UFC on ESPN: Blaydes vs. Daukaus · Mar 26, 2022 · Lightweight · Completed
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Age 33
Height 5' 10"
Reach 73.0"
Weight 155 lbs.
Stance Orthodox
Age 34
Height 5' 11"
Reach 69.0"
Weight 155 lbs.
Stance Orthodox
Career Averages - Marc Diakiese
2.54 SLpM
40.0% Str. Acc.
2.64 SApM
52.0% Str. Def.
3.29 TD Avg
43.0% TD Acc.
66.0% TD Def.
0.0 Sub. Avg
Career Averages - Viacheslav Borshchev
5.1 SLpM
50.0% Str. Acc.
4.46 SApM
57.0% Str. Def.
0.0 TD Avg
0.0% TD Acc.
43.0% TD Def.
0.1 Sub. Avg
Marc Diakiese
Moneyline
FanDuel +134
KO/TKO
FanDuel +400
Submission
BetRivers +1400
Decision
FanDuel +400
Viacheslav Borshchev
Moneyline
DraftKings -135
KO/TKO
DraftKings +150
Submission
FanDuel +2600
Decision
FanDuel +440
Marc Diakiese - Fight History
Decision (split) (29–28, 28–29, 30–27) R3 5:00 · UFC Fight Night: Almeida vs. Lewis · Nov 04, 2023
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Marc Diakiese 0 23 of 42 54% 67 of 92 1 of 1 100% 0 0 1:27
Kauê Fernandes 0 13 of 32 40% 65 of 92 3 of 8 37% 0 1 8:38
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Marc Diakiese 0 6 of 13 46% 17 of 25 1 of 1 100% 0 0 1:00
Kauê Fernandes 0 4 of 10 40% 14 of 21 1 of 1 100% 0 1 2:33
2 Marc Diakiese 0 10 of 19 52% 20 of 31 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:08
Kauê Fernandes 0 4 of 12 33% 16 of 29 1 of 4 25% 0 0 2:50
3 Marc Diakiese 0 7 of 10 70% 30 of 36 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:19
Kauê Fernandes 0 5 of 10 50% 35 of 42 1 of 3 33% 0 0 3:15
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Marc Diakiese 23 of 42 54% 6 of 20 8 of 13 9 of 9 21 of 38 2 of 4 0 of 0
Kauê Fernandes 13 of 32 40% 11 of 26 2 of 5 0 of 1 7 of 18 2 of 4 4 of 10
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Marc Diakiese 6 of 13 46% 2 of 6 2 of 5 2 of 2 5 of 11 1 of 2 0 of 0
Kauê Fernandes 4 of 10 40% 3 of 7 1 of 3 0 of 0 1 of 5 0 of 0 3 of 5
2 Marc Diakiese 10 of 19 52% 2 of 9 5 of 7 3 of 3 9 of 18 1 of 1 0 of 0
Kauê Fernandes 4 of 12 33% 4 of 10 0 of 1 0 of 1 3 of 9 1 of 3 0 of 0
3 Marc Diakiese 7 of 10 70% 2 of 5 1 of 1 4 of 4 7 of 9 0 of 1 0 of 0
Kauê Fernandes 5 of 10 50% 4 of 9 1 of 1 0 of 0 3 of 4 1 of 1 1 of 5
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Lean picked Oct 29, 2023 (6 days before fight)
Kauê Fernandes

Angelo leans towards Fernandes despite Diakiese's experience and competition edge. He believes Fernandes can defend takedowns and will stay in Diakiese's face with striking, causing trouble. He notes Diakiese has become more of a wrestler lately, but his wrestling is decent at best, while Fernandes has solid takedown defense. Angelo placed a small underdog bet on Fernandes at +145, noting the line is tightening.

small underdog bet at +145, line tightening to +116
"I am going to lean Fernandez here obviously Marc Dy has the uh experience level the competition Edge heavily favors him but I like Fernandez I think he can defend the takedowns I think he's going to come forward I …"
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked Oct 30, 2023 (5 days before fight)
Marc Diakiese

Big Brady picks Marc Diakiese to win by decision. He notes that Diakiese has evolved into a wrestler, with 11 takedowns against Slava Borshchev and 8 against Damir Hadzovic. He trusts Diakiese's cardio and fight IQ, and believes Fernandes is dangerous early but fades. He also mentions that Diakiese's submission loss to Joel Alvarez was due to a head clash.

"I like di Casey here um and D Casey's fought the much better competition... give me Mark D Casey to win this fight and win this fight by decision"
DA
Daniel Levi Expert Confident picked Nov 1, 2023 (3 days before fight)
Marc Diakiese

Daniel Levi picks Marc Diakiese, citing his UFC experience, improved cardio, and well-rounded game. He notes that Diakiese has evolved from a dynamic striker to a more complete fighter who uses offensive wrestling. Levi acknowledges Diakiese's inconsistency and tendency to flake, but believes this is a step down in competition. He sees Fernandes as dangerous early with his BJJ and head kicks, but expects Diakiese's cardio and wrestling to take over in later rounds. Levi is leaning Diakiese but not with high confidence.

Diakiese wins by decision, Diakiese wins inside distance
"I'll pick Diakiese with the experience... but it's not gonna surprise me one bit if this guy flakes out."
LU
Lucrative James Expert Hesitant picked Nov 4, 2023 (fight day)
Marc Diakiese

James acknowledges that Diakiese deserves to be a favorite but sees too much danger on the Fernandes side due to his unproven UFC debut and potential cardio issues. He notes that Diakiese has been submitted multiple times and that Fernandes has speed and power, but he also points out that Fernandes gassed in his last extended fight. Ultimately, James is not betting this fight because he cannot trust either fighter, but he leans Diakiese as the rightful favorite.

"I guess I'm picking mark in this fight because I think he should be a favorite but there's too much danger Factor on the Fernandez side."
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Oct 31, 2023 (4 days before fight)
Marc Diakiese

Diakiese has a solid submission defense to thwart Fernandes' offensive attacks on the mat. As the fight goes into deeper waters, Diakiese will find it easier to control Fernandes on the mat and do good work from top position. Diakiese is good enough in the striking realm to deal with Fernandes' early threat, and will likely drag the fight to the ground and grind out a decision win.

surprised line is dropping; thinks -130 is a gift
"I'm kind of surprised that the line is dropping as much as it has... I think that that's a solid spot, I think that's a gift of a spot to take the Casey here."
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Oct 31, 2023 (4 days before fight)
Marc Diakiese

The MMA Guru picks Marc Diakiese over Kauê Fernandes. He notes that Fernandes is a good regional fighter with finishing potential, but he gassed after the first round when facing adversity. Diakiese is tough to finish early, having only lost to Joel Alvarez due to a head clash. The Guru expects Diakiese to weather an early storm and then take over in the later rounds via grappling, predicting a third-round TKO or submission.

"I'm going to go with Mark Jai mainly because although KY Fernandez... he absolutely gassed after the first round... I'm going to go with Mark Jai via a third round TKO or finish by submission"
LOSS vs Joel Alvarez
Submission (brabo choke) R2 4:26 · UFC Fight Night: Aspinall vs. Tybura · Jul 22, 2023
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Joel Alvarez 0 20 of 46 43% 29 of 60 2 of 3 66% 0 0 3:09
Marc Diakiese 0 42 of 75 56% 64 of 98 0 of 1 0% 1 0 1:26
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Joel Alvarez 0 19 of 42 45% 20 of 47 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:14
Marc Diakiese 0 31 of 62 50% 31 of 62 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:28
2 Joel Alvarez 0 1 of 4 25% 9 of 13 2 of 3 66% 0 0 2:55
Marc Diakiese 0 11 of 13 84% 33 of 36 0 of 0 --- 1 0 0:58
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Joel Alvarez 20 of 46 43% 8 of 25 6 of 11 6 of 10 20 of 46 0 of 0 0 of 0
Marc Diakiese 42 of 75 56% 20 of 49 12 of 16 10 of 10 37 of 70 2 of 2 3 of 3
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Joel Alvarez 19 of 42 45% 7 of 22 6 of 11 6 of 9 19 of 42 0 of 0 0 of 0
Marc Diakiese 31 of 62 50% 15 of 42 7 of 11 9 of 9 31 of 62 0 of 0 0 of 0
2 Joel Alvarez 1 of 4 25% 1 of 3 0 of 0 0 of 1 1 of 4 0 of 0 0 of 0
Marc Diakiese 11 of 13 84% 5 of 7 5 of 5 1 of 1 6 of 8 2 of 2 3 of 3
Play-by-Play
View on Sherdog
Joel Alvarez vs. Marc Diakiese
BETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Alvarez (-190), Diakiese (+160)

