UFC 274: Oliveira vs. Gaethje · May 07, 2022 · Bantamweight · Completed
Prev Fight UFC 274: Oliveira vs. Gaethje
Age 37
Height 5' 5"
Reach 67.0"
Weight 135 lbs.
Stance Orthodox
Age 34
Height 5' 7"
Reach 67.0"
Weight 135 lbs.
Stance Orthodox
Career Averages - Journey Newson
2.64 SLpM
32.0% Str. Acc.
2.57 SApM
64.0% Str. Def.
0.56 TD Avg
16.0% TD Acc.
43.0% TD Def.
0.3 Sub. Avg
Career Averages - Fernie Garcia
2.04 SLpM
34.0% Str. Acc.
3.79 SApM
48.0% Str. Def.
0.28 TD Avg
50.0% TD Acc.
50.0% TD Def.
0.6 Sub. Avg
Journey Newson
Moneyline
Caesars +110
KO/TKO
FanDuel +600
Submission
BetRivers +1000
Decision
BetWay +275
Fernie Garcia
Moneyline
DraftKings -115
KO/TKO
FanDuel +430
Submission
FanDuel +700
Decision
FanDuel +200
Journey Newson - Fight History
LOSS vs Marcus McGhee
Submission (rear-naked choke) R2 2:03 · UFC on ESPN: Song vs. Simon · Apr 29, 2023
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Marcus McGhee 0 13 of 46 28% 13 of 46 0 of 6 0% 0 0 1:03
Journey Newson 1 25 of 53 47% 25 of 54 0 of 0 --- 1 0 0:31
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Marcus McGhee 0 9 of 39 23% 9 of 39 0 of 3 0% 0 0 0:34
Journey Newson 0 19 of 42 45% 19 of 43 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
2 Marcus McGhee 0 4 of 7 57% 4 of 7 0 of 3 0% 0 0 0:29
Journey Newson 1 6 of 11 54% 6 of 11 0 of 0 --- 1 0 0:31
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Marcus McGhee 13 of 46 28% 6 of 34 4 of 7 3 of 5 12 of 45 1 of 1 0 of 0
Journey Newson 25 of 53 47% 14 of 39 9 of 11 2 of 3 21 of 47 3 of 4 1 of 2
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Marcus McGhee 9 of 39 23% 4 of 29 4 of 7 1 of 3 8 of 38 1 of 1 0 of 0
Journey Newson 19 of 42 45% 10 of 30 7 of 9 2 of 3 18 of 40 1 of 2 0 of 0
2 Marcus McGhee 4 of 7 57% 2 of 5 0 of 0 2 of 2 4 of 7 0 of 0 0 of 0
Journey Newson 6 of 11 54% 4 of 9 2 of 2 0 of 0 3 of 7 2 of 2 1 of 2
Play-by-Play
View on Sherdog
Marcus McGhee vs. Journey Newson

