UFC Fight Night: Rodriguez vs. Lemos · Nov 05, 2022 · Bantamweight · Completed
Prev Fight UFC Fight Night: Rodriguez vs. Lemos Next Fight
Age 33
Height 5' 9"
Reach 71"
Weight 135 lbs.
Stance Orthodox
Age 36
Height 5' 10"
Reach 71.0"
Weight 135 lbs.
Stance Orthodox
Career Averages - Johnny Muñoz Jr.
2.44 SLpM
36.0% Str. Acc.
2.66 SApM
55.0% Str. Def.
2.4 TD Avg
25.0% TD Acc.
45.0% TD Def.
1.8 Sub. Avg
Career Averages - Liudvik Sholinian
2.5 SLpM
30.0% Str. Acc.
5.67 SApM
55.0% Str. Def.
0.0 TD Avg
0.0% TD Acc.
66.0% TD Def.
0.0 Sub. Avg
Johnny Muñoz Jr.
Moneyline
FanDuel -250
KO/TKO
BetWay +800
Submission
BetRivers +295
Decision
BetRivers +145
Liudvik Sholinian
Moneyline
DraftKings +225
KO/TKO
FanDuel +1100
Submission
FanDuel +1800
Decision
FanDuel +340
Johnny Muñoz Jr. - Fight History
LOSS vs Aoriqileng
Decision (unanimous) (29–28, 29–28, 29–28) R3 5:00 · UFC Fight Night: Dawson vs. Green · Oct 07, 2023
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Aoriqileng 1 44 of 66 66% 120 of 159 2 of 4 50% 0 0 5:39
Johnny Muñoz Jr. 0 7 of 36 19% 31 of 73 4 of 11 36% 3 0 4:30
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Aoriqileng 0 7 of 11 63% 23 of 32 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:03
Johnny Muñoz Jr. 0 1 of 10 10% 10 of 28 3 of 5 60% 1 0 2:56
2 Aoriqileng 0 13 of 19 68% 51 of 61 1 of 2 50% 0 0 3:33
Johnny Muñoz Jr. 0 1 of 5 20% 5 of 10 0 of 3 0% 1 0 0:27
3 Aoriqileng 1 24 of 36 66% 46 of 66 1 of 2 50% 0 0 2:03
Johnny Muñoz Jr. 0 5 of 21 23% 16 of 35 1 of 3 33% 1 0 1:07
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Aoriqileng 44 of 66 66% 24 of 41 8 of 11 12 of 14 28 of 45 1 of 3 15 of 18
Johnny Muñoz Jr. 7 of 36 19% 5 of 30 2 of 3 0 of 3 7 of 33 0 of 3 0 of 0
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Aoriqileng 7 of 11 63% 5 of 6 0 of 1 2 of 4 6 of 10 0 of 0 1 of 1
Johnny Muñoz Jr. 1 of 10 10% 1 of 9 0 of 0 0 of 1 1 of 9 0 of 1 0 of 0
2 Aoriqileng 13 of 19 68% 5 of 10 3 of 4 5 of 5 8 of 12 1 of 2 4 of 5
Johnny Muñoz Jr. 1 of 5 20% 1 of 4 0 of 0 0 of 1 1 of 4 0 of 1 0 of 0
3 Aoriqileng 24 of 36 66% 14 of 25 5 of 6 5 of 5 14 of 23 0 of 1 10 of 12
Johnny Muñoz Jr. 5 of 21 23% 3 of 17 2 of 3 0 of 1 5 of 20 0 of 1 0 of 0
Play-by-Play
View on Sherdog
Johnny Munoz Jr. vs. Qileng Aori
BETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Aori (-112), Munoz (-108)

Round 1
When the dust settles after this bantamweight battle, one of the two competitors will likely be back in the win column – barring something strange or a draw. Additionally, the victor will move back to a .500 record with the promotion, while the defeated may find themselves on the chopping block. Whether that is China’s Aori (24-11, 2-3 UFC) or “Kid Kvenbo” Munoz Jr. (12-3, 2-3 UFC), they will have 15 minutes or less to decide that. Referee Keith Peterson draws the charge for this nonsense-free matchup, and the fighters do not have time for a touch of gloves first. Instead, Aori wants to stalk straight forward and fire off a leg kick. The pace wanes as they try to find their distances, with Aori’s occasional low kick the only strikes after about 90 seconds. Aori suddenly sprints into action with a left to the body and a hard right to the head, and Munoz has to shake it off and shoots for a takedown in response. Aori easily stops it and delivers a stern leg kick. Munoz whips a right hand over the top, stinging his opponent and backing him to the fence. Instead of taking advantage of the situation with more strikes, “Kid Kvenbo” settles to shoot in for a double-leg takedown. Munoz gets his man down momentarily, and Aori powers back up. Although Munoz gets a mat return, Aori again has little issue standing, but he does give up his back. Munoz uses this to trip up Aori from behind, and he gets his hooks in and secures back control when Aori hits the ground. The Chinese fighter is quick to hand-fight to not allow any submission attempt get anywhere close to completion, and Munoz tries to soften him up with a few body shots and slide his right arm around the chin. Aori looks to push his feet off the fence to get a bit of leverage, and he spins around quickly. This allows Munoz to snatch up an armbar, and Aori struggles momentarily but breaks the grip and stands up. One big kick from Aori to Munoz’ thigh concludes the round.

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

Round 2
Aori immediately starts the round aggressively, putting hands on Munoz and hurting him early. Munoz responds with a few strikes but is bowled over, and Aori moves himself into the guard of his opponent. Munoz protests that Aori is clawing his eyes or sticking fingers up his nose, and Peterson tells Aori to keep it clean. Munoz considers a submission attempt from his back, and he slides his leg up and around to set up an armbar. Aori wrenches his limb free from the sub, and he lowers himself back down to the guard. Munoz uses his active guard to force Aori to think twice and stand back up, and when Aori gets up, he starts slapping his feet into Munoz’ legs. Aori times a diving right hand to smash Munoz in the face, and Munoz smiles at him. Aori gets back to his feet, and Peterson has Munoz stand after a few awkward moments. Aori nails his man with a calf kick, and he clips Munoz with a few punches. Munoz shakes it off and backpedals, loosing a head kick that sails past his opponent. Munoz shoots for a takedown, and although Aori stops it, Munoz succeeds in jamming Aori up to the fencing. Munoz quickly goes for a body lock takedown, looking for some way to leverage Aori down, but Aori is strong and not only stops it but turns Munoz around. Aori sneaks in an elbow, and Munoz does not like this, so the American decides to jump for a guillotine choke while he wraps his legs around Aori’s waist. With Munoz’ back to the wall, there is nothing to the submission, so he releases it right before the horn sounds.

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

Round 3
The bantamweights race to meet one another, throwing big right hands one after the other. Aori walks into a jab, and he digs a right hand to the belly. Aori looks for a jump knee when Munoz ducks down, and Munoz eats part of it and laughs, offering a glove touch for the solid blow. Munoz circles to the side, and when he aims a left hand over the top, Aori counters him with two punches as he slides away. Munoz shoots in low for a takedown, and “The Mongolian Murderer” kills the setup and pins Munoz against the wall. Peterson tells the fighters not to grab the fence, and the fighters break away and return to striking distance. A Munoz kick grazes the cup, and Aori adjusts his groin when there is no stoppage. Munoz shoots for a takedown, and Aori perfectly times a body shot that ultimately nails Munoz in the chin and sets him down. Munoz stands back up, and fails on another takedown. When the attempt fails, he gets cracked with another right and flops to his back. Aori jumps down into the open guard of his foe, looking for ground-and-pound. Aori gets some strikes off, racking up the points while not allowing Munoz to get in on a submission. Munoz sells out for a leglock when Aori tries to pass guard, and Munoz finds himself in a strange position that is a partial calf slicer. Aori lays to his back and is not overly concerned about the maneuver, and he drives several hammerfists on the side and back of the head. Peterson is watching closely, warning Aori for a few illegal blows, but Munoz toughs them out and explodes for one last takedown try. Aori staves it off, is pressed to the cage, and the fight comes to a close.

Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Aori (29-28 Aori)
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Aori (29-28 Aori)
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Aori (29-28 Aori)

The Official Result
Qileng Aori def. Johnny Munoz Jr. via Unanimous Decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Hesitant picked Sep 29, 2023 (8 days before fight)
Johnny Muñoz Jr.

Angelo picks Johnny Muñoz Jr. with low confidence, calling him a 'squirt' but acknowledging his BJJ and power. He notes that Aoriqileng is tough but can be out-grappled. He is waiting for prop bets like a +3.5 spread on Aoriqileng, as Muñoz could be dangerous early but fade. He emphasizes this is a low-confidence pick.

Waiting for +3.5 spread prop on Aoriqileng
"I'm going to pick Johnny Munos he is the underdog ... very low confidence"
BI
Big Brady Expert Hesitant picked Oct 3, 2023 (4 days before fight)
Aoriqileng

Big Brady is not high on either fighter and calls this his least favorite fight on the card. He criticizes Johnny Muñoz Jr. for quitting in his last fight and notes that Aoriqileng has shown decent takedown defense and the ability to get back to his feet. He believes Aoriqileng can stuff takedowns and keep the fight standing, leading to a decision win. He is not betting this fight.

"I'm going to take AI long to win by decision here"
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Confident picked Oct 4, 2023 (3 days before fight)
Aoriqileng

Cody picks Aoriqileng, citing his physicality, pressure, and power. He notes that Muñoz lacks power and has unimpressive wrestling. Aoriqileng should land the bigger shots and win a decision or late stoppage.

Aoriqileng by decision
"sign me up for originally by uh unanimous... sign me up for"
DA
Daniel Levi Expert Lean picked Oct 4, 2023 (3 days before fight)
Aoriqileng

Daniel Levi picks Aoriqileng, citing his heavy hitting and durability. He notes that Johnny Muñoz has suspect striking and doesn't like to get hit, and that Aoriqileng can crack him. He acknowledges Muñoz's jiu-jitsu threat but thinks Aoriqileng's power and grit will be the difference.

"I'm still gonna go I already to win this fight"
LU
Lucrative James Expert Confident picked Oct 7, 2023 (fight day)
Aoriqileng

Lucrative James believes Aoriqileng has a massive advantage on the feet and will hurt Muñoz to the body. He thinks Muñoz is flaky and will get finished on the feet, predicting a knockout. He also likes the under 2.5 rounds at even money, noting that Muñoz's wrestling is not good enough to get the fight to the ground consistently.

under 2.5 rounds at even money
"I'm going to pick iichi Lang knockout"
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Oct 6, 2023 (1 day before fight)
Aoriqileng

Aoriqileng has improved his takedown defense and trains with strong wrestlers. He should be able to keep the fight standing and use his volume striking to overwhelm Muñoz. Muñoz has struggled to get fights to the ground and relies on BJJ, but his striking and wrestling have been poor. Aoriqileng should win by decision, possibly with some ground and pound.

"that should allow Richi Lang to end up in top position maybe rain down some big shots... and getting his hand raised by decision"
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Lean picked Oct 4, 2023 (3 days before fight)
Aoriqileng

Paul leans toward Aoriqileng, expecting him to land the more punishing strikes over 15 minutes. He is unsure about the wrestling matchup but believes Aoriqileng's pressure will be effective. He would not bet this fight with his own money.

"if I was forced to make a play on this fight it would be uh orichi Lang as well"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Oct 1, 2023 (6 days before fight)
Johnny Muñoz Jr.

The MMA Guru picks Johnny Muñoz Jr. over Aoriqileng. He notes Muñoz didn't look bad against Daniel Santos, who is a good finisher, and that Muñoz showed enough striking defense to avoid being finished. He believes Aoriqileng is dangerous only in round one and then fades, while Muñoz is consistently okay throughout the fight. He suggests a betting strategy: if Aoriqileng wins the first round, bet on Muñoz Jr. as Aoriqileng tends to gas.

if you see Aoriqileng winning the first round and he's up on the odds, put some money on Muñoz Jr.
"I'm gonna have to go with Johnny Munoz Jr I think he's consistently okay enough throughout the distance of the fight"
LOSS vs Daniel Santos
Decision (unanimous) (29–27, 29–27, 29–27) R3 5:00 · UFC on ESPN: Kara-France vs. Albazi · Jun 03, 2023
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Daniel Santos 0 50 of 91 54% 134 of 198 3 of 4 75% 0 1 10:47
Johnny Muñoz Jr. 0 18 of 39 46% 64 of 101 1 of 8 12% 1 0 1:19
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Daniel Santos 0 7 of 28 25% 21 of 46 0 of 1 0% 0 0 2:54
Johnny Muñoz Jr. 0 8 of 17 47% 25 of 38 0 of 4 0% 1 0 0:21
2 Daniel Santos 0 29 of 41 70% 65 of 92 1 of 1 100% 0 0 4:01
Johnny Muñoz Jr. 0 6 of 15 40% 19 of 29 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:25
3 Daniel Santos 0 14 of 22 63% 48 of 60 2 of 2 100% 0 1 3:52
Johnny Muñoz Jr. 0 4 of 7 57% 20 of 34 1 of 3 33% 0 0 0:33
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Daniel Santos 50 of 91 54% 30 of 62 15 of 19 5 of 10 10 of 38 6 of 7 34 of 46
Johnny Muñoz Jr. 18 of 39 46% 8 of 26 8 of 10 2 of 3 15 of 30 3 of 9 0 of 0
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Daniel Santos 7 of 28 25% 3 of 18 3 of 7 1 of 3 5 of 25 1 of 2 1 of 1
Johnny Muñoz Jr. 8 of 17 47% 3 of 12 4 of 4 1 of 1 7 of 16 1 of 1 0 of 0
2 Daniel Santos 29 of 41 70% 18 of 27 8 of 8 3 of 6 2 of 6 2 of 2 25 of 33
Johnny Muñoz Jr. 6 of 15 40% 3 of 9 2 of 4 1 of 2 6 of 9 0 of 6 0 of 0
3 Daniel Santos 14 of 22 63% 9 of 17 4 of 4 1 of 1 3 of 7 3 of 3 8 of 12
Johnny Muñoz Jr. 4 of 7 57% 2 of 5 2 of 2 0 of 0 2 of 5 2 of 2 0 of 0
Play-by-Play
View on Sherdog
Johnny Munoz Jr. vs. Daniel Santos
BETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Santos (-205), Munoz (+175)

