vs
-124 +106
UFC 274: Oliveira vs. Gaethje · May 07, 2022 · Women's Flyweight · Completed
Prev Fight UFC 274: Oliveira vs. Gaethje Next Fight
Age 32
Height 5' 5"
Reach 65.0"
Weight 125 lbs.
Stance Orthodox
Age 30
Height 5' 5"
Reach 69.0"
Weight 135 lbs.
Stance Orthodox
Career Averages - Tracy Cortez
3.86 SLpM
48.0% Str. Acc.
3.01 SApM
57.0% Str. Def.
2.15 TD Avg
46.0% TD Acc.
59.0% TD Def.
0.3 Sub. Avg
Career Averages - Melissa Gatto
3.47 SLpM
49.0% Str. Acc.
2.67 SApM
54.0% Str. Def.
1.77 TD Avg
27.0% TD Acc.
58.0% TD Def.
0.4 Sub. Avg
Tracy Cortez
Moneyline
FanDuel -124
KO/TKO
DraftKings +900
Submission
DraftKings +700
Decision
FanDuel +150
Melissa Gatto
Moneyline
FanDuel +106
KO/TKO
FanDuel +1000
Submission
FanDuel +600
Decision
BetRivers +300
Tracy Cortez - Fight History
SCHED vs Wang Cong
UFC 329 · Jul 11, 2026
Submission R2 4:44 · UFC 322 · Nov 15, 2025
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Erin Blanchfield 0 52 of 116 44% 65 of 134 2 of 3 66% 1 1 2:43
Tracy Cortez 0 46 of 104 44% 50 of 108 1 of 3 33% 0 0 0:30
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Erin Blanchfield 0 43 of 92 46% 43 of 92 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Tracy Cortez 0 32 of 76 42% 33 of 77 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:00
2 Erin Blanchfield 0 9 of 24 37% 22 of 42 2 of 3 66% 1 1 2:43
Tracy Cortez 0 14 of 28 50% 17 of 31 1 of 2 50% 0 0 0:30
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Erin Blanchfield 52 of 116 44% 38 of 100 6 of 8 8 of 8 51 of 115 1 of 1 0 of 0
Tracy Cortez 46 of 104 44% 35 of 88 7 of 12 4 of 4 45 of 100 1 of 4 0 of 0
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Erin Blanchfield 43 of 92 46% 32 of 80 5 of 6 6 of 6 42 of 91 1 of 1 0 of 0
Tracy Cortez 32 of 76 42% 25 of 64 4 of 9 3 of 3 31 of 72 1 of 4 0 of 0
2 Erin Blanchfield 9 of 24 37% 6 of 20 1 of 2 2 of 2 9 of 24 0 of 0 0 of 0
Tracy Cortez 14 of 28 50% 10 of 24 3 of 3 1 of 1 14 of 28 0 of 0 0 of 0
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Hesitant picked Nov 9, 2025 (6 days before fight)
Erin Blanchfield

Angelo picks Erin Blanchfield despite considering Tracy Cortez's wrestling. He values Blanchfield's relentless pressure and scrambling ability. He notes Cortez is often at events and may not be training enough. He suggests over 2.5 rounds and a plus 3.5 bet on Cortez as possibilities.

over 2.5 rounds, plus 3.5 on Cortez
"I'm going to pick Aaron Blanchfield. Tracy could absolutely get the takedowns here and work... Over two and a half is probably solid."
BI
Big Brady Expert Lean picked Nov 12, 2025 (3 days before fight)
Erin Blanchfield

Big Brady leans Erin Blanchfield, believing her grappling advantage will be decisive. He notes Tracy Cortez has only 62% takedown defense and has been taken down multiple times by Rose Namajunas and others. Brady thinks Blanchfield's top control and submission skills are superior once the fight hits the ground, and predicts a decision win. He acknowledges the line is wide and a case can be made for Cortez.

decision
"I'm going to lean Blanchfield to get the done get it done by decision."
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Confident picked Nov 12, 2025 (3 days before fight)
Erin Blanchfield

Cody picks Blanchfield, noting that she has improved significantly since their first fight six years ago, especially her striking. He points out that Cortez has not evolved and has been inactive. Cody believes Blanchfield's wrestling and pressure will be too much, and she will win by decision. He also mentions that Blanchfield is younger and more motivated.

Blanchfield by decision
"Blanchfield's likely to take her down and give her all types of problems. And if she doesn't take her down, she's going to come forward, she's going to throw punches, she's going to try to outwork her."
CO
Connor Ruebusch Expert Lean picked Nov 14, 2025 (1 day before fight)
Tracy Cortez

Connor also leans toward Cortez, agreeing with Zane. He notes that Cortez is an inch taller than Blanchfield, which is surprising, and that Blanchfield's aggressive style may lead to her giving things away. He thinks Cortez can win out scrambles and that Blanchfield's one-size-fits-all approach may not work.

Odds: Cortez opened +190, currently +200.
"I'm going to go Cortez with you."
DA
Daniel Vreeland Expert Confident picked Nov 13, 2025 (2 days before fight)
Erin Blanchfield

Daniel sees Blanchfield as the more evolved fighter since their first fight, with relentless pressure and a never-quit attitude. He notes that Cortez struggles when she is the nail, while Blanchfield has shown she can overcome adversity. He expects Blanchfield to avenge her loss and continue her rise.

"I'm still going to come out here and pick Aaron Blanchfield to win the rematch and avenge the loss against Tracy Cortez."
LU
Lucrative James Expert Confident picked Nov 9, 2025 (6 days before fight)
Erin Blanchfield

Lucrative James picks Erin Blanchfield to win, citing her superior grappling and submission skills. He believes Cortez will engage in wrestling, which plays into Blanchfield's strengths, as she is a better MMA grappler and dangerous from top position. He notes Blanchfield's ability to submit opponents from any position, as seen in her previous win over Cortez. He expects Blanchfield to win via submission or dominant decision.

"I'm going to pick Aaron Blanchfield to get the win."
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Nov 13, 2025 (2 days before fight)
Erin Blanchfield

Blanchfield lands bigger shots on the feet and eventually lands takedowns for control and BJJ superiority. Cortez may be the better wrestler on paper, but Blanchfield gets her hand raised on the scorecards.

"I expect Blanchfield to get her hand raised as I think she'll be able to land bigger shots on the feet and eventually land those takedowns where she can get some good control and utilize her BJJ superiority."
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Confident picked Nov 12, 2025 (3 days before fight)
Erin Blanchfield

Paul agrees with Cody, emphasizing that Blanchfield's striking has improved the most. He notes that Cortez's takedown defense is not great and that Blanchfield will likely control the fight. Paul also mentions that Blanchfield has a home-field advantage and that the fight will likely go to decision. He likes the over 2.5 rounds prop.

over 2.5 rounds
"Blanchfield by decision minus 133 is not horrible."
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Nov 12, 2025 (3 days before fight)
Erin Blanchfield

The Guru picks Erin Blanchfield to win by 29-28 decision. He believes Blanchfield's grappling and physicality will be decisive, though she may lose the first round. He criticizes Cortez's focus on appearance (fake eyelashes) and notes Blanchfield's win over Rose Namajunas as a better benchmark. Blanchfield should mix in takedowns and control later rounds.

"I'm gonna go with Blanchfield getting this one done. I'm going to say that Blanchfield wins this by 2928 decision."
ZA
Zane Simon Expert Lean picked Nov 14, 2025 (1 day before fight)
Tracy Cortez

Zane leans toward Cortez, noting that Cortez has a win over Blanchfield and is a very good scrambler and grappler. He thinks Blanchfield's aggressive style might play into Cortez's hands, as Cortez is comfortable in scrambles. However, he admits it's hard to get a grip on Cortez and that she is still developing.

Odds: Cortez opened +190, currently +200. Blanchfield opened -225, currently -235.
"I'm leaning Cortez."
Decision R3 5:00 · UFC 317: Topuria vs. Oliveira · Jun 28, 2025
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Viviane Araújo 0 22 of 51 43% 39 of 69 0 of 0 --- 0 1 1:43
Tracy Cortez 0 65 of 103 63% 102 of 143 3 of 5 60% 1 1 8:17
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Viviane Araújo 0 5 of 13 38% 15 of 24 0 of 0 --- 0 1 1:43
Tracy Cortez 0 15 of 20 75% 23 of 28 1 of 2 50% 1 1 2:52
2 Viviane Araújo 0 12 of 29 41% 17 of 34 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Tracy Cortez 0 20 of 43 46% 25 of 49 1 of 2 50% 0 0 1:15
3 Viviane Araújo 0 5 of 9 55% 7 of 11 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Tracy Cortez 0 30 of 40 75% 54 of 66 1 of 1 100% 0 0 4:10
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Viviane Araújo 22 of 51 43% 16 of 45 3 of 3 3 of 3 19 of 48 3 of 3 0 of 0
Tracy Cortez 65 of 103 63% 53 of 82 8 of 14 4 of 7 24 of 53 2 of 5 39 of 45
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Viviane Araújo 5 of 13 38% 3 of 11 1 of 1 1 of 1 2 of 10 3 of 3 0 of 0
Tracy Cortez 15 of 20 75% 10 of 14 3 of 4 2 of 2 2 of 5 1 of 2 12 of 13
2 Viviane Araújo 12 of 29 41% 8 of 25 2 of 2 2 of 2 12 of 29 0 of 0 0 of 0
Tracy Cortez 20 of 43 46% 15 of 33 4 of 7 1 of 3 15 of 36 1 of 3 4 of 4
3 Viviane Araújo 5 of 9 55% 5 of 9 0 of 0 0 of 0 5 of 9 0 of 0 0 of 0
Tracy Cortez 30 of 40 75% 28 of 35 1 of 3 1 of 2 7 of 12 0 of 0 23 of 28
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Lean picked Jun 22, 2025 (6 days before fight)
Tracy Cortez

Angelo slightly picks Tracy Cortez because he expects her grappling to wear down Viviane Araújo as the fight goes on, given Araújo's cardio fades and she is 38 years old. He acknowledges that Araújo is the better striker and has good takedown defense, but thinks Cortez can grind out a win. He also suggests the over on the round line is a safe bet, noting that women's fights often go over.

