UFC on ESPN: Vettori vs. Cannonier · Jun 17, 2023 · Bantamweight · Completed
Prev Fight UFC on ESPN: Vettori vs. Cannonier Next Fight
Age 38
Height 5' 9"
Reach 73"
Weight 135 lbs.
Stance Orthodox
Age 30
Height 5' 8"
Reach 70"
Weight 135 lbs.
Stance Orthodox
Career Averages - Kyung Ho Kang
3.13 SLpM
47.0% Str. Acc.
3.32 SApM
54.0% Str. Def.
1.97 TD Avg
50.0% TD Acc.
68.0% TD Def.
0.8 Sub. Avg
Career Averages - Cristian Quiñonez
3.67 SLpM
43.0% Str. Acc.
3.71 SApM
56.0% Str. Def.
3.14 TD Avg
55.0% TD Acc.
85.0% TD Def.
0.6 Sub. Avg
Kyung Ho Kang
Moneyline
BetWay +130
Cristian Quiñonez
Moneyline
Caesars -140
KO/TKO
FanDuel +360
Submission
BetWay +1800
Decision
BetRivers +185
Kyung Ho Kang - Fight History
LOSS vs Muin Gafurov
Decision (unanimous) (30–27, 30–27, 30–27) R3 5:00 · UFC on ABC: Whittaker vs. Aliskerov · Jun 22, 2024
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Muin Gafurov 0 12 of 35 34% 119 of 152 3 of 11 27% 0 0 4:56
Kyung Ho Kang 0 47 of 71 66% 110 of 144 1 of 3 33% 0 1 6:38
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Muin Gafurov 0 3 of 11 27% 43 of 52 0 of 4 0% 0 0 0:39
Kyung Ho Kang 0 15 of 21 71% 44 of 53 0 of 0 --- 0 0 3:02
2 Muin Gafurov 0 9 of 16 56% 40 of 49 1 of 3 33% 0 0 1:54
Kyung Ho Kang 0 22 of 33 66% 40 of 55 1 of 2 50% 0 1 2:09
3 Muin Gafurov 0 0 of 8 0% 36 of 51 2 of 4 50% 0 0 2:23
Kyung Ho Kang 0 10 of 17 58% 26 of 36 0 of 1 0% 0 0 1:27
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Muin Gafurov 12 of 35 34% 8 of 28 2 of 4 2 of 3 11 of 33 0 of 1 1 of 1
Kyung Ho Kang 47 of 71 66% 27 of 45 10 of 14 10 of 12 25 of 47 6 of 6 16 of 18
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Muin Gafurov 3 of 11 27% 0 of 8 1 of 1 2 of 2 3 of 11 0 of 0 0 of 0
Kyung Ho Kang 15 of 21 71% 10 of 14 2 of 4 3 of 3 7 of 13 0 of 0 8 of 8
2 Muin Gafurov 9 of 16 56% 8 of 15 1 of 1 0 of 0 8 of 15 0 of 0 1 of 1
Kyung Ho Kang 22 of 33 66% 9 of 17 6 of 8 7 of 8 13 of 24 4 of 4 5 of 5
3 Muin Gafurov 0 of 8 0% 0 of 5 0 of 2 0 of 1 0 of 7 0 of 1 0 of 0
Kyung Ho Kang 10 of 17 58% 8 of 14 2 of 2 0 of 1 5 of 10 2 of 2 3 of 5
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Confident picked Jun 20, 2024 (2 days before fight)
Muin Gafurov

Angelo picks Muin Gafurov, noting he was winless in the UFC but has the wrestling and durability to win. He worries about Muin's willingness to brawl because Kang has power, but thinks Muin's wrestling and durability will work for him. He regrets not betting Muin when he was -110 instead of the current -160. He also mentions a potential takedown prop bet on Muin.

Considering takedown prop; mentioned DraftKings takedown lines
"I do think muin wins this fight he is going to be the pick and I'm wishing I placed a bet on him when I saw him at minus1 10"
BI
Big Brady Expert Hesitant picked Jun 19, 2024 (3 days before fight)
Muin Gafurov

Big Brady picks Muin Gafurov despite his recent struggles, citing his youth and activity advantage. He expects the fight to go to a close decision, with Gafurov landing the better and harder strikes. Brady acknowledges Gafurov's chin issues and Kang's toughness, but believes Gafurov's volume and power will edge him the win.

"I'm going to take mu Gaff who's younger I think he's going to be more active I think he's going to be landing the better strikes the harder strikes give me mu Gaff to win this fight by very close …"
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Confident picked Jun 19, 2024 (3 days before fight)
Kyung Ho Kang

Cody picks Kang, citing his superior cardio, grappling, and striking. He notes Gafurov's tendency to gas and lack of finishing ability. Kang's ability to get back up and outwork opponents in later rounds is key. He expects a decision win.

"I see the slight plus money uh for killo Kang and I agree with it I think he's an excellent pick"
DA
Daniel Vreeland Expert Confident picked Jun 20, 2024 (2 days before fight)
Muin Gafurov

Daniel Vreeland picks Muin Gafurov to win a hard-fought decision, citing his higher pace and skill set. He notes Kang's experience and durability but believes Gafurov's pressure will be too much. He is concerned about Gafurov's cardio and chin but thinks he can outwork Kang.

"I'm G pick Gaff via a hardfought decision"
JA
Jacob Lines Expert Hesitant picked Jun 20, 2024 (2 days before fight)
Muin Gafurov

Jacob likes Muin but is not confident enough to bet him. He notes Muin has bigger moments and power, but worries about Kang's sneaky submissions. He recalls Muin's predictable guillotine loss to Silva and thinks Kang could catch him similarly. Jacob wants to see Muin get a win before betting him, especially against a guy who can be sneaky good like Kang.

"I like muin here but I don't love it man... I need him to win before I'm betting him at this point"
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert picked Jun 19, 2024 (3 days before fight)
Muin Gafurov

JP dismisses this fight as a 'poop Bowl' and says he won't bet on it, but he leans toward Gafurov as a toss-up. Brevan agrees, calling it a boring fight and advising viewers to skip it. He notes Gafurov's wrestling base and susceptibility to guillotines, but Kang's lack of guillotine wins makes that less of a threat. Both are unenthusiastic and avoid a strong pick.

"I'll go for muine gabov probably but this is one where I'm just both of them are cheeks"
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Confident picked Jun 19, 2024 (3 days before fight)
Kyung Ho Kang

Paul picks Kang, noting his durability and pace. He believes Gafurov's cardio issues will be exploited and that Kang can force a hard 15 minutes. He likes the plus money on Kang.

"it's got to be Mr perfect for me"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Jun 18, 2024 (4 days before fight)
Kyung Ho Kang

The MMA Guru picks Kyung Ho Kang over Muin Gafurov, citing Kang's talent and reach advantage. He criticizes Gafurov's body type and competition level, noting that Gafurov lost to Christian Quinones on the Contender Series. He believes Kang's takedown defense and striking at range will be key, and that he will sting Gafurov as the fight goes on. He predicts a 2-1 decision for Kang.

