vs
-135 +130
UFC Fight Night: Aspinall vs. Tybura · Jul 22, 2023 · Bantamweight · Completed
Prev Fight UFC Fight Night: Aspinall vs. Tybura Next Fight
Age 33
Height 5' 7"
Reach 69.0"
Weight 135 lbs.
Stance Orthodox
Age 40
Height 5' 8"
Reach 69.0"
Weight 135 lbs.
Stance Orthodox
Career Averages - Daniel Marcos
4.9 SLpM
53.0% Str. Acc.
3.79 SApM
61.0% Str. Def.
1.35 TD Avg
52.0% TD Acc.
85.0% TD Def.
0.1 Sub. Avg
Career Averages - Davey Grant
5.14 SLpM
44.0% Str. Acc.
3.82 SApM
55.0% Str. Def.
1.03 TD Avg
40.0% TD Acc.
63.0% TD Def.
0.2 Sub. Avg
Daniel Marcos
Moneyline
BetMGM -135
KO/TKO
FanDuel +270
Submission
BetWay +2000
Decision
FanDuel +200
Davey Grant
Moneyline
BetRivers +130
KO/TKO
BetRivers +525
Submission
FanDuel +750
Decision
BetRivers +390
Daniel Marcos - Fight History
WIN vs Miles Johns
Submission R2 4:23 · UFC Fight Night: Bonfim vs. Brown · Nov 08, 2025
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Miles Johns 0 28 of 54 51% 33 of 61 0 of 1 0% 0 0 1:34
Daniel Marcos 0 27 of 47 57% 42 of 69 3 of 4 75% 1 0 3:59
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Miles Johns 0 8 of 20 40% 13 of 25 0 of 1 0% 0 0 1:19
Daniel Marcos 0 12 of 21 57% 25 of 35 1 of 1 100% 0 0 1:36
2 Miles Johns 0 20 of 34 58% 20 of 36 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:15
Daniel Marcos 0 15 of 26 57% 17 of 34 2 of 3 66% 1 0 2:23
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Miles Johns 28 of 54 51% 21 of 45 3 of 5 4 of 4 28 of 49 0 of 5 0 of 0
Daniel Marcos 27 of 47 57% 15 of 33 8 of 10 4 of 4 14 of 34 13 of 13 0 of 0
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Miles Johns 8 of 20 40% 4 of 16 1 of 1 3 of 3 8 of 17 0 of 3 0 of 0
Daniel Marcos 12 of 21 57% 5 of 13 5 of 6 2 of 2 3 of 12 9 of 9 0 of 0
2 Miles Johns 20 of 34 58% 17 of 29 2 of 4 1 of 1 20 of 32 0 of 2 0 of 0
Daniel Marcos 15 of 26 57% 10 of 20 3 of 4 2 of 2 11 of 22 4 of 4 0 of 0
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Confident picked Nov 2, 2025 (6 days before fight)
Daniel Marcos

Angelo picks Daniel Marcos because of his superior cardio and cleaner striking. He notes that Miles Johns will come out hot and win the first round, but will fade as the fight goes on, allowing Marcos to take over. He also mentions a potential bet on Miles Johns plus 3.5 rounds, as Johns is likely to win one round.

Miles Johns plus 3.5 rounds (spread bet)
"Daniel's probably the cleaner overall striker. Miles has more power. As long as Daniel avoids the haymakers, I'm expecting him to win here."
BI
Big Brady Expert Hesitant picked Nov 7, 2025 (1 day before fight)
Miles Johns

Big Brady sees this as a close fight, noting that Daniel Marcos has a nice record but he thought Marcos lost the Davey Grant fight. He mentions Miles Johns has a wrestling background and surprisingly good cardio lately, while Marcos has slowed down in past fights. He favors Marcos' distance striking but thinks Johns has more power and the fight goes to a split decision, leaning toward Johns due to the corrupt judges.

split decision
"I'm going to leave Miles John's here in a very close fight, but I think this fight has split decision written all over it."
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Confident picked Nov 5, 2025 (3 days before fight)
Miles Johns

Cody picks Johns as a dog, citing his improved performance against Matsumoto and Marcos' inconsistency. He thinks Johns' wrestling and volume can earn him a decision.

"Give me dog money here on Miles Johns."
LU
Lucrative James Expert picked Nov 2, 2025 (6 days before fight)

Lucrative James does not provide a clear pick for this fight. He discusses Adrian Yanez vs Christian Quinones instead, which is not on the card. He mentions Miles Johns and Daniel Marcos only in passing, but does not give a prediction.

MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Nov 6, 2025 (2 days before fight)
Daniel Marcos

The host believes Marcos has a better all-around game and will pick Johns apart from distance, especially by chewing away at the lead leg. This should slow Johns down and allow Marcos to win on the scorecards in deep water.

"I think Marcos will showcase a better all-around game, picking apart Jon's from distance and really chewing away at that lead leg."
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Lean picked Nov 5, 2025 (3 days before fight)
Miles Johns

Paul leans Johns but is passing due to uncertainty. He notes both fighters' inconsistency and the short-notice changes, but likes Johns at plus money.

"I'm going to say Dogger Pass, and I'm going to take Johns as the pick."
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Nov 6, 2025 (2 days before fight)
Daniel Marcos

The Guru picks Daniel Marcos over Miles Johns. He notes that Marcos has been competitive with top bantamweights like Davy Grant and Montel Jackson, while Johns is on a two-fight losing streak. He highlights Marcos's nasty knees up the middle as a key factor against the stationary Johns. He predicts a TKO finish, as Johns doesn't move enough to avoid Marcos's pressure.

"I'm going to take Daniel Marcos to win this fight via TKO."
LOSS vs Montel Jackson
Decision R3 5:00 · UFC on ESPN: Sandhagen vs. Figueiredo · May 03, 2025
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Montel Jackson 0 30 of 66 45% 67 of 106 2 of 8 25% 1 0 3:37
Daniel Marcos 0 17 of 32 53% 24 of 43 3 of 7 42% 0 0 5:45
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Montel Jackson 0 4 of 12 33% 22 of 31 1 of 4 25% 0 0 2:07
Daniel Marcos 0 4 of 7 57% 7 of 11 1 of 1 100% 0 0 1:26
2 Montel Jackson 0 15 of 28 53% 22 of 37 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:26
Daniel Marcos 0 7 of 12 58% 7 of 12 1 of 4 25% 0 0 1:55
3 Montel Jackson 0 11 of 26 42% 23 of 38 1 of 3 33% 1 0 1:04
Daniel Marcos 0 6 of 13 46% 10 of 20 1 of 2 50% 0 0 2:24
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Montel Jackson 30 of 66 45% 25 of 58 1 of 3 4 of 5 27 of 62 3 of 4 0 of 0
Daniel Marcos 17 of 32 53% 5 of 18 5 of 7 7 of 7 13 of 27 3 of 4 1 of 1
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Montel Jackson 4 of 12 33% 2 of 8 1 of 2 1 of 2 3 of 11 1 of 1 0 of 0
Daniel Marcos 4 of 7 57% 2 of 4 1 of 2 1 of 1 3 of 6 1 of 1 0 of 0
2 Montel Jackson 15 of 28 53% 12 of 25 0 of 0 3 of 3 15 of 28 0 of 0 0 of 0
Daniel Marcos 7 of 12 58% 1 of 5 2 of 3 4 of 4 5 of 10 1 of 1 1 of 1
3 Montel Jackson 11 of 26 42% 11 of 25 0 of 1 0 of 0 9 of 23 2 of 3 0 of 0
Daniel Marcos 6 of 13 46% 2 of 9 2 of 2 2 of 2 5 of 11 1 of 2 0 of 0
Play-by-Play
View on Sherdog
Montel Jackson vs. Daniel Marcos
BETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Jackson (-205), Marcos (+170)

Round 1
Bantamweights are up again in Des Moines, this time red-hot rising contenders Marcos and Jackson, with Gary Copeland on referee duty. Jackson is southpaw, Marcos orthodox, and they exchange a couple of glancing punches from outside before Marcos closes the distance and clinches with the much taller American. Jackson grounds Marcos with a beautiful foot sweep, and takes top position in Marcos’ guard. He lets “Soncora” up quickly, and they go back to kickboxing, where Marcos continues to try and solve the puzzle of Jackson’s huge height and reach advantages. They clinch again, this time with Marcos’ back against the fence, and Jackson drives his knee into Marcos’ thigh and midsection before they break off and move away from the fence. Marcos rushes forward and pushes Jackson to the fence, where he takes a turn firing short knees as they vie for head position and wrist control. Marcos changes levels, peels Jackson off the fence and takes him down. Marcos is in Jackson’s guard, but only briefly, as Jackson hips out, gives his back up and stands. He turns to face Marcos, completing the escape, just before the horn.

Sherdog Scores
Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-9 Jackson
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Jackson
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Jackson

Round 2
Marcos comes forward, working to navigate his foe’s reach by springing in with big overhand rights. Marcos jumps in again, but this time he changes levels and completes a takedown in the center of the Octagon. Marcos is in Jackson’s guard, but Jackson will not concede the position, keeping his hips active and looking to get his feet on Marcos’ hips and kick him off. Marcos lets his man up and they go back to work on the feet. Jackson is connecting with a fast, long jab that comes up from near his beltline, while Marcos is keeping his chin tucked and looking for his moment to land a big punch. Marcos steps into the pocket and shoves Jackson to the fence, where they exchange a couple of blows in close before breaking the clinch. Marcos wades right back into range and drives the taller man to the cage again. He locks his hands and, after a moment’s adjustment, hoists Jackson and puts him on the ground. Jackson springs right back to his feet and they move back to the fence. Jackson reverses position and is pushing Marcos into the chain-link at the end of the round.

Sherdog Scores
Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-9 Jackson
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Jackson
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Jackson

Round 3
The final round begins with Marcos landing a nice body kick to the open side. Jackson comes back with a pair of punches, one of which might have grazed Marcos’ right eye in an awkward way, as he comes away guarding that side of his face closely. Jackson moves in and tries for a takedown near the fence, but Marcos sprawls well in close quarters. Marcos goes for a takedown of his own and gets Jackson off his feet, then moves to the back as Jackson gets back up. Marcos works from standing back control for a few moments before Jackson spins out of his grasp and off of the fence. Marcos immediately closes the distance again, bending at the waist and trying to pull Jackson’s hips away from the cage. Jackson turns his back and Marcos takes a rear waistlock, but he can only get off a few knees to the thigh before Jackson escapes again. Jackson comes forward, stalking a suddenly tired-looking Marcos, and gets an easy takedown. As Marcos stands, Jackson snares him in a D’Arce choke, dragging him back to the mat as he does so. Marcos remains calm and defends against the choke, but the final horn sounds seconds later, possibly without “Soncora” having landed a single strike this round. Barring some extreme judging malfeasance, one of the UFC’s two dozen or so undefeated fighters is about to go down.

Sherdog Scores
Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-9 Jackson (30-27 Jackson)
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Jackson (30-27 Jackson)
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Jackson (30-27 Jackson)

The Official Result
Montel Jackson def. Daniel Marcos via Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Confident picked Apr 27, 2025 (6 days before fight)
Daniel Marcos

Angelo goes against the public and picks Daniel Marcos as an underdog. He trusts Marcos's cardio and takedown defense, and believes he can win a close decision similar to his last fight. He suggests a +3.5 spread bet if the odds remain wide.

Interested in +3.5 spread if odds widen
"I'm picking Daniel Marcos."
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked Apr 29, 2025 (4 days before fight)
Montel Jackson

Big Brady picks Montel Jackson, citing his significant height and reach advantage, power, and wrestling upside. He notes that Jackson's losses came against wrestlers who took him down, but Marcos is not a wrestler; Jackson may get takedowns instead. Brady questions Marcos's ceiling, pointing out close decisions against Adrien Yanez and Davey Grant, where Grant outlanded Marcos. He expects Jackson to win a decision, mixing in wrestling and landing big shots.

Decision win
"I'm going to go Jackson here. I think he wins by decision."
CO
Connor Ruebusch Expert Hesitant picked May 1, 2025 (2 days before fight)
Daniel Marcos

Connor picks Marcos, believing his defensive awareness and ability to slip past length will neutralize Jackson's reach. He notes that Jackson's striking is aimless and he has struggled against pressure fighters like Brent Johns and Ricky Simone. Connor thinks Marcos can get inside and land meaningful shots, and that Jackson's lack of process will be exposed. However, he admits Marcos tends to walk a fine line and doesn't control fights completely.

Same odds commentary as Zane.
"I have faith in Daniel Marcos in this one... I think Jackson is quite easy to pressure and push around the cage at range."
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked May 1, 2025 (2 days before fight)
Montel Jackson

Jackson will shut down Marcos's calf kicking and grappling game. He will land his big power and muscle Marcos, getting a KO finish within 10 minutes.

KO within 10 minutes
"Jackson shuts down the calf kicking and grappling game of Marcos, landing his big power, musling Marcos and eventually getting that KO finish within 10 minutes."
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Apr 30, 2025 (3 days before fight)
Montel Jackson

The MMA Guru picks Montel Jackson to win by TKO in the first or second round. He praises Jackson's power, reach, and wrestling defense, noting that he has never been held down. He believes Daniel Marcos lacks the grappling threat and power to trouble Jackson, and that Jackson will find a finish. He thinks Jackson should be a -250 favorite, so -198 is good value.

TKO in round 1 or 2, good value at -198
"I've got Montel Jackson getting this one done and I think he wins it by TKO."
ZA
Zane Simon Expert Hesitant picked May 1, 2025 (2 days before fight)
Montel Jackson

Zane picks Jackson, citing his size, reach, and fight-changing power as key advantages. He notes that Marcos has never faced a fighter with Jackson's physical attributes and may struggle to get inside. Zane acknowledges that Marcos is skilled and defensively aware, but worries that Jackson's power will be the difference if Marcos can't neutralize the reach. He admits it's a close fight and not confident.

Odds: Jackson -190, Marcos +165. Zane thinks the odds should be closer.
"I think I'm gonna pick Jackson... I think he has the fight changing power that Marcos does not have."
WIN vs Adrian Yañez
Decision (split) (28–29, 30–27, 29–28) R3 5:00 · UFC on ESPN: Covington vs. Buckley · Dec 14, 2024
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Daniel Marcos 0 79 of 183 43% 85 of 189 0 of 1 0% 0 0 1:15
Adrian Yañez 0 86 of 147 58% 95 of 156 2 of 4 50% 0 0 3:23
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Daniel Marcos 0 24 of 55 43% 29 of 60 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:23
Adrian Yañez 0 29 of 46 63% 30 of 47 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:46
2 Daniel Marcos 0 41 of 98 41% 41 of 98 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Adrian Yañez 0 39 of 70 55% 39 of 70 0 of 2 0% 0 0 0:00
3 Daniel Marcos 0 14 of 30 46% 15 of 31 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:52
Adrian Yañez 0 18 of 31 58% 26 of 39 2 of 2 100% 0 0 2:37
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Daniel Marcos 79 of 183 43% 57 of 156 8 of 10 14 of 17 79 of 182 0 of 1 0 of 0
Adrian Yañez 86 of 147 58% 60 of 111 9 of 16 17 of 20 81 of 142 3 of 3 2 of 2
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Daniel Marcos 24 of 55 43% 15 of 46 2 of 2 7 of 7 24 of 55 0 of 0 0 of 0
Adrian Yañez 29 of 46 63% 14 of 30 4 of 5 11 of 11 27 of 44 2 of 2 0 of 0
2 Daniel Marcos 41 of 98 41% 29 of 82 5 of 6 7 of 10 41 of 97 0 of 1 0 of 0
Adrian Yañez 39 of 70 55% 29 of 52 5 of 10 5 of 8 39 of 70 0 of 0 0 of 0
3 Daniel Marcos 14 of 30 46% 13 of 28 1 of 2 0 of 0 14 of 30 0 of 0 0 of 0
Adrian Yañez 18 of 31 58% 17 of 29 0 of 1 1 of 1 15 of 28 1 of 1 2 of 2
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Confident picked Dec 8, 2024 (6 days before fight)
Adrian Yañez

Angelo picks Yañez as the better boxer with faster hands, expecting a striking-only fight. He notes Yañez's technical boxing, fight IQ, and 100% takedown defense, while Marcos is undefeated but untested against high-level strikers. He believes Marcos will be forced into a boxing match where Yañez has the edge. He cannot bet on this fight due to unknowns about Marcos.

