vs
-136 +120
UFC on ESPN: Kara-France vs. Albazi · Jun 03, 2023 · Heavyweight · Completed
Prev Fight UFC on ESPN: Kara-France vs. Albazi Next Fight
Age 34
Height 6' 6"
Reach 81.0"
Weight 260 lbs.
Stance Orthodox
Age 47
Height 6' 3"
Reach 77.0"
Weight 240 lbs.
Stance Orthodox
Career Averages - Don'Tale Mayes
3.22 SLpM
43.0% Str. Acc.
3.61 SApM
46.0% Str. Def.
0.59 TD Avg
38.0% TD Acc.
46.0% TD Def.
0.0 Sub. Avg
Career Averages - Andrei Arlovski
3.82 SLpM
45.0% Str. Acc.
3.22 SApM
57.0% Str. Def.
0.37 TD Avg
35.0% TD Acc.
76.0% TD Def.
0.2 Sub. Avg
Don'Tale Mayes
Moneyline
FanDuel -136
KO/TKO
BetRivers +310
Submission
BetMGM +1800
Decision
FanDuel +290
Andrei Arlovski
Moneyline
Caesars +120
KO/TKO
FanDuel +1000
Submission
FanDuel +2000
Decision
BetRivers +175
Don'Tale Mayes - Fight History
LOSS vs Thomas Petersen
Decision R3 5:00 · UFC on ESPN: Sandhagen vs. Figueiredo · May 03, 2025
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Thomas Petersen 0 28 of 51 54% 105 of 166 9 of 9 100% 1 0 13:49
Don'Tale Mayes 0 3 of 11 27% 13 of 23 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Thomas Petersen 0 1 of 3 33% 12 of 19 3 of 3 100% 1 0 4:34
Don'Tale Mayes 0 1 of 5 20% 9 of 15 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
2 Thomas Petersen 0 5 of 19 26% 36 of 69 2 of 2 100% 0 0 4:27
Don'Tale Mayes 0 1 of 4 25% 3 of 6 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
3 Thomas Petersen 0 22 of 29 75% 57 of 78 4 of 4 100% 0 0 4:48
Don'Tale Mayes 0 1 of 2 50% 1 of 2 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Thomas Petersen 28 of 51 54% 28 of 51 0 of 0 0 of 0 1 of 5 1 of 1 26 of 45
Don'Tale Mayes 3 of 11 27% 1 of 8 2 of 3 0 of 0 3 of 11 0 of 0 0 of 0
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Thomas Petersen 1 of 3 33% 1 of 3 0 of 0 0 of 0 0 of 2 0 of 0 1 of 1
Don'Tale Mayes 1 of 5 20% 1 of 5 0 of 0 0 of 0 1 of 5 0 of 0 0 of 0
2 Thomas Petersen 5 of 19 26% 5 of 19 0 of 0 0 of 0 0 of 2 1 of 1 4 of 16
Don'Tale Mayes 1 of 4 25% 0 of 2 1 of 2 0 of 0 1 of 4 0 of 0 0 of 0
3 Thomas Petersen 22 of 29 75% 22 of 29 0 of 0 0 of 0 1 of 1 0 of 0 21 of 28
Don'Tale Mayes 1 of 2 50% 0 of 1 1 of 1 0 of 0 1 of 2 0 of 0 0 of 0
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Confident picked Apr 27, 2025 (6 days before fight)
Thomas Petersen

Angelo sees this as a straightforward matchup: if Thomas Petersen gets takedowns, he wins; if he stays on the feet too long, he gets knocked out. He notes that Don'Tale Mayes has struggled with grapplers recently, and Petersen took down his last opponent easily. He believes Petersen's wrestling will be the deciding factor.

"I like Peterson here, but another weird fight with crazy odds."
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked Apr 29, 2025 (4 days before fight)
Thomas Petersen

Big Brady is confident in Thomas Petersen, expecting his best performance to date. He highlights Petersen's wrestling background and vicious ground and pound, noting that Mayes has poor takedown defense (57%) and looks bad when taken down, citing examples like Valter Walker's heel hook and Shamil Gaz's control. He questions Mayes's motivation, pointing out his social media silence and poor shape at weigh-ins. He predicts Petersen will take Mayes down and finish him by TKO in round two.

Round 2 TKO
"I think Thomas train Peterson has his best performance to date. Takes Dantel Maize down to the ground and either pounds him out or or finds a potential submission."
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Lean picked May 1, 2025 (2 days before fight)
Thomas Petersen

Mayes is an average heavyweight with a 5-5 UFC record. Petersen can dictate the pace with his developing striking and mix in takedowns. I expect Petersen to grind out a decision win.

"I'm expecting Peterson to grind this out and win it on the scorecards."
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Hesitant picked Apr 30, 2025 (3 days before fight)
Don'Tale Mayes

The MMA Guru picks Don'Tale Mayes as an underdog, despite acknowledging Mayes' poor record. He believes Mayes is more athletic on the feet, has a 7-inch reach advantage, and better cardio. He predicts Mayes will stuff takedowns and eventually get a TKO in round two, possibly after Petersen fails a takedown and Mayes gains top position.

TKO in round 2
"I'm going to go with Dantel Mazize. He's been in the UFC for a long time. He's got a lot of experience."
LOSS vs Valter Walker
Submission R1 1:17 · UFC Fight Night: Cannonier vs. Rodrigues · Feb 15, 2025
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Valter Walker 0 1 of 2 50% 3 of 4 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Don'Tale Mayes 0 1 of 3 33% 5 of 9 1 of 2 50% 1 0 0:58
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Valter Walker 0 1 of 2 50% 3 of 4 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Don'Tale Mayes 0 1 of 3 33% 5 of 9 1 of 2 50% 1 0 0:58
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Valter Walker 1 of 2 50% 1 of 2 0 of 0 0 of 0 1 of 2 0 of 0 0 of 0
Don'Tale Mayes 1 of 3 33% 0 of 2 0 of 0 1 of 1 1 of 3 0 of 0 0 of 0
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Valter Walker 1 of 2 50% 1 of 2 0 of 0 0 of 0 1 of 2 0 of 0 0 of 0
Don'Tale Mayes 1 of 3 33% 0 of 2 0 of 0 1 of 1 1 of 3 0 of 0 0 of 0
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Hesitant picked Feb 9, 2025 (6 days before fight)
Valter Walker

Angelo hesitantly picks Valter Walker, despite his hatred for Walker's embarrassing UFC debut. He reasons that Walker has good takedowns and Mayes is useless when taken down. However, he notes Walker's striking is awful and his cardio is suspect, so if Mayes can survive early, he could win. He says he cannot bet Walker at -165.

"I'm going to I'm going to pick wter Walker but my God the writing is on the wall Dantel May has good takedowns Dantel Mays is not a [ __ ] Dantel Mays has good striking those three things all …"
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked Feb 12, 2025 (3 days before fight)
Valter Walker

Big Brady picks Walker by decision, citing Mayes' poor takedown defense (58%) and inability to get up once taken down. He notes Mayes has a striking advantage but lacks power to hurt Walker. Walker should get takedowns easily and control Mayes on the ground, though he lacks finishing ability.

goes the distance
"should be volter Walker I'll give me wter Walker by decision"
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Feb 15, 2025 (fight day)
Valter Walker

Expecting a slow, grueling fight. Walker will likely keep Mayes in defensive positions against the cage or on the ground, using his grappling-heavy approach to nullify Mayes' offense. Walker wins on the scorecards.

"I'm expecting nothing less from this matchup which to me means that Walker will likely keep Mayes in defensive positions... and I believe Walker will win this matchup on the scorecards."
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Feb 13, 2025 (2 days before fight)
Valter Walker

The MMA Guru picks Valter Walker over Don'Tale Mayes, reasoning that Mayes has a history of losing and his wins are against low-level heavyweights. He acknowledges Walker's poor UFC debut but attributes it to circumstances, and believes Walker's regional success and potential will prevail.

"I'm gonna go with Johnny wal's Brother valter Walker"
LOSS vs Shamil Gaziev
Decision (unanimous) (30–27, 30–27, 30–27) R3 5:00 · UFC on ABC: Sandhagen vs. Nurmagomedov · Aug 03, 2024
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Shamil Gaziev 0 31 of 46 67% 89 of 114 2 of 3 66% 0 0 11:58
Don'Tale Mayes 0 27 of 58 46% 57 of 95 0 of 2 0% 0 0 0:00
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Shamil Gaziev 0 8 of 13 61% 24 of 35 1 of 2 50% 0 0 4:32
Don'Tale Mayes 0 12 of 17 70% 12 of 20 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
2 Shamil Gaziev 0 21 of 28 75% 29 of 36 0 of 0 --- 0 0 3:28
Don'Tale Mayes 0 10 of 25 40% 20 of 39 0 of 2 0% 0 0 0:00
3 Shamil Gaziev 0 2 of 5 40% 36 of 43 1 of 1 100% 0 0 3:58
Don'Tale Mayes 0 5 of 16 31% 25 of 36 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Shamil Gaziev 31 of 46 67% 22 of 37 8 of 8 1 of 1 12 of 25 15 of 17 4 of 4
Don'Tale Mayes 27 of 58 46% 18 of 45 5 of 9 4 of 4 25 of 53 2 of 5 0 of 0
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Shamil Gaziev 8 of 13 61% 7 of 12 1 of 1 0 of 0 4 of 8 0 of 1 4 of 4
Don'Tale Mayes 12 of 17 70% 7 of 11 2 of 3 3 of 3 11 of 16 1 of 1 0 of 0
2 Shamil Gaziev 21 of 28 75% 13 of 20 7 of 7 1 of 1 6 of 12 15 of 16 0 of 0
Don'Tale Mayes 10 of 25 40% 9 of 22 1 of 3 0 of 0 9 of 21 1 of 4 0 of 0
3 Shamil Gaziev 2 of 5 40% 2 of 5 0 of 0 0 of 0 2 of 5 0 of 0 0 of 0
Don'Tale Mayes 5 of 16 31% 2 of 12 2 of 3 1 of 1 5 of 16 0 of 0 0 of 0
Play-by-Play
View on Sherdog
Shamil Gaziev vs. Don'Tale Mayes
BETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Gaziev (-238), Mayes (+195)

Round 1
The lone heavyweight contest on the fight card plays out on the prelims rather than slotted undeservedly on the main card. Fresh off a deflating headlining loss to suffer his first pro defeat, Gaziev (12-1, 1-1 UFC) is hungry to bounce back from that setback at the expense of Kentucky judoka Mayes (11-6, 1 NC; 4-4, 1 NC UFC). The reputation of the fictitious Kentucky Judo Federation is at stake over the next 15 minutes, and referee Keith Peterson is ready to handle the nonsense. There is a clap of hands, and Mayes says hello with punches, a low kick and a looping left hand. Gaziev backs him off with a one-two, and Mayes fires back but is tagged with a right hand. Mayes backs up to the wall as he tries to get his mind right, and Gaziev shoots for a double and clasps his hands. Gaziev slams his man to the floor, and the entire Octagon shudders at the impact. The Bahraini by way of Russia moves to half guard with ease, where he frames off the face with his elbow and jams it down. Gaziev frees his hand from the grasp of his foe to slug him in the chops with two right hands, and he keeps “Lord Kong” flat on his back with no sign of getting back to his feet as there are over three minutes left in the round. Gaziev considers taking side control but prefers the half guard to maintain control, and he winds up with a hard right hand that bounces off the forehead. Gaziev lands right hands when he is able to wriggle his arm out of the grip of his adversary, landing enough to keep Peterson from standing them up. Gaziev presses down with his shoulder for a potential arm-triangle choke, and he sits up to land more offense. Gaziev fights off Mayes trying to sit up and punches him in the face. Gaziev hooks his arm around the neck again to keep Mayes flat, lumping him up with short but powerful blows. When the 10-second clapper sounds, Gaziev punches his way into an arm-triangle choke from the other side, but the horn toots before it is completed.