"I'm going to go Kung Hyo Kang here over mu gafarov maybe I'm off on this but I've got another feeling about this matchup I think gafarov is like who invited this guy."
LOSS vs John Castañeda
Decision (unanimous) (30–27, 30–27, 30–27) R3 5:00 · UFC 295: Prochazka vs. Pereira · Nov 11, 2023
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
John Castañeda 0 111 of 179 62% 119 of 187 3 of 8 37% 0 0 2:18
Kyung Ho Kang 0 88 of 202 43% 88 of 203 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 John Castañeda 0 33 of 51 64% 33 of 51 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Kyung Ho Kang 0 18 of 40 45% 18 of 40 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
2 John Castañeda 0 38 of 64 59% 39 of 65 1 of 3 33% 0 0 0:55
Kyung Ho Kang 0 30 of 81 37% 30 of 82 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
3 John Castañeda 0 40 of 64 62% 47 of 71 2 of 5 40% 0 0 1:23
Kyung Ho Kang 0 40 of 81 49% 40 of 81 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
John Castañeda 111 of 179 62% 47 of 103 30 of 39 34 of 37 109 of 176 2 of 3 0 of 0
Kyung Ho Kang 88 of 202 43% 59 of 170 17 of 19 12 of 13 82 of 194 6 of 8 0 of 0
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 John Castañeda 33 of 51 64% 6 of 18 10 of 13 17 of 20 33 of 51 0 of 0 0 of 0
Kyung Ho Kang 18 of 40 45% 12 of 33 5 of 5 1 of 2 18 of 40 0 of 0 0 of 0
2 John Castañeda 38 of 64 59% 21 of 44 10 of 13 7 of 7 37 of 63 1 of 1 0 of 0
Kyung Ho Kang 30 of 81 37% 18 of 67 6 of 8 6 of 6 28 of 79 2 of 2 0 of 0
3 John Castañeda 40 of 64 62% 20 of 41 10 of 13 10 of 10 39 of 62 1 of 2 0 of 0
Kyung Ho Kang 40 of 81 49% 29 of 70 6 of 6 5 of 5 36 of 75 4 of 6 0 of 0
Play-by-Play
View on Sherdog
John Castaneda vs. Kyung Ho Kang
BETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Castaneda (-142), Kang (+120)

Round 1
Even if South Korea’s “Mr. Perfect” Kang (19-9, 1 NC; 8-3, 1 NC UFC) has not been perfect as a member of the UFC roster, his pattern of three wins followed by a defeat has held perfectly for the last decade. Should this continue, it would mean a victory over Castaneda (20-6, 3-2 UFC) tonight. Due to this pairing coming together on late notice, it will be contested at a catchweight of 138 pounds, and neither mad had a problem with the scales ahead of time. Prior to the action, a touch of gloves is shared, and referee Dan Miragliotta is on standby. Kang stays light on his feet early to hops back to avoid a low kick, and he jabs with the ball of his foot to Castaneda’s chest. Castaneda responds with a quick leg kick, and Kang crowds him and looks to corner him. The South Korean fighter sits down on a body kick, and he springs away from a counter. Castaneda gives him a body kick back, but he does get countered before he can get away. Castaneda starts to chew up the lead wheel with a plethora of calf kicks, and he whips a kick to the side that makes Kang grimace. Castaneda spins with a back kick to the body as well, with very few strikes aimed up high early. Castaneda jabs the head and body, and he gets driven back with a straight right hand. Castaneda goes body and leg with a punch and a kick, and Kang ignores the strikes and continues to walk him down. Castaneda just misses with a right hand as Kang closes in, and he keeps chipping at the inside and outside of Kang’s left leg. Castaneda jabs the body and slides to the side, and he brings his shin high to bang into Kang’s raised guard. Kang checks a kick as he plods forward, and he belts Castaneda in the midsection with his own foot. Castaneda doubles up on leg kicks and spins with a heel to the ribs, and he surprises Kang with a left hand. Castaneda does not slow down kicking the front leg, and he wades through a few strikes to sit down on a right hand. Kang counters with a clean straight right, and he finds his target with a second shortly thereafter much to the dismay of “Sexi Mexi.” Castaneda comes up short with a body kick, and he darts forward suddenly with two swiping punches that brush sweat from Kang’s brow. Kang intercepts Castaneda with a jab, and he bull-rushes forward and goes wide. Castaneda stays elusive and lands a number of additional kicks until the round ends.

Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Castaneda
Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-9 Castaneda
Scottie Smith scores the round: 10-9 Castaneda

Round 2
The second round begins in a hurry, as Kang is ready to hit harder than before. When Castaneda attempts a low kick, Kang sends Castaneda to his seat with a right hand. Castaneda climbs back up and is not concerned, as he keeps right on kicking. Kang whiffs with an elbow from up close, and he lands his own leg kick for good measure. Castaneda tags him with a right hand over the top, and Kang sees the success of that kick and goes to the same spot. Castaneda jabs and moves, and he clips Kang with a short right hand. Kang shakes it out and absorbs a leg kick, and Castaneda times his right hand again. Kang looks for his own counter during a leg kick, and this allows Castaneda to duck it and sneak around to take his back. Castaneda looks to take Kang down, and he succeeds in scooping up the Korean from behind and dropping him down on his arms. Kang turns around, his back to the fence and his backside on the floor, but Castaneda controls him from any further activity. Kang explodes to get back to his feet, and he targets the body and gets blasted with one to the solar plexus. Kang protests that the kick went low, and Miragliotta calls time and checks on the replay. Miragliotta rules the strike was clean, and they get back to it. Castaneda sprints into action, working Kang’s leg to draw a counter, duck it and take Kang’s back again while upright. Kang defends from the takedown attempt this time around, so Castaneda meets him with a thudding kick to the ribs and numerous punches up high. Castaneda connects with a punch and kick to the body, and he lands a kick on the inside and outside of Kang’s lead leg to follow. Kang prods out his jab, and he smacks Castaneda with an ineffective left. Kang puts a little more mustard behind a left hand, but Castaneda does not flinch. Castaneda fires a left hand over the top, and Kang gets tagged with a series of punches from “Sexi Mexi.” The sparring match of a round ends as Kang shells up against the fence.

Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Castaneda
Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-9 Castaneda
Scottie Smith scores the round: 10-9 Castaneda

Round 3
Castaneda hops out of his corner offering a glove touch, and Kang accepts it and kicks him square in the groin. Castaneda groans but waves Miragliotta off, as he is energized and wants to walk it off. As Kang kicks his body again, Castaneda rifles a right hand down the middle on the chest and knocks Kang down. Kang climbs back up, and Castaneda is on him, stringing together combinations of punches and leg kicks. The latter starts to draw reactions out of his opponent, as Kang is wearing it from the assault to his left leg. Kang toughs it out and gets back to his own forward momentum, and he comes in close enough to block a body kick. Castaneda mixes things up with kicks to the body and legs, and he punches the head and body. A few head shots from “Sexi Mexi” make Kang nod at him and try to entice a brawl, but Castaneda instead backs off as a strike from Kang appears to have opened a cut on the top of his right eye. Castaneda scores a clubbing right hand, and Kang lures him into the slugfest he wanted, as the two trade punches. Kang backs off, taking the worse of the exchanges, and Castaneda follows after him and pursues a single. Castaneda drags Kang to the mat, and Kang explodes back up and is met with a solid left hand and a liver kick. Kang fires back, getting a bit of space from the crowding Castaneda, and he gets Castaneda’s attention with a kick to the ribs. Castaneda sprints forward, looking for a high crotch to lift and dump Kang, and Kang keeps his balance when lowered to the floor. Kang keeps moving and lets Castaneda slide off the side and back, and he threatens suddenly with a guillotine choke. Castaneda escapes and retreats, and Kang gives chase and loads up on all the offense he can muster until the horn sounds.

Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Castaneda (30-27 Castaneda)
Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-9 Castaneda (30-27 Castaneda)
Scottie Smith scores the round: 10-9 Castaneda (30-27 Castaneda)

The Official Result
John Castaneda def. Kyung Ho Kang via Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Confident picked Nov 5, 2023 (6 days before fight)
John Castañeda

Angelo is very confident in Castañeda, highlighting his forward pressure, wrestling, and pace. He expects Castañeda to break Kang down with takedowns and ride out a decision win. He notes Kang is dangerous but thinks Castañeda's style will overwhelm him.

decision win
"John C is going to be the pick and I'm very confident in that."
BI
Big Brady Expert Lean picked Nov 6, 2023 (5 days before fight)
Kyung Ho Kang

Big Brady is taking the dog Kyung Ho Kang in what he expects to be a close fight. He likes Kang's improved striking, power, and toughness, noting Kang has never been finished in the UFC. He thinks Castañeda may struggle to keep the fight on the mat and will be out struck. Brady admits he doesn't have a strong read and expects a decision.

"I'm going to take the dog here in what I think is going to be a very close fight... give me Kyung Ho Kang for the win."
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Lean picked Nov 8, 2023 (3 days before fight)
John Castañeda

Cody leans Castañeda, citing his forward pressure and power. He notes Kang's inconsistency and tendency to not use his wrestling. He thinks Castañeda can make it a scrap and mix in takedowns, but he's on the fence and wants to see weigh-ins.

