vs
-275 +245
UFC Fight Night: Andrade vs. Blanchfield · Feb 18, 2023 · Light Heavyweight · Completed
Prev Fight UFC Fight Night: Andrade vs. Blanchfield Next Fight
Age 38
Height 6' 2"
Reach 76.0"
Weight 205 lbs.
Stance Orthodox
Age 34
Height 6' 2"
Reach 77.0"
Weight 205 lbs.
Stance Orthodox
Career Averages - Zac Pauga
4.46 SLpM
62.0% Str. Acc.
2.73 SApM
58.0% Str. Def.
0.38 TD Avg
7.0% TD Acc.
100.0% TD Def.
0.0 Sub. Avg
Career Averages - Jordan Wright
4.1 SLpM
56.0% Str. Acc.
6.03 SApM
31.0% Str. Def.
2.09 TD Avg
45.0% TD Acc.
100.0% TD Def.
0.4 Sub. Avg
Zac Pauga
Moneyline
FanDuel -275
KO/TKO
FanDuel -150
Submission
BetRivers +1500
Decision
FanDuel +600
Jordan Wright
Moneyline
DraftKings +245
KO/TKO
FanDuel +400
Submission
FanDuel +1000
Decision
FanDuel +1600
Zac Pauga - Fight History
LOSS vs Bogdan Guskov
KO (punches) R1 3:38 · UFC Fight Night: Hermansson vs. Pyfer · Feb 10, 2024
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Bogdan Guskov 0 17 of 26 65% 19 of 28 0 of 2 0% 0 0 1:04
Zac Pauga 1 10 of 29 34% 25 of 44 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:04
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Bogdan Guskov 0 17 of 26 65% 19 of 28 0 of 2 0% 0 0 1:04
Zac Pauga 1 10 of 29 34% 25 of 44 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:04
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Bogdan Guskov 17 of 26 65% 7 of 13 2 of 5 8 of 8 14 of 22 3 of 4 0 of 0
Zac Pauga 10 of 29 34% 10 of 29 0 of 0 0 of 0 10 of 29 0 of 0 0 of 0
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Bogdan Guskov 17 of 26 65% 7 of 13 2 of 5 8 of 8 14 of 22 3 of 4 0 of 0
Zac Pauga 10 of 29 34% 10 of 29 0 of 0 0 of 0 10 of 29 0 of 0 0 of 0
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Confident picked Feb 4, 2024 (6 days before fight)
Bogdan Guskov

Angelo criticizes Zac Pauga for lacking urgency and a game plan in the cage, despite having skills. He notes Pauga has become a striker in the UFC and hasn't shown his pre-UFC wrestling. Bogdan Guskov is described as heavy-handed, with good footwork and combinations, and patience on top. Angelo believes Guskov is the more dangerous fighter and picks him, though he will monitor the odds.

"Bogden gusov will be the pick here."
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked Feb 5, 2024 (5 days before fight)
Bogdan Guskov

Big Brady picks Bogdan Guskov to win by first-round knockout. He notes that Pauga is the worst finisher in UFC history and has poor striking defense and chin, while Guskov is a one-round banger who will try to take his head off. He calls it a 50-50 fight but favors Guskov's power and aggression.

first round knockout
"I'll take bogdon gusov to go out there and knock out palga in the very first round"
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Confident picked Feb 7, 2024 (3 days before fight)
Zac Pauga

Cody picks Pauga, noting Guskov is a one-dimensional power puncher with poor cardio and takedown defense. Pauga has decent cardio and can grind out a win by controlling against the cage. Cody thinks Pauga will survive the early storm and take over in later rounds, possibly by knockout.

over 1.5 rounds (-115)
"I'll take palga but what I'm actually interested in betting is the over one and a half rounds"
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Feb 5, 2024 (5 days before fight)
Zac Pauga

Pauga is more well-rounded and should be able to grind Guskov up against the cage, similar to his fight against Jordan Wright. Guskov relies heavily on early knockout power and has poor durability if he doesn't get the finish. Pauga's grinding style should wear on Guskov, leading to a late finish or decision. However, Pauga's chin is a concern if he eats early shots.

"I think paonga will be able to grind this fight up against the cage and it wouldn't be surprising to me if it looks similarly to that Jordan right fight that he had it's going to be boring it's going …"
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Confident picked Feb 7, 2024 (3 days before fight)
Zac Pauga

Paul also picks Pauga, agreeing that Guskov is a can crusher with no chin. He notes Pauga's experience against bigger men and his ability to implement a grinding game plan. Paul expects Pauga to wear on Guskov and get a finish or decision.

"I think PGA can break this man"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Feb 7, 2024 (3 days before fight)
Bogdan Guskov

The MMA Guru picks Bogdan Guskov because he is fighting Zac Pauga, who he considers a low-level fighter from The Ultimate Fighter. He notes Guskov's good hands and delivery systems, and expects him to have an intimidation advantage on the feet. He predicts a first-round KO win, as Guskov is a finisher who gets most of his fights done in the first round.

first round KO
"I'm GNA go with Bogdan gusov... I think he's got better hands and better Delivery Systems than Zack palga so I'm going to go with Bogdan gusov getting himself a nasty KO win... first round finish here."
Decision (unanimous) (30–27, 29–28, 29–28) R3 5:00 · UFC on ESPN: Vettori vs. Cannonier · Jun 17, 2023
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Modestas Bukauskas 0 67 of 117 57% 72 of 123 1 of 5 20% 0 0 2:17
Zac Pauga 0 56 of 112 50% 62 of 120 0 of 0 --- 0 0 1:20
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Modestas Bukauskas 0 15 of 29 51% 20 of 35 1 of 3 33% 0 0 2:04
Zac Pauga 0 13 of 29 44% 14 of 31 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
2 Modestas Bukauskas 0 27 of 48 56% 27 of 48 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:10
Zac Pauga 0 23 of 40 57% 23 of 40 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:01
3 Modestas Bukauskas 0 25 of 40 62% 25 of 40 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:03
Zac Pauga 0 20 of 43 46% 25 of 49 0 of 0 --- 0 0 1:19
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Modestas Bukauskas 67 of 117 57% 35 of 80 25 of 30 7 of 7 58 of 105 7 of 10 2 of 2
Zac Pauga 56 of 112 50% 42 of 96 10 of 12 4 of 4 50 of 102 5 of 9 1 of 1
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Modestas Bukauskas 15 of 29 51% 11 of 23 2 of 4 2 of 2 11 of 25 2 of 2 2 of 2
Zac Pauga 13 of 29 44% 9 of 25 2 of 2 2 of 2 12 of 28 0 of 0 1 of 1
2 Modestas Bukauskas 27 of 48 56% 14 of 33 10 of 12 3 of 3 26 of 46 1 of 2 0 of 0
Zac Pauga 23 of 40 57% 18 of 35 3 of 3 2 of 2 21 of 37 2 of 3 0 of 0
3 Modestas Bukauskas 25 of 40 62% 10 of 24 13 of 14 2 of 2 21 of 34 4 of 6 0 of 0
Zac Pauga 20 of 43 46% 15 of 36 5 of 7 0 of 0 17 of 37 3 of 6 0 of 0
Play-by-Play
View on Sherdog
Modestas Bukauskas vs. Zac Pauga
BETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Bukauskas (-200), Pauga (+170)

