UFC Fight Night: Cannonier vs. Strickland · Dec 17, 2022 · Bantamweight · Completed
Prev Fight UFC Fight Night: Cannonier vs. Strickland
Age 36
Height 5' 6"
Reach 67.0"
Weight 135 lbs.
Stance Orthodox
Age 37
Height 5' 5"
Reach 67.0"
Weight 135 lbs.
Stance Orthodox
Career Averages - Sergey Morozov
3.01 SLpM
43.0% Str. Acc.
2.97 SApM
61.0% Str. Def.
3.63 TD Avg
31.0% TD Acc.
68.0% TD Def.
0.0 Sub. Avg
Career Averages - Journey Newson
2.64 SLpM
32.0% Str. Acc.
2.57 SApM
64.0% Str. Def.
0.56 TD Avg
16.0% TD Acc.
43.0% TD Def.
0.3 Sub. Avg
Sergey Morozov
Moneyline
FanDuel -290
KO/TKO
BetRivers +370
Submission
FanDuel +500
Decision
FanDuel +155
Journey Newson
Moneyline
BetWay +275
KO/TKO
BetRivers +650
Submission
BetRivers +2500
Decision
BetRivers +575
Sergey Morozov - Fight History
Decision (unanimous) (30–27, 29–28, 29–28) R3 5:00 · UFC Fight Night: Cannonier vs. Strickland · Dec 17, 2022
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Sergey Morozov 0 30 of 105 28% 65 of 145 6 of 13 46% 0 0 6:59
Journey Newson 0 26 of 106 24% 49 of 136 0 of 2 0% 0 0 0:00
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Sergey Morozov 0 12 of 43 27% 16 of 47 2 of 2 100% 0 0 1:24
Journey Newson 0 10 of 47 21% 11 of 48 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:00
2 Sergey Morozov 0 11 of 38 28% 21 of 49 2 of 5 40% 0 0 2:21
Journey Newson 0 8 of 32 25% 14 of 39 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
3 Sergey Morozov 0 7 of 24 29% 28 of 49 2 of 6 33% 0 0 3:14
Journey Newson 0 8 of 27 29% 24 of 49 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:00
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Sergey Morozov 30 of 105 28% 7 of 76 8 of 12 15 of 17 16 of 88 9 of 11 5 of 6
Journey Newson 26 of 106 24% 10 of 78 7 of 14 9 of 14 25 of 104 1 of 2 0 of 0
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Sergey Morozov 12 of 43 27% 4 of 34 2 of 3 6 of 6 8 of 37 3 of 4 1 of 2
Journey Newson 10 of 47 21% 6 of 40 3 of 6 1 of 1 10 of 46 0 of 1 0 of 0
2 Sergey Morozov 11 of 38 28% 2 of 25 5 of 7 4 of 6 5 of 31 2 of 3 4 of 4
Journey Newson 8 of 32 25% 0 of 18 3 of 5 5 of 9 8 of 32 0 of 0 0 of 0
3 Sergey Morozov 7 of 24 29% 1 of 17 1 of 2 5 of 5 3 of 20 4 of 4 0 of 0
Journey Newson 8 of 27 29% 4 of 20 1 of 3 3 of 4 7 of 26 1 of 1 0 of 0
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Lean picked Dec 11, 2022 (6 days before fight)
Sergey Morozov

Angelo gives a slight lean to Sergey Morozov, citing his better takedown defense and ability to stop takedown attempts while getting his own. However, he notes that Journey Newson looked incredible in his last fight and that version could beat Sergey. He believes this should be a 50/50 fight and plans to find a way to bet on Journey Newson as well.

Plans to bet on Journey Newson as underdog
"I'm gonna do I'm just gonna give the the slightest lean towards Sergey here because I think he's got the better takedown defense"
BI
Big Brady Expert Hesitant picked Dec 15, 2022 (2 days before fight)
Sergey Morozov

Big Brady likes Morozov to win but is hesitant due to durability concerns, noting Morozov has been finished in four of five losses and gets hurt often. However, he thinks Newson isn't a big power puncher so it shouldn't be a major issue. He expects Morozov to mix in takedowns and grind out a three-round decision. He can't get behind the moneyline at -300 but picks Morozov by decision.

Morozov by decision
"I like him to win I think a striking solid but I think in this matchup he's going to be able to go out there mixing takedowns whenever he wants... give me Rose off to win this one by decision"
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Confident picked Dec 14, 2022 (2 days before fight)
Sergey Morozov

Cody picks Morozov, noting his wrestling and well-rounded skills. He thinks Newson is a boxer with limited MMA skills and Morozov will take him down and control him. He expects a decision win but acknowledges a finish is possible.

Morozov by decision (considered)
"the pick will be certain Immortals yeah pick for me is going to be Sergey Morrison as well"
CO
Connor Ruebusch Expert Confident picked Dec 15, 2022 (2 days before fight)
Sergey Morozov

Connor picks Morozov, noting he is a high-level fighter with an aggressive, put-together game. He thinks Morozov will be the aggressive one, come forward, wrestle, and land combinations. He notes Newson is not durable and his game seems experimental.

"I just think morozov is given that kind of opponent he's like, oh i'm going to be the aggressive one. Great."
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Confident picked Dec 14, 2022 (2 days before fight)
Sergey Morozov

Paul picks Morozov, agreeing with Cody. He thinks Morozov's wrestling will be too much for Newson. He notes Newson's only path is a puncher's chance. He is not excited about the price but sees Morozov as a safe pick.

"roseov will be the pick for me"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Dec 13, 2022 (4 days before fight)
Sergey Morozov

The MMA Guru picks Sergey Morozov over Journey Newson, citing Morozov's size and strength advantage. He notes that Newson is too small for bantamweight at 5'5" and expects Morozov to implement a grappling clinic. However, he expresses concern about Morozov's chin, as he has been hurt in recent fights by Halley and Paver and Douglas Silva de Andrade. Despite this, he trusts Morozov's grappling to get the job done, as Newson is not a consistent one-punch KO threat at bantamweight.