Round 1
Wrapping up the prelims is a fight previously scheduled for May. Suffering an injury a month ago, Santos (11-2, 2-1 UFC) is ready to go this time around, and ready to represent his team of Chute Boxe Diego Lima. He will throw down with California’s Munoz (12-2, 2-2 UFC), who is hoping to lift his UFC record above .500. The two will battle it out under the oversight of referee Herb Dean, and the fight kicks off with a half-hearted touch of gloves. The two immediately kick at the same time, and Santos’ shin spits the upright and smashes square into Munoz’ cup. Munoz collapses to the ground in agony from the brutal but accidental kick, and he rolls around trying to recover from the blow. After a minute, Munoz manages to stand up, and he leans on the cage as Dean tells him to take his time. Munoz paces back and forth, shaking it out, and he tells Dean that he is good to go after two minutes. Dean tells Santos to watch his weapons, and the two fighters get back to it with a glove touch. Santos thinks about a low kick, and he pulls back on it. Munoz strides forward with a right hand, and he rushes the Brazilian fighter to the wall. Santos attempts to trip his foe to the mat, and then both drop a knee. Munoz stands up and pulls guard to drag “Willycat” on top of him, and he fastens a body triangle around Santos’ waist on top of him. Santos breaks it up courtesy of a few body shots, and Munoz rolls for an armbar. Santos climbs back to his feet, and he gets belted with an upkick on the way. Santos lowers himself back in, and he finds himself in immediate triangle choke danger. Munoz locks it up, but Santos is able to stack him up and break the grip just enough to get some breathing room, and he stands back up. Santos allows Munoz to follow him, and he is greeted by a step-in knee. Santos thanks him for this by spinning with a kick to the body, and Munoz drills a left hand to the dome and kicks low only to catch Santos in the cup. Santos gets ample time to recover, and Munoz gets the warning this time around. After 30 seconds, Santos is ready to roll out, and he starts by kicking. Santos then decides to jump with a strike, and he takes a front kick to the body and dodges a spinning back fist that flies past him. Munoz shoots in for a double out of nowhere, and Santos stands him up and knees him in the groin. There is no break this time, and instead they explode out of the clinch position with a knee from Munoz. Munoz gets thrown to the floor and may welcome the takedown, and Santos stands and swats away an upkick before letting Munoz back up. When both up again, Santos rips the body with a kick. Munoz dives at him for a takedown, and when that fails, he attempts a flying leglock that misses the mark and ends with him flopping on his back. Before he can stand, Santos leaps at him to take top position. Santos lets the guard close around him to slow things down. Santos postures up with seconds to go, and Munoz kicks off the chest to make Santos get up. When Munoz follows him, he blocks a jumping switch kick, and the dramatic round ends.

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

Round 2
The fighters touch ‘em up to start the second round, and Munoz jumps with a knee and is intercepted midair with a front kick. Santos sits down on a left hook as Munoz crashes the pocket, and Munoz ends up pulling guard when he cannot secure his own takedown. Santos lets him close the guard so that he can work the body and head with punches and an elbow, and Munoz looks for a body triangle off his back. Santos breaks it up with a straight right hand, and he swats away an upkick and stands up to look for a way back in. Santos chips at the left leg with kicks as he stands with Munoz his back, and Munoz occasionally kicks back to the knee. Santos wades back into the guard, and Munoz fastens the body lock again to keep Santos pinned on top of him. This allows Santos to pound away from on top, as the submission threats have slowed while Santos is doing some work courtesy of solid ground-and-pound. Dean asks Santos to work during a lull, and Santos rains down punches and hurts Munoz to make him turn to his side. Santos opens his foe’s nose up with ground strikes, and he stands up to drive a left hand to the jaw. Santos kicks the leg a few times before letting Munoz up. Munoz punches his way into a desperate takedown attempt, and Santos stuffs him and sets up a front choke. Munoz rolls to his back before the submission can be set up, and he starts hunting for upkicks until Dean has him stand up. They let front kicks do again at the same time, and Munoz kicks a second time and gets knocked to his back with a right hand while off-balance. Santos pounds on his opponent right to the bell.

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

Round 3
The last round begins with a glove touch, and Santos kicks Munoz in the thigh and it bounces up to the cup. Munoz drops to a knee, and he leans against the wall as he figuratively licks his wounds. Munoz holds his midsection because of the pain he endured from the second powerful groin strike. Dean has someone bring the bucket in case Munoz is forced to vomit, but the fouled fighter signals that he is not going to do so. Munoz stands after about two minutes, and Dean has no choice but to deduct one point from Santos for the second foul of its type. Munoz is ready to go again, and Santos is enraged. Munoz starts off looking for a takedown, and Santos throws him to the ground angrily like a sack of potatoes. Munoz allows this so he can open his guard up and try to lock Santos down or look for a submission, but it only results in him staying on his back for a time. Santos lets the body triangle clamp around him so that he can start up with ground-and-pound, and Santos does exactly this for a time. Santos jumps back to his feet, and Munoz fires off upkicks and trips Santos to his back. Munoz climbs back upright and gives chase, throwing haymakers at his opponent until they are driven to the fence. Munoz, getting pushed to the wall, jumps guard with a guillotine choke. Santos keeps tightly pressed against the fencing to prevent any leverage for the sub, and he lowers Munoz to the mat and breaks out of the grip. Santos gets pulled into the closed guard when he goes horizontal, and he opens up with punches to the body and head. Santos sneaks an elbow up top, prompting Munoz to throw his legs up for an armbar. When Santos scampers away, Munoz implores him to test his wares there again. Dean stands them up before this give-and-take ensues, and Munoz answers this by sprinting at Santos and sweeping him off his feet with a successful takedown. Munoz looks to get off strikes, only to get swept and dumped to his back. With seconds to spare, Munoz explodes back to his feet, and Santos leaps at him with a flying cartwheel kick out of the capoeira playbook. Munoz dodges it, and he crashes forward with a flying knee. The fight ends, and it will all hinge on if any judges scored the first round in favor of Munoz.

Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 9-9 (28-28)
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 9-9 (29-27 Santos)
Tyler Treese scores the round: 9-9 (29-27 Santos)

The Official Result
Daniel Santos def. Johnny Munoz Jr. via Unanimous Decision (29-27, 29-27, 29-27)
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Confident picked May 31, 2023 (3 days before fight)
Daniel Santos

Angelo picks Daniel Santos confidently, noting his dangerous striking and BJJ, though he has low grappling IQ. He is slightly less confident due to the fight being canceled previously for an abscess, but still believes Santos should win. He thinks Santos' pressure and power will be too much for Muñoz, who doesn't like being crowded. Angelo has bets on Santos but not in the safety parlay.

"I do think Daniel Santos wins this fight pretty confident he wins this fight"
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Confident picked May 31, 2023 (3 days before fight)
Daniel Santos

Cody also picks Santos, calling him a big fan. He notes Santos's forward pressure and aggressive style, and that Muñoz has cardio issues and low volume. Cody expects Santos to win by knockout or decision as Muñoz fades. He thinks the -220 line is a bit stiff but still picks Santos.

"I love his forward pressures aggressive style he's a super super fun guy every single time he goes out there uh Heart of a Lion"
CO
Connor Ruebusch Expert Hesitant picked Jun 3, 2023 (fight day)
Johnny Muñoz Jr.

Connor picks Muñoz for consistency, having picked him previously. He acknowledges that Santos' pressure is a major threat, but believes Muñoz's jab will be effective early, similar to how Shabazian used his jab against Santos. Connor admits Muñoz is not creative, but thinks he can land enough jabs to win rounds, though he recognizes Santos' wildness makes this a risky pick.

"I'm still gonna pick moonyo's because I did it already consistency consistency"
DA
Daniel Levi Expert Confident picked Jun 1, 2023 (2 days before fight)
Daniel Santos

Daniel picks Daniel Santos, noting that he is the more aggressive and technical fighter, though he takes risks. He believes Santos can overwhelm Muñoz with pressure and chaos, and that Muñoz doesn't like being backed up. He mentions Santos' grappling is underrated, having tapped out a high-level grappler in training.

"my pick is Daniel Willie cast Santos"
JA
Jacob Lines Expert Confident picked May 31, 2023 (3 days before fight)
Daniel Santos

Jacob picks Santos, citing his high-pressure Muay Thai style and ability to get dropped and bounce back. He thinks Muñoz doesn't like being crowded and lacks the takedowns to keep Santos down. Jacob notes Muñoz's only path to victory is an early takedown and grind, but Santos' scrambling and offensive wrestling should prevent that. He is confident Santos wins.