Round 1
Welcome to another installment of Dana White’s Saturday Night Contender Series, also known as UFC on ESPN 47 or UFC Vegas 75. This dozen-fight show in the Apex is extremely light on star power, with just three ranked competitors on the whole billing, and two of those are in the main attraction. Sometimes, fight cards less desirable on paper can deliver in a big way, so all hope is not lost. Starting low in the standings at 205 pounds, either one of these men will reach .500 or pass it with a win today. The latter can be said for Pauga (6-1, 1-1 UFC), while the former is available for Bukauskas (14-5, 2-3 UFC) on his second stint with the promotion. The third man in the cage for the first fight of the night is referee Mark Smith, and the two fighters choose la violencia and proceed without a glove touch. Bukauskas takes the middle of the fence, and Pauga practically runs at his opponent. Swinging his fists wildly, Pauga clips Bukauskas with windmilling overhand right, and Bukauskas bangs into the wall and is seeing stars. Pauga closes the distance and grabs hold of his opponent to dump him to the mat. Bukauskas recovers to full guard, and he hacks with elbows off his back until he fights to his feet. Pauga presses heavily on him, but Bukauskas shakes him off and returns to kickboxing range. Pauga sticks out a jab that snaps the head back, and Bukauskas absorbs a subsequent low kick and barely dodges a looping right hook. Pauga attacks the body, and Bukauskas sits down on a thudding leg kick. Pauga dings Bukauskas with a pair of hooks, and he uses the momentum to press “The Baltic Gladiator” to the fencing. Pauga hunts for a trip as he tangles up Bukauskas’ legs, and Bukauskas is able to stifle the attempt and a redoubled effort from the former NFL player. Bukauskas shoves him away, and Pauga springs back away from a straight left hand. Bukauskas follows it with a high kick and a jab, and Pauga ignores it to double up his jabs. Pauga swings too hard with a right hand, and Bukauskas catches him with a right hand counter. Pauga shakes it out, and the two trade heavy leather in an exchange. Chins remain intact, and Bukauskas swipes out with a left hook that grazes the chin. Bukauskas counters an advancing Pauga with a right hand, and Pauga is rocked and shoots for an emergency takedown. Bukauskas stands him up and pushes him away, but he does not empty his gas tank hunting for a finish. Instead, Bukauskas tags him with a big right hand, and the horn blares right after Pauga gets one back.
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Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Pauga
Edwin Ayala scores the round: 10-9 Pauga
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Pauga

Round 2
The light heavyweights come together in the center of the Octagon, ready to trade, but they are somewhat cautious of the other’s power. Bukauskas lands first with a chipping calf kick, and Pauga walks into a counter right hand. Bukauskas strafes to the side, and they both snap out powerful jabs. Pauga takes the worst of it when they land at the same time, but he does not seem concerned as he races forward with a swinging hook and a level change for a double. Bukauskas avoids the former and shrugs off the latter, and he circles away to aim a left hand at the chest. Pauga splits the guard with a left hand, and he surges forward and hits nothing but air with Bukauskas out of harm’s way. Pauga plants his shin on Bukauskas’ raising leg, and he jabs, ducks and bangs a right hand off Bukauskas’ chin. Pauga lunges, and Bukauskas reacts by jumping away from him. Bukauskas sits down on a thudding low kick, and Pauga comes at him throwing haymakers. Bukauskas prepares a right hand counter but does not release it as Pauga is rushing at him. They trade low kicks, and Bukauskas’ foot goes up to bump off the cup. Pauga waves off Smith, and he raises his guard right in the nick of time when Bukauskas zooms a high kick at him. Pauga keeps plodding forward, jabbing his way in, and he telegraphs a big right hand on the way. Pauga dips and scores a short right hook, and Bukauskas replies with the fall of his foot on the chest. Pauga strides forward, right hand ready for bear, and he knocks Bukauskas back and digs punches to the body. Bukauskas tries to keep circling away and respond with a few punches, but he is more intent on dodging the wide arcing blows aimed at his chin. Pauga steps through with a straight right hand, wobbling Bukauskas and sending him ricocheting off the fencing. Pauga ends up clinched, but he moves back so he can unload power punches. Bukauskas avoids the worst of it but his face is swelling from the blows. Bukauskas ends the round with a few hooks of his own.

Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Pauga
Edwin Ayala scores the round: 10-9 Pauga
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Pauga

Round 3
The last round begins with Bukauskas trying to keep a slugging Pauga at bay. He cannot do so, as Pauga runs him down and busts him in the chops. Bukauskas responds with a big body kick, and Pauga bites down on his mouthpiece to throw bombs. Bukauskas closes the distance to stop Pauga from reaching him with these winging punches, and he presses the American against the fence. Smith tells Bukauskas to work as the two do little in the position, and Bukauskas answers this by gripping his hands around the back. Pauga fights off the potential takedown setup, and he ignores a few knees to the thigh. Pauga explodes to turn him around, and the two end up splitting with three minutes left on the clock. Bukauskas misses with a check left hook, as Pauga throws him off with feints and fakes now. Bukauskas connects with a clean right hand as Pauga sits still for too long, and Pauga blinks it out and flicks out a jab. The two clash together when throwing hands, and Pauga backs Bukauskas away with a sprinting right hand. Pauga kicks the ribs, and Bukauskas stands him up with a long punch. Pauga, not discouraged, throws another kick to the same spot, and this time he is not answered the same. Pauga winds up on a power right hand, and Bukauskas wears it well and is forced to eat a second one right after. Pauga aims another body kick, and he times a takedown when Bukauskas comes at him. Pauga ducks a punch to unloads a hefty right hand, and he absorbs a flush one-two without batting an eye. Pauga nearly falls over when swinging for the fences, and he clips Bukauskas with an overhand right. Bukauskas tries to counter, and he spins with a back kick but Pauga is too close. Bukauskas pops him with a jab, and he spins with a back kick that finds its mark. Pauga rushes headlong into a punch, and the two engage in one last mighty slugfest before the final bell.

Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Pauga (30-27 Pauga)
Edwin Ayala scores the round: 10-9 Pauga (30-27 Pauga)
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Bukauskas (29-28 Pauga)

The Official Result
Modestas Bukauskas def. Zac Pauga via Unanimous Decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Confident picked Jun 11, 2023 (6 days before fight)
Modestas Bukauskas

Angelo picks Modestas Bukauskas because he is the more technical striker and this is mostly a striking matchup. He notes that if Zac Pauga could wrestle effectively, he'd be the easy pick, but Pauga hasn't shown that wrestling in the UFC. However, Angelo acknowledges there is a world where Pauga holds Bukauskas against the cage for 15 minutes and wins a decision, so he does not place a bet.

"the pick here is going to be modestis he should be the better Striker and a mostly striking matchup but there's not going to be a bet here for me because there's absolutely a world where he has just held …"
BI
Big Brady Expert Hesitant picked Jun 10, 2023 (7 days before fight)
Zac Pauga

Big Brady picks Zac Pauga to win by decision, but he is very low on both fighters. He criticizes Bukauskas for low volume and power, and Pauga for taking Jordan Wright to a decision, which he calls a terrible look. However, Pauga throws more volume and has solid cardio. Brady thinks Pauga can hold Bukauskas against the cage and potentially take him down, as Bukauskas has struggled with takedown defense in the past. He expects a boring fight with Pauga winning a close decision.

"I'm gonna take powga here I suppose like I said I'm so low on on both these guys."
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Confident picked Jun 14, 2023 (3 days before fight)
Modestas Bukauskas

Cody is confident in Bukauskas, citing his speed, striking advantage, and improved cardio since returning to the UFC. He notes that Pauga's only notable win is a decision over Jordan Wright, which was uninspiring, and that Pauga is 35 with only three years of pro experience. Cody thinks Bukauskas will outwork Pauga and possibly get a TKO in the second or third round.

"I think the speed advantages for modestus I think the Striking Advantage is for modestus I think he could TKO second in the third round"
CO
Connor Ruebusch Expert Confident picked Jun 15, 2023 (2 days before fight)
Modestas Bukauskas

Connor picks Bukauskas, acknowledging his limited boxing but noting his athleticism and size. He believes Bukauskas has improved his aggression and output, as seen in the Tyson Pedro fight. Connor expects Bukauskas to use his reach and movement to outwork Pauga, who lacks dynamic speed. He thinks Bukauskas will win by decision or late stoppage.

"I think he's a fighter to pick for me to pick him over power."
DA
Daniel Levi Expert Lean picked Jun 15, 2023 (2 days before fight)
Modestas Bukauskas

Daniel Levi leans toward Modestas Bukauskas, citing his size, length, and experience. He notes Pauga's greenness and that the UFC may be setting up Bukauskas as a prospect. He thinks Bukauskas could win by knockout. However, he is not interested in betting at -200 and sees it as a pass at current odds.

"I'm going to lean with him but uh I'm not interested in link shock on him in this spot"
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Jun 13, 2023 (4 days before fight)
Zac Pauga

Pauga has a good enough striking and overall MMA game to tie up Bukauskas in the clinch, drag him to the ground, and do damage from top. He has good cardio to maintain this for 15 minutes. Bukauskas is overhyped due to recency bias from his win over Tyson Pedro. Pauga is a solid underdog at plus 165. Pauga wins by decision.

"give me Zach Paulo her by decision"
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Confident picked Jun 14, 2023 (3 days before fight)
Modestas Bukauskas

Paul agrees, noting that Pauga's win over Jordan Wright was terrible and that he will be picking against Pauga for the rest of eternity. He thinks Bukauskas is younger, more experienced, and has rebuilt himself after a knee injury. Paul expects Bukauskas to win, possibly by late stoppage or decision.