Angelo says a round line over is probably the safest bet, and mentions that parlaying all women's fights for overs is a good strategy.
"I am going to slightly pick Tracy Cortez. A round line over is probably the safest bet here."
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked Jun 21, 2025 (7 days before fight)
Tracy Cortez

Big Brady thinks Cortez is the better striker and younger, and expects the fight to take place at distance where Cortez will outland Araújo. He notes Araújo has been outlanded at distance in recent fights and is 38 years old. Brady believes Cortez can also mix in takedowns. However, he is surprised by the -230 line, thinking it's too wide, but still picks Cortez to win by decision.

Cortez wins by decision
"I got to go Cortez. Cortez to win this fight by decision."
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Lean picked Jun 26, 2025 (2 days before fight)
Tracy Cortez

The host is leaning Cortez, believing her wrestling will break down Araújo and lead to dominant second and third rounds, winning on the scorecards.

win on scorecards
"I'm really leaning Cortez in this spot as I think her wrestling can really break out of Ujo down and this will look quite dominant for Cortez in these second and third rounds leading to her winning this fight on …"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Hesitant picked Jun 26, 2025 (2 days before fight)
Tracy Cortez

The host picks Tracy Cortez but is hesitant, expecting a close competitive decision. He notes that Cortez has crisper boxing while Araújo is more well-rounded, and that the fight is likely to be a 29-28 decision. He is tempted by Araújo's underdog odds but ultimately goes with Cortez, believing the judges will favor her in a close fight.

decision
"I'm going to go with Tracy Cortez. I'm going to say if there's a close decision here, which a lot of women's MMA fights end up with, I don't see them not giving it to Tracy Cortez."
LOSS vs Rose Namajunas
Decision (unanimous) (49–46, 49–46, 48–47) R5 5:00 · UFC on ESPN: Namajunas vs. Cortez · Jul 13, 2024
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Rose Namajunas 1 96 of 180 53% 119 of 215 5 of 5 100% 0 0 6:36
Tracy Cortez 0 58 of 198 29% 85 of 233 2 of 5 40% 0 0 0:58
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Rose Namajunas 1 26 of 50 52% 30 of 55 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:28
Tracy Cortez 0 12 of 43 27% 14 of 45 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
2 Rose Namajunas 0 26 of 46 56% 27 of 48 1 of 1 100% 0 0 0:23
Tracy Cortez 0 11 of 41 26% 12 of 42 1 of 2 50% 0 0 0:16
3 Rose Namajunas 0 5 of 12 41% 15 of 31 2 of 2 100% 0 0 3:47
Tracy Cortez 0 2 of 9 22% 8 of 16 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:03
4 Rose Namajunas 0 11 of 28 39% 17 of 35 1 of 1 100% 0 0 1:06
Tracy Cortez 0 12 of 44 27% 15 of 49 1 of 1 100% 0 0 0:24
5 Rose Namajunas 0 28 of 44 63% 30 of 46 1 of 1 100% 0 0 0:52
Tracy Cortez 0 21 of 61 34% 36 of 81 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:15
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Rose Namajunas 96 of 180 53% 66 of 146 17 of 20 13 of 14 93 of 175 3 of 5 0 of 0
Tracy Cortez 58 of 198 29% 31 of 162 14 of 17 13 of 19 52 of 189 6 of 9 0 of 0
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Rose Namajunas 26 of 50 52% 16 of 39 4 of 5 6 of 6 26 of 50 0 of 0 0 of 0
Tracy Cortez 12 of 43 27% 4 of 32 1 of 1 7 of 10 12 of 43 0 of 0 0 of 0
2 Rose Namajunas 26 of 46 56% 16 of 33 5 of 7 5 of 6 25 of 45 1 of 1 0 of 0
Tracy Cortez 11 of 41 26% 7 of 36 2 of 3 2 of 2 10 of 40 1 of 1 0 of 0
3 Rose Namajunas 5 of 12 41% 5 of 12 0 of 0 0 of 0 3 of 10 2 of 2 0 of 0
Tracy Cortez 2 of 9 22% 1 of 7 1 of 1 0 of 1 1 of 8 1 of 1 0 of 0
4 Rose Namajunas 11 of 28 39% 8 of 25 2 of 2 1 of 1 11 of 27 0 of 1 0 of 0
Tracy Cortez 12 of 44 27% 7 of 37 4 of 5 1 of 2 10 of 40 2 of 4 0 of 0
5 Rose Namajunas 28 of 44 63% 21 of 37 6 of 6 1 of 1 28 of 43 0 of 1 0 of 0
Tracy Cortez 21 of 61 34% 12 of 50 6 of 7 3 of 4 19 of 58 2 of 3 0 of 0
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Confident picked Jul 7, 2024 (6 days before fight)
Rose Namajunas

Angelo picks Rose Namajunas, citing her superior striking and overall skill. He believes Tracy Cortez's path to victory is through wrestling, but doubts she can take Rose down for 25 minutes, especially since Cortez was training for a three-round fight and now faces five rounds at elevation. He notes that Rose was taken down four times by Amanda Ribas, but Ribas used clinch tosses rather than traditional shots, which are easier to defend. Angelo plans to have multiple bets on Rose.

Plans to have a few bets on Rose.
"I got to go rose rose should win this fight she should probably dominate this fight"
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Confident picked Jul 10, 2024 (3 days before fight)
Rose Namajunas

Cody picks Rose Namajunas, citing her experience at altitude, full camp, and superior striking. He notes Tracy Cortez's inactivity and short notice, and believes Rose's wrestling defense and offensive takedowns will be key. He expects a decision win for Rose.

"I think Thug Rose is a very rightful favorite here at minus 200."
DA
Daniel Vreeland Expert Confident picked Jul 10, 2024 (3 days before fight)
Tracy Cortez

Daniel Vreeland picks Tracy Cortez to upset Rose Namajunas. He argues that Cortez has a legitimate wrestling background, which historically gives Rose trouble, and that Rose is a 'hot and cold' fighter who struggles when faced with adversity. He notes Cortez's 11-fight win streak and that she was already preparing for a fight next week, so short notice isn't a major issue. He also mentions Rose's age and mileage, suggesting she may be slowing down. He calls it a 'dog or pass' situation and prefers the plus 185 underdog.

"I'm gonna go ahead and pick Tracy Cortez to upset Rose nunas and surprise a lot of people."
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Jul 12, 2024 (1 day before fight)
Rose Namajunas

Rose Namajunas has the striking advantage and the cardio edge, especially at altitude. Cortez will land some takedowns, but over 25 minutes, Namajunas will land better strikes and even some takedowns of her own late, cruising to a decision. The line is a bit wide, but the former champion reigns supreme.

Namajunas by decision; odds comment: line a bit wide, wouldn't hate an underdog shot on Cortez
"I think from there she should be able to cruise to a decision the line for my liking a little bit too wide again I wouldn't hate anybody taking an underdog shot on Cortez but I do think the former …"
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Confident picked Jul 10, 2024 (3 days before fight)
Rose Namajunas

Paul agrees with Cody, emphasizing Rose's full camp, altitude advantage, and five-round experience. He points out that Cortez's wrestling has been neutralized by upper-echelon opponents and that Rose's scrambling ability will nullify takedowns. He sees Rose winning by decision.

"I agree she's a rightful favorite I'm picking her to win."
Decision (unanimous) (30–27, 30–27, 29–28) R3 5:00 · UFC Fight Night: Grasso vs. Shevchenko 2 · Sep 16, 2023
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Tracy Cortez 0 103 of 212 48% 116 of 225 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:26
Jasmine Jasudavicius 0 77 of 206 37% 95 of 225 2 of 10 20% 0 0 3:00
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Tracy Cortez 0 39 of 75 52% 39 of 75 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Jasmine Jasudavicius 0 24 of 63 38% 25 of 64 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:05
2 Tracy Cortez 0 28 of 61 45% 29 of 62 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:17
Jasmine Jasudavicius 0 18 of 56 32% 32 of 71 2 of 5 40% 0 0 1:52
3 Tracy Cortez 0 36 of 76 47% 48 of 88 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:09
Jasmine Jasudavicius 0 35 of 87 40% 38 of 90 0 of 4 0% 0 0 1:03
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Tracy Cortez 103 of 212 48% 63 of 164 16 of 23 24 of 25 91 of 198 12 of 14 0 of 0
Jasmine Jasudavicius 77 of 206 37% 43 of 148 25 of 47 9 of 11 58 of 176 19 of 30 0 of 0
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Tracy Cortez 39 of 75 52% 20 of 55 6 of 6 13 of 14 34 of 70 5 of 5 0 of 0
Jasmine Jasudavicius 24 of 63 38% 14 of 47 6 of 12 4 of 4 20 of 57 4 of 6 0 of 0
2 Tracy Cortez 28 of 61 45% 16 of 46 7 of 10 5 of 5 22 of 53 6 of 8 0 of 0
Jasmine Jasudavicius 18 of 56 32% 11 of 40 5 of 13 2 of 3 14 of 48 4 of 8 0 of 0
3 Tracy Cortez 36 of 76 47% 27 of 63 3 of 7 6 of 6 35 of 75 1 of 1 0 of 0
Jasmine Jasudavicius 35 of 87 40% 18 of 61 14 of 22 3 of 4 24 of 71 11 of 16 0 of 0
Play-by-Play
View on Sherdog
Tracy Cortez vs. Jasmine Jasudavicius
BETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Cortez (-120), Jasudavicius (+100)

Round 1
Women’s flyweights step into the spotlight, as Cortez (10-1, 4-0 UFC) looks to build on a 10-fight winning streak and continue her climb on the 125-pound ladder. Jasudavicius (9-2, 3-1 UFC) steps into the Octagon on the strength of back-to-back victories over Gabriella Fernandes and Miranda Maverick. Jason Herzog serves as the referee. Jasudavicius turns down the glove tap, preferring to get right down to business. They paw at one another with jabs, as Cortez unleashes an inside leg kick and eats a counter right hand from the Canadian. Cortez connects in combination, setting up her attacks with the jab. Jasudavicius lands with a heavy outside leg kick and nearly spins around the Arizonan. Cortez’s hands look considerably sharper. Jasudavicius lands on occasion but lacks the necessary oomph to give her opponent pause. Cortez sneaks in a right hand over the top, fires more punches and finishes a combination with a clean left hook. Cortez shuts down a takedown attempt, threatens the neck and delivers a knee on the exit. Jasudavicius clinches but gets nowhere, and the flyweight separate. Cortez continues to connect in combination until the bell sounds.