"I absolutely love Willy cat in this matchup because he does have that nice high Muay Thai style and it gets in your facing his non-stop pressure"
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Jun 1, 2023 (2 days before fight)
Daniel Santos

Santos is an aggressive forward-pressure fighter with power and BJJ. He will crash the pocket and land big shots. Muñoz is live for a submission if he can get it to the ground, but Santos' power and pace will be too much. Santos will knock him out in the second round.

knockout round 2
"give me Daniel Santos by knockout let's call it second round"
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Confident picked May 31, 2023 (3 days before fight)
Daniel Santos

Paul picks Daniel Santos confidently. He loves Santos's forward pressure and aggression, especially in the small Apex cage. He notes Santos is hittable but has a heart of a lion and will break opponents down over time. Paul contrasts Muñoz's questionable cardio and low volume, expecting Santos to take over in later rounds. He acknowledges Santos's loss to Julio Arce but sees that as a tough debut matchup.

"I'll take Willy cat to get the job done"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked May 29, 2023 (5 days before fight)
Daniel Santos

The MMA Guru picks Daniel Santos, citing a lack of talent in Johnny Muñoz Jr.'s game. He notes Santos has skill in how he throws shots, pressures fighters, and cuts off the octagon, despite having striking defense issues. He criticizes Muñoz for being well-rounded but unremarkable, and points to his loss to Tony Gravely. The Guru predicts Santos will win by TKO against the cage, but if it goes to decision, it will be close.

Santos by TKO
"I'm definitely gonna side with him over Johnny Munoz I like him over Johnny Munoz because I just don't see any talent in Johnny Manuel's game"
ZA
Zane Simon Expert Confident picked Jun 3, 2023 (fight day)
Daniel Santos

Zane picks Santos, sticking with his previous analysis that Santos' relentless pressure and volume will overwhelm Muñoz's one-dimensional jab. He notes that Muñoz's game is built almost entirely around his jab, and Santos' wild, high-output style will break Muñoz's footwork and force him into exchanges where he is vulnerable. Zane believes Santos' aggression and durability will be too much for Muñoz to handle over three rounds.

"I am gonna stick with that and pick daniel santos to be relentless enough and pressuring enough and violent enough to get moonyo's off of his jab"
Decision (unanimous) (30–27, 30–27, 29–28) R3 5:00 · UFC Fight Night: Rodriguez vs. Lemos · Nov 05, 2022
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Johnny Muñoz Jr. 0 56 of 152 36% 70 of 166 0 of 2 0% 0 0 1:30
Liudvik Sholinian 0 78 of 227 34% 114 of 270 2 of 4 50% 0 0 2:39
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Johnny Muñoz Jr. 0 21 of 54 38% 21 of 54 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:00
Liudvik Sholinian 0 38 of 94 40% 38 of 94 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
2 Johnny Muñoz Jr. 0 9 of 29 31% 15 of 35 0 of 1 0% 0 0 1:30
Liudvik Sholinian 0 19 of 51 37% 39 of 74 0 of 1 0% 0 0 1:19
3 Johnny Muñoz Jr. 0 26 of 69 37% 34 of 77 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Liudvik Sholinian 0 21 of 82 25% 37 of 102 2 of 3 66% 0 0 1:20
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Johnny Muñoz Jr. 56 of 152 36% 42 of 137 12 of 13 2 of 2 46 of 142 7 of 7 3 of 3
Liudvik Sholinian 78 of 227 34% 55 of 196 16 of 20 7 of 11 72 of 221 3 of 3 3 of 3
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Johnny Muñoz Jr. 21 of 54 38% 14 of 47 5 of 5 2 of 2 21 of 54 0 of 0 0 of 0
Liudvik Sholinian 38 of 94 40% 23 of 76 11 of 12 4 of 6 38 of 94 0 of 0 0 of 0
2 Johnny Muñoz Jr. 9 of 29 31% 7 of 27 2 of 2 0 of 0 8 of 28 1 of 1 0 of 0
Liudvik Sholinian 19 of 51 37% 14 of 42 5 of 7 0 of 2 15 of 47 3 of 3 1 of 1
3 Johnny Muñoz Jr. 26 of 69 37% 21 of 63 5 of 6 0 of 0 17 of 60 6 of 6 3 of 3
Liudvik Sholinian 21 of 82 25% 18 of 78 0 of 1 3 of 3 19 of 80 0 of 0 2 of 2
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Lean picked Oct 30, 2022 (6 days before fight)
Johnny Muñoz Jr.

Angelo gives a slight lean to Muñoz because he has more ways to win, citing his BJJ black belt and harder strikes. However, he calls it a razor-thin fight, noting Sholinian has better takedowns and relentless pressure, and is very live as an underdog. He mentions Muñoz can be low volume and slow with kicks.

"I'm gonna do a slight lean for Munoz here because he has more ways to win but this feels like a razor thin fight for me and frankly chelinian is very live"
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked Nov 1, 2022 (4 days before fight)
Johnny Muñoz Jr.

Big Brady highlights Muñoz's elite grappling and BJJ black belt, expecting a significant advantage on the mat. He notes Sholinian's wrestling background but unimpressive striking and grappling. He believes the fight will hit the mat at some point, and when it does, Muñoz will be very live for a submission. He predicts a second-round submission.

Muñoz wins by submission in round 2
"give me the grappler and Munoz to get it done and I'll gets it done by second round submission"
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Confident picked Nov 2, 2022 (3 days before fight)
Johnny Muñoz Jr.

Cody picks Johnny Muñoz Jr., noting his superior BJJ and wrestling compared to Sholinian. He thinks Muñoz showed promise in his debut against Nate Maness (outstruck him 49-21, got two takedowns) and finished Jamie Simmons. He acknowledges Muñoz got knocked out by Tony Gravely, but Gravely is explosive. Sholinian has been inactive (14 months) and showed nothing against Jack Shore, landing only 19 significant strikes. Cody thinks Muñoz can take him down and control him, but he hates the -235 price and may consider Sholinian as a dog.

"I Gotta Go Johnny Munoz to get the job done I feel like he's shown a little bit better improvements"
CO
Connor Ruebusch Expert Lean picked Nov 3, 2022 (2 days before fight)
Liudvik Sholinian

Connor picks Sholinian, believing he can shut down Munoz's wrestling better than Shore did. Munoz is not as deft a wrestling threat as Shore, and Sholinian's aggression and striking volume should carry him. Connor notes that Munoz's boxing is basic and he gets hit often.

"My feeling is that shulinyan will probably be able to, uh, shut down Munoz's wrestling better than he could shore."
DA
Daniel Levi Expert Lean picked Nov 2, 2022 (3 days before fight)
Johnny Muñoz Jr.

Daniel Levi leans Johnny Muñoz Jr., citing his jiu-jitsu black belt and ability to land takedowns. He notes Sholinian is tough but not physically imposing, lacks power and submission threat, and Muñoz should be able to dominate positionally. He passed on betting due to the price (-225).

Passed on betting due to price
"I kind of see just Johnny Munoz just being a little bit more physically imposing... unfortunately I didn't get the price I want so I passed"
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Oct 31, 2022 (4 days before fight)
Liudvik Sholinian

The host is high on Sholinian as a dog, citing his pressure style, takedown defense (6/8 against Jack Shore), and grit. He notes Muñoz Jr. struggles to land takedowns (4/20 in UFC) and relies on kicks, while Sholinian will stay in his face and outwork him. He expects Sholinian to stuff takedowns and win via decision, possibly with a late finish.