"I'll be just picking against powga moving forward for the rest of Eternity until he proves me otherwise"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Jun 13, 2023 (4 days before fight)
Modestas Bukauskas

The MMA Guru picks Modestas Bukauskas, citing a massive advantage at range on the feet against Zac Pauga. He notes Pauga was on one of the worst seasons of TUF and lacks skill at range, while Bukauskas is technical with good footwork. He also mentions Bukauskas has improved since his first UFC stint, with a win over Tyson Pedro on short notice and a controversial loss to Khalil Rountree. He believes Bukauskas is reborn and will continue his momentum.

"I am going to be going towards modestus picauskas here I think he has a massive Advantage at range on the feet against powger"
ZA
Zane Simon Expert Confident picked Jun 15, 2023 (2 days before fight)
Modestas Bukauskas

Zane picks Bukauskas, noting his improved output and good frame for light heavyweight. He throws long strikes and has power that can be decisive. Zane criticizes Pauga as not dynamic, lacking speed, and only beating Jordan Wright by clinching. He expects Bukauskas to move around, make Pauga look slow, and land consistent one-twos for a clear decision or late TKO.

"This seems like a pretty simple read to me just for Bukowski."
WIN vs Jordan Wright
Decision (unanimous) (30–27, 30–27, 29–28) R3 5:00 · UFC Fight Night: Andrade vs. Blanchfield · Feb 18, 2023
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Zac Pauga 0 29 of 78 37% 199 of 261 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:13
Jordan Wright 0 59 of 85 69% 85 of 114 0 of 6 0% 0 0 8:40
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Zac Pauga 0 5 of 7 71% 55 of 64 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Jordan Wright 0 22 of 26 84% 43 of 47 0 of 1 0% 0 0 4:32
2 Zac Pauga 0 7 of 19 36% 105 of 122 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:10
Jordan Wright 0 15 of 22 68% 20 of 30 0 of 3 0% 0 0 3:27
3 Zac Pauga 0 17 of 52 32% 39 of 75 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:03
Jordan Wright 0 22 of 37 59% 22 of 37 0 of 2 0% 0 0 0:41
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Zac Pauga 29 of 78 37% 15 of 55 13 of 21 1 of 2 18 of 65 11 of 13 0 of 0
Jordan Wright 59 of 85 69% 31 of 54 21 of 24 7 of 7 21 of 42 38 of 43 0 of 0
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Zac Pauga 5 of 7 71% 1 of 3 4 of 4 0 of 0 1 of 3 4 of 4 0 of 0
Jordan Wright 22 of 26 84% 8 of 11 11 of 12 3 of 3 1 of 2 21 of 24 0 of 0
2 Zac Pauga 7 of 19 36% 5 of 16 2 of 3 0 of 0 3 of 13 4 of 6 0 of 0
Jordan Wright 15 of 22 68% 10 of 16 3 of 4 2 of 2 3 of 8 12 of 14 0 of 0
3 Zac Pauga 17 of 52 32% 9 of 36 7 of 14 1 of 2 14 of 49 3 of 3 0 of 0
Jordan Wright 22 of 37 59% 13 of 27 7 of 8 2 of 2 17 of 32 5 of 5 0 of 0
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Confident picked Feb 14, 2023 (4 days before fight)
Zac Pauga

Angelo is confident in Pauga, citing his strong wrestling and low stance. He notes Pauga went up to heavyweight for TUF but is a natural light heavyweight. Jordan Wright has a 100% finish rate but is on a three-fight losing streak by stoppage and has a weak chin. Angelo thinks Pauga will wrestle and win, but there's no value in the betting line so he won't bet.

"Zach should absolutely get this done I'm not gonna spend three units on a dude with six professional fights."
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked Feb 13, 2023 (5 days before fight)
Jordan Wright

Big Brady is picking Jordan Wright for the upset, despite never picking him before. He notes that Pauga was knocked out by Muhammad Usman, who is not a power puncher, and that Pauga has only a 20% finish rate. He believes Wright is dangerous in the first two minutes and should come out aggressively rather than wrestling, as his cardio is poor. He predicts a first-round knockout for Wright.

Wright by KO, round 1
"I'm gonna take Jordan right for the big upset... I think he's going to have a ton of opportunities here to get that first round finish"
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Hesitant picked Feb 15, 2023 (3 days before fight)
Zac Pauga

Cody picks Pauga but is terrified of the -270 line. He notes Jordan Wright has only 5-6 minutes of cardio and is an under machine, but Pauga isn't a big finisher. He says Wright can absolutely get finishes early, so he'll watch weigh-ins closely. He compares Wright to Terence McKinney as a 50/50 fighter who either finishes early or gets pieced up. He also mentions Pauga got knocked out in his last fight and has been hurt before, so he's not confident.

Cody mentions he bet Pauga last time at -275 and lost. He considers under 2.5 rounds and thinks Pauga knocks Wright out. He says Pauga will be on parlays.
"I'll pick powga but that minus 270 I am I am terrified."
CO
Connor Ruebusch Expert Lean picked Feb 16, 2023 (2 days before fight)
Jordan Wright

Connor picks Wright because he thinks the move to light heavyweight could benefit Wright's speed and power, and Pauga is inexperienced and slow. However, he acknowledges Wright's mental fragility and tendency to panic. He picks Wright to win by first-round KO, but says he wouldn't bet on it.

Wright by KO is +350, inside distance +275, win in round 1 +450 to +575. Connor says 'I wouldn't bet on this. Please don't.'
"I guess I'll pick Jordan, right? I mean first round KO is the only way to pick him. So I'll pick him to finish quick."
JA
Jacob Lines Expert Confident picked Feb 14, 2023 (4 days before fight)
Zac Pauga

Jacob picks Pauga but is a Jordan Wright fan. He thinks Wright's chin is gone and his blitzing style leaves him open. Pauga's wrestling and power at 205 should be too much. Jacob played the under 1.5 rounds and feels good about it, though he cautions both are coming off knockout losses. He expects Wright to get knocked out again.

Jacob played under 1.5 rounds.
"I played the under one and a half I feel pretty good about might load up even more."
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Feb 14, 2023 (4 days before fight)
Zac Pauga

Pauga has better cardio and a more complete MMA game, while Wright fades after the first round and has durability issues. Pauga can survive the early storm and then take over with grappling and pressure, finishing Wright via ground and pound in the second or third round.

fight doesn't go to decision; Pauga wins by TKO in round 2 or 3
"I think if you're willing to eat any Chalk in this matchup it should be the violence... Pauga with a late TKO finish."
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Hesitant picked Feb 15, 2023 (3 days before fight)
Zac Pauga

Paul agrees with Cody, calling Jordan Wright a lost fighter with no cardio or durability. He details Wright's pattern of starting fast but fading and getting finished. He notes Pauga has excellent cardio, trains at altitude, and has enough striking to pressure Wright. However, he says the -270 line is too high for a guy with one UFC win who got knocked out. He prefers the under 2.5 rounds at -350 as a parlay piece.

Paul highlights under 2.5 rounds at -350 and under 1.5 rounds at -175. He says Wright doesn't have 15 minutes in him against anybody.
"I probably hit the under I don't know if I like under one and a half like under two and a half and then I'm thinking probably Clips on Pogo puts him away."
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Feb 14, 2023 (4 days before fight)
Zac Pauga

The MMA Guru picks Zac Pauga, citing his takedown defense from The Ultimate Fighter and his size advantage. He criticizes Jordan Wright's poor decision-making and quick turnaround after a KO loss. He believes Pauga is patient and can catch Wright with a counter shot after Wright gets reckless in round two, predicting a KO. He notes the possibility of an upset but trusts Pauga's chin more.

KO in round two
"I'm gonna go with Zach paulaga by KO wouldn't be surprised if I got an upset though but I'm just not willing to trust his chin in a scrappy fight"
ZA
Zane Simon Expert Confident picked Feb 16, 2023 (2 days before fight)
Zac Pauga

Zane picks Pauga because Jordan Wright has a history of panicking and losing focus when he doesn't finish early. Wright is dangerous early but fades and makes defensive mistakes. Pauga is raw but has a takedown game and can survive the initial storm. Zane notes that Wright's move to light heavyweight seems desperate and may not fix his mental issues.