No bet.
"I think yany is a little faster and I think he has the better hands... I'm going to pick yanes here but I'm I can't bet on this fight."
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked Dec 12, 2024 (2 days before fight)
Daniel Marcos

Big Brady picks Daniel Marcos to win by second-round knockout. He likes Marcos's diverse striking (leg kicks, body kicks, head kicks) and thinks Yañez is hittable and has durability issues, noting Yañez was knocked out by Rob Font. He expects Marcos to hurt Yañez and finish him.

"I'm going Daniel Marcos here I think he's going to pick apart Yan and eventually hurt him and get him out of there in the second round"
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Confident picked Dec 11, 2024 (3 days before fight)
Daniel Marcos

Cody picks Daniel Marcos, citing his durability, cardio, and pressure fighting. He notes that Yañez has been knocked out by strikers and struggles against volume. Marcos's ability to take a shot and keep coming forward is key. Cody sees this as a striker vs striker matchup where Marcos's durability gives him the edge.

"I think Marcos wins given you're getting the best version of Marcos but the one outlier is that fight with Davey Grant where he just doesn't do anything."
CO
Connor Ruebusch Expert Lean picked Dec 12, 2024 (2 days before fight)
Daniel Marcos

Connor picks Marcos, citing that his game has smaller gaps and he is more consistent. He notes that Marcos can target Yañez's leg kicks and build momentum over rounds, while Yañez may fade if his initial blitz fails. Connor acknowledges it's a close fight and could go either way.

Yañez opened at +124, now +180; Marcos opened at -139, now -207
"I'll take Marcos. Just, you know, to justify it a little, it's really just like I say, the gaps in his game are so much smaller."
DA
Daniel Vreeland Expert Confident picked Dec 12, 2024 (2 days before fight)
Daniel Marcos

Daniel Vreeland picks Daniel Marcos, citing his high fight IQ and well-rounded skills. He notes that Yañez is one-dimensional with fast hands but predictable, while Marcos can box, kickbox, wrestle, and do jiu-jitsu. Vreeland expects Marcos to avoid unnecessary pocket exchanges and use a varied attack. He mentions the price (-225) is a bit high but still picks Marcos.

"I'mma pick Danielle Marcos come out here and get this dub"
LU
Lucrative James Expert Confident picked Dec 11, 2024 (3 days before fight)
Daniel Marcos

Lucrative James picks Daniel Marcos to win, citing Marcos' superior striking skills, clinch work, and leg kicks. He acknowledges Marcos' cardio issues in round three but believes Marcos has enough early upside to win the first two rounds or secure a finish. He notes Yañez's toughness and cardio but points out Yañez's vulnerabilities to leg kicks and head punches, as seen in past losses.

"I think Marcos is going to win the fight but I would be scared to bet on Marcos if the fight gets into round three."
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Dec 12, 2024 (2 days before fight)
Daniel Marcos

Marcos's calf-kicking abilities will render Yañez defenseless, leading to a TKO victory within the second or third round. The public line movement from -170 to -230 supports this pick.

wins by TKO in round 2 or 3
"I believe his calf kicking abilities will render yanes defenseless and that will allow Marcos to put together a TKO Victory within the second or third round"
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Lean picked Dec 11, 2024 (3 days before fight)
Daniel Marcos

Paul leans towards Marcos, citing his durability and undefeated record. He notes that Yañez has questionable durability and has been knocked out before. Paul is concerned if Marcos doesn't push the pace, but overall favors Marcos's volume and pressure.

"I think the the durability is what makes me side with Marcos obviously he's undefeated."
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Hesitant picked Dec 11, 2024 (3 days before fight)
Daniel Marcos

The MMA Guru initially leans toward Adrian Yañez due to his slick hands and underdog status, but after reviewing Marcos' undefeated record and tougher competition on the regional scene, he switches to Daniel Marcos. He predicts Marcos will use lateral movement and leg kicks to win a close decision (29-28). He admits Yañez may have the talent edge but trusts Marcos' resume.

decision 29-28
"I'll go Daniel Marcos then I'll go Marcos winning a close fought 2928 decision over Adrian yanz"
ZA
Zane Simon Expert Lean picked Dec 12, 2024 (2 days before fight)
Adrian Yañez

Zane leans toward Yañez because of his flashier punching and ability to hurt opponents. He notes that Marcos has a tendency to have inactive periods and can be hurt, which could be dangerous against Yañez. However, Zane is concerned about Yañez's leg kick defense and his tendency to start fast and fade.

Yañez opened at +124, now +180; Marcos opened at -139, now -207
"I think I'll take Yanyas. I think he might hurt Marcos."
Decision (unanimous) (30–27, 30–27, 30–27) R3 5:00 · UFC on ESPN: Cannonier vs. Imavov · Jun 08, 2024
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Daniel Marcos 0 60 of 123 48% 68 of 134 1 of 5 20% 0 0 2:12
John Castañeda 1 98 of 171 57% 101 of 177 0 of 0 --- 0 0 1:01
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Daniel Marcos 0 24 of 46 52% 25 of 47 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
John Castañeda 0 28 of 52 53% 28 of 53 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
2 Daniel Marcos 0 13 of 30 43% 20 of 40 1 of 4 25% 0 0 1:53
John Castañeda 0 26 of 54 48% 27 of 55 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:37
3 Daniel Marcos 0 23 of 47 48% 23 of 47 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:19
John Castañeda 1 44 of 65 67% 46 of 69 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:24
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Daniel Marcos 60 of 123 48% 26 of 75 9 of 16 25 of 32 59 of 122 1 of 1 0 of 0
John Castañeda 98 of 171 57% 71 of 131 21 of 31 6 of 9 81 of 150 17 of 20 0 of 1
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Daniel Marcos 24 of 46 52% 6 of 19 3 of 5 15 of 22 24 of 46 0 of 0 0 of 0
John Castañeda 28 of 52 53% 23 of 41 2 of 8 3 of 3 26 of 49 2 of 2 0 of 1
2 Daniel Marcos 13 of 30 43% 7 of 24 2 of 2 4 of 4 13 of 30 0 of 0 0 of 0
John Castañeda 26 of 54 48% 22 of 49 3 of 4 1 of 1 17 of 42 9 of 12 0 of 0
3 Daniel Marcos 23 of 47 48% 13 of 32 4 of 9 6 of 6 22 of 46 1 of 1 0 of 0
John Castañeda 44 of 65 67% 26 of 41 16 of 19 2 of 5 38 of 59 6 of 6 0 of 0
Play-by-Play
View on Sherdog
John Castaneda vs. Daniel Marcos
BETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Marcos (-120), Castaneda (+100)

Round 1
A pair of bantamweights that hold exactly eight knockout victories and seven triumphs on the scorecards meet as the prelims keep on pushing. Castaneda (21-6, 4-2 UFC) rides a two-fight win streak into this matchup, with a potential pattern brewing of him winning two and losing the third. His Peruvian foe Marcos (15-0, 1 NC; 2-0, 1 NC UFC) has never tasted defeat as a pro, and his lone non-victorious performance came in February when he kicked a flying Qileng Aori in the groin to result in a no contest. The third man in the Octagon for this one will be Dan Miragliotta, and he begins the fight when the two men touch ‘em up. Castaneda springs in and out of range, slapping a few leg kicks on the fiery haired man from Peru. Marcos throws one back, and he walks through a counter low kick to punch “Sexi Mexi” in the face three times. Castaneda slips to the side and keeps snapping out leg kicks, targeting the calf repeatedly while attempting to parry or dodge anything Marcos throws his way. Marcos slowly cuts his foe off, and he lines a right hand down the middle and drills him with a step-in knee. Marcos gets off a body kick, and Castaneda slaps a few more leg kicks off the calf for good measure. Marcos marches in with a heavy right hand, sending Castaneda flying, and Castaneda bounces off the cage wall and hits one knee. Castaneda gets back up and scampers away, and Marcos grins and pursues another overhand right. A body kick is swatted away by Marcos, and he coils and looses his right hand again. Castaneda prods with low kick after low kick, and he is met with a right hand and a pair of knees. Two quick hands from Marcos find the chin of his opponent, and Castaneda’s nose starts to turn red. A front kick from Marcos does not help, as it grazes the beak as Castaneda is retreating. Castaneda pecks with another leg kick and hops away, and Marcos’ right hand marks up the bridge of Castaneda’s nose. Marcos parries a punch and drills Castaneda with three before Castaneda can get away. Marcos plants a kick on the ribs of his foe, and Castaneda’s low kicks keep slapping but are frequently countered by a right hook. A few more from Marcos send Castaneda down to his knees, and Castaneda climbs up and rushes away while Marcos gives chase. As Marcos lands a few more, the bell rings.

Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Marcos
Scottie Smith scores the round: 10-9 Marcos
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Marcos

Round 2
Gloves are touched to commence the round, and they trade leg kicks right off the bat. Marcos connects with a quick combination of punches, resulting in Castaneda crashing the pocket and clinching up. Castaneda presses tightly in the clinch, stomping the undefeated fighter’s toes. Marcos breaks off and chases after Castaneda, blasting him in the face with a knee and several right hands. The strikes cause blood to blow from the nose of “Sexi Mexi,” and Marcos targets the same place with a few more knees and rights. Castaneda tries to take the fight down to slow down the onslaught of the Peruvian, where he succeeds in clinging to him and briefly halting the offense. As Marcos turns him about, he knees Castaneda in the face and thigh a few times, as Castaneda leans his shoulder on the wall before splitting off. Castaneda sells out for a double, and Marcos’ defense holds up as he leans his back on the fence and knees Castaneda square in the face. Marcos finds Castaneda’s face with punches, a head kick and a follow-up one-two, and Castaneda is tough but taking damage. Marcos chases after Castaneda and lets Castaneda hit him back so he can slug him harder. Castaneda finds a different angle, rushes forward and scoops “Soncora” up to slam him on the canvas. Marcos turns to a knee and is up after a few seconds, and he lays into Castaneda with punches and a vicious knee until Castaneda shoots once more. Castaneda spins with an elbow that brushes past the shoulder, and Marcos drives him back with a front kick and a leaping right hand. Castaneda counters and bloodies up the bridge of Marcos’ nose, and the round ends.

Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Marcos
Scottie Smith scores the round: 10-9 Marcos
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Marcos

Round 3
The fighters hug it out to start the last round, and Marcos leads the dance with a clean right hand. Castaneda strafes to the side and responds with a straight right hand, and he spins with a kick that misses the mark. Marcos kicks his foe in the ribs, and he chops at the inside calf and then jams his shin into the solar plexus. Castaneda retaliates with a head kick, and Marcos kicks him back only for the foot to bounce off the stomach and potentially the cup. After a brief look at the replay, Miragliotta tells them it was legal, so they resume fighting and Marcos kicks the same spot. Castaneda cries foul again for a cup shot, and Miragliotta once more tells him they are legal. Marcos rushes at Castaneda, who is turned around and upset, and he punches his way forward until Castaneda grabs hold of him to tie him up. Marcos is turned around, but he muscles his way out of the tie-up. Castaneda goes after him, kicking the lead leg and body before Marcos lines up a right hand down the pipe. Marcos jabs the body with a kick, and Castaneda responds with a low kick. They trade strikes one after the other, and Marcos lands a right as Castaneda trips. Castaneda is upright in an instant, and he throws a few punches that are out of range. Castaneda gets off a solid body kick, and Marcos comes back at him with three punches and a much heavier body kick of his own. Castaneda races forward, keeping Marcos on the back foot, and he throws punches and kicks. Castaneda winds up with a big right hand, and Marcos says, “two can play that game,” and decks Castaneda with his own fastball. Castaneda hits his seat and jumps back up to his feet after the flash knockdown, and Marcos elects to tie him up instead of land much more. On the break, Marcos digs a right to the body and one to the head, and Castaneda punches his foe in the chest in response. Castaneda scores a right hand and lets loose with a head kick, and Marcos suddenly realizes that he is in trouble. Castaneda sprints at him trying to do some finalizing damage, and Marcos gets his feet back and cracks Castaneda with a thudding elbow right before the fight wraps.

Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Marcos (30-27 Marcos)
Scottie Smith scores the round: 10-9 Marcos (30-27 Marcos)
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Marcos (30-27 Marcos)

The Official Result
Daniel Marcos def. John Castaneda via Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Confident picked Jun 7, 2024 (1 day before fight)
John Castañeda

Angelo picks John Castañeda as the underdog. He notes that Daniel Marcos is undefeated but has squeaked out close decisions, and his UFC wins are not dominant. John is all gas, no brakes, with forward pressure, wrestling, and a high pace. Angelo thinks John's wrestling and pressure will be too much for Marcos, who likes to control the tempo. He expects John to win a decision or possibly get a finish.

"I'm going sexy mexy here to make it a three-fight win streak"
BI
Big Brady Expert Lean picked Jun 5, 2024 (3 days before fight)
Daniel Marcos

Big Brady picks Daniel Marcos to win by decision. He likes Marcos's striking volume and body work, which could break Castañeda as seen in the Santos fight. He doubts Castañeda's wrestling will be effective because Marcos has good takedown defense and get-up game. He expects a war but favors Marcos's striking.

"give me give me Marcos to win this fight I don't think the wrestling of cast andate is going to play a factor and for that reason I I like the strike a little bit more of Marcos I'm going …"
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Lean picked Jun 5, 2024 (3 days before fight)
Daniel Marcos

Cody picks Marcos, noting that Castañeda struggles when pressured and Marcos has good leg kicks and volume. He acknowledges Castañeda's wrestling but thinks Marcos' takedown defense and striking will be enough to edge a decision. Cody sees this as a close fight but leans towards Marcos' development.

"in my head I got to pick somebody I'm I'm going to pick Marcos and just chalk up the dve grant fight to just an outlier"
DA
Daniel Levi Expert Lean picked Jun 5, 2024 (3 days before fight)
Daniel Marcos

Daniel picks Marcos as the slicker fighter, expecting a close decision. He praises Marcos' cerebral approach and jab, and notes Castañeda's experience and improved output. He has been picking against Castañeda and continues that trend.

close decision
"I'm gonna go Marcos to kind of just outslick him a little bit and win a close decision"
JA
Jacob Lines Expert Confident picked Jun 7, 2024 (1 day before fight)
John Castañeda

Jacob picks John Castañeda, calling him a former lock of the week. He likes that John doesn't force takedowns but uses his wrestling as a weapon, often setting up takedowns with his boxing. He thinks the striking will be close, but John's wrestling gives him an edge, especially late in rounds. He notes that John was plus money and would have been his lock of the week if the odds were wider earlier.

John Castañeda at plus money
"I think he's plus 100 right now right I kind of wish be honest with you that on Sunday he was definitely a plus money fighter he would have been my lock of the week"
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Lean picked Jun 4, 2024 (4 days before fight)
John Castañeda

Castañeda's movement and lateral footwork should help him avoid Marcos' calf kicks and crash the pocket with power strikes. He has more tools and experience, and can hand Marcos his first loss. However, if Marcos establishes the calf kick, he could take over. Close fight, slight lean to Castañeda by decision.

"I am going to lean ever so slightly to the Casta side as I think he has a better style to avoid the calf kicking style of Marcos"
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Lean picked Jun 5, 2024 (3 days before fight)
John Castañeda

Paul slightly leans towards Castañeda based on his wrestling and volume. He notes that Castañeda moves forward well and has good output. Paul thinks this is a properly priced fight and does not intend to make a significant play.