Sholinian by decision
"I like Celine as the dog plus 185 I think is a phenomenal line"
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Hesitant picked Nov 2, 2022 (3 days before fight)
Liudvik Sholinian

Paul picks Sholinian as an underdog, but is hesitant. He notes that Muñoz's only UFC win is over Jamie Simmons, a layup, and he took until the second round to finish him. Sholinian is a big bantamweight and was only taken down twice by Jack Shore, a top British wrestler. Paul added 'Muñoz Jr. under 2.5 takedowns' to his PrizePicks card, thinking Muñoz may not get many takedowns. He is considering Sholinian but will watch weigh-ins.

Johnny Muñoz Jr. under 2.5 takedowns (PrizePicks)
"sholinian for me"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Nov 2, 2022 (3 days before fight)
Johnny Muñoz Jr.

The MMA Guru picks Johnny Muñoz Jr., citing Sholinian's poor performance against Jack Shaw, who fought with one arm. He notes Muñoz has a decent win over Jamie Simmons and is a big bantamweight with good jiu-jitsu. He predicts a submission finish, specifically a rear-naked choke, continuing his trend.

rear-naked choke submission
"I'm gonna have to go with Johnny Munoz Jr here... I reckon he finds the finish at some point in this fight he's got decent Jiu Jitsu so I'll say renaked choke again two in a row."
ZA
Zane Simon Expert Lean picked Nov 3, 2022 (2 days before fight)
Liudvik Sholinian

Zane leans Sholinian because he is more aggressive and has some power, and he may shut down Munoz's wrestling better than Jack Shore did. Munoz's boxing is rudimentary, and Sholinian's pressure could overwhelm him. However, Zane admits it's a coin flip and not a good fight.

"I guess shulinyan for aggression and yeah, I do think he's got some power and when the fight inevitably gets messy, I suppose."
LOSS vs Tony Gravely
KO (punches) R1 1:08 · UFC Fight Night: Volkov vs. Rozenstruik · Jun 04, 2022
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Tony Gravely 0 2 of 7 28% 2 of 7 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:00
Johnny Muñoz Jr. 1 5 of 15 33% 6 of 16 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:03
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Tony Gravely 0 2 of 7 28% 2 of 7 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:00
Johnny Muñoz Jr. 1 5 of 15 33% 6 of 16 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:03
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Tony Gravely 2 of 7 28% 0 of 5 0 of 0 2 of 2 2 of 7 0 of 0 0 of 0
Johnny Muñoz Jr. 5 of 15 33% 4 of 12 0 of 0 1 of 3 2 of 11 0 of 0 3 of 4
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Tony Gravely 2 of 7 28% 0 of 5 0 of 0 2 of 2 2 of 7 0 of 0 0 of 0
Johnny Muñoz Jr. 5 of 15 33% 4 of 12 0 of 0 1 of 3 2 of 11 0 of 0 3 of 4
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Hesitant picked May 29, 2022 (6 days before fight)
Tony Gravely

Angelo highlights Tony Gravely's relentless wrestling and high takedown average, but notes his questionable submission defense and cardio issues. Johnny Muñoz is a BJJ black belt with slick grappling. Angelo is split because five of Gravely's losses are by submission and seven of Muñoz's wins are by submission. He ultimately picks Gravely because he believes Gravely will dictate the fight with top control, but acknowledges the risk of getting caught.

"my gut is saying stick with tony because if nothing else i am positive he's gonna wrestle i'm positive that he'll be on top and he will get a good amount of control"
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked May 30, 2022 (5 days before fight)
Johnny Muñoz Jr.

Big Brady picks Johnny Muñoz Jr. as an underdog to win by submission, likely in the third round. He notes that while Gravely is a relentless wrestler, Muñoz is a black belt in BJJ who wants the fight on the mat. He compares it to the Bartosz-Swabinski vs. Gerald Meerschaert fight where the wrestler took down the grappler and got submitted. He thinks Gravely will get takedowns but Muñoz will capitalize on submission opportunities, especially as Gravely slows down. He also mentions Muñoz's size advantage.

Muñoz by submission, round 3
"I'm going to take the dog here and johnny munoz jr i'm going to be looking for that sub prop as well"
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Confident picked Jun 1, 2022 (3 days before fight)
Tony Gravely

Cody picks Gravely, noting his athleticism and wrestling. He thinks Muñoz's striking is poor and Gravely can win on the feet or via takedowns. He is confident but expects to sweat due to Gravely's past mistakes.

"i'm definitely gonna have some tony gravely but the entire time you're gonna be sweating"
DA
Daniel Levi Expert Lean picked Jun 2, 2022 (2 days before fight)
Tony Gravely

Daniel Levi picks Tony Gravely, acknowledging the submission threat from Muñoz but believing Gravely is the better fighter overall. He expects Gravely to win a decision if he avoids mistakes, but admits Muñoz has a clear path via submission. He will not bet the fight but may take small shots on Muñoz submission props.

"as a pure pick i'm gonna go with gravley here because i just think he's the better fighter it's just that i know there's this chance that he's gonna be winning the entire fight and [ __ ] it up"
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Confident picked Jun 1, 2022 (3 days before fight)
Tony Gravely

Paul picks Gravely, citing his wrestling and striking advantage. He notes Muñoz's lack of striking and inactivity. He thinks Gravely can win via sprawl-and-brawl or wrestling, but acknowledges Gravely's tendency to make mistakes.

"i think tony gravely i think the price makes sense to me"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked May 30, 2022 (5 days before fight)
Tony Gravely

The MMA Guru picks Tony Gravely by 30-27 unanimous decision. He criticizes Muñoz's padded resume and notes that Gravely performed better than Muñoz against common opponent Nate Maness, nearly finishing him. He believes Gravely has superior striking and scrambling, and will mix up takedowns to dominate. He expects Muñoz to have some submission attempts but Gravely to escape.

"tony gravely 30 27 unanimous decision win over johnny munoz"
WIN vs Jamey Simmons
Submission (rear-naked choke) R2 2:35 · UFC 265: Lewis vs. Gane · Aug 07, 2021
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Johnny Muñoz Jr. 0 14 of 71 19% 24 of 85 2 of 3 66% 3 0 2:04
Jamey Simmons 0 7 of 37 18% 10 of 40 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Johnny Muñoz Jr. 0 11 of 56 19% 15 of 62 1 of 2 50% 0 0 0:32
Jamey Simmons 0 6 of 31 19% 7 of 32 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
2 Johnny Muñoz Jr. 0 3 of 15 20% 9 of 23 1 of 1 100% 3 0 1:32
Jamey Simmons 0 1 of 6 16% 3 of 8 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Johnny Muñoz Jr. 14 of 71 19% 6 of 61 2 of 2 6 of 8 13 of 68 0 of 1 1 of 2
Jamey Simmons 7 of 37 18% 4 of 31 1 of 3 2 of 3 7 of 37 0 of 0 0 of 0
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Johnny Muñoz Jr. 11 of 56 19% 5 of 48 2 of 2 4 of 6 11 of 55 0 of 1 0 of 0
Jamey Simmons 6 of 31 19% 4 of 26 1 of 3 1 of 2 6 of 31 0 of 0 0 of 0
2 Johnny Muñoz Jr. 3 of 15 20% 1 of 13 0 of 0 2 of 2 2 of 13 0 of 0 1 of 2
Jamey Simmons 1 of 6 16% 0 of 5 0 of 0 1 of 1 1 of 6 0 of 0 0 of 0
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Confident picked Aug 8, 2021 (fight day)
Johnny Muñoz Jr.

Angelo picks Muñoz, noting his high ownership on DraftKings (38%). He thinks Muñoz is the better fighter and expects a finish, possibly by submission in round 2 or 3. He mentions Muñoz's smooth transitions on the ground.