Wright by KO is +350, inside distance +275, win in round 1 +450 to +575. Wright opened +170, now +226; Pauga opened -195, now -281. Zane says he wouldn't bet on this.
"I'll take pauga. I mean it's just kind of... I'm interested to see what he can do. He could very easily be more like Villanueva than Mark Andre Barrio."
LOSS vs Mohammed Usman
KO (punches) R2 0:36 · UFC on ESPN: Santos vs. Hill · Aug 06, 2022
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Mohammed Usman 1 12 of 40 30% 13 of 41 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:02
Zac Pauga 0 32 of 50 64% 33 of 51 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Mohammed Usman 0 9 of 35 25% 10 of 36 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:00
Zac Pauga 0 31 of 46 67% 32 of 47 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
2 Mohammed Usman 1 3 of 5 60% 3 of 5 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:02
Zac Pauga 0 1 of 4 25% 1 of 4 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Mohammed Usman 12 of 40 30% 11 of 39 1 of 1 0 of 0 9 of 35 1 of 2 2 of 3
Zac Pauga 32 of 50 64% 14 of 29 9 of 10 9 of 11 31 of 49 1 of 1 0 of 0
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Mohammed Usman 9 of 35 25% 8 of 34 1 of 1 0 of 0 8 of 32 1 of 2 0 of 1
Zac Pauga 31 of 46 67% 14 of 26 8 of 9 9 of 11 30 of 45 1 of 1 0 of 0
2 Mohammed Usman 3 of 5 60% 3 of 5 0 of 0 0 of 0 1 of 3 0 of 0 2 of 2
Zac Pauga 1 of 4 25% 0 of 3 1 of 1 0 of 0 1 of 4 0 of 0 0 of 0
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Lean picked Jul 31, 2022 (6 days before fight)
Mohammed Usman

Angelo has a slight lean towards Mohammed Usman due to his size, power, and physicality. He notes that Pauga is the better overall fighter but his size disadvantage at heavyweight could be decisive. He references Pauga being dropped by Terence Jacquez and believes a similar shot from Usman could finish him. However, he acknowledges Usman has had issues with wrestlers in the past.

"I think it's a very slight very slight lean towards usman with the incredible power and the phys physicality"
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked Aug 2, 2022 (4 days before fight)
Zac Pauga

Big Brady picks Zac Pauga, noting his speed and cardio advantages over Mohammed Usman. He criticizes Usman's low volume and poor cardio, and praises Pauga's takedown defense and improved striking. He predicts Pauga will stuff takedowns and win a decision, though he notes Pauga is undersized for heavyweight. He also mentions Pauga's training at Elevation Fight Team with Curtis Blaydes.

decision win prediction
"i still think zach powell should win this fight and win it by decision stuffing the takedowns if they come"
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Confident picked Aug 3, 2022 (3 days before fight)
Zac Pauga

Cody also picks Pauga, highlighting his undefeated record and clean performances on TUF. He notes that Pauga is a natural 205-pounder who moved up for the show and will likely move back down. Cody contrasts Pauga's refined skills with Usman's poor losses and questionable wins, including a controversial decision. He believes Pauga's speed and output will overwhelm Usman.

"I got to agree with Zach Pauga being the pick... he looked really good on the ultimate fighter... he never gets touched once."
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Confident picked Aug 3, 2022 (3 days before fight)
Zac Pauga

Paul picks Pauga, noting that Pauga is a former football player with good mobility and athleticism. He mentions that Pauga looked impressive on The Ultimate Fighter, throwing spinning attacks and showing improvement. Paul is wary of laying -250 on a debuting heavyweight but sees Pauga as the clear pick.

"Zach Pauga is clearly the pick for me... he looks pretty mobile on his feet... he's like throwing spin and stuff."
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Aug 1, 2022 (5 days before fight)
Zac Pauga

The MMA Guru picks Zac Pauga by third-round ground-and-pound TKO. He praises Pauga's technique and undefeated record, and criticizes Mohammed Usman's lack of commitment and poor performances. He believes Pauga's Samoan chin will allow him to take shots and break Usman down.

third round ground and pound tko
"i'm going to go zack pwaga... i'm going to see the samoan guy take a couple of big shots early put the pressure on mohammed usman and break him down"
Jordan Wright - Fight History
LOSS vs Zac Pauga
Decision (unanimous) (30–27, 30–27, 29–28) R3 5:00 · UFC Fight Night: Andrade vs. Blanchfield · Feb 18, 2023
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Zac Pauga 0 29 of 78 37% 199 of 261 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:13
Jordan Wright 0 59 of 85 69% 85 of 114 0 of 6 0% 0 0 8:40
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Zac Pauga 0 5 of 7 71% 55 of 64 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Jordan Wright 0 22 of 26 84% 43 of 47 0 of 1 0% 0 0 4:32
2 Zac Pauga 0 7 of 19 36% 105 of 122 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:10
Jordan Wright 0 15 of 22 68% 20 of 30 0 of 3 0% 0 0 3:27
3 Zac Pauga 0 17 of 52 32% 39 of 75 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:03
Jordan Wright 0 22 of 37 59% 22 of 37 0 of 2 0% 0 0 0:41
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Zac Pauga 29 of 78 37% 15 of 55 13 of 21 1 of 2 18 of 65 11 of 13 0 of 0
Jordan Wright 59 of 85 69% 31 of 54 21 of 24 7 of 7 21 of 42 38 of 43 0 of 0
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Zac Pauga 5 of 7 71% 1 of 3 4 of 4 0 of 0 1 of 3 4 of 4 0 of 0
Jordan Wright 22 of 26 84% 8 of 11 11 of 12 3 of 3 1 of 2 21 of 24 0 of 0
2 Zac Pauga 7 of 19 36% 5 of 16 2 of 3 0 of 0 3 of 13 4 of 6 0 of 0
Jordan Wright 15 of 22 68% 10 of 16 3 of 4 2 of 2 3 of 8 12 of 14 0 of 0
3 Zac Pauga 17 of 52 32% 9 of 36 7 of 14 1 of 2 14 of 49 3 of 3 0 of 0
Jordan Wright 22 of 37 59% 13 of 27 7 of 8 2 of 2 17 of 32 5 of 5 0 of 0
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Confident picked Feb 14, 2023 (4 days before fight)
Zac Pauga

Angelo is confident in Pauga, citing his strong wrestling and low stance. He notes Pauga went up to heavyweight for TUF but is a natural light heavyweight. Jordan Wright has a 100% finish rate but is on a three-fight losing streak by stoppage and has a weak chin. Angelo thinks Pauga will wrestle and win, but there's no value in the betting line so he won't bet.

"Zach should absolutely get this done I'm not gonna spend three units on a dude with six professional fights."
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked Feb 13, 2023 (5 days before fight)
Jordan Wright

Big Brady is picking Jordan Wright for the upset, despite never picking him before. He notes that Pauga was knocked out by Muhammad Usman, who is not a power puncher, and that Pauga has only a 20% finish rate. He believes Wright is dangerous in the first two minutes and should come out aggressively rather than wrestling, as his cardio is poor. He predicts a first-round knockout for Wright.

Wright by KO, round 1
"I'm gonna take Jordan right for the big upset... I think he's going to have a ton of opportunities here to get that first round finish"
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Hesitant picked Feb 15, 2023 (3 days before fight)
Zac Pauga

Cody picks Pauga but is terrified of the -270 line. He notes Jordan Wright has only 5-6 minutes of cardio and is an under machine, but Pauga isn't a big finisher. He says Wright can absolutely get finishes early, so he'll watch weigh-ins closely. He compares Wright to Terence McKinney as a 50/50 fighter who either finishes early or gets pieced up. He also mentions Pauga got knocked out in his last fight and has been hurt before, so he's not confident.

Cody mentions he bet Pauga last time at -275 and lost. He considers under 2.5 rounds and thinks Pauga knocks Wright out. He says Pauga will be on parlays.
"I'll pick powga but that minus 270 I am I am terrified."
CO
Connor Ruebusch Expert Lean picked Feb 16, 2023 (2 days before fight)
Jordan Wright

Connor picks Wright because he thinks the move to light heavyweight could benefit Wright's speed and power, and Pauga is inexperienced and slow. However, he acknowledges Wright's mental fragility and tendency to panic. He picks Wright to win by first-round KO, but says he wouldn't bet on it.