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

clear decision win
"I'm giving the edge to journeying use tener I think he's gonna get the job done over Domingo Pilate I don't see a finish but I could see a clear decision win for journey nuisance"
LOSS vs Ricardo Ramos
Decision (unanimous) (30–27, 30–27, 30–27) R3 5:00 · UFC on ESPN: Ngannou vs. dos Santos · Jun 29, 2019
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Ricardo Ramos 0 40 of 120 33% 48 of 129 3 of 3 100% 0 0 2:45
Journey Newson 0 38 of 123 30% 41 of 127 0 of 1 0% 1 0 0:10
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Ricardo Ramos 0 9 of 39 23% 10 of 40 1 of 1 100% 0 0 0:45
Journey Newson 0 10 of 36 27% 12 of 39 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:10
2 Ricardo Ramos 0 17 of 47 36% 17 of 47 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Journey Newson 0 17 of 59 28% 17 of 59 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
3 Ricardo Ramos 0 14 of 34 41% 21 of 42 2 of 2 100% 0 0 2:00
Journey Newson 0 11 of 28 39% 12 of 29 0 of 0 --- 1 0 0:00
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Ricardo Ramos 40 of 120 33% 23 of 90 8 of 17 9 of 13 37 of 117 1 of 1 2 of 2
Journey Newson 38 of 123 30% 9 of 80 9 of 18 20 of 25 37 of 122 1 of 1 0 of 0
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Ricardo Ramos 9 of 39 23% 2 of 25 2 of 6 5 of 8 8 of 38 1 of 1 0 of 0
Journey Newson 10 of 36 27% 0 of 22 3 of 7 7 of 7 9 of 35 1 of 1 0 of 0
2 Ricardo Ramos 17 of 47 36% 11 of 39 3 of 4 3 of 4 17 of 47 0 of 0 0 of 0
Journey Newson 17 of 59 28% 5 of 38 4 of 8 8 of 13 17 of 59 0 of 0 0 of 0
3 Ricardo Ramos 14 of 34 41% 10 of 26 3 of 7 1 of 1 12 of 32 0 of 0 2 of 2
Journey Newson 11 of 28 39% 4 of 20 2 of 3 5 of 5 11 of 28 0 of 0 0 of 0
Fernie Garcia - Fight History
LOSS vs Hyder Amil
TKO (punches) R2 2:12 · UFC Fight Night: Hermansson vs. Pyfer · Feb 10, 2024
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Hyder Amil 0 26 of 79 32% 31 of 87 0 of 0 --- 0 1 0:56
Fernie Garcia 1 79 of 144 54% 109 of 194 1 of 3 33% 2 1 2:20
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Hyder Amil 0 11 of 26 42% 16 of 34 0 of 0 --- 0 1 0:56
Fernie Garcia 1 39 of 64 60% 68 of 113 1 of 3 33% 2 1 2:20
2 Hyder Amil 0 15 of 53 28% 15 of 53 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Fernie Garcia 0 40 of 80 50% 41 of 81 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Hyder Amil 26 of 79 32% 22 of 75 3 of 3 1 of 1 25 of 78 1 of 1 0 of 0
Fernie Garcia 79 of 144 54% 60 of 121 14 of 17 5 of 6 58 of 109 3 of 9 18 of 26
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Hyder Amil 11 of 26 42% 10 of 25 0 of 0 1 of 1 10 of 25 1 of 1 0 of 0
Fernie Garcia 39 of 64 60% 29 of 51 7 of 10 3 of 3 18 of 31 3 of 7 18 of 26
2 Hyder Amil 15 of 53 28% 12 of 50 3 of 3 0 of 0 15 of 53 0 of 0 0 of 0
Fernie Garcia 40 of 80 50% 31 of 70 7 of 7 2 of 3 40 of 78 0 of 2 0 of 0
Play-by-Play
View on Sherdog
Hyder Amil vs. Fernie Garcia
BETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Amil (-185), Garcia (+154)