"I'm leaning towards John C and yeah that that makes sense to me"
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Nov 7, 2023 (4 days before fight)
John Castañeda

Castañeda has the striking advantage and grappling chops to put opponents through the ringer. Kong is aging and will struggle with Castañeda's pressure and inability to get the fight to the ground where he could use his BJJ. Expects Castañeda to dictate the pace with crisp boxing combinations and grind out a win by mixing striking and grappling.

"I expect castan to dictate the pace here utilizes crisp boxing combinations to really hurt Kong throughout this match"
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Confident picked Nov 8, 2023 (3 days before fight)
John Castañeda

Paul picks Castañeda, noting Kang's age (36) and recent close fights. He thinks Castañeda's power and wrestling will be key, and that Kang's best path (wrestling) may not be utilized. He expects Castañeda to make it ugly and get the win.

"cat is showing a little bit of pop in his hands... make this ugly Force this up against the cage"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Nov 6, 2023 (5 days before fight)
John Castañeda

The MMA Guru picks John Castañeda, disagreeing with the majority who favor Kyung Ho Kang. He believes Kang is not that good, noting that his last win was a flash knockout and that he has never been impressed with Kang's performances. He thinks Castañeda is a better striker and can keep the fight standing, predicting a decision win.

by decision
"I just don't think Kio Kang's that good... I reckon he's got what it takes to keep it standing and I just think on the feet John castanada is a better Striker than khoo Kang"
Submission (rear-naked choke) R1 2:25 · UFC on ESPN: Vettori vs. Cannonier · Jun 17, 2023
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Kyung Ho Kang 1 22 of 37 59% 31 of 46 1 of 1 100% 1 0 0:40
Cristian Quiñonez 0 13 of 29 44% 13 of 29 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Kyung Ho Kang 1 22 of 37 59% 31 of 46 1 of 1 100% 1 0 0:40
Cristian Quiñonez 0 13 of 29 44% 13 of 29 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Kyung Ho Kang 22 of 37 59% 14 of 28 3 of 4 5 of 5 17 of 31 0 of 0 5 of 6
Cristian Quiñonez 13 of 29 44% 11 of 27 0 of 0 2 of 2 13 of 29 0 of 0 0 of 0
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Kyung Ho Kang 22 of 37 59% 14 of 28 3 of 4 5 of 5 17 of 31 0 of 0 5 of 6
Cristian Quiñonez 13 of 29 44% 11 of 27 0 of 0 2 of 2 13 of 29 0 of 0 0 of 0
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Confident picked Jun 11, 2023 (6 days before fight)

Angelo picks Alessandro Costa, noting that if Jimmy Flick looks like he did in his last fight, Costa should be a much heavier favorite. Costa is a patient striker with power and good takedown defense, while Flick had nothing to offer on his feet in his return. Angelo also mentions he would bet the under 2.5 rounds if that line becomes available, expecting a stoppage.

under 2.5 rounds (if line drops)
"Alessandro Costa is just sitting at a very comfortable three to one favorite here and you know if Jimmy flick looks like he did in his last fight then Alessandro should be a nine to one favorite"
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked Jun 10, 2023 (7 days before fight)
Cristian Quiñonez

Big Brady picks Cristian Quiñonez to win by decision. He was initially not high on Quiñonez but was impressed by his knockout of Khaos Williams and his overall skills. Quiñonez is a high-volume striker with solid grappling, though he can make mistakes on the mat. Kang is a solid fighter but typically low volume, though he showed improvement in his last fight. Brady thinks Quiñonez is the better striker and as long as he isn't held down for long periods, he should win a decision. He has some concerns about Quiñonez's chin and cardio.

"I gotta go with Christian Quinones here... I think he has some solid upside in the UFC."
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Confident picked Jun 14, 2023 (3 days before fight)
Kyung Ho Kang

Cody agrees with Paul that Kang at plus money is the pick. He notes Kang has legitimate skills in wrestling and striking, but his ring IQ is poor and he makes stupid mistakes. However, at 35 and coming off a layoff, Kang still has the volume and wrestling edge over Quiñonez. Cody thinks Kang can win striking exchanges and mix in takedowns, and at +140, he's willing to take the chance.

"I'm actually going to agree with you in that I I think Kang at plus 140 plus 138 plus money it is the pick"
CO
Connor Ruebusch Expert Lean picked Jun 15, 2023 (2 days before fight)
Cristian Quiñonez

Connor picks Quiñonez, arguing that while Kang is a sharp boxer, he doesn't press advantages and lacks layers behind his striking. Quiñonez, on the other hand, is willing to sit in the pocket and throw combinations with vigor. Connor notes that Quiñonez's low kicks and ability to mix in wrestling could trouble Kang. He acknowledges Quiñonez can get messy but believes his recent improvements under Brandon Moreno's tutelage are durable enough to win a close fight.

"I think with the low kicking and the jab we saw out of his last fight, I think the low kicks especially can maybe take Keanu's out of the fight."
DA
Daniel Levi Expert Lean picked Jun 15, 2023 (2 days before fight)
Cristian Quiñonez

Daniel Levi leans toward Cristian Quiñonez, but only at the underdog price he got (opener +145). He sees it as a 50-50 fight and notes Kang's experience and close fights. He likes Quiñonez's volume and style but wouldn't bet him at current juice. He expects the fight to go the distance.

bet at +145 opener
"I got the opener on Quinones at plus 145 I think"
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Jun 13, 2023 (4 days before fight)
Cristian Quiñonez

Quiñonez is a long, lanky striker with great footwork and a solid jab. Kang is a solid all-around fighter but will have trouble dealing with Quiñonez's range and movement. Quiñonez has power and can keep the fight standing where he has the advantage. Kang has a slight edge in grappling but Quiñonez should be able to avoid takedowns. Quiñonez wins by decision.

"I'm giving kinones the Dub here and I think it comes by decision"
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Confident picked Jun 14, 2023 (3 days before fight)
Kyung Ho Kang

Paul is stunned that Kang is the underdog, given his experience and skills. He notes that the market moved from Kang -180 to +160, which he finds surprising. Paul thinks Kang has skills in every aspect and has been in there with every style. He picks Kang to bring the upset.

"I'm kind of stunned by this one Cody like Kung old Gang has been in the division for such a long time fighting some of the best guys"
ZA
Zane Simon Expert Confident picked Jun 15, 2023 (2 days before fight)
Kyung Ho Kang

Zane picks Kyung Ho Kang, emphasizing his consistent technical boxing and reach advantage. He notes that Kang has a great jab and straight punches, and is willing to pressure opponents. Zane believes Kang's experience and sharpness will edge out Quiñonez, who is still developing and can get messy in exchanges. He also suggests Kang could employ wrestling to make the fight easier, but expects a competitive striking battle where Kang slightly gets the better of it.

"I think I'm going to pick Ken Hong Kong with you."
Decision (unanimous) (29–28, 29–28, 29–28) R3 5:00 · UFC 275: Teixeira vs. Prochazka · Jun 12, 2022
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Kyung Ho Kang 0 100 of 155 64% 100 of 155 0 of 2 0% 0 0 0:00
Danaa Batgerel 0 109 of 284 38% 110 of 286 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:03
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Kyung Ho Kang 0 28 of 41 68% 28 of 41 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Danaa Batgerel 0 34 of 84 40% 35 of 86 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:01
2 Kyung Ho Kang 0 33 of 52 63% 33 of 52 0 of 2 0% 0 0 0:00
Danaa Batgerel 0 43 of 100 43% 43 of 100 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
3 Kyung Ho Kang 0 39 of 62 62% 39 of 62 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Danaa Batgerel 0 32 of 100 32% 32 of 100 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:02
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Kyung Ho Kang 100 of 155 64% 82 of 134 2 of 4 16 of 17 99 of 153 1 of 2 0 of 0
Danaa Batgerel 109 of 284 38% 68 of 223 19 of 36 22 of 25 103 of 276 5 of 7 1 of 1
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Kyung Ho Kang 28 of 41 68% 17 of 29 1 of 1 10 of 11 27 of 39 1 of 2 0 of 0
Danaa Batgerel 34 of 84 40% 22 of 67 6 of 11 6 of 6 31 of 81 3 of 3 0 of 0
2 Kyung Ho Kang 33 of 52 63% 30 of 48 0 of 1 3 of 3 33 of 52 0 of 0 0 of 0
Danaa Batgerel 43 of 100 43% 27 of 75 8 of 15 8 of 10 41 of 97 1 of 2 1 of 1
3 Kyung Ho Kang 39 of 62 62% 35 of 57 1 of 2 3 of 3 39 of 62 0 of 0 0 of 0
Danaa Batgerel 32 of 100 32% 19 of 81 5 of 10 8 of 9 31 of 98 1 of 2 0 of 0
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Lean picked Jun 5, 2022 (7 days before fight)
Kyung Ho Kang

Angelo picks Kang as an underdog, citing his durability and grappling advantage. He worries about Kang's last performance but believes Batgerel may fade if he doesn't get an early stoppage, especially coming off a knockout loss. He notes Batgerel's speed and power are dangerous but thinks Kang can weather the storm and take over.