Wright by KO is +350, inside distance +275, win in round 1 +450 to +575. Connor says 'I wouldn't bet on this. Please don't.'
"I guess I'll pick Jordan, right? I mean first round KO is the only way to pick him. So I'll pick him to finish quick."
JA
Jacob Lines Expert Confident picked Feb 14, 2023 (4 days before fight)
Zac Pauga

Jacob picks Pauga but is a Jordan Wright fan. He thinks Wright's chin is gone and his blitzing style leaves him open. Pauga's wrestling and power at 205 should be too much. Jacob played the under 1.5 rounds and feels good about it, though he cautions both are coming off knockout losses. He expects Wright to get knocked out again.

Jacob played under 1.5 rounds.
"I played the under one and a half I feel pretty good about might load up even more."
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Feb 14, 2023 (4 days before fight)
Zac Pauga

Pauga has better cardio and a more complete MMA game, while Wright fades after the first round and has durability issues. Pauga can survive the early storm and then take over with grappling and pressure, finishing Wright via ground and pound in the second or third round.

fight doesn't go to decision; Pauga wins by TKO in round 2 or 3
"I think if you're willing to eat any Chalk in this matchup it should be the violence... Pauga with a late TKO finish."
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Hesitant picked Feb 15, 2023 (3 days before fight)
Zac Pauga

Paul agrees with Cody, calling Jordan Wright a lost fighter with no cardio or durability. He details Wright's pattern of starting fast but fading and getting finished. He notes Pauga has excellent cardio, trains at altitude, and has enough striking to pressure Wright. However, he says the -270 line is too high for a guy with one UFC win who got knocked out. He prefers the under 2.5 rounds at -350 as a parlay piece.

Paul highlights under 2.5 rounds at -350 and under 1.5 rounds at -175. He says Wright doesn't have 15 minutes in him against anybody.
"I probably hit the under I don't know if I like under one and a half like under two and a half and then I'm thinking probably Clips on Pogo puts him away."
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Feb 14, 2023 (4 days before fight)
Zac Pauga

The MMA Guru picks Zac Pauga, citing his takedown defense from The Ultimate Fighter and his size advantage. He criticizes Jordan Wright's poor decision-making and quick turnaround after a KO loss. He believes Pauga is patient and can catch Wright with a counter shot after Wright gets reckless in round two, predicting a KO. He notes the possibility of an upset but trusts Pauga's chin more.

KO in round two
"I'm gonna go with Zach paulaga by KO wouldn't be surprised if I got an upset though but I'm just not willing to trust his chin in a scrappy fight"
ZA
Zane Simon Expert Confident picked Feb 16, 2023 (2 days before fight)
Zac Pauga

Zane picks Pauga because Jordan Wright has a history of panicking and losing focus when he doesn't finish early. Wright is dangerous early but fades and makes defensive mistakes. Pauga is raw but has a takedown game and can survive the initial storm. Zane notes that Wright's move to light heavyweight seems desperate and may not fix his mental issues.

Wright by KO is +350, inside distance +275, win in round 1 +450 to +575. Wright opened +170, now +226; Pauga opened -195, now -281. Zane says he wouldn't bet on this.
"I'll take pauga. I mean it's just kind of... I'm interested to see what he can do. He could very easily be more like Villanueva than Mark Andre Barrio."
TKO (punches and elbows) R2 3:12 · UFC Fight Night: Grasso vs. Araujo · Oct 15, 2022
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Duško Todorović 0 25 of 41 60% 66 of 83 3 of 5 60% 1 0 5:03
Jordan Wright 0 61 of 80 76% 107 of 132 0 of 4 0% 0 0 1:11
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Duško Todorović 0 17 of 20 85% 58 of 62 3 of 3 100% 1 0 4:24
Jordan Wright 0 3 of 3 100% 4 of 4 0 of 2 0% 0 0 0:13
2 Duško Todorović 0 8 of 21 38% 8 of 21 0 of 2 0% 0 0 0:39
Jordan Wright 0 58 of 77 75% 103 of 128 0 of 2 0% 0 0 0:58
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Duško Todorović 25 of 41 60% 20 of 35 5 of 6 0 of 0 7 of 18 7 of 9 11 of 14
Jordan Wright 61 of 80 76% 49 of 68 12 of 12 0 of 0 19 of 29 28 of 31 14 of 20
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Duško Todorović 17 of 20 85% 16 of 18 1 of 2 0 of 0 1 of 1 5 of 5 11 of 14
Jordan Wright 3 of 3 100% 1 of 1 2 of 2 0 of 0 1 of 1 2 of 2 0 of 0
2 Duško Todorović 8 of 21 38% 4 of 17 4 of 4 0 of 0 6 of 17 2 of 4 0 of 0
Jordan Wright 58 of 77 75% 48 of 67 10 of 10 0 of 0 18 of 28 26 of 29 14 of 20
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Confident picked Oct 9, 2022 (6 days before fight)
Duško Todorović

Angelo picks Duško Todorović, believing he is the much better striker. He notes that Jordan Wright is a kill-or-be-killed fighter with big power but a karate style that can be exploited. He is confident in Duško but acknowledges that Jordan is always live and could push a wrestling-heavy game plan, as Duško has 50% takedown defense.

"I'm confident in dusko but if Jordan pushes a wrestling heavy game plan like he attempted to in his last fight he actually could have some success"
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked Oct 9, 2022 (6 days before fight)
Duško Todorović

Big Brady picks Duško Todorović to win by first-round ground-and-pound finish. He notes that Jordan Wright is dangerous offensively but has terrible defense and chin, while Todorović has more paths to victory including takedowns and ground-and-pound. He expects Todorović to take the fight to the mat and dominate. He calls this his favorite fight on the card and mentions he has a bet on it.

Todorović wins by first-round ground-and-pound
"give me dasco todorovich I'll say first round grounded pound finish"
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Confident picked Oct 12, 2022 (3 days before fight)
Duško Todorović

Cody is very confident in the under 1.5 rounds, calling it his biggest bet in a while. He notes Jordan Wright has never been past 7.5 minutes in any fight, and Todorović has chin issues. He expects Todorović to take Wright down and finish him in the first round. He also likes the under as a standalone bet and in a parlay.

under 1.5 rounds -220; parlayed with Rodriguez/Jackson under 1.5 at +102
"I have a lot of money on the under one and a half rounds here... it's my biggest bet in a while."
CO
Connor Ruebusch Expert Lean picked Oct 13, 2022 (2 days before fight)
Duško Todorović

Connor picks Todorović, citing his love for fighting and aggression that will break Wright over time. He notes that Wright panics and gets exhausted, and Todorović's pressure will contribute to that. He acknowledges Todorović is very hittable but believes his durability and passion give him the edge in a longer fight.

"I'm picking Dushko Todorovich."
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Lean picked Oct 11, 2022 (4 days before fight)
Duško Todorović

Both fighters have power and suspect chins, making this a likely early finish. Todorović has poor striking defense, keeping his hands down, while Wright is explosive but fragile. The host leans Todorović to land the big strike first, but the under 1.5 rounds is the preferred play. Wright is a live underdog, and the fight is closer than the odds suggest.

Under 1.5 rounds (juiced to -200 to -240), Todorović by KO round 1
"I am still going to go with todorovich I think he's the one that lands that big strike here and gets that finish first round knockout but the Ender is likely the play to go here"
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Lean picked Oct 12, 2022 (3 days before fight)
Jordan Wright

Paul considers Jordan Wright as a PRP pick, noting Wright is a fast starter with decent power, as shown in his knockout of Jamie Pickett. He points out Todorović is hittable and has a questionable chin, and Wright could catch him early. However, he acknowledges Wright's own flaws and the under is the safer play.

Jordan Wright by KO
"I gotta kind of think maybe PRP pick this week that I go Jordan right because listen it's gonna be a banger like you said and why can't he land a shot."
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Lean picked Oct 11, 2022 (4 days before fight)
Jordan Wright

The MMA Guru picks Jordan Wright as a juicy underdog, leaning towards him despite acknowledging his inconsistency. He notes that Wright has been training at Jackson Wink and is settling in. He believes Wright's size and reach advantage will allow him to manipulate the clinch and land knees to finish Todorović, calling it a 50/50 fight.

Jordan Wright is a 2-to-1 underdog
"Underdog time juicy two to one Underdog time I'm going with Jordan Wright"
ZA
Zane Simon Expert Lean picked Oct 13, 2022 (2 days before fight)
Jordan Wright

Zane picks Wright, acknowledging it's a coin flip. He notes that Wright hits very hard and has technical striking from his Anthony Hardonk disciple background, but his mentality is fragile. He thinks Wright's power could catch Todorović early, as Todorović is extremely hittable.