Round 1
Although this next lightweight pairing might be described as a potential brawl, neither Diakiese (16-6, 7-6 UFC) nor Alvarez (19-3, 4-2 UFC) make their bread off of being knockout artists. Instead, their grappling has been arguably their best attributes, so this could turn into a wild affair that ends up going everywhere. Keeping tabs on this fight will be referee Dan Movahedi, one that opens up with a fist bump from the 155ers. The two are amped up to engage, and the first strike offered is a low kick from Diakiese. When he misses, he resets and reaches his target with a second. Alvarez brings up a high knee when Diakiese comes at him, and he fires off a kick to the knee sleeve of his opponent and catches the Brit with a right hand. Diakiese goes down low with a kick, and he uses his other leg to kick the body. They crash together throwing fierce fists, and both catch the other with one punch and back off to take quick counts of their teeth. Diakiese chains a low kick into a spinning back kick, and Alvarez bounces off the cage wall and gets back to striking range. Alvarez springs into action with a calf kick and a right hand, and they measure one another with jabs to follow. Alvarez steps in with a knee, and Diakiese throws everything he has into a right hand that opens a cut on the cheek of his opponent. Diakiese spins with a back fist, and Alvarez ducks it and catches him with a right hand that staggers the mohawk-sporting fighter momentarily. Diakiese swings for the bleachers with a right hand, and Alvarez dodges it and absorbs a flush leg kick so he can counter with a head kick. Alvarez chambers and looses a hard leg kick, and he beats Diakiese to the punch with a check left hook as Diakiese winds up on a power punch. Alvarez pushes off with a front kick, and he gets wobbled when swinging too hard with a haymaker while Diakiese counters him. Diakiese lets him settle down and gives chase to line up a right hook and a spinning back kick, and Alvarez runs at him with two fists and a leg kick. Alvarez spins with a high kick, ducks a spinning back fist, takes Diakiese’s back and looks for a trip. Diakiese leans himself against the cage to keep himself upright, and Alvarez succeeds in tripping him out. Diakiese reverses him to end up on top, and he scores an elbow and a few body shots before the horn sounds.

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

Round 2
The lightweights briefly tap their gloves together, but Diakiese is more interested in coming out firing. Alvarez pays close attention, and he watches Diakiese sail past him with a spinning wheel kick. When Diakiese gets his balance again, he changes levels and secures a takedown to put the Spaniard on his back. Alvarez scrambles to put himself close to the wall, and Diakiese is comfortable inside of the guard softening Alvarez up with short strikes. Alvarez looks to turn to the side or potentially set up something off his back, and Diakiese stays heavy and tightly pressed to his man to prevent anything from coming together. Diakiese embraces the grind, focusing more on position rather than offense. Alvarez decides to stop looking for some submission off his back, and he wall-walks to stand back up. Diakiese strips out his legs and puts him down to his back again. Alvarez uses upkicks to stop Diakiese from lowering himself down, and Diakiese shoots down low and gets turned around by the Spanish fighter. With “The Bonecrusher” turning to his knees, Alvarez opens up with punches to the side of the head. Alvarez is warned for strikes to the back of the head, and Diakiese turns to his back and suddenly explodes up to his feet. Alvarez races forward to attack, and his head bounces off Diakiese’s. Diakiese clutches the side of his head, signaling to Movahedi that he absorbed a foul. Movahedi tells them to fight on, and Alvarez unloads with several knees to the body and ferocious fists.
Diakiese desperately drops down to pursue a takedown, and Alvarez welcomes this as he follows Diakiese down and isolates the neck. “El Fenomeno” slides his arm beneath the chin and his other under the armpit to lock down a brabo choke, and he has it tight. Diakiese rolls to his back, and Alvarez moves to lower his full body weight down to complete the submission. With Diakiese still rocked by the head clash, he does not have the sense to fight the choke, and he taps out.
This is an unfortunate situation for Diakiese, as Movahedi missed the clash of heads with Alvarez’ forehead slamming into the side of Diakiese’s head behind the ear. As the official announcement is read, it is unclear if the result will be under review at this time. Diakiese is still wobbled from the foul when Movahedi raises Alvarez’ victorious arm, and he almost falls over and has to be caught by one of his cornermen so he does not crash and burn. The official result is a submission, but it might not remain as such should it get reviewed or appealed.

The Official Result
Joel Alvarez def. Marc Diakiese R2 4:26 via Submission (Brabo Choke)
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Confident picked Jul 16, 2023 (6 days before fight)
Joel Alvarez

Angelo likes Joel Alvarez's length and reach advantage, and thinks he can win by sneaky submission off his back or catch Diakiese on the feet. He notes Alvarez has no takedown defense but believes Diakiese's recent loss to an older Michael Johnson is a bad sign. He has a small moneyline bet but does not recommend tailing.

small moneyline bet placed; not recommended to tail
"I like Joel Alvarez to get the win I've got a small money line bet on him as well I wouldn't recommend tailing it because it is a bit sketchy"
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked Jul 18, 2023 (4 days before fight)
Joel Alvarez

Big Brady picks Joel Alvarez to win by first-round submission. He notes Alvarez is a dangerous grappler with 84% of wins by submission, but also has good striking as shown against Thiago Moises. He thinks Diakiese will shoot for a takedown and get caught. He mentions Alvarez may miss weight but that benefits him. He would not lay -190 but thinks Alvarez wins more often than not.

first round submission
"give me Alvarez to win this fight I'll say club and sub heard Steve Casey on the feet Dia Casey shoots in and gets his next match up in the very first round Alvarez first round submission for me"
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Confident picked Jul 19, 2023 (3 days before fight)
Joel Alvarez

Cody picked Alvarez earlier at -152, citing Diakiese's poor fight IQ and failure to wrestle against Michael Johnson. He thinks Alvarez's submission grappling and power will be too much. He notes the line has moved to -200 and feels the value is gone.

Alvarez submission at +125 (not taken)
"I backed uh Joel Alvarez earlier in the week at minus 152."
DA
Daniel Levi Expert Confident picked Jul 20, 2023 (2 days before fight)
Joel Alvarez

Daniel picks Joel Alvarez by submission, specifically a guillotine, because he does not trust Marc Diakiese to avoid diving into a submission. He notes Diakiese has been guillotined before and makes bonehead mistakes. He acknowledges Diakiese has the tools to win via takedowns and control, but believes Alvarez's opportunistic finishing ability and physicality will prevail. He points out that Alvarez has 0% takedown defense but is dangerous off his back. He has zero interest in betting Alvarez at -190 to -200 due to the poor value.

Daniel predicts Alvarez wins via guillotine. He says he has zero interest in betting Alvarez at -190 to -200. He mentions Alvarez has never won a decision.
"Joel probably keeps is zero percent takedown defense intact and wins via guillotine"
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Jul 17, 2023 (5 days before fight)
Joel Alvarez

The host picks Joel Alvarez, citing his size, reach, aggression, and ability to inflict damage from any position. He believes Diakiese cracks under pressure and that Alvarez will finish him within 7.5 minutes. He notes Alvarez's dangerous bottom game with elbows and submissions.

finishes within 7.5 minutes
"giving Joelle Alvarez here and I think he finishes uh Mark D Casey honestly within seven and a half minutes"
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Confident picked Jul 19, 2023 (3 days before fight)
Joel Alvarez

Paul picks Alvarez, noting his power and submission threat. He thinks Diakiese's wrestling is overrated and that he will leave his neck exposed. He expects Alvarez to win by submission or decision, and suggests live betting if Diakiese controls the first round.

suggests live betting if Diakiese wins first round
"I would take Joel Alvarez I can see this being a boy a boring points decision"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Jul 17, 2023 (5 days before fight)
Joel Alvarez

The MMA Guru picks Joel Alvarez, citing Marc Diakiese's poor performance against Michael Johnson. He praises Alvarez's win over Thiago Moises and his massive 77-inch reach in the lightweight division. The Guru notes Diakiese's tendency to get caught in guillotines when shooting takedowns, and predicts Alvarez will catch a guillotine after a takedown attempt. He also mentions Alvarez's layoff but believes he is entering his prime.