Sherdog Scores
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Cortez
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Cortez
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Cortez

Round 2
Cortez re-asserts herself with a sharp one-two to start the middle stanza. She keeps a safe distance with a push kick to the body, scores with a leg kick and exits into open space. Cortez delivers a knee up the middle at close range and snaps the Canadian’s head sideways with a searing left hook. Jasudavicius needs a change of pace. She backs up Cortez with a pair of head kicks, then throw punches down the middle. Cortez goes headhunting and leaves herself open for a takedown. Jasudavicius takes top position midway through the second round. Cortez, however, wall walks to an upright position but allows her opponent to sneak behind her. Jasudavicius powers her way to another takedown and moves to half guard before chipping away with punches. Cortez builds a base again and gets back to her feet, bracing herself against the fence. Jasudavicius lingers in the clinch for too long and ends up with her back to the cage. They move into open space with 20 seconds left and exchange.

Sherdog Scores
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Jasudavicius
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Jasudavicius
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Jasudavicius

Round 3
It looks to be anyone’s fight as Round 3 gets underway. Cortez connects with a right hand over the top and follows it with a leg kick. Jasudavicius presses forward, shoots on the hips and clinches. She works hard for a takedown, only to fail initially. The Canadian pesters Cortez with knees to the head in close quarters but allows her to move to the center of the cage. A clean one-two from Cortez backs up Jasudavicius, energizing the crowd with her efforts. They exchange in the center of the cage. Jasudavicius moves into clinch once more and connects with a knee on the break. Cortez spending too much time moving backward but continues to land, especially with her right hand. Fatigue becoming a factor for both women. Jasudavicius follows a knee with a partially blocked head kick and punches. Trash talk ensues after Jasudavicius gets away with pulling the hair in the center of the cage. Cortez keeps her hands busy in the waning seconds. This one could go either way.

Sherdog Scores
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Jasudavicius (29-28 Jasudavicius)
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Cortez (29-29 Cortez)
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Cortez (29-28 Cortez)

The Official Result
Tracy Cortez def. Jasmine Jasudavicius—Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Confident picked Sep 10, 2023 (6 days before fight)
Jasmine Jasudavicius

Angelo picks Jasmine Jasudavicius, citing her superior wrestling credentials and ability to keep the fight standing. He notes Tracy Cortez has poor striking and relies on takedowns, but Jasmine's wrestling defense is strong. He acknowledges Cortez could win if she initiates takedowns, but favors Jasmine's toughness and recent form. He has a half-unit bet on her at +100.

half unit bet at +100
"I like Jasmine to win I have a half a unit on her at plus one plus 100 much better odds now"
BI
Big Brady Expert Hesitant picked Sep 12, 2023 (4 days before fight)
Tracy Cortez

Big Brady picks Cortez but acknowledges the fight could be close. He believes Cortez has better striking and grappling, especially top control, and that Jasudavicius has been outlanded at distance. He expects a decision and notes the crowd support for Cortez. However, he is hesitant due to the close line and the possibility of a wrestling stalemate.

goes to decision
"give me Cortez to win this fight I'll take Cortez to win this fight by decision"
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Confident picked Sep 13, 2023 (3 days before fight)
Jasmine Jasudavicius

Cody picks Jasudavicius, noting her wrestling base, grit, and improvement. He points out Cortez's inactivity, weight issues, and vulnerability in recent fights. He believes Jasudavicius can stuff takedowns and outwork Cortez on the feet.

Cortez over 1.5 takedowns (Prize Picks)
"I got a women's MMA Underdog in the main event I'm gonna double up here and take a second one."
DA
Daniel Levi Expert Lean picked Sep 13, 2023 (3 days before fight)
Jasmine Jasudavicius

Daniel Levi picks Jasmine Jasudavicius, citing her relentless pace and 'dog' mentality. He worries about Tracy Cortez's long layoff and mental health issues, and believes Jasmine will push the pace and potentially break Cortez in the later rounds. Levi acknowledges Cortez's technical wrestling advantage but thinks Jasmine's pressure and volume can win two rounds if she avoids being neutralized.

"I think that Jasmine she's got that dog in her and I think she's gonna push that pace"
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Sep 13, 2023 (3 days before fight)
Tracy Cortez

Cortez is one of the best wrestlers in the division, with excellent takedowns and top pressure. Jasudavicius is coming off an upset win over Miranda Maverick, but I think there's recency bias; Cortez is a step up in wrestling. Cortez should close the distance and impose her will, winning by decision. I've already bet her at minus 170 and think she's still a good spot up to that range.

"I've already pulled the trigger and I feel like she's still a good spot up to that minus uh minus 170 ish range I think she'll have a decided advantage in the grappling and we'll see it on full display …"
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Lean picked Sep 13, 2023 (3 days before fight)
Jasmine Jasudavicius

Paul leans toward Jasudavicius as an underdog, citing her wrestling, durability, and recent wins as a dog. He notes Cortez's inactivity, weight cut issues, and close fights. He likes Jasudavicius's pace and thinks she can outwork Cortez.

Cortez over 1.5 takedowns (Prize Picks)
"I'm kind of leaning towards the Canadian here in Jasmine."
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Sep 11, 2023 (5 days before fight)
Jasmine Jasudavicius

The MMA Guru picks Jasmine Jasudavicius over Tracy Cortez, despite most people favoring Cortez. He believes Jasudavicius is more game, stronger, and tougher. He notes Cortez's split decision win over Justine Kish as a poor performance and highlights Jasudavicius's recent grappling dominance over Miranda Maverick. He expects Jasudavicius to win in the second and third rounds via stand-up fight.

"I'm gonna go with Jasmine just sudavicious over Tracy Cortez I think she's more game than Tracy Cortez"
WIN vs Melissa Gatto
Decision (unanimous) (29–28, 29–28, 29–28) R3 5:00 · UFC 274: Oliveira vs. Gaethje · May 07, 2022
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Tracy Cortez 0 36 of 66 54% 70 of 102 2 of 3 66% 1 1 7:54
Melissa Gatto 0 30 of 73 41% 49 of 95 3 of 6 50% 1 1 3:17
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Tracy Cortez 0 11 of 16 68% 23 of 29 1 of 1 100% 0 1 3:16
Melissa Gatto 0 7 of 20 35% 14 of 28 1 of 2 50% 0 0 0:38
2 Tracy Cortez 0 9 of 23 39% 20 of 34 0 of 0 --- 0 0 1:35
Melissa Gatto 0 15 of 35 42% 25 of 47 2 of 3 66% 1 0 2:04
3 Tracy Cortez 0 16 of 27 59% 27 of 39 1 of 2 50% 1 0 3:03
Melissa Gatto 0 8 of 18 44% 10 of 20 0 of 1 0% 0 1 0:35
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Tracy Cortez 36 of 66 54% 25 of 51 6 of 9 5 of 6 14 of 37 2 of 2 20 of 27
Melissa Gatto 30 of 73 41% 25 of 61 3 of 7 2 of 5 27 of 69 0 of 1 3 of 3
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Tracy Cortez 11 of 16 68% 8 of 13 0 of 0 3 of 3 5 of 7 0 of 0 6 of 9
Melissa Gatto 7 of 20 35% 6 of 17 0 of 0 1 of 3 7 of 20 0 of 0 0 of 0
2 Tracy Cortez 9 of 23 39% 4 of 16 4 of 6 1 of 1 5 of 18 1 of 1 3 of 4
Melissa Gatto 15 of 35 42% 13 of 30 2 of 4 0 of 1 14 of 33 0 of 1 1 of 1
3 Tracy Cortez 16 of 27 59% 13 of 22 2 of 3 1 of 2 4 of 12 1 of 1 11 of 14
Melissa Gatto 8 of 18 44% 6 of 14 1 of 3 1 of 1 6 of 16 0 of 0 2 of 2
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Hesitant picked Apr 30, 2022 (7 days before fight)
Tracy Cortez

Angelo picks Tracy Cortez based on her wrestling, expecting her to grind out a decision. However, he admits his bet will be on Melissa Gatto to win inside the distance (decision no action), indicating a lack of full confidence in Cortez. He notes Cortez's layoff and Gatto's submission threat.

Bet on Melissa Gatto to win inside the distance (decision no action) at BetOnline
"she's the pick because of the wrestling my my bet is actually going to be on gatto so my pick is tracy cortez"
BI
Big Brady Expert Hesitant picked May 2, 2022 (5 days before fight)
Tracy Cortez

Big Brady picks Tracy Cortez to win by decision, but he is hesitant. He acknowledges that Gatto has shown impressive striking and grappling, but her takedown defense is poor. Cortez will look to take Gatto down and control her, and Brady believes she will succeed in getting takedowns. However, Gatto is dangerous off her back with submissions, so Cortez will have to fight off submissions for 15 minutes. Brady thinks Cortez will win by controlling the fight on the ground, but he would not count out Gatto completely.

decision
"I'm gonna take cortez to take godo down in each and every round controller for the majority of the fight but god is going to most definitely have her moments this is a very interesting fight I like both fighters …"
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Confident picked May 4, 2022 (3 days before fight)
Tracy Cortez

Cody picks Tracy Cortez, but emphasizes monitoring the scales. He notes Cortez's wrestling advantage and that she trains at Fight Ready MMA. Cody believes Cortez can get takedowns and stay on top, avoiding Gatto's submissions. He thinks Gatto's guard is active but Cortez's wrestling and pace will prevail. Cody is confident if Cortez makes weight.

"i tend to go with the wrestler so i'm gonna go with tracy cortez at home"
DA
Daniel Levi Expert Lean picked May 5, 2022 (2 days before fight)
Melissa Gatto

Daniel Levi leans toward Melissa Gatto as an underdog, citing her cleaner striking, power, and opportunistic submissions. He expects Cortez to have early wrestling success but thinks Gatto can survive and turn the fight in later rounds. He is worried about Cortez's top control but sees value in Gatto at plus money. He has not bet yet, noting he missed better lines.