"i'm going to go kang he is a very very durable guy and i think dana might get frustrated if he doesn't get that stoppage early and then tired after the first round"
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked Jun 6, 2022 (6 days before fight)
Kyung Ho Kang

Big Brady picks Kyung Ho Kang as an underdog, citing his superior grappling and durability. He notes that Danaa Batgerel has poor takedown defense, as seen in his fight against Aletang Haili, and that Kang is a much better grappler. He expects Kang to take Batgerel down, control him, and grind out a decision, though he acknowledges Batgerel's power could lead to a knockout.

"I'm going in with another dog here I'm taking Kyung Ho Kang to win I'm going to take him to win and grind out a decision."
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Lean picked Jun 8, 2022 (4 days before fight)
Kyung Ho Kang

Cody picks Kang as an underdog, citing his wrestling and durability. He notes Batgerel's takedown defense is untested against grapplers and that Kang has a history of close decisions. He thinks Kang can grind out a win in Singapore.

fight goes to decision
"i'm gonna take a flyer on the underdog here the plus money on mr perfect"
DA
Daniel Levi Expert picked Jun 9, 2022 (3 days before fight)
Danaa Batgerel

Daniel Levi picks Danaa Batgerel but is not confident. He acknowledges Kang's scrambling and grappling skills but notes Kang's age and questionable fight IQ. He sees Batgerel's power as a game-changer and thinks if Batgerel can hurt Kang early, he can win. He is not betting the fight.

"pure pick I'll just go with the not bad Gary"
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Lean picked Jun 10, 2022 (2 days before fight)
Danaa Batgerel

Batgerel has knockout power and should have the advantage on the feet. Kang is a grappler but has struggled to implement his game recently. If Batgerel keeps it standing, he can knock Kang out. However, I'm wary of picking slight favorites as it's a weak spot for me. I'll lean Batgerel but likely bet the under 2.5 rounds instead.

Under 2.5 rounds (+100)
"I'm more so on the batgerel side here as long as he can keep this fight in the standing position he should be able to really touch up kong on the feet."
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Lean picked Jun 8, 2022 (4 days before fight)
Danaa Batgerel

Paul picks Batgerel, believing his power striking will be too much for Kang. He thinks Batgerel's knockout power is real and that Kang's chin may not hold up. He is not fully confident but leans Batgerel.

"backery is my my pick but again they're not matching them up the way i want them to match up"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Jun 6, 2022 (6 days before fight)
Danaa Batgerel

The MMA Guru confidently picks Danaa Batgerel to win by first-round KO. He believes Kyung Ho Kang is past his prime, citing a loss to an older Rani Yahya. He praises Batgerel's physical strength and size for bantamweight, and notes that Kang's grinding grappling style won't be effective. He mentions Batgerel's cardio could be a concern in later rounds, but expects a quick finish. He calls it one of the locks of the card.

first round ko
"i'm actually going to call a first round ko for dana batgirl"
LOSS vs Rani Yahya
Decision (unanimous) (29–28, 29–28, 29–28) R3 5:00 · UFC Fight Night: Vieira vs. Tate · Nov 20, 2021
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Rani Yahya 0 27 of 48 56% 152 of 218 3 of 8 37% 1 1 10:36
Kyung Ho Kang 1 43 of 82 52% 103 of 154 0 of 0 --- 0 0 1:05
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Rani Yahya 0 21 of 35 60% 23 of 37 1 of 4 25% 0 0 1:24
Kyung Ho Kang 1 33 of 61 54% 45 of 74 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:57
2 Rani Yahya 0 1 of 2 50% 59 of 85 1 of 2 50% 1 0 4:48
Kyung Ho Kang 0 4 of 4 100% 10 of 12 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
3 Rani Yahya 0 5 of 11 45% 70 of 96 1 of 2 50% 0 1 4:24
Kyung Ho Kang 0 6 of 17 35% 48 of 68 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:08
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Rani Yahya 27 of 48 56% 7 of 25 1 of 1 19 of 22 26 of 47 0 of 0 1 of 1
Kyung Ho Kang 43 of 82 52% 36 of 73 1 of 3 6 of 6 40 of 78 0 of 0 3 of 4
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Rani Yahya 21 of 35 60% 4 of 15 1 of 1 16 of 19 21 of 35 0 of 0 0 of 0
Kyung Ho Kang 33 of 61 54% 28 of 55 1 of 2 4 of 4 30 of 57 0 of 0 3 of 4
2 Rani Yahya 1 of 2 50% 0 of 1 0 of 0 1 of 1 1 of 2 0 of 0 0 of 0
Kyung Ho Kang 4 of 4 100% 2 of 2 0 of 0 2 of 2 4 of 4 0 of 0 0 of 0
3 Rani Yahya 5 of 11 45% 3 of 9 0 of 0 2 of 2 4 of 10 0 of 0 1 of 1
Kyung Ho Kang 6 of 17 35% 6 of 16 0 of 1 0 of 0 6 of 17 0 of 0 0 of 0
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Hesitant picked Nov 17, 2021 (3 days before fight)
Rani Yahya

Angelo picks Rani Yahya but calls it razor thin. He notes Yahya's relentless takedown attempts and superior grappling should be the difference, but Kang is the better striker and could keep it standing. He is concerned about Yahya's age (36) but says it's not as old as he thought. He expects Yahya to smother Kang with wrestling.

DraftKings prices: Yahya 8000, Kang 8200; monkey knife fight less/less
"ronnie's the pick"
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked Nov 16, 2021 (4 days before fight)
Kyung Ho Kang

Big Brady picks Kyung Ho Kang to win by decision. He notes that Kang is the more well-rounded fighter, younger, and has better cardio. He believes Kang's 71% takedown defense and good grappling will keep him safe from Rani Yahya's submissions. He sees Kang having multiple paths to victory, including out-striking Yahya or using his own takedowns. He predicts a clear decision win.

win by decision
"give me congo kong to win by decision"
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Hesitant picked Nov 18, 2021 (2 days before fight)
Kyung Ho Kang

Cody picks Kang but with low confidence. He notes that Kang often goes to split decisions and judges don't always favor his style. However, he believes Kang has the physical strength, judo, and grappling to implement a game plan similar to Ricky Simone's: box, defend the guard pull, pass, land a few strikes, and back out. He thinks Yahya is limited, with poor cardio and a one-dimensional guard-pulling game. Cody is not sold on Yahya's striking or wrestling improvements.

"i gotta go with mr perfect who of course ate low losses not exactly perfect but uh if he pl if he fights a near perfect game plan here he's gonna get"
DA
Daniel Levi Expert Confident picked Nov 18, 2021 (2 days before fight)
Kyung Ho Kang

Daniel Levi picks Kyung Ho Kang, citing his well-rounded skills and better cardio. He notes that Kang has never been submitted in the UFC and can scramble well. He points out that Rani Yahya tends to gas out after seven minutes, shooting from a mile out, and that Kang can take advantage of that. Levi believes Kang has more weapons and less damage in his career, making him the pick.

"i think he can scramble with hani even attack not with submissions but at least position positional-wise... i'm gonna go with him for a win here"
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Hesitant picked Nov 19, 2021 (1 day before fight)
Kyung Ho Kang

Lock leans Kang but is not confident. He notes Kang has a height, reach, and youth advantage, and that Yahya gasses out. However, Kang has been off for two years and Yahya is dangerous on the ground. Lock thinks Kang by decision is the most likely outcome, but also likes a round three sprinkle because Yahya fades.