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

Round 2
The heavyweights meander towards one another as the second round opens, and Mayes keeps his man honest by busting him in the chops with several hooks. The blows are strong but largely one, and then another, rather than chained together. Mayes gets in an uppercut and shoots for his own takedown, and Gaziev grabs pursues a takedown. Mayes grabs the shorts of his foe, pulling them way up, and Peterson warns him for the grab and calls time to issue another warning instead of taking a point. They resume where they left off, and Mayes ducks, seeing an elbow whiz by his head. Mayes gets back to boxing range, slinging hooks, and Gaziev clashes forward and slams his head into the chin of his foe. Peterson observes it but does not call time, and Gaziev fights his way into a clinch as Mayes is not overly thrilled. Gaziev drives knees to the solar plexus, and he rings Mayes’ bell with an elbow. Mayes staggers back, away from the clinch, but Gaziev snags him again and starts peppering him again with knees. As the heavyweights slow to a crawl, the commentary booth remarks that the temperature feels like over 100 degrees Fahrenheit with humidity in the arena around 75%. The big men are pouring sweat and are totally wiped out, kneeing one another with short shots as Gaziev is warned by draping his hands over the fencing. Mayes sneaks in a left hand, and Gaziev pays him back with a thumping knee. Gaziev has no interest in letting go or deviating from his approach, clinging to the Kentucky native and spamming knees until the round concludes.

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

Round 3
Mayes starts out the final round with a fresh head of steam, racing in with punches that are telegraphed and largely miss the mark. Gaziev avoids some, eats others, and responds when caught. Mayes swings hard to the liver, and Gaziev runs at him and bowls him over, landing in half guard and returning to smothering top control form. Gaziev stays just busy enough to not have Peterson warn him for inactivity, smacking Mayes in the dome and otherwise making his life miserable. Gaziev holds on with his forearm, and Mayes complains about something. Mayes starts talking to Gaziev, and Peterson does call for more action. Gaziev answers with a few fists, and Mayes answers him with words that Gaziev may or may not understand. Gaziev postures up to drop down heavy left hands, and Mayes keeps chattering and softly lands punches to the side from his back. Mayes holds on and is trying to have a conversation, mentioning that the fans are booing Gaziev. Gaziev controls and grinds, sapping time away and ending the rough matchup disappointingly.

Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Gaziev (30-27 Gaziev)
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Gaziev (30-27 Gaziev)
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Gaziev (30-27 Gaziev)

The Official Result
Shamil Gaziev def. Don’Tale Mayes via Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Confident picked Jul 28, 2024 (6 days before fight)
Shamil Gaziev

Angelo is confident Gaziev bounces back from his first loss, believing he bit off more than he could chew in his last fight. He thinks Gaziev is the more powerful striker with good takedowns, and that this is a good rebound fight. He expects Gaziev to win but notes cardio concerns.

"I am not ready to give up on Shamil... I think he does get on the right track"
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked Aug 1, 2024 (2 days before fight)
Shamil Gaziev

Big Brady thinks Gaziev should be able to destroy Mayes if he is anywhere near the real deal, comparing Mayes to Martin Budai whom Gaziev finished impressively. He notes Mayes does not like getting hit and has been finished on the mat multiple times. He worries about Gaziev's gas tank if the fight extends past 1.5 rounds but predicts an early finish by first-round knockout.

"I think gaze can maybe pressure in this fight like he did against Martin budai if he does that I think he can knock out dant ma"
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Lean picked Jul 30, 2024 (4 days before fight)
Shamil Gaziev

Cody picks Shamil Gaziev, noting that Mayes has poor takedown defense and has been taken down by lesser wrestlers. He thinks Gaziev can use his wrestling and clinch to neutralize Mayes's range striking. Cody acknowledges Gaziev's cardio issues but believes in a three-round fight he can win the first two rounds. He also mentions that Mayes is flat-footed and struggles to get up when taken down.

"I'm gonna Edge towards gazio."
DA
Daniel Vreeland Expert Confident picked Jul 31, 2024 (3 days before fight)
Shamil Gaziev

Daniel picks Gaziev, believing he should be able to pin Mayes against the fence and dirty box him. He notes Mayes is inconsistent and has lost to lower-level competition, while Gaziev's only loss is to a top-10 guy. He expects a similar performance to Gaziev's win over Bud.

"I think Shamil is just better than dant May so I'm gonna pick him for that reason"
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Aug 1, 2024 (2 days before fight)
Shamil Gaziev

Gaziev is coming off a main event loss and will be pissed off. He should steamroll Mayes, finishing him in the first or second round.

finishes in round 1 or 2
"I think we're going to see a very pissed off gadv coming into the cage this weekend and I think he steamrolls down tell me finishing him in the first or second round"
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Lean picked Jul 30, 2024 (4 days before fight)
Shamil Gaziev

Paul picks Shamil Gaziev, noting that Mayes has been taken down by many opponents and has poor get-up game. He thinks Gaziev can use his wrestling to control the fight. Paul acknowledges that both fighters are low-level heavyweights and that Mayes could win if he stuffs takedowns, but he leans toward Gaziev. He also mentions that the fight could be slow and the over might be a play.

over 1.5 rounds
"Maybe hit an over because it's one of those slow paced bog of a heavyweight fights."
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Jul 30, 2024 (4 days before fight)
Shamil Gaziev

The MMA Guru picks Shamil Gaziev over Don'Tale Mayes, despite calling Gaziev 'awful'. He thinks Mayes is 'a bit dumb' and that Gaziev's grappling will be the difference. He expects Gaziev to take Mayes down and wear him out, possibly catching a spinning attack from Mayes. He predicts a fourth-round TKO, though the fight is three rounds.

TKO
"I'm GNA go with Shamil gazer over Dantel may I just think Dantel May is a bit dumb"
WIN vs Caio Machado
Decision (unanimous) (29–28, 29–28, 29–28) R3 5:00 · UFC on ESPN: Nicolau vs. Perez · Apr 27, 2024
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Don'Tale Mayes 1 67 of 183 36% 73 of 190 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:36
Caio Machado 0 76 of 159 47% 77 of 160 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Don'Tale Mayes 1 20 of 55 36% 26 of 62 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:36
Caio Machado 0 19 of 40 47% 19 of 40 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
2 Don'Tale Mayes 0 26 of 61 42% 26 of 61 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Caio Machado 0 25 of 53 47% 25 of 53 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
3 Don'Tale Mayes 0 21 of 67 31% 21 of 67 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Caio Machado 0 32 of 66 48% 33 of 67 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Don'Tale Mayes 67 of 183 36% 42 of 140 18 of 29 7 of 14 67 of 181 0 of 1 0 of 1
Caio Machado 76 of 159 47% 33 of 103 25 of 33 18 of 23 75 of 158 1 of 1 0 of 0
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Don'Tale Mayes 20 of 55 36% 12 of 39 7 of 12 1 of 4 20 of 54 0 of 0 0 of 1
Caio Machado 19 of 40 47% 6 of 23 6 of 8 7 of 9 19 of 40 0 of 0 0 of 0
2 Don'Tale Mayes 26 of 61 42% 18 of 50 4 of 6 4 of 5 26 of 61 0 of 0 0 of 0
Caio Machado 25 of 53 47% 13 of 38 7 of 9 5 of 6 25 of 53 0 of 0 0 of 0
3 Don'Tale Mayes 21 of 67 31% 12 of 51 7 of 11 2 of 5 21 of 66 0 of 1 0 of 0
Caio Machado 32 of 66 48% 14 of 42 12 of 16 6 of 8 31 of 65 1 of 1 0 of 0
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Lean picked Apr 21, 2024 (6 days before fight)
Caio Machado

Angelo picks the underdog Caio Machado, believing he is the more technical striker with better footwork. He thinks Don'Tale Mayes has one-punch power but will struggle to land big shots, and Mayes' wrestling is not great. He expects Machado to defend takedowns and win a boring, sloppy heavyweight decision. He notes Mayes is a 2-to-1 favorite but favors the dog.

"I am going the dog here in Kyo Machado"
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Lean picked Apr 24, 2024 (3 days before fight)
Don'Tale Mayes

Cody picks Mayes, citing his experience against better competition and his reach advantage. He thinks Mayes' jab and switch-hitting style will be effective, and that Machado's padded record and poor takedown defense will be exposed.

"I'm taking it might be the return of D1 dant"
DA
Daniel Vreeland Expert Confident picked Apr 24, 2024 (3 days before fight)
Caio Machado

Daniel argues Machado is underrated, citing his striking ratio (7 strikes landed per minute, 2 absorbed) and 82% takedown defense. He calls Mayes one of the worst heavyweights, with poor fight IQ and a history of losing. He thinks Machado will win by wanting it more and having higher output.

"I'm going Kyle Machado here Dantel May is a bum"
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Apr 26, 2024 (1 day before fight)
Caio Machado

Machado will dictate the pace and be on the front foot, pressuring Mayes. Mayes has a history of quitting when faced with resistance. Machado's BJJ and pressure style should cause Mayes issues, and I expect Machado to finish him in the second or third round.

"I think we'll see masado get back to his feet if he is taken down and I think we'll see him get back to the pressure style and really put some big punches on Maize and possibly even finish him …"
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Lean picked Apr 24, 2024 (3 days before fight)
Caio Machado

Paul picks Machado, believing his volume striking will edge out Mayes. He notes Machado's youth and potential, but admits Mayes' takedown game could be a problem. He calls it a 50/50 fight and slightly favors Machado.

"I'll flip the script and I'll I'll take Mado here wins slightly slightly on volume"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Apr 23, 2024 (4 days before fight)
Don'Tale Mayes

The MMA Guru picks Don'Tale Mayes as an underdog. He notes that Caio Machado is used to being the taller fighter and keeps his hands down, which could be exploited by Mayes' height and reach. He criticizes Machado's headbutts and believes Mayes' athleticism and one-shot finishing power give him an edge. He also mentions that Machado's win over Mick Parkin was aided by head clashes and that Mayes' KO of Andre Arlovski shows his potential.