"I am going to be going with Sergey morozov here to start off the card"
ZA
Zane Simon Expert Confident picked Dec 15, 2022 (2 days before fight)
Sergey Morozov

Zane picks Morozov, noting he has more options in exchanges and can punch his way into takedowns. He thinks Newson is not comfortable in protracted exchanges and Morozov will press his wrestling advantage. He also mentions Morozov might block a kick and knock Newson out.

"He only has to throw three punches getting inside one has to land and then he can do something else that isn't trading punches"
WIN vs Raulian Paiva
Decision (unanimous) (29–28, 29–28, 29–28) R3 5:00 · UFC on ESPN: Tsarukyan vs. Gamrot · Jun 25, 2022
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Sergey Morozov 0 63 of 142 44% 63 of 142 1 of 4 25% 0 0 0:13
Raulian Paiva 0 68 of 127 53% 82 of 143 2 of 13 15% 0 0 4:35
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Sergey Morozov 0 39 of 76 51% 39 of 76 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:03
Raulian Paiva 0 31 of 57 54% 32 of 58 0 of 2 0% 0 0 0:14
2 Sergey Morozov 0 8 of 16 50% 8 of 16 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Raulian Paiva 0 7 of 14 50% 17 of 26 1 of 5 20% 0 0 3:51
3 Sergey Morozov 0 16 of 50 32% 16 of 50 1 of 4 25% 0 0 0:10
Raulian Paiva 0 30 of 56 53% 33 of 59 1 of 6 16% 0 0 0:30
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Sergey Morozov 63 of 142 44% 51 of 120 10 of 20 2 of 2 62 of 140 1 of 1 0 of 1
Raulian Paiva 68 of 127 53% 56 of 113 8 of 9 4 of 5 66 of 122 1 of 3 1 of 2
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Sergey Morozov 39 of 76 51% 31 of 63 6 of 11 2 of 2 39 of 76 0 of 0 0 of 0
Raulian Paiva 31 of 57 54% 26 of 52 4 of 4 1 of 1 31 of 57 0 of 0 0 of 0
2 Sergey Morozov 8 of 16 50% 7 of 14 1 of 2 0 of 0 7 of 14 1 of 1 0 of 1
Raulian Paiva 7 of 14 50% 5 of 11 0 of 1 2 of 2 5 of 11 1 of 1 1 of 2
3 Sergey Morozov 16 of 50 32% 13 of 43 3 of 7 0 of 0 16 of 50 0 of 0 0 of 0
Raulian Paiva 30 of 56 53% 25 of 50 4 of 4 1 of 2 30 of 54 0 of 2 0 of 0
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Confident picked Jun 19, 2022 (6 days before fight)
Sergey Morozov

Angelo picks Sergey Morozov to win an ugly, fun fight. He highlights Morozov's counter-striking and grappling, noting that Paiva tends to run forward looking for a brawl, which plays into Morozov's counter-striking. He compares Morozov's potential success to Sean O'Malley's, who lit Paiva up with counters. He expects Morozov's grappling to also be a factor.

"i like marazzo off here to win an ugly and very fun fight"
BI
Big Brady Expert Hesitant picked Jun 21, 2022 (4 days before fight)
Sergey Morozov

Big Brady picks Sergey Morozov to win by decision, but with low confidence. He likes Morozov's path to victory via takedowns and control, noting Paiva's poor takedown defense (taken down by multiple opponents). However, he questions Morozov's chin (dropped three times in last fight, KO losses outside UFC) and submission defense. He thinks the fight could get sketchy and says he is staying away from betting it. He expects Morozov to grind out a decision.

"i'm going to take morozov to kind of grind this one out... but uh this one could get sketchy for sure"
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Confident picked Jun 22, 2022 (3 days before fight)
Sergey Morozov

Cody likes Morozov's power and boxing, and thinks Paiva's poor head movement and durability issues will lead to a knockout. He also mentions Morozov by KO as a prop.

Morozov by KO
"i gotta go with the guy with the better skill set here so sergey morozov and i'm kind of tempted to maybe maybe take a shot on morse off by knockout yeah"
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Confident picked Jun 22, 2022 (3 days before fight)
Sergey Morozov

Paul agrees, noting Paiva's weight cut issues and the damage he's taken. He thinks Morozov will get back on track.

"i think morozov gets on back on track in this spot as well"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Jun 20, 2022 (5 days before fight)
Sergey Morozov

The host picks Sergey Morozov, calling it the toughest fight to predict. He notes Morozov's grappling advantage and believes he will use takedowns to control the fight. He expects a finish in the second round, citing Morozov's experience against good opponents like Umar Nurmagomedov. He is not confident in Paiva's improvements.

second round finish prediction
"i am going to go with sergey morrisov here"
Technical Submission (rear-naked choke) R2 3:24 · UFC 271: Adesanya vs. Whittaker 2 · Feb 12, 2022
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Douglas Silva de Andrade 3 37 of 64 57% 57 of 86 0 of 1 0% 2 0 0:55
Sergey Morozov 1 32 of 65 49% 62 of 99 1 of 5 20% 0 0 2:30
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Douglas Silva de Andrade 0 15 of 30 50% 28 of 43 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Sergey Morozov 1 23 of 40 57% 53 of 74 1 of 2 50% 0 0 2:09
2 Douglas Silva de Andrade 3 22 of 34 64% 29 of 43 0 of 1 0% 2 0 0:55
Sergey Morozov 0 9 of 25 36% 9 of 25 0 of 3 0% 0 0 0:21
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Douglas Silva de Andrade 37 of 64 57% 16 of 40 12 of 14 9 of 10 31 of 56 6 of 7 0 of 1
Sergey Morozov 32 of 65 49% 24 of 56 6 of 7 2 of 2 25 of 54 1 of 1 6 of 10
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Douglas Silva de Andrade 15 of 30 50% 6 of 19 3 of 4 6 of 7 15 of 30 0 of 0 0 of 0
Sergey Morozov 23 of 40 57% 19 of 36 4 of 4 0 of 0 16 of 29 1 of 1 6 of 10
2 Douglas Silva de Andrade 22 of 34 64% 10 of 21 9 of 10 3 of 3 16 of 26 6 of 7 0 of 1
Sergey Morozov 9 of 25 36% 5 of 20 2 of 3 2 of 2 9 of 25 0 of 0 0 of 0
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Confident picked Feb 6, 2022 (6 days before fight)
Sergey Morozov

Angelo picks Morozov due to his wrestling advantage, noting that Andrade has been taken down in every loss. He believes Morozov can hang with Andrade's power, set a hard pace, and mix in takedowns to win a unanimous decision. He acknowledges Andrade's experience but thinks Morozov's pressure and top control will be decisive.