Daniel considers a Gatto submission prop but has not bet. He mentions the line moved from +170 to +130.
"I do like the potential in Gato. It's just this fight is one of those that I truly believe is gonna come down to the wire and oftentimes in fights like that I like to take the dog."
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Lean picked May 6, 2022 (1 day before fight)
Melissa Gatto

The host picks Melissa Gatto but is not betting the fight due to volatility. He notes Cortez's strong wrestling but concerns about her weight miss and cardio. He highlights Gatto's impressive UFC performances, her ability to work from bottom, and her vicious striking. He expects Gatto to pressure, attack the body, and possibly find a submission or win via striking. He acknowledges Cortez will land takedowns but thinks Gatto will do enough to win.

"i am picking her to win she will be my prediction to win this fight"
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Lean picked May 4, 2022 (3 days before fight)
Melissa Gatto

Paul picks Melissa Gatto as an underdog at +147. He believes the fight is more 50/50 and that Gatto's grappling is legit, with an active guard and submission threats. He fears Cortez's wrestling could control the fight, but thinks Gatto's strength and jiu-jitsu could lead to a submission. Paul acknowledges the Arizona home cooking factor but took the dog shot.

"i took the underdog shot on melissa gatto uh plus 147."
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked May 2, 2022 (5 days before fight)
Melissa Gatto

The MMA Guru picks Melissa Gatto as an underdog, citing her underrated skills, youth, and physical advantages. He notes Gatto has a reach advantage, submission ability, and finishing power, as seen in her wins over Carol Rosa and Sijara Eubanks. He criticizes Cortez for pitter-patter striking and lack of finishing ability. He predicts Gatto will win on the feet and then secure a submission, possibly an armbar in the second round.

"i'm going with the underdog melissa garter moving on up the card"
WIN vs Justine Kish
Decision (split) (29–28, 28–29, 30–27) R3 5:00 · UFC on ESPN: Whittaker vs. Gastelum · Apr 17, 2021
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Tracy Cortez 0 66 of 112 58% 84 of 138 3 of 5 60% 1 0 6:26
Justine Kish 1 55 of 119 46% 72 of 140 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:38
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Tracy Cortez 0 20 of 30 66% 34 of 52 1 of 1 100% 0 0 4:11
Justine Kish 0 5 of 8 62% 12 of 16 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:21
2 Tracy Cortez 0 22 of 44 50% 24 of 46 1 of 2 50% 0 0 0:53
Justine Kish 0 29 of 57 50% 38 of 69 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:09
3 Tracy Cortez 0 24 of 38 63% 26 of 40 1 of 2 50% 1 0 1:22
Justine Kish 1 21 of 54 38% 22 of 55 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:08
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Tracy Cortez 66 of 112 58% 40 of 78 19 of 24 7 of 10 39 of 73 7 of 7 20 of 32
Justine Kish 55 of 119 46% 30 of 86 8 of 14 17 of 19 50 of 111 4 of 6 1 of 2
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Tracy Cortez 20 of 30 66% 18 of 28 2 of 2 0 of 0 3 of 3 2 of 2 15 of 25
Justine Kish 5 of 8 62% 3 of 6 0 of 0 2 of 2 4 of 6 1 of 1 0 of 1
2 Tracy Cortez 22 of 44 50% 9 of 26 8 of 10 5 of 8 19 of 41 3 of 3 0 of 0
Justine Kish 29 of 57 50% 15 of 38 4 of 8 10 of 11 27 of 54 2 of 3 0 of 0
3 Tracy Cortez 24 of 38 63% 13 of 24 9 of 12 2 of 2 17 of 29 2 of 2 5 of 7
Justine Kish 21 of 54 38% 12 of 42 4 of 6 5 of 6 19 of 51 1 of 2 1 of 1
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked Apr 15, 2021 (2 days before fight)
Tracy Cortez

Big Brady picks Tracy Cortez to win by decision. He highlights Cortez's excellent wrestling (3 takedowns per 15 minutes) against Kish's poor takedown defense (55%). He notes that Kish has not faced a wrestler of Cortez's caliber and that Cortez should have no problem getting takedowns and controlling the fight. He expects a dominant decision with multiple takedowns and top control. He suggests the decision prop at -120 as a better value than the moneyline.

Decision prop at -120 suggested as better value
"give me cortez to win by decision"
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Confident picked Apr 14, 2021 (3 days before fight)
Tracy Cortez

Cody believes Cortez will secure takedowns and grind Kish down. He notes Kish is raw, makes mistakes, and has poor takedown defense. He thinks Cortez's wrestling is her bread and butter and that she will win by decision. He is confident in the pick.

Cortez by decision at -120
"i think cortez goes out there secures the takedowns holds quiche down"
DA
Daniel Levi Expert Confident picked Apr 16, 2021 (1 day before fight)
Tracy Cortez

Daniel Levi picks Tracy Cortez, citing her disciplined style and takedown ability. He notes that Justine Kish is aggressive but leaves openings for takedowns, and Cortez will stay true to her game plan. Levi believes Cortez will take Kish down and control the fight, winning a unanimous decision. He also mentions that Cortez has a higher ceiling and is working with a good team.

unanimous decision
"i'm gonna go with tracy cortez here uh be a unanimous decision"
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Apr 16, 2021 (1 day before fight)
Tracy Cortez

Manpreet is confident Cortez will win by decision, citing her superior wrestling and top control. He notes that Kish is durable but has poor takedown defense and struggles off her back, as seen in the Felice Herrig fight. He believes Cortez will grind out a decision, making the decision prop a safe play.

Cortez by decision -150; over 2.5 rounds -345
"i like cortez here minus 150 on that decision prop i think that's a solid spot"
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Confident picked Apr 14, 2021 (3 days before fight)
Tracy Cortez

Paul agrees with Cody, noting that Kish has lost to grapplers and has not improved. He thinks Cortez's wrestling will be even better at 125 lbs. He expects a 29-28 decision for Cortez.

Cortez by decision
"i think cortez by decision"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Apr 11, 2021 (6 days before fight)
Tracy Cortez

The MMA Guru picks Tracy Cortez to win by unanimous decision. He notes Cortez is younger, has a reach advantage, and a better record with good competition. He criticizes Justine Kish's recent losses and lack of impressive wins. He expects Cortez to secure takedowns at the end of rounds to win close rounds, possibly 30-27.

"i think cortez is going to go out there and get a decision win"
Decision (unanimous) (30–27, 30–27, 30–27) R3 5:00 · UFC Fight Night: Moraes vs. Sandhagen · Oct 11, 2020
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Tracy Cortez 0 20 of 42 47% 66 of 109 3 of 5 60% 0 0 9:58
Stephanie Egger 0 10 of 32 31% 27 of 70 1 of 6 16% 0 1 2:07
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Tracy Cortez 0 6 of 14 42% 13 of 22 1 of 2 50% 0 0 2:43
Stephanie Egger 0 6 of 16 37% 12 of 32 0 of 1 0% 0 1 0:34
2 Tracy Cortez 0 6 of 13 46% 31 of 51 1 of 1 100% 0 0 4:16
Stephanie Egger 0 2 of 9 22% 7 of 19 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:14
3 Tracy Cortez 0 8 of 15 53% 22 of 36 1 of 2 50% 0 0 2:59
Stephanie Egger 0 2 of 7 28% 8 of 19 1 of 5 20% 0 0 1:19
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Tracy Cortez 20 of 42 47% 11 of 28 3 of 6 6 of 8 9 of 24 0 of 2 11 of 16
Stephanie Egger 10 of 32 31% 6 of 24 0 of 2 4 of 6 8 of 29 2 of 3 0 of 0
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Tracy Cortez 6 of 14 42% 2 of 7 2 of 3 2 of 4 4 of 11 0 of 1 2 of 2
Stephanie Egger 6 of 16 37% 2 of 10 0 of 1 4 of 5 6 of 16 0 of 0 0 of 0
2 Tracy Cortez 6 of 13 46% 3 of 8 1 of 3 2 of 2 3 of 6 0 of 0 3 of 7
Stephanie Egger 2 of 9 22% 2 of 9 0 of 0 0 of 0 0 of 6 2 of 3 0 of 0
3 Tracy Cortez 8 of 15 53% 6 of 13 0 of 0 2 of 2 2 of 7 0 of 1 6 of 7
Stephanie Egger 2 of 7 28% 2 of 5 0 of 1 0 of 1 2 of 7 0 of 0 0 of 0
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked Oct 7, 2020 (4 days before fight)
Stephanie Egger

Big Brady picks the underdog Egger, citing her size advantage (3-inch height), legitimate ground game, and takedown ability. He notes Cortez has been reversed and put in bad spots on the mat, and that Egger is the bigger woman. He believes the fight should be closer to a pick'em and expects Egger to win by decision or submission.

Egger by submission or decision
"i'm going to go with stephanie egger to get a decision win and honestly i don't think a submission is off the table"
DA
Daniel Levi Expert Lean picked Oct 9, 2020 (2 days before fight)
Tracy Cortez

Daniel leans with Tracy Cortez, believing her wrestling is better suited for MMA than Egger's judo. He notes that pulling guard in MMA is risky against a wrestler. He expects Cortez to get takedowns and win a decision. However, he cautions that Cortez is still green and wouldn't bet heavily on her.

Daniel says he would stay away from betting at this price. He also mentions that Egger's best win is over Vanessa Mello.
"I'll lean with tracy cortez i think that wrestling is better than than uh than judo at least at least as far as mma is concerned"
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Lean picked Oct 8, 2020 (3 days before fight)
Stephanie Egger

Egger has size, strength, and judo advantages; she can reverse clinch positions and control on the ground. Cortez is undersized and may struggle to get takedowns. Egger's cardio is a concern, but she should win the first two rounds and survive the third for a decision.