"I'm gonna go with Dantel Mays over Machado"
Decision (unanimous) (30–27, 29–28, 29–28) R3 5:00 · UFC Fight Night: Almeida vs. Lewis · Nov 04, 2023
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Rodrigo Nascimento 0 70 of 154 45% 91 of 180 0 of 3 0% 0 0 2:21
Don'Tale Mayes 0 79 of 159 49% 105 of 190 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:39
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Rodrigo Nascimento 0 33 of 69 47% 41 of 79 0 of 2 0% 0 0 0:33
Don'Tale Mayes 0 28 of 60 46% 35 of 71 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:21
2 Rodrigo Nascimento 0 20 of 40 50% 30 of 53 0 of 1 0% 0 0 1:48
Don'Tale Mayes 0 23 of 50 46% 36 of 64 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
3 Rodrigo Nascimento 0 17 of 45 37% 20 of 48 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Don'Tale Mayes 0 28 of 49 57% 34 of 55 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:18
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Rodrigo Nascimento 70 of 154 45% 51 of 132 9 of 11 10 of 11 58 of 134 12 of 20 0 of 0
Don'Tale Mayes 79 of 159 49% 39 of 103 30 of 44 10 of 12 55 of 128 24 of 31 0 of 0
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Rodrigo Nascimento 33 of 69 47% 28 of 64 2 of 2 3 of 3 30 of 61 3 of 8 0 of 0
Don'Tale Mayes 28 of 60 46% 14 of 36 10 of 18 4 of 6 21 of 50 7 of 10 0 of 0
2 Rodrigo Nascimento 20 of 40 50% 13 of 33 3 of 3 4 of 4 15 of 33 5 of 7 0 of 0
Don'Tale Mayes 23 of 50 46% 13 of 36 9 of 13 1 of 1 12 of 37 11 of 13 0 of 0
3 Rodrigo Nascimento 17 of 45 37% 10 of 35 4 of 6 3 of 4 13 of 40 4 of 5 0 of 0
Don'Tale Mayes 28 of 49 57% 12 of 31 11 of 13 5 of 5 22 of 41 6 of 8 0 of 0
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Confident picked Oct 29, 2023 (6 days before fight)
Rodrigo Nascimento

Angelo picks Nascimento, trusting his grappling and cleaner path to victory. He notes Mayes has heavy hands and power, but Nascimento has a good chin. He hopes for an over 1.5 rounds line and would bet that, expecting Mayes to be more defensively aware after their first fight. He advises not betting on sloppy heavyweight fights otherwise.

would bet over 1.5 rounds if line is offered
"Rodrigo is going to be the pick I trust him to come forward I trust him to wrestle I trust him to do all those things"
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked Oct 30, 2023 (5 days before fight)
Rodrigo Nascimento

Big Brady picks Rodrigo Nascimento to win by second-round submission. He notes that Nascimento won their first fight by submission and has improved at American Top Team. He believes Nascimento is better everywhere, with a BJJ base and 60% submission rate. He mentions Mayes has 56% takedown defense and can be taken down. He acknowledges Mayes has power but favors Nascimento.

"give me an awesome minute to win this fight I'll take him to win this fight by second round submission"
DA
Daniel Levi Expert Confident picked Nov 1, 2023 (3 days before fight)
Rodrigo Nascimento

Daniel Levi picks Rodrigo Nascimento, recalling that Nascimento dominated Mayes in their first fight, out-striking him and taking him down at will. He notes that Nascimento has been motivated in training, taking his diet and preparation seriously. Levi acknowledges Mayes' physical attributes and one-punch knockout power, but believes Nascimento's mental edge and proven superiority will carry him. He has concerns about Nascimento's chin and cardio, but still favors him to win.

"I'm gonna go Rodrigo Nascimento here... I still think Rodrigo Nascimento is better than this man and for that reason I'm gonna pick him."
LU
Lucrative James Expert Hesitant picked Nov 4, 2023 (fight day)
Don'Tale Mayes

James has a different take than most, believing the +160 price on Mayes is due to the previous fight result rather than skill disparity. He notes that Mayes didn't look bad in the first fight, getting up from bottom and landing decent strikes before giving up his back. He thinks if Mayes doesn't give up his back, the fight is a pick 'em. He also mentions that Nascimento is hittable and Mayes could get a knockout. However, he is not massively passionate about this pick, calling it more of a hunch.

"I think d ma is I think the line's a little bit wide but I'm not massively passionate about this one."
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Oct 31, 2023 (4 days before fight)
Rodrigo Nascimento

The MMA Guru picks Rodrigo Nascimento over Don'Tale Mayes. He dismisses Mayes' win over Andrei Arlovski as facing an aging fighter. The Guru notes Mayes looked poor against Augusto Sakai and Hamdy Abdelwahab, being held against the cage. He believes Nascimento's grappling and clinch work will be the difference, and he also favors Nascimento's inside boxing. He predicts a 29-28 decision.

"I'm gonna go with Rodrigo naso FAA... I think the grapp is going to be the difference here... 2928 decision"
TKO (punches) R2 3:17 · UFC on ESPN: Kara-France vs. Albazi · Jun 03, 2023
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Don'Tale Mayes 0 24 of 56 42% 26 of 58 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Andrei Arlovski 1 25 of 87 28% 28 of 91 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:02
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Don'Tale Mayes 0 14 of 25 56% 16 of 27 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Andrei Arlovski 0 8 of 47 17% 11 of 51 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:00
2 Don'Tale Mayes 0 10 of 31 32% 10 of 31 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Andrei Arlovski 1 17 of 40 42% 17 of 40 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:02
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Don'Tale Mayes 24 of 56 42% 10 of 36 9 of 10 5 of 10 24 of 56 0 of 0 0 of 0
Andrei Arlovski 25 of 87 28% 14 of 58 4 of 14 7 of 15 22 of 82 1 of 1 2 of 4
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Don'Tale Mayes 14 of 25 56% 5 of 12 5 of 6 4 of 7 14 of 25 0 of 0 0 of 0
Andrei Arlovski 8 of 47 17% 5 of 33 1 of 7 2 of 7 7 of 45 1 of 1 0 of 1
2 Don'Tale Mayes 10 of 31 32% 5 of 24 4 of 4 1 of 3 10 of 31 0 of 0 0 of 0
Andrei Arlovski 17 of 40 42% 9 of 25 3 of 7 5 of 8 15 of 37 0 of 0 2 of 3
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Confident picked May 31, 2023 (3 days before fight)
Andrei Arlovski

Angelo picks Arlovski, believing he is the better fighter in every category except age and chin. He thinks Arlovski's technical striking and experience will overcome Mayes' power. He is concerned about Arlovski's chin after the last fight but still expects him to win. He would bet Arlovski if the line keeps moving.

"in every single category other than Andre's old Andre lofsky's the better fighter every single category"
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Confident picked May 31, 2023 (3 days before fight)
Andrei Arlovski

Cody picks Arlovski, agreeing with Paul. He notes that middling heavyweights often go to decision and that Arlovski is a fan favorite who gets close decisions. Cody points out that Mayes doesn't use his physical advantages and that Arlovski's experience and durability will carry him. He also mentions that Mayes has been knocked out by lesser fighters and that Arlovski is the safer pick.

"I'm gonna take the pit bull to get one over"
CO
Connor Ruebusch Expert Confident picked Jun 3, 2023 (fight day)
Andrei Arlovski

Connor agrees with Zane, emphasizing that Mayes is a 'giant ball of wasted potential' who has never realized his athletic gifts. He points out that Arlovski has consistently beaten lower-tier heavyweights who lack a real striking game or finishing ability. Mayes' tendency to throw single strikes and his poor grappling will be exploited by Arlovski's steady pressure and clinch work.

"I mean he almost accidentally won that fight with hamdi up del wahab"
DA
Daniel Levi Expert Lean picked Jun 1, 2023 (2 days before fight)
Andrei Arlovski

Daniel picks Arlovski, though he admits he hasn't taped the fight deeply. He thinks Mayes has mental fragility and Arlovski's veteran savvy could eke out a decision. He notes that Arlovski has been quitting in fights but Mayes may not bring that out of him. He considers a sprinkle on Arlovski by decision.

"I'll ask you ... Arlovski as well"
JA
Jacob Lines Expert Confident picked May 31, 2023 (3 days before fight)
Don'Tale Mayes

Jacob picks Mayes, citing his speed and athleticism advantage over the 44-year-old Arlovski. He thinks Mayes should use range and volume to break down Arlovski's chin. He notes Arlovski looked old and uninterested in his last fight. Jacob is betting $100 on Mayes at +120.

Bet $100 on Mayes moneyline at +120.
"my pick I gotta stick with my duel man Indiana Zone Downtown maze baby nap time 100 317"
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Lean picked Jun 1, 2023 (2 days before fight)
Don'Tale Mayes

Mayes is a hybrid heavyweight who mixes takedowns behind punches and works well in the clinch. Arlovski is reliant on striking and tends to quit when grappling gets tough. Mayes will tie him up, land takedowns, and control the fight to win a decision. The over 2.5 is the preferred bet.

over 2.5 rounds
"I'm gonna go with King Kong Dantel maze in this fight I think you'll be able to mix it up a lot better than Andre olowski"
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Confident picked May 31, 2023 (3 days before fight)
Andrei Arlovski

Paul picks Arlovski at plus money. He notes Mayes has low output and doesn't use his reach or speed advantage. Paul mentions Arlovski's recent wins over low-output fighters and that the UFC seems to give him favorable matchups. He thinks Mayes is overrated as a favorite and that Arlovski can squeak out a decision. Paul also recalls losing money on Mayes in the past, making him hesitant to trust him.

"it's our lovsky for me"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked May 29, 2023 (5 days before fight)
Andrei Arlovski

The MMA Guru picks Andrei Arlovski, believing this is one of the heavyweight fights Arlovski wins. He criticizes Don'Tale Mayes for being hesitant on the feet and getting blanketed by Augusto Sakai. He expects Arlovski to frustrate Mayes at range with leg kicks and small shots, while Mayes will be gun-shy and not throw enough. He acknowledges an upset is possible but thinks Arlovski's skill at this level of heavyweight will take over.

"I think arlovsky just sort of frustrating him at range I can see him picking at him tapping at his legs"
ZA
Zane Simon Expert Confident picked Jun 3, 2023 (fight day)
Andrei Arlovski

Zane picks Arlovski based on his consistent ability to outwork opponents who lack a high-output striking game. He notes that Mayes is a talented but dysfunctional fighter with poor wrestling and no coherent game plan. Arlovski's jab, clinch work, and steady pace have proven too much for similar fighters like Felipe Lins and Tanner Boser. Zane believes Mayes' athleticism won't compensate for his lack of structure.

"I'm gonna take old man our law of ski once again"
LOSS vs Augusto Sakai
Decision (unanimous) (30–27, 30–27, 30–27) R3 5:00 · UFC Fight Night: Muniz vs. Allen · Feb 25, 2023
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Augusto Sakai 0 53 of 95 55% 107 of 173 1 of 2 50% 0 0 8:51
Don'Tale Mayes 0 29 of 62 46% 77 of 121 0 of 1 0% 0 0 2:46
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Augusto Sakai 0 19 of 38 50% 31 of 57 0 of 0 --- 0 0 2:58
Don'Tale Mayes 0 13 of 20 65% 29 of 38 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:53
2 Augusto Sakai 0 16 of 27 59% 46 of 64 0 of 1 0% 0 0 2:52
Don'Tale Mayes 0 4 of 15 26% 31 of 45 0 of 0 --- 0 0 1:06
3 Augusto Sakai 0 18 of 30 60% 30 of 52 1 of 1 100% 0 0 3:01
Don'Tale Mayes 0 12 of 27 44% 17 of 38 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:47
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Augusto Sakai 53 of 95 55% 27 of 65 18 of 22 8 of 8 21 of 49 30 of 42 2 of 4
Don'Tale Mayes 29 of 62 46% 15 of 46 10 of 12 4 of 4 24 of 56 5 of 6 0 of 0
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Augusto Sakai 19 of 38 50% 10 of 28 4 of 5 5 of 5 5 of 14 14 of 24 0 of 0
Don'Tale Mayes 13 of 20 65% 4 of 11 5 of 5 4 of 4 11 of 18 2 of 2 0 of 0
2 Augusto Sakai 16 of 27 59% 6 of 16 7 of 8 3 of 3 10 of 20 6 of 7 0 of 0
Don'Tale Mayes 4 of 15 26% 2 of 13 2 of 2 0 of 0 4 of 14 0 of 1 0 of 0
3 Augusto Sakai 18 of 30 60% 11 of 21 7 of 9 0 of 0 6 of 15 10 of 11 2 of 4
Don'Tale Mayes 12 of 27 44% 9 of 22 3 of 5 0 of 0 9 of 24 3 of 3 0 of 0
CO
Connor Ruebusch Expert Hesitant picked Feb 23, 2023 (2 days before fight)
Augusto Sakai

Connor picks Sakai, believing he can edge out a win by slowing the fight down with clinch work and using his durability. He notes that Mayes' inability to hit the same spot repeatedly makes it unlikely he'll knock Sakai out, and Sakai will do just enough work to pull out a decision. Connor acknowledges it's a close fight and that Sakai's confidence may be shaken, but he trusts Sakai's meat-and-potatoes approach over Mayes' chaos.