Kyung Ho Kang by decision +200, Kyung Ho Kang round 3 +1400
"I'll say kyung ho kang I'll say kyung ho kang by decision for my prop but definitely a spot where I think that round three sprinkle is warranted."
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Hesitant picked Nov 18, 2021 (2 days before fight)
Kyung Ho Kang

Paul agrees with Cody, noting that Yahya has looked a bit sharper recently but is still a guard puller with terrible cardio. He thinks Kang's path to victory is sprawling and brawling, and that Yahya will likely flop to his back in round three. Paul is not confident because Yahya is crafty and has burned tickets before, but he leans Kang due to Yahya's limitations.

"yeah yeah you were taking yeah has anything changed probably not considering yaya was the one who got coveted and this guy already kind of had a gas tank issue so"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Nov 15, 2021 (5 days before fight)
Rani Yahya

The MMA Guru picks Rani Yahya over Kyung Ho Kang. He notes that Kang gets lazy on top in later rounds and has poor cardio, while Yahya is active and experienced. He expects Yahya to lose the first round but win the scrambles in the second and third, reversing position and landing strikes. He predicts a 29-28 unanimous decision for Yahya.

"i'm going with rani yaya here over kyung hyo kang"
WIN vs Pingyuan Liu
Decision (split) (28–29, 29–28, 30–27) R3 5:00 · UFC Fight Night: Edgar vs. The Korean Zombie · Dec 21, 2019
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Kyung Ho Kang 0 20 of 40 50% 108 of 153 3 of 7 42% 0 0 12:23
Pingyuan Liu 0 25 of 53 47% 114 of 149 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:17
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Kyung Ho Kang 0 9 of 14 64% 43 of 59 2 of 2 100% 0 0 4:25
Pingyuan Liu 0 9 of 15 60% 53 of 63 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
2 Kyung Ho Kang 0 4 of 10 40% 38 of 55 1 of 1 100% 0 0 4:48
Pingyuan Liu 0 5 of 8 62% 31 of 36 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
3 Kyung Ho Kang 0 7 of 16 43% 27 of 39 0 of 4 0% 0 0 3:10
Pingyuan Liu 0 11 of 30 36% 30 of 50 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:17
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Kyung Ho Kang 20 of 40 50% 17 of 37 2 of 2 1 of 1 8 of 26 0 of 0 12 of 14
Pingyuan Liu 25 of 53 47% 16 of 42 2 of 2 7 of 9 8 of 33 0 of 0 17 of 20
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Kyung Ho Kang 9 of 14 64% 8 of 13 1 of 1 0 of 0 3 of 8 0 of 0 6 of 6
Pingyuan Liu 9 of 15 60% 6 of 12 0 of 0 3 of 3 3 of 8 0 of 0 6 of 7
2 Kyung Ho Kang 4 of 10 40% 4 of 10 0 of 0 0 of 0 1 of 6 0 of 0 3 of 4
Pingyuan Liu 5 of 8 62% 3 of 6 0 of 0 2 of 2 2 of 5 0 of 0 3 of 3
3 Kyung Ho Kang 7 of 16 43% 5 of 14 1 of 1 1 of 1 4 of 12 0 of 0 3 of 4
Pingyuan Liu 11 of 30 36% 7 of 24 2 of 2 2 of 4 3 of 20 0 of 0 8 of 10
WIN vs Brandon Davis
Decision (split) (28–29, 29–28, 29–28) R3 5:00 · UFC 241: Cormier vs. Miocic 2 · Aug 17, 2019
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Kyung Ho Kang 1 50 of 101 49% 120 of 180 3 of 6 50% 0 0 6:20
Brandon Davis 0 77 of 187 41% 114 of 231 1 of 1 100% 0 0 0:24
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Kyung Ho Kang 1 23 of 42 54% 38 of 60 1 of 2 50% 0 0 1:15
Brandon Davis 0 23 of 70 32% 30 of 81 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
2 Kyung Ho Kang 0 16 of 41 39% 17 of 42 0 of 1 0% 0 0 1:10
Brandon Davis 0 32 of 71 45% 41 of 82 1 of 1 100% 0 0 0:24
3 Kyung Ho Kang 0 11 of 18 61% 65 of 78 2 of 3 66% 0 0 3:55
Brandon Davis 0 22 of 46 47% 43 of 68 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Kyung Ho Kang 50 of 101 49% 46 of 96 1 of 1 3 of 4 42 of 89 0 of 0 8 of 12
Brandon Davis 77 of 187 41% 32 of 126 17 of 20 28 of 41 62 of 163 4 of 6 11 of 18
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Kyung Ho Kang 23 of 42 54% 20 of 38 1 of 1 2 of 3 23 of 41 0 of 0 0 of 1
Brandon Davis 23 of 70 32% 6 of 45 3 of 4 14 of 21 22 of 68 1 of 1 0 of 1
2 Kyung Ho Kang 16 of 41 39% 15 of 40 0 of 0 1 of 1 16 of 41 0 of 0 0 of 0
Brandon Davis 32 of 71 45% 12 of 45 10 of 11 10 of 15 28 of 66 3 of 4 1 of 1
3 Kyung Ho Kang 11 of 18 61% 11 of 18 0 of 0 0 of 0 3 of 7 0 of 0 8 of 11
Brandon Davis 22 of 46 47% 14 of 36 4 of 5 4 of 5 12 of 29 0 of 1 10 of 16
SUB R1 3:59 · UFC 234: Adesanya vs. Silva · Feb 10, 2019
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Kyung Ho Kang 1 17 of 47 36% 18 of 48 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:12
Teruto Ishihara 1 26 of 58 44% 30 of 62 1 of 1 100% 1 0 1:14
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Kyung Ho Kang 1 17 of 47 36% 18 of 48 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:12
Teruto Ishihara 1 26 of 58 44% 30 of 62 1 of 1 100% 1 0 1:14
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Kyung Ho Kang 17 of 47 36% 12 of 36 1 of 5 4 of 6 11 of 35 6 of 10 0 of 2
Teruto Ishihara 26 of 58 44% 19 of 46 7 of 12 0 of 0 15 of 40 11 of 18 0 of 0
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Kyung Ho Kang 17 of 47 36% 12 of 36 1 of 5 4 of 6 11 of 35 6 of 10 0 of 2
Teruto Ishihara 26 of 58 44% 19 of 46 7 of 12 0 of 0 15 of 40 11 of 18 0 of 0
Cristian Quiñonez - Fight History
WIN vs Kris Moutinho
Decision R3 5:00 · UFC Fight Night: Moreno vs. Kavanagh · Feb 28, 2026
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Cristian Quiñonez 0 38 of 61 62% 54 of 80 7 of 10 70% 2 0 7:06
Kris Moutinho 0 28 of 71 39% 32 of 75 0 of 2 0% 0 0 0:31
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Cristian Quiñonez 0 23 of 37 62% 24 of 40 2 of 3 66% 0 0 1:01
Kris Moutinho 0 16 of 39 41% 16 of 39 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
2 Cristian Quiñonez 0 8 of 11 72% 20 of 23 4 of 5 80% 2 0 4:05
Kris Moutinho 0 7 of 14 50% 7 of 14 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:08
3 Cristian Quiñonez 0 7 of 13 53% 10 of 17 1 of 2 50% 0 0 2:00
Kris Moutinho 0 5 of 18 27% 9 of 22 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:23
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Cristian Quiñonez 38 of 61 62% 34 of 53 4 of 8 0 of 0 35 of 58 0 of 0 3 of 3
Kris Moutinho 28 of 71 39% 13 of 51 7 of 11 8 of 9 28 of 71 0 of 0 0 of 0
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Cristian Quiñonez 23 of 37 62% 20 of 30 3 of 7 0 of 0 23 of 37 0 of 0 0 of 0
Kris Moutinho 16 of 39 41% 6 of 27 3 of 4 7 of 8 16 of 39 0 of 0 0 of 0
2 Cristian Quiñonez 8 of 11 72% 7 of 10 1 of 1 0 of 0 8 of 11 0 of 0 0 of 0
Kris Moutinho 7 of 14 50% 3 of 7 3 of 6 1 of 1 7 of 14 0 of 0 0 of 0
3 Cristian Quiñonez 7 of 13 53% 7 of 13 0 of 0 0 of 0 4 of 10 0 of 0 3 of 3
Kris Moutinho 5 of 18 27% 4 of 17 1 of 1 0 of 0 5 of 18 0 of 0 0 of 0
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Confident picked Feb 22, 2026 (6 days before fight)
Cristian Quiñonez

Angelo picks Cristian Quiñonez because Kris Moutinho is a 'human punching bag' who has absorbed 283 strikes and been knocked out three times in the UFC. He acknowledges Quiñonez is not great either, but at least he has won in the UFC. He warns against betting at -650 odds, calling it not worth it.