"i like morozov to win this fight and i like him to win because of the wrestling if you look at andraj's losses he was taken down in every single one of them"
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked Feb 7, 2022 (5 days before fight)
Sergey Morozov

Big Brady is impressed with Morozov's well-rounded game, especially his fight IQ and takedown ability. He notes Morozov showed good striking against Khalid Taha and took him down six times. Brady believes Morozov will take down Silva de Andrade multiple times and control him on the mat, leading to a decision win. He also points out Silva de Andrade is 36 and has only one submission win, relying mostly on knockouts.

Morozov by decision
"I think this is a pretty good spot for a decision win for sergey morozov"
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Confident picked Feb 9, 2022 (3 days before fight)
Sergey Morozov

Cody picks Morozov, citing his high-level regional experience and grinding style. He notes Silva de Andrade has poor takedown defense and that Morozov can exploit that. He expects Morozov to take him down and control the fight.

"i gotta go with morizov man i really do like this guy"
DA
Daniel Levi Expert Confident picked Feb 10, 2022 (2 days before fight)
Sergey Morozov

Daniel Levi picks Sergey Morozov by decision. He notes that Morozov showed big improvements in his last fight and that his clinch and pressure will be key. Silva de Andrade has holes in the clinch and tends to rest. Levi believes Morozov will work harder and win a decision.

"i think he will uh defeat douglas de silva by decision"
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Feb 8, 2022 (4 days before fight)
Sergey Morozov

Morozov has a clear grappling advantage and should dominate de Andrade on the ground. De Andrade has shown vulnerability to wrestlers in the past, struggling to get up from under opponents like Henan Barou. Morozov trains at American Top Team and has sharp boxing to close distance. The only way de Andrade wins is by knockout, but Morozov's chin and unorthodox striking make that unlikely. Already placed 3 units and may add more.

decision win for Morozov; may become lock of the night
"i'm all over sergey morizov here i love him in this spot um as of this recording i already have three units on him i might add another two and make him my lock of the night play"
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert picked Feb 9, 2022 (3 days before fight)

Paul admits he hasn't watched tape on this fight and defers to Cody's analysis. He doesn't make a clear pick.

"this is like the one fight that i haven't even been able to get around to watching any tape on"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Feb 7, 2022 (5 days before fight)
Sergey Morozov

The MMA Guru picks Sergey Morozov, citing his grappling pressure and ability to slow down Douglas Silva de Andrade, who tends to fade. He notes Morozov's strong M1 Challenge background and believes he can secure a third-round rear-naked choke finish.

third round rear-naked choke
"i'm going with sergey morrisov here"
WIN vs Khalid Taha
Decision (unanimous) (30–27, 30–27, 30–27) R3 5:00 · UFC on ESPN: Makhachev vs. Moises · Jul 17, 2021
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Sergey Morozov 0 33 of 123 26% 66 of 158 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:00
Khalid Taha 0 50 of 103 48% 99 of 159 6 of 16 37% 0 0 8:34
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Sergey Morozov 0 3 of 19 15% 23 of 41 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Khalid Taha 0 8 of 18 44% 21 of 35 1 of 2 50% 0 0 2:58
2 Sergey Morozov 0 12 of 35 34% 19 of 42 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Khalid Taha 0 17 of 33 51% 33 of 51 3 of 7 42% 0 0 2:53
3 Sergey Morozov 0 18 of 69 26% 24 of 75 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:00
Khalid Taha 0 25 of 52 48% 45 of 73 2 of 7 28% 0 0 2:43
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Sergey Morozov 33 of 123 26% 9 of 82 12 of 25 12 of 16 30 of 117 3 of 5 0 of 1
Khalid Taha 50 of 103 48% 45 of 94 2 of 5 3 of 4 33 of 81 6 of 7 11 of 15
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Sergey Morozov 3 of 19 15% 1 of 11 0 of 3 2 of 5 3 of 18 0 of 0 0 of 1
Khalid Taha 8 of 18 44% 7 of 15 1 of 2 0 of 1 3 of 10 0 of 0 5 of 8
2 Sergey Morozov 12 of 35 34% 3 of 20 3 of 9 6 of 6 12 of 35 0 of 0 0 of 0
Khalid Taha 17 of 33 51% 16 of 31 0 of 1 1 of 1 11 of 26 1 of 1 5 of 6
3 Sergey Morozov 18 of 69 26% 5 of 51 9 of 13 4 of 5 15 of 64 3 of 5 0 of 0
Khalid Taha 25 of 52 48% 22 of 48 1 of 2 2 of 2 19 of 45 5 of 6 1 of 1
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Lean picked Jul 14, 2021 (3 days before fight)
Sergey Morozov

Cody leans towards Sergey Morozov as a live underdog, citing his ring IQ and wrestling. He believes Morozov can take Khalid Taha down and grind him out, exploiting Taha's poor takedown defense and cardio. He notes that Taha is explosive and heavy-handed, but if Morozov implements the right game plan, he can win.