Sakai opened +125, now -137. Mayes opened -145, now +112. Connor says he wouldn't bet on any props.
"I'll go with Sakai for this this to me feels like a fight that he can win it might be a fight he edges like yeah just barely guts out and you're like wow that didn't actually make me feel …"
ZA
Zane Simon Expert Hesitant picked Feb 23, 2023 (2 days before fight)
Don'Tale Mayes

Zane picks Mayes despite his lack of structure, because Sakai's confidence has taken a hit after four straight finishes. He notes that Mayes is athletic, durable, and willing to try takedowns, and Sakai is not good on the ground. However, Zane admits he has no good reason to pick Mayes and calls it a coin flip, but he feels Sakai is not feeling himself lately.

Mayes via TKO was +200. Zane says he wouldn't bet on any props due to unpredictability.
"I don't have a good reason to pick maze but I just I'm just not feeling I don't think Spivak is feeling himself lately okay so sorry so I guess I'll take maze even though like he's such a mess"
No Contest (overturned) R3 5:00 · UFC 277: Pena vs. Nunes 2 · Jul 30, 2022
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Hamdy Abdelwahab 0 47 of 116 40% 54 of 123 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Don'Tale Mayes 1 58 of 110 52% 106 of 164 3 of 4 75% 0 0 6:36
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Hamdy Abdelwahab 0 11 of 40 27% 11 of 40 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Don'Tale Mayes 1 21 of 40 52% 44 of 67 1 of 2 50% 0 0 2:00
2 Hamdy Abdelwahab 0 24 of 56 42% 27 of 59 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Don'Tale Mayes 0 19 of 41 46% 20 of 42 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:45
3 Hamdy Abdelwahab 0 12 of 20 60% 16 of 24 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Don'Tale Mayes 0 18 of 29 62% 42 of 55 2 of 2 100% 0 0 3:51
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Hamdy Abdelwahab 47 of 116 40% 28 of 90 12 of 17 7 of 9 45 of 111 2 of 5 0 of 0
Don'Tale Mayes 58 of 110 52% 51 of 102 5 of 6 2 of 2 30 of 74 2 of 3 26 of 33
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Hamdy Abdelwahab 11 of 40 27% 6 of 31 2 of 4 3 of 5 11 of 40 0 of 0 0 of 0
Don'Tale Mayes 21 of 40 52% 19 of 37 1 of 2 1 of 1 13 of 30 2 of 2 6 of 8
2 Hamdy Abdelwahab 24 of 56 42% 14 of 44 6 of 8 4 of 4 22 of 51 2 of 5 0 of 0
Don'Tale Mayes 19 of 41 46% 14 of 36 4 of 4 1 of 1 13 of 32 0 of 0 6 of 9
3 Hamdy Abdelwahab 12 of 20 60% 8 of 15 4 of 5 0 of 0 12 of 20 0 of 0 0 of 0
Don'Tale Mayes 18 of 29 62% 18 of 29 0 of 0 0 of 0 4 of 12 0 of 1 14 of 16
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked Jul 25, 2022 (5 days before fight)
Don'Tale Mayes

Big Brady picks Don'Tale Mayes to win by knockout in the second or third round. He is very critical of Abdelwahab's level of competition, cardio, and ground game, calling him not UFC caliber. He expects Mayes to use his size advantage and eventually finish Abdelwahab as he slows down.

"i like dantel mace here i like dantel mace to finish him d abdul wahab and i like him to do in that second or third round by knockout"
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Confident picked Jul 26, 2022 (4 days before fight)
Don'Tale Mayes

Cody picks Mayes, noting that Abdelwahab is a short-notice replacement who didn't earn his way to the UFC. He describes Abdelwahab as an Egyptian wrestling champion but with a small wrestling program, and his striking is very rudimentary. Mayes has a huge size advantage (6'6" with 81" reach) and has been improving his grappling. He thinks Mayes will feast on Abdelwahab, staying on the outside and chopping away. He also mentions he got Mayes at -125 earlier.

"i think dante manages feasts on him there's going to be a huge size advantage... he's going to be able to just stay to the outside and chop away at this guy"
DA
Daniel Levi Expert Confident picked Jul 27, 2022 (3 days before fight)
Don'Tale Mayes

Daniel picks Mayes on principle, citing his experience and dues paid. He notes Mayes has fought tougher competition, including Ciryl Gane, and has a two-fight win streak. He heavily criticizes Abdelwahab's resume, calling his opponents 'ice cream vendors' and noting he has only 3 pro fights, all mismatches. He also questions the level of Egyptian Greco-Roman wrestling, citing a friend who said it's not comparable to US or Russian wrestling. He acknowledges Mayes isn't elite but believes experience will prevail.

"I gotta go Don'Tale Mayes on principle."
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Jul 30, 2022 (fight day)
Don'Tale Mayes

Preet bet Mayes at -132, noting Hamdi's sketchy competition and poor cardio. He expects Mayes to keep distance with his jab and footwork, survive the first round, and take over as Hamdi slows down. He references Mayes' wrestling-heavy win over Josh Parisian as evidence of his late-round finishing ability.

"i'm on the maze side too here i got it at -132"
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Confident picked Jul 26, 2022 (4 days before fight)
Don'Tale Mayes

Paul also picks Mayes, agreeing that Abdelwahab is a short-notice replacement who is not a legitimate prospect. He notes that Mayes has been improving, with good wins over Josh Parisian and Roque Martinez. He thinks Mayes' size and reach advantage will be key, and that Abdelwahab's wrestling won't be enough. He also mentions that Mayes has been working on his grappling and shouldn't be mistaken for the same guy from a few fights back.

"i got to go maze for sure for sure for sure... he's taking the fun and short notice and he's probably going to get the ass beat pretty good"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Jul 30, 2022 (fight day)
Don'Tale Mayes

The MMA Guru picks Don'Tale Mayes by TKO in the second round. He expects Hamdy Abdelwahab to come out fast with takedowns and pressure, but will gas out in round two. Mayes will then take over with body work, jabs, and a counter shot that rocks Hamdy, leading to ground-and-pound elbows.

TKO in round 2
"dantel maze gets this one done by tko late in the second"
Andrei Arlovski - Fight History
LOSS vs Martin Buday
Decision (split) (29–28, 28–29, 30–27) R3 5:00 · UFC 303: Pereira vs. Prochazka 2 · Jun 29, 2024
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Martin Buday 0 74 of 119 62% 98 of 147 0 of 1 0% 0 0 4:58
Andrei Arlovski 0 54 of 84 64% 165 of 199 0 of 0 --- 0 0 2:40
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Martin Buday 0 14 of 25 56% 16 of 28 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:48
Andrei Arlovski 0 8 of 21 38% 55 of 69 0 of 0 --- 0 0 2:18
2 Martin Buday 0 27 of 46 58% 32 of 53 0 of 0 --- 0 0 2:09
Andrei Arlovski 0 22 of 32 68% 45 of 55 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:10
3 Martin Buday 0 33 of 48 68% 50 of 66 0 of 0 --- 0 0 2:01
Andrei Arlovski 0 24 of 31 77% 65 of 75 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:12
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Martin Buday 74 of 119 62% 34 of 69 26 of 33 14 of 17 54 of 97 20 of 22 0 of 0
Andrei Arlovski 54 of 84 64% 24 of 51 25 of 27 5 of 6 23 of 48 31 of 36 0 of 0
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Martin Buday 14 of 25 56% 8 of 17 4 of 5 2 of 3 12 of 22 2 of 3 0 of 0
Andrei Arlovski 8 of 21 38% 5 of 17 1 of 2 2 of 2 4 of 16 4 of 5 0 of 0
2 Martin Buday 27 of 46 58% 14 of 29 8 of 12 5 of 5 19 of 37 8 of 9 0 of 0
Andrei Arlovski 22 of 32 68% 8 of 16 11 of 12 3 of 4 8 of 14 14 of 18 0 of 0
3 Martin Buday 33 of 48 68% 12 of 23 14 of 16 7 of 9 23 of 38 10 of 10 0 of 0
Andrei Arlovski 24 of 31 77% 11 of 18 13 of 13 0 of 0 11 of 18 13 of 13 0 of 0
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Lean picked Jun 26, 2024 (3 days before fight)
Andrei Arlovski

Cody picks Arlovski, citing his experience and tendency to win close decisions. He notes that Buday has low output and poor wrestling, and that Arlovski is a fan favorite who often gets the nod in close fights. Cody believes Arlovski can outpoint Buday in a low-volume affair, but admits it's a risky pick.

"Arlovski for me in like a real greasy split decision."
DA
Daniel Vreeland Expert Confident picked Jun 27, 2024 (2 days before fight)
Martin Buday

Daniel thinks Buday will win the fight by pinning Arlovski against the fence and wearing him down with dirty boxing. However, he is hesitant to lay the price because similar prospects like Tanner Boser and Philipe Lins failed to finish Arlovski. He notes that Aspen Ladd did his job at a similar price, so he expects Buday to win but is not interested in the bet.

"I think Buday is going to win the fight I'm just not interested in this price."
LU
Lucrative James Expert picked Jun 26, 2024 (3 days before fight)

The host does not discuss this fight at all in the transcript. The entire podcast is focused on the Conor McGregor vs Michael Chandler fight, which is not on the provided fight card. Therefore, no pick is made for this fight.

MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Jun 25, 2024 (4 days before fight)
Martin Buday

The host picks Buday, expecting him to be pissed off after his last loss and to pressure Arlovski. He thinks Buday's clinch work and forward pressure will wear on Arlovski, and hopes Buday goes for takedowns to finish easily. He recommends Buday inside the distance at +150.

Buday inside the distance at +150
"I'm going to go budai and budai inside the distance."
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Lean picked Jun 26, 2024 (3 days before fight)
Andrei Arlovski

Paul leans toward Arlovski, noting that Buday has been out struck in recent fights and that Arlovski has a history of winning split decisions. He believes Arlovski's durability and experience will be key, and that Buday lacks the power to finish him. Paul expects a boring decision win for Arlovski.

"I'm seeing all the same stuff you're seeing and I agree largely with a lot of the points."
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Jun 25, 2024 (4 days before fight)
Martin Buday

The Guru picks Martin Buday over Andrei Arlovski. He notes Arlovski's age and recent KO losses. He likes Buday's pressure game plan and training with Tom Aspinall. He believes Buday will lean on Arlovski in the clinch and break him down with body shots.