"I'm picking Jordan right."
Submission (guillotine choke) R1 2:36 · UFC Fight Night: Lemos vs. Andrade · Apr 23, 2022
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Marc-André Barriault 0 12 of 13 92% 16 of 17 2 of 4 50% 0 0 1:32
Jordan Wright 0 13 of 17 76% 17 of 21 0 of 0 --- 1 1 0:03
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Marc-André Barriault 0 12 of 13 92% 16 of 17 2 of 4 50% 0 0 1:32
Jordan Wright 0 13 of 17 76% 17 of 21 0 of 0 --- 1 1 0:03
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Marc-André Barriault 12 of 13 92% 2 of 3 4 of 4 6 of 6 6 of 7 4 of 4 2 of 2
Jordan Wright 13 of 17 76% 11 of 15 2 of 2 0 of 0 2 of 5 9 of 10 2 of 2
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Marc-André Barriault 12 of 13 92% 2 of 3 4 of 4 6 of 6 6 of 7 4 of 4 2 of 2
Jordan Wright 13 of 17 76% 11 of 15 2 of 2 0 of 0 2 of 5 9 of 10 2 of 2
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Lean picked Apr 17, 2022 (6 days before fight)
Jordan Wright

Angelo leans Jordan Wright, calling it closer to a coin flip. He notes Wright is more dangerous but Barriault is the better fighter. He is concerned that Barriault may not have fully recovered from a KO loss less than 90 days ago, and that this is short notice. He mentions Wright's ridiculous striking differential (lands and gets hit over 8 strikes per minute).

"i'm leaning right here but if this fight is definitely closer to a coin flip and this is not my most confident pick"
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked Apr 19, 2022 (4 days before fight)
Marc-André Barriault

Big Brady picks Marc-André Barriault to win by knockout, citing his durability and more paths to victory. He notes that Jordan Wright is a kill-or-be-killed fighter with poor defense and chin, while Barriault is typically durable and more defensively sound. He expects Barriault to weather the early storm and finish Wright late in the first round.

Win by knockout, first round knockout
"I'll take barrio to win... I'm gonna say he does weather the early storm... late first round"
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Confident picked Apr 20, 2022 (3 days before fight)
Jordan Wright

Cody picks Wright, citing Barriault's recent knockout loss and questionable chin. He notes Wright's early aggression and power, and that Barriault is taking the fight on short notice at a catchweight. He thinks Wright's best chance is a first-round KO and likes the knockout prop.

Wright by knockout (+400); Wright round 1 KO (+700); under 1.5 rounds (+115)
"I'm gonna pick jordan right as well I feel like barrio's chin is questionable at this point"
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Apr 23, 2022 (fight day)
Marc-André Barriault

The host picks Marc-André Barriault to win, including him in a parlay with Guida and Andrade. He acknowledges that Jordan Wright could win but suggests playing Wright's KO line instead of a straight bet.

Included in a parlay with Guida and Andrade.
"i'm picking barrio guida and andraj"
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Lean picked Apr 20, 2022 (3 days before fight)
Marc-André Barriault

Paul leans Barriault but low priority. He acknowledges Wright's early KO threat but thinks if Barriault survives the first round, his grinding style will take over. He notes Barriault's durability before the last fight and expects him to wear on Wright.

Under 1.5 rounds; live betting Barriault after first round
"i think i'm gonna have barrio it'll be very low on the priority list"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Apr 19, 2022 (4 days before fight)
Jordan Wright

The MMA Guru picks Jordan Wright, criticizing Barriault for fighting just two months after a brutal KO. He believes Wright is a fast starter and will finish Barriault early, especially at catchweight where Wright doesn't have to cut much. He notes Wright's size and reach advantage. He adds that if Wright doesn't finish in the first, Barriault might take over, but he expects an early KO. He calls Barriault's decision to fight again 'stupid'.

first round KO
"i am going to go with jordan wright punishment for stupidity uh marc andre barry fought two months ago got ko'd badly in the first round why are you back in the ring"
LOSS vs Bruno Silva
TKO (punches) R1 1:28 · UFC 269: Oliveira vs. Poirier · Dec 11, 2021
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Bruno Silva 0 20 of 26 76% 22 of 28 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:23
Jordan Wright 1 19 of 29 65% 22 of 33 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:10
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Bruno Silva 0 20 of 26 76% 22 of 28 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:23
Jordan Wright 1 19 of 29 65% 22 of 33 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:10
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Bruno Silva 20 of 26 76% 9 of 15 10 of 10 1 of 1 11 of 16 9 of 10 0 of 0
Jordan Wright 19 of 29 65% 18 of 28 0 of 0 1 of 1 8 of 13 3 of 5 8 of 11
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Bruno Silva 20 of 26 76% 9 of 15 10 of 10 1 of 1 11 of 16 9 of 10 0 of 0
Jordan Wright 19 of 29 65% 18 of 28 0 of 0 1 of 1 8 of 13 3 of 5 8 of 11
Play-by-Play
View on Sherdog
Bruno Silva vs. Jordan Wright

Round 1
Violence is the main ingredient for this next dish also at 185 pounds, when “Blindado” Silva (21-6, 2-0 UFC) aims to secure his seventh knockout in a row at the expense of “The Beverly Hills Ninja” Wright (12-1, 1 NC; 2-1 UFC). Fists and feet will surely fly until one falls, and it is not expected that this one will go the distance – it is +400 on that line now. Strapped in is 2021 World MMA Award winner for best referee, Herb Dean, who will undoubtedly have his hands full for as long as it lasts. Silva immediately begins to stalk Wright down, but the American is staying at safe range on the outside with high and low kicks. Silva thumps one to the knee, and Wright fires back with a pair to the body. A head kick from Wright may have rattled Silva, leading Silva to charge in recklessly. The two start slugging it out, cracking each other with little interest in defense, until Wright ties him up and starts kneeing him in the chest. One may have bounced off the cup, and Silva protests but he does not get the stoppage. Silva gets angry, and suddenly in a rage he nails Wright with a short flurry of punches.
A few right hands behind the ear, and a brutal left-right combo rattle Wright, who falls back across the cage. Silva darts after him, knowing the finish is close, and he clubs Wright with a few blows to knock “The Beverly Hills Ninja” down to the canvas. Dean gives Wright every bit of leeway to recover and get his wits about him, as Wright rolls around to try to grab hold of Silva’s leg or do something on the ground in desperation. All the while, “Blindado” lords over him and continues to clobber Wright with vicious strikes until Dean has no choice to finally step in
, thereby making official Silva’s seventh knockout in a row.

The Official Result
Bruno Silva def. Jordan Wright R1 1:28 via TKO (Punches)
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked Dec 8, 2021 (3 days before fight)
Bruno Silva

Big Brady is confident in Bruno Silva winning by first-round knockout. He highlights that both fighters have poor striking defense and high finish rates, but Silva has never been knocked out and hits extremely hard. Wright has a questionable chin and keeps his chin high, making him vulnerable. Brady expects Silva to pressure Wright against the cage and land heavy combinations. He also notes the fight doesn't go to decision line is minus 450, indicating high finish probability.

Fight doesn't go to decision (minus 450), Silva round 1 KO
"give me bruno silva round one knockout"
DA
Daniel Levi Expert Confident picked Dec 9, 2021 (2 days before fight)
Bruno Silva

Daniel Levi picks Bruno Silva to knock out Jordan Wright. He praises Silva's body work, knees, and finishing ability, noting his wins over Alexander Shlemenko and Artem Frolov. Levi criticizes Wright's durability, saying he can give but not take shots. He expects Silva to land a body shot that puts Wright down. Levi is confident in Silva's power and pressure.

knockout
"give me bruno blendatto silva to knock out jordan right"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Dec 6, 2021 (5 days before fight)
Bruno Silva

The MMA Guru picks Bruno Silva to win by third-round TKO. He believes Silva is more technically sound on the feet and has better cardio. He notes Wright's tendency to slow down after the first round and Silva's ability to pressure and land body shots. He predicts a war early, with Silva taking over in later rounds.