"I'm gonna have to go with sergey morozov it really does come down to his ring iq and is he going to shoot the reactionary takedowns."
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert picked Jul 14, 2021 (3 days before fight)

Paul passes on this fight, calling it a 'dogger pass'. He is not sure if he will bet it and prefers to wait for weigh-ins. He acknowledges that Taha could come out looking strong, but he doesn't commit to a pick.

"I think it's a dogger pass i don't have anything on it i'm not sure if i will."
Technical Submission (rear-naked choke) R2 3:39 · UFC on ESPN: Chiesa vs. Magny · Jan 20, 2021
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Umar Nurmagomedov 0 25 of 41 60% 32 of 48 5 of 11 45% 1 0 2:57
Sergey Morozov 0 7 of 30 23% 8 of 31 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:08
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Umar Nurmagomedov 0 11 of 21 52% 15 of 25 2 of 5 40% 0 0 1:08
Sergey Morozov 0 3 of 20 15% 3 of 20 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:08
2 Umar Nurmagomedov 0 14 of 20 70% 17 of 23 3 of 6 50% 1 0 1:49
Sergey Morozov 0 4 of 10 40% 5 of 11 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Umar Nurmagomedov 25 of 41 60% 14 of 25 4 of 9 7 of 7 18 of 34 6 of 6 1 of 1
Sergey Morozov 7 of 30 23% 2 of 20 3 of 7 2 of 3 7 of 29 0 of 1 0 of 0
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Umar Nurmagomedov 11 of 21 52% 3 of 11 3 of 5 5 of 5 10 of 20 1 of 1 0 of 0
Sergey Morozov 3 of 20 15% 1 of 14 2 of 5 0 of 1 3 of 19 0 of 1 0 of 0
2 Umar Nurmagomedov 14 of 20 70% 11 of 14 1 of 4 2 of 2 8 of 14 5 of 5 1 of 1
Sergey Morozov 4 of 10 40% 1 of 6 1 of 2 2 of 2 4 of 10 0 of 0 0 of 0
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked Jan 17, 2021 (3 days before fight)
Umar Nurmagomedov

Big Brady acknowledges that Sergey Morozov is a solid fighter but believes Umar Nurmagomedov's takedowns and top control will be decisive. He notes that Morozov has been submitted and knocked out before, and that Nurmagomedov is very good at getting takedowns early. He predicts a decision win for Nurmagomedov, possibly 30-27, but calls the -550 line a bit crazy.

Nurmagomedov by decision; -550 is crazy
"nurmagomedov probably should get it done"
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Hesitant picked Jan 19, 2021 (1 day before fight)
Umar Nurmagomedov

The host likes Umar's diverse kicking game and fluid stand-up, but is hesitant due to the steep -400 line and Umar being a UFC debutant. He thinks Umar's takedowns and ground control will lead to a decision win, but wants to see him against established UFC competition before betting heavily.

"i still think the odds are a little bit wide i'm not willing to go out there and shell out that minus 500 on a ufc debutant"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Jan 13, 2021 (7 days before fight)
Umar Nurmagomedov

The MMA Guru picks Umar Nurmagomedov despite being tempted by the +500 odds on Morozov. He acknowledges Morozov is a good fighter who avenged a previous loss, but believes Umar is equally good on the feet and on the ground, with a great team behind him. He predicts a close fight but expects Umar to do enough to win each round, resulting in a 30-27 unanimous decision. He notes Umar's reach advantage and sneaky front kick.

unanimous decision 30-27
"i'm going to go with umar nemet off by 30 27 unanimous decision win it's gonna be competitive the five to one odds have almost lured me to pick morrisov i'm not gonna do it though"
Journey Newson - Fight History
LOSS vs Marcus McGhee
Submission (rear-naked choke) R2 2:03 · UFC on ESPN: Song vs. Simon · Apr 29, 2023
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Marcus McGhee 0 13 of 46 28% 13 of 46 0 of 6 0% 0 0 1:03
Journey Newson 1 25 of 53 47% 25 of 54 0 of 0 --- 1 0 0:31
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Marcus McGhee 0 9 of 39 23% 9 of 39 0 of 3 0% 0 0 0:34
Journey Newson 0 19 of 42 45% 19 of 43 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
2 Marcus McGhee 0 4 of 7 57% 4 of 7 0 of 3 0% 0 0 0:29
Journey Newson 1 6 of 11 54% 6 of 11 0 of 0 --- 1 0 0:31
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Marcus McGhee 13 of 46 28% 6 of 34 4 of 7 3 of 5 12 of 45 1 of 1 0 of 0
Journey Newson 25 of 53 47% 14 of 39 9 of 11 2 of 3 21 of 47 3 of 4 1 of 2
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Marcus McGhee 9 of 39 23% 4 of 29 4 of 7 1 of 3 8 of 38 1 of 1 0 of 0
Journey Newson 19 of 42 45% 10 of 30 7 of 9 2 of 3 18 of 40 1 of 2 0 of 0
2 Marcus McGhee 4 of 7 57% 2 of 5 0 of 0 2 of 2 4 of 7 0 of 0 0 of 0
Journey Newson 6 of 11 54% 4 of 9 2 of 2 0 of 0 3 of 7 2 of 2 1 of 2
Play-by-Play
View on Sherdog
Marcus McGhee vs. Journey Newson

Round 1
McGhee makes his debut on just a few days notice against five-time UFC vet Newson. Mark Smith will oversee the catchweight bout. McGhee takes the center of the cage and has a high kick blocked. McGhee goes upstairs with another kick and again, Newson’s guard is in place. Newson wings an overhand left and misses the mark. McGhee lands an inside low kick. The newcomer jumps in with a knee and Newson holds on to a leg before releasing. Newson sits down an a solid right hand. A body kick lands for Newson. McGhee jumps in with a front kick that lands. Newson catches it and lets it go immediately. Newson throws a high kick that McGhee blocks. A stiff left hand backs up Newson, and another straight punch lands shortly thereafter. McGhee is finding the mark for his left hand now. Newson looks to keep his man at bay with a series of kicks. A right lands for Newson and he circles away. McGhee kicks the body. Newson closes the range and drops for a takedown against the fence. Newson releases a leg and then follows McGee as he rolls. The fighters get back to range, and Newson pushes his foe into the cage, where he misses a spinning back elbow before stepping away. McGhee lands a knee in the clinch and misses a kick. A spinning kick to the body lands for McGhee and then he fires off a left hand. A right lands for Newson as he rushes forward with punches at the horn.