guillotine choke
"I'm gonna have to go Joe Alvarez here over Mark jacasian"
LOSS vs Michael Johnson
Decision (unanimous) (29–28, 29–28, 30–27) R3 5:00 · UFC on ESPN: Thompson vs. Holland · Dec 03, 2022
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Michael Johnson 0 83 of 181 45% 83 of 181 0 of 3 0% 0 0 0:30
Marc Diakiese 0 55 of 127 43% 55 of 127 0 of 6 0% 0 0 0:00
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Michael Johnson 0 12 of 41 29% 12 of 41 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:18
Marc Diakiese 0 23 of 38 60% 23 of 38 0 of 2 0% 0 0 0:00
2 Michael Johnson 0 30 of 61 49% 30 of 61 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:06
Marc Diakiese 0 11 of 40 27% 11 of 40 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:00
3 Michael Johnson 0 41 of 79 51% 41 of 79 0 of 2 0% 0 0 0:06
Marc Diakiese 0 21 of 49 42% 21 of 49 0 of 3 0% 0 0 0:00
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Michael Johnson 83 of 181 45% 37 of 116 37 of 55 9 of 10 79 of 171 3 of 7 1 of 3
Marc Diakiese 55 of 127 43% 21 of 80 24 of 31 10 of 16 52 of 124 3 of 3 0 of 0
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Michael Johnson 12 of 41 29% 5 of 29 5 of 10 2 of 2 11 of 37 1 of 2 0 of 2
Marc Diakiese 23 of 38 60% 6 of 16 9 of 14 8 of 8 22 of 37 1 of 1 0 of 0
2 Michael Johnson 30 of 61 49% 14 of 39 13 of 18 3 of 4 30 of 60 0 of 1 0 of 0
Marc Diakiese 11 of 40 27% 5 of 29 5 of 6 1 of 5 11 of 40 0 of 0 0 of 0
3 Michael Johnson 41 of 79 51% 18 of 48 19 of 27 4 of 4 38 of 74 2 of 4 1 of 1
Marc Diakiese 21 of 49 42% 10 of 35 10 of 11 1 of 3 19 of 47 2 of 2 0 of 0
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Confident picked Nov 27, 2022 (6 days before fight)
Marc Diakiese

Angelo picks Marc Diakiese, citing his forward pressure, volume, and takedown threat. He thinks Diakiese will win by decision, working in some takedowns and grinding. He acknowledges Michael Johnson is a veteran who has fought the best and can be competitive, but believes Diakiese's improved wrestling and kickboxing will be too much. He does not expect a stoppage.

Expects decision win for Diakiese
"I do think Mark's forward pressure the volume now the takedown threat I think he's going to get this win but I think it's going to be a decision"
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked Nov 28, 2022 (5 days before fight)
Marc Diakiese

Big Brady picks Diakiese, citing his wrestling and cardio advantage. He notes Johnson has been taken down by lesser wrestlers (Clay Guida, Stevie Ray) and expects Diakiese to secure takedowns and grind out a decision. He acknowledges this is a step up in competition for Diakiese but believes he wins.

Diakiese wins by decision
"give me Mark Dia Casey to win by decision"
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Confident picked Dec 1, 2022 (2 days before fight)
Marc Diakiese

Cody picks Diakiese, noting his wrestling and Johnson's tendency to fade. He thinks Diakiese will spam takedowns and win a boring decision. He also likes the over 2.5 takedowns prop.

over 2.5 takedowns for Diakiese on PrizePicks
"the pick is DK CD Casey by decision"
CO
Connor Ruebusch Expert Confident picked Dec 1, 2022 (2 days before fight)
Marc Diakiese

Connor picks Marc Diakiese, emphasizing that Johnson is extremely breakable when faced with wrestling. He notes that Diakiese has a strong wrestling game and Johnson has a history of losing once taken down, even when winning on the feet. Connor calls it a 'super Jacked Darren Elkins' matchup.

"This is the guy where it's like, I'm not a wrestler. This guy is so breakable in that phase. I'm going to go in there and play my C game. And it's going to crush him."
DA
Daniel Levi Expert Lean picked Nov 30, 2022 (3 days before fight)
Marc Diakiese

Daniel Levi picks Diakiese but is not interested in laying the price. He acknowledges Johnson's ability to beat top guys on his best day but cannot trust him. He notes Diakiese's wrestling and top control as keys.

"I'll picture Casey but I'm not really interested in laying this price on him because Michael Johnson actually is a good fighter it's just can I trust Michael Johnson and no I can't"
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Nov 29, 2022 (4 days before fight)
Marc Diakiese

The host is confident in Diakiese, noting his recent emphasis on grappling and takedowns. He thinks Diakiese will use his wrestling to control Johnson, who has poor grappling defense. He likes Diakiese by decision and considers him a reliable parlay piece. He mentions that Johnson has only one win in his last six or seven fights.

Diakiese by decision; parlay piece
"I do like Mark D Casey here I'd like him to win by decision if you can get some plus money on that probably worth the stab"
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Confident picked Dec 1, 2022 (2 days before fight)
Marc Diakiese

Paul is confident in Diakiese, citing his wrestling and Johnson's poor takedown defense and cardio. He parlayed Diakiese with RDA. He likes the over 2.5 takedowns prop.

over 2.5 takedowns for Diakiese on PrizePicks; parlay with RDA
"I like Dia KC to win uh I I parlay Dia Casey with DOs Angels minus 152 um earlier on today for a little bit of skrilla"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Nov 28, 2022 (5 days before fight)
Marc Diakiese

The MMA Guru picks Marc Diakiese, believing his grappling will be too much for Michael Johnson. He notes Diakiese has become a full-time grappler with technical takedowns, while Johnson's takedown defense has declined. He predicts Diakiese will dominate each round via decision, putting the crowd to sleep.

Diakiese by decision (30-27)
"I'm going with Mark jacasi here"
ZA
Zane Simon Expert Confident picked Dec 1, 2022 (2 days before fight)
Marc Diakiese

Zane picks Marc Diakiese confidently, noting that Diakiese is a gritty wrestler who has returned to his wrestling roots in recent fights. He points out that Michael Johnson crumbles when faced with wrestling pressure, as seen in fights against Stevie Ray and Darren Elkins, and Diakiese is a super jacked version of that style.

"Jacuzzi is just such a beast. It doesn't even have to be a particularly good technical wrestler. At some point, even if Johnson is winning jacuzzi could just grab him and rip him off his feet."
Decision (unanimous) (30–26, 30–26, 30–27) R3 5:00 · UFC Fight Night: Blaydes vs. Aspinall · Jul 23, 2022
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Marc Diakiese 0 13 of 32 40% 78 of 111 8 of 11 72% 0 0 13:35
Damir Hadžović 0 5 of 10 50% 20 of 25 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:00
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Marc Diakiese 0 2 of 3 66% 23 of 29 3 of 3 100% 0 0 4:45
Damir Hadžović 0 1 of 1 100% 6 of 6 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
2 Marc Diakiese 0 8 of 19 42% 19 of 34 3 of 5 60% 0 0 4:17
Damir Hadžović 0 2 of 5 40% 10 of 13 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:00
3 Marc Diakiese 0 3 of 10 30% 36 of 48 2 of 3 66% 0 0 4:33
Damir Hadžović 0 2 of 4 50% 4 of 6 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Marc Diakiese 13 of 32 40% 8 of 25 0 of 2 5 of 5 7 of 25 2 of 2 4 of 5
Damir Hadžović 5 of 10 50% 3 of 7 0 of 1 2 of 2 5 of 10 0 of 0 0 of 0
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Marc Diakiese 2 of 3 66% 1 of 2 0 of 0 1 of 1 1 of 2 0 of 0 1 of 1
Damir Hadžović 1 of 1 100% 0 of 0 0 of 0 1 of 1 1 of 1 0 of 0 0 of 0
2 Marc Diakiese 8 of 19 42% 6 of 16 0 of 1 2 of 2 4 of 14 2 of 2 2 of 3
Damir Hadžović 2 of 5 40% 1 of 3 0 of 1 1 of 1 2 of 5 0 of 0 0 of 0
3 Marc Diakiese 3 of 10 30% 1 of 7 0 of 1 2 of 2 2 of 9 0 of 0 1 of 1
Damir Hadžović 2 of 4 50% 2 of 4 0 of 0 0 of 0 2 of 4 0 of 0 0 of 0
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Confident picked Jul 17, 2022 (6 days before fight)
Marc Diakiese

Angelo picks Marc Diakiese, noting he is the far better striker and coming off an impressive grappling win. He highlights Diakiese's power, leg kicks, and durability, while Hadžović is an okay striker with wins over fighters no longer in the UFC. He loves a Diakiese and Nathaniel Wood parlay.

parlay with Nathaniel Wood
"i love a mark de casey nathaniel wood parlay so i'm probably gonna smash those two together"
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked Jul 18, 2022 (5 days before fight)
Marc Diakiese

Big Brady picks Marc Diakiese to win by decision. He notes Diakiese has a clear path: take down Hadžović, who has terrible takedown defense (37%) and suspect cardio. Diakiese showed he can wrestle for 15 minutes in his last fight. He expects Diakiese to control the fight with takedowns and win a decision.