third-round TKO
"bruno silva's gonna get this one done i reckon he gets it done by third round tko"
WIN vs Jamie Pickett
TKO (punches) R1 1:04 · UFC 262: Oliveira vs. Chandler · May 15, 2021
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Jordan Wright 1 26 of 32 81% 33 of 40 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:11
Jamie Pickett 0 4 of 5 80% 4 of 5 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:12
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Jordan Wright 1 26 of 32 81% 33 of 40 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:11
Jamie Pickett 0 4 of 5 80% 4 of 5 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:12
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Jordan Wright 26 of 32 81% 21 of 27 5 of 5 0 of 0 5 of 6 12 of 12 9 of 14
Jamie Pickett 4 of 5 80% 2 of 3 1 of 1 1 of 1 4 of 4 0 of 1 0 of 0
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Jordan Wright 26 of 32 81% 21 of 27 5 of 5 0 of 0 5 of 6 12 of 12 9 of 14
Jamie Pickett 4 of 5 80% 2 of 3 1 of 1 1 of 1 4 of 4 0 of 1 0 of 0
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked May 11, 2021 (4 days before fight)
Jamie Pickett

Pickett is durable, never knocked out, and has a solid chin. Wright has terrible striking defense (40%), no chin, and has never been to decision. Pickett can pressure forward, land hard shots, and has good wrestling. I expect Pickett to finish Wright in the second round by knockout.

by KO round 2
"I'm going to take pika here for the win i'm going to take in a win by a second round knockout for pickett"
DA
Daniel Levi Expert Confident picked May 13, 2021 (2 days before fight)
Jamie Pickett

Daniel Levi picks Jamie Pickett, citing his physicality, speed, and strength advantage. He notes that Jordan Wright (Beverly Hills Ninja) has a suspect chin, as seen in the Anthony Hernandez fight, and was steamrolled by Joaquin Buckley. Levi thinks Pickett can knock out Wright or win by decision, and calls this Pickett's best chance to get a UFC win.

mentions Wright's chin and Pickett's durability
"i'm going with jamie pickett to knock out the beverly hills ninja"
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Lean picked May 13, 2021 (2 days before fight)
Jamie Pickett

The host picks Pickett but wants no part of betting the fight. He notes Pickett has shown durability, eating big shots from Soriano and Chukwu, while Wright has a questionable chin. He thinks Pickett lands a big shot and finishes Wright in the second round. However, he acknowledges both fighters are low level and that Wright could win if he lands early.

Pickett by KO in round 2
"i'll ultimately go with the guy who's been showing uh solid durability as of late and jamie pickett and i'll take him to this fight by second round ko but i want no part of this fight in terms of …"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked May 9, 2021 (6 days before fight)
Jamie Pickett

The MMA Guru picks Jamie Pickett to win by TKO in round 2. He notes that Jordan Wright has spectacular finishes but against weak competition, and that Wright slows down after the first round. He believes Pickett can absorb Wright's early onslaught, as shown in his fight with Pannie Soriano, and then finish Wright late in the second round against the cage.

Pickett wins by TKO in round 2
"i'm picking jamie pickett to get the tko in round two"
LOSS vs Joaquin Buckley
KO (punches) R2 0:18 · UFC 255: Figueiredo vs. Perez · Nov 21, 2020
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Joaquin Buckley 2 43 of 80 53% 59 of 96 0 of 2 0% 0 0 1:49
Jordan Wright 0 18 of 47 38% 36 of 66 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:02
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Joaquin Buckley 1 36 of 69 52% 52 of 85 0 of 2 0% 0 0 1:49
Jordan Wright 0 17 of 42 40% 35 of 61 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:02
2 Joaquin Buckley 1 7 of 11 63% 7 of 11 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Jordan Wright 0 1 of 5 20% 1 of 5 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Joaquin Buckley 43 of 80 53% 31 of 63 12 of 17 0 of 0 33 of 67 3 of 3 7 of 10
Jordan Wright 18 of 47 38% 5 of 32 12 of 14 1 of 1 16 of 44 2 of 3 0 of 0
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Joaquin Buckley 36 of 69 52% 25 of 53 11 of 16 0 of 0 26 of 56 3 of 3 7 of 10
Jordan Wright 17 of 42 40% 5 of 28 11 of 13 1 of 1 15 of 39 2 of 3 0 of 0
2 Joaquin Buckley 7 of 11 63% 6 of 10 1 of 1 0 of 0 7 of 11 0 of 0 0 of 0
Jordan Wright 1 of 5 20% 0 of 4 1 of 1 0 of 0 1 of 5 0 of 0 0 of 0
Play-by-Play
View on Sherdog
Joaquin Buckley vs. Jordan Wright

Round 1
Hold on to your hats, ladies and gentlemen, for this next one at middleweight. Two spectacular finishers are up next, as Buckley (11-3, 1-1 UFC) makes a quick turnaround after his sure-fire “Knockout of the Year”-winning knockout against Wright (11-0, 1 NC; 1-0 UFC), with the latter posting a 100 percent finish rate of his own. Looking to not get knocked out by errant blows is referee Herb Dean, and the brawlers do not touch gloves before throwing down. Wright comes at him and quickly clinches up, and when Buckley breaks away, Wright tries to knee him in the head. Buckley backs away and rushes in with a pair of looping punches, and his forward momentum puts the two back in the clinch. Buckley holds him tight before dropping for a double leg takedown, and Wright stands him up until they separate again. Wright lands a right hand, and Buckley counters with his own left hook. This same combination occurs again, and Buckley is putting everything he has into these punches. Buckley slings a head kick, and “The Beverly Hills Ninja” blocks it and gets pushed into the fence with another clinch. Buckley holds him there by grabbing the fence and putting his hands over the top, and Dean won’t let it happen as he chides “New Mansa.” The separation once more leads into Buckley swinging too hard with punches, and Wright lets loose a head kick. Buckley charges like a runaway truck and throws bombs, but Wright stays composed, rolls with the strikes, and keeps kicking. The unbeaten fighter scores a head kick that wobbles Buckley, and counters a rampaging Buckley with a check knee that delays the attack for long enough to allow Wright to back away. Wright scores an uppercut as Buckle charges in, and he just misses a head kick. The telegraphed strike from “New Mansa” allow Wright to get out of harm’s way, and he times another knee when Buckley comes at him. Wright keeps his distance with a body kick, and he partially absorbs a few punches. Buckley lets loose with everything he has, hurting Wright with punches and sending the undefeated fighter tumbling to the canvas. Buckley unleashes a furious storm of heavy punches, but he cannot finish the fight before the horn sounds.

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

Round 2
Buckley steps forward from his corner to land a straight left hand, and Wright has not yet recovered from the punishment he absorbed at the end of Round 1. Buckley notices this, and he plows forward with a long left as Wright kicks him in the body backing up.
As part of a combination, Buckley fires off a deadly left hook that snaps Wright’s head back, and a right hand that follows is unnecessary as Wright’s knees abandon him completely. The undefeated fighter falls to the canvas, and Dean knows he is done as Buckley walks off; Wright is no longer unbeaten.
Although not quite as spectacular as his performance that the promotion interrupted Bruce Buffer’s introduction to play, Buckley has now recorded another highlight reel knockout over an undefeated fighter in devastating fashion.

The Official Result
Joaquin Buckley def. Jordan Wright R2 0:18 via KO (Punch)
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked Nov 18, 2020 (3 days before fight)
Joaquin Buckley

Big Brady picks Joaquin Buckley to win by first-round knockout. He notes Buckley has better experience and competition, while Wright's early wins were against low-level opponents. He thinks Buckley's pressure and the small cage will be key, and Wright doesn't like being hit.

under 1.5 rounds, parlay piece
"i'm going to take joaquin buckley to win in the first round"
DA
Daniel Levi Expert Confident picked Nov 19, 2020 (2 days before fight)
Joaquin Buckley

Daniel picks Buckley, citing his aggressive pressure and power. He notes the '50k curse' but believes Buckley's forward pressure will break Wright's karate style. He also mentions Buckley's wrestling and durability, though he expects a tougher fight than some anticipate.

knockout
"i'mma go with buckley via knockout"
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Nov 17, 2020 (4 days before fight)
Jordan Wright

The host picks Jordan Wright to win by first or second round KO, despite acknowledging it's a surprising pick. He thinks the line on Buckley is skewed by his viral knockout, and that Wright has a size advantage and better game plan. He recommends against parlaying Buckley.

under 1.5 rounds
"I'm going to go with Jordan Wright I think Jordan Wright gets it done probably first or second round KO"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Nov 15, 2020 (6 days before fight)
Joaquin Buckley

The MMA Guru picks Joaquin Buckley to win by TKO (haymaker) in the first round. He notes Wright is moving down from light heavyweight and will have an adjustment period, and that Wright's competition has been weak. He expects Buckley to catch Wright with a big hook early.