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

Round 2
Newson can’t find the range on a head kick and McGhee answers with a body kick. Newson pressures forward and McGhee counters with a right hand. Newson nearly trips his man down but McGhee is up quickly. Newson lands a couple inside leg kicks. They tie up and McGee backs Newson into the fence. Newson reverses the position and he looks for a takedown. He eventually gets McGee down, but only for a couple seconds. A quick straight left at range sits down Newson and McGee jumps on his opponent’s back when he rolls to his knees.
McGhee applies a rear-naked choke and tightens the hold. Newson can only hold on for a few seconds before he taps out.
McGhee has yet to go the distance in his professional career.

The Official Result
Marcus McGhee def. Journey Newson via Submission (Rear-Naked Choke) R2 2:03
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Confident picked Apr 26, 2023 (3 days before fight)

Cody picks Kelleher by decision, noting that Kelleher has underrated wrestling and can control Newson on the ground. He points out that Newson has poor takedown defense against wrestlers and that Kelleher's recent wins have come via wrestling-heavy game plans. He believes Kelleher will fight smart to secure a decision.

Brian Kelleher by decision
"I would take Brian Kelleher I would also be greedy enough to chase it by Brian Keller by decision"
CO
Connor Ruebusch Expert Hesitant picked Apr 27, 2023 (2 days before fight)
Journey Newson

Connor also picks Newson hesitantly, citing the short notice and McGhee's potential to gas if he blitzes. He notes Newson's wrestling could be a factor, but McGhee's athletic takedown defense and scrambling are good. Connor thinks the fight could be ugly and low-volume.

"i'm just going to take nuisance to win on the short notice but it's not you know if you're nuisance i wouldn't be happy about taking this fight frankly"
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Confident picked Apr 26, 2023 (3 days before fight)

Paul picks Kelleher by decision, agreeing with Cody. He notes that Kelleher is on a three-fight losing streak against top competition and this is a must-win. He expects Kelleher to rely on his wrestling and control time to secure a decision. He is surprised the line has moved towards a pick'em and may bet Kelleher.

Brian Kelleher by decision
"Brian Kelleher by decision is my pick I'm gonna continue to wait watch this Market continue to move"
ZA
Zane Simon Expert Hesitant picked Apr 27, 2023 (2 days before fight)
Journey Newson

Zane picks Newson hesitantly due to McGhee's short notice, but acknowledges McGhee could blitz and win early. He notes Newson's wrestling and submission game could be effective if McGhee gasses. Zane is concerned about Newson's broken style but thinks the short notice favors him.

"I'm just going to take nuisance to win on the short notice but it's not you know if you're nuisance i wouldn't be happy about taking this fight frankly"
LOSS vs Sergey Morozov
Decision (unanimous) (30–27, 29–28, 29–28) R3 5:00 · UFC Fight Night: Cannonier vs. Strickland · Dec 17, 2022
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Sergey Morozov 0 30 of 105 28% 65 of 145 6 of 13 46% 0 0 6:59
Journey Newson 0 26 of 106 24% 49 of 136 0 of 2 0% 0 0 0:00
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Sergey Morozov 0 12 of 43 27% 16 of 47 2 of 2 100% 0 0 1:24
Journey Newson 0 10 of 47 21% 11 of 48 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:00
2 Sergey Morozov 0 11 of 38 28% 21 of 49 2 of 5 40% 0 0 2:21
Journey Newson 0 8 of 32 25% 14 of 39 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
3 Sergey Morozov 0 7 of 24 29% 28 of 49 2 of 6 33% 0 0 3:14
Journey Newson 0 8 of 27 29% 24 of 49 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:00
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Sergey Morozov 30 of 105 28% 7 of 76 8 of 12 15 of 17 16 of 88 9 of 11 5 of 6
Journey Newson 26 of 106 24% 10 of 78 7 of 14 9 of 14 25 of 104 1 of 2 0 of 0
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Sergey Morozov 12 of 43 27% 4 of 34 2 of 3 6 of 6 8 of 37 3 of 4 1 of 2
Journey Newson 10 of 47 21% 6 of 40 3 of 6 1 of 1 10 of 46 0 of 1 0 of 0
2 Sergey Morozov 11 of 38 28% 2 of 25 5 of 7 4 of 6 5 of 31 2 of 3 4 of 4
Journey Newson 8 of 32 25% 0 of 18 3 of 5 5 of 9 8 of 32 0 of 0 0 of 0
3 Sergey Morozov 7 of 24 29% 1 of 17 1 of 2 5 of 5 3 of 20 4 of 4 0 of 0
Journey Newson 8 of 27 29% 4 of 20 1 of 3 3 of 4 7 of 26 1 of 1 0 of 0
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Lean picked Dec 11, 2022 (6 days before fight)
Sergey Morozov

Angelo gives a slight lean to Sergey Morozov, citing his better takedown defense and ability to stop takedown attempts while getting his own. However, he notes that Journey Newson looked incredible in his last fight and that version could beat Sergey. He believes this should be a 50/50 fight and plans to find a way to bet on Journey Newson as well.

Plans to bet on Journey Newson as underdog
"I'm gonna do I'm just gonna give the the slightest lean towards Sergey here because I think he's got the better takedown defense"
BI
Big Brady Expert Hesitant picked Dec 15, 2022 (2 days before fight)
Sergey Morozov

Big Brady likes Morozov to win but is hesitant due to durability concerns, noting Morozov has been finished in four of five losses and gets hurt often. However, he thinks Newson isn't a big power puncher so it shouldn't be a major issue. He expects Morozov to mix in takedowns and grind out a three-round decision. He can't get behind the moneyline at -300 but picks Morozov by decision.