"i do like edgar here i think she's gonna be much better on the ground"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Oct 4, 2020 (7 days before fight)
Tracy Cortez

The Guru picks Cortez, citing her better competition, experience, and record. He notes Egger is taking the fight on short notice and expects Cortez to grind out a unanimous decision by winning the second and third rounds.

unanimous decision
"tracy cortez versus stephanie egger we're gonna go with tracy cortez getting the job done here"
Melissa Gatto - Fight History
LOSS vs Dione Barbosa
Decision R3 5:00 · UFC Fight Night: Moicano vs. Duncan · Apr 04, 2026
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Dione Barbosa 0 30 of 67 44% 108 of 154 3 of 6 50% 1 1 6:06
Melissa Gatto 0 33 of 67 49% 64 of 109 3 of 12 25% 0 1 4:48
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Dione Barbosa 0 16 of 37 43% 35 of 58 0 of 3 0% 0 0 1:15
Melissa Gatto 0 21 of 48 43% 27 of 59 1 of 5 20% 0 0 1:11
2 Dione Barbosa 0 9 of 20 45% 34 of 51 2 of 2 100% 0 0 2:20
Melissa Gatto 0 5 of 7 71% 23 of 30 2 of 6 33% 0 0 1:55
3 Dione Barbosa 0 5 of 10 50% 39 of 45 1 of 1 100% 1 1 2:31
Melissa Gatto 0 7 of 12 58% 14 of 20 0 of 1 0% 0 1 1:42
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Dione Barbosa 30 of 67 44% 19 of 53 9 of 12 2 of 2 16 of 49 5 of 7 9 of 11
Melissa Gatto 33 of 67 49% 14 of 40 9 of 15 10 of 12 30 of 62 2 of 4 1 of 1
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Dione Barbosa 16 of 37 43% 12 of 31 2 of 4 2 of 2 12 of 30 3 of 5 1 of 2
Melissa Gatto 21 of 48 43% 7 of 26 7 of 13 7 of 9 20 of 45 1 of 3 0 of 0
2 Dione Barbosa 9 of 20 45% 6 of 17 3 of 3 0 of 0 4 of 14 2 of 2 3 of 4
Melissa Gatto 5 of 7 71% 2 of 4 1 of 1 2 of 2 4 of 6 1 of 1 0 of 0
3 Dione Barbosa 5 of 10 50% 1 of 5 4 of 5 0 of 0 0 of 5 0 of 0 5 of 5
Melissa Gatto 7 of 12 58% 5 of 10 1 of 1 1 of 1 6 of 11 0 of 0 1 of 1
Play-by-Play
View on Sherdog
Dione Barbosa vs. Melissa Gatto
BETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Barbosa (-145); Gatto (+125)

Round 1
The night presses on as a pair of women’s flyweights meet in hopes of keeping or lifting their respective promotional record above .500. Barbosa (8-4, 2-2 UFC) would like a victory to elevate it over that midpoint mark, while bantamweight part-timer Gatto (9-2-2, 3-2 UFC) is looking for success back in her natural weight class. Referee Chris Tognoni draws the charge for this preliminary contest, one that does not open with a glove touch.
The ladies measure one another in the early going, testing out their jabs while not committing to much else. Gatto opens up a bit more with her overhand right, and when she finally scores one, she has to back off when a one-two pinpoints her nose. Gatto slings her right hand down the pipe, faking a takedown shot and ultimately walk into a spinning back kick counter. Barbosa gets her attention with a left hand after the kick connects, and she is greeted with a stern right hand. Barbosa shakes it off and offers a low kick followed by two punches, and the two start trading hands in a brief exchange with Barbosa landing at the beginning and ending. Gatto works her way behind her right hand, and she shoots in for takedown that is shut down before it can come close to materializing.
Barbosa bullies the taller woman to the wall, pressing her shoulder tightly before kneeing her a couple times to the stomach. Barbosa trips Gatto up to drag her to the floor, and Gatto springs back up with the fencing behind her. Barbosa stomps Gatto’s toes, and Gatto breaks off with a knee. Gatto takes a punch and times the spin she sees coming to grab Barbosa from behind and wrangle her to the mat. Gatto advances to an awkward position that places her in leglock danger, but she is close to securing the mount position. Barbosa hacks with elbows off her back, and she uses butterfly hooks to stave Gatto from claiming a dominant posture. Gatto lowers herself down maintain control, and Barbosa’s leg slides up an around to snatch up an armbar. Gatto leans to her side to free the pressure on her limb, and she drills Barbosa with a number of hammerfists as the round ends.

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

Round 2
Gatto assumes control of the center of the cage to get going first, pushing out her jab a few times before snatching up a Barbosa low kick to trip her up and take her to the mat. Barbosa flips her all the way over to wind up on top, and Gatto is stuck flat on her back. Gatto keeps a high guard when Barbosa postures up, but Barbosa does not fall into a trap and stands back up. Gatto turns to her knees to stand back up, and Barbosa blasts her with an illegal soccer kick to the neck and chin that knocks Gatto completely out. Barbosa walks off celebrating, as if she thinks that she has won the fight, while Gatto is splayed out lifelessly in an eerie scene reminiscent of Maycee Barber getting knocked out last week. As a medical professional or two rush in to tend to Gatto, she comes to and has to be told what happened. The replay official flips the light to signal that they are going to use instant replay to review the footage, but it appeared that Gatto’s knee was down right before she took the soccer kick that rendered her unconscious. Tognoni discusses his options with the officiating team, and he deducts one point from Barbosa for the foul. Shockingly, the fight somehow continues, even though Gatto was knocked unconscious from the strike. This is complete nonsense. This fight should be over, period. What happened to fighter safety being the primary concern of officials? Gatto, who apparently is back with her wits again, runs forward at the restart to take the fight down. Barbosa is grounded for a time before fighting her way back up, and she turns the tables to take Gatto down.
Gatto works her way up after absorbing some hammerfists, and she breaks out of the clinch to take a spinning back fist on the chin. Gatto shakes it out and tackles Barbosa to the floor. Thankfully, with Gatto on top, it means she is not currently absorbing much brain trauma after being knocked out from the illegal soccer kick that only resulted in a single point being deducted. Barbosa fights off her back with a high guard in hopes of catching Gatto in something, and she grips hold of a triangle armbar but is punched out of it. The round somehow ends.

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

Round 3
Between rounds, it is explained that the officials and medical staff determined Gatto was able to continue a fistfight despite already getting knocked all the way out. What are rules anymore? It does not take long for the ladies to go for grappling, and Barbosa succeeds in taking Gatto to the mat. Gatto keeps her left leg wrapped on the side in hopes of setting something up, and Barbosa ignores it and starts elbowing her in the side. Gatto turns to her side with a two-on-one wrist control of Barbosa, who counters her by rolling all the way over to snatch up an armbar.
Gatto turns over to stack Barboza up, squeezing her elbow and forearm on the throat while exerting as much pressure down as she can to stifle the submission. Barbosa cannot hold the submission much longer as she is getting squished, and Gatto breaks out of it and busts her in the chops with a strong right hand. Barbosa sits up and flips her opponent over to her back, and she starts hunting for a leglock. Gatto sits up to stop it, and she tries to muscle Barbosa over and use a kimura grip to reverse position. She succeeds in turning Barbosa over and keeps control of the limb, and she steps over the body with her rear leg to establish herself in top control. As the ladies roll around on the mat looking for positional advantages, Gatto snags hold of the left arm of her opponent to hunt for her own armbar. Barbosa elbows Gatto on the back of the calf, and this fight somehow makes it 15 minutes. This is not a good day for the Nevada State Athletic Commission. A draw may be in play, but that depends on the scoring of the first round.

Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Barbosa (28-28)
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Barbosa (28-28)
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Barbosa (28-28)

The Official Result
Dione Barbosa def. Melissa Gatto via Majority Decision (28-28, 29-27, 29-27)
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Confident picked Mar 29, 2026 (6 days before fight)
Dione Barbosa

Angelo picks Dione Barbosa, citing her superior takedown ability as a judoka. He notes that Melissa Gatto has poor takedowns and that Barbosa can close the distance, take her down, and control on top. He worries about potential judging bias similar to Barbosa's last loss but believes Barbosa will win a close decision.

"Dion Barbosa is going to be the pick. We probably end up in a 2928 type situation."
BI
Big Brady Expert Lean picked Mar 30, 2026 (5 days before fight)
Melissa Gatto

Big Brady picks Melissa Gatto as a slight underdog. He notes Barbosa has power and can get takedowns early, but fades as the fight goes on. He likes Gatto's cardio, volume, and kicks, and expects her to take over in later rounds. He predicts a close decision win for Gatto.

Gatto by decision
"I'll take Gatto here. I like the cardio, I like the kicks, I like the volume."
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Confident picked Apr 2, 2026 (2 days before fight)
Melissa Gatto

Cody picks Gatto, citing her youth, improved skills, and ability to scramble and strike. He expects her to win a decision, as Barbosa's grappling-heavy style may not score well.

"It's got by decision for me."
CO
Connor Ruebusch Expert Lean picked Apr 3, 2026 (1 day before fight)
Dione Barbosa

Connor leans toward Barbosa, agreeing that she is more disciplined. He notes that Gatto's footwork is worse and she tends to collapse when pressured, leading her to wrestle. Barbosa is as big as Gatto and a better grappler, which should neutralize Gatto's advantages.

Barbosa opened +105, now -127; Gatto opened -125, now +107.
"Barboza actually has some a little bit of boxing footwork... Gatto just doesn't know how to like keep herself lined up."
LU
Lucrative James Expert Lean picked Mar 30, 2026 (5 days before fight)
Melissa Gatto

James leans toward Melissa Gatto as the underdog, citing her striking kicks and cardio advantage, while noting Barbosa's tendency to tire. He admits he hasn't done tape study and is unsure about the grappling dynamics. He predicts a decision win for Gatto but emphasizes low confidence and the need for further analysis.

"I'll say Melissa Gate. She's the underdog. I lean to the underdog in a fight like this where I think it's very close."
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Mar 31, 2026 (4 days before fight)
Melissa Gatto

The host picks Gatto as a dog, citing her damage-based striking and grappling advantage. He notes Barbosa's recent loss where control wasn't enough, and trusts Gatto's volume and damage to win on the scorecards despite a two-year layoff. He sees a good stylistic matchup for Gatto.

"I feel like Gateau is the perfect dog to start off this card."
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Lean picked Apr 2, 2026 (2 days before fight)
Melissa Gatto

Paul leans towards Gatto, noting her two-year layoff may have helped her improve. He expects her to win a close decision due to her striking and scrambling.

"I do have Melissa God. I think Melissa is a decent fighter."
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Hesitant picked Apr 4, 2026 (fight day)
Dione Barbosa

The MMA Guru picks Dione Barbosa but seems hesitant, acknowledging that her win over Diana Belbita isn't impressive. He notes that Melissa Gatto has a body kick KO win but lost to Tracy Cortez. He thinks Barbosa is slightly more well-rounded but doesn't sound fully convinced.