Diakiese by decision
"i like dkc here quite a bit and i'd like to casey to once again win by decision"
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Confident picked Jul 20, 2022 (3 days before fight)
Marc Diakiese

Cody picks Marc Diakiese, emphasizing his durability and wrestling. He notes Hadžović's only path is a puncher's chance, but Diakiese has a great chin. Cody thinks Diakiese will take Hadžović down at will and control the fight. He also likes Diakiese over 2 takedowns on PrizePicks.

Diakiese over 2 takedowns on PrizePicks
"i got dia casey i think he can make this look really easy"
DA
Daniel Levi Expert Confident picked Jul 20, 2022 (3 days before fight)
Marc Diakiese

Daniel Levi picks Marc Diakiese, citing his wrestling and ability to grind out wins. He notes that Diakiese has a good blast double and can find ways to win, as long as he doesn't get too flashy. Levi also mentions that both fighters have calf kicks, but Diakiese's wrestling should be the difference. He hasn't forgiven Hadžović for a previous loss and sees limited improvement.

"i think he can come out here and grind out damir hadzovich so for that reason i'm picking him to win this fight"
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Jul 20, 2022 (3 days before fight)
Marc Diakiese

Diakiese is a safe spot. He can grapple or strike with Hadžović, who is a one-dimensional brawler. Diakiese should take a smart approach, get takedowns, and win. Even on the feet, he can hold his own.

"I like the Casey here I think he's a pretty safe spot"
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Confident picked Jul 20, 2022 (3 days before fight)
Marc Diakiese

Paul picks Marc Diakiese, citing his wrestling improvements and takedown ability. He notes Hadžović has poor takedown defense and has been taken down many times. Paul thinks Diakiese will stick to a wrestling game plan and easily get takedowns. He also likes Diakiese over 2 takedowns on PrizePicks.

Diakiese over 2 takedowns on PrizePicks
"dear casey i think wins and i think it's wrestling he's gonna lean on again"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Jul 18, 2022 (5 days before fight)
Marc Diakiese

The MMA Guru picks Marc Diakiese to win by KO. He notes Diakiese has shown grappling improvements and is still a good fighter. Hadžović is simple and fundamental on the feet, lacking finishing ability against decent opponents. Diakiese's unorthodox style will give him trouble, and he expects a KO statement.

KO
"i'm going to call mark jacoby getting a good ko and getting a statement made on this card"
Decision (unanimous) (30–27, 30–27, 30–27) R3 5:00 · UFC on ESPN: Blaydes vs. Daukaus · Mar 26, 2022
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Marc Diakiese 0 17 of 20 85% 40 of 50 11 of 18 61% 0 0 12:24
Viacheslav Borshchev 0 12 of 21 57% 32 of 44 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:35
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Marc Diakiese 0 4 of 4 100% 9 of 10 3 of 7 42% 0 0 3:55
Viacheslav Borshchev 0 5 of 11 45% 11 of 19 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:35
2 Marc Diakiese 0 9 of 11 81% 21 of 25 3 of 5 60% 0 0 4:08
Viacheslav Borshchev 0 5 of 6 83% 7 of 8 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
3 Marc Diakiese 0 4 of 5 80% 10 of 15 5 of 6 83% 0 0 4:21
Viacheslav Borshchev 0 2 of 4 50% 14 of 17 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Marc Diakiese 17 of 20 85% 6 of 8 0 of 0 11 of 12 4 of 6 5 of 5 8 of 9
Viacheslav Borshchev 12 of 21 57% 6 of 15 3 of 3 3 of 3 6 of 12 3 of 6 3 of 3
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Marc Diakiese 4 of 4 100% 2 of 2 0 of 0 2 of 2 0 of 0 2 of 2 2 of 2
Viacheslav Borshchev 5 of 11 45% 3 of 9 2 of 2 0 of 0 2 of 6 3 of 5 0 of 0
2 Marc Diakiese 9 of 11 81% 2 of 4 0 of 0 7 of 7 3 of 4 1 of 1 5 of 6
Viacheslav Borshchev 5 of 6 83% 2 of 3 1 of 1 2 of 2 3 of 4 0 of 0 2 of 2
3 Marc Diakiese 4 of 5 80% 2 of 2 0 of 0 2 of 3 1 of 2 2 of 2 1 of 1
Viacheslav Borshchev 2 of 4 50% 1 of 3 0 of 0 1 of 1 1 of 2 0 of 1 1 of 1
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Confident picked Mar 20, 2022 (6 days before fight)
Viacheslav Borshchev

Angelo picks Viacheslav Borshchev, calling him the more technical striker. He notes that while Marc Diakiese has more power, Borshchev's kickboxing background and technical ability should control the fight. He mentions Borshchev needs to avoid Diakiese's leg kicks and power. He may throw a moneyline bet despite the 2-1 odds.

i may throw a money line bet on him two to one
"i like worship to win here but he definitely needs to avoid the leg kicks and avoid the power of mark dioxis"
BI
Big Brady Expert Hesitant picked Mar 21, 2022 (5 days before fight)
Viacheslav Borshchev

Big Brady picks Viacheslav Borshchev to win by decision, but is not overly confident. He likes Borshchev's striking and volume, but is concerned about his takedown defense, as he gets taken down in every fight. However, he notes that Borshchev has an elite get-up game and can get back to his feet. He thinks Diakiese can make it competitive with takedowns, but Borshchev will win the striking exchanges.

Viacheslav Borshchev wins by decision
"I'll go borschev but I don't feel like overly confident about it... I'm going to take borah chef to win... by decision."
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Confident picked Mar 21, 2022 (5 days before fight)
Viacheslav Borshchev

Cody picks Borshchev, disagreeing with the line. He criticizes Diakiese's inconsistency and poor performances as a favorite. He likes Borshchev's pressure, power, and ability to get up from takedowns. He thinks Borshchev will overwhelm Diakiese and get a finish.

"i think borishev wins i just think it's going to be a very volatile fight"
DA
Daniel Levi Expert Lean picked Mar 24, 2022 (2 days before fight)
Viacheslav Borshchev

Daniel Levi leans Viacheslav Borshchev, citing his superior boxing and striking. He notes Borshchev has defensive flaws on the ground but is training at Alpha Male to improve. He thinks Diakiese will get early takedowns but Borshchev will get back up and pull away on the feet. He is not betting the fight but picks Borshchev to win.

"I think borscht probably gets taken down early and if he can avoid getting submitted... he gets back up and starts to kind of pull away"
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Lean picked Mar 23, 2022 (3 days before fight)
Marc Diakiese

The host slightly favors Diakiese, citing his overall MMA game, experience against better competition, and the threat of takedowns that could disrupt Borshchev's striking. He notes Borshchev's body shot power but thinks Diakiese's speed and wrestling could be key. He expects a decision win for Diakiese.

Diakiese by decision at +300
"i do favor him ever so slightly because i think he can put together a better 15-minute fight than we're going to see from borschev"
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Lean picked Mar 21, 2022 (5 days before fight)
Marc Diakiese

Paul leans Diakiese as an underdog, citing recency bias on Borshchev. He notes Diakiese's close fight with a talented kickboxer and thinks the price is too high on Borshchev. He sees Diakiese getting back on track but isn't confident.

"i'm leaning towards gia casey to get back on track here"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Mar 21, 2022 (5 days before fight)
Viacheslav Borshchev

The MMA Guru picks Viacheslav Borshchev by late first-round TKO over Marc Diakiese. He believes Borshchev is better in the pocket and notes Diakiese's chin issues after being rocked by Rafael Alves. The Guru expects Diakiese to shoot for takedowns but Borshchev to work back up and land big shots, as he won't be as worried about the grappling threat as he was against Dakota Bush.

late first round tko
"i'm gonna go with via schlav borishev"
LOSS vs Rafael Alves
Submission (guillotine choke) R1 1:48 · UFC Fight Night: Holloway vs. Rodriguez · Nov 13, 2021
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Rafael Alves 0 3 of 13 23% 3 of 13 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:03
Marc Diakiese 0 6 of 11 54% 6 of 11 0 of 0 --- 1 0 0:00
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Rafael Alves 0 3 of 13 23% 3 of 13 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:03
Marc Diakiese 0 6 of 11 54% 6 of 11 0 of 0 --- 1 0 0:00
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Rafael Alves 3 of 13 23% 0 of 7 1 of 3 2 of 3 3 of 13 0 of 0 0 of 0
Marc Diakiese 6 of 11 54% 3 of 8 1 of 1 2 of 2 6 of 11 0 of 0 0 of 0
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Rafael Alves 3 of 13 23% 0 of 7 1 of 3 2 of 3 3 of 13 0 of 0 0 of 0
Marc Diakiese 6 of 11 54% 3 of 8 1 of 1 2 of 2 6 of 11 0 of 0 0 of 0
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Confident picked Nov 10, 2021 (3 days before fight)
Marc Diakiese

Angelo picks Marc Diakiese, citing his leg kicks and body shots to tire out Alves, who has cardio issues. He notes that Alves is dangerous but has no takedowns in the UFC and tends to gas. Angelo believes if Diakiese stays composed and technical, he should win straightforwardly.