Johnny Muñoz round 2 or round 3 submission
"Munoz is one of the higher owned... I think Munoz is a plus one almost everywhere."
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked Aug 3, 2021 (4 days before fight)
Johnny Muñoz Jr.

Big Brady is very high on Johnny Muñoz Jr., praising his slick BJJ and noting he looked good in his UFC debut despite a point deduction. He believes Muñoz is better everywhere, including striking, and that Jamey Simmons doesn't belong in the UFC. He predicts an early finish, specifically a first-round submission, as Muñoz is a black belt and Simmons is a blue belt who will likely try to grapple.

first round submission
"I'll go Johnny Munoz here and I'll take him to win by first round submission."
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Confident picked Aug 4, 2021 (3 days before fight)
Johnny Muñoz Jr.

Cody picks Muñoz, arguing that his BJJ is elite and that Simmons is not UFC caliber. He notes Muñoz's improved striking and wrestling, and expects a submission win. Cody thinks the price is steep but Muñoz should win.

Muñoz by submission
"sign me up for johnny munoz jr"
DA
Daniel Levi Expert Lean picked Aug 6, 2021 (1 day before fight)
Johnny Muñoz Jr.

Daniel Levi picks Johnny Muñoz Jr., but is sketched out by the wide line. He notes that Muñoz is a black belt in jiu-jitsu and should be able to get a submission, but acknowledges that Jamey Simmons is a former wrestler who could use his wrestling in reverse to keep the fight standing. He thinks the opener was more correct and that there is a path to victory for Simmons, but ultimately leans Muñoz.

"I think Munoz probably gets it done but I'm kind of sketched out by that wide line"
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Aug 5, 2021 (2 days before fight)
Johnny Muñoz Jr.

Munoz is a high-level BJJ specialist with a strong grappling background. Simmons is a wrestler who wants to take the fight to the ground, but Munoz is confident in his grappling and can reverse or submit him. If Simmons strikes, Munoz has decent power and can invite takedowns to set up submissions. Munoz should find a submission in round two.

Munoz by submission round 2; inside the distance props; under 2.5 rounds at -125
"I think my official prediction was round two Munoz by submission."
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Confident picked Aug 4, 2021 (3 days before fight)
Johnny Muñoz Jr.

Paul picks Muñoz, citing his BJJ black belt and multiple submission wins. He notes that Simmons has poor durability and was finished quickly by lower-level opponents. Paul expects Muñoz to get the fight to the ground and submit Simmons.

under 2.5 rounds -130
"i'm kind of interested in the under in this fight just based on the fact that it seems like simmons doesn't really have all that"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Aug 1, 2021 (6 days before fight)
Johnny Muñoz Jr.

The MMA Guru picks Johnny Muñoz Jr. over Jamey Simmons. He notes that Muñoz's loss to Nate Maness was controversial due to groin shots, and that Muñoz outlanded Maness in significant strikes. He believes Simmons will be hesitant after a first-round KO loss to Giga Chikadze, and that Muñoz has never been finished and has better composure. He predicts Muñoz will win a unanimous decision 29-28.

"i'm gonna go if johnny munoz here i think he's very good both guys are pretty hard to predict for though i think johnny munoz is a little bit more composed"
LOSS vs Nate Maness
Decision (unanimous) (29–27, 29–27, 29–27) R3 5:00 · UFC Fight Night: Brunson vs. Shahbazyan · Aug 01, 2020
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Nate Maness 0 49 of 78 62% 129 of 168 2 of 16 12% 1 0 9:42
Johnny Muñoz Jr. 0 21 of 50 42% 158 of 194 1 of 1 100% 0 0 1:29
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Nate Maness 0 19 of 38 50% 51 of 78 1 of 6 16% 0 0 3:16
Johnny Muñoz Jr. 0 2 of 15 13% 12 of 25 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
2 Nate Maness 0 14 of 22 63% 33 of 42 1 of 7 14% 0 0 2:46
Johnny Muñoz Jr. 0 10 of 18 55% 66 of 78 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:38
3 Nate Maness 0 16 of 18 88% 45 of 48 0 of 3 0% 1 0 3:40
Johnny Muñoz Jr. 0 9 of 17 52% 80 of 91 1 of 1 100% 0 0 0:51
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Nate Maness 49 of 78 62% 18 of 34 25 of 36 6 of 8 16 of 40 20 of 21 13 of 17
Johnny Muñoz Jr. 21 of 50 42% 9 of 37 12 of 13 0 of 0 7 of 34 14 of 16 0 of 0
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Nate Maness 19 of 38 50% 13 of 25 3 of 8 3 of 5 5 of 20 1 of 1 13 of 17
Johnny Muñoz Jr. 2 of 15 13% 2 of 15 0 of 0 0 of 0 2 of 15 0 of 0 0 of 0
2 Nate Maness 14 of 22 63% 2 of 5 10 of 15 2 of 2 7 of 14 7 of 8 0 of 0
Johnny Muñoz Jr. 10 of 18 55% 6 of 14 4 of 4 0 of 0 5 of 12 5 of 6 0 of 0
3 Nate Maness 16 of 18 88% 3 of 4 12 of 13 1 of 1 4 of 6 12 of 12 0 of 0
Johnny Muñoz Jr. 9 of 17 52% 1 of 8 8 of 9 0 of 0 0 of 7 9 of 10 0 of 0
BI
Big Brady Expert picked Jul 28, 2020 (4 days before fight)
Nate Maness

This fight was not discussed in the transcript. The host did not mention Nate Maness vs Johnny Muñoz Jr. at all.

MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Jul 29, 2020 (3 days before fight)

The host picks Ray Borg, stating that Borg is a much better grappler and that Maness has not faced high-level competition. He notes that Borg is only 26 and not on the decline, and that Maness will be hesitant to throw bombs due to Borg's takedown threat. He expects Borg to grind out a decision or possibly finish later in the fight. He also mentions the line is a steal and expects it to close higher.

"i'm taking ray borg and i think he could possibly even finish madness later in the fight but i will be on the safe side i'll take him to one by decision"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Jul 26, 2020 (6 days before fight)
Nate Maness

The host picks Ray Borg (Nate Maness's opponent) to win by unanimous decision. He praises Borg's youth (26), grappling, and recent activity, and notes that Maness hasn't fought anyone of Borg's caliber. He believes Borg will grind out a win with takedowns and control, and that Maness lacks the experience against high-level grapplers.

unanimous decision
"i think ray ball grinds this one out for a unanimous decision win getting the job done against nathan meneses"
Liudvik Sholinian - Fight History
Decision (unanimous) (30–27, 30–27, 29–28) R3 5:00 · UFC Fight Night: Rodriguez vs. Lemos · Nov 05, 2022
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Johnny Muñoz Jr. 0 56 of 152 36% 70 of 166 0 of 2 0% 0 0 1:30
Liudvik Sholinian 0 78 of 227 34% 114 of 270 2 of 4 50% 0 0 2:39
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Johnny Muñoz Jr. 0 21 of 54 38% 21 of 54 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:00
Liudvik Sholinian 0 38 of 94 40% 38 of 94 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
2 Johnny Muñoz Jr. 0 9 of 29 31% 15 of 35 0 of 1 0% 0 0 1:30
Liudvik Sholinian 0 19 of 51 37% 39 of 74 0 of 1 0% 0 0 1:19
3 Johnny Muñoz Jr. 0 26 of 69 37% 34 of 77 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Liudvik Sholinian 0 21 of 82 25% 37 of 102 2 of 3 66% 0 0 1:20
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Johnny Muñoz Jr. 56 of 152 36% 42 of 137 12 of 13 2 of 2 46 of 142 7 of 7 3 of 3
Liudvik Sholinian 78 of 227 34% 55 of 196 16 of 20 7 of 11 72 of 221 3 of 3 3 of 3
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Johnny Muñoz Jr. 21 of 54 38% 14 of 47 5 of 5 2 of 2 21 of 54 0 of 0 0 of 0
Liudvik Sholinian 38 of 94 40% 23 of 76 11 of 12 4 of 6 38 of 94 0 of 0 0 of 0
2 Johnny Muñoz Jr. 9 of 29 31% 7 of 27 2 of 2 0 of 0 8 of 28 1 of 1 0 of 0
Liudvik Sholinian 19 of 51 37% 14 of 42 5 of 7 0 of 2 15 of 47 3 of 3 1 of 1
3 Johnny Muñoz Jr. 26 of 69 37% 21 of 63 5 of 6 0 of 0 17 of 60 6 of 6 3 of 3
Liudvik Sholinian 21 of 82 25% 18 of 78 0 of 1 3 of 3 19 of 80 0 of 0 2 of 2
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Lean picked Oct 30, 2022 (6 days before fight)
Johnny Muñoz Jr.