Advises to stay away from the -650 line, says it's not worth it.
"I have to pick Christian because at least he could win in the UFC. ... Minus 650, just leave that the hell alone."
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked Feb 22, 2026 (6 days before fight)
Cristian Quiñonez

Big Brady picks Cristian Quiñonez, calling Kris Moutinho a non-UFC-level fighter with terrible striking defense (29%). He notes Moutinho has been knocked out five times and finished in all losses. Brady believes Quiñonez will hit Moutinho hard and knock him out, predicting a first-round knockout.

first round knockout
"Give me Quonz here to win this fight and I think he's probably going to knock out Chris Motinho in the in the first or second round. Give me Christian Quanz to win. I'll say he wins by first round …"
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Lean picked Feb 25, 2026 (3 days before fight)
Kris Moutinho

Cody also fades Quiñonez at -700, pointing out his inactivity and lack of recent wins. He sees Moutinho as a live dog if he can push the pace and exploit Quiñonez's potential cardio issues.

"I can't bet Christian. I can't do it."
CO
Connor Ruebusch Expert Confident picked Feb 27, 2026 (1 day before fight)
Cristian Quiñonez

Connor picks Quiñonez, noting that Moutinho is a sacrificial lamb who has been knocked out in every UFC fight. Quiñonez is not a big step up but is still a step up, and his pressure and size should be too much for Moutinho's limited game.

Same odds commentary as Zane.
"I'm not picking Chris Mutino, like no game is just so unidimensional and so made for, yes, old guys."
DA
Daniel Vreeland Expert picked Feb 20, 2024 (739 days before fight)

Daniel does not discuss this fight in the transcript.

DI
Diary of a Pro Gambler Expert picked Feb 28, 2026 (fight day)

The host considers this a clear dog-or-pass fight. Quiñonez is a heavy favorite at -687, but the host cannot bet him at that price. Moutinho is tough but gets rocked often, lacks knockout power, and is unlikely to outgrapple Quiñonez. The host doubts Moutinho has a realistic path to victory and will not bet this fight.

"You would have to be a crazy person to think that Moutinho is more likely to win this weekend. He isn't. But again, we've got to let the odds do the work for us. ... This is clearly doggo pass."
LU
Lucrative James Expert Confident picked Feb 22, 2026 (6 days before fight)
Cristian Quiñonez

James believes Quiñonez is far more skilled and powerful than Moutinho, who has a suspect chin after recent KOs. He predicts an early KO for Quiñonez, possibly in round one.

"I got Quinones here. I got Quonz via KO. Quonz KO in round one even."
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Hesitant picked Feb 24, 2026 (4 days before fight)
Cristian Quiñonez

The host picks Quiñonez but is hesitant due to the high price and altitude concerns. He notes Quiñonez's skill advantage but worries about his cardio and past submission losses. He thinks Moutinho's pressure and pace could cause issues if Quiñonez fades. He suggests a flyer on Moutinho by late finish but officially picks Quiñonez by decision.

Flyer on Moutinho round 2 or 3
"Official prediction will be Konz by decision, but maybe a flyer on Moutinho round two or round three could pay out."
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Lean picked Feb 25, 2026 (3 days before fight)
Kris Moutinho

Paul is leaning towards Moutinho at +500, citing Quiñonez's long layoff, ring rust, and recent losses. He notes Moutinho's pressure and durability, and plans to bet Moutinho despite the risk.

"I think I'll have some money on Chris Moutinho and I may look like a complete [ __ ]."
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Feb 28, 2026 (fight day)
Cristian Quiñonez

The MMA Guru picks Cristian Quiñonez, calling Kris Moutinho 'garbage' and noting that Moutinho has no wins over good fighters, while Quiñonez has beaten Khalid Taha and Vinicius Oliveira. He predicts an easy TKO finish in the early rounds, citing Moutinho's lack of skill and Quiñonez's superior competition.

early rounds TKO
"I'm going to go with Christian Quinones and I'm going to take him to win this one by easy TKO finish early rounds."
ZA
Zane Simon Expert Confident picked Feb 27, 2026 (1 day before fight)
Cristian Quiñonez

Zane picks Quiñonez because he is a step up from Moutinho, who is a one-dimensional brawler with no other options. Quiñonez showed good ideas against Hani Barcelos, pressing forward and testing his wrestling. Moutinho has been knocked out in every UFC fight and is not UFC level.

Quiñonez opened at -500, now -700; Moutinho opened at +385, now +500.
"Chris Mutino is just demonstrably not UFC level."
LOSS vs Raoni Barcelos
Submission (rear-naked choke) R3 2:04 · UFC Fight Night: Moreno vs. Royval 2 · Feb 24, 2024
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Raoni Barcelos 0 29 of 82 35% 43 of 99 2 of 7 28% 0 0 3:13
Cristian Quiñonez 0 43 of 74 58% 48 of 81 2 of 12 16% 2 0 1:02
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Raoni Barcelos 0 4 of 20 20% 17 of 35 2 of 6 33% 0 0 3:13
Cristian Quiñonez 0 12 of 16 75% 13 of 18 1 of 5 20% 0 0 0:19
2 Raoni Barcelos 0 18 of 49 36% 19 of 51 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:00
Cristian Quiñonez 0 20 of 44 45% 22 of 46 0 of 6 0% 1 0 0:15
3 Raoni Barcelos 0 7 of 13 53% 7 of 13 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Cristian Quiñonez 0 11 of 14 78% 13 of 17 1 of 1 100% 1 0 0:28
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Raoni Barcelos 29 of 82 35% 17 of 67 3 of 6 9 of 9 26 of 75 3 of 7 0 of 0
Cristian Quiñonez 43 of 74 58% 26 of 54 5 of 7 12 of 13 38 of 68 4 of 5 1 of 1
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Raoni Barcelos 4 of 20 20% 2 of 17 1 of 2 1 of 1 3 of 17 1 of 3 0 of 0
Cristian Quiñonez 12 of 16 75% 7 of 11 1 of 1 4 of 4 11 of 14 1 of 2 0 of 0
2 Raoni Barcelos 18 of 49 36% 13 of 42 1 of 3 4 of 4 16 of 45 2 of 4 0 of 0
Cristian Quiñonez 20 of 44 45% 15 of 36 2 of 4 3 of 4 16 of 40 3 of 3 1 of 1
3 Raoni Barcelos 7 of 13 53% 2 of 8 1 of 1 4 of 4 7 of 13 0 of 0 0 of 0
Cristian Quiñonez 11 of 14 78% 4 of 7 2 of 2 5 of 5 11 of 14 0 of 0 0 of 0
Play-by-Play
View on Sherdog
Raoni Barcelos vs. Cristian Quinonez
BETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Barcelos (-175), Quinonez (+145)

Round 1
Wrapping up the preliminaries with a bantamweight clash, 27-year-old Mexico native Quinonez (18-4, 1-1 UFC) wants to usher in a new generation of fighters and boot out aging competitors like Barcelos (17-5, 6-4 UFC), age 36. To keep things on the up-and-up, referee Bladimir Puga will take charge in the cage. There is a quick glove touch to precede the action, and Quinonez reaches out with multiple jabs only to get pushed back by a front kick. Barcelos chops down the lead leg with a kick, and he shoots in for a single that gets stuffed. Quinonez reaches him with a long right hand, and he flicks out a jab and a right to follow. Barcelos lands a low kick and drills the Mexican in the side of the head with a right hand, and Quinonez reels and backs himself to the cage. Barcelos attempts a takedown, and Quinonez stops it and turns him around against the wall. Quinonez drives a knee to the solar plexus, and he hangs on Barcelos to take some of the sting out of his shots. Barcelos tries for a throw, and both men climb back up. Barcelos tags his man with a right hand, and Quinonez reels and retaliates with a quick left hook. Barcelos swings with bad intentions, and Quinonez smoothly dodges the offense and prepares his counters. When Barcelos lands a single low kick, Quinonez greets him with four punches to the body and head. Barcelos continues moving forward, landing a double and dragging Quinonez to the floor. Quinonez pops back up, and he succeeds in wrenching Barcelos to the mat briefly in response. Quinonez looks for a body lock takedown, and Barcelos grabs the fence to prevent himself getting taken down as Puga slaps his hand. Barcelos again tugs on the cage to stop a takedown, and Puga once more warns him loudly while slapping his hand. Barcelos takes a few knees to the head, and Barcelos gets pulled away from the cage briefly. Barcelos gets away with another fence grab, and he spins with an elbow that grazes off the head. Quinonez wrestles his man to the mat in a scramble, and Puga shouts to Barcelos to not grab the cage. Quinonez sits on top of his opponent in partial side control, and he rains down right hands and an elbow to conclude the round.

Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Quinonez
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Quinonez
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Quinonez

Round 2
The bantamweights touch gloves to get started in the second round, and Barcelos hops out with a leg kick. Quinonez flicks out a high kick and aims one low, and he pushes out a jab before Barcelos can meet him with a response. Barcelos charges with two right hands, and Quinonez shoulder rolls and keeps flowing to not eat any further strikes from the Brazilian. Quinonez kicks low and high, with the second shot blocked. Quinonez parries a strike coming his way, and he absorbs a low kick after missing a right hand. Barcelos lands a leg kick, and he backs his man off with two lunging punches. Quinonez resets and wings a right, and he prods the Brazilian’s nose with a few jabs. Barcelos comes up short on a shovel uppercut, and Quinonez keeps his range with jabs. Barcelos sits down on a leg kick, and he shrugs off a right hand so he can land two of his own. They both jab at the same time, and Barcelos reaches out to connect with a heavy right hand. Quinonez retaliates with a blistering right hand, and as he staggers the Brazilian, he finds himself getting taken down. Quinonez stands back up, and he gets rocked with a right hand coming his way. Quinonez drops to a knee, and Barcelos blasts him in the chest with a knee. Quinonez protests, and Puga says it was legal, so Barcelos sprints at him and hurts him with a combination. As Quinonez is in sudden danger, Barcelos grips hold of a standing guillotine choke to boot. Barcelos cannot complete the submission, and he backs off to take a breath. Both men start trading shots, and as Barcelos starts to fade, Quinonez stays in his face and tags Barcelos with a straight right hand. Barcelos goes for a single, and Quinonez springs to the side to stay on his feet. Both men land with right hands, and Barcelos gives chase to toss out two more. Quinonez dings his foe with a leg kick and two punches, and Barcelos walks him down and lands one punch behind the ear. The two crash together right before the bell.

Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Quinonez
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Quinonez
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Quinonez

Round 3
The last round opens with Quinonez trying to keep his distance, popping an oncoming Barcelos with chipping kicks and jabs. Barcelos gives chase all the while, landing occasionally, but Quinonez connects more actively. Barcelos telegraphs with big right hands, and Quinonez sees them coming and sways just enough to avoid them. Barcelos kicks him in the ribs twice, and when Quinonez responds with his own body kick, Barcelos grabs the leg and tosses Quinonez down to the canvas. Barcelos shifts to get into half guard, and he ultimately takes Quinonez’ back in a scramble.
Barcelos fastens a rear-naked choke in the blink of an eye, and it is now academic at this point. Barcelos squeezes and exerts every remaining bit of his energy to complete the submission, and Quinonez has no choice but to surrender in a fight he had done well to that point.
This a crucial win for the 36-year-old, whose place on the UFC roster may have been at risk with a loss. As Barcelos celebrates his win, he also expresses a great deal of pain and hangs his left hand low, indicating that he may have sustained a shoulder injury early in the match.

The Official Result
Raoni Barcelos def. Cristian Quinonez R3 2:04 via Submission (Rear-Naked Choke)
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Confident picked Feb 18, 2024 (6 days before fight)
Cristian Quiñonez

Angelo picks Quiñonez as the underdog, citing Barcelos' age (36) and recent skid. He notes that Barcelos has lost to fighters he shouldn't have and that lower weight classes age out faster. He believes Quiñonez is younger, fresher, and more durable.

"Underdog pick Christian konas he is not the better fighter in this matchup but he is absolutely the younger fresher more durable fighter"
BI
Big Brady Expert Hesitant picked Feb 19, 2024 (5 days before fight)
Cristian Quiñonez

Big Brady picks Cristian Quiñonez to win by first-round knockout, but with low confidence. He notes that if this fight were three years ago, he would max bet Barcelos, but Barcelos is now 36, looks older, and has durability and cardio issues. Quiñonez has power and is nine years younger, and Barcelos has been finished multiple times. However, both fighters have questionable durability, and Brady expects someone to get finished.

Quiñonez wins by KO in round 1
"I'm going to take Quinones here to to land a big shot and knock knock out barcelos I think somebody is getting served here though both these guys are are both these guys I do think can be finished but …"
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Confident picked Feb 21, 2024 (3 days before fight)
Raoni Barcelos

Cody picks Barcelos, citing his superior boxing, wrestling, and experience. He notes Quiñonez has been finished in all his losses, has poor takedown defense, and gives up his back. Barcelos is a seven-time Brazilian national wrestling team member and has sharp counter-punching. He thinks Barcelos can make mistakes and still win.

"I gotta go with my boy rowny Bellos normally because I'm a big rowny Bellos you know Fanboy"
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Feb 22, 2024 (2 days before fight)
Cristian Quiñonez

The host believes Quiñonez's volume striking and footwork from distance will give Barcelos trouble. He notes Quiñonez's speed advantage and output, and his ability to stay away from pocket exchanges where Barcelos is dangerous. He also mentions Quiñonez's takedown defense and get-ups, and cautions that he must not get overzealous like in the Kong fight. He predicts a decision victory for Quiñonez.

"I think konz has the type of style that will give marcelos issues the volume style and footwork heavy style of konas from distance will allow him you to to use his speed advantage and output to try to touch …"
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Confident picked Feb 21, 2024 (3 days before fight)
Raoni Barcelos

Paul agrees with Cody, picking Barcelos. He notes Quiñonez seems KO-robust but Barcelos has the skills to neutralize him. He mentions Barcelos completely neutralized Trevon Jones, outlanding him 73-11 in significant strikes. He thinks Barcelos is a fine parlay piece at -200.

"rowny seems like a fine parlay piece at minus 200 to me"
LOSS vs Kyung Ho Kang
Submission (rear-naked choke) R1 2:25 · UFC on ESPN: Vettori vs. Cannonier · Jun 17, 2023
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Kyung Ho Kang 1 22 of 37 59% 31 of 46 1 of 1 100% 1 0 0:40
Cristian Quiñonez 0 13 of 29 44% 13 of 29 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Kyung Ho Kang 1 22 of 37 59% 31 of 46 1 of 1 100% 1 0 0:40
Cristian Quiñonez 0 13 of 29 44% 13 of 29 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Kyung Ho Kang 22 of 37 59% 14 of 28 3 of 4 5 of 5 17 of 31 0 of 0 5 of 6
Cristian Quiñonez 13 of 29 44% 11 of 27 0 of 0 2 of 2 13 of 29 0 of 0 0 of 0
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Kyung Ho Kang 22 of 37 59% 14 of 28 3 of 4 5 of 5 17 of 31 0 of 0 5 of 6
Cristian Quiñonez 13 of 29 44% 11 of 27 0 of 0 2 of 2 13 of 29 0 of 0 0 of 0
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Confident picked Jun 11, 2023 (6 days before fight)

Angelo picks Alessandro Costa, noting that if Jimmy Flick looks like he did in his last fight, Costa should be a much heavier favorite. Costa is a patient striker with power and good takedown defense, while Flick had nothing to offer on his feet in his return. Angelo also mentions he would bet the under 2.5 rounds if that line becomes available, expecting a stoppage.

under 2.5 rounds (if line drops)
"Alessandro Costa is just sitting at a very comfortable three to one favorite here and you know if Jimmy flick looks like he did in his last fight then Alessandro should be a nine to one favorite"
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked Jun 10, 2023 (7 days before fight)
Cristian Quiñonez

Big Brady picks Cristian Quiñonez to win by decision. He was initially not high on Quiñonez but was impressed by his knockout of Khaos Williams and his overall skills. Quiñonez is a high-volume striker with solid grappling, though he can make mistakes on the mat. Kang is a solid fighter but typically low volume, though he showed improvement in his last fight. Brady thinks Quiñonez is the better striker and as long as he isn't held down for long periods, he should win a decision. He has some concerns about Quiñonez's chin and cardio.