Round 1
Moving along to the featherweight division, Garcia (10-4, 0-3 UFC) is in desperate need of a win and very likely will be fighting for his job in this outing. He faces unbeaten debutant Amil (8-0, 0-0 UFC), who is also a Dana White’s Contender Series and Legacy Fighting Alliance vet. The two men come together under the watchful gaze of referee Mark Smith to share a respectful touch of gloves, and they go back to their corners to prepare for combat. Amil races out to fire off a head kick, and he aims one to the body before switching to the other leg for a high kick on the other side. Garcia keeps defensive and tosses out a few jabs to keep Amil from advancing without absorbing something, but Amil crashes the pocket. Amil ducks down and lifts his man up to slam him down, and Garcia scrambles to get back to his feet. Amil attempts a mat return, and Garcia once more is able to get back up. Amil backpedals and returns to his preferred kicking range, booting the body with his left leg and nailing Garcia’s front leg with his right. Amil watches Garcia wander towards him and tags him with an overhand right, and he blocks a trio of punches that follow. Amil catches Garcia with a right hand in the midst of a combination, and Garcia drops to the ground as Smith tells him to fight back. Garcia stands, and Amil drives a knee to the jaw to hurt him again. Garcia shakes out the cobwebs as he takes oncoming fire, and he musters up all of his energy and senses to power back to his feet and rail Amil with a huge right hand. Amil is stunned from it, but he takes a moment to blink it out and engages in a brief firefight with his opponent. Amil continues to do work with knees to the head as he bends Garcia over, and he connects with strikes that make Garcia hit the ground again. Amil takes the back in a wild scramble, and he hunts for a choke but there is nothing to be had. Garcia turns over and gets into Amil’s guard, and he snakes to the side and secures Amil’s back as he continues moving. Garcia locks up the body triangle, and he starts fishing for his own rear-naked choke. Garcia cannot lock it down, and Amil explodes out of the position and reverses Garcia. Amil jumps to the side to snatch up an armbar, but Garcia sees it coming. Amil drives down some ground-and-pound before standing up to belt Garcia in the ribs with a powerful kick. Garcia is barely in the fight, on his knees, with Amil pummeling and Smith asking him to keep fighting. Amil lands another vicious body kick and concludes the round with heavy standing-to-ground punches, and Garcia is saved by the bell after a wild five-minute stretch.

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

Round 2
The two featherweights meet in the middle, and it is evident after one single exchange that Garcia’s legs are not back beneath him. Amil is a man on a mission, slamming Garcia in the face with a flurry of furious fists, and Garcia is tougher than a two-dollar steak at this point. Garcia swings back recklessly, not necessarily aiming at anything in particular but just throwing punches wildly. Amil snipes him with body shots and long head shots, weaving in and out to avoid Garcia’s flailing arms while working him over. Amil continues to beat Garcia down, thrashing the body with kick and a knee, and Garcia might be out on his feet at this point. Amil does not slow down, and Garcia has to hold himself up with the fence behind him. As Amil connects with a stern knee to the torso, he backs off to observe his work before darting in for the figurative kill. Garcia’s spirit is willing, but the flesh is spongy and bruised.
With Garcia on the ropes, “The Hurricane” unleashes a storm of relentless punches until Smith has seen enough and saves Garcia from his own toughness.
Amil is still undefeated after putting on a thriller, and he is all smiles as he drapes the American flag around his shoulders.

The Official Result
Hyder Amil def. Fernie Garcia R2 2:12 via TKO (Punches)
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Lean picked Feb 4, 2024 (6 days before fight)
Hyder Amil

Angelo notes that Hyder Amil is an aggressive striker with a solid chin and power, but he can end up in bad positions on the ground and gave up five takedowns on the Contender Series. Fernie Garcia is on short notice and has lost three in a row, but his losses have come to grapplers. Angelo would pick Garcia with a full camp, but given the short notice, he leans toward Amil. He expects Amil to be a sizable favorite once odds are released.

"Haider is going to be the pick."
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked Feb 5, 2024 (5 days before fight)
Hyder Amil

Big Brady picks Hyder Amil to win by decision. He notes that Amil's poor cardio in his Contender Series fight was due to defending 23 takedowns, but this matchup is completely different as Garcia is a boxer who won't wrestle. He likes Amil's forward pressure, volume, and power advantage, and thinks Garcia is tough but coming in on short notice up a weight class.

"I'm going to take a mill to win this fight I'm going to take him to win by decision"
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Hesitant picked Feb 7, 2024 (3 days before fight)
Hyder Amil

Cody picks Amil but is not confident. He notes Amil is 33 with few fights and unimpressive wins. Garcia is moving up on short notice and is 0-3 in the UFC, but has shown durability. Cody thinks Amil should win but sees many red flags. He is not planning to bet it.

"I'll take him meal because I'm a coward but like I don't I don't uh I don't love it"
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Feb 5, 2024 (5 days before fight)
Hyder Amil

Amil has a significant size and strength advantage, with a 3-inch height and reach edge. He is an all-gas-no-breaks grappler who should be able to take Garcia down and grind out a decision. Garcia is on a three-fight losing streak and has struggled against better grapplers. Amil's grappling alone should be enough to get him into the rankings.