Morozov by decision
"I like him to win I think a striking solid but I think in this matchup he's going to be able to go out there mixing takedowns whenever he wants... give me Rose off to win this one by decision"
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Confident picked Dec 14, 2022 (2 days before fight)
Sergey Morozov

Cody picks Morozov, noting his wrestling and well-rounded skills. He thinks Newson is a boxer with limited MMA skills and Morozov will take him down and control him. He expects a decision win but acknowledges a finish is possible.

Morozov by decision (considered)
"the pick will be certain Immortals yeah pick for me is going to be Sergey Morrison as well"
CO
Connor Ruebusch Expert Confident picked Dec 15, 2022 (2 days before fight)
Sergey Morozov

Connor picks Morozov, noting he is a high-level fighter with an aggressive, put-together game. He thinks Morozov will be the aggressive one, come forward, wrestle, and land combinations. He notes Newson is not durable and his game seems experimental.

"I just think morozov is given that kind of opponent he's like, oh i'm going to be the aggressive one. Great."
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Confident picked Dec 14, 2022 (2 days before fight)
Sergey Morozov

Paul picks Morozov, agreeing with Cody. He thinks Morozov's wrestling will be too much for Newson. He notes Newson's only path is a puncher's chance. He is not excited about the price but sees Morozov as a safe pick.

"roseov will be the pick for me"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Dec 13, 2022 (4 days before fight)
Sergey Morozov

The MMA Guru picks Sergey Morozov over Journey Newson, citing Morozov's size and strength advantage. He notes that Newson is too small for bantamweight at 5'5" and expects Morozov to implement a grappling clinic. However, he expresses concern about Morozov's chin, as he has been hurt in recent fights by Halley and Paver and Douglas Silva de Andrade. Despite this, he trusts Morozov's grappling to get the job done, as Newson is not a consistent one-punch KO threat at bantamweight.

"I am going to be going with Sergey morozov here to start off the card"
ZA
Zane Simon Expert Confident picked Dec 15, 2022 (2 days before fight)
Sergey Morozov

Zane picks Morozov, noting he has more options in exchanges and can punch his way into takedowns. He thinks Newson is not comfortable in protracted exchanges and Morozov will press his wrestling advantage. He also mentions Morozov might block a kick and knock Newson out.

"He only has to throw three punches getting inside one has to land and then he can do something else that isn't trading punches"
WIN vs Fernie Garcia
Decision (unanimous) (30–27, 30–27, 29–28) R3 5:00 · UFC 274: Oliveira vs. Gaethje · May 07, 2022
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Journey Newson 0 57 of 143 39% 63 of 150 2 of 3 66% 0 0 0:42
Fernie Garcia 0 37 of 103 35% 38 of 104 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:02
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Journey Newson 0 7 of 41 17% 8 of 42 1 of 2 50% 0 0 0:17
Fernie Garcia 0 11 of 27 40% 12 of 28 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:02
2 Journey Newson 0 28 of 52 53% 29 of 53 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Fernie Garcia 0 14 of 41 34% 14 of 41 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
3 Journey Newson 0 22 of 50 44% 26 of 55 1 of 1 100% 0 0 0:25
Fernie Garcia 0 12 of 35 34% 12 of 35 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Journey Newson 57 of 143 39% 23 of 92 21 of 30 13 of 21 52 of 138 1 of 1 4 of 4
Fernie Garcia 37 of 103 35% 24 of 84 6 of 12 7 of 7 37 of 101 0 of 2 0 of 0
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Journey Newson 7 of 41 17% 2 of 30 2 of 5 3 of 6 7 of 41 0 of 0 0 of 0
Fernie Garcia 11 of 27 40% 10 of 25 0 of 1 1 of 1 11 of 27 0 of 0 0 of 0
2 Journey Newson 28 of 52 53% 10 of 29 13 of 16 5 of 7 27 of 51 1 of 1 0 of 0
Fernie Garcia 14 of 41 34% 8 of 33 4 of 6 2 of 2 14 of 40 0 of 1 0 of 0
3 Journey Newson 22 of 50 44% 11 of 33 6 of 9 5 of 8 18 of 46 0 of 0 4 of 4
Fernie Garcia 12 of 35 34% 6 of 26 2 of 5 4 of 4 12 of 34 0 of 1 0 of 0
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Lean picked Apr 30, 2022 (7 days before fight)
Fernie Garcia

Angelo gives a slight lean to Fernie Garcia, acknowledging that Garcia is the more technical fighter and uses wrestling better than Newson. However, he worries that Garcia's contender series knockout might make him overconfident in striking exchanges. He hopes Garcia sticks to a wrestling game plan to secure a win.

"I'm giving a slight lean to fernie here but i am worried that the contender series knockout has him thinking that he can trade strike for strike with newson"
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked May 2, 2022 (5 days before fight)
Journey Newson

Big Brady picks Journey Newson to win by decision as an underdog. He believes the line is off because Garcia is getting the contender series hype. Newson has fought tougher competition (Ricardo Ramos, Randy Costa) and is well-rounded with power and a BJJ black belt. Garcia is a good wrestler but has low power and is hittable. Brady thinks the fight will be close on the feet, and Newson's experience gives him the edge. He expects Newson to win a competitive decision.

decision
"I'm going to take the dog here I'm going to take the dog here in journey newson to to get the upset line doesn't make much sense to me you know the contender series hype on garcia"
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Lean picked May 4, 2022 (3 days before fight)
Journey Newson

Cody picks Journey Newson as his third underdog. He notes that Garcia has been in many split decisions and lacks finishing ability. Newson has power and could hurt Garcia if they exchange. Cody acknowledges the unknowns due to Newson's layoff but sees value at +130.