"I think she'll win this one, though. I think she'll beat Melissa Gatto, okay? Don't grill me on it."
ZA
Zane Simon Expert Lean picked Apr 3, 2026 (1 day before fight)
Dione Barbosa

Zane leans toward Barbosa, noting she is more disciplined and has better footwork. He thinks Gatto has good tools but doesn't stick to them, and tends to win when opponents make catastrophic mistakes. Barbosa's boxing footwork and grappling should allow her to keep the fight in her favor.

Barbosa opened +105, now -127; Gatto opened -125, now +107.
"I'm tempted to pick Barboza. I think she's a little more... she's just a more disciplined fighter."
WIN vs Tamires Vidal
TKO (punch to the body) R3 0:37 · UFC Fight Night: Barboza vs. Murphy · May 18, 2024
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Melissa Gatto 0 15 of 29 51% 50 of 66 0 of 0 --- 1 0 0:53
Tamires Vidal 0 30 of 52 57% 120 of 163 2 of 2 100% 1 0 6:58
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Melissa Gatto 0 3 of 3 100% 32 of 34 0 of 0 --- 1 0 0:00
Tamires Vidal 0 6 of 9 66% 72 of 85 1 of 1 100% 0 0 4:33
2 Melissa Gatto 0 11 of 20 55% 17 of 26 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:53
Tamires Vidal 0 21 of 35 60% 45 of 70 1 of 1 100% 1 0 2:25
3 Melissa Gatto 0 1 of 6 16% 1 of 6 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Tamires Vidal 0 3 of 8 37% 3 of 8 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Melissa Gatto 15 of 29 51% 7 of 21 2 of 2 6 of 6 14 of 28 1 of 1 0 of 0
Tamires Vidal 30 of 52 57% 13 of 30 16 of 20 1 of 2 22 of 40 1 of 5 7 of 7
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Melissa Gatto 3 of 3 100% 1 of 1 0 of 0 2 of 2 3 of 3 0 of 0 0 of 0
Tamires Vidal 6 of 9 66% 4 of 7 2 of 2 0 of 0 4 of 7 0 of 0 2 of 2
2 Melissa Gatto 11 of 20 55% 5 of 14 2 of 2 4 of 4 10 of 19 1 of 1 0 of 0
Tamires Vidal 21 of 35 60% 9 of 21 11 of 12 1 of 2 15 of 25 1 of 5 5 of 5
3 Melissa Gatto 1 of 6 16% 1 of 6 0 of 0 0 of 0 1 of 6 0 of 0 0 of 0
Tamires Vidal 3 of 8 37% 0 of 2 3 of 6 0 of 0 3 of 8 0 of 0 0 of 0
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Confident picked May 12, 2024 (6 days before fight)
Tamires Vidal

Angelo is shocked that Melissa Gatto is the biggest favorite on the card at -820 despite being on a two-fight losing streak, moving up in weight, and having poor takedown accuracy (0 for 7 in her last fight). He believes Tamires Vidal is big, strong, and has a grappling advantage. He plans to bet on Vidal, watching the line movement to decide when to place the bet.

bet on Vidal (timing based on line movement)
"I already thought vial was going to win let alone at these odds I'm going to continue to watch this"
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Confident picked May 15, 2024 (3 days before fight)
Melissa Gatto

Cody views this as a clear bounceback fight for Gatto, who has lost two close decisions to top competition. He notes Vidal has massive limitations in every area: poor footwork, no head movement, low volume, and no power. Gatto is stronger, more technical, and a better wrestler. Cody believes Gatto will dominate on the ground and get back in the win column.

"Gatto is way strong at 125 that won't finish at 135 she's a way more polished way more powerful way more technical Striker than Vidal."
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked May 14, 2024 (4 days before fight)
Melissa Gatto

Vidal is reckless with wide hooks and was out-grinded in her last fight. Gatto is the toughest opponent Vidal has faced and should provide a ton of resistance. Expects Gatto to pressure Vidal, use the clinch, take her down, and eventually find a finish. The line should be closer to -400 or -500.

Inside the distance for Gatto.
"I think the minus 300 on Melissa got to is more than worthy here as I think that she should be closer to minus 400 maybe evenus 500"
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Confident picked May 15, 2024 (3 days before fight)
Melissa Gatto

Paul sees Gatto as much more powerful and technical than Vidal. He notes Vidal's only UFC win came via flying knee against a low-level opponent, and she was dominated by Montserrat Ruiz. Paul expects Gatto to manhandle Vidal with her grappling and physicality, despite moving up a weight class.

"It's goto for me."
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked May 14, 2024 (4 days before fight)
Melissa Gatto

The MMA Guru picks Melissa Gatto over Tamires Vidal, despite going against his rule of picking 'thems' in women's MMA. He notes that Gatto had a close fight with Tracy Cortez and that Vidal was taken down three times by a smaller opponent in her last fight. He expects Gatto to use her reach and grappling to control Vidal and win by decision.

"I'm going to go with Melissa GTO here I think she'll be able to take down um tamires vdal"
LOSS vs Ariane da Silva
Decision (split) (28–29, 30–27, 29–28) R3 5:00 · UFC on ESPN: Strickland vs. Magomedov · Jul 01, 2023
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Ariane da Silva 0 66 of 149 44% 81 of 166 1 of 1 100% 0 0 0:47
Melissa Gatto 0 85 of 186 45% 100 of 201 0 of 7 0% 0 0 2:57
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Ariane da Silva 0 16 of 49 32% 18 of 52 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Melissa Gatto 0 28 of 53 52% 28 of 53 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:17
2 Ariane da Silva 0 26 of 46 56% 39 of 60 1 of 1 100% 0 0 0:12
Melissa Gatto 0 33 of 66 50% 45 of 78 0 of 3 0% 0 0 2:16
3 Ariane da Silva 0 24 of 54 44% 24 of 54 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:35
Melissa Gatto 0 24 of 67 35% 27 of 70 0 of 3 0% 0 0 0:24
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Ariane da Silva 66 of 149 44% 28 of 101 27 of 36 11 of 12 53 of 131 12 of 15 1 of 3
Melissa Gatto 85 of 186 45% 39 of 117 34 of 50 12 of 19 70 of 165 15 of 21 0 of 0
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Ariane da Silva 16 of 49 32% 3 of 30 9 of 15 4 of 4 14 of 45 2 of 4 0 of 0
Melissa Gatto 28 of 53 52% 13 of 31 10 of 15 5 of 7 25 of 49 3 of 4 0 of 0
2 Ariane da Silva 26 of 46 56% 10 of 27 12 of 14 4 of 5 18 of 37 8 of 9 0 of 0
Melissa Gatto 33 of 66 50% 11 of 37 17 of 21 5 of 8 23 of 52 10 of 14 0 of 0
3 Ariane da Silva 24 of 54 44% 15 of 44 6 of 7 3 of 3 21 of 49 2 of 2 1 of 3
Melissa Gatto 24 of 67 35% 15 of 49 7 of 14 2 of 4 22 of 64 2 of 3 0 of 0
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Hesitant picked Jun 25, 2023 (6 days before fight)
Ariane da Silva

Angelo picks Ariane Lipski (da Silva) based on her last performance against JJ Aldrich, where her hands and wrestling looked great. He acknowledges the logical pick is Melissa Gatto due to Lipski's history of being outgrappled, but he goes against logic. He suggests a plus 3.5 point buy on the scorecard for Lipski as a safer bet.

plus 3.5 points on judges scorecard (potential bet)
"I'm going to go against the logic I'm going to pick lipsky like she looked so good against JJ Aldridge"
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked Jun 26, 2023 (5 days before fight)
Melissa Gatto

Big Brady picks Melissa Gatto to win by first-round submission. He notes Gatto has improved significantly, with better striking and takedown defense, and has power. He points out that Ariane da Silva (Lipski) has been dominated on the ground by fighters like Montana De La Rosa and Antonina Shevchenko, and Gatto's top game is dangerous. He expects Gatto to get on top and finish early.

first round submission
"give me got her to win this fight by first round I'll say sub"
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Confident picked Jun 28, 2023 (3 days before fight)

Cody sees Lipski as a live underdog. He notes Gatto's low volume (17 significant strikes in nearly 3 rounds against Eubanks) and poor defensive wrestling. Lipski showed improved wrestling at ATT and has high volume (101 significant strikes against Aldrich). Cody thinks if Lipski can stuff takedowns, she wins the striking battle. He also notes Lipski is only 29 and improving.

"I too will take lip ski all right"
DA
Daniel Levi Expert Confident picked Jun 29, 2023 (2 days before fight)
Melissa Gatto

Daniel confidently picks Gatto, citing her superior heart, durability, and grappling. He notes Lipski's history of quitting when pressured and her poor defensive grappling, while Gatto showed toughness against Tracy Cortez, reversing positions and landing takedowns. He believes Gatto's chin and submission threat are key, and that Lipski's recent win over JJ Aldrich is overrated. However, he missed the opening line (-150) and won't bet at -230, but expects Gatto to win.

missed the line at -150; Gatto minus 230
"I definitely favorite gato here it's just you know all you guys that came in on that minus 150. that minus 170. you all did your job"
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Confident picked Jun 28, 2023 (3 days before fight)

Paul is tempted by the CF dog model. He notes Lipski's last performance against Aldrich was impressive and that Gatto's wins are over low-level competition. He questions if Lipski has turned the corner and thinks the line is off. Paul believes Lipski has a legitimate chance.