"I think amil's size Advantage here I believe it's a 3-in height and 3-in reach Advantage not to mention the strength Advantage he should likely have here this should allow him to get this fight into uncompromising positions for fery …"
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Hesitant picked Feb 7, 2024 (3 days before fight)
Fernie Garcia

Paul leans toward Garcia as a dog, noting Amil's unimpressive tape and Garcia's durability. He thinks Garcia has never been knocked out and has shown good grappling defense. Paul is waiting to see the weigh-ins but is tempted by the dog price.

"it seems pretty clearly a dogger pass type of thing"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Feb 7, 2024 (3 days before fight)
Hyder Amil

The MMA Guru picks Hyder Amil because he is fighting Fernie Garcia, who is on a three-fight losing streak. He recalls Amil's high-paced grappling match on the Contender Series where he stuffed takedowns and pushed the pace. He believes Amil can out-grapple Garcia and win by decision.

"Hayer raill's win the fight because he's fighting Fernie Garcia... I'm going to go with Hider aill... I think if he can put grappling on fony Garcia I don't think FY Garcia is all that dangerous."
LOSS vs Rinya Nakamura
Decision (unanimous) (30–26, 30–27, 30–27) R3 5:00 · UFC Fight Night: Holloway vs. The Korean Zombie · Aug 26, 2023
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Rinya Nakamura 0 36 of 57 63% 56 of 84 4 of 4 100% 3 0 9:26
Fernie Garcia 0 15 of 66 22% 50 of 106 0 of 0 --- 1 0 0:00
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Rinya Nakamura 0 9 of 13 69% 17 of 25 2 of 2 100% 1 0 3:55
Fernie Garcia 0 3 of 8 37% 21 of 27 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
2 Rinya Nakamura 0 11 of 22 50% 17 of 29 1 of 1 100% 1 0 2:31
Fernie Garcia 0 6 of 28 21% 16 of 39 0 of 0 --- 1 0 0:00
3 Rinya Nakamura 0 16 of 22 72% 22 of 30 1 of 1 100% 1 0 3:00
Fernie Garcia 0 6 of 30 20% 13 of 40 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Rinya Nakamura 36 of 57 63% 16 of 31 10 of 13 10 of 13 25 of 44 0 of 0 11 of 13
Fernie Garcia 15 of 66 22% 9 of 53 4 of 7 2 of 6 13 of 63 0 of 1 2 of 2
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Rinya Nakamura 9 of 13 69% 3 of 5 4 of 6 2 of 2 4 of 6 0 of 0 5 of 7
Fernie Garcia 3 of 8 37% 2 of 5 1 of 1 0 of 2 1 of 6 0 of 0 2 of 2
2 Rinya Nakamura 11 of 22 50% 5 of 14 3 of 3 3 of 5 8 of 19 0 of 0 3 of 3
Fernie Garcia 6 of 28 21% 3 of 22 1 of 3 2 of 3 6 of 28 0 of 0 0 of 0
3 Rinya Nakamura 16 of 22 72% 8 of 12 3 of 4 5 of 6 13 of 19 0 of 0 3 of 3
Fernie Garcia 6 of 30 20% 4 of 26 2 of 3 0 of 1 6 of 29 0 of 1 0 of 0
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Confident picked Aug 20, 2023 (6 days before fight)
Rinya Nakamura

Angelo believes Nakamura is a high-level wrestler with powerful striking and should dominate Garcia. He notes that Nakamura is a -700 favorite, but he personally avoids betting such heavy favorites due to the risk, citing examples like Valentina Shevchenko losing as a huge favorite. He thinks Nakamura wins 99 out of 100 times but won't lay the price.