"I gotta go with Christian Quinones here... I think he has some solid upside in the UFC."
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Confident picked Jun 14, 2023 (3 days before fight)
Kyung Ho Kang

Cody agrees with Paul that Kang at plus money is the pick. He notes Kang has legitimate skills in wrestling and striking, but his ring IQ is poor and he makes stupid mistakes. However, at 35 and coming off a layoff, Kang still has the volume and wrestling edge over Quiñonez. Cody thinks Kang can win striking exchanges and mix in takedowns, and at +140, he's willing to take the chance.

"I'm actually going to agree with you in that I I think Kang at plus 140 plus 138 plus money it is the pick"
CO
Connor Ruebusch Expert Lean picked Jun 15, 2023 (2 days before fight)
Cristian Quiñonez

Connor picks Quiñonez, arguing that while Kang is a sharp boxer, he doesn't press advantages and lacks layers behind his striking. Quiñonez, on the other hand, is willing to sit in the pocket and throw combinations with vigor. Connor notes that Quiñonez's low kicks and ability to mix in wrestling could trouble Kang. He acknowledges Quiñonez can get messy but believes his recent improvements under Brandon Moreno's tutelage are durable enough to win a close fight.

"I think with the low kicking and the jab we saw out of his last fight, I think the low kicks especially can maybe take Keanu's out of the fight."
DA
Daniel Levi Expert Lean picked Jun 15, 2023 (2 days before fight)
Cristian Quiñonez

Daniel Levi leans toward Cristian Quiñonez, but only at the underdog price he got (opener +145). He sees it as a 50-50 fight and notes Kang's experience and close fights. He likes Quiñonez's volume and style but wouldn't bet him at current juice. He expects the fight to go the distance.

bet at +145 opener
"I got the opener on Quinones at plus 145 I think"
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Jun 13, 2023 (4 days before fight)
Cristian Quiñonez

Quiñonez is a long, lanky striker with great footwork and a solid jab. Kang is a solid all-around fighter but will have trouble dealing with Quiñonez's range and movement. Quiñonez has power and can keep the fight standing where he has the advantage. Kang has a slight edge in grappling but Quiñonez should be able to avoid takedowns. Quiñonez wins by decision.

"I'm giving kinones the Dub here and I think it comes by decision"
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Confident picked Jun 14, 2023 (3 days before fight)
Kyung Ho Kang

Paul is stunned that Kang is the underdog, given his experience and skills. He notes that the market moved from Kang -180 to +160, which he finds surprising. Paul thinks Kang has skills in every aspect and has been in there with every style. He picks Kang to bring the upset.

"I'm kind of stunned by this one Cody like Kung old Gang has been in the division for such a long time fighting some of the best guys"
ZA
Zane Simon Expert Confident picked Jun 15, 2023 (2 days before fight)
Kyung Ho Kang

Zane picks Kyung Ho Kang, emphasizing his consistent technical boxing and reach advantage. He notes that Kang has a great jab and straight punches, and is willing to pressure opponents. Zane believes Kang's experience and sharpness will edge out Quiñonez, who is still developing and can get messy in exchanges. He also suggests Kang could employ wrestling to make the fight easier, but expects a competitive striking battle where Kang slightly gets the better of it.

"I think I'm going to pick Ken Hong Kong with you."
WIN vs Khalid Taha
KO/TKO R1 3:15 · UFC Fight Night: Gane vs. Tuivasa · Sep 03, 2022
Expert Picks (8)
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Confident picked Jun 11, 2023 (6 days before fight)
No clear pick

Angelo picks Alessandro Costa, noting that if Jimmy Flick looks like he did in his last fight, Costa should be a much heavier favorite. Costa is a patient striker with power and good takedown defense, while Flick had nothing to offer on his feet in his return. Angelo also mentions he would bet the under 2.5 rounds if that line becomes available, expecting a stoppage.

under 2.5 rounds (if line drops)
"Alessandro Costa is just sitting at a very comfortable three to one favorite here and you know if Jimmy flick looks like he did in his last fight then Alessandro should be a nine to one favorite"
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked Jun 10, 2023 (7 days before fight)
Cristian Quiñonez

Big Brady picks Cristian Quiñonez to win by decision. He was initially not high on Quiñonez but was impressed by his knockout of Khaos Williams and his overall skills. Quiñonez is a high-volume striker with solid grappling, though he can make mistakes on the mat. Kang is a solid fighter but typically low volume, though he showed improvement in his last fight. Brady thinks Quiñonez is the better striker and as long as he isn't held down for long periods, he should win a decision. He has some concerns about Quiñonez's chin and cardio.

"I gotta go with Christian Quinones here... I think he has some solid upside in the UFC."
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Confident picked Jun 14, 2023 (3 days before fight)
Kyung Ho Kang

Cody agrees with Paul that Kang at plus money is the pick. He notes Kang has legitimate skills in wrestling and striking, but his ring IQ is poor and he makes stupid mistakes. However, at 35 and coming off a layoff, Kang still has the volume and wrestling edge over Quiñonez. Cody thinks Kang can win striking exchanges and mix in takedowns, and at +140, he's willing to take the chance.

"I'm actually going to agree with you in that I I think Kang at plus 140 plus 138 plus money it is the pick"
CO
Connor Ruebusch Expert Lean picked Jun 15, 2023 (2 days before fight)
Cristian Quiñonez

Connor picks Quiñonez, arguing that while Kang is a sharp boxer, he doesn't press advantages and lacks layers behind his striking. Quiñonez, on the other hand, is willing to sit in the pocket and throw combinations with vigor. Connor notes that Quiñonez's low kicks and ability to mix in wrestling could trouble Kang. He acknowledges Quiñonez can get messy but believes his recent improvements under Brandon Moreno's tutelage are durable enough to win a close fight.

"I think with the low kicking and the jab we saw out of his last fight, I think the low kicks especially can maybe take Keanu's out of the fight."
DA
Daniel Levi Expert Lean picked Jun 15, 2023 (2 days before fight)
Cristian Quiñonez

Daniel Levi leans toward Cristian Quiñonez, but only at the underdog price he got (opener +145). He sees it as a 50-50 fight and notes Kang's experience and close fights. He likes Quiñonez's volume and style but wouldn't bet him at current juice. He expects the fight to go the distance.

bet at +145 opener
"I got the opener on Quinones at plus 145 I think"
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Jun 13, 2023 (4 days before fight)
Cristian Quiñonez

Quiñonez is a long, lanky striker with great footwork and a solid jab. Kang is a solid all-around fighter but will have trouble dealing with Quiñonez's range and movement. Quiñonez has power and can keep the fight standing where he has the advantage. Kang has a slight edge in grappling but Quiñonez should be able to avoid takedowns. Quiñonez wins by decision.

"I'm giving kinones the Dub here and I think it comes by decision"
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Confident picked Jun 14, 2023 (3 days before fight)
Kyung Ho Kang

Paul is stunned that Kang is the underdog, given his experience and skills. He notes that the market moved from Kang -180 to +160, which he finds surprising. Paul thinks Kang has skills in every aspect and has been in there with every style. He picks Kang to bring the upset.

"I'm kind of stunned by this one Cody like Kung old Gang has been in the division for such a long time fighting some of the best guys"
ZA
Zane Simon Expert Confident picked Jun 15, 2023 (2 days before fight)
Kyung Ho Kang

Zane picks Kyung Ho Kang, emphasizing his consistent technical boxing and reach advantage. He notes that Kang has a great jab and straight punches, and is willing to pressure opponents. Zane believes Kang's experience and sharpness will edge out Quiñonez, who is still developing and can get messy in exchanges. He also suggests Kang could employ wrestling to make the fight easier, but expects a competitive striking battle where Kang slightly gets the better of it.

"I think I'm going to pick Ken Hong Kong with you."