"I'll ever so slightly lean towards castan just on uh wrestling and and and and volume I suppose but I don't know man I think it's a properly priced fight and I don't really intend to um to make like …"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Jun 5, 2024 (3 days before fight)
Daniel Marcos

The Guru picks Marcos after initially considering Castañeda. He says Castañeda hasn't put together wins impressively and his recent fights weren't good-looking. Marcos is 15-0 and active, and though he was given a robbery decision against Dave Grant, the Guru thinks Marcos is better than Castañeda. He notes Marcos looked amazing in the first round against Chang before the no-contest.

"I'm going to go with Daniel Marcos... I think he's pretty decent so I think he's better than cast days"
LOSS vs Aoriqileng
No Contest (accidental groin kick) R2 3:28 · UFC Fight Night: Hermansson vs. Pyfer · Feb 10, 2024
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Daniel Marcos 0 81 of 126 64% 84 of 129 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:28
Aoriqileng 0 45 of 95 47% 45 of 96 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:38
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Daniel Marcos 0 36 of 63 57% 38 of 65 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Aoriqileng 0 22 of 54 40% 22 of 55 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:16
2 Daniel Marcos 0 45 of 63 71% 46 of 64 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:28
Aoriqileng 0 23 of 41 56% 23 of 41 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:22
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Daniel Marcos 81 of 126 64% 50 of 84 12 of 19 19 of 23 69 of 113 5 of 6 7 of 7
Aoriqileng 45 of 95 47% 26 of 71 10 of 12 9 of 12 43 of 93 2 of 2 0 of 0
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Daniel Marcos 36 of 63 57% 20 of 41 6 of 9 10 of 13 33 of 60 3 of 3 0 of 0
Aoriqileng 22 of 54 40% 13 of 41 5 of 6 4 of 7 22 of 54 0 of 0 0 of 0
2 Daniel Marcos 45 of 63 71% 30 of 43 6 of 10 9 of 10 36 of 53 2 of 3 7 of 7
Aoriqileng 23 of 41 56% 13 of 30 5 of 6 5 of 5 21 of 39 2 of 2 0 of 0
Play-by-Play
View on Sherdog
Daniel Marcos vs. Qileng Aori
BETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Marcos (-250), Aori (+205)

Round 1
If the reports and claims are accurate, a billionaire will be in the stands at the UFC Apex this afternoon. Within a matter of minutes, it will be apparent if the tech mogul and personality of the social media platform formerly known as Twitter, Elon Musk, has received the Mark Zuckerberg treatment of renting the entire place out for himself. If not, a few hundred fans plus the controversial figure will be in the building for this jam-packed 14-fight showcase. The first match of the day comes in the bantamweight division, as flashy undefeated Peruvian Marcos (15-0, 2-0 UFC) aims to keep his spotless record intact at the expense of Inner Mongolia’s Aori (25-11, 3-3 UFC). Referee Jason Herzog will need to be on high alert right out of the gate to keep track of these two quick competitors. The gloves are touched, and it’s on with the show. Aori flicks out an early front kick to measure his range, and he sits back and waits to see if a counter comes his way. It does not. Marcos watches from afar, and he surges into action with a single overhand right that gets Aori’s attention. The two trade low kicks, and they both let their hands go with big, winging punches. In the midst of an exchange, Marcos changes things up with a stern knee on the jaw, and Aori shakes it off. Both men land flush and back off to not get sucked into a brawl. Aori paws out a front kick, and blood trickles down the temple from the power lefts from the Peruvian. Aori leaps forward with a knee, and uses his momentum to press into a clinch. Marcos meets him with a strike that busts Aori’s mouth open, and Aori cannot keep the tie-up and is forced to back off and reset. Marcos comes up short with a front kick, but his looping punches continues to bust up the Chinese competitor, smashing Aori’s nose in the process. Blood leaks from several places on Aori’s face like the Doomguy low on health, but he is very much still in the fight as he lets Marcos have it with a quick combination. Marcos keeps his guard high, so Aori kicks low repeatedly. Marcos retaliates after absorbing one particularly stern low kick, and he whips his right hand into action. Marcos prods out a jab and draws out some oncoming fire from Aori, taking advantage of this by blasting Aori with an uppercut. Aori tanks it and moves forward, and the horn signals the end of the first round.
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Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Marcos
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Marcos
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Marcos

Round 2
The fighters touch ‘em up before getting back to it, and Marcos is ready to engage first as he clubs Aori with a short right hand. The unbeaten Peruvian presses forward into a clinch, and he presses Aori against the fence. When circling away, Marcos lines up a low kick that disrupts the balance of his opponent. Aori hits the deck, and Marcos pounces in an effort to finish the fight with a flurry of heavy firsts. Aori survives the worst of it and gets back to his feet, and crimson fluid trickles from additional places on his face after taking serious damage. Marcos spins with a back elbow that misses the mark, and he continues assaulting Aori’s lead calf with gnarly kicks. Aori tries valiantly to throw back and even catches Marcos with a two-punch salvo, but Marcos’ volume and power is breaking Aori. “Soncora” sits down on a left to the liver that lands with an audible thud, and he appears to find his mark almost every time he throws a strike. Aori swings backs, and his fingers stretch out as one drifts into Marcos’ eye. Marcos needs just a few seconds to recover, and when they get back to business, Marcos aims a front kick to the body but ends up glancing it off the cup. Aori takes 30 seconds to catch his wind before resuming, and he gets right in Marcos’ face and throws a few punches. Aori concludes his combination with a kick square on Marcos’ cup that looks to be a bit of payback, and Marcos groans as Herzog pauses the action for the third time in a few seconds after a trio of unfortunate fouls. Herzog warns Aori for his strike, and Marcos is ready to go after about 45 seconds of recovery. Marcos lets loose with a kick, and Aori responds with one that slaps into his inner thigh and draws a reaction from Marcos. Aori jumps in the air with an attempted strike, and Marcos meets him in the air with a front kick to the groin. Herzog rolls his eyes and calls time, and informs both fighters through their translators that there are to be no more accidents, and that points will be deducted for any additional fouls. Aori drops to his knees and dry heaves from the groin strike, and Herzog allows Aori to recover for a minute before calling in the doctor. Aori pulls himself back to his feet after two minutes elapse, but he is clearly compromised and not having a good time right now. Not wanting to cool down, Marcos shadowboxes and jogs in his corner, but Aori crouches down and drops back to a knee. Time continues to tick off the clock, and Aori reaches the five-minute mark. Herzog asks him if he is able to continue, and Aori does not say anything and bends over. Herzog recognizes that Aori is in no shape to fight another professional combatant aiming to take his head off, and he waves the fight off. Due to the inadvertent groin strike—Aori was in the air when Marcos caught him with a front kick, a total accident—and the fact that it did not reach Round 3, this fight should be declared a no contest. When the result is read, Marcos breaks into tears, with his stellar performance invalidated due to a fluke kick. On the other side of the equation, Aori is assisted out of the cage, with the damage of two direct groin shots too much to bear on his own.

The Official Result
Daniel Marcos vs. Qileng Aori is Ruled a No Contest (Accidental Groin Kick) R2 3:28
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Hesitant picked Feb 4, 2024 (6 days before fight)
Daniel Marcos

Angelo acknowledges that Daniel Marcos looked poor in his last fight against Davey Grant, with low volume and a lack of pressure. However, he emphasizes looking at the broader body of work, where Marcos has shown effective striking, power, and takedown defense. He believes Marcos should be more technical and busy, and should win, but the recent performance makes him hesitant. He notes the odds are -200, which he finds a bit rich given the last fight.

"Daniel Marcos is the pick... Daniel Marcos that fought David Grant has a tough night, Daniel Marcos before the David Grant fight should walk through a Corey Lang."
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked Feb 5, 2024 (5 days before fight)
Daniel Marcos

Big Brady picks Daniel Marcos to win by decision. He notes that Marcos is a much more skilled striker with a lot of tools on the feet, while Aoriqileng is a brawler who is very hittable. He expects the fight to go 15 minutes and Marcos to outpoint Aoriqileng, though he mentions a slight concern about corrupt judges.

"this should be Daniel Marcus just outpointing Ari long across 15 minutes here so give me Daniel Marcos by decision"
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Confident picked Feb 7, 2024 (3 days before fight)
Daniel Marcos

Cody picks Marcos, noting he is a superior fighter with good volume. Aoriqileng is fun but often falls behind on the scorecards and has takedown defense issues. Marcos should outpoint him. Cody suggests a prop on Marcos by decision or by KO at +300.

Marcos by KO (+300)
"Marcos by decision would be my best get my my best guess"
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Feb 5, 2024 (5 days before fight)
Daniel Marcos

Marcos has a solid all-around game with good calf kicks and the ability to mix in grappling. He should be able to batter Aoriqileng's lead leg and eventually look for takedowns. Aoriqileng has struggled against better competition and his wins are against subpar opponents. Marcos is undefeated and should continue his run with a decision victory.

"I look for maros to batter the lead leg of ARA Lang and then eventually look for those takedowns if those open themselves for him and I look forward to maros continuing his undefeated run going to 16-0 and picking …"
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Confident picked Feb 7, 2024 (3 days before fight)
Daniel Marcos

Paul also picks Marcos, calling it a massive mismatch. He notes Aoriqileng's low output and poor takedown defense. Marcos is a volume striker who should pick him apart. Paul likes Marcos by KO at +300 as a prop.

Marcos by KO (+300)
"Marcos is the pick for me"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Feb 7, 2024 (3 days before fight)
Daniel Marcos

The MMA Guru picks Daniel Marcos because he believes Aoriqileng is a worse version of Davey Grant, who Marcos already faced. He notes that Marcos showed good striking defense against Grant's unorthodox style and expects Aoriqileng to slow down after the first round, allowing Marcos to win a decision.

"I'm going to go with Daniel Marcos to start off the card because he's fighting aori Chang... I think if he stays alive past the first round we're going to see aori Chang start to slow down against him."
WIN vs Davey Grant
Decision (split) (28–29, 29–28, 29–28) R3 5:00 · UFC Fight Night: Aspinall vs. Tybura · Jul 22, 2023
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Daniel Marcos 0 70 of 215 32% 70 of 215 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:06
Davey Grant 0 48 of 140 34% 49 of 141 1 of 1 100% 0 0 0:13
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Daniel Marcos 0 16 of 49 32% 16 of 49 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Davey Grant 0 13 of 35 37% 13 of 35 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
2 Daniel Marcos 0 26 of 75 34% 26 of 75 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Davey Grant 0 15 of 51 29% 15 of 51 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
3 Daniel Marcos 0 28 of 91 30% 28 of 91 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:06
Davey Grant 0 20 of 54 37% 21 of 55 1 of 1 100% 0 0 0:13
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Daniel Marcos 70 of 215 32% 17 of 127 27 of 55 26 of 33 70 of 213 0 of 2 0 of 0
Davey Grant 48 of 140 34% 21 of 90 6 of 24 21 of 26 47 of 139 1 of 1 0 of 0
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Daniel Marcos 16 of 49 32% 1 of 28 7 of 10 8 of 11 16 of 49 0 of 0 0 of 0
Davey Grant 13 of 35 37% 1 of 15 2 of 8 10 of 12 13 of 35 0 of 0 0 of 0
2 Daniel Marcos 26 of 75 34% 9 of 48 8 of 15 9 of 12 26 of 75 0 of 0 0 of 0
Davey Grant 15 of 51 29% 4 of 33 3 of 8 8 of 10 14 of 50 1 of 1 0 of 0
3 Daniel Marcos 28 of 91 30% 7 of 51 12 of 30 9 of 10 28 of 89 0 of 2 0 of 0
Davey Grant 20 of 54 37% 16 of 42 1 of 8 3 of 4 20 of 54 0 of 0 0 of 0
Play-by-Play
View on Sherdog
Davey Grant vs. Daniel Marcos
BETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Marcos (-140), Grant (+120)

Round 1
In the one corner, “Dangerous Davey” Grant (15-6, 6-5 UFC) stands firm, ready to represent his home country. In the other, lead-fisted and lead-kneed Peruvian Marcos (14-0, 1-0 UFC) puts his unblemished record on the line. Grant has only been defeated in the past via submission, while Marcos has never before forced a foe to tap out. Something’s gotta give in this newly minted bantamweight main card opener that could be a banger, and it begins with a glove touch. Referee Marc Goddard adjusts his gloves, pulls up his pants and sits back to observed the proceedings, and The two fighters come out to the middle of the cage to engage, and Grant goes first with a heavy leg kick. Grant walks down Marcos and kicks on the inside, and he throws one more to the outer calf. Marcos replies with one that sends Grant off-balance, but the Brit adjusts himself and continues coming forward. Grant pushes out a front kick, and he wings a right hand that slides off the top of the guard to bounce off Marcos’ temple. Marcos shrugs at him and kicks so hard on the calf that he takes Grant off his feet. Grant jumps back up and rips a kick to the ribs, and he checks a kick that comes his way. Grant turns an uppercut into a spinning back fist, and Marcos dances out of the way and keeps his guard up high to stop another strike from getting through. Grant comes out swinging, throwing a right hook that puts himself off-balance, and Marcos does not capitalize on it but is able to eat up Grant’s calf with another kick. Grant strides in with a side kick, and he jumps forward with a stomping kick to the knee. The unbeaten fighter ducks down and absorbs a side kick, and Grant then plants the ball of his foot on the chest to follow. Grant snipes out a left hook when Marcos advances, and he jumps forward with a knee that glances off his intended target. Grant counters a leg kick with a clean right hand, and he kicks the body and backs off when Marcos throws hands. Marcos walks “Dangerous Davey” down and kicks him in the chest, and Grant is able to time a right hand when Marcos loads up. Grant sweeps the leg as he comes forward, and he chains a calf kick into a head kick with the same leg. Marcos gives a body kick back, only for Grant to defend against it. Marcos reaches his man with a right hook, and Grant spins with a wheel kick that ricochets off the chest of his foe. Marcos rubs his chest, and the round ends.

Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Grant
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Grant
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Grant

Round 2
The 135ers bump fists before getting after it, and Grant spurs into action in a hurry with several kicks to multiple targets. Grant sprints and pulls back to draw a reaction, and he does this to clip Marcos with a short left hook. Grant aims a right hand when Marcos rushes at him with a jump knee, and Grant scampers away before it reaches him. Grant kicks the side and goes with a hook kick up high, and they proceed to throw fists at the same time. Marcos catches Grant with a solid right hand, and Grant gathers his thoughts and chips at the lead wheel of his foe. Grant punches his way into a combination that ends with a low kick, and he misses with a wheel kick as Marcos backs off. Grant nails a leg kick and wings a right hook over the top, and Marcos ignores it and tries to counter with a right hand. A few jabs from the Peruvian fighter have bloodied Grant’s nose up, and Grant pays it no mind as his offense is still as active as ever. Grant strings three hooks together and pushes off the chest with the ball of his foot when Marcos attempts to reply. Marcos swings as hard as he can with a right hand, and Grant ducks and nails Marcos with a front kick on the chin. Grant swings a high kick that grazes off the red hair of his opponent, and Marcos responds with two punches and a step-in kick that splits the uprights and slams square into Grant’s cup. Grant grimaces and bends over as Goddard calls time, and Grant tells Goddard he is good to go after about 45 seconds off. When restarting, Marcos offers an apologetic glove touch. Grant gets going again with a huge right hand, and he watches Marcos comes towards him and raise up a hook kick. Grant plants his shin on the lower calf of “Soncora,” and he steps in with an elbow. Grant trips on Marcos’ leg when spinning with a strike, and Marcos’ jabs are starting to bloody Grant up further. “Dangerous Davey” plants a dangerous right hand on the nose, and Marcos shakes his head and defends against the standing hook kick. Grant lets go with several punches and a side kick, and he gives chase as Marcos backpedals. The round ends with the lower part of Grant’s face covered in blood.

Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Grant
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Grant
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Grant

Round 3
Grant nods and winks at Marcos to lead off the last round, and the two hug it out before getting down to business. Marcos strikes first with a calf kick, and Grant strides forward and lets go with a spinning wheel kick. It only takes a jab or two from Marcos to bust up Grant’s nose again. Grant absorbs a jab and goes forward into a takedown. The unbeaten fighter stands him up, and the two fighters stand in the pocket and trade. Marcos backs off first, and Grant follows him down with a head kick, a front kick and a right hand. Grant puts three fists on Marcos before Marcos is able to land one. Marcos, out of nowhere, jumps at his man with a knee, and Grant takes it flush and keeps coming ever forward. Marcos waves his arms around, and Grant comes at him with a knee. Marcos swats him aside and strafes on the outside, and it is up to Grant to initiate the offense. Grant spins with a back fist, and then keeps spinning to throw other strikes. Marcos nods approvingly from the strikes, and he keeps backing off as Grant is pushing the pace. Grant walks through jabs to swing with far harder strikes, and one such blow comes in the form of a right to the body. Marcos jabs up his man, and Grant unloads with a right hand that bounces off the shoulder. Grant walks Marcos down, getting in a leg kick and a right hand, and Marcos tries to reply with a left hook that only slightly connects. Grant ducks a flailing fist to come in and land a straight right to the body, and a subsequent kick makes Marcos drops his guard and back off. Grant jumps with a knee, and when he misses and lands, Marcos greets him with a stern right hand down the pipe. Grant doggedly pursues his opponent, throwing everything and the kitchen sink at him. Marcos times a takedown out of nowhere, hitting it with ease. Grant frantically works his way up with the fence behind him, and he separates. Grant spins with a wheel kick that bounces off the shoulder, and he raise his arm to draw Marcos into a final brawl. Grant spams any kind of kick he can think of, all while Marcos backs away, until time expires.

Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Grant (30-27 Grant)
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Grant (30-27 Grant)
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Grant (30-27 Grant)

The Official Result
Daniel Marcos def. Davey Grant via Split Decision (28-29, 29-28, 29-28)
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Confident picked Jul 16, 2023 (6 days before fight)
Daniel Marcos

Angelo is very confident in Daniel Marcos, believing the odds are incredible value. He thinks Davey Grant is chinny and if he can't get a takedown (which he hasn't since 2021), he will get lit up on the feet. He has a half-unit bet at -121 and calls it some of the best value on the card.

half unit bet at -121
"I'm confident Daniel Marcos I have a half a unit on him at minus 121 And I genuinely think as of right now this minute at that 121 line that's some of the best value you're going to get on …"
BI
Big Brady Expert Lean picked Jul 18, 2023 (4 days before fight)
Daniel Marcos

Big Brady picks Daniel Marcos by decision. He likes Marcos' striking and volume, and thinks he can outwork Grant over 15 minutes. He notes Grant is durable and has power, but Marcos is younger and has upside. He is concerned about Marcos' chin not being tested. He thinks it will be close but Marcos' volume and youth give him the edge.

by decision
"give me Marcos to win this fight by decision I think it is close I think it is competitive but I like a striking I like his volume"
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Confident picked Jul 19, 2023 (3 days before fight)
Davey Grant

Cody picks Grant, questioning Marcos's hype. He notes Grant has fought tougher competition (Vera, Yanez) and is a gatekeeper. He thinks the line is an overreaction to Marcos's win over Oliveira. He sees Grant as a live dog.

"Davey Grant will be my pick here"
DA
Daniel Levi Expert Lean picked Jul 20, 2023 (2 days before fight)
Daniel Marcos

Daniel picks Daniel Marcos, calling him the best Peruvian prospect ever and praising his professional approach, training in Florida, and high-tech recovery. He thinks Marcos's pressure and intensity make opponents fight uncharacteristically, as seen in the Simon Oliveira fight. He acknowledges Davey Grant's toughness and experience but believes Marcos is catching him at the right time. However, he is not willing to lay -140 and says he would be interested if the price drops to around -115. He passes on betting but picks Marcos to win.

Daniel says he is not willing to lay -140 and would be interested if the price drops 25 cents. He picks Marcos but does not bet.
"I'm just not willing to lay the chalk at minus 140 to find out"
LU
Lucrative James Expert Confident picked Jul 18, 2023 (4 days before fight)
Daniel Marcos

James picks Daniel Marcos to win. He thinks Marcos is a better striker than Grant, with cleaner technique and better footwork. He believes Marcos can play the range game and punish Grant with straight shots. James notes that Grant is older and may be slowing down, while Marcos is on an upward trajectory. He acknowledges that this is a step up in competition for Marcos and that Grant has knockout power, but he favors Marcos's skills and potential.

"I like Marcos in this spot um I bet on Marcos before at an underdog price"
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Jul 17, 2023 (5 days before fight)
Daniel Marcos

The host picks Daniel Marcos, believing his overall game, output, grappling, and calf kicks will neutralize Grant's power. He expects Marcos to withstand Grant's early power and win by decision. He notes it's a stiff test but thinks Marcos passes.

"give me Marcos by decision but again big spot for him in Grants you know neck of the woods let's see if he shows up I think he does and I think he wins by decision"
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Lean picked Jul 19, 2023 (3 days before fight)
Daniel Marcos

Paul leans toward Marcos, noting his undefeated record and willingness to engage. He thinks Marcos can outwork Grant, though Grant has power and grappling advantages. He is not fully confident and calls it a dog or pass.

"I feel like I'm leaning towards him if if I had to just chalk it up to a dog or pass situation"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Jul 17, 2023 (5 days before fight)
Davey Grant

The MMA Guru picks Davey Grant, initially considering Daniel Marcos but ultimately favoring Grant's experience and power. He notes Grant's win over Aiemann Zahabi is underrated and that Marcos was timid in his fight against Simon Oliveira. The Guru believes Grant's size, power, and front kicks will overwhelm Marcos, and predicts a KO win in a scrap against the cage.

KO
"I'm gonna go Davey Grant here a little bit more damaging"
KO (knee to the body and punches) R2 2:18 · UFC 283: Teixeira vs. Hill · Jan 21, 2023
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Daniel Marcos 0 23 of 70 32% 25 of 73 0 of 5 0% 0 0 2:15
Saimon Oliveira 1 53 of 78 67% 59 of 84 0 of 1 0% 0 0 1:00
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Daniel Marcos 0 13 of 40 32% 15 of 43 0 of 4 0% 0 0 2:05
Saimon Oliveira 0 27 of 40 67% 31 of 44 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:42
2 Daniel Marcos 0 10 of 30 33% 10 of 30 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:10
Saimon Oliveira 1 26 of 38 68% 28 of 40 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:18
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Daniel Marcos 23 of 70 32% 7 of 47 3 of 7 13 of 16 20 of 63 3 of 7 0 of 0
Saimon Oliveira 53 of 78 67% 31 of 52 20 of 23 2 of 3 36 of 58 16 of 19 1 of 1
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Daniel Marcos 13 of 40 32% 4 of 27 3 of 5 6 of 8 10 of 35 3 of 5 0 of 0
Saimon Oliveira 27 of 40 67% 16 of 28 10 of 11 1 of 1 17 of 30 10 of 10 0 of 0
2 Daniel Marcos 10 of 30 33% 3 of 20 0 of 2 7 of 8 10 of 28 0 of 2 0 of 0
Saimon Oliveira 26 of 38 68% 15 of 24 10 of 12 1 of 2 19 of 28 6 of 9 1 of 1
BI
Big Brady Expert Hesitant picked Jan 16, 2023 (5 days before fight)
Daniel Marcos

Big Brady is not extremely impressed with either fighter but sees more paths to victory for Daniel Marcos. He notes Marcos made significant improvements from his earlier fights to the Contender Series, particularly in striking and takedown defense. He believes Marcos can get takedowns against Oliveira, who has poor takedown defense, though Oliveira is dangerous off his back. He calls it a sketchy fight he's staying away from betting.

"I think Marcos has more paths to Victory here as a dog so I'm gonna pick him to win this is kind of a sketchy fight a fight I'm going to be staying away from"
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Lean picked Jan 18, 2023 (3 days before fight)
Daniel Marcos

Cody picks Daniel Marcos as a slight underdog, noting his striking and power. He says Marcos showed good volume and power on Contender Series, and that Oliveira is reckless and has poor wrestling. He thinks Marcos can win a striking battle. He mentions Marcos' cardio issues but thinks he can push through. He says this is a 50/50 fight and he'll take the plus money.

mentions Marcos' flying knees; says Oliveira is reckless
"I'm gonna go with Daniel Marcos yeah"
CO
Connor Ruebusch Expert Confident picked Jan 19, 2023 (2 days before fight)
Saimon Oliveira

Connor agrees, noting Oliveira has more experience and is more aggressive. Marcos may struggle with Oliveira's pressure and guillotine threat.

"I agree. I have very little to add."
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Lean picked Jan 18, 2023 (3 days before fight)
Daniel Marcos

Paul picks Daniel Marcos, agreeing with Cody. He notes Oliveira's recklessness and poor wrestling. He says Marcos has good striking and power. He mentions Marcos' cardio issues but thinks he can win. He says he's not confident but will pick Marcos.

mentions Oliveira's spinning back fists; says Marcos has good leg kicks
"I'm leaning towards Marcos as well he threw like a bunch of like you know flying knees on Contender Series"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Lean picked Jan 17, 2023 (4 days before fight)
Daniel Marcos

The Guru sees this as a 50/50 matchup but leans towards Marcos as the underdog. He notes that Oliveira barely scraped by on the contender series and was ragdolled by Tony Gravely, who got 11 takedowns on him. Marcos showed good takedown defense against Brandon Lewis, stuffing 11 of 13 takedowns, and has been more active recently, while Oliveira hasn't fought in a year. The Guru gives a slight grappling advantage to Marcos due to his hustle and stubbornness in positions.

"I'm gonna side with Daniel Marcos as the underdog here because this is kind of like a 50 50 matchup and they have made Simon Oliveira quite a decent favorite so I'm leaning towards Daniel Marcos"
ZA
Zane Simon Expert Confident picked Jan 19, 2023 (2 days before fight)
Saimon Oliveira

Zane picks Oliveira because he is cleaner and more aggressive. Marcos is gritty but lacks clean technique. Oliveira's experience and aggression should give him the edge. He notes Oliveira's guillotine could be a threat.

"I think this will just be a technical edge and an aggression edge."
Davey Grant - Fight History
Decision R3 5:00 · UFC Fight Night: Sterling vs. Zalal · Apr 25, 2026
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Davey Grant 0 162 of 307 52% 164 of 309 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:02
Adrián Luna Martinetti 0 99 of 196 50% 100 of 199 1 of 5 20% 0 0 0:43
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Davey Grant 0 44 of 89 49% 46 of 91 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:02
Adrián Luna Martinetti 0 18 of 41 43% 18 of 41 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:00
2 Davey Grant 0 54 of 105 51% 54 of 105 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Adrián Luna Martinetti 0 38 of 79 48% 38 of 79 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:06
3 Davey Grant 0 64 of 113 56% 64 of 113 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Adrián Luna Martinetti 0 43 of 76 56% 44 of 79 1 of 3 33% 0 0 0:37
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Davey Grant 162 of 307 52% 56 of 183 45 of 59 61 of 65 148 of 289 14 of 18 0 of 0
Adrián Luna Martinetti 99 of 196 50% 48 of 136 37 of 43 14 of 17 91 of 183 8 of 13 0 of 0
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Davey Grant 44 of 89 49% 8 of 46 12 of 17 24 of 26 41 of 86 3 of 3 0 of 0
Adrián Luna Martinetti 18 of 41 43% 6 of 25 7 of 10 5 of 6 18 of 40 0 of 1 0 of 0
2 Davey Grant 54 of 105 51% 18 of 62 15 of 20 21 of 23 50 of 100 4 of 5 0 of 0
Adrián Luna Martinetti 38 of 79 48% 19 of 58 16 of 17 3 of 4 35 of 73 3 of 6 0 of 0
3 Davey Grant 64 of 113 56% 30 of 75 18 of 22 16 of 16 57 of 103 7 of 10 0 of 0
Adrián Luna Martinetti 43 of 76 56% 23 of 53 14 of 16 6 of 7 38 of 70 5 of 6 0 of 0
Play-by-Play
View on Sherdog
Adrian Luna Martinetti vs. Davey Grant
BETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Grant (-120); Luna (+100)

Round 1
Getting a high card placement in his promotional debut, Martinetti (17-1, 0-0 UFC) dazzled in his incredible all-out battle on the Contender Series with Mark Vologdin last year. Whether he will be able to keep that momentum of 15 consecutive victories and a good amount of hype on his side, he will have to go through Grant (17-8, 8-7 UFC) to fully introduce himself to the UFC brass. Referee Chris Tognoni will keep tabs on the bantamweights, stepping back as they touch gloves to get going.
Grant lets loose a nearly calf kick, and he checks one coming back his way. Grant chops at the lead leg a few more times, with Grant ready for checks as he expects retaliation from the Ecuadorian. Grant flicks out his jab and stomps down at the knee with a kick, winging a right hand to the ribs after it. Martinetti is stuck dealing with Grant’s offense to offer much of his own, tossing out three of his own kicks amidst Grant’s accurate swings. Grant knocks Martinetti down with a kick, and he slips a few punches to let go with a right hand. Grant tosses out a head kick, one to the body and dings his foe with a right hand, sliding away from the counter in a hurry. Martinetti keeps after him, landing with a solid uppercut and a low kick. He shrugs at Grant when Grant hurls a right hand that partially lands on the temple. Grant’s kicks are consistent and Martinetti’s movement is keeping him safe from the worst of it. Grant steps in with a right hand, and Martinetti chambers and swings back but does not land nearly as cleanly.
Grant’s calf kick is starting to give the newcomer pause, who has a hitch in his step as he uses a knee shield and freezes when doing so. This allow Grant to let his hands go when Martinetti’s leg is in the air. Martinetti bites down on his mouthpiece to throw leather, and when he ducks down, Grant drills him with a knee on the forehead. Martinetti keeps pushing forward, and Grant is starting to time his movement and flusters the man from Ecuador with his kicks. Grant lands another knee when Martinetti leans over, and when Martinetti skitters back, Grant chops at the lead leg. Martinetti answers back with a spinning back kick, and he shoots for a takedown after that does not score. Grant lands a combination beginning and ending with a calf kick, and Martinetti is unable to find a pattern and just has to swing back with sheer power. Grant is able to dodge them, brushing past a jump knee and watching a swinging kick go past him after Martinetti lands. The round wraps.

Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Grant
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Grant
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Grant

Round 2
The fighters touch gloves, and within seconds, Grant lashes out with his low kick and a few more kicks after it. Martinetti plods forward, seemingly ignoring the kicks so he can trade vicious leather. He keeps after Grant, pushing the pace and forcing Grant to fight off his back foot, but that does not bother the Brit. Grant is content to crush the front leg with enough kicks to force Martinetti to change stances, and when that happens, he kicks the other leg. A right hand from Martinetti opens a cut on Grant’s temple, who pays it no mind and circles away to drill his foe with a left hand. Grant nearly kicks out the newly placed front leg, and he misses a head kick and recovers it to a side kick. Martinetti rushes ever forward, and Grant deals with the largely single strikes aimed at him to chain two or three together. Martinetti elbows Grant to back him off, and he doubles up with body shots to allow him to close in and shoot for a double. Grant scores a few knees before pushing out of the clinch, flicking punches and kicks out to varied targets with aplomb.
Martinetti keeps pinning shots to the body, but they are largely single swings while Grant strings a few together. Martinetti stays right in front of Grant, taking everything he throws at him in hopes of giving him back power. Martinetti stomps at the knee and spins with a back fist, the swing missing and opening him up to heavy right hand. Martinetti has to blink it out, and Grant targets it with one more and ducks to circle away. Grant stays in the pocket to throw hands, Martinetti scoring to the body while he shells up from the head shots. Martinetti pocket boxes to get off short but solid uppercuts, and Grant breaks his front leg down with kicks to force Martinetti to switch back to orthodox. Fists fly from both sides, with Grant getting slightly pushed back but by no means struggling with the pressure. Grant sinks in a brutal calf kick and beans Martinetti with two hooks, and he raises his hands in the air to celebrate his handiwork. Feeling himself, Grant keeps his hands up and takes a spinning back fist right in the face, laughing at it and encouraging Martinetti to hit him with more. A few more punches from Grant conclude the violent round.

Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Grant
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Grant
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Grant

Round 3
The fighters lather up those in the building at the Apex to start off the final frame, with Grant immediately scoring with accurate combinations. Martinetti presses towards him and pursues a takedown, backing Grant down to the wall but not grounding him. Grant stays right in front of his foe, consistently striking with anything that comes to mind at that moment. His unpredictability, mixed in with a non-recurring pattern of solid low kicks, irritate Martinetti. Martinetti gathers his thoughts and starts loading up, landing on Grant with a right hand and a body kick. Grant shrugs it off and keeps his guard up to block a sudden flurry of fists. Martinetti spins with a back kick aimed up high that careens off the gloves, and Grant greets him in the proverbial phone booth with elbows and short punches. Martinetti is hellbent for leather, swinging with reckless abandon, while commentator John Gooden remarks that “these two gentlemen woke up and chose violence.” How fitting.
It is all gas, no brakes for these two bantamweights, who trade no matter the damage, pain or impact from any of the numerous blows absorbed thus far. Grant may be leaking from a few spots around his face, but he might not even register the damage as he sits down on a left hand to rock the Ecuadorian. Martinetti’s nostrils spray blood as Grant’s fists meet them again and again, and Martinetti sells out for a low takedown and hits the ankle pick to put Grant on his seat. Grant turns to his knee with the wall at his side, and Martinetti climbs to his back to search for a choke. Grant wills his way upright, and Martinetti drags him right back down. The squirming Brit works his way back to his feet, and the two men decide it’s time to stand and bang. They proceed to duke it out with no fear of reprisal, and Martinetti even tries a Hail Mary rolling thunder kick that Grant dodges but celebrates. They reach the final horn, and celebrate their handiwork, very likely the frontrunners for the $100K “Fight of the Night” bonus that was still quite up for grabs.

Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Grant (30-27 Grant)
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Grant (30-27 Grant)
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Grant (30-27 Grant)

The Official Result
Davey Grant def. Adrian Luna Martinetti via Unanimous Decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Confident picked Apr 19, 2026 (6 days before fight)
Adrián Luna Martinetti

Angelo confidently picks Adrián Luna Martinetti, citing his insane volume, solid chin, and solid takedown defense. He notes that Davey Grant is 40 years old with a poor chin, and expects Martinetti to overwhelm him with strikes. He is surprised the odds are close and has bet on Martinetti.

Angelo says he bet on Martinetti.
"I am going to pick Martinelli. I also bet on Martinetti. His volume is nuts."
BI
Big Brady Expert Lean picked Apr 21, 2026 (4 days before fight)
Davey Grant

Big Brady picks Davey Grant over Adrián Luna Martinetti. He notes Grant's age (40) but sees no decline, citing recent performances. He believes Grant is the better striker and more durable, and expects a competitive fight that Grant wins by decision.

Grant wins by decision
"Give me Davey Grant to win and win by decision here."
DI
Diary of a Pro Gambler Expert Confident picked Apr 25, 2026 (fight day)
Davey Grant

The host believes Grant is a lot better than Martinez, who looked like a basic striker with poor wrestling and cardio in his Contender Series fight. Grant is more experienced, skilled, powerful, and has better cardio despite being 40. He acknowledges the risk of age-related decline but thinks Grant should win comfortably. He will bet Grant.

Not interested in fight spreads or over/under
"I will be betting Davey Grant this weekend because he's a lot better than Adrian Yanez Martinez."
LU
Lucrative James Expert Lean picked Apr 19, 2026 (6 days before fight)
Adrián Luna Martinetti

James picks Martinetti due to his youth (10-year age advantage) and similar high-volume style. He thinks Martinetti's takedowns and durability will outlast Grant, who is 40 and coming off a quick loss. He predicts a decision win.

"I am going to pick Martinetti overall and the reason I'm going to do that is just because of his age."
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Lean picked Apr 21, 2026 (4 days before fight)
Davey Grant

Grant is a pressure fighter with power and a BJJ black belt, but he has been submitted multiple times. Martinetti is an unorthodox striker with good grappling, but his striking defense is suspect. Grant should be able to walk Martinetti down and land big shots, leading to a knockout. However, Martinetti could also land a flashy strike and submit Grant. The fight is expected to be chaotic and finish early.

under 2.5 rounds
"I think Grant probably gets the win. I think he's able to walk Martinetti down, land big shots, maybe get a club and sub of his own, um or even just a straight up knockout."
Submission R1 3:05 · UFC Fight Night: de Ridder vs. Allen · Oct 18, 2025
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Charles Jourdain 1 25 of 43 58% 25 of 43 0 of 0 --- 1 0 0:20
Davey Grant 0 9 of 26 34% 9 of 26 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Charles Jourdain 1 25 of 43 58% 25 of 43 0 of 0 --- 1 0 0:20
Davey Grant 0 9 of 26 34% 9 of 26 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Charles Jourdain 25 of 43 58% 20 of 35 5 of 8 0 of 0 17 of 31 0 of 0 8 of 12
Davey Grant 9 of 26 34% 3 of 14 1 of 3 5 of 9 9 of 26 0 of 0 0 of 0
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Charles Jourdain 25 of 43 58% 20 of 35 5 of 8 0 of 0 17 of 31 0 of 0 8 of 12
Davey Grant 9 of 26 34% 3 of 14 1 of 3 5 of 9 9 of 26 0 of 0 0 of 0
Play-by-Play
View on Sherdog
Davey Grant vs. Charles Jourdain
BETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Jourdain (-170); Grant (+140)

Round 1
Hold onto your hats, because Jourdain (16-8-1, 7-7-1 UFC) and Grant (17-7, 8-6 UFC) are about to trade leather. The bantamweights that tend to put on a show will be officiated by referee Jason Herzog. They opt to bump fists before jacking one another on the jaw.
Grant strides forward, and he catches an oncoming body kick. He releases it and lets fly a clubbing calf kick. Jourdain bounces off the fence and is just out of range from another kick to the midsection. Jourdain tags his man with a one-two, and Grant opens up with his own overhand right. Jourdain times a jump knee as Grant bears down on him, and he misses by a matter of inches. Grant hammers home another low kick, and he blocks a big knee. Jourdain lines up a straight left hand down the middle, and he whiffs on a looping left of his own. Jourdain absorbs a pair of punches and has to bounce on his heels to gets his bearings, and then leaps into action with a head kick and a powerful right hand. Grant grins at him and asks for more, so Jourdain obliges him. Grant throws back hard. Jourdain catches Grant with his jump knee, and Grant is tough but his forehead is split ever so slightly.
Grant calms himself and looses a heavy leg kick, and he gets blasted with another head kick. Jourdain finds the target with his flying knee, and Grant’s nose explodes in a bloody mess and topples to his back in a bad way.
Jourdain leaps on top and hammers the Brit with ground-and-pound, and Grant somehow survives even though his face is quickly transforming into a crimson mask. Grant turns over, and the Canadian sees his opening and snatches up his preferred move of a power guillotine choke. The moment that Jourdain, who has the grip clutched tight as can be, rolls Grant over, Grant taps out as fast as he can.
Even with Herzog getting between them in a timely manner, Grant appears to at least partially go out, as when he stands back up looking like a victim in an 80's slasher film, he finds that he is not quite capable of doing so on his own. The crowd goes ballistic.

The Official Result
Charles Jourdain def. Davey Grant R1 3:05 via Submission (Guillotine Choke)
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Confident picked Oct 17, 2025 (1 day before fight)
Davey Grant

Angelo picks Davey Grant, citing his forward pressure, solid defense, and durability. He notes Charles Jourdain has cleaned up his wild style but may still be exploitable. Grant's age and chin are concerns, but his recent wins over Blackshear and a close fight with Marcos give confidence.

"I'm going to pick Davey Grant here."
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked Oct 17, 2025 (1 day before fight)
Charles Jourdain

Big Brady likes Jourdain fighting at home and thinks the judges favor him. He notes Grant is 39 and father time is undefeated, especially at lower weight classes. He thinks Jourdain is getting Grant at the right time and picks him by decision, though he won't lay -170.

"I got to go with the Jordane side. Give me Charles Jordane to win this fight and win it by decision."
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Confident picked Oct 15, 2025 (3 days before fight)
Charles Jourdain

Cody picks Jourdain, citing his volume and unorthodox striking. He notes Grant doesn't wrestle much, which plays into Jourdain's strengths. Jourdain's takedown defense is a concern, but Grant doesn't shoot. Cody expects Jourdain to win by decision or late stoppage.

"I'm gonna go Charles Jordane on this one. Jump back on team Canada."
CO
Connor Ruebusch Expert Lean picked Oct 17, 2025 (1 day before fight)
Davey Grant

Connor leans toward Davey Grant, citing Grant's consistent toughness, awkwardness, and ability to capitalize on retreating opponents. He notes that Jourdain can drift and have wrong ideas, and that Grant's pressure and durability could cause Jourdain trouble, especially given Jourdain's poor defensive wrestling and tendency to improvise. Connor also mentions the age gap (Grant is 39) but still favors Grant's reliability.

Grant opened at +170, dropped to -110, now +145; Jourdain opened -200, now -170. Connor notes the odds movement and suggests the line is influenced by age.
"I'm kind of leaning Davey Grant in this one."
LU
Lucrative James Expert Lean picked Oct 14, 2025 (4 days before fight)
Charles Jourdain

James finds this a tough fight to call, noting both fighters have struggled with certain styles. He leans toward Jourdain due to his better career trajectory and Grant's age (39). James mentions Jourdain's guillotine threat but expects a close fight.

"I'm going to end up going with Charles Jordane for my official prediction. I feel like his career trajectory is a little bit better than Davy Grant. Davy Grant is 39. At some point, he's going to fall off a …"
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Oct 17, 2025 (1 day before fight)
Charles Jourdain

The host thinks Jourdain's youth, speed, unorthodox striking, and dangerous BJJ will help him chip away at Grant, pull off a desperation takedown, and eventually snatch a submission victory.

win by submission
"I think it's going to be the youth speed, unorthodox striking, and dangerous BJJ game of Davy Grant, which eventually helps him chip away at Grant, pull out a desperation takedown, and eventually lead to Jordane snatching up another submission …"
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Confident picked Oct 15, 2025 (3 days before fight)
Davey Grant

Paul picks Grant, citing his value as a dog. He notes Grant is always game and has good volume. Jourdain's weight cut to 135 is a concern, and Grant can exploit that. Paul plans to bet Grant at plus money.

"you give me plus money on Dave David Grant. I'm not going to waste your time with two months. This is like plus 150."
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Oct 16, 2025 (2 days before fight)
Charles Jourdain

The MMA Guru picks Charles Jourdain over Davey Grant. He initially considered Grant due to his underdog success but believes Jourdain's skills are superior. He notes Jourdain's ability to beat opponents to the punch on the inside and his guillotine threats. He predicts Jourdain will catch Grant with a straight shot and possibly finish by TKO or guillotine, citing Grant's neck surgeries.

TKO or guillotine submission
"I'm going to go with Charles Jourdain getting this one done. And I think he'll chin Davey Grant."
ZA
Zane Simon Expert Lean picked Oct 17, 2025 (1 day before fight)
Davey Grant

Zane agrees with Connor, picking Davey Grant. He emphasizes that Grant is always tough and crafty, and that Jourdain often shows up with the wrong plan or no plan, resorting to wild brawling that doesn't work well. Zane acknowledges that Grant's success can't last forever at 39, but he still expects Grant to deliver.

"Yeah, I think I'm gonna pick Davey Grant here, too."
Decision R3 5:00 · UFC on ABC: Whittaker vs. de Ridder · Jul 26, 2025
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Davey Grant 0 66 of 130 50% 66 of 133 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:19
Da'Mon Blackshear 0 33 of 74 44% 36 of 78 1 of 5 20% 1 0 3:52
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Davey Grant 0 3 of 5 60% 3 of 8 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:19
Da'Mon Blackshear 0 2 of 4 50% 4 of 7 1 of 1 100% 1 0 3:52
2 Davey Grant 0 29 of 57 50% 29 of 57 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Da'Mon Blackshear 0 17 of 33 51% 18 of 34 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:00
3 Davey Grant 0 34 of 68 50% 34 of 68 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Da'Mon Blackshear 0 14 of 37 37% 14 of 37 0 of 3 0% 0 0 0:00
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Davey Grant 66 of 130 50% 17 of 67 27 of 39 22 of 24 65 of 128 1 of 1 0 of 1
Da'Mon Blackshear 33 of 74 44% 12 of 45 7 of 13 14 of 16 31 of 72 1 of 1 1 of 1
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Davey Grant 3 of 5 60% 0 of 1 0 of 0 3 of 4 3 of 4 0 of 0 0 of 1
Da'Mon Blackshear 2 of 4 50% 2 of 4 0 of 0 0 of 0 1 of 3 0 of 0 1 of 1
2 Davey Grant 29 of 57 50% 9 of 31 13 of 19 7 of 7 29 of 57 0 of 0 0 of 0
Da'Mon Blackshear 17 of 33 51% 6 of 17 5 of 9 6 of 7 17 of 33 0 of 0 0 of 0
3 Davey Grant 34 of 68 50% 8 of 35 14 of 20 12 of 13 33 of 67 1 of 1 0 of 0
Da'Mon Blackshear 14 of 37 37% 4 of 24 2 of 4 8 of 9 13 of 36 1 of 1 0 of 0
Play-by-Play
View on Sherdog
Davey Grant vs. Da'Mon Blackshear
BETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Blackshear (-270); Grant (+210)

Round 1
Turning 40 in December, Grant (16-7, 7-6 UFC) knows he may be fast approaching the age cliff, although he did win his last bout. He faces a submission magician in Blackshear (17-7-1, 5-3-1 UFC) nearly a decade his junior, which might not be in his best interest as “Dangerous Davey” posts more losses by sub than any other method. With three rounds to work, the bantamweights meet in the middle with no plan on bumping fists, and referee Jason Herzog will take it from there.
Grant opens up with wide low kicks to the thigh, hoping to keep an arc on them that would dissuade an early takedown effort. He goes after the longer legs of Blackshear a few times on the inside and out, and Blackshear still manages to pursue a takedown and hit it. Grant scoots his way to put his back to the fence, and he uses his legs to try to post off and gets some space from “Da Monster.” Grant gets to a knee, and Blackshear welcomes this as he hops to the side and slides a hook in. Blackshear sneaks his leg around the other side, and he follows a turning Grant until he can secure both hooks.
Blackshear does not set up a body triangle, instead retaining control while thwarting attempts to buck and escape. Grant turns over and finds himself in submission danger, as Blackshear grips hold of what turns into a face and neck crank rather than a textbook rear-naked choke. Grant toughs it out and tries to get out of the back take, only for Blackshear to turn to the proper direction to isolate the Brit’s left arm for a potential armbar. Grant stays heavy on his opponent to not allow Blackshear to extend a limb, and he explodes just enough to wrench his arm out of danger. Grant rains down a couple left hands and an elbow as the round concludes.

Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Blackshear
Chris Laporte scores the round: 10-9 Blackshear
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Blackshear

Round 2
Grant takes to the center of the cage to start the round, walking down the grappler and punching him a couple times in the stomach. Grant’s blitz forces Blackshear to ricochet off the wire, and he digs a kick to the ribs. Grant doubles up on a jab and follows with an overhand right that is parried, but his jab to the midsection does connect. They back off to disengage for a time, reaching one another with single low kicks but little else. Grant turns his hips into a thumping kick to the lead leg, and Blackshear drives him away with an overhand right. Grant plants punches to the midsection, a left to the dome and a head kick on the other side to keep Blackshear guessing.
Blackshear rebounds off the wire but has become target practice at this point, with little offense offered on his side other than the occasional kick. Grant times a shot by catching Blackshear with an uppercut, and he gets his foe’s attention with a string of punches to follow. Blackshear nods at him, and he wades forward trying to mask a takedown setup with punches that he does not let fly. Both men land hard punches, but Grant’s are far heavier and knock Blackshear back a step or two when he lands flush. Blackshear circles on the outside offering a body kick and keeping his guard up to block a series of punches and a high kick, the similar combination to earlier. Blackshear goes for body kicks, and Grant peppers him with punches and a low kick that makes Blackshear evaluate his footing. As Grant spams high kicks, the horn sounds.

Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Grant
Chris Laporte scores the round: 10-9 Grant
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Grant

Round 3
The bantamweights reach the final frame, and Blackshear says hello again with a calf kick. Grant misses his counter, and Blackshear jabs him up and opens a cut on the bridge of his foe’s nose. Grant is putting a lot of mustard behind his swings, including two concussive blows that make Blackshear bounce off the fencing. Blackshear responds with kicks, but Grant’s fists are having an impact as Blackshear reacts poorly when struck. Grant keeps his man guessing with mixed up punches and kicks to varied targets, like a calf kick to a body shot to a high kick upstairs in rapid succession.
Blackshear targets the wounded spot on his opponent’s forehead to set up a takedown, and Grant’s defense holds up as he clubs “Da Monster” in the jaw with a right hand after stopping the shot. Blackshear goes to his knees for a double, and Grant once more tosses it aside and hurls a right hand at his foe. Blackshear tries to intercept the hard-charging Brit with a knee, and Grant avoids it and starts hammering the front leg with kicks as Blackshear is starting to limp. The kicks from Grant are so powerful that getting checked splits his shin open, as blood flows down his foot to leave partial scarlet footprints around the Octagon. This does not slow him from pitching kicks one second, as he keeps beating on the taller man’s front leg until Blackshear switches stances. When this happens, Grant starts kicking the other leg, and he stops a takedown in its tracks and holds back on firing off a knee that would have been illegal. He lets Blackshear stand, marching him down and hurling right hands at him. Blackshear blocks the worst of them, evading the final strikes as the match comes to a close.

Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Grant (29-28 Grant)
Chris Laporte scores the round: 10-9 Grant (29-28 Grant)
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Grant (29-28 Grant)

The Official Result
Davey Grant def. Da'Mon Blackshear via Unanimous Decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Confident picked Jul 20, 2025 (6 days before fight)
Da'Mon Blackshear

Angelo picks Da'Mon Blackshear, stating he wins 7 out of 10 times. He notes Blackshear's athletic striking, speed, power, and grappling, but worries about his hesitancy. Davey Grant is old, chinny, but relentless with volume. Angelo likely will bet on Blackshear but wishes he knew Blackshear would let his hands go.

Likely will bet on Blackshear
"Dean Blackshere is going to be the pick and I'm gonna pick him. I likely have a bet on him at some point this week."
BI
Big Brady Expert Hesitant picked Jul 22, 2025 (4 days before fight)
Da'Mon Blackshear

Big Brady picks Da'Mon Blackshear but with hesitation, noting Blackshear has not wrestled in his last four fights despite having a huge grappling advantage. He believes if Blackshear grapples, he will win easily via submission, but if he strikes, he could lose to Grant's awkward volume and power. He predicts a first-round submission.

first round submission
"I got to go Blackshere just because it's like so clear. ... I think he finishes Davy Grant in the very first round by submission."
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Jul 23, 2025 (3 days before fight)
Da'Mon Blackshear

Blackshear should be able to chip away at Grant from distance, mix in takedowns, and ultimately lock up a submission to force the tap.

submission
"I believe Blackshere should be able to chip away at Grant from distance, maybe even mix in a few takedowns, but I ultimately think it leads to Blackshire locking up a submission and forcing the tap from Davy Grant."
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Jul 24, 2025 (2 days before fight)
Da'Mon Blackshear

The MMA Guru picks Da'Mon Blackshear over Davey Grant, citing Blackshear's underrated submission and grappling game, and his composed performance against Eli Alateng. He worries Grant may have declined after neck surgery and time off. He predicts a second-round finish by submission or TKO after a wild first round.

Finish, round 2
"I'm gonna take Deon Blackshere to get this one done by finish. Submission TKO. Second round finish for Deon Blackshere."
CANCEL vs Daniel Santos
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Confident picked Mar 30, 2025 (6 days before fight)
Davey Grant

Angelo describes Davey Grant as an awkward fighter who wins fights despite looking like he's losing, with good fight IQ and the ability to survive early storms. He notes Daniel Santos is a typical Chute Boxe fighter with explosive power but no striking defense and poor takedown defense. Angelo predicts Grant will survive an early onslaught, then grind Santos against the cage and win rounds two and three. He considers waiting for prop bets but is confident Grant pulls it off.

"I'm gonna pick daav Grant he's the type of guy that wins fights but looks like he's losing."
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked Apr 1, 2025 (4 days before fight)
Davey Grant

Big Brady picks the underdog Davey Grant, noting Santos's long layoff and hittability. He believes Grant has improved with age, has better accuracy, and an awkward style. He expects a close fight but sees Grant winning a decision, possibly a split.

"give me the dog here and Davy grant to get to get it done by decision"
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Apr 3, 2025 (2 days before fight)
Davey Grant

Despite being 39, Grant has recently showcased he can still compete against young prospects. He is expected to engage in a pocket exchange and uncork a big shot to knock Santos out.

knockout
"even though Grant is 39 years old he has recently showcased that he can still go out there and compete against young prospects and I expect him to do so once again here against Daniel Santos as he engages in …"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Apr 3, 2025 (2 days before fight)
Davey Grant

The Guru is very confident in Davey Grant, calling him a phenom who defies aging logic. He praises Grant's speed, power, long limbs, and snappy kicks, and believes he will TKO Daniel Santos. He notes Grant's win over Jonathan Martinez as a fraud check and thinks Grant's high-volume, Muay Thai style will overwhelm Santos, leading to a finish or dominant decision.

Davey Grant wins by TKO inside the distance
"Davy Grant is an absolute phenom and he is defying the aging logic of bantamweights. He takes out Daniel Santos by TKO in this fight."
WIN vs Ramon Taveras
Decision (unanimous) (29–28, 30–27, 30–27) R3 5:00 · UFC on ESPN: Covington vs. Buckley · Dec 14, 2024
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Davey Grant 0 147 of 290 50% 147 of 290 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:00
Ramon Taveras 0 69 of 156 44% 69 of 156 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Davey Grant 0 39 of 72 54% 39 of 72 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Ramon Taveras 0 12 of 34 35% 12 of 34 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
2 Davey Grant 0 45 of 89 50% 45 of 89 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:00
Ramon Taveras 0 25 of 49 51% 25 of 49 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
3 Davey Grant 0 63 of 129 48% 63 of 129 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Ramon Taveras 0 32 of 73 43% 32 of 73 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Davey Grant 147 of 290 50% 50 of 158 42 of 67 55 of 65 147 of 290 0 of 0 0 of 0
Ramon Taveras 69 of 156 44% 63 of 149 5 of 6 1 of 1 67 of 152 2 of 3 0 of 1
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Davey Grant 39 of 72 54% 5 of 28 15 of 22 19 of 22 39 of 72 0 of 0 0 of 0
Ramon Taveras 12 of 34 35% 10 of 32 2 of 2 0 of 0 12 of 34 0 of 0 0 of 0
2 Davey Grant 45 of 89 50% 16 of 46 12 of 22 17 of 21 45 of 89 0 of 0 0 of 0
Ramon Taveras 25 of 49 51% 23 of 47 1 of 1 1 of 1 23 of 45 2 of 3 0 of 1
3 Davey Grant 63 of 129 48% 29 of 84 15 of 23 19 of 22 63 of 129 0 of 0 0 of 0
Ramon Taveras 32 of 73 43% 30 of 70 2 of 3 0 of 0 32 of 73 0 of 0 0 of 0
Play-by-Play
View on Sherdog
Davey Grant vs. Ramon Taveras
BETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Taveras (-130), Grant (+110)

Round 1
The bantamweight fight will be overseen by Keith Peterson. Grant lands a solid leg kick to start. Taveras takes the center of the Octagon. A nice straight right lands for Taveras, who is timing it well as Grant comes in. Grant is finding distance with his kicks. Grant is staying on the outside and throwing side kicks. Nice right hand from Grant to the body. A body kick from Grant slaps into the side of Taveras. Grant is the much more active fighter so far. A sneaky right hand lands for Grant, who then lands a head kick. Taveras eats two leg kicks but throws a nice straight left. A low blow lands for Grant, so Taveras will take time to recover. The fight restarts with under two minutes left. Nice side kick from Grant. Taveras avoids a big right hand and is able to counter with some hooks. A night left for Taveras, who is starting to find his distance. Grant still finding success with leg kicks. Grant misses a spinning kick. A nice combination of hooks land for Grant, who misses a spinning back fist as the round ends.

Sherdog Scores
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Grant
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Grant
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Grant

Round 2
Taveras takes the center of the cage again but comes up short trying to fire punches back at Grant, who continues to land kicks at range. Grant gets clipped by a big left hand from Taveras, who allows his opponent to get back up. Grant still looks rocked, but Taveras isn't rushing. Grant seems to have recovered but isn't nearly as confident. Taveras is loading up on big shots as an overhand left misses. A head kick for Grant is blocked. Grant falls after attempting a spin kick but gets back up without taking much damage. Taveras is once again failing to do much in terms of output. Big left hook comes up short for Taveras. Grant lands a big swinging right hook of his own. Several kicks land for Grant. Big hooks land for Grant as Taveras shows how good his chin is. Taveras avoids a spinning back fist but is being outstruck here despite the big moment early on. Grant doing a good job of following up his punches with kicks. The round ends with Grant swinging wildly with hooks and then landing a kick to the shin.

Sherdog Scores
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Grant
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Grant
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Grant

Round 3
Taveras eats a big right hook to start the final round. Grant was told not to spin by his coaches between rounds and has been following their direction. Taveras is finding his distance and landing a nice jab. Grant gets busier and hurts Taveras with a left hook. Grant is once again staying busier. Nice body kick lands for Grant, who follows it up with hooks. Grant's pace is really impressive to be getting busier in the third round. Grant lands a nice leg kick and is throwing hard to the body. Two minutes left. Taveras is defending well but needs to be landing. A big right straight lands for Grant, who stuns Taveras late. Really strong performance from Grant, who has really separated himself from Taveras as a far more varied and better striker. One minute left, and Taveras needs something big. Taveras is looking for a big shot but not throwing. Grant eats a right hand but comes back with several punches of his own. Taveras is swinging wildly in the last 20 seconds but most aren't connecting. The fight ends with Grant jabbing his way to what will be a clear-cut decision.

Sherdog Scores
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Grant (30-27 Grant)
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Grant (30-27 Grant)
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Grant (30-27 Grant)

The Official Result
Davey Grant def. Ramon Taveras via Unanimous Decision (29-28, 30-27, 30-27); R3, 5:00.
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Confident picked Dec 8, 2024 (6 days before fight)
Ramon Taveras

Angelo picks Taveras due to his power and hand speed, which he believes will be too much for the aging Davey Grant. He notes Grant's blind forward pressure and lack of output, while Taveras is a powerful southpaw striker with good takedown defense. He expects Taveras to look good despite the experience gap.

"Ramon's power and hand speed are going to be big issues for the guy... Ramon Taris is going to be the pick and frankly you're going to get some decent value on him."
BI
Big Brady Expert Hesitant picked Dec 12, 2024 (2 days before fight)
Ramon Taveras

Big Brady picks Ramon Taveras to win by decision, but is hesitant due to concerns about Grant's neck surgery and long layoff. He notes Taveras has heavy hands and has knocked down opponents in almost every fight, but worries about Taveras's chin. He originally leaned Grant but flipped after learning about Grant's neck surgery and age (39). He thinks Grant might look like a shell of himself.

"I'm going to go with the younger guy in tares I think he could potentially knock out David Grant but at the very least I think he is going to drop him"
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Confident picked Dec 11, 2024 (3 days before fight)
Davey Grant

Cody picks Davey Grant, citing his experience, durability, and well-rounded skills. He notes that Taveras is a one-round fighter who gasses, and Grant's volume and pressure will overwhelm him. Cody believes Grant's grappling and striking are superior, and he expects a finish or clear decision.

"I got DAV Grant I got daav Grant but what could possibly go wrong."
CO
Connor Ruebusch Expert Confident picked Dec 13, 2024 (1 day before fight)
Davey Grant

Connor also picks Grant, emphasizing that Grant's game makes sense despite his poor technique, and that he has a good understanding of tempo and momentum. He notes that Taveras is a fighter who backs up against the cage and throws counter combinations, leaving himself open. Until Grant shows signs of decline, Connor will pick him over a fighter like Taveras.

"Until I see some evidence that Grant is really slid, which I have yet to see it yet, then I'm always gonna pick him over a guy like Ramon Tavares."
DA
Daniel Vreeland Expert Confident picked Dec 12, 2024 (2 days before fight)
Ramon Taveras

Daniel Vreeland picks Ramon Taveras, citing his fast hands and boxing skills for MMA. He notes Davey Grant is coming off neck surgery at 39, and Taveras is nearly 10 years younger. Vreeland believes Taveras could knock out Grant, though he acknowledges Grant's calf kicks could be a factor. He expects a banger and leans toward the younger fighter.

"I think Ramon Tas might actually come out here and sleep the Beloved Davy Grant"
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Dec 12, 2024 (2 days before fight)
Davey Grant

Grant's strength of schedule, durability, and cardio advantage will allow him to land big shots on Ramon Taveras, leading to a knockout victory. The public has been backing Grant this week, which aligns with the pick.

wins by KO
"I believe his strength of schedule durability and cardio Advantage will all him to allow him to land big enough shots against Ramon tarez here and I believe that will eventually leave to a knockout victory for the veteran"
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Confident picked Dec 11, 2024 (3 days before fight)
Davey Grant

Paul picks Davey Grant, citing his experience and ability to go toe-to-toe with top fighters. He notes that Taveras is untested and Grant's submission skills could be a factor. Paul expects Grant to win, possibly by submission.

"I wouldn't be completely shocked if DAV Grant goes out there is able to find a submission."
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Dec 11, 2024 (3 days before fight)
Davey Grant

The MMA Guru picks Davey Grant, citing his history as a tricky underdog who has been competitive against tough opponents. He believes Grant's leg kicks and body work will keep Taveras at bay, and notes that Taveras is a flat-footed boxer who has been finished before. He acknowledges Grant's recent neck surgery and age (38) but dismisses those as reasons to bet against him, stating that Taveras is not a dangerous enough prospect to beat Grant.

"I'm going to go with Dave Grant plus I think ramont ves's big chances to get a KO and dve Grant's never been ko'ed in the UF and he's been around for a long time"
ZA
Zane Simon Expert Confident picked Dec 13, 2024 (1 day before fight)
Davey Grant

Zane picks Grant confidently, describing him as a legitimate technical brawler with a great feel for fighting, despite his ugly technique. He notes that Grant has given tough fights to better strikers like Adrian Yanez and Daniel Marcos, while Taveras has a record built on beating low-level competition and barely beat Serhiy Sidey. Zane sees this as a levels matchup where Grant should win by knockout.