"I'm going to go with Martin B... I think he'll Force the fight and that'll Break alovi"
Decision (unanimous) (29–28, 29–28, 29–28) R3 5:00 · UFC Fight Night: Ankalaev vs. Walker 2 · Jan 13, 2024
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Waldo Cortes Acosta 0 58 of 127 45% 58 of 127 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Andrei Arlovski 0 49 of 136 36% 50 of 137 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Waldo Cortes Acosta 0 15 of 40 37% 15 of 40 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Andrei Arlovski 0 15 of 48 31% 15 of 48 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
2 Waldo Cortes Acosta 0 20 of 41 48% 20 of 41 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Andrei Arlovski 0 14 of 44 31% 14 of 44 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
3 Waldo Cortes Acosta 0 23 of 46 50% 23 of 46 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Andrei Arlovski 0 20 of 44 45% 21 of 45 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Waldo Cortes Acosta 58 of 127 45% 13 of 63 22 of 40 23 of 24 58 of 127 0 of 0 0 of 0
Andrei Arlovski 49 of 136 36% 24 of 97 11 of 19 14 of 20 46 of 131 3 of 5 0 of 0
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Waldo Cortes Acosta 15 of 40 37% 4 of 21 5 of 12 6 of 7 15 of 40 0 of 0 0 of 0
Andrei Arlovski 15 of 48 31% 8 of 36 4 of 7 3 of 5 15 of 48 0 of 0 0 of 0
2 Waldo Cortes Acosta 20 of 41 48% 4 of 20 8 of 13 8 of 8 20 of 41 0 of 0 0 of 0
Andrei Arlovski 14 of 44 31% 6 of 29 2 of 6 6 of 9 14 of 44 0 of 0 0 of 0
3 Waldo Cortes Acosta 23 of 46 50% 5 of 22 9 of 15 9 of 9 23 of 46 0 of 0 0 of 0
Andrei Arlovski 20 of 44 45% 10 of 32 5 of 6 5 of 6 17 of 39 3 of 5 0 of 0
Play-by-Play
View on Sherdog
Andrei Arlovski vs. Waldo Cortes-Acosta
BETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Cortes-Acosta (-600), Arlovski (+440)

Round 1
It’s a titanic tussle to start off the main card, as heavyweights collide with 50% knockout rates between them. Former champ Arlovski (34-22, 2 NC; 23-16, 1 NC UFC) is looking to end his losing streak before he turns 45, while the relative youngster Cortes-Acosta (10-1, 3-1 UFC), almost 13 years his junior, is seeking to be a contender. Fists are soon to fly, but referee Marc Goddard is there to keep things on the up-and-up just in case. There is no glove touch to begin, as Cortes-Acosta instead wants to reach his target with an introductory kick to the ribs. Arlovski kicks high, gets blocked, and keeps his guard up to defend against a kick to his dome. Arlovski lands two kicks to the lead leg, and he makes Cortes-Acosta pull back from a kick and land his own to the side. Cortes-Acosta swings and misses with a wide overhand right, and Arlovski reaches him at the end of a head kick. Arlovski scores with a left hand, and his hands open as a finger grazes the eye. Cortes-Acosta is alright and waves off a pause, and they trade hands for a moment. Arlovski whiffs on a haymaker of his own, and Cortes-Acosta rifles off a right hand to the midsection. Cortes-Acosta jumps forward with a switch kick that pushes off the body, and Arlovski responds with two jabs and a missed spinning back fist. Arlovski does land with a low kick, and Cortes-Acosta shrugs at him and leaps forward with two massive hooks that cannot find their mark. Arlovski tries and fails to get him back with a big hook, and Cortes-Acosta plods forward and swings a back fist at him. Arlovski pokes out a jab, and Cortes-Acosta reaches him with a right hand and goes high with a kick. The two big men go tit-for-tat with single strikes, and Arlovski lands a glancing blow and leans back to dodge a monstrous uppercut. Arlovski bounces off the fence when evading a kick aimed at his torso, and Cortes-Acosta dips down and rings Arlovski’s bell with a left hand on the temple. Arlovski blinks it off and starts peppering jabs, and a low kick follows with an audible thud. Cortes-Acosta comes out swinging, pouring it on with huge punches, and Arlovski sways and dodges to defend against every single one. The round ends as an Arlovski right hand bounces off his foe’s shoulder.

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

Round 2
The second round opens with Cortes-Acosta throwing heavy strikes, and Arlovski is ready to parry and avoid them. Arlovski doubles up on a jab, and he kicks the inner thigh. Cortes-Acosta lands two kicks and starts salsa dancing, and Arlovski does not bite and engage. Cortes-Acosta dips straight into a left hook, and he reaches his foe with his own left hand. Cortes-Acosta starts shaking his hips and trying to draw Arlovski in, and he slaps the veteran in the face with an open-handed slap. Arlovski protests, but it is a legal strike. Cortes-Acosta measures out a few jabs, and the volume diminishes for both fighters as they likely have low accuracy rates as well. Cortes-Acosta comes up short with a spinning back fist, and he gets Arlovski’s attention with a single left hook in the midst of a blitz. Cortes-Acosta dances when Arlovski lands on him, and he is showboating even though he lands very little on his own side. A jab from Arlovski dislodges the mouthpiece of his opponent, and Arlovski looks frustrated at the pause of the action or lack thereof. Cortes-Acosta blocks the oncoming strikes for the most part, and he parries an Arlovski blitz. Arlovski lands to the body, and Cortes-Acosta surges into action with several flailing punches. A few land, including an uppercut, and the horn sounds.

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

Round 3
The final round opens up, and the first strike lands courtesy of Cortes-Acosta in the form of a light leg kick. Arlovski kicks him back harder, and the stalemate of awkward strikes resumes. Cortes-Acosta crowds him and throws big strikes, and a big right hand from “Salsa Boy” appears to straighten Arlovski’s crooked nose. Arlovski targets the body and kicks high, and Cortes-Acosta shrugs at him. Arlovski again strikes the body and rolls with the winging punches aimed at him, and Cortes-Acosta again shrugs at him and takes three punches. Arlovski gets off a leg kick, and Cortes-Acosta splits the guard with a power right hand that shakes the former champion up. Arlovski recovers, and he lands a light leg kick that makes Cortes-Acosta mockingly grunt loudly at him. Cortes-Acosta sells out with two looping hooks that miss the mark, and Arlovski spins with a back fist in response. Arlovski has a high kick bounce off the guard, and he jabs his way forward. Cortes-Acosta lines up a huge right hand and appears to hurt Arlovski, but Arlovski leans down and connects with an overhand right before signaling he suffered an eye poke. Time is not called, and they trade body kicks as Cortes-Acosta is in full showboating mode. Matt Hughes would not be impressed by his performance. Cortes-Acosta pushes out a front kick and tries to tie Arlovski up, but is pushed back thanks in part to a front kick from the Belarusian. Arlovski gets off a high kick, and Cortes-Acosta starts talking to him. Arlovski spins with a kick to the ribs, and Cortes-Acosta slaps for him. Arlovski blitzes forward, lands a few heavy punches, and Cortes-Acosta takes them flush and asks for more. The fight ends with Arlovski launching a flurry of strikes, and he is not a happy camper as he stares at the younger fighter. Due to the low volume and oddly connecting strikes, scorecards could be diverse here. It was not a good fight, and no one came out ahead, winner or loser.

Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Arlovski (29-28 Cortes-Acosta)
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Arlovski (29-28 Cortes-Acosta)
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Arlovski (29-28 Cortes-Acosta)

The Official Result
Waldo Cortes-Acosta def. Andrei Arlovski via Unanimous Decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Confident picked Jan 6, 2024 (7 days before fight)
Waldo Cortes Acosta

Angelo picks Waldo Cortes Acosta, stating that while Andrei Arlovski is the better fighter historically, his age (44) and compromised chin make him unlikely to win. He notes Waldo's athleticism, power, and toughness. He suggests Waldo inside the distance as a likely prop bet.

Waldo inside the distance suggested as a safe bet
"Waldo Cortez acostas the absolute pick here the odds indicate that as well."
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked Jan 8, 2024 (5 days before fight)
Waldo Cortes Acosta

Big Brady is very confident, calling the fight a mismatch. He notes Arlovski is 44, has been knocked out 12 times, and was recently knocked out by Dantel Maye. He believes Cortes Acosta is younger, hits hard, and will finish Arlovski early. He expresses concern for Arlovski's safety.

first round knockout
"give me Walo cortis a Costa winning by first round knockout"
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Confident picked Jan 11, 2024 (2 days before fight)
Waldo Cortes Acosta

Cody picks Waldo, citing his youth, boxing background, volume, and the fact that Arlovski is old and on a decline. He notes that Arlovski has no takedown threat, so Waldo can box freely. He expects Waldo to land bigger shots and possibly get a finish, but acknowledges that if Waldo doesn't put him away, it could be a close decision.

"I do got to go with Costa"
DA
Daniel Vreeland Expert Confident picked Jan 9, 2024 (4 days before fight)
Waldo Cortes Acosta

Daniel Vreeland picks Waldo Cortes-Acosta to win, noting his athleticism and youth should be the difference. He mentions Cortes-Acosta's baseball background and punching power. Vreeland has been picking against Arlovski for years and sees no reason to change now, though he's not crazy about the minus-600 line.

"I'm gonna pick him to win."
LU
Lucrative James Expert picked Oct 1, 2025 (fight day)

James does not discuss this fight in the transcript.

MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Jan 8, 2024 (5 days before fight)
Waldo Cortes Acosta

Waldo Cortes Acosta is a volume striker who works behind his jab and maintains a high output. He has good footwork and can outpoint opponents over three rounds. Andrei Arlovski is a veteran who fades in fights and has been finished in his last two losses. This should be a striking battle, and Cortes Acosta's consistent output should earn him a decision. I'm not touching the moneyline at -600, but the over 1.5 rounds is a good play, and Cortes Acosta by decision is worth a sprinkle if the odds are right.

Over 1.5 rounds, Cortes Acosta by decision
"give me Waldo Cortez a Costa by decision but uh I'm going to stay away from that money line"
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert picked Jan 11, 2024 (2 days before fight)

Paul does not make a clear pick. He says he thinks Waldo will win but won't bet him at -650. He considers waiting for the line to move to +500 on Arlovski but doesn't commit. He mentions the possibility of Waldo freezing up against a legend.

"I'm not going to be touching Waldo at minus 650"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Jan 9, 2024 (4 days before fight)
Waldo Cortes Acosta

The MMA Guru picks Waldo Cortes Acosta, citing Andrei Arlovski's declining chin and recent losses. He notes Arlovski got KO'd by Don'Tale Mayes and struggled with Jake Collier and Jared Vanderaa. He believes Cortes Acosta's boxing and power will lead to a first-round KO, and suggests the UFC wants Arlovski to lose due to his high salary.

first round KO
"I'm going to go wildo Cortez a Costa first round KO with the Box in and uh get rid of olowski sadly"
LOSS vs Don'Tale Mayes
TKO (punches) R2 3:17 · UFC on ESPN: Kara-France vs. Albazi · Jun 03, 2023
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Don'Tale Mayes 0 24 of 56 42% 26 of 58 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Andrei Arlovski 1 25 of 87 28% 28 of 91 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:02
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Don'Tale Mayes 0 14 of 25 56% 16 of 27 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Andrei Arlovski 0 8 of 47 17% 11 of 51 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:00
2 Don'Tale Mayes 0 10 of 31 32% 10 of 31 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Andrei Arlovski 1 17 of 40 42% 17 of 40 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:02
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Don'Tale Mayes 24 of 56 42% 10 of 36 9 of 10 5 of 10 24 of 56 0 of 0 0 of 0
Andrei Arlovski 25 of 87 28% 14 of 58 4 of 14 7 of 15 22 of 82 1 of 1 2 of 4
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Don'Tale Mayes 14 of 25 56% 5 of 12 5 of 6 4 of 7 14 of 25 0 of 0 0 of 0
Andrei Arlovski 8 of 47 17% 5 of 33 1 of 7 2 of 7 7 of 45 1 of 1 0 of 1
2 Don'Tale Mayes 10 of 31 32% 5 of 24 4 of 4 1 of 3 10 of 31 0 of 0 0 of 0
Andrei Arlovski 17 of 40 42% 9 of 25 3 of 7 5 of 8 15 of 37 0 of 0 2 of 3
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Confident picked May 31, 2023 (3 days before fight)
Andrei Arlovski

Angelo picks Arlovski, believing he is the better fighter in every category except age and chin. He thinks Arlovski's technical striking and experience will overcome Mayes' power. He is concerned about Arlovski's chin after the last fight but still expects him to win. He would bet Arlovski if the line keeps moving.