"I am tempted for uh to to enact the CF dot model on this one Cody is has ariani lipsky turned the corner here"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Jun 27, 2023 (4 days before fight)
Melissa Gatto

The Guru picks Melissa Gatto, noting her impressive win over Ariane Lipski via front kick to the body and her submission win over Karol Rosa. He acknowledges her loss to Tracy Cortez but believes she has improved during her year off. He predicts a submission off her back, possibly an armbar.

submission off her back, armbar
"all the logic in the world is pointing me towards Melissa gato here"
LOSS vs Tracy Cortez
Decision (unanimous) (29–28, 29–28, 29–28) R3 5:00 · UFC 274: Oliveira vs. Gaethje · May 07, 2022
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Tracy Cortez 0 36 of 66 54% 70 of 102 2 of 3 66% 1 1 7:54
Melissa Gatto 0 30 of 73 41% 49 of 95 3 of 6 50% 1 1 3:17
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Tracy Cortez 0 11 of 16 68% 23 of 29 1 of 1 100% 0 1 3:16
Melissa Gatto 0 7 of 20 35% 14 of 28 1 of 2 50% 0 0 0:38
2 Tracy Cortez 0 9 of 23 39% 20 of 34 0 of 0 --- 0 0 1:35
Melissa Gatto 0 15 of 35 42% 25 of 47 2 of 3 66% 1 0 2:04
3 Tracy Cortez 0 16 of 27 59% 27 of 39 1 of 2 50% 1 0 3:03
Melissa Gatto 0 8 of 18 44% 10 of 20 0 of 1 0% 0 1 0:35
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Tracy Cortez 36 of 66 54% 25 of 51 6 of 9 5 of 6 14 of 37 2 of 2 20 of 27
Melissa Gatto 30 of 73 41% 25 of 61 3 of 7 2 of 5 27 of 69 0 of 1 3 of 3
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Tracy Cortez 11 of 16 68% 8 of 13 0 of 0 3 of 3 5 of 7 0 of 0 6 of 9
Melissa Gatto 7 of 20 35% 6 of 17 0 of 0 1 of 3 7 of 20 0 of 0 0 of 0
2 Tracy Cortez 9 of 23 39% 4 of 16 4 of 6 1 of 1 5 of 18 1 of 1 3 of 4
Melissa Gatto 15 of 35 42% 13 of 30 2 of 4 0 of 1 14 of 33 0 of 1 1 of 1
3 Tracy Cortez 16 of 27 59% 13 of 22 2 of 3 1 of 2 4 of 12 1 of 1 11 of 14
Melissa Gatto 8 of 18 44% 6 of 14 1 of 3 1 of 1 6 of 16 0 of 0 2 of 2
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Hesitant picked Apr 30, 2022 (7 days before fight)
Tracy Cortez

Angelo picks Tracy Cortez based on her wrestling, expecting her to grind out a decision. However, he admits his bet will be on Melissa Gatto to win inside the distance (decision no action), indicating a lack of full confidence in Cortez. He notes Cortez's layoff and Gatto's submission threat.

Bet on Melissa Gatto to win inside the distance (decision no action) at BetOnline
"she's the pick because of the wrestling my my bet is actually going to be on gatto so my pick is tracy cortez"
BI
Big Brady Expert Hesitant picked May 2, 2022 (5 days before fight)
Tracy Cortez

Big Brady picks Tracy Cortez to win by decision, but he is hesitant. He acknowledges that Gatto has shown impressive striking and grappling, but her takedown defense is poor. Cortez will look to take Gatto down and control her, and Brady believes she will succeed in getting takedowns. However, Gatto is dangerous off her back with submissions, so Cortez will have to fight off submissions for 15 minutes. Brady thinks Cortez will win by controlling the fight on the ground, but he would not count out Gatto completely.

decision
"I'm gonna take cortez to take godo down in each and every round controller for the majority of the fight but god is going to most definitely have her moments this is a very interesting fight I like both fighters …"
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Confident picked May 4, 2022 (3 days before fight)
Tracy Cortez

Cody picks Tracy Cortez, but emphasizes monitoring the scales. He notes Cortez's wrestling advantage and that she trains at Fight Ready MMA. Cody believes Cortez can get takedowns and stay on top, avoiding Gatto's submissions. He thinks Gatto's guard is active but Cortez's wrestling and pace will prevail. Cody is confident if Cortez makes weight.

"i tend to go with the wrestler so i'm gonna go with tracy cortez at home"
DA
Daniel Levi Expert Lean picked May 5, 2022 (2 days before fight)
Melissa Gatto

Daniel Levi leans toward Melissa Gatto as an underdog, citing her cleaner striking, power, and opportunistic submissions. He expects Cortez to have early wrestling success but thinks Gatto can survive and turn the fight in later rounds. He is worried about Cortez's top control but sees value in Gatto at plus money. He has not bet yet, noting he missed better lines.

Daniel considers a Gatto submission prop but has not bet. He mentions the line moved from +170 to +130.
"I do like the potential in Gato. It's just this fight is one of those that I truly believe is gonna come down to the wire and oftentimes in fights like that I like to take the dog."
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Lean picked May 6, 2022 (1 day before fight)
Melissa Gatto

The host picks Melissa Gatto but is not betting the fight due to volatility. He notes Cortez's strong wrestling but concerns about her weight miss and cardio. He highlights Gatto's impressive UFC performances, her ability to work from bottom, and her vicious striking. He expects Gatto to pressure, attack the body, and possibly find a submission or win via striking. He acknowledges Cortez will land takedowns but thinks Gatto will do enough to win.

"i am picking her to win she will be my prediction to win this fight"
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Lean picked May 4, 2022 (3 days before fight)
Melissa Gatto

Paul picks Melissa Gatto as an underdog at +147. He believes the fight is more 50/50 and that Gatto's grappling is legit, with an active guard and submission threats. He fears Cortez's wrestling could control the fight, but thinks Gatto's strength and jiu-jitsu could lead to a submission. Paul acknowledges the Arizona home cooking factor but took the dog shot.

"i took the underdog shot on melissa gatto uh plus 147."
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked May 2, 2022 (5 days before fight)
Melissa Gatto

The MMA Guru picks Melissa Gatto as an underdog, citing her underrated skills, youth, and physical advantages. He notes Gatto has a reach advantage, submission ability, and finishing power, as seen in her wins over Carol Rosa and Sijara Eubanks. He criticizes Cortez for pitter-patter striking and lack of finishing ability. He predicts Gatto will win on the feet and then secure a submission, possibly an armbar in the second round.

"i'm going with the underdog melissa garter moving on up the card"
TKO (body kick and punches) R3 0:45 · UFC Fight Night: Lewis vs. Daukaus · Dec 18, 2021
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Melissa Gatto 0 14 of 45 31% 32 of 68 1 of 4 25% 0 1 6:05
Sijara Eubanks 1 17 of 34 50% 64 of 91 0 of 1 0% 0 1 3:04
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Melissa Gatto 0 8 of 18 44% 23 of 37 0 of 1 0% 0 1 4:30
Sijara Eubanks 0 2 of 5 40% 20 of 23 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:08
2 Melissa Gatto 0 4 of 11 36% 7 of 15 1 of 3 33% 0 0 1:35
Sijara Eubanks 0 9 of 13 69% 37 of 51 0 of 1 0% 0 1 2:53
3 Melissa Gatto 0 2 of 16 12% 2 of 16 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Sijara Eubanks 1 6 of 16 37% 7 of 17 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:03
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Melissa Gatto 14 of 45 31% 10 of 37 4 of 8 0 of 0 5 of 33 2 of 2 7 of 10
Sijara Eubanks 17 of 34 50% 11 of 27 2 of 2 4 of 5 13 of 29 2 of 2 2 of 3
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Melissa Gatto 8 of 18 44% 8 of 16 0 of 2 0 of 0 1 of 8 0 of 0 7 of 10
Sijara Eubanks 2 of 5 40% 1 of 4 0 of 0 1 of 1 2 of 5 0 of 0 0 of 0
2 Melissa Gatto 4 of 11 36% 1 of 8 3 of 3 0 of 0 2 of 9 2 of 2 0 of 0
Sijara Eubanks 9 of 13 69% 7 of 11 1 of 1 1 of 1 6 of 10 2 of 2 1 of 1
3 Melissa Gatto 2 of 16 12% 1 of 13 1 of 3 0 of 0 2 of 16 0 of 0 0 of 0
Sijara Eubanks 6 of 16 37% 3 of 12 1 of 1 2 of 3 5 of 14 0 of 0 1 of 2
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Confident picked Dec 15, 2021 (3 days before fight)
Melissa Gatto

Angelo picks Melissa Gatto with a half-unit bet at +190. He believes Gatto is a young up-and-comer with real potential, while Eubanks is a .500 fighter whose cardio issues may not be fully resolved. He notes that Gatto has good striking, can set up takedowns, and is aggressive on top. However, he cautions that if Eubanks' cardio holds up, she is a giant beast at 125 and could be a problem. He emphasizes that Gatto must stay on top and not pull guard.

0.5 units on moneyline at +190
"i like melissa gatto i put a half a unit on the money line i got it at plus 190"
BI
Big Brady Expert Hesitant picked Dec 15, 2021 (3 days before fight)
Sijara Eubanks

Big Brady picks Sijara Eubanks by decision, citing her experience, BJJ black belt, and path to victory via takedowns and ground control. He has concerns about Eubanks' age (36) and cardio if the fight extends. He notes Gatto's poor takedown defense and submission-over-position style, but acknowledges Gatto looked improved in her last fight. He says he may not bet Eubanks due to cardio worries.

decision
"I'm gonna pick cru banks to win by decision but um I don't think I'm gonna be betting her"
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Lean picked Dec 16, 2021 (2 days before fight)
Sijara Eubanks

Cody leans Eubanks due to her BJJ, size, and physicality. He notes her wrestling is solid for the division and she is aggressive. However, he worries about her cardio and weight cuts. Gatto is more wily and could pressure late. Cody says it's not a high-confidence play and wants to see weigh-ins.

"I think I would lean towards eubanks it's not something I'm going to put finalized in bam bam but yeah as far as the show picks right now I would go you banks"
DA
Daniel Levi Expert Lean picked Dec 16, 2021 (2 days before fight)
Melissa Gatto

Daniel Levi picks Melissa Gatto as an underdog. He likes Gatto's scrappiness, aggression, and improvement, especially her arm submissions. Levi is concerned that Eubanks's jiu-jitsu could neutralize Gatto's sub attempts, but he believes Gatto's tenacity and desire to prove herself after a layoff will carry her. He thinks Gatto can make it close if she doesn't get held down for two rounds, and sees value in the plus money.

Gatto by submission; underdog play
"I'm gonna end up actually taking the dog because I think she's got a little bit more tenacity more ferocity."
JA
Jacob Lines Expert Lock picked Dec 15, 2021 (3 days before fight)
Melissa Gatto

Jacob is extremely confident in Melissa Gatto, calling it his lock of the week. He placed 5 units on her moneyline at +146, 4 units on her inside the distance (decision no action) at +170, and 2 units on under 2.5 rounds at +165. He believes Eubanks cannot bully Gatto, who has good striking and aggressive grappling. He compares it to the Miranda Maverick fight where the favorite was dominated. Jacob thinks Gatto will finish Eubanks, possibly by submission, and that the odds are moving fast.