"ring is going to dominate if you want to lay out 700 bucks to win 100 or 7 000 win a thousand go for it it should cash but I'd rather not part with that much money"
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked Aug 21, 2023 (5 days before fight)
Rinya Nakamura

Big Brady is very high on Rinya Nakamura, calling him a future star with excellent wrestling, grappling, and power. He sees this as a terrible matchup for Fernie Garcia, who was dominated by a lesser wrestler in Brady Hiestand. He expects Nakamura to finish the fight in the first round, whether by knockout or submission, and criticizes the matchmaking.

first round finish
"I think Nakamura is the future I really do and I think he goes out there and styles on Fernie Garcia and gets it done in round one"
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Confident picked Aug 24, 2023 (2 days before fight)
Rinya Nakamura

Cody is high on Nakamura as a top prospect with elite wrestling and improving striking. He expects Nakamura to dominate Garcia, who has shown poor takedown defense. Cody likes the submission prop at plus 275, noting Nakamura's grappling pedigree.

Nakamura by submission +275
"renya Nakamura is going to win him by sub at 275"
DA
Daniel Levi Expert Confident picked Aug 24, 2023 (2 days before fight)
Rinya Nakamura

Daniel picks Rinya Nakamura, citing his Olympic-level wrestling and power. He notes that Nakamura can fall back on his wrestling if the striking gets tough, and that Garcia is a liability on the ground. He mentions that Garcia has heavy hands but low output and poor takedown defense. He is confident Nakamura wins, though he notes that Nakamura sometimes gets clipped standing.

"I think renya is one of the better Japanese prospects and you know I I'm picking him to win here it's just the question is knock out submission or decision"
LU
Lucrative James Expert Confident picked Aug 26, 2023 (fight day)
Rinya Nakamura

James is confident Nakamura wins but does not bet due to the short odds. He notes Nakamura is a brutal round one finisher but warns that the fight could go to decision if Nakamura wrestles. He sees Garcia as a tough guy who can survive, and considers the over 1.5 rounds at +150 as a potential play, though he ultimately passes.

over 1.5 rounds at +150 considered but not bet
"I think renya is going to win the fight handedly"
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Aug 22, 2023 (4 days before fight)
Rinya Nakamura

The host highlights Nakamura's wrestling background and finishing ability, noting he has finished all but one opponent. He expects Nakamura to take Garcia down easily, as Garcia has struggled with wrestlers before (e.g., Brady Hiestand). The host predicts a finish within the first two rounds and likes the under 2.5 rounds prop.

under 2.5 rounds
"I expect him to get a finish within the first two rounds so give me renya Nakamura to dominate and continue his reign of success."
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Confident picked Aug 24, 2023 (2 days before fight)
Rinya Nakamura

Paul agrees Nakamura is a huge favorite and a setup fight by the UFC. He notes Nakamura's wrestling and physicality will be too much for Garcia. Paul expects a win but is cautious about the price, suggesting a decision or submission.

"huge favorite absolutely huge favorite and at least Max always a proven commodity and this kid is not a proven commodity"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Lock picked Aug 22, 2023 (4 days before fight)
Rinya Nakamura

The MMA Guru picks Rinya Nakamura as the lock of the card, predicting a first-round knockout of Fernie Garcia. He praises Nakamura's wrestling background, KO power, and chin, calling him one of the best prospects. He dismisses Garcia as a 31-year-old on a two-fight losing streak. He believes Nakamura has advantages in wrestling, stand-up, power, and chin, and will smoke Garcia in the first two minutes.