"in every single category other than Andre's old Andre lofsky's the better fighter every single category"
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Confident picked May 31, 2023 (3 days before fight)
Andrei Arlovski

Cody picks Arlovski, agreeing with Paul. He notes that middling heavyweights often go to decision and that Arlovski is a fan favorite who gets close decisions. Cody points out that Mayes doesn't use his physical advantages and that Arlovski's experience and durability will carry him. He also mentions that Mayes has been knocked out by lesser fighters and that Arlovski is the safer pick.

"I'm gonna take the pit bull to get one over"
CO
Connor Ruebusch Expert Confident picked Jun 3, 2023 (fight day)
Andrei Arlovski

Connor agrees with Zane, emphasizing that Mayes is a 'giant ball of wasted potential' who has never realized his athletic gifts. He points out that Arlovski has consistently beaten lower-tier heavyweights who lack a real striking game or finishing ability. Mayes' tendency to throw single strikes and his poor grappling will be exploited by Arlovski's steady pressure and clinch work.

"I mean he almost accidentally won that fight with hamdi up del wahab"
DA
Daniel Levi Expert Lean picked Jun 1, 2023 (2 days before fight)
Andrei Arlovski

Daniel picks Arlovski, though he admits he hasn't taped the fight deeply. He thinks Mayes has mental fragility and Arlovski's veteran savvy could eke out a decision. He notes that Arlovski has been quitting in fights but Mayes may not bring that out of him. He considers a sprinkle on Arlovski by decision.

"I'll ask you ... Arlovski as well"
JA
Jacob Lines Expert Confident picked May 31, 2023 (3 days before fight)
Don'Tale Mayes

Jacob picks Mayes, citing his speed and athleticism advantage over the 44-year-old Arlovski. He thinks Mayes should use range and volume to break down Arlovski's chin. He notes Arlovski looked old and uninterested in his last fight. Jacob is betting $100 on Mayes at +120.

Bet $100 on Mayes moneyline at +120.
"my pick I gotta stick with my duel man Indiana Zone Downtown maze baby nap time 100 317"
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Lean picked Jun 1, 2023 (2 days before fight)
Don'Tale Mayes

Mayes is a hybrid heavyweight who mixes takedowns behind punches and works well in the clinch. Arlovski is reliant on striking and tends to quit when grappling gets tough. Mayes will tie him up, land takedowns, and control the fight to win a decision. The over 2.5 is the preferred bet.

over 2.5 rounds
"I'm gonna go with King Kong Dantel maze in this fight I think you'll be able to mix it up a lot better than Andre olowski"
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Confident picked May 31, 2023 (3 days before fight)
Andrei Arlovski

Paul picks Arlovski at plus money. He notes Mayes has low output and doesn't use his reach or speed advantage. Paul mentions Arlovski's recent wins over low-output fighters and that the UFC seems to give him favorable matchups. He thinks Mayes is overrated as a favorite and that Arlovski can squeak out a decision. Paul also recalls losing money on Mayes in the past, making him hesitant to trust him.

"it's our lovsky for me"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked May 29, 2023 (5 days before fight)
Andrei Arlovski

The MMA Guru picks Andrei Arlovski, believing this is one of the heavyweight fights Arlovski wins. He criticizes Don'Tale Mayes for being hesitant on the feet and getting blanketed by Augusto Sakai. He expects Arlovski to frustrate Mayes at range with leg kicks and small shots, while Mayes will be gun-shy and not throw enough. He acknowledges an upset is possible but thinks Arlovski's skill at this level of heavyweight will take over.

"I think arlovsky just sort of frustrating him at range I can see him picking at him tapping at his legs"
ZA
Zane Simon Expert Confident picked Jun 3, 2023 (fight day)
Andrei Arlovski

Zane picks Arlovski based on his consistent ability to outwork opponents who lack a high-output striking game. He notes that Mayes is a talented but dysfunctional fighter with poor wrestling and no coherent game plan. Arlovski's jab, clinch work, and steady pace have proven too much for similar fighters like Felipe Lins and Tanner Boser. Zane believes Mayes' athleticism won't compensate for his lack of structure.

"I'm gonna take old man our law of ski once again"
Submission (rear-naked choke) R1 1:50 · UFC Fight Night: Kattar vs. Allen · Oct 29, 2022
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Marcos Rogério de Lima 0 2 of 5 40% 3 of 6 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Andrei Arlovski 1 6 of 11 54% 25 of 33 0 of 0 --- 1 0 1:30
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Marcos Rogério de Lima 0 2 of 5 40% 3 of 6 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Andrei Arlovski 1 6 of 11 54% 25 of 33 0 of 0 --- 1 0 1:30
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Marcos Rogério de Lima 2 of 5 40% 1 of 3 0 of 1 1 of 1 2 of 5 0 of 0 0 of 0
Andrei Arlovski 6 of 11 54% 3 of 8 1 of 1 2 of 2 5 of 9 0 of 0 1 of 2
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Marcos Rogério de Lima 2 of 5 40% 1 of 3 0 of 1 1 of 1 2 of 5 0 of 0 0 of 0
Andrei Arlovski 6 of 11 54% 3 of 8 1 of 1 2 of 2 5 of 9 0 of 0 1 of 2
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked Oct 25, 2022 (4 days before fight)
Marcos Rogério de Lima

Big Brady picks Marcos Rogério de Lima to win by first-round knockout. He notes that Arlovski has been knocked out by power punchers and that de Lima has heavy hands, as seen in his knockout of Ben Rothwell. He mentions that Arlovski's recent wins have come against non-power punchers, and that de Lima's power and early finishing ability will be too much for the 43-year-old Arlovski.

de Lima wins by first-round knockout
"give me uh delima first round KO here"
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Confident picked Oct 26, 2022 (3 days before fight)
Andrei Arlovski

Cody picks Andrei Arlovski as a dog, citing his four-fight winning streak and ability to win close decisions. He notes that Arlovski has been knocked out only by elite power punchers and that Marcos Rogério de Lima is a one-round fighter with poor cardio. Cody expects Arlovski to survive the first round and take over in rounds two and three, winning a decision. He is betting Arlovski.

"I'm gonna be betting on Andre arlovsky this week Cody"
CO
Connor Ruebusch Expert Confident picked Oct 27, 2022 (2 days before fight)
Marcos Rogério de Lima

Connor agrees with Zane, picking de Lima based on his speed and power advantage. He notes that Arlovski has been beating low-technique, slow heavyweights, but de Lima is a significant step up in athleticism. Connor also points out that de Lima can wrestle if needed, and Arlovski's lack of finishing ability means he likely can't come back if he loses the first round.

Same odds commentary as Zane.
"I'm kind of with you. Yeah."
DA
Daniel Levi Expert Lean picked Oct 26, 2022 (3 days before fight)
Marcos Rogério de Lima

Daniel Levi picks de Lima, citing youth, power, and grappling advantage. He admits his poor track record picking Arlovski fights. He notes Arlovski's veteran savvy and speed but thinks de Lima's power and youth will be too much. He has no interest in laying -225.

"I'm gonna go with de Lima but you know minus 225 on a guy I can't trust I just don't really have much conviction or interest in laying that price."
JA
Jacob Lines Expert Lean picked Oct 25, 2022 (4 days before fight)
Marcos Rogério de Lima

Jacob picks de Lima but warns against betting heavyweight fights due to inconsistency. He notes Arlovski's recent win streak but says he was getting hit by Jake Collier, and de Lima has more power. He advises not to put money on either side.

do not bet this fight
"my official pick if I have to pick is delima"
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Oct 27, 2022 (2 days before fight)
Andrei Arlovski

Arlovski is on a 6-1 run over his last seven fights and has shown durability and veteran savvy. De Lima is first-round-or-bust and tends to fade in later rounds. Arlovski should survive the initial onslaught and take over in the second and third rounds, winning a decision. The plus 200 price is a no-brainer for an underdog bet.

Arlovski by decision +275
"plus 200 onlovsky is a completely no-brainer uh bet you know he likely he should be able to get uh off on better shots in the second and third round"
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Confident picked Oct 26, 2022 (3 days before fight)
Andrei Arlovski

Paul also picks Arlovski, calling him dog number two on the card. He highlights Arlovski's six wins in his last seven fights and his ability to grind out decisions. Paul criticizes de Lima's poor cardio, submission losses, and tendency to fade after the first round. He believes Arlovski's stick-and-move style will tire de Lima and lead to a decision win.

"I will as well I feel like I'm forcing an underdog play but again this is dog number two on the card that I'm zoning in on Andre Lassie these are the types of spots that he absolutely thrives in"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Oct 25, 2022 (4 days before fight)
Marcos Rogério de Lima

The MMA Guru picks Marcos Rogério de Lima over Andrei Arlovski, noting that Arlovski's recent fights have been close and he still gets caught on the chin. He highlights de Lima's hands, reach, and grappling threat, which Arlovski hasn't faced recently. He predicts de Lima will mix in takedowns, push Arlovski against the cage, and eventually clip him for a KO win.

"I'm going against the old man himself Andre arlovsky... I feel as though Marcos rodrio de Lima mixing a takedown early... get clipped by Marcos Rodrigo De Lima"
ZA
Zane Simon Expert Confident picked Oct 27, 2022 (2 days before fight)
Marcos Rogério de Lima

Zane picks de Lima confidently, citing his significant speed and power advantage over Arlovski's recent opponents. He notes that de Lima is a fast, powerful striker who can put Arlovski away early, similar to how Ben Rothwell or Tom Aspinall did. Zane also mentions de Lima's improved conditioning and potential wrestling as an out if needed, while Arlovski is slow and not a finisher anymore.

Surprised odds are getting that wide; de Lima opened -131 now -237, Arlovski +111 to +191. Zane says 'I don't hate it' and thinks the matchup works well for de Lima.
"I'm going to pick Dilema here. I think that the speed and the power is enough that he can just kind of... go out and Ben Rothwell Arlofsky."
WIN vs Jake Collier
Decision (split) (27–30, 29–28, 29–28) R3 5:00 · UFC on ESPN: Font vs. Vera · Apr 30, 2022
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Andrei Arlovski 0 91 of 164 55% 105 of 178 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:01
Jake Collier 0 93 of 188 49% 132 of 231 2 of 3 66% 0 0 3:38
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Andrei Arlovski 0 20 of 40 50% 31 of 51 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:01
Jake Collier 0 25 of 46 54% 50 of 73 0 of 1 0% 0 0 1:54
2 Andrei Arlovski 0 39 of 66 59% 40 of 67 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Jake Collier 0 36 of 65 55% 47 of 78 1 of 1 100% 0 0 1:21
3 Andrei Arlovski 0 32 of 58 55% 34 of 60 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Jake Collier 0 32 of 77 41% 35 of 80 1 of 1 100% 0 0 0:23
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Andrei Arlovski 91 of 164 55% 66 of 137 15 of 17 10 of 10 82 of 152 8 of 11 1 of 1
Jake Collier 93 of 188 49% 77 of 168 7 of 10 9 of 10 81 of 171 12 of 17 0 of 0
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Andrei Arlovski 20 of 40 50% 13 of 33 4 of 4 3 of 3 17 of 34 3 of 6 0 of 0
Jake Collier 25 of 46 54% 18 of 38 4 of 5 3 of 3 18 of 37 7 of 9 0 of 0
2 Andrei Arlovski 39 of 66 59% 33 of 59 5 of 6 1 of 1 37 of 64 1 of 1 1 of 1
Jake Collier 36 of 65 55% 30 of 58 3 of 3 3 of 4 35 of 62 1 of 3 0 of 0
3 Andrei Arlovski 32 of 58 55% 20 of 45 6 of 7 6 of 6 28 of 54 4 of 4 0 of 0
Jake Collier 32 of 77 41% 29 of 72 0 of 2 3 of 3 28 of 72 4 of 5 0 of 0
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Confident picked Apr 24, 2022 (6 days before fight)
Andrei Arlovski

Angelo picks Arlovski, expecting another decision win. He highlights Arlovski's superior technique, conditioning, and 78% takedown defense over 43 UFC fights. He notes Collier lacks one-punch KO power and is undersized at heavyweight. He sees this as a kickboxing match where Arlovski cruises to a decision.