"i'm gonna go with the underdog journey newsome"
DA
Daniel Levi Expert Lean picked May 5, 2022 (2 days before fight)
Fernie Garcia

Daniel Levi picks Fernie Garcia, citing his durability and Mexican warrior spirit. He thinks Garcia can eat Newson's best shots and outlast him. He is not confident and does not like the price, so he does not bet. He notes Newson is a liability to get dropped.

Daniel does not bet this fight. He mentions Garcia by decision but no bet.
"Give me Fernie Garcia. Not the most confident pick and do not like the price either."
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked May 6, 2022 (1 day before fight)
Journey Newson

The host believes Journey Newson is being disrespected as the underdog. He notes Newson's good jiu-jitsu and takedown ability, and expects him to take the fight to the ground to counter Fernie Garcia's striking pressure. He criticizes Garcia's close decision fights and mediocre competition. He predicts Newson wins via decision or submission.

"give me journey newson uh and i'm gonna see i want to say submission but but i'll ultimately go uh via decision in this spot"
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Lean picked May 4, 2022 (3 days before fight)
Journey Newson

Paul leans towards Journey Newson as an underdog. He notes that Newson kept it competitive against Ricardo Ramos and has power. Paul thinks Garcia is a boxer by trade but this is MMA, and Newson's power could be a factor. He is not fully confident but prefers Newson.

"i'm leaning towards journey news him as well"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked May 2, 2022 (5 days before fight)
Fernie Garcia

The MMA Guru picks Fernie Garcia, citing his favorite status and belief that he will win by TKO early in the first round. He notes that Journey Newson has been KO'd multiple times and lacks the physicality to keep up with Garcia. He also trusts Garcia's chin due to his ethnicity, suggesting he doesn't get KO'd easily. He predicts Garcia will put Newson away against the cage in the first round.

"i'm gonna side with fernie garcia here he is the favorite and i do believe that he's gonna get this one done maybe by tko early on in the first round"
LOSS vs Randy Costa
KO (head kick) R1 0:41 · UFC Fight Night: Covington vs. Woodley · Sep 19, 2020
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Randy Costa 0 1 of 5 20% 1 of 5 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Journey Newson 1 4 of 6 66% 4 of 6 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:02
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Randy Costa 0 1 of 5 20% 1 of 5 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Journey Newson 1 4 of 6 66% 4 of 6 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:02
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Randy Costa 1 of 5 20% 1 of 4 0 of 1 0 of 0 1 of 5 0 of 0 0 of 0
Journey Newson 4 of 6 66% 4 of 6 0 of 0 0 of 0 2 of 4 0 of 0 2 of 2
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Randy Costa 1 of 5 20% 1 of 4 0 of 1 0 of 0 1 of 5 0 of 0 0 of 0
Journey Newson 4 of 6 66% 4 of 6 0 of 0 0 of 0 2 of 4 0 of 0 2 of 2
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked Sep 17, 2020 (2 days before fight)
Randy Costa

Big Brady picks Randy Costa to get a first-round knockout, citing Costa's exciting style and willingness to throw with no regard. He notes Newson's path to victory is surviving the early storm or taking Costa down, but Costa has improved takedown defense. He eyes the under 1.5 rounds prop as plus money.

Under 1.5 rounds
"give me cost to get the first round knockout"
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Sep 18, 2020 (1 day before fight)
Journey Newson

The host believes Journey Newson is the more complete fighter with a brown belt in jiu-jitsu, while Randy Costa is a one-dimensional power puncher who fades after the first round. He expects Newson to weather Costa's early onslaught, take him down, and secure a submission. He notes Costa's lack of grappling experience and poor takedown defense, as seen in his loss to Brandon Davis.

Journey Newson wins by submission in round 1; Randy Costa wins in round 1 prop (if betting Costa)
"I think we'll see journey newson go out there and just get costed down within that first round or sorry first minute and really start to work his brown belt."
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Sep 11, 2020 (8 days before fight)
Randy Costa

The host picks Randy Costa over Journey Newson, citing Costa's youth, improvement, and ability to win wild exchanges. He notes Costa's knee injury in his loss to Brandon Davis and his recent first-round win. He predicts a first-round KO.

first round KO
"I'm going to be going with Randa Koster getting it done in a wild exchange in the first round... randy koster ends it with a big shot finishing journey newson in the first round."
LOSS vs Domingo Pilarte
No Contest (overturned) R1 0:38 · UFC 247: Jones vs. Reyes · Feb 08, 2020
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Journey Newson 0 1 of 4 25% 1 of 4 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Domingo Pilarte 1 6 of 10 60% 7 of 13 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:05
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Journey Newson 0 1 of 4 25% 1 of 4 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Domingo Pilarte 1 6 of 10 60% 7 of 13 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:05
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Journey Newson 1 of 4 25% 0 of 3 1 of 1 0 of 0 0 of 2 1 of 2 0 of 0
Domingo Pilarte 6 of 10 60% 6 of 10 0 of 0 0 of 0 1 of 5 0 of 0 5 of 5
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Journey Newson 1 of 4 25% 0 of 3 1 of 1 0 of 0 0 of 2 1 of 2 0 of 0
Domingo Pilarte 6 of 10 60% 6 of 10 0 of 0 0 of 0 1 of 5 0 of 0 5 of 5
DA
Daniel Levi Expert Confident picked Feb 7, 2020 (1 day before fight)
Domingo Pilarte

Daniel Levi picks Domingo Pilarte to win a decision. He notes Pilarte's size and reach advantage, and expects him to use his range to keep Newson at bay. He acknowledges Pilarte's defensive liabilities but believes Newson will hesitate to pull the trigger.

"I think that he's gonna win a decision here probably you know the 29-28"
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Lean picked Feb 5, 2020 (3 days before fight)
Journey Newson

The host leans toward Journey Newson as a dog, citing his superior jiu-jitsu and ability to get the better of grappling exchanges. He notes that Pilarte is the better wrestler but Newson may have the edge on the ground. He expects the fight to be a grappling match and sees value in Newson at plus money.