5 units moneyline at +146, 4 units inside distance decision no action at +170, 2 units under 2.5 rounds at +165, 1 unit Gatto by submission at +1000
"i've never been so confident in a lock of the week pick in my entire life"
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Dec 17, 2021 (1 day before fight)
Sijara Eubanks

The host picks Eubanks by decision, highlighting her superior wrestling and jiu-jitsu. He notes that Gatto plays off her back and Eubanks should be able to control her on top. He likes the decision prop at +150, as Eubanks is not a proactive finisher.

Eubanks by decision (+150)
"I like me some eubanks i like her at minus 160 but i even like her prop here at decision uh via decision which i currently believe is plus 150"
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert picked Dec 16, 2021 (2 days before fight)

Paul does not give a clear pick for this fight. He mentions that Eubanks is the rightful favorite but notes concerns about her cardio and weight cuts. He says to pay attention to weigh-ins. He does not commit to a pick.

"I think I would lean towards eubanks it's not something I'm going to put finalized in bam bam but yeah as far as the show picks right now I would go you banks want to see the weigh-ins though"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Dec 13, 2021 (5 days before fight)
Melissa Gatto

The MMA Guru picks Melissa Gatto as an upset winner, predicting a first-round armbar submission. He notes Gatto has good jiu-jitsu and submitted Carol Rosa with a kimura. He thinks Eubanks is getting older and may entertain the ground game too much. He sees Eubanks ending up on top but getting caught in an armbar from bottom.

first round armbar submission
"i'm gonna go with melissa gato in an upset win here"
TKO (doctor stoppage) R2 5:00 · UFC 265: Lewis vs. Gane · Aug 07, 2021
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Melissa Gatto 0 43 of 91 47% 59 of 110 0 of 3 0% 0 2 2:27
Victoria Leonardo 0 70 of 121 57% 96 of 148 1 of 5 20% 0 1 1:50
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Melissa Gatto 0 13 of 27 48% 27 of 44 0 of 1 0% 0 2 1:59
Victoria Leonardo 0 13 of 21 61% 36 of 45 1 of 4 25% 0 1 1:48
2 Melissa Gatto 0 30 of 64 46% 32 of 66 0 of 2 0% 0 0 0:28
Victoria Leonardo 0 57 of 100 57% 60 of 103 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:02
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Melissa Gatto 43 of 91 47% 14 of 58 13 of 17 16 of 16 38 of 84 3 of 4 2 of 3
Victoria Leonardo 70 of 121 57% 42 of 83 12 of 19 16 of 19 63 of 110 6 of 10 1 of 1
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Melissa Gatto 13 of 27 48% 4 of 17 3 of 4 6 of 6 9 of 22 2 of 2 2 of 3
Victoria Leonardo 13 of 21 61% 7 of 12 2 of 5 4 of 4 9 of 14 3 of 6 1 of 1
2 Melissa Gatto 30 of 64 46% 10 of 41 10 of 13 10 of 10 29 of 62 1 of 2 0 of 0
Victoria Leonardo 57 of 100 57% 35 of 71 10 of 14 12 of 15 54 of 96 3 of 4 0 of 0
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Confident picked Aug 8, 2021 (fight day)
Victoria Leonardo

Angelo picks Leonardo, citing Gatto's long layoff (2.5 years due to USADA suspension) and that Gatto is a grappler who likes to fight off her back. He thinks Leonardo will be on top and win a decision. He calls Leonardo a solid underdog pick.

"I really like Victoria Leonardo in this fight... there's too many unknowns with Melissa Gatto, she's been out for too long."
BI
Big Brady Expert Hesitant picked Aug 3, 2021 (4 days before fight)
Victoria Leonardo

Big Brady is hesitant on this fight due to many question marks. He thinks Melissa Gatto is sub-or-bust and has poor takedown defense, while Victoria Leonardo is more active and likely the better striker. He picks Leonardo to win by decision but warns that Gatto could pull off an armbar from guard. He advises staying away from betting this fight.

armbar from guard possibility; stay away from betting
"I will pick her to win, I'll pick her to win by decision but honestly this has armbar from guard written all over it."
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Lean picked Aug 4, 2021 (3 days before fight)
Melissa Gatto

Cody picks Gatto, citing the narrative of Brazilian fighters improving after long layoffs. He notes her BJJ skills and potential improvements in wrestling. He thinks she can get the fight to the ground and submit Leonardo.

Gatto by submission
"i actually just got to take that shot in the dark and i'm going to end up going with gato here"
DA
Daniel Levi Expert Confident picked Aug 6, 2021 (1 day before fight)
Melissa Gatto

Daniel Levi picks Melissa Gatto to win by opportunistic submission, citing that Victoria Leonardo is a punching bag on the feet and has been stopped multiple times. He notes that Gatto is young and may have improved during her USADA suspension, and that Leonardo's takedown attempts could lead to submissions. He does not put much stock into the suspension for a young fighter and believes Gatto has the skills to finish.

Says Gatto by opportunistic submission
"I'ma go Gatta opportunistic submission somewhere along the way"
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Aug 5, 2021 (2 days before fight)
Victoria Leonardo

Gatto is a BJJ specialist who relies on takedowns, but Leonardo has a purple belt and good enough grappling to nullify submissions. Leonardo is stronger, has better striking, and better cardio. The longer the fight goes, the more success Leonardo will have, likely finishing Gatto in the third round via ground and pound.

Leonardo by KO/TKO +550; Leonardo in round 3 +1475; under 2.5 rounds
"I think that the longer that this fight goes Leonardo will have more and more success and I think that ultimately we'll actually see Leonardo get her out of there probably in the third round."
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert picked Aug 4, 2021 (3 days before fight)

Paul does not make a clear pick. He is surprised by the pick'em line and notes the lack of tape on both fighters.

TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Aug 1, 2021 (6 days before fight)
Melissa Gatto

The MMA Guru picks Melissa Gatto to win by first-round submission. He highlights Gatto's undefeated record (6-0 with two draws) and her win over Carol Rosa, who is now on a four-fight win streak in the UFC. He criticizes Victoria Leonardo's lack of technical skill and poor chin, noting she has been knocked out twice recently. He predicts Gatto will submit Leonardo, possibly off her back.

first round submission
"i'm going to call her first round submission for melissa gatto here over leonardo"
Expert Picks (7)
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Hesitant picked Apr 30, 2022 (7 days before fight)
Tracy Cortez

Angelo picks Tracy Cortez based on her wrestling, expecting her to grind out a decision. However, he admits his bet will be on Melissa Gatto to win inside the distance (decision no action), indicating a lack of full confidence in Cortez. He notes Cortez's layoff and Gatto's submission threat.

Bet on Melissa Gatto to win inside the distance (decision no action) at BetOnline
"she's the pick because of the wrestling my my bet is actually going to be on gatto so my pick is tracy cortez"
BI
Big Brady Expert Hesitant picked May 2, 2022 (5 days before fight)
Tracy Cortez

Big Brady picks Tracy Cortez to win by decision, but he is hesitant. He acknowledges that Gatto has shown impressive striking and grappling, but her takedown defense is poor. Cortez will look to take Gatto down and control her, and Brady believes she will succeed in getting takedowns. However, Gatto is dangerous off her back with submissions, so Cortez will have to fight off submissions for 15 minutes. Brady thinks Cortez will win by controlling the fight on the ground, but he would not count out Gatto completely.

decision
"I'm gonna take cortez to take godo down in each and every round controller for the majority of the fight but god is going to most definitely have her moments this is a very interesting fight I like both fighters but I'm going to take cortez to win this by …"
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Confident picked May 4, 2022 (3 days before fight)
Tracy Cortez

Cody picks Tracy Cortez, but emphasizes monitoring the scales. He notes Cortez's wrestling advantage and that she trains at Fight Ready MMA. Cody believes Cortez can get takedowns and stay on top, avoiding Gatto's submissions. He thinks Gatto's guard is active but Cortez's wrestling and pace will prevail. Cody is confident if Cortez makes weight.

"i tend to go with the wrestler so i'm gonna go with tracy cortez at home"
DA
Daniel Levi Expert Lean picked May 5, 2022 (2 days before fight)
Melissa Gatto

Daniel Levi leans toward Melissa Gatto as an underdog, citing her cleaner striking, power, and opportunistic submissions. He expects Cortez to have early wrestling success but thinks Gatto can survive and turn the fight in later rounds. He is worried about Cortez's top control but sees value in Gatto at plus money. He has not bet yet, noting he missed better lines.

Daniel considers a Gatto submission prop but has not bet. He mentions the line moved from +170 to +130.
"I do like the potential in Gato. It's just this fight is one of those that I truly believe is gonna come down to the wire and oftentimes in fights like that I like to take the dog."
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Lean picked May 6, 2022 (1 day before fight)
Melissa Gatto

The host picks Melissa Gatto but is not betting the fight due to volatility. He notes Cortez's strong wrestling but concerns about her weight miss and cardio. He highlights Gatto's impressive UFC performances, her ability to work from bottom, and her vicious striking. He expects Gatto to pressure, attack the body, and possibly find a submission or win via striking. He acknowledges Cortez will land takedowns but thinks Gatto will do enough to win.

"i am picking her to win she will be my prediction to win this fight"
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Lean picked May 4, 2022 (3 days before fight)
Melissa Gatto

Paul picks Melissa Gatto as an underdog at +147. He believes the fight is more 50/50 and that Gatto's grappling is legit, with an active guard and submission threats. He fears Cortez's wrestling could control the fight, but thinks Gatto's strength and jiu-jitsu could lead to a submission. Paul acknowledges the Arizona home cooking factor but took the dog shot.

"i took the underdog shot on melissa gatto uh plus 147."
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked May 2, 2022 (5 days before fight)
Melissa Gatto

The MMA Guru picks Melissa Gatto as an underdog, citing her underrated skills, youth, and physical advantages. He notes Gatto has a reach advantage, submission ability, and finishing power, as seen in her wins over Carol Rosa and Sijara Eubanks. He criticizes Cortez for pitter-patter striking and lack of finishing ability. He predicts Gatto will win on the feet and then secure a submission, possibly an armbar in the second round.

"i'm going with the underdog melissa garter moving on up the card"