"i like andre olofsky to get his fourth decision win in a row with just superior technique and conditioning"
BI
Big Brady Expert Hesitant picked Apr 25, 2022 (5 days before fight)
Jake Collier

Big Brady picks Jake Collier but is very hesitant, calling the fight a mess. He notes Collier's volume advantage and youth, but worries about his poor cardio and tendency to gas. He expects a split decision that could go either way, and advises against betting.

split decision, no bet recommended
"give me jay caller to win i think he will win the fight but you know who knows what the judges are going to think"
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Confident picked Apr 27, 2022 (3 days before fight)
Jake Collier

Cody also picks Jake Collier, calling it a 'dogger pass' situation. He believes Collier's volume and better defense will edge out Arlovski in a close fight. Cody notes Arlovski tends to get the benefit of the doubt in close decisions but thinks Collier is better than Jared Vanderaa, who gave Arlovski trouble. He mentions Collier's cardio faded in the third against Felipe but expects a high pace from Collier.

"i'm gonna go with jake collier as well and that's underdog number two"
DA
Daniel Levi Expert Hesitant picked Apr 28, 2022 (2 days before fight)
Andrei Arlovski

Daniel Levi leans toward Andrei Arlovski but is hesitant to lay the -145 price. He notes Arlovski's recent winning streak and speed advantage, but acknowledges Collier's power and potential for a finish. Levi expects a close split decision and suggests the Arlovski by decision prop, but is not confident enough to bet the moneyline.

Arlovski by decision prop mentioned
"i do kind of lean our lasky to get it done it's just like am i trying to lay slight chalk on him no"
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Apr 28, 2022 (2 days before fight)
Andrei Arlovski

The host picks Arlovski, highlighting his experience and decision-friendly style. He notes Arlovski's takedown defense and ability to outpoint opponents, even when outstruck in volume. He believes Collier's body language and cardio issues will be a factor, and that Arlovski will land the more significant strikes to sway judges. He expects a decision win.

Arlovski by decision +125, fight goes to decision -190
"arlovski by decision plus 125 sign me up fight goes to the decision minus 190 sign me up"
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Confident picked Apr 27, 2022 (3 days before fight)
Jake Collier

Paul picks Jake Collier as an underdog, expecting him to win by decision through volume striking. He notes Collier's high output (e.g., 130 significant strikes against Carlos Felipe) and doubts the modern Arlovski can keep pace. Paul acknowledges Arlovski's ability to slow fights down but believes Collier's volume will be decisive. He mentions the over 2.5 rounds line has moved from -155 to -210, making overs risky.

Over 2.5 rounds mentioned as risky
"i think jay collier wins i think jay collier wins by decision just in volume"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Apr 25, 2022 (5 days before fight)
Andrei Arlovski

The Guru picks Arlovski to win by decision, noting his consistency and activity. He acknowledges Collier looked good against Chase Sherman but believes Arlovski is a better fighter overall. The Guru points out that Arlovski has been active and patient recently, with wins over Jared Vanderaa and Carlos Felipe. He thinks Collier may have early moments but Arlovski will steer it back in the later rounds for a 29-28 unanimous decision.

Arlovski by decision 29-28
"i'm going to pick arlovsky to win this one... i think karlovsky's going to steer it back his way in the later two rounds and get a 29-28 unanimous decision"
Decision (split) (29–28, 28–29, 29–28) R3 5:00 · UFC 271: Adesanya vs. Whittaker 2 · Feb 12, 2022
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Andrei Arlovski 0 64 of 133 48% 71 of 140 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Jared Vanderaa 0 70 of 156 44% 102 of 190 0 of 0 --- 0 0 2:44
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Andrei Arlovski 0 30 of 55 54% 32 of 57 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Jared Vanderaa 0 23 of 58 39% 30 of 65 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:36
2 Andrei Arlovski 0 20 of 44 45% 23 of 47 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Jared Vanderaa 0 19 of 42 45% 33 of 56 0 of 0 --- 0 0 1:17
3 Andrei Arlovski 0 14 of 34 41% 16 of 36 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Jared Vanderaa 0 28 of 56 50% 39 of 69 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:51
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Andrei Arlovski 64 of 133 48% 40 of 100 19 of 26 5 of 7 60 of 128 4 of 5 0 of 0
Jared Vanderaa 70 of 156 44% 30 of 110 24 of 29 16 of 17 55 of 134 15 of 22 0 of 0
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Andrei Arlovski 30 of 55 54% 18 of 42 8 of 9 4 of 4 29 of 54 1 of 1 0 of 0
Jared Vanderaa 23 of 58 39% 13 of 46 6 of 8 4 of 4 19 of 53 4 of 5 0 of 0
2 Andrei Arlovski 20 of 44 45% 15 of 33 5 of 10 0 of 1 18 of 41 2 of 3 0 of 0
Jared Vanderaa 19 of 42 45% 6 of 27 11 of 13 2 of 2 15 of 35 4 of 7 0 of 0
3 Andrei Arlovski 14 of 34 41% 7 of 25 6 of 7 1 of 2 13 of 33 1 of 1 0 of 0
Jared Vanderaa 28 of 56 50% 11 of 37 7 of 8 10 of 11 21 of 46 7 of 10 0 of 0
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Confident picked Feb 6, 2022 (6 days before fight)
Andrei Arlovski

Angelo picks Arlovski, expecting a three-round kickboxing match where Arlovski's footwork and speed allow him to outpoint Vanderaa. He compares it to Arlovski's fight against Carlos Felipe and thinks Arlovski will jab his way to a decision win. He warns not to sleep on Vanderaa, who is better than his matchups suggest.

"i think andre olofsky out points jared van dara i think he just jab jab jabs his way to a three-round decision win"
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked Feb 7, 2022 (5 days before fight)
Andrei Arlovski

Big Brady believes Arlovski is the more skilled fighter despite being 42. He notes Arlovski has improved his striking defense and changed his style to be more conservative. He criticizes Vanderaa's 20% takedown defense and 39% striking defense, calling him a walking punching bag. Brady thinks Arlovski will win a decision, as he hasn't had a finish since 2015. He sees no clear path to victory for Vanderaa.

Arlovski by decision
"give me andre alaska to win and give me arlofsky to win by decision"
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Lean picked Feb 9, 2022 (3 days before fight)
Jared Vanderaa

Cody picks Vanderaa as an underdog, citing Arlovski's age (43) and low output. He notes Vanderaa has a good chin and has shown volume in fights. He thinks Vanderaa can outwork Arlovski over three rounds, especially if he pressures.

"i'll go vandara and i know it's not it's definitely not a sexy pick"
DA
Daniel Levi Expert Confident picked Feb 10, 2022 (2 days before fight)
Andrei Arlovski

Daniel Levi picks Andrei Arlovski, stating he is much faster and can fight for three rounds. He notes that Jared Vanderaa is slow and plodding, and that Arlovski's volume and boxing will win him the fight. Levi expects Arlovski to win a decision, as Vanderaa is durable but not a takedown threat.

"i'm gonna go with arlovsky though man i think he's way faster"
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Feb 8, 2022 (4 days before fight)
Jared Vanderaa

Vanderaa is a solid striker with good combinations and forward pressure. Arlovski is an aging point-fighter who has faced low-output opponents recently. Vanderaa should win exchanges and has the power to hurt Arlovski. Arlovski's durability hasn't been tested by someone with Vanderaa's combination punching. Vanderaa is the dog of the night.

Vanderaa by KO in round 2; moneyline is the main play
"he's easily my dog of the night for this card i got two units on him at plus 140 already i think he's a great spot and i think he's going to pull off the upside here against the aging …"
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Lean picked Feb 9, 2022 (3 days before fight)
Andrei Arlovski

Paul thinks Arlovski is the more technical fighter and that Vanderaa doesn't have fight-ending power. He notes Arlovski has been winning decisions lately and expects a similar low-volume affair. He acknowledges Arlovski's age but believes he can edge out another win.

"i think andre is the more technical fighter all the way around"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Feb 7, 2022 (5 days before fight)
Andrei Arlovski

The MMA Guru picks Andrei Arlovski by decision, citing his veteran striking and experience. He views Vanderaa as a bottom-feeder who takes too much damage and expects Arlovski to pick him apart.

unanimous decision 30-27
"i'm gonna go valofsky here again"
WIN vs Carlos Felipe
Decision (unanimous) (29–28, 29–28, 29–28) R3 5:00 · UFC Fight Night: Ladd vs. Dumont · Oct 16, 2021
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Andrei Arlovski 0 83 of 172 48% 84 of 173 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Carlos Felipe 0 73 of 172 42% 73 of 172 0 of 0 --- 0 0 1:22
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Andrei Arlovski 0 26 of 51 50% 26 of 51 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Carlos Felipe 0 12 of 33 36% 12 of 33 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
2 Andrei Arlovski 0 28 of 67 41% 28 of 67 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Carlos Felipe 0 30 of 74 40% 30 of 74 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:05
3 Andrei Arlovski 0 29 of 54 53% 30 of 55 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Carlos Felipe 0 31 of 65 47% 31 of 65 0 of 0 --- 0 0 1:17
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Andrei Arlovski 83 of 172 48% 49 of 133 11 of 15 23 of 24 81 of 170 2 of 2 0 of 0
Carlos Felipe 73 of 172 42% 53 of 145 15 of 21 5 of 6 54 of 148 12 of 14 7 of 10
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Andrei Arlovski 26 of 51 50% 9 of 32 7 of 9 10 of 10 26 of 51 0 of 0 0 of 0
Carlos Felipe 12 of 33 36% 3 of 22 6 of 8 3 of 3 12 of 33 0 of 0 0 of 0
2 Andrei Arlovski 28 of 67 41% 17 of 54 3 of 4 8 of 9 27 of 66 1 of 1 0 of 0
Carlos Felipe 30 of 74 40% 25 of 67 4 of 5 1 of 2 27 of 71 3 of 3 0 of 0
3 Andrei Arlovski 29 of 54 53% 23 of 47 1 of 2 5 of 5 28 of 53 1 of 1 0 of 0
Carlos Felipe 31 of 65 47% 25 of 56 5 of 8 1 of 1 15 of 44 9 of 11 7 of 10
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Hesitant picked Oct 13, 2021 (3 days before fight)
Andrei Arlovski

Angelo picks Arlovski reluctantly due to his age (42) but believes his new bouncing style, footwork, and jab will allow him to outpoint Felipe. Felipe is a young boxer with good volume and cardio but lacks power. Arlovski can also initiate grappling if needed. Angelo is concerned about Arlovski's chin but thinks he can avoid danger. He likes Arlovski at 8200 in DraftKings and the more more on monkey knife fight.

more more on monkey knife fight
"Andre lowsky's the pick i'm doing it reluctantly because he is 42 at some point he's gonna look 42"
BI
Big Brady Expert Lean picked Oct 11, 2021 (5 days before fight)
Carlos Felipe

Big Brady leans toward Carlos Felipe by decision, citing Felipe's youth, durability, and volume. He notes Arlovski is 42 and inconsistent, sometimes low-volume. However, he dislikes Felipe's close split decisions and showboating. He has no interest in betting this fight.

by decision
"i'm actually going to lean with the younger guy and carlos felipe i don't like it"
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Lean picked Oct 13, 2021 (3 days before fight)
Andrei Arlovski

Cody picks Arlovski as a slight lean, arguing that Arlovski has become the ultimate gatekeeper who beats young up-and-comers who aren't the real deal. He points out that Felipe's wins have been close split decisions against low-level competition, and that Arlovski's smart game plan of smothering Felipe against the cage and outpointing him at distance should work. He expects the fight to go to decision.

over 2.5 rounds (juiced to -210), fight goes to decision
"as of the gun to my head pick i'm gonna take on geraldowski for now"
DA
Daniel Levi Expert Lean picked Oct 14, 2021 (2 days before fight)
Carlos Felipe

Daniel picks Carlos Felipe, noting the odds are close and everyone is on Arlovski. He sees Felipe as a young, improving fighter who likes to bang, and he dismisses the controversial Jake Collier fight as a win for Felipe. He acknowledges Arlovski's veteran savvy and speed but thinks Felipe can win a close, possibly controversial split decision.