"I'm gonna pick another dog here I'm gonna go a journey Newson I think that you know his jiu-jitsu is really gonna come in handy here yeah I'm gonna go when Newson"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Jan 31, 2020 (8 days before fight)
Journey Newson

The MMA Guru gives the edge to Journey Newson, noting that Domingo Pilarte's loss to Felipe Colares (who was destroyed by Montel Jackson) is a bad look, while Newson's loss to Ricardo Ramos is more acceptable. He sees a clear decision win for Newson.

clear decision win
"I'm giving the edge to journeying use tener I think he's gonna get the job done over Domingo Pilate I don't see a finish but I could see a clear decision win for journey nuisance"
LOSS vs Ricardo Ramos
Decision (unanimous) (30–27, 30–27, 30–27) R3 5:00 · UFC on ESPN: Ngannou vs. dos Santos · Jun 29, 2019
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Ricardo Ramos 0 40 of 120 33% 48 of 129 3 of 3 100% 0 0 2:45
Journey Newson 0 38 of 123 30% 41 of 127 0 of 1 0% 1 0 0:10
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Ricardo Ramos 0 9 of 39 23% 10 of 40 1 of 1 100% 0 0 0:45
Journey Newson 0 10 of 36 27% 12 of 39 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:10
2 Ricardo Ramos 0 17 of 47 36% 17 of 47 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Journey Newson 0 17 of 59 28% 17 of 59 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
3 Ricardo Ramos 0 14 of 34 41% 21 of 42 2 of 2 100% 0 0 2:00
Journey Newson 0 11 of 28 39% 12 of 29 0 of 0 --- 1 0 0:00
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Ricardo Ramos 40 of 120 33% 23 of 90 8 of 17 9 of 13 37 of 117 1 of 1 2 of 2
Journey Newson 38 of 123 30% 9 of 80 9 of 18 20 of 25 37 of 122 1 of 1 0 of 0
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Ricardo Ramos 9 of 39 23% 2 of 25 2 of 6 5 of 8 8 of 38 1 of 1 0 of 0
Journey Newson 10 of 36 27% 0 of 22 3 of 7 7 of 7 9 of 35 1 of 1 0 of 0
2 Ricardo Ramos 17 of 47 36% 11 of 39 3 of 4 3 of 4 17 of 47 0 of 0 0 of 0
Journey Newson 17 of 59 28% 5 of 38 4 of 8 8 of 13 17 of 59 0 of 0 0 of 0
3 Ricardo Ramos 14 of 34 41% 10 of 26 3 of 7 1 of 1 12 of 32 0 of 0 2 of 2
Journey Newson 11 of 28 39% 4 of 20 2 of 3 5 of 5 11 of 28 0 of 0 0 of 0
Expert Picks (7)
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Lean picked Dec 11, 2022 (6 days before fight)
Sergey Morozov

Angelo gives a slight lean to Sergey Morozov, citing his better takedown defense and ability to stop takedown attempts while getting his own. However, he notes that Journey Newson looked incredible in his last fight and that version could beat Sergey. He believes this should be a 50/50 fight and plans to find a way to bet on Journey Newson as well.

Plans to bet on Journey Newson as underdog
"I'm gonna do I'm just gonna give the the slightest lean towards Sergey here because I think he's got the better takedown defense"
BI
Big Brady Expert Hesitant picked Dec 15, 2022 (2 days before fight)
Sergey Morozov

Big Brady likes Morozov to win but is hesitant due to durability concerns, noting Morozov has been finished in four of five losses and gets hurt often. However, he thinks Newson isn't a big power puncher so it shouldn't be a major issue. He expects Morozov to mix in takedowns and grind out a three-round decision. He can't get behind the moneyline at -300 but picks Morozov by decision.

Morozov by decision
"I like him to win I think a striking solid but I think in this matchup he's going to be able to go out there mixing takedowns whenever he wants... give me Rose off to win this one by decision"
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Confident picked Dec 14, 2022 (2 days before fight)
Sergey Morozov

Cody picks Morozov, noting his wrestling and well-rounded skills. He thinks Newson is a boxer with limited MMA skills and Morozov will take him down and control him. He expects a decision win but acknowledges a finish is possible.

Morozov by decision (considered)
"the pick will be certain Immortals yeah pick for me is going to be Sergey Morrison as well"
CO
Connor Ruebusch Expert Confident picked Dec 15, 2022 (2 days before fight)
Sergey Morozov

Connor picks Morozov, noting he is a high-level fighter with an aggressive, put-together game. He thinks Morozov will be the aggressive one, come forward, wrestle, and land combinations. He notes Newson is not durable and his game seems experimental.

"I just think morozov is given that kind of opponent he's like, oh i'm going to be the aggressive one. Great."
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Confident picked Dec 14, 2022 (2 days before fight)
Sergey Morozov

Paul picks Morozov, agreeing with Cody. He thinks Morozov's wrestling will be too much for Newson. He notes Newson's only path is a puncher's chance. He is not excited about the price but sees Morozov as a safe pick.

"roseov will be the pick for me"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Dec 13, 2022 (4 days before fight)
Sergey Morozov

The MMA Guru picks Sergey Morozov over Journey Newson, citing Morozov's size and strength advantage. He notes that Newson is too small for bantamweight at 5'5" and expects Morozov to implement a grappling clinic. However, he expresses concern about Morozov's chin, as he has been hurt in recent fights by Halley and Paver and Douglas Silva de Andrade. Despite this, he trusts Morozov's grappling to get the job done, as Newson is not a consistent one-punch KO threat at bantamweight.

"I am going to be going with Sergey morozov here to start off the card"
ZA
Zane Simon Expert Confident picked Dec 15, 2022 (2 days before fight)
Sergey Morozov

Zane picks Morozov, noting he has more options in exchanges and can punch his way into takedowns. He thinks Newson is not comfortable in protracted exchanges and Morozov will press his wrestling advantage. He also mentions Morozov might block a kick and knock Newson out.

"He only has to throw three punches getting inside one has to land and then he can do something else that isn't trading punches"