first round tko
"i am gonna go with buckley catching him in the first round"
TKO (doctor stoppage) R1 1:31 · UFC on ESPN: Munhoz vs. Edgar · Aug 22, 2020
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Jordan Wright 0 7 of 7 100% 23 of 24 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:58
Ike Villanueva 1 15 of 15 100% 21 of 21 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:13
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Jordan Wright 0 7 of 7 100% 23 of 24 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:58
Ike Villanueva 1 15 of 15 100% 21 of 21 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:13
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Jordan Wright 7 of 7 100% 5 of 5 2 of 2 0 of 0 0 of 0 7 of 7 0 of 0
Ike Villanueva 15 of 15 100% 10 of 10 5 of 5 0 of 0 1 of 1 12 of 12 2 of 2
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Jordan Wright 7 of 7 100% 5 of 5 2 of 2 0 of 0 0 of 0 7 of 7 0 of 0
Ike Villanueva 15 of 15 100% 10 of 10 5 of 5 0 of 0 1 of 1 12 of 12 2 of 2
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked Aug 20, 2020 (2 days before fight)
Jordan Wright

Big Brady picks Jordan Wright to win by knockout, expecting an early finish. He is not impressed with Ike Villanueva, who looked awful against Chase Sherman, landing only 20 strikes before getting knocked out. Wright is faster and has power, though he has fought mostly nobodies. Wright is coming up from 185 to 205, but Brady likes his style and expects him to land a shot and finish Villanueva.

"i'm going to pick jordan right to win this fight i'm going to pick him to win my knockout"
DA
Daniel Levi Expert Confident picked Aug 22, 2020 (fight day)
Ike Villanueva

Daniel Levi picks Ike Villanueva to win by knockout. He notes that Jordan Wright is too small for light heavyweight, weighing in at 200 pounds, and lacks the toughness to compete in the UFC. Levi believes Villanueva has better size and experience, and that this is likely the only fight Villanueva will win in his UFC career. He expects a sloppy fight but sees Villanueva's power and durability as decisive.

knockout
"i'm gonna pick ike via knockout and then we can uh have the discussion of fading ike is a very next fight"
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Aug 20, 2020 (2 days before fight)
Jordan Wright

Wright is explosive, fast, and has knockout power, while Villanueva is 36 and was just finished by Chase Sherman. Wright's speed and footwork should be too much for Villanueva, who has durability issues. Expect a first-round KO from Wright. If Wright comes out as an underdog, he might be worth a small bet.

"i am going to take jordan right to win this by first round ko"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Aug 17, 2020 (5 days before fight)
Jordan Wright

The MMA Guru picks Jorge Gonzalez (Jordan Wright) over Ike Villanueva, criticizing Villanueva's poor UFC debut against Chase Sherman and his 16-10 record. He praises Gonzalez's competition, including a win over undefeated Marcos Rodriguez via first-round rear-naked choke, and predicts a first-round submission or TKO.

first round submission or tko by ground and pound
"i am going to be picking jorge gonzalez here ek valenweiver was not impressive to me"
Expert Picks (9)
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Confident picked Feb 14, 2023 (4 days before fight)
Zac Pauga

Angelo is confident in Pauga, citing his strong wrestling and low stance. He notes Pauga went up to heavyweight for TUF but is a natural light heavyweight. Jordan Wright has a 100% finish rate but is on a three-fight losing streak by stoppage and has a weak chin. Angelo thinks Pauga will wrestle and win, but there's no value in the betting line so he won't bet.

"Zach should absolutely get this done I'm not gonna spend three units on a dude with six professional fights."
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked Feb 13, 2023 (5 days before fight)
Jordan Wright

Big Brady is picking Jordan Wright for the upset, despite never picking him before. He notes that Pauga was knocked out by Muhammad Usman, who is not a power puncher, and that Pauga has only a 20% finish rate. He believes Wright is dangerous in the first two minutes and should come out aggressively rather than wrestling, as his cardio is poor. He predicts a first-round knockout for Wright.

Wright by KO, round 1
"I'm gonna take Jordan right for the big upset... I think he's going to have a ton of opportunities here to get that first round finish"
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Hesitant picked Feb 15, 2023 (3 days before fight)
Zac Pauga

Cody picks Pauga but is terrified of the -270 line. He notes Jordan Wright has only 5-6 minutes of cardio and is an under machine, but Pauga isn't a big finisher. He says Wright can absolutely get finishes early, so he'll watch weigh-ins closely. He compares Wright to Terence McKinney as a 50/50 fighter who either finishes early or gets pieced up. He also mentions Pauga got knocked out in his last fight and has been hurt before, so he's not confident.

Cody mentions he bet Pauga last time at -275 and lost. He considers under 2.5 rounds and thinks Pauga knocks Wright out. He says Pauga will be on parlays.
"I'll pick powga but that minus 270 I am I am terrified."
CO
Connor Ruebusch Expert Lean picked Feb 16, 2023 (2 days before fight)
Jordan Wright

Connor picks Wright because he thinks the move to light heavyweight could benefit Wright's speed and power, and Pauga is inexperienced and slow. However, he acknowledges Wright's mental fragility and tendency to panic. He picks Wright to win by first-round KO, but says he wouldn't bet on it.

Wright by KO is +350, inside distance +275, win in round 1 +450 to +575. Connor says 'I wouldn't bet on this. Please don't.'
"I guess I'll pick Jordan, right? I mean first round KO is the only way to pick him. So I'll pick him to finish quick."
JA
Jacob Lines Expert Confident picked Feb 14, 2023 (4 days before fight)
Zac Pauga

Jacob picks Pauga but is a Jordan Wright fan. He thinks Wright's chin is gone and his blitzing style leaves him open. Pauga's wrestling and power at 205 should be too much. Jacob played the under 1.5 rounds and feels good about it, though he cautions both are coming off knockout losses. He expects Wright to get knocked out again.

Jacob played under 1.5 rounds.
"I played the under one and a half I feel pretty good about might load up even more."
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Feb 14, 2023 (4 days before fight)
Zac Pauga

Pauga has better cardio and a more complete MMA game, while Wright fades after the first round and has durability issues. Pauga can survive the early storm and then take over with grappling and pressure, finishing Wright via ground and pound in the second or third round.

fight doesn't go to decision; Pauga wins by TKO in round 2 or 3
"I think if you're willing to eat any Chalk in this matchup it should be the violence... Pauga with a late TKO finish."
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Hesitant picked Feb 15, 2023 (3 days before fight)
Zac Pauga

Paul agrees with Cody, calling Jordan Wright a lost fighter with no cardio or durability. He details Wright's pattern of starting fast but fading and getting finished. He notes Pauga has excellent cardio, trains at altitude, and has enough striking to pressure Wright. However, he says the -270 line is too high for a guy with one UFC win who got knocked out. He prefers the under 2.5 rounds at -350 as a parlay piece.

Paul highlights under 2.5 rounds at -350 and under 1.5 rounds at -175. He says Wright doesn't have 15 minutes in him against anybody.
"I probably hit the under I don't know if I like under one and a half like under two and a half and then I'm thinking probably Clips on Pogo puts him away."
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Feb 14, 2023 (4 days before fight)
Zac Pauga

The MMA Guru picks Zac Pauga, citing his takedown defense from The Ultimate Fighter and his size advantage. He criticizes Jordan Wright's poor decision-making and quick turnaround after a KO loss. He believes Pauga is patient and can catch Wright with a counter shot after Wright gets reckless in round two, predicting a KO. He notes the possibility of an upset but trusts Pauga's chin more.

KO in round two
"I'm gonna go with Zach paulaga by KO wouldn't be surprised if I got an upset though but I'm just not willing to trust his chin in a scrappy fight"
ZA
Zane Simon Expert Confident picked Feb 16, 2023 (2 days before fight)
Zac Pauga

Zane picks Pauga because Jordan Wright has a history of panicking and losing focus when he doesn't finish early. Wright is dangerous early but fades and makes defensive mistakes. Pauga is raw but has a takedown game and can survive the initial storm. Zane notes that Wright's move to light heavyweight seems desperate and may not fix his mental issues.

Wright by KO is +350, inside distance +275, win in round 1 +450 to +575. Wright opened +170, now +226; Pauga opened -195, now -281. Zane says he wouldn't bet on this.
"I'll take pauga. I mean it's just kind of... I'm interested to see what he can do. He could very easily be more like Villanueva than Mark Andre Barrio."