Grant opened at +119, now -107; Taveras opened at -134, now -104. Zane says the odds are dead even but he sees it as a clear mismatch.
"Davy Grant should should pants him he should march Davy Grant is legitimately good. Should knock him out real really? This just looks like a levels matchup to me."
LOSS vs Daniel Marcos
Decision (split) (28–29, 29–28, 29–28) R3 5:00 · UFC Fight Night: Aspinall vs. Tybura · Jul 22, 2023
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Daniel Marcos 0 70 of 215 32% 70 of 215 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:06
Davey Grant 0 48 of 140 34% 49 of 141 1 of 1 100% 0 0 0:13
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Daniel Marcos 0 16 of 49 32% 16 of 49 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Davey Grant 0 13 of 35 37% 13 of 35 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
2 Daniel Marcos 0 26 of 75 34% 26 of 75 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Davey Grant 0 15 of 51 29% 15 of 51 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
3 Daniel Marcos 0 28 of 91 30% 28 of 91 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:06
Davey Grant 0 20 of 54 37% 21 of 55 1 of 1 100% 0 0 0:13
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Daniel Marcos 70 of 215 32% 17 of 127 27 of 55 26 of 33 70 of 213 0 of 2 0 of 0
Davey Grant 48 of 140 34% 21 of 90 6 of 24 21 of 26 47 of 139 1 of 1 0 of 0
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Daniel Marcos 16 of 49 32% 1 of 28 7 of 10 8 of 11 16 of 49 0 of 0 0 of 0
Davey Grant 13 of 35 37% 1 of 15 2 of 8 10 of 12 13 of 35 0 of 0 0 of 0
2 Daniel Marcos 26 of 75 34% 9 of 48 8 of 15 9 of 12 26 of 75 0 of 0 0 of 0
Davey Grant 15 of 51 29% 4 of 33 3 of 8 8 of 10 14 of 50 1 of 1 0 of 0
3 Daniel Marcos 28 of 91 30% 7 of 51 12 of 30 9 of 10 28 of 89 0 of 2 0 of 0
Davey Grant 20 of 54 37% 16 of 42 1 of 8 3 of 4 20 of 54 0 of 0 0 of 0
Play-by-Play
View on Sherdog
Davey Grant vs. Daniel Marcos
BETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Marcos (-140), Grant (+120)

Round 1
In the one corner, “Dangerous Davey” Grant (15-6, 6-5 UFC) stands firm, ready to represent his home country. In the other, lead-fisted and lead-kneed Peruvian Marcos (14-0, 1-0 UFC) puts his unblemished record on the line. Grant has only been defeated in the past via submission, while Marcos has never before forced a foe to tap out. Something’s gotta give in this newly minted bantamweight main card opener that could be a banger, and it begins with a glove touch. Referee Marc Goddard adjusts his gloves, pulls up his pants and sits back to observed the proceedings, and The two fighters come out to the middle of the cage to engage, and Grant goes first with a heavy leg kick. Grant walks down Marcos and kicks on the inside, and he throws one more to the outer calf. Marcos replies with one that sends Grant off-balance, but the Brit adjusts himself and continues coming forward. Grant pushes out a front kick, and he wings a right hand that slides off the top of the guard to bounce off Marcos’ temple. Marcos shrugs at him and kicks so hard on the calf that he takes Grant off his feet. Grant jumps back up and rips a kick to the ribs, and he checks a kick that comes his way. Grant turns an uppercut into a spinning back fist, and Marcos dances out of the way and keeps his guard up high to stop another strike from getting through. Grant comes out swinging, throwing a right hook that puts himself off-balance, and Marcos does not capitalize on it but is able to eat up Grant’s calf with another kick. Grant strides in with a side kick, and he jumps forward with a stomping kick to the knee. The unbeaten fighter ducks down and absorbs a side kick, and Grant then plants the ball of his foot on the chest to follow. Grant snipes out a left hook when Marcos advances, and he jumps forward with a knee that glances off his intended target. Grant counters a leg kick with a clean right hand, and he kicks the body and backs off when Marcos throws hands. Marcos walks “Dangerous Davey” down and kicks him in the chest, and Grant is able to time a right hand when Marcos loads up. Grant sweeps the leg as he comes forward, and he chains a calf kick into a head kick with the same leg. Marcos gives a body kick back, only for Grant to defend against it. Marcos reaches his man with a right hook, and Grant spins with a wheel kick that ricochets off the chest of his foe. Marcos rubs his chest, and the round ends.

Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Grant
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Grant
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Grant

Round 2
The 135ers bump fists before getting after it, and Grant spurs into action in a hurry with several kicks to multiple targets. Grant sprints and pulls back to draw a reaction, and he does this to clip Marcos with a short left hook. Grant aims a right hand when Marcos rushes at him with a jump knee, and Grant scampers away before it reaches him. Grant kicks the side and goes with a hook kick up high, and they proceed to throw fists at the same time. Marcos catches Grant with a solid right hand, and Grant gathers his thoughts and chips at the lead wheel of his foe. Grant punches his way into a combination that ends with a low kick, and he misses with a wheel kick as Marcos backs off. Grant nails a leg kick and wings a right hook over the top, and Marcos ignores it and tries to counter with a right hand. A few jabs from the Peruvian fighter have bloodied Grant’s nose up, and Grant pays it no mind as his offense is still as active as ever. Grant strings three hooks together and pushes off the chest with the ball of his foot when Marcos attempts to reply. Marcos swings as hard as he can with a right hand, and Grant ducks and nails Marcos with a front kick on the chin. Grant swings a high kick that grazes off the red hair of his opponent, and Marcos responds with two punches and a step-in kick that splits the uprights and slams square into Grant’s cup. Grant grimaces and bends over as Goddard calls time, and Grant tells Goddard he is good to go after about 45 seconds off. When restarting, Marcos offers an apologetic glove touch. Grant gets going again with a huge right hand, and he watches Marcos comes towards him and raise up a hook kick. Grant plants his shin on the lower calf of “Soncora,” and he steps in with an elbow. Grant trips on Marcos’ leg when spinning with a strike, and Marcos’ jabs are starting to bloody Grant up further. “Dangerous Davey” plants a dangerous right hand on the nose, and Marcos shakes his head and defends against the standing hook kick. Grant lets go with several punches and a side kick, and he gives chase as Marcos backpedals. The round ends with the lower part of Grant’s face covered in blood.

Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Grant
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Grant
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Grant

Round 3
Grant nods and winks at Marcos to lead off the last round, and the two hug it out before getting down to business. Marcos strikes first with a calf kick, and Grant strides forward and lets go with a spinning wheel kick. It only takes a jab or two from Marcos to bust up Grant’s nose again. Grant absorbs a jab and goes forward into a takedown. The unbeaten fighter stands him up, and the two fighters stand in the pocket and trade. Marcos backs off first, and Grant follows him down with a head kick, a front kick and a right hand. Grant puts three fists on Marcos before Marcos is able to land one. Marcos, out of nowhere, jumps at his man with a knee, and Grant takes it flush and keeps coming ever forward. Marcos waves his arms around, and Grant comes at him with a knee. Marcos swats him aside and strafes on the outside, and it is up to Grant to initiate the offense. Grant spins with a back fist, and then keeps spinning to throw other strikes. Marcos nods approvingly from the strikes, and he keeps backing off as Grant is pushing the pace. Grant walks through jabs to swing with far harder strikes, and one such blow comes in the form of a right to the body. Marcos jabs up his man, and Grant unloads with a right hand that bounces off the shoulder. Grant walks Marcos down, getting in a leg kick and a right hand, and Marcos tries to reply with a left hook that only slightly connects. Grant ducks a flailing fist to come in and land a straight right to the body, and a subsequent kick makes Marcos drops his guard and back off. Grant jumps with a knee, and when he misses and lands, Marcos greets him with a stern right hand down the pipe. Grant doggedly pursues his opponent, throwing everything and the kitchen sink at him. Marcos times a takedown out of nowhere, hitting it with ease. Grant frantically works his way up with the fence behind him, and he separates. Grant spins with a wheel kick that bounces off the shoulder, and he raise his arm to draw Marcos into a final brawl. Grant spams any kind of kick he can think of, all while Marcos backs away, until time expires.

Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Grant (30-27 Grant)
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Grant (30-27 Grant)
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Grant (30-27 Grant)

The Official Result
Daniel Marcos def. Davey Grant via Split Decision (28-29, 29-28, 29-28)
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Confident picked Jul 16, 2023 (6 days before fight)
Daniel Marcos

Angelo is very confident in Daniel Marcos, believing the odds are incredible value. He thinks Davey Grant is chinny and if he can't get a takedown (which he hasn't since 2021), he will get lit up on the feet. He has a half-unit bet at -121 and calls it some of the best value on the card.

half unit bet at -121
"I'm confident Daniel Marcos I have a half a unit on him at minus 121 And I genuinely think as of right now this minute at that 121 line that's some of the best value you're going to get on …"
BI
Big Brady Expert Lean picked Jul 18, 2023 (4 days before fight)
Daniel Marcos

Big Brady picks Daniel Marcos by decision. He likes Marcos' striking and volume, and thinks he can outwork Grant over 15 minutes. He notes Grant is durable and has power, but Marcos is younger and has upside. He is concerned about Marcos' chin not being tested. He thinks it will be close but Marcos' volume and youth give him the edge.

by decision
"give me Marcos to win this fight by decision I think it is close I think it is competitive but I like a striking I like his volume"
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Confident picked Jul 19, 2023 (3 days before fight)
Davey Grant

Cody picks Grant, questioning Marcos's hype. He notes Grant has fought tougher competition (Vera, Yanez) and is a gatekeeper. He thinks the line is an overreaction to Marcos's win over Oliveira. He sees Grant as a live dog.

"Davey Grant will be my pick here"
DA
Daniel Levi Expert Lean picked Jul 20, 2023 (2 days before fight)
Daniel Marcos

Daniel picks Daniel Marcos, calling him the best Peruvian prospect ever and praising his professional approach, training in Florida, and high-tech recovery. He thinks Marcos's pressure and intensity make opponents fight uncharacteristically, as seen in the Simon Oliveira fight. He acknowledges Davey Grant's toughness and experience but believes Marcos is catching him at the right time. However, he is not willing to lay -140 and says he would be interested if the price drops to around -115. He passes on betting but picks Marcos to win.

Daniel says he is not willing to lay -140 and would be interested if the price drops 25 cents. He picks Marcos but does not bet.
"I'm just not willing to lay the chalk at minus 140 to find out"
LU
Lucrative James Expert Confident picked Jul 18, 2023 (4 days before fight)
Daniel Marcos

James picks Daniel Marcos to win. He thinks Marcos is a better striker than Grant, with cleaner technique and better footwork. He believes Marcos can play the range game and punish Grant with straight shots. James notes that Grant is older and may be slowing down, while Marcos is on an upward trajectory. He acknowledges that this is a step up in competition for Marcos and that Grant has knockout power, but he favors Marcos's skills and potential.

"I like Marcos in this spot um I bet on Marcos before at an underdog price"
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Jul 17, 2023 (5 days before fight)
Daniel Marcos

The host picks Daniel Marcos, believing his overall game, output, grappling, and calf kicks will neutralize Grant's power. He expects Marcos to withstand Grant's early power and win by decision. He notes it's a stiff test but thinks Marcos passes.

"give me Marcos by decision but again big spot for him in Grants you know neck of the woods let's see if he shows up I think he does and I think he wins by decision"
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Lean picked Jul 19, 2023 (3 days before fight)
Daniel Marcos

Paul leans toward Marcos, noting his undefeated record and willingness to engage. He thinks Marcos can outwork Grant, though Grant has power and grappling advantages. He is not fully confident and calls it a dog or pass.

"I feel like I'm leaning towards him if if I had to just chalk it up to a dog or pass situation"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Jul 17, 2023 (5 days before fight)
Davey Grant

The MMA Guru picks Davey Grant, initially considering Daniel Marcos but ultimately favoring Grant's experience and power. He notes Grant's win over Aiemann Zahabi is underrated and that Marcos was timid in his fight against Simon Oliveira. The Guru believes Grant's size, power, and front kicks will overwhelm Marcos, and predicts a KO win in a scrap against the cage.

KO
"I'm gonna go Davey Grant here a little bit more damaging"
Technical Submission (inverted triangle choke) R3 4:43 · UFC Fight Night: Yan vs. Dvalishvili · Mar 11, 2023
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Davey Grant 0 42 of 58 72% 67 of 85 5 of 12 41% 0 0 4:17
Raphael Assunção 1 65 of 138 47% 80 of 154 0 of 0 --- 1 0 0:52
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Davey Grant 0 13 of 19 68% 23 of 31 1 of 1 100% 0 0 1:46
Raphael Assunção 0 20 of 39 51% 20 of 39 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
2 Davey Grant 0 16 of 20 80% 27 of 31 2 of 4 50% 0 0 1:38
Raphael Assunção 0 20 of 44 45% 22 of 46 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
3 Davey Grant 0 13 of 19 68% 17 of 23 2 of 7 28% 0 0 0:53
Raphael Assunção 1 25 of 55 45% 38 of 69 0 of 0 --- 1 0 0:52
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Davey Grant 42 of 58 72% 16 of 29 8 of 8 18 of 21 38 of 53 3 of 4 1 of 1
Raphael Assunção 65 of 138 47% 28 of 91 18 of 28 19 of 19 59 of 132 4 of 4 2 of 2
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Davey Grant 13 of 19 68% 4 of 8 2 of 2 7 of 9 12 of 18 0 of 0 1 of 1
Raphael Assunção 20 of 39 51% 5 of 21 7 of 10 8 of 8 20 of 39 0 of 0 0 of 0
2 Davey Grant 16 of 20 80% 4 of 8 4 of 4 8 of 8 14 of 17 2 of 3 0 of 0
Raphael Assunção 20 of 44 45% 6 of 25 4 of 9 10 of 10 18 of 42 2 of 2 0 of 0
3 Davey Grant 13 of 19 68% 8 of 13 2 of 2 3 of 4 12 of 18 1 of 1 0 of 0
Raphael Assunção 25 of 55 45% 17 of 45 7 of 9 1 of 1 21 of 51 2 of 2 2 of 2
Play-by-Play
View on Sherdog
Raphael Assuncao vs. Davey Grant
BETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Grant (-140), Assuncao (+120)

Round 1
One of the more underrated bantamweight greats might be entering the final fight of his storied career, as longtime Brazilian contender Assuncao (28-9, 12-6 UFC) is a few months away from his 41st birthday. He battles .500 UFC fighter Grant (14-6, 5-5 UFC), who posts an 86% finish rate and generally lives up to his “Dangerous” nickname. The match will be officiated by nonsense-allergic referee Keith Peterson, and the two fighters opt to clap hands. Assuncao moves to the center of the cage briefly, and they clash legs early. As Assuncao pushes back, Grant does the same, and fingers rake eyes. Grant offers an apology, and they resume nailing one another on the legs. Assuncao sits down on a booming right hand, wrapping his arm just around the head and not connecting with it. Grant boots his foe in the body, and Assuncao catches it and scores a right hand to put Grant on his back. Assuncao whips an elbow down, and Grant threatens with a triangle choke that the Brazilian sees coming from a mile away. Grant scoots to the wall on his backside, and Assuncao follows him from behind and slides his left arm around the chest in hopes of setting up a rear-naked choke. Assuncao releases the arm so that he can punch Grant in the side of the head repeatedly, all while Grant tries and fails to scramble away. Grant stands back up despite Assuncao’s arm around his neck, and he spins around and shoves his man back to get space. Grant, with distance to strike, does just that with a front kick. Grant goes to the body and tries to swing a left hand over the top, but Assuncao intercepts him with a push kick. Grant scores a right hand after regaining his balance, and he switches stances right into a right hook in response. Assuncao lets go with a few punches on the inside, and he ducks back and blocks a head kick. Grant darts forward with a few punches, sneaking them in and evading the counters. Assuncao measures a right hand, and he signals to Peterson that the two clashed heads. Grant spins with a wheel kick that just misses, and Assuncao ducks a few leaping punches to clinch up and push Grant to the wire. The Brazilian lands a few knees to the thigh before breaking off with a right hand. Grant winds up with a right hook, landing it a second before the bell.

Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Assuncao
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Assuncao
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Assuncao

Round 2
The respect is high to start off the second round, as the two gladly high-five to get going again. They trade body kicks, and Assuncao leans back to dodge a spinning wheel kick. Assuncao checks a low kick, and he tries to engage but gets popped with an overhand right. Assuncao chips at the calf of his opponent, while checking those that come back to his lead wheel. Assuncao grabs hold of a single, ducking a punch from his opponent, and he is stood up before securing it. Assuncao does land a right hand on the break, and they reset. The two land lefts at the same time, and Grant goes high with a kick that whizzes past his foe’s face. Grant throws a naked leg kick, and Assuncao counters with an emphatic right hand that makes Grant turn about. Grant steps in to release a spinning back elbow, and Assuncao blocks the worst of it and fires off a low kick. Grant kicks high and low, and the Brazilian swats them away without much concern. Assuncao looses a head kick, and he backs off as Grant walks him down and wings right hooks. Grant lunges forward, and his only strike that lands is a low kick. Grant gets a little too reckless, getting countered on the way in, and he finds himself getting grabbed by the veteran. Grant is warned for grabbing the fence to prevent the takedown, and Assuncao still drags him to his knees despite the foul. Grant fights his way back to his feet, but Assuncao has his arm around Grant’s waist with his legs intertwined for a trip. Grant looks to counter Assuncao with a trip, only to get thrown down once more. Assuncao gets a hook in as he takes the back, and Grant defends himself from anything else until the bell rings.

Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Assuncao
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Assuncao
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Assuncao

Round 3
The last round opens with a glove touch, and then the two throw hands. Both fighters connect with clean overhand rights, and they back off to measure one another. Assuncao beats the Brit to the punch with another right over the top, and Grant tries and fails to reach him back. As Grant advances, Assuncao kicks at his lead leg, which changes as Grant switches stances a few times. Assuncao hops away from a low kick, and he gets caught with a right hand coming in. Grant shucks him aside and strings a few punches together, ending it with a head kick that slides over the top. “Dangerous Davey” suddenly unleashes a torrent of punishment, blasting Assuncao with punches until he knocks Assuncao off-balance. Assuncao wobbles back to the fence, and he shoots for a desperation takedown to keep himself afloat. Grant defends the first try, but Assuncao redoubles his effort and pulls Grant’s ankle out to strip away his footing and put the Brit on his back. Assuncao holds on from an unorthodox half guard, but this posture allows Grant to explode back up. Grant fires off an uppercut that snaps Assuncao’s head back like a Pez dispenser, and he still has the Brazilian hurt. Grant tosses aside takedown entries from the veteran so that he can lay into him with punches, and he hurts Assuncao again in an exchange. Assuncao dives after a takedown, and Grant grabs the fence again to stop it. This time, Peterson has had enough of this nonsense, and he pauses the fight and deducts a point from Grant. Assuncao also loses his position from this, and Grant is thrilled so that he can tee off on the Brazilian some more. Assuncao struggles to stay on his feet from an onslaught of strikes, and Grant spins with a back fist that drills into the side of Assuncao’s head. Assuncao tries desperately to get the fight down, and he falls on top of Grant as the British fighter still tries to scramble.
“Dangerous Davey” wraps his legs around Assuncao’s neck to set up an inverted triangle choke, and the unexpected move is secured in a hurry. Assuncao is nonresponsive from on top after the choke gets tight, and he goes out without Peterson recognizing it immediately. Peterson reaches in to check on the Brazilian, who is completely unconscious, and he determines that Assuncao is out and stops the fight.
As soon as the fight is stopped, Assuncao’s coach, Eric Nicksick, is outraged from Peterson’s point deduction that also resulted in Assuncao losing his position, and it is explained that Grant had sat up and gained a superior position – and cannot be rewarded for gaining that position due to a foul. After Assuncao comes to, he removes his gloves and places them in the center of the cage to signal his retirement, while saying in his quick farewell interview that, “I think my time has come.”

The Official Result
Davey Grant def. Raphael Assuncao R3 4:43 via Technical Submission (Inverted Triangle Choke)
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Confident picked Mar 5, 2023 (6 days before fight)
Davey Grant

Angelo picks Davey Grant as the better striker with takedown defense that should hold up against the aging Assunção. He acknowledges Assunção's past success but believes Grant's power and composure will prevail. He notes the line at -160 is likely to move and considers it a safe pick.

line movement comment: expects line to close at -300
"I'm still going the Davey Grant side because I do think he's going to be the better Striker and his takedown defense should hold up."
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked Mar 8, 2023 (3 days before fight)
Davey Grant

Big Brady picks Davey Grant, noting Grant has never looked this good and is in his prime at 37. He expects Grant to march forward with wild looping shots and put Assunção away, as Assunção has been knocked out recently by Garbrandt and Simon. Brady predicts a second-round knockout, though he acknowledges Assunção could win via wrestling if Grant struggles on the mat.

win by KO in round 2
"I think Davey Grant is going to March this guy down Wing big looping shots wild shots and I think he puts a sunset out here"
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Lean picked Mar 8, 2023 (3 days before fight)
Davey Grant

Cody picks Grant, citing Grant's toughness and ability to push the pace. He notes Assunção's age and recent surgery, but acknowledges Assunção could win a close decision. He calls it a close fight.

"I think I will go with Davey Grant don't feel great about it"
CO
Connor Ruebusch Expert Hesitant picked Mar 9, 2023 (2 days before fight)
Raphael Assunção

Connor picks Assunção despite concerns about his age and recent performances. He believes Assunção's counter-striking, jab, and wrestling will be key against Grant's wild brawling style. He notes that Grant makes many mistakes and Assunção can take him down and control him, though there's always a risk of Grant landing a lucky shot.

Grant is favorite at -130 to -150; Assunção underdog at +110 to +120. Connor notes the line has moved toward Grant.
"I think I have to pick a Sun Tso too. That's it. I just think it's, I'm worried that he'll get knocked out because Grant's got a weird stuff is going to happen to him more and more."
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Mar 6, 2023 (5 days before fight)
Davey Grant

I think Grant's power will be too much for Assunção, who has shown durability issues at 40. Assunção is the better technical striker, but Grant throws heavy shots and can end the fight at any moment. Assunção's recent losses have come by knockout, and Grant has the power to exploit that. I expect a knockout within the first 12 minutes.

Grant by KO
"I think that one of those big shots from David Grant are going to get through within the first 12 minutes of this fight and I think that will likely be the end of the night"
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Lean picked Mar 8, 2023 (3 days before fight)
Davey Grant

Paul picks Grant but is not confident, noting Assunção's low volume and close fights. He thinks Grant's volume and takedown defense could be key, but calls it a dicey fight and says he won't bet it.

"I'll take David Grant on price because they got 62 and a half which is super low for a grand fight"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Mar 7, 2023 (4 days before fight)
Davey Grant

The MMA Guru picks Davey Grant, citing his toughness and finishing ability. He believes Grant can finish Assunção, while Assunção is unlikely to finish Grant. He notes Grant's win over Jonathan Martinez and his competitive fight with Adrian Yanez (which he thought Grant won). He predicts a KO in the second round.

by KO, second round
"I'm gonna go with Davey Grant too dangerous I think he finds a finish by KO second round"
ZA
Zane Simon Expert Hesitant picked Mar 9, 2023 (2 days before fight)
Raphael Assunção

Zane picks Assunção but is hesitant due to his age and recent decline. He notes that Assunção's counter-striking and wrestling should neutralize Grant's wild pressure, but Grant's power and unpredictability make it a risky pick. He mentions that Assunção has seen everything and should be able to handle Grant's style.

"I'm with you. I mean, I would expect these odds to be pretty close. Again, Sun Tso's old and we're both understandably nervous about his chances here."
WIN vs Louis Smolka
KO (punches) R3 0:49 · UFC on ESPN: Blachowicz vs. Rakic · May 14, 2022
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Davey Grant 1 81 of 197 41% 84 of 200 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:35
Louis Smolka 0 71 of 139 51% 75 of 145 0 of 3 0% 0 0 0:35
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Davey Grant 1 45 of 90 50% 46 of 91 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:22
Louis Smolka 0 14 of 37 37% 14 of 37 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:02
2 Davey Grant 0 27 of 87 31% 29 of 89 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:06
Louis Smolka 0 56 of 93 60% 60 of 99 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:33
3 Davey Grant 0 9 of 20 45% 9 of 20 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:07
Louis Smolka 0 1 of 9 11% 1 of 9 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:00
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Davey Grant 81 of 197 41% 36 of 134 29 of 42 16 of 21 68 of 180 6 of 8 7 of 9
Louis Smolka 71 of 139 51% 46 of 101 19 of 31 6 of 7 67 of 133 1 of 1 3 of 5
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Davey Grant 45 of 90 50% 17 of 54 18 of 24 10 of 12 39 of 84 2 of 2 4 of 4
Louis Smolka 14 of 37 37% 8 of 24 3 of 10 3 of 3 13 of 36 1 of 1 0 of 0
2 Davey Grant 27 of 87 31% 14 of 66 10 of 17 3 of 4 23 of 81 4 of 6 0 of 0
Louis Smolka 56 of 93 60% 37 of 70 16 of 20 3 of 3 53 of 88 0 of 0 3 of 5
3 Davey Grant 9 of 20 45% 5 of 14 1 of 1 3 of 5 6 of 15 0 of 0 3 of 5
Louis Smolka 1 of 9 11% 1 of 7 0 of 1 0 of 1 1 of 9 0 of 0 0 of 0
Play-by-Play
View on Sherdog
Davey Grant vs. Louis Smolka
BETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Grant (-290) Smolka (+230)

Round 1
In a fight clearly booked for its potential entertainment value, “Dangerous Davey” and “Da Last Samurai” square off, with veteran ref Mike Beltran set to supervise the expected violence. Grant comes out in southpaw and is met by the orthodox Smolka. Grant throws a kick to the Hawaiian’s lead leg. Smolka comes forward, bobbing and weaving. He throws a front kick up the middle which lands. Grant launches a spinning high kick, but comes up short. Grant lands a hard pair of hooks to the body. Grant lands a hard outside kick to Smolka’s lead left leg, then just misses with a murderous punch up top. Smolka lunges in and scores with a nice jab. Two minutes left in the round. Smolka lunges in again and lands a left hand, but Grant scores with a pair of counters. Grant lands another hard leg kick, then a spinning back fist. Smolka is still marching forward, but Grant is hitting with just about everything he throws. Smolka walks right into a hard jab and falls to his rear, dazed. Grant jumps on him and after a brief scramble, lets Smolka back up. The round expires.

Sherdog Scores
Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-9 Grant
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-8 Grant
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Grant

Round 2
Smolka charges forward, swinging big hooks. Grant gives ground and circles away, tagging the Hawaiian with punches as he goes. Grant goes to the body several times in the first minute, then follows up with combinations upstairs. Smolka keeps on coming, however, and is landing quite a few of his own shots. Grant appears to be slowing just a bit. Smolka wades in and lands a right kick to the body. Smolka mixes in level elbow strikes at close range, catching the Englishman. Smolka takes a collar tie and looks to punch with the other hand, but Grant shrugs him off and throws a pair of wide hooks. A minute left, and the momentum seems to have shifted. Smolka catches a kick, hoists Grant’s leg high and runs him to the ground. Smolka moves to the back, then out to the side, working for an armbar. Grant defends the hold, and escapes to his feet. They swing wildly as the final seconds expire.

Sherdog Scores
Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-9 Smolka
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Smolka
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Smolka

Round 3
Grant lands a hard low kick, then a pair of punches upstairs. Smolka sneaks a look at his own leg, comes forward somewhat gingerly, and
Grant lands another low kick that takes his base out from under him completely.
Smolka lunges forward for a desperate takedown attempt, but Grant sprawls all over it, then dives in with punches that land unblocked, the last of which puts “Da Last Samurai” out. Ref Beltran is there a heartbeat later, and it’s another stoppage win for Davey Grant.

The Official Result
Davey Grant def. Louis Smolka R3 0:49 via TKO (Leg Kick and Punches)
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Confident picked May 11, 2022 (3 days before fight)
Davey Grant

Cody is confident in Davey Grant, citing his durability, cardio, power, and improved striking. He notes Grant has been fighting more frequently and showing heart, while Smolka has durability issues, poor wrestling, and was knocked out by Vince Morales. He thinks Grant is much stronger and will march Smolka down, though the -300 price is rich.

"davey grant is that dog he is that guy that comes forward he's that guy that makes it up he's got a lot of durability his cardio checks out he's got big power punching standing he can wrestle he can …"
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Confident picked May 11, 2022 (3 days before fight)
Davey Grant

Paul agrees with Grant, struggling to see where Smolka wins unless by submission. He notes Grant is making up for lost time, has made significant improvements, and is an Ultimate Fighter winner. He thinks Grant's style and effort make him the pick despite the high price.

"i struggle to see where where smoke really wins i guess if he takes him down and and and finds a submission but otherwise like we've seen like david graham really seems like a guy you know he's like six …"
Expert Picks (8)
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Confident picked Jul 16, 2023 (6 days before fight)
Daniel Marcos

Angelo is very confident in Daniel Marcos, believing the odds are incredible value. He thinks Davey Grant is chinny and if he can't get a takedown (which he hasn't since 2021), he will get lit up on the feet. He has a half-unit bet at -121 and calls it some of the best value on the card.

half unit bet at -121
"I'm confident Daniel Marcos I have a half a unit on him at minus 121 And I genuinely think as of right now this minute at that 121 line that's some of the best value you're going to get on this entire card"
BI
Big Brady Expert Lean picked Jul 18, 2023 (4 days before fight)
Daniel Marcos

Big Brady picks Daniel Marcos by decision. He likes Marcos' striking and volume, and thinks he can outwork Grant over 15 minutes. He notes Grant is durable and has power, but Marcos is younger and has upside. He is concerned about Marcos' chin not being tested. He thinks it will be close but Marcos' volume and youth give him the edge.

by decision
"give me Marcos to win this fight by decision I think it is close I think it is competitive but I like a striking I like his volume"
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Confident picked Jul 19, 2023 (3 days before fight)
Davey Grant

Cody picks Grant, questioning Marcos's hype. He notes Grant has fought tougher competition (Vera, Yanez) and is a gatekeeper. He thinks the line is an overreaction to Marcos's win over Oliveira. He sees Grant as a live dog.

"Davey Grant will be my pick here"
DA
Daniel Levi Expert Lean picked Jul 20, 2023 (2 days before fight)
Daniel Marcos

Daniel picks Daniel Marcos, calling him the best Peruvian prospect ever and praising his professional approach, training in Florida, and high-tech recovery. He thinks Marcos's pressure and intensity make opponents fight uncharacteristically, as seen in the Simon Oliveira fight. He acknowledges Davey Grant's toughness and experience but believes Marcos is catching him at the right time. However, he is not willing to lay -140 and says he would be interested if the price drops to around -115. He passes on betting but picks Marcos to win.

Daniel says he is not willing to lay -140 and would be interested if the price drops 25 cents. He picks Marcos but does not bet.
"I'm just not willing to lay the chalk at minus 140 to find out"
LU
Lucrative James Expert Confident picked Jul 18, 2023 (4 days before fight)
Daniel Marcos

James picks Daniel Marcos to win. He thinks Marcos is a better striker than Grant, with cleaner technique and better footwork. He believes Marcos can play the range game and punish Grant with straight shots. James notes that Grant is older and may be slowing down, while Marcos is on an upward trajectory. He acknowledges that this is a step up in competition for Marcos and that Grant has knockout power, but he favors Marcos's skills and potential.

"I like Marcos in this spot um I bet on Marcos before at an underdog price"
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Jul 17, 2023 (5 days before fight)
Daniel Marcos

The host picks Daniel Marcos, believing his overall game, output, grappling, and calf kicks will neutralize Grant's power. He expects Marcos to withstand Grant's early power and win by decision. He notes it's a stiff test but thinks Marcos passes.

"give me Marcos by decision but again big spot for him in Grants you know neck of the woods let's see if he shows up I think he does and I think he wins by decision"
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Lean picked Jul 19, 2023 (3 days before fight)
Daniel Marcos

Paul leans toward Marcos, noting his undefeated record and willingness to engage. He thinks Marcos can outwork Grant, though Grant has power and grappling advantages. He is not fully confident and calls it a dog or pass.

"I feel like I'm leaning towards him if if I had to just chalk it up to a dog or pass situation"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Jul 17, 2023 (5 days before fight)
Davey Grant

The MMA Guru picks Davey Grant, initially considering Daniel Marcos but ultimately favoring Grant's experience and power. He notes Grant's win over Aiemann Zahabi is underrated and that Marcos was timid in his fight against Simon Oliveira. The Guru believes Grant's size, power, and front kicks will overwhelm Marcos, and predicts a KO win in a scrap against the cage.

KO
"I'm gonna go Davey Grant here a little bit more damaging"