"i'm going with mark here after the year-long layoff i think the leg kicks will help sort of remove some of that alves power i think the body shots will speed up uh alvez's eventual gassing"
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked Nov 9, 2021 (4 days before fight)
Rafael Alves

Big Brady picks Rafael Alves as an upset, citing Alves' impressive UFC debut against Damir Ismagulov where he showed improved cardio and power. He notes Alves is dangerous everywhere: on the feet with knockout power and on the mat with a black belt in BJJ. Brady expects Alves to hurt Diakiese on the feet, then snatch a submission when Diakiese shoots for a takedown.

Alves by submission
"I'm actually here with the upset here i'm going to take rafael elvis to win by submission"
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Confident picked Nov 10, 2021 (3 days before fight)
Marc Diakiese

Cody believes Diakiese will use his reach and footwork to stay outside and pick apart Alves, who is low-volume and explosive but fades. He notes Alves missed weight badly and is a 'weight bully' who struggles with cardio. He expects Diakiese to win a decision.

"i got dear casey here and it's early enough in the card that i probably will have them a little higher than i should"
DA
Daniel Levi Expert Confident picked Nov 11, 2021 (2 days before fight)
Marc Diakiese

Daniel Levi picks Marc Diakiese, citing his speed and athletic advantage. He believes Diakiese can win a decision if he minds his P's and Q's against the experienced Alves. Levi acknowledges Alves's power and guillotine threat but thinks Diakiese's superior athleticism will be the difference.

"give me march and casey to get it done"
JA
Jacob Lines Expert Confident picked Nov 10, 2021 (3 days before fight)
Marc Diakiese

Jacob is very confident in Marc Diakiese, calling him the real deal and predicting he will dominate. He mentions Diakiese's training with Khamzat Chimaev and his ability to use offensive wrestling if needed. Jacob thinks Alves is being fed to Diakiese as a winnable fight and expects a dominant performance.

"yeah mark's going to absolutely dominate this fight"
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Confident picked Nov 10, 2021 (3 days before fight)
Marc Diakiese

Paul thinks Diakiese is the better athlete with better footwork and speed. He notes Alves is low-volume and explosive but fades. He expects Diakiese to stay on the outside and outpoint Alves. He is confident despite Diakiese's poor last performance.

"got to go with the bone crusher to get back on track"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Nov 13, 2021 (fight day)
Marc Diakiese

The Guru picks Marc Diakiese by unanimous decision (30-27). He expects Diakiese to establish range with his jab and calf kicks, gradually breaking down Alves over three rounds. Alves may have moments with a takedown or big shots, but Diakiese's calf kicks will limit Alves' movement and lead to a dominant performance.

unanimous decision 30-27
"i'm going to call a 30-27 for marc jacozy here over rafael alves"
LOSS vs Rafael Fiziev
Decision (unanimous) (30–27, 29–28, 29–28) R3 5:00 · UFC Fight Night: Figueiredo vs. Benavidez 2 · Jul 19, 2020
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Rafael Fiziev 0 68 of 148 45% 73 of 153 0 of 4 0% 0 0 0:22
Marc Diakiese 0 78 of 124 62% 82 of 128 1 of 2 50% 0 0 2:49
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Rafael Fiziev 0 11 of 18 61% 16 of 23 0 of 2 0% 0 0 0:00
Marc Diakiese 0 18 of 31 58% 21 of 34 1 of 1 100% 0 0 2:43
2 Rafael Fiziev 0 28 of 59 47% 28 of 59 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:22
Marc Diakiese 0 28 of 41 68% 28 of 41 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
3 Rafael Fiziev 0 29 of 71 40% 29 of 71 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:00
Marc Diakiese 0 32 of 52 61% 33 of 53 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:06
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Rafael Fiziev 68 of 148 45% 31 of 105 19 of 21 18 of 22 66 of 146 2 of 2 0 of 0
Marc Diakiese 78 of 124 62% 28 of 65 33 of 41 17 of 18 67 of 110 9 of 12 2 of 2
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Rafael Fiziev 11 of 18 61% 2 of 8 2 of 2 7 of 8 10 of 17 1 of 1 0 of 0
Marc Diakiese 18 of 31 58% 9 of 19 9 of 12 0 of 0 11 of 21 5 of 8 2 of 2
2 Rafael Fiziev 28 of 59 47% 13 of 40 8 of 10 7 of 9 27 of 58 1 of 1 0 of 0
Marc Diakiese 28 of 41 68% 8 of 18 8 of 10 12 of 13 27 of 40 1 of 1 0 of 0
3 Rafael Fiziev 29 of 71 40% 16 of 57 9 of 9 4 of 5 29 of 71 0 of 0 0 of 0
Marc Diakiese 32 of 52 61% 11 of 28 16 of 19 5 of 5 29 of 49 3 of 3 0 of 0
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked Jul 17, 2020 (2 days before fight)
Marc Diakiese

Big Brady likes Diakiese, believing he is better overall with a wrestling advantage he has used in recent fights. He thinks the striking will be close but Diakiese's takedowns will seal rounds. He notes Diakiese has a good chin and has never been knocked out, and might bet him if the line is right.

"I like him to win this fight and I'm going to pick him to win by decision"
DA
Daniel Levi Expert Lean picked Jul 17, 2020 (2 days before fight)
Marc Diakiese

Daniel Levi leans toward Marc Diakiese, emphasizing that Diakiese should use his full MMA arsenal rather than trying to outkickbox Fiziev. He notes that Diakiese has matured and improved his wrestling and calf kicks. He warns that Fiziev is a dangerous kickboxer and that Diakiese must keep him guessing with takedown threats. He expects a tough fight but thinks Diakiese can win if he fights smart.

"if mark can kind of out mma him ... i think jacasey should win this one"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Jul 16, 2020 (3 days before fight)
Marc Diakiese

The MMA Guru picks Diakiese, noting he has fought better competition and is always competitive. He believes calf kicks will be a huge factor, with Diakiese chopping Fiziev's legs and cruising to a unanimous decision. He mentions Diakiese has become more patient and has a reach advantage.