Split decision
"give me the other side let me go with carlos felipe be a close maybe even controversial split decision"
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Lean picked Oct 12, 2021 (4 days before fight)
Andrei Arlovski

Arlovski will use his outside striking, jabs, and leg kicks to outpoint Felipe, who lacks finishing ability in the UFC. Felipe's success comes in the pocket, but Arlovski will avoid brawling. The fight is likely to go the distance, with Arlovski winning a decision.

Over 2.5 rounds -200, Arlovski by decision +160, fight starts round 3 -225
"i like uh arlowski arlovsky by decision uh over two and a half is the prop that i like the most"
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Lean picked Oct 13, 2021 (3 days before fight)
Carlos Felipe

Paul leans toward Felipe edging out a decision based on volume and forward pressure, but admits he's not confident. He notes that Arlovski is the more technical striker but Felipe throws more volume and is durable. He says he's not willing to step in front of it with his money.

"i'm going to lean towards felipe edging out a decision just based on volume and staying and moving forward"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Oct 12, 2021 (4 days before fight)
Andrei Arlovski

The MMA Guru picks Andrei Arlovski by decision, noting the even odds and Felipe's lack of KO power. He argues that only fighters who obliterate competition beat Arlovski, and Felipe's close fights with Jake Collier and Justin Tafa are red flags. He expects Arlovski's footwork and jab to neutralize Felipe's body shots, leading to a 30-27 decision.

decision win 30-27
"gotta go with andre alofsky here moves his feet very light very bouncy"
WIN vs Chase Sherman
Decision (unanimous) (29–28, 29–28, 29–28) R3 5:00 · UFC on ESPN: Whittaker vs. Gastelum · Apr 17, 2021
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Andrei Arlovski 0 105 of 222 47% 109 of 226 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:39
Chase Sherman 0 88 of 192 45% 99 of 203 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Andrei Arlovski 0 27 of 65 41% 27 of 65 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Chase Sherman 0 33 of 69 47% 33 of 69 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
2 Andrei Arlovski 0 32 of 69 46% 36 of 73 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:39
Chase Sherman 0 21 of 58 36% 32 of 69 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
3 Andrei Arlovski 0 46 of 88 52% 46 of 88 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Chase Sherman 0 34 of 65 52% 34 of 65 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Andrei Arlovski 105 of 222 47% 54 of 154 26 of 39 25 of 29 103 of 217 2 of 5 0 of 0
Chase Sherman 88 of 192 45% 55 of 154 16 of 20 17 of 18 84 of 187 4 of 5 0 of 0
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Andrei Arlovski 27 of 65 41% 15 of 51 4 of 6 8 of 8 25 of 61 2 of 4 0 of 0
Chase Sherman 33 of 69 47% 22 of 55 6 of 8 5 of 6 31 of 66 2 of 3 0 of 0
2 Andrei Arlovski 32 of 69 46% 16 of 47 10 of 12 6 of 10 32 of 68 0 of 1 0 of 0
Chase Sherman 21 of 58 36% 12 of 49 4 of 4 5 of 5 20 of 57 1 of 1 0 of 0
3 Andrei Arlovski 46 of 88 52% 23 of 56 12 of 21 11 of 11 46 of 88 0 of 0 0 of 0
Chase Sherman 34 of 65 52% 21 of 50 6 of 8 7 of 7 33 of 64 1 of 1 0 of 0
BI
Big Brady Expert Hesitant picked Apr 15, 2021 (2 days before fight)
Andrei Arlovski

Big Brady picks Andrei Arlovski to win by decision, though he is not very confident. He notes that Arlovski is a favorite for the first time in many fights and that Sherman is the easiest opponent Arlovski has faced in a long time. He highlights Sherman's poor striking defense (absorbs 5.55 significant strikes per minute) and Arlovski's good defense (absorbs 2.83). However, he is concerned about Arlovski's age (42) and lack of knockout power. He sees the fight as close and likely to go to decision.

"i'm gonna take him to win by decision"
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Lean picked Apr 14, 2021 (3 days before fight)
Chase Sherman

Cody thinks Arlovski is old and boring, landing only 30-50 significant strikes per fight. He notes Sherman is younger, has better output, and is improving. He sees Sherman outpointing Arlovski and considers it a dog or pass fight, leaning towards Sherman as the underdog.

"chase german is a plus 105 underdog and to be quite honest i'm kind of feeling the same thing it's a dodger path type fight"
DA
Daniel Levi Expert Lean picked Apr 16, 2021 (1 day before fight)
Andrei Arlovski

Daniel Levi leans toward Arlovski, noting that he is the better fighter and a sharp counter-puncher. He acknowledges that Chase Sherman has good leg kicks and is 10 years younger, and that Arlovski is coming off a loss to Tom Aspinall. Levi mentions that he has faded Arlovski in the past with mixed results, but this time he thinks Arlovski can win a close decision. He also speculates that Sherman might still be using performance-enhancing drugs.

"i'm going to lean arlowski i think he's the better fighter here"
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Lean picked Apr 16, 2021 (1 day before fight)
Chase Sherman

Manpreet leans toward Sherman by KO, citing his improved calf-kick-heavy style and the fact that Arlovski's movement-based game could be neutralized by leg kicks. He acknowledges the uncertainty around Sherman's post-suspension performance but believes Sherman's pressure and power can lead to a finish, likely in the second round after wearing Arlovski down.

Sherman by KO +255; under 2.5 rounds +135
"i think chase sherman could go out there and beat up that front leg of uh andre arlovski and really start to go to work with his hands"
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Lean picked Apr 14, 2021 (3 days before fight)
Chase Sherman

Paul says friends don't let friends bet on Chase Sherman, but he is leaning towards Sherman as the underdog. He acknowledges both fighters are bottom heavyweights and that Sherman is 11 years younger. He is not confident and calls it a pitbull or pass fight.

"friends don't let friends bet on chase sherman cody all right let's move on"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Apr 11, 2021 (6 days before fight)
Andrei Arlovski

The MMA Guru picks Andrei Arlovski to win by unanimous decision. He notes Arlovski is a tricky veteran who is patient and pushes a good pace. He believes Chase Sherman needs to overwhelm opponents to win, but Arlovski's level of opposition is much higher. He expects Sherman to go all out in the first round, but Arlovski will take over in the second and third for a 29-28 decision.

"i'm going to go with olofsky here against chase sherman"
Expert Picks (9)
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Confident picked May 31, 2023 (3 days before fight)
Andrei Arlovski

Angelo picks Arlovski, believing he is the better fighter in every category except age and chin. He thinks Arlovski's technical striking and experience will overcome Mayes' power. He is concerned about Arlovski's chin after the last fight but still expects him to win. He would bet Arlovski if the line keeps moving.

"in every single category other than Andre's old Andre lofsky's the better fighter every single category"
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Confident picked May 31, 2023 (3 days before fight)
Andrei Arlovski

Cody picks Arlovski, agreeing with Paul. He notes that middling heavyweights often go to decision and that Arlovski is a fan favorite who gets close decisions. Cody points out that Mayes doesn't use his physical advantages and that Arlovski's experience and durability will carry him. He also mentions that Mayes has been knocked out by lesser fighters and that Arlovski is the safer pick.

"I'm gonna take the pit bull to get one over"
CO
Connor Ruebusch Expert Confident picked Jun 3, 2023 (fight day)
Andrei Arlovski

Connor agrees with Zane, emphasizing that Mayes is a 'giant ball of wasted potential' who has never realized his athletic gifts. He points out that Arlovski has consistently beaten lower-tier heavyweights who lack a real striking game or finishing ability. Mayes' tendency to throw single strikes and his poor grappling will be exploited by Arlovski's steady pressure and clinch work.

"I mean he almost accidentally won that fight with hamdi up del wahab"
DA
Daniel Levi Expert Lean picked Jun 1, 2023 (2 days before fight)
Andrei Arlovski

Daniel picks Arlovski, though he admits he hasn't taped the fight deeply. He thinks Mayes has mental fragility and Arlovski's veteran savvy could eke out a decision. He notes that Arlovski has been quitting in fights but Mayes may not bring that out of him. He considers a sprinkle on Arlovski by decision.

"I'll ask you ... Arlovski as well"
JA
Jacob Lines Expert Confident picked May 31, 2023 (3 days before fight)
Don'Tale Mayes

Jacob picks Mayes, citing his speed and athleticism advantage over the 44-year-old Arlovski. He thinks Mayes should use range and volume to break down Arlovski's chin. He notes Arlovski looked old and uninterested in his last fight. Jacob is betting $100 on Mayes at +120.

Bet $100 on Mayes moneyline at +120.
"my pick I gotta stick with my duel man Indiana Zone Downtown maze baby nap time 100 317"
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Lean picked Jun 1, 2023 (2 days before fight)
Don'Tale Mayes

Mayes is a hybrid heavyweight who mixes takedowns behind punches and works well in the clinch. Arlovski is reliant on striking and tends to quit when grappling gets tough. Mayes will tie him up, land takedowns, and control the fight to win a decision. The over 2.5 is the preferred bet.

over 2.5 rounds
"I'm gonna go with King Kong Dantel maze in this fight I think you'll be able to mix it up a lot better than Andre olowski"
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Confident picked May 31, 2023 (3 days before fight)
Andrei Arlovski

Paul picks Arlovski at plus money. He notes Mayes has low output and doesn't use his reach or speed advantage. Paul mentions Arlovski's recent wins over low-output fighters and that the UFC seems to give him favorable matchups. He thinks Mayes is overrated as a favorite and that Arlovski can squeak out a decision. Paul also recalls losing money on Mayes in the past, making him hesitant to trust him.

"it's our lovsky for me"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked May 29, 2023 (5 days before fight)
Andrei Arlovski

The MMA Guru picks Andrei Arlovski, believing this is one of the heavyweight fights Arlovski wins. He criticizes Don'Tale Mayes for being hesitant on the feet and getting blanketed by Augusto Sakai. He expects Arlovski to frustrate Mayes at range with leg kicks and small shots, while Mayes will be gun-shy and not throw enough. He acknowledges an upset is possible but thinks Arlovski's skill at this level of heavyweight will take over.

"I think arlovsky just sort of frustrating him at range I can see him picking at him tapping at his legs"
ZA
Zane Simon Expert Confident picked Jun 3, 2023 (fight day)
Andrei Arlovski

Zane picks Arlovski based on his consistent ability to outwork opponents who lack a high-output striking game. He notes that Mayes is a talented but dysfunctional fighter with poor wrestling and no coherent game plan. Arlovski's jab, clinch work, and steady pace have proven too much for similar fighters like Felipe Lins and Tanner Boser. Zane believes Mayes' athleticism won't compensate for his lack of structure.

"I'm gonna take old man our law of ski once again"