Angelo gives a slight lean to Muñoz because he has more ways to win, citing his BJJ black belt and harder strikes. However, he calls it a razor-thin fight, noting Sholinian has better takedowns and relentless pressure, and is very live as an underdog. He mentions Muñoz can be low volume and slow with kicks.

"I'm gonna do a slight lean for Munoz here because he has more ways to win but this feels like a razor thin fight for me and frankly chelinian is very live"
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked Nov 1, 2022 (4 days before fight)
Johnny Muñoz Jr.

Big Brady highlights Muñoz's elite grappling and BJJ black belt, expecting a significant advantage on the mat. He notes Sholinian's wrestling background but unimpressive striking and grappling. He believes the fight will hit the mat at some point, and when it does, Muñoz will be very live for a submission. He predicts a second-round submission.

Muñoz wins by submission in round 2
"give me the grappler and Munoz to get it done and I'll gets it done by second round submission"
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Confident picked Nov 2, 2022 (3 days before fight)
Johnny Muñoz Jr.

Cody picks Johnny Muñoz Jr., noting his superior BJJ and wrestling compared to Sholinian. He thinks Muñoz showed promise in his debut against Nate Maness (outstruck him 49-21, got two takedowns) and finished Jamie Simmons. He acknowledges Muñoz got knocked out by Tony Gravely, but Gravely is explosive. Sholinian has been inactive (14 months) and showed nothing against Jack Shore, landing only 19 significant strikes. Cody thinks Muñoz can take him down and control him, but he hates the -235 price and may consider Sholinian as a dog.

"I Gotta Go Johnny Munoz to get the job done I feel like he's shown a little bit better improvements"
CO
Connor Ruebusch Expert Lean picked Nov 3, 2022 (2 days before fight)
Liudvik Sholinian

Connor picks Sholinian, believing he can shut down Munoz's wrestling better than Shore did. Munoz is not as deft a wrestling threat as Shore, and Sholinian's aggression and striking volume should carry him. Connor notes that Munoz's boxing is basic and he gets hit often.

"My feeling is that shulinyan will probably be able to, uh, shut down Munoz's wrestling better than he could shore."
DA
Daniel Levi Expert Lean picked Nov 2, 2022 (3 days before fight)
Johnny Muñoz Jr.

Daniel Levi leans Johnny Muñoz Jr., citing his jiu-jitsu black belt and ability to land takedowns. He notes Sholinian is tough but not physically imposing, lacks power and submission threat, and Muñoz should be able to dominate positionally. He passed on betting due to the price (-225).

Passed on betting due to price
"I kind of see just Johnny Munoz just being a little bit more physically imposing... unfortunately I didn't get the price I want so I passed"
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Oct 31, 2022 (4 days before fight)
Liudvik Sholinian

The host is high on Sholinian as a dog, citing his pressure style, takedown defense (6/8 against Jack Shore), and grit. He notes Muñoz Jr. struggles to land takedowns (4/20 in UFC) and relies on kicks, while Sholinian will stay in his face and outwork him. He expects Sholinian to stuff takedowns and win via decision, possibly with a late finish.

Sholinian by decision
"I like Celine as the dog plus 185 I think is a phenomenal line"
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Hesitant picked Nov 2, 2022 (3 days before fight)
Liudvik Sholinian

Paul picks Sholinian as an underdog, but is hesitant. He notes that Muñoz's only UFC win is over Jamie Simmons, a layup, and he took until the second round to finish him. Sholinian is a big bantamweight and was only taken down twice by Jack Shore, a top British wrestler. Paul added 'Muñoz Jr. under 2.5 takedowns' to his PrizePicks card, thinking Muñoz may not get many takedowns. He is considering Sholinian but will watch weigh-ins.

Johnny Muñoz Jr. under 2.5 takedowns (PrizePicks)
"sholinian for me"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Nov 2, 2022 (3 days before fight)
Johnny Muñoz Jr.

The MMA Guru picks Johnny Muñoz Jr., citing Sholinian's poor performance against Jack Shaw, who fought with one arm. He notes Muñoz has a decent win over Jamie Simmons and is a big bantamweight with good jiu-jitsu. He predicts a submission finish, specifically a rear-naked choke, continuing his trend.

rear-naked choke submission
"I'm gonna have to go with Johnny Munoz Jr here... I reckon he finds the finish at some point in this fight he's got decent Jiu Jitsu so I'll say renaked choke again two in a row."
ZA
Zane Simon Expert Lean picked Nov 3, 2022 (2 days before fight)
Liudvik Sholinian

Zane leans Sholinian because he is more aggressive and has some power, and he may shut down Munoz's wrestling better than Jack Shore did. Munoz's boxing is rudimentary, and Sholinian's pressure could overwhelm him. However, Zane admits it's a coin flip and not a good fight.

"I guess shulinyan for aggression and yeah, I do think he's got some power and when the fight inevitably gets messy, I suppose."
LOSS vs Jack Shore
Decision (unanimous) (30–27, 30–27, 30–27) R3 5:00 · UFC Fight Night: Brunson vs. Till · Sep 04, 2021
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Jack Shore 0 92 of 155 59% 104 of 168 2 of 8 25% 1 0 4:28
Liudvik Sholinian 0 19 of 92 20% 33 of 108 0 of 4 0% 0 0 1:26
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Jack Shore 0 16 of 28 57% 24 of 36 1 of 2 50% 1 0 2:53
Liudvik Sholinian 0 2 of 20 10% 14 of 34 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:06
2 Jack Shore 0 33 of 57 57% 36 of 61 1 of 3 33% 0 0 0:37
Liudvik Sholinian 0 7 of 33 21% 8 of 34 0 of 2 0% 0 0 0:47
3 Jack Shore 0 43 of 70 61% 44 of 71 0 of 3 0% 0 0 0:58
Liudvik Sholinian 0 10 of 39 25% 11 of 40 0 of 2 0% 0 0 0:33
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Jack Shore 92 of 155 59% 59 of 116 11 of 14 22 of 25 80 of 138 8 of 12 4 of 5
Liudvik Sholinian 19 of 92 20% 13 of 85 6 of 7 0 of 0 16 of 89 2 of 2 1 of 1
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Jack Shore 16 of 28 57% 10 of 21 1 of 1 5 of 6 11 of 21 1 of 2 4 of 5
Liudvik Sholinian 2 of 20 10% 1 of 19 1 of 1 0 of 0 1 of 19 0 of 0 1 of 1
2 Jack Shore 33 of 57 57% 19 of 41 5 of 6 9 of 10 32 of 56 1 of 1 0 of 0
Liudvik Sholinian 7 of 33 21% 4 of 30 3 of 3 0 of 0 6 of 32 1 of 1 0 of 0
3 Jack Shore 43 of 70 61% 30 of 54 5 of 7 8 of 9 37 of 61 6 of 9 0 of 0
Liudvik Sholinian 10 of 39 25% 8 of 36 2 of 3 0 of 0 9 of 38 1 of 1 0 of 0
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked Aug 31, 2021 (4 days before fight)
Jack Shore

Big Brady picks Jack Shore to win by third-round submission, very confident. He believes Shore is superior everywhere: better wrestling, better grappling (BJJ black belt), and better striking. Sholinian is sloppy on takedowns, hittable, and low volume. Coming in on short notice makes it even harder for Sholinian. Brady expects Shore to put on a pace and finish in the third round.