Diakiese by unanimous decision 30-27
"I think Marchesi is gonna waste no time getting straight to him in the first round chopping up the legs of Rafael fizzy"
WIN vs Lando Vannata
Decision (unanimous) (30–27, 30–27, 30–26) R3 5:00 · UFC Fight Night: Hermansson vs. Cannonier · Sep 28, 2019
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Marc Diakiese 0 40 of 99 40% 45 of 111 4 of 7 57% 0 0 5:07
Lando Vannata 0 25 of 70 35% 51 of 108 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:06
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Marc Diakiese 0 16 of 38 42% 16 of 39 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:49
Lando Vannata 0 10 of 21 47% 12 of 24 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
2 Marc Diakiese 0 13 of 38 34% 13 of 38 0 of 2 0% 0 0 0:46
Lando Vannata 0 8 of 32 25% 9 of 33 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:06
3 Marc Diakiese 0 11 of 23 47% 16 of 34 4 of 5 80% 0 0 3:32
Lando Vannata 0 7 of 17 41% 30 of 51 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Marc Diakiese 40 of 99 40% 16 of 52 10 of 25 14 of 22 31 of 84 2 of 3 7 of 12
Lando Vannata 25 of 70 35% 4 of 36 8 of 12 13 of 22 24 of 66 1 of 4 0 of 0
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Marc Diakiese 16 of 38 42% 4 of 15 4 of 10 8 of 13 16 of 37 0 of 0 0 of 1
Lando Vannata 10 of 21 47% 1 of 8 2 of 4 7 of 9 10 of 19 0 of 2 0 of 0
2 Marc Diakiese 13 of 38 34% 4 of 21 4 of 9 5 of 8 11 of 35 2 of 3 0 of 0
Lando Vannata 8 of 32 25% 2 of 20 3 of 4 3 of 8 7 of 30 1 of 2 0 of 0
3 Marc Diakiese 11 of 23 47% 8 of 16 2 of 6 1 of 1 4 of 12 0 of 0 7 of 11
Lando Vannata 7 of 17 41% 1 of 8 3 of 4 3 of 5 7 of 17 0 of 0 0 of 0
Viacheslav Borshchev - Fight History
LOSS vs Matheus Camilo
Decision R3 5:00 · UFC 322 · Nov 15, 2025
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Viacheslav Borshchev 0 65 of 188 34% 78 of 201 0 of 0 --- 0 1 0:24
Matheus Camilo 0 39 of 93 41% 48 of 104 5 of 10 50% 0 0 3:22
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Viacheslav Borshchev 0 9 of 41 21% 11 of 43 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Matheus Camilo 0 12 of 30 40% 17 of 35 2 of 3 66% 0 0 0:47
2 Viacheslav Borshchev 0 19 of 46 41% 26 of 53 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Matheus Camilo 0 10 of 22 45% 14 of 28 2 of 4 50% 0 0 2:22
3 Viacheslav Borshchev 0 37 of 101 36% 41 of 105 0 of 0 --- 0 1 0:24
Matheus Camilo 0 17 of 41 41% 17 of 41 1 of 3 33% 0 0 0:13
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Viacheslav Borshchev 65 of 188 34% 40 of 150 16 of 25 9 of 13 64 of 186 1 of 2 0 of 0
Matheus Camilo 39 of 93 41% 27 of 79 6 of 6 6 of 8 37 of 90 1 of 2 1 of 1
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Viacheslav Borshchev 9 of 41 21% 5 of 30 3 of 7 1 of 4 9 of 41 0 of 0 0 of 0
Matheus Camilo 12 of 30 40% 9 of 25 1 of 1 2 of 4 12 of 30 0 of 0 0 of 0
2 Viacheslav Borshchev 19 of 46 41% 11 of 36 7 of 9 1 of 1 18 of 44 1 of 2 0 of 0
Matheus Camilo 10 of 22 45% 7 of 19 2 of 2 1 of 1 8 of 19 1 of 2 1 of 1
3 Viacheslav Borshchev 37 of 101 36% 24 of 84 6 of 9 7 of 8 37 of 101 0 of 0 0 of 0
Matheus Camilo 17 of 41 41% 11 of 35 3 of 3 3 of 3 17 of 41 0 of 0 0 of 0
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Confident picked Nov 9, 2025 (6 days before fight)
Matheus Camilo

Angelo picks Matheus Camilo, noting that Viacheslav Borshchev has poor takedown defense (42%) and has been submitted recently. Camilo is aggressive, can strike and grapple, and has good cardio and power. Angelo is confident but only bets half a unit due to short notice and Camilo's chaotic style.

half unit bet at -155 odds
"I'm going to lean Camo here. I'm pretty confident in that pick. I actually put a half a unit bet on him at these minus 155 odds."
BI
Big Brady Expert Lean picked Nov 12, 2025 (3 days before fight)
Matheus Camilo

Big Brady picks Matheus Camilo but expresses significant concerns about Camilo's cardio and heart after his UFC debut where he quit. He notes Camilo has power and submission skills but worries if he doesn't finish early. He criticizes Borshchev's takedown defense as the worst in the division and questions his durability, noting he was dropped by Chase Hooper. Brady ultimately leans Camilo by first-round submission, but admits if the fight extends, it could go badly for Camilo.

first round submission
"I'm going to say Camilo does get Slava out of there in the first round by submission."
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Hesitant picked Nov 12, 2025 (3 days before fight)
Matheus Camilo

Cody picks Camilo (Gamrot), despite not being a fan. He notes that Borshchev has been taken down and outgrappled in recent fights, and that Gamrot has good submission grappling. Cody believes that if Gamrot can get takedowns, he can control and submit Borshchev. He is not fully confident but sees the stylistic advantage.

"I'm just going to plug my nose here and take Mateusz Gamrot and hope that he's made enough improvements to his game to make this thing look good."
CO
Connor Ruebusch Expert Confident picked Nov 14, 2025 (1 day before fight)
Matheus Camilo

Connor also picks Camilo, agreeing with Zane. He notes that Borshchev's desire to be a better MMA fighter has made him worse overall, and that Camilo can happily overthrow and collapse into a takedown and then out-grapple Borshchev. He thinks Camilo is a good young prospect.

Odds: Camilo opened +110, currently -175.
"Yeah, these, these two fights were that both feature fighters that we probably do not need to see."
DA
Daniel Vreeland Expert Lean picked Nov 13, 2025 (2 days before fight)
Viacheslav Borshchev

Daniel is not confident in either fighter but leans toward Borshchev due to his experience and proven durability. He questions Camilo's cardio and chin after seeing him fade and tap in his UFC debut. He expects Borshchev to win if he can survive Camilo's early power.

"I think as a pure pick, I'm going to go with Slava just cuz he's proven a lot more to me."
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Nov 13, 2025 (2 days before fight)
Viacheslav Borshchev

Borshchev has a salty record but this is a winnable fight. He showcases grappling defense, works back to his feet after takedowns, and eventually knocks out Camilo within two and a half rounds.

knockout within two and a half rounds
"I think he stays out of those bad positions, works back to his feet, and eventually knocks out Matias Camilo within two and a half rounds."
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Lean picked Nov 12, 2025 (3 days before fight)
Viacheslav Borshchev

Paul leans towards Borshchev, citing his volume and power. He notes that Gamrot has looked poor in recent fights and has cardio issues. Paul thinks Borshchev can keep the fight standing and outwork Gamrot. However, he is not fully confident and acknowledges the grappling risk.

"I'm tempted to take Borshchev in this fight."
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Nov 12, 2025 (3 days before fight)
Matheus Camilo

The Guru picks Matheus Camilo, citing his wrestling and grappling ability as key factors. He notes that Borshchev struggles against grapplers, as seen in losses to Chase Hooper and Terrence McKinney. Camilo's takedowns and submission threat should be decisive, and Borshchev is on a losing streak. The Guru expects Camilo to grapple his way to victory.

"I am going to go with Matteas Camilo here. The thing is this fight was kind of scrapped together short notice for the pair of them, but Matteas Camilo was supposed to fight a couple of cards ago."
ZA
Zane Simon Expert Confident picked Nov 14, 2025 (1 day before fight)
Matheus Camilo

Zane picks Camilo, noting that Borshchev is actively getting worse as he tries to become a generalist. He thinks Camilo's bullish, aggressive striking and grappling will be too much, and that Borshchev's improved grappling has diminished his kickboxing. He also notes that Camilo's Achilles heel of throwing himself into guillotines won't be a problem against Borshchev.

Odds: Camilo opened +110, currently -175. Borshchev opened -130, currently +150.
"I think Camilo at least these two."
Submission R1 0:55 · UFC 317: Topuria vs. Oliveira · Jun 28, 2025
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Terrance McKinney 0 1 of 2 50% 1 of 2 1 of 1 100% 2 0 0:47
Viacheslav Borshchev 0 2 of 2 100% 2 of 2 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Terrance McKinney 0 1 of 2 50% 1 of 2 1 of 1 100% 2 0 0:47
Viacheslav Borshchev 0 2 of 2 100% 2 of 2 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Terrance McKinney 1 of 2 50% 1 of 2 0 of 0 0 of 0 0 of 0 0 of 0 1 of 2
Viacheslav Borshchev 2 of 2 100% 0 of 0 1 of 1 1 of 1 2 of 2 0 of 0 0 of 0
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Terrance McKinney 1 of 2 50% 1 of 2 0 of 0 0 of 0 0 of 0 0 of 0 1 of 2
Viacheslav Borshchev 2 of 2 100% 0 of 0 1 of 1 1 of 1 2 of 2 0 of 0 0 of 0
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Hesitant picked Jun 22, 2025 (6 days before fight)
Terrance McKinney

Angelo picks Terrance McKinney because he believes McKinney's early explosiveness will overwhelm Viacheslav Borshchev, who is older and may not be as durable as before. He notes that McKinney is reliable in that he either finishes early or loses, and he thinks McKinney will come out like a bat out of hell and get the job done. However, he admits he is picking against Borshchev more than for McKinney, and he will monitor the odds for a good betting spot.

Angelo says he will keep an eye on the odds and use his line movement tracker to find a good entry point.
"I am going to go Terrance McKinney. Viacheslav is 33 years old. He is 55 years old in fight years."
BI
Big Brady Expert Hesitant picked Jun 21, 2025 (7 days before fight)
Terrance McKinney

Big Brady acknowledges McKinney is the rightful favorite due to his wrestling and power, but he is hesitant because both fighters have questionable durability. He notes Borshchev has terrible takedown defense and was dropped by Chase Hooper, but McKinney's cardio is atrocious and his durability is also suspect. Brady thinks McKinney will land first and win by first-round knockout, but if it leaves the first round, McKinney is in trouble.