KO in round 1 predicted; lock of the card
"I think that actually is my look at a card ... ring in akamura is going to smoke him in the first two minutes I really believe"
LOSS vs Brady Hiestand
Decision (unanimous) (29–28, 29–28, 29–28) R3 5:00 · UFC Fight Night: Nzechukwu vs. Cutelaba · Nov 19, 2022
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Brady Hiestand 0 19 of 34 55% 56 of 82 3 of 8 37% 1 0 9:14
Fernie Garcia 0 21 of 44 47% 86 of 125 1 of 2 50% 1 1 1:22
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Brady Hiestand 0 3 of 9 33% 13 of 24 1 of 3 33% 0 0 3:25
Fernie Garcia 0 6 of 11 54% 30 of 38 0 of 0 --- 1 1 0:53
2 Brady Hiestand 0 16 of 23 69% 18 of 26 1 of 3 33% 0 0 1:25
Fernie Garcia 0 14 of 30 46% 28 of 46 1 of 2 50% 0 0 0:29
3 Brady Hiestand 0 0 of 2 0% 25 of 32 1 of 2 50% 1 0 4:24
Fernie Garcia 0 1 of 3 33% 28 of 41 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Brady Hiestand 19 of 34 55% 10 of 23 4 of 5 5 of 6 16 of 31 2 of 2 1 of 1
Fernie Garcia 21 of 44 47% 13 of 36 1 of 1 7 of 7 20 of 43 0 of 0 1 of 1
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Brady Hiestand 3 of 9 33% 2 of 8 1 of 1 0 of 0 3 of 9 0 of 0 0 of 0
Fernie Garcia 6 of 11 54% 4 of 9 0 of 0 2 of 2 5 of 10 0 of 0 1 of 1
2 Brady Hiestand 16 of 23 69% 8 of 14 3 of 4 5 of 5 13 of 20 2 of 2 1 of 1
Fernie Garcia 14 of 30 46% 9 of 25 1 of 1 4 of 4 14 of 30 0 of 0 0 of 0
3 Brady Hiestand 0 of 2 0% 0 of 1 0 of 0 0 of 1 0 of 2 0 of 0 0 of 0
Fernie Garcia 1 of 3 33% 0 of 2 0 of 0 1 of 1 1 of 3 0 of 0 0 of 0
LOSS vs Journey Newson
Decision (unanimous) (30–27, 30–27, 29–28) R3 5:00 · UFC 274: Oliveira vs. Gaethje · May 07, 2022
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Journey Newson 0 57 of 143 39% 63 of 150 2 of 3 66% 0 0 0:42
Fernie Garcia 0 37 of 103 35% 38 of 104 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:02
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Journey Newson 0 7 of 41 17% 8 of 42 1 of 2 50% 0 0 0:17
Fernie Garcia 0 11 of 27 40% 12 of 28 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:02
2 Journey Newson 0 28 of 52 53% 29 of 53 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Fernie Garcia 0 14 of 41 34% 14 of 41 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
3 Journey Newson 0 22 of 50 44% 26 of 55 1 of 1 100% 0 0 0:25
Fernie Garcia 0 12 of 35 34% 12 of 35 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Journey Newson 57 of 143 39% 23 of 92 21 of 30 13 of 21 52 of 138 1 of 1 4 of 4
Fernie Garcia 37 of 103 35% 24 of 84 6 of 12 7 of 7 37 of 101 0 of 2 0 of 0
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Journey Newson 7 of 41 17% 2 of 30 2 of 5 3 of 6 7 of 41 0 of 0 0 of 0
Fernie Garcia 11 of 27 40% 10 of 25 0 of 1 1 of 1 11 of 27 0 of 0 0 of 0
2 Journey Newson 28 of 52 53% 10 of 29 13 of 16 5 of 7 27 of 51 1 of 1 0 of 0
Fernie Garcia 14 of 41 34% 8 of 33 4 of 6 2 of 2 14 of 40 0 of 1 0 of 0
3 Journey Newson 22 of 50 44% 11 of 33 6 of 9 5 of 8 18 of 46 0 of 0 4 of 4
Fernie Garcia 12 of 35 34% 6 of 26 2 of 5 4 of 4 12 of 34 0 of 1 0 of 0
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Lean picked Apr 30, 2022 (7 days before fight)
Fernie Garcia

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

"i'm gonna side with fernie garcia here he is the favorite and i do believe that he's gonna get this one done maybe by tko early on in the first round"
Expert Picks (7)
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Lean picked Apr 30, 2022 (7 days before fight)
Fernie Garcia

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

"i'm gonna side with fernie garcia here he is the favorite and i do believe that he's gonna get this one done maybe by tko early on in the first round"