Shore by submission in round 3
"give me jack shore here all day and i actually am going to say that jack tor does find a finish eventually in that third round"
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Confident picked Sep 1, 2021 (3 days before fight)
Jack Shore

Cody is a big fan of Shore, citing his chain wrestling, durability, and never-say-die attitude. He thinks Shore outclasses Sholinian everywhere, especially in wrestling and boxing. He expects Shore to grind out a decision or get a late finish, and likes the over 2.5 rounds.

Over 2.5 rounds (-125), Shore by decision (+150)
"i'm a big jack short guy man he's one of these guys that's just gonna chain wrestle"
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Sep 3, 2021 (1 day before fight)
Jack Shore

I'm all over Jack Shore. He's a much better grappler than Sholinian, and grappling is low variance. Shore is a finisher who actively looks for submissions and ground-and-pound. Sholinian's path to victory is control, but he's not on Shore's level. Even on the feet, I think Shore is better. I expect Shore to dominate and finish inside the distance. I like Shore inside the distance at -110 and Shore round 2 at +475.

Shore inside the distance -110, Shore round 2 +475, Under 2.5 rounds -110
"I like Shore all day here... I think he dominates this fight fairly easily and I like the ITD a lot."
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert picked Sep 1, 2021 (3 days before fight)

Paul is not betting Shore at -510, finding the price too high. He acknowledges Shore's skills but is nervous about laying heavy juice. He prefers to stay away or consider the over 2.5 rounds.

Over 2.5 rounds (-125)
"i'm a little nervous about laying the wood at -510 on shore here"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Aug 30, 2021 (5 days before fight)
Jack Shore

The MMA Guru picks Jack Shore to win by second-round rear-naked choke. He praises Shore's grappling, comparing him to a Dagestani wrestler, and notes his technical and safe approach. He believes Shore's length and reactionary takedowns will be too much for Sholinian, who is a pressure fighter that walks into punishment. He expects Shore to dominate on the ground and get the submission.

second round rear naked choke
"i'm going with jack shaw of course jack shaw was supposed to be taking on saeed nurmagomedov"
Expert Picks (9)
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Lean picked Oct 30, 2022 (6 days before fight)
Johnny Muñoz Jr.

Angelo gives a slight lean to Muñoz because he has more ways to win, citing his BJJ black belt and harder strikes. However, he calls it a razor-thin fight, noting Sholinian has better takedowns and relentless pressure, and is very live as an underdog. He mentions Muñoz can be low volume and slow with kicks.

"I'm gonna do a slight lean for Munoz here because he has more ways to win but this feels like a razor thin fight for me and frankly chelinian is very live"
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked Nov 1, 2022 (4 days before fight)
Johnny Muñoz Jr.

Big Brady highlights Muñoz's elite grappling and BJJ black belt, expecting a significant advantage on the mat. He notes Sholinian's wrestling background but unimpressive striking and grappling. He believes the fight will hit the mat at some point, and when it does, Muñoz will be very live for a submission. He predicts a second-round submission.

Muñoz wins by submission in round 2
"give me the grappler and Munoz to get it done and I'll gets it done by second round submission"
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Confident picked Nov 2, 2022 (3 days before fight)
Johnny Muñoz Jr.

Cody picks Johnny Muñoz Jr., noting his superior BJJ and wrestling compared to Sholinian. He thinks Muñoz showed promise in his debut against Nate Maness (outstruck him 49-21, got two takedowns) and finished Jamie Simmons. He acknowledges Muñoz got knocked out by Tony Gravely, but Gravely is explosive. Sholinian has been inactive (14 months) and showed nothing against Jack Shore, landing only 19 significant strikes. Cody thinks Muñoz can take him down and control him, but he hates the -235 price and may consider Sholinian as a dog.

"I Gotta Go Johnny Munoz to get the job done I feel like he's shown a little bit better improvements"
CO
Connor Ruebusch Expert Lean picked Nov 3, 2022 (2 days before fight)
Liudvik Sholinian

Connor picks Sholinian, believing he can shut down Munoz's wrestling better than Shore did. Munoz is not as deft a wrestling threat as Shore, and Sholinian's aggression and striking volume should carry him. Connor notes that Munoz's boxing is basic and he gets hit often.

"My feeling is that shulinyan will probably be able to, uh, shut down Munoz's wrestling better than he could shore."
DA
Daniel Levi Expert Lean picked Nov 2, 2022 (3 days before fight)
Johnny Muñoz Jr.

Daniel Levi leans Johnny Muñoz Jr., citing his jiu-jitsu black belt and ability to land takedowns. He notes Sholinian is tough but not physically imposing, lacks power and submission threat, and Muñoz should be able to dominate positionally. He passed on betting due to the price (-225).

Passed on betting due to price
"I kind of see just Johnny Munoz just being a little bit more physically imposing... unfortunately I didn't get the price I want so I passed"
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Oct 31, 2022 (4 days before fight)
Liudvik Sholinian

The host is high on Sholinian as a dog, citing his pressure style, takedown defense (6/8 against Jack Shore), and grit. He notes Muñoz Jr. struggles to land takedowns (4/20 in UFC) and relies on kicks, while Sholinian will stay in his face and outwork him. He expects Sholinian to stuff takedowns and win via decision, possibly with a late finish.

Sholinian by decision
"I like Celine as the dog plus 185 I think is a phenomenal line"
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Hesitant picked Nov 2, 2022 (3 days before fight)
Liudvik Sholinian

Paul picks Sholinian as an underdog, but is hesitant. He notes that Muñoz's only UFC win is over Jamie Simmons, a layup, and he took until the second round to finish him. Sholinian is a big bantamweight and was only taken down twice by Jack Shore, a top British wrestler. Paul added 'Muñoz Jr. under 2.5 takedowns' to his PrizePicks card, thinking Muñoz may not get many takedowns. He is considering Sholinian but will watch weigh-ins.

Johnny Muñoz Jr. under 2.5 takedowns (PrizePicks)
"sholinian for me"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Nov 2, 2022 (3 days before fight)
Johnny Muñoz Jr.

The MMA Guru picks Johnny Muñoz Jr., citing Sholinian's poor performance against Jack Shaw, who fought with one arm. He notes Muñoz has a decent win over Jamie Simmons and is a big bantamweight with good jiu-jitsu. He predicts a submission finish, specifically a rear-naked choke, continuing his trend.

rear-naked choke submission
"I'm gonna have to go with Johnny Munoz Jr here... I reckon he finds the finish at some point in this fight he's got decent Jiu Jitsu so I'll say renaked choke again two in a row."
ZA
Zane Simon Expert Lean picked Nov 3, 2022 (2 days before fight)
Liudvik Sholinian

Zane leans Sholinian because he is more aggressive and has some power, and he may shut down Munoz's wrestling better than Jack Shore did. Munoz's boxing is rudimentary, and Sholinian's pressure could overwhelm him. However, Zane admits it's a coin flip and not a good fight.

"I guess shulinyan for aggression and yeah, I do think he's got some power and when the fight inevitably gets messy, I suppose."