by stalling the two-weight goals of ex-flyweight kingpin Deiveson Figueiredo.
Elsewhere on the lineup, the likes of former interim lightweight champion Tony Ferguson and strawweight submission specialist Mackenzie Dern were among those in action. But did those names come together to put on an entertaining few hours of MMA action?
Let’s find out with all the positives and negatives from UFC Fight Night: Sandhagen vs. Nurmagomedov.
UFC Fight Night Abu Dhabi started out with zero finishes and a judging horror show. Not exactly ideal, is it?
In one of the many decisions that kicked off the preliminary card on Saturday, Sam Hughes handed Victoria Dudakova the first defeat of her career, outpointing the Russian on two of the three judges’ scorecards after three rounds.
But the win for “Sampage” (surely top three for the worst nicknames in MMA? Sorry, Sam) wasn’t a certainty as Bruce Buffer read out the scorecards. That was courtesy of Howard Hughes, who showed that he has no business sitting cageside by scoring all three rounds for Dudakova.
Two? Justifiable. But to give the second frame to the 25-year-old is utterly ludicrous.
I largely don’t buy into judging criticism when plenty of ‘robbery’ cries derive from lost bets and fan favorites not getting the nod. But put Howie’s Saturday scorecard in the group of genuinely terrible verdicts in 2024.
At what point do we accept that the “No Nonsense” Keith Peterson does, indeed, allow nonsense?!
A week on from a UFC 304 event that saw fence grabs galore and the most egregious instance of cheating in recent memory from Muhammad Mokaev — none of which were actually punished with point deductions, by the way — referee incompetence also arrived in the Middle East.
In fairness to Peterson, he was tasked with watching the heavyweightest of heavyweight fights in Don’Tale Mayes vs. Shamil Gaziev. I’m not sure there’s a human in the world who could have watched that slop and stayed focused on their task.
During one exchange that saw the one-time UFC headliner (a travesty) initiate grappling and push Mayes up against the cage, the American had a handful of Gaziev’s shorts and kept ahold despite the ref’s firm warning.
Peterson broke things up and took a point, right? RIGHT?! Of course not, he simply said he would, and then didn’t. Rules do not exist in MMA, folks. The worst part about this is, if Peterson was going to take zero action, why pause the fight and hamper Gaziev’s momentum in that position?
I don’t often agree with Daniel Cormier’s commentary, but his take was so spot on that it’s only right to let him close out this negative…
"I'd love to commit a crime and Keith to be the judge"
Daniel Cormier speaking the truth after Keith Peterson refuses to take a point away for that foul grabbing the shorts rather egregiously #UFCAbuDhabi
Outside of a few names (Alex Pereira, Jiří Procházka, and co.), the light heavyweight division isn’t exactly the most enthralling. But one man who is quickly joining the top figures on Mt. Entertainment excelled again in Abu Dhabi.
That man is Azamat Murzakanov, a hard-fisted Russian who has remained unbeaten in his career through four appearances inside the Octagon thus far. That run has seen only one bout go the distance, and of his three knockouts, the most brutal came at the Etihad Arena on Saturday.
The victim of his charge was Alonzo Menifield, who returned less than three months on from a 12-second KO at the hands of Carlos Ulberg. While not quite as quick, Murzakanov sent “Atomic” to a similar fate, putting him on wobbly legs with some hard punches before utterly flattening him with ground-and-pound for the stoppage.
While wins over the likes of Dustin Jacoby and Menifield make it hard to tout “The Professional” for title contention at 205 pounds at this point, he’s certainly a major threat to those above him in the ladder. And if he keeps delivering finishes like the kind he did on Saturday, we’re in for some fun.
I assume many may have been in the same boat when I say that Joel Álvarez is a name I’d largely forgotten about leading in to the latest UFC Fight Night event.
In all fairness, the Spaniard hadn’t competed in over a year since his submission of Marc Diakiese in London. “El Fenómeno” had previously had his undefeated UFC record blemished in vicious and bloody fashion by some Arman Tsarukyan elbows.
With one fight in three straight calendar years, Álvarez was in need of some momentum after having two canceled fights already in 2024. Well, consider momentum acquired, and consider his name firmly back in our minds.
For his comeback fight, the Spanish standout was tasked with adding to the woes of the highly regarded Elves Brener. The Brazilian broke through in 2023 with a 3-0 year that saw him finish seventh for MMA News’ Newcomer of the Year award, but his first outing of 2024 concluded with him falling to the fast-charging Myktybek Orolbai.
And Brener was unable to bounce back in Abu Dhabi, as Alvarez put on a mightily fine performance en route to a TKO in the third and final round. The finish was set up by some brutal knees, before ground-and-pound got the job done.
Back in the Octagon, back on a win streak, and back on the radar at 155 pounds.
Like most, a loss is always the expected outcome when I see “El Cucuy” enter the cage these days. But even with that outlook on his floundering career, the rapid nature of his submission loss to Michael Chiesa was a surprise.
A retirement has been overdue for a while now, but after losses to Pimblett and “Maverick” to leave him with the unwanted record of suffering the most straight defeats in UFC history, there can be zero doubt about what the future should hold for Ferguson.
Unfortunately, while the gloves came off and it appeared as though Chiesa had passed over his microphone time for the end, Ferguson only half-retired. And in all honesty, with his frequent remarks about making another run as recently as last year, that’s as good as calling for another five-fight contract in the case of “El Cucuy.”
Given how long this term has been appropriate, it’s no longer right to say ‘it’s time’ for him to call it quits. It’s time for the UFC to do so for him.
Deiveson Figueiredo is absolutely a problem in the bantamweight division.
Although a move up appeared clearly due following the end of his second stint on the flyweight throne, I’m not sure many predicted this kind of start to life at 135 pounds for “Deus Da Guerra.”
His debut against Rob Font was slick and impressive. His finish of Cody Garbrandt at UFC 300 added a former champion to his record in the division. His domination of Marlon Vera has no doubt earned him a top-five ranking.
More than just outpointing “Chito” in Abu Dhabi, Figueiredo became the first to knock the Ecuadorian down — a feat that even Sean O’Malley and his knee failed to achieve at UFC 299 this past March.
We’ve had more heavyweight UFC main events in 2024 than bantamweight. Has there ever been a bigger farce in mixed martial arts?
For all the Shamil Gaziev vs. Jairzinho Rozenstruiks we have to sit through, there’s one reason we keep watching. Because a Cory Sandhagen vs. Umar Nurmagomedov could come along eventually.
Talent! Actual fighting talent, with technique, and strategy, and tactics. As expected, “The Sandman” and his undefeated Russian opponent battled in a highly entertaining chess match to close out Saturday’s UFC Fight Night in Abu Dhabi.
The man having his hand raised at the end of it was Nurmagomedov, who rose to the occasion in what marked by far the toughest test of his blossoming career to date. And while his title ambitions have taken a slight hit, it’s hard to say Sandhagen’s stock dipped.
A round of applause for a bantamweight main event, folks — only the second of the year and the first not to include the title. Would it take a rocket scientist to explain that there are 50 different 135-pound matchups that would be better headliners than the Marcin Tybura vs. Serghei Spivac atrocity we’re in for next weekend?