McKinney wins by first round knockout
"Give me Terence McKenna to win by first round knockout. But he's so untrustworthy."
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Jun 26, 2025 (2 days before fight)
Viacheslav Borshchev

The host notes McKinney's tendency for early finishes, but picks Borshchev to fend off the early grappling and get a TKO finish by the end of the first or early second round.

under 1.5 rounds, TKO finish
"I think it's going to be Borchev who ends up fending off the early grappling threat of McKenna and then eventually pulverizes him by the ending of the first round or early second round to get that TKO finish."
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Hesitant picked Jun 26, 2025 (2 days before fight)
Terrance McKinney

The host picks Terrance McKinney, citing his underrated grappling as the X-factor. He notes that Borshchev has shown weaknesses in grappling, as seen in his losses to Chase Hooper and others. However, he acknowledges McKinney's tendency to get knocked out spectacularly and sees the fight as a 50/50 on the feet. He believes McKinney will use his wrestling to secure a win.

"I'm going with Terrence McKini here. Um I I think Terrence McKini is uh is good enough to beat Vishlav Borchev."
LOSS vs Tom Nolan
Decision R3 5:00 · UFC 312: du Plessis vs. Strickland 2 · Feb 09, 2025
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Tom Nolan 0 69 of 175 39% 111 of 236 1 of 8 12% 3 0 2:01
Viacheslav Borshchev 0 66 of 118 55% 92 of 163 0 of 0 --- 1 0 3:11
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Tom Nolan 0 27 of 64 42% 29 of 67 0 of 3 0% 2 0 1:25
Viacheslav Borshchev 0 19 of 29 65% 19 of 29 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
2 Tom Nolan 0 26 of 67 38% 28 of 70 1 of 2 50% 1 0 0:36
Viacheslav Borshchev 0 37 of 62 59% 37 of 63 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
3 Tom Nolan 0 16 of 44 36% 54 of 99 0 of 3 0% 0 0 0:00
Viacheslav Borshchev 0 10 of 27 37% 36 of 71 0 of 0 --- 1 0 3:11
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Tom Nolan 69 of 175 39% 43 of 130 11 of 23 15 of 22 63 of 163 5 of 11 1 of 1
Viacheslav Borshchev 66 of 118 55% 20 of 67 26 of 31 20 of 20 61 of 106 1 of 4 4 of 8
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Tom Nolan 27 of 64 42% 13 of 46 6 of 10 8 of 8 24 of 58 2 of 5 1 of 1
Viacheslav Borshchev 19 of 29 65% 7 of 16 7 of 8 5 of 5 19 of 29 0 of 0 0 of 0
2 Tom Nolan 26 of 67 38% 19 of 49 2 of 8 5 of 10 25 of 65 1 of 2 0 of 0
Viacheslav Borshchev 37 of 62 59% 8 of 29 16 of 20 13 of 13 35 of 57 1 of 4 1 of 1
3 Tom Nolan 16 of 44 36% 11 of 35 3 of 5 2 of 4 14 of 40 2 of 4 0 of 0
Viacheslav Borshchev 10 of 27 37% 5 of 22 3 of 3 2 of 2 7 of 20 0 of 0 3 of 7
Play-by-Play
View on Sherdog
Viacheslav Borshchev vs. Tom Nolan
BETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Borshchev (-135), Nolan (+114)

Round 1
It’s knock out or get knocked out in this lightweight pairing, as the two men involved in the collision celebrate all of their respective stoppage wins via strikes. Chins will be tested as “Big Train” Nolan (8-1, 2-1 UFC) crashes into Team Alpha Male’s Borshchev (8-4-1, 3-3-1 UFC), and sparks will fly before the very eyes of referee Marc Goddard. Before trying to lop one another’s head off, the two men bump fists. Nolan pushes off a front kick, and when Borshchev grabs it, the Aussie twirls around and takes a flush body shot. Borshchev gets right in front of Nolan, tossing a leg kick and leaning back to dodge a head kick. Nolan chips at the front leg and winds up with a kick to the body, setting up a takedown effort. Borshchev breaks free, but not before taking a few knees off the face. Nolan kicks his foe up high, and he ducks a punch in hopes of trying to use a body lock to take “Slava” down. Borshchev bounces back upright, and he takes a knee on the face while bent over. Nolan leaps on the back while Borshchev is standing and starts hunting for rear-naked chokes, and Borshchev leans over to try to buck him off. Instead of getting through that, Nolan whips Borshchev to the back, and he snatches up a brabo choke to the surprise of the Team Alpha Male fighter. Nolan wraps the choke up on the other side, and Borshchev turns on his back to keep himself in the fight. Nolan rings his foe’s bell with a 12-6 elbow, but Borshchev still has the wherewithal to explode to his feet and dodge a spinning wheel kick. When Nolan peppers with jabs, Borshchev goes to the lead leg with a few kicks. Nolan lifts a high kick up that connects into the beard, and he rings a few punches together to redden the nose of “Slava Claus.” Nolan times a turning Borshchev to kick him in the ribs, and he gets off a second kick there before tossing two low. Borshchev bears down on him angrily, drilling him in the face with punches until he has to duck a spinning back fist. Borshchev puts his hands on Nolan, leading a right hand to a head kick before shooting. Borshchev keeps the takedown at bay and also protects from a wheel kick, and he ducks into a knee. Nolan chips at the front leg and is pushed back to the fence with a kick. Nolan sees a spinning strike coming, whiffs on a head kick and the two hear the bell.

Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Nolan
Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-9 Nolan
Devin Tejada scores the round: 10-9 Nolan

Round 2
The fighters tap hands together, and it is Nolan who prods out a kick first. Nolan uses that push kick to set up two more and a back fist, and Borshchev remains composed without absorbing any of them flush. Nolan spins with a back fist and torques the other direction to reenact the strikes that Sharabutdin Magomedov pulled off last year, but Borshchev’s chin is granite and he does not budge. Nolan spins with an elbow and sells out for them, and Borshchev allows him to do this so he can punch his way into a combo. Nolan comes back at him with a head kick, and “Slava Claus” dodges and weaves the remainder of the fists that fly. Borshchev digs a kick to the breadbasket and then aims another kick to the same spot, and his stomping oblique kicks further frustrate the taller man. Nolan jams a front kick to the gut, and the two mix up their kicks until Borshchev breaks that successive series of kicks with an overhand right. Nolan kicks low again, and they stun one another with single power punches. Nolan leaps in the air with a knee that buzzes Borshchev’s face, and he spins with a back fist at the right time. Borshchev tanks it and drills him with a right hand, and his takedown defense holds up to keep his back to the wall. On Nolan’s second effort, Borshchev hits the deck, and Nolan snatches up a brabo choke as soon as Borshchev is on the mat. Borshchev turns to break out of the submission, fight his way up and start brawling. Nolan does not want to get into this reckless exchange, so he moves to the side to reset. Both men square up and tag one another, and Nolan’s step-in knee is a cherry on top. Borshchev wraps a left hand around the guard, and Nolan counters him with a sharp left. Borshchev tries to toss out three spinning wheel kicks, making Nolan smile before the round wraps up.

Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Nolan
Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-9 Nolan
Devin Tejada scores the round: 10-9 Nolan

Round 3
The lightweights hug, and the last round is here. Borshchev is the more aggressive of the two, hurling kicks and big punches. A sharp Nolan clips Borshchev coming towards him a few times, but it does not enough to shake Borshchev up or mess with his takedown defense, as Borshchev is a short wall of stone. Borshchev bowls Nolan over to his back, and Nolan nails him with two upkicks. As Borshchev is peppering the legs a few times, Nolan turns to his side and blasts Borshchev in the face with the ball of his foot. Nolan is allowed to stand, and he thanks Goddard and Borshchev for this by spinning for a back fist. Nolan doubles up on the spin, and his head kick that follows lumps “Slava Claus” up. As Nolan is feeling himself, he pitches a kick that bangs square into Borshchev’s cup, forcing a stoppage of 30 seconds before Borshchev is good to go. Borshchev starts back up with a brawl, and he swings himself off-balance and wide open for a knee that pounds into the side of his head. Nolan rolls to his back, and Borshchev whips kicks down low at him. Nolan gets away with an illegal upkick as Borshchev on his knees, and he follows Nolan rolling over so he can start up some ground offense. Nolan remains busier from his back, hacking with elbow and swinging with wide-arcing hammerfists to not let Borshchev lay into him. Borshchev’s raining strikes fall short, bouncing into the chest. Nolan flails his legs up again, slashing open a cut on the top of Borshchev’s melon with a surprisingly effective upkick. Borshchev lowers himself into the guard, and he sways back and forth and starts motioning that Nolan’s offense is not doing anything. Nolan ignores his signals and swinging with elbows and punches from his back, while Borshchev is laying into him with open left hands. The wild strikes from Nolan shred Borshchev’s face up, and Borshchev falls to his back and latches on with a leglock. The Aussie laughs at him, and the fight ends.

Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Borshchev (29-28 Nolan)
Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-9 Borshchev (29-28 Nolan)
Devin Tejada scores the round: 10-9 Borshchev (29-28 Nolan)

The Official Result
Tom Nolan def. Viacheslav Borshchev via Unanimous Decision (29-28, 29-28, 30-27)
BI
Big Brady Expert Hesitant picked Feb 3, 2025 (6 days before fight)
Tom Nolan

Big Brady flipped his pick to Tom Nolan, citing Nolan's youth, size advantage, and the hometown factor in Australia. He notes that Borshchev has poor takedown defense and may struggle with the long flight. However, he questions Nolan's chin, as he was dropped by Victor Martinez. Brady thinks someone will get knocked out and predicts Nolan by second-round knockout, but he is not confident.

"I'll say Tom Nolan wins this fight by second round knockout but I think somebody's getting served in this one"
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Feb 6, 2025 (3 days before fight)
Viacheslav Borshchev

Borshchev will control the pace, counter Nolan effectively, and take advantage of his poor striking defense. He is expected to pick Nolan apart and find a finish around the second round. The pick is for Borshchev to win by knockout or TKO.

finish in round 2
"I think we'll see borchev control the pace of this matchup counter Nolan effectively and take advantage of his poor striking defense which will lead to borchev eventually picking him apart and finding that finish around that second round mark"
WIN vs James Llontop
Decision (split) (28–29, 29–28, 30–27) R3 5:00 · UFC on ESPN: Cannonier vs. Borralho · Aug 24, 2024
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Viacheslav Borshchev 0 96 of 229 41% 97 of 230 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:03
James Llontop 0 93 of 249 37% 97 of 253 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:05
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Viacheslav Borshchev 0 26 of 61 42% 27 of 62 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
James Llontop 0 26 of 63 41% 26 of 63 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:03
2 Viacheslav Borshchev 0 37 of 85 43% 37 of 85 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:03
James Llontop 0 25 of 77 32% 25 of 77 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
3 Viacheslav Borshchev 0 33 of 83 39% 33 of 83 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:00
James Llontop 0 42 of 109 38% 46 of 113 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:02
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Viacheslav Borshchev 96 of 229 41% 49 of 172 30 of 38 17 of 19 92 of 223 3 of 4 1 of 2
James Llontop 93 of 249 37% 40 of 168 27 of 44 26 of 37 91 of 244 1 of 4 1 of 1
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Viacheslav Borshchev 26 of 61 42% 9 of 39 11 of 14 6 of 8 24 of 59 2 of 2 0 of 0
James Llontop 26 of 63 41% 10 of 41 5 of 9 11 of 13 24 of 60 1 of 2 1 of 1
2 Viacheslav Borshchev 37 of 85 43% 19 of 63 11 of 15 7 of 7 36 of 83 0 of 0 1 of 2
James Llontop 25 of 77 32% 11 of 56 9 of 12 5 of 9 25 of 76 0 of 1 0 of 0
3 Viacheslav Borshchev 33 of 83 39% 21 of 70 8 of 9 4 of 4 32 of 81 1 of 2 0 of 0
James Llontop 42 of 109 38% 19 of 71 13 of 23 10 of 15 42 of 108 0 of 1 0 of 0
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Lean picked Aug 18, 2024 (6 days before fight)
Viacheslav Borshchev

Angelo picks Viacheslav Borshchev as the better striker, but expresses concerns about his chin after being dropped by Chase Hooper. He thinks this should be a striking matchup and Borshchev is more technical. However, he says the bet will be on James Llontop to win inside the distance (decision no action) because Llontop could exploit Borshchev's questionable chin. He notes that if Llontop loses a decision, the bet is refunded.

James Llontop wins inside the distance (decision no action)
"VAV borchev is going to be the pick James could absolutely win this fight and honestly the bet is going to be James yop wins inside the distance decision no action"
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Lean picked Aug 20, 2024 (4 days before fight)
Viacheslav Borshchev

Cody leans towards Borshchev because he is the better striker and this is likely a striking match. He notes that Llontop has poor takedown defense and gives up his back, but Borshchev won't wrestle. He thinks Borshchev's power and technique will be too much, but he is concerned about Borshchev's chin and recent damage. He says it's a tough fight to bet at -250.

"I kind of lean boref because he's just such a better Striker right such more refined polished Striker at 250 man I'm having trouble"
DA
Daniel Vreeland Expert Confident picked Aug 22, 2024 (2 days before fight)
Viacheslav Borshchev

Daniel Vreeland picks Viacheslav Borshchev, arguing that without a takedown threat from Llontop, Borshchev will get the kickboxing match he wants and is the better striker. He notes Borshchev has taken damage but believes he will pick Llontop apart.

"I think slava's gonna pick this man apart and get the dub"
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Aug 21, 2024 (3 days before fight)
Viacheslav Borshchev

Brevin picks Slava Claus, noting his good boxing and power, and that Llontop stands in the pocket too long, opening himself to counters. He mentions Slava's loss to Chase Hooper but downplays it. JP agrees, emphasizing Slava's power and Llontop's tendency to stand still after throwing, which will lead to Slava putting his lights out.

"I'm going to take slavkos in this one I think he's just more powerful um look for liver shot so these body shots he throws a nice left hand I like slavkos"
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Confident picked Aug 20, 2024 (4 days before fight)
Viacheslav Borshchev

Paul picks Borshchev because he thinks Llontop is prone to poor decision-making and has a neck tattoo. He notes that Llontop was a favorite against Chris Padilla and looked terrible. He believes Borshchev's striking will be the difference in a stand-up fight. He also mentions that Borshchev's chin is starting to go, but Llontop doesn't have the wrestling to exploit it.

"I think it's borchev I think he's a rightful favorite here I would usually never bet borchev as a favorite but all all signals are pointing towards a striking Affair"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Hesitant picked Aug 21, 2024 (3 days before fight)
Viacheslav Borshchev

The MMA Guru picks Viacheslav Borshchev despite being hesitant. He was disappointed by James Llontop's debut loss and calls him 'skinny fat'. He expects a standup fight and trusts Borshchev's striking, predicting a late TKO or decision. However, he acknowledges Borshchev was destroyed by Chase Hooper, which gives him pause.

TKO late or decision 29-28
"I'll go Bev I think he's better um better on the feet and it's going to be a stand up fight probably so I trust in VL Bev TKO late maybe a decision 2928 scrap"
LOSS vs Chase Hooper
Submission (brabo choke) R2 3:00 · UFC on ESPN: Lewis vs. Nascimento · May 11, 2024
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Chase Hooper 1 62 of 109 56% 129 of 217 1 of 1 100% 2 0 6:03
Viacheslav Borshchev 0 2 of 6 33% 2 of 6 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:01
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Chase Hooper 1 32 of 62 51% 76 of 123 0 of 0 --- 1 0 3:10
Viacheslav Borshchev 0 2 of 4 50% 2 of 4 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
2 Chase Hooper 0 30 of 47 63% 53 of 94 1 of 1 100% 1 0 2:53
Viacheslav Borshchev 0 0 of 2 0% 0 of 2 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:01
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Chase Hooper 62 of 109 56% 58 of 104 4 of 5 0 of 0 4 of 23 0 of 0 58 of 86
Viacheslav Borshchev 2 of 6 33% 1 of 5 0 of 0 1 of 1 2 of 6 0 of 0 0 of 0
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Chase Hooper 32 of 62 51% 28 of 57 4 of 5 0 of 0 3 of 18 0 of 0 29 of 44
Viacheslav Borshchev 2 of 4 50% 1 of 3 0 of 0 1 of 1 2 of 4 0 of 0 0 of 0
2 Chase Hooper 30 of 47 63% 30 of 47 0 of 0 0 of 0 1 of 5 0 of 0 29 of 42
Viacheslav Borshchev 0 of 2 0% 0 of 2 0 of 0 0 of 0 0 of 2 0 of 0 0 of 0
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Confident picked May 5, 2024 (6 days before fight)
Viacheslav Borshchev

Angelo picks Viacheslav Borshchev because of his striking advantage and Chase Hooper's poor takedown offense (22% accuracy). He notes Borshchev has a professional kickboxing background and can defend takedowns well enough. He acknowledges Hooper's dangerous BJJ but believes Borshchev can keep the fight standing and land punishment.

"Vice should be able to defend the takedowns Dole out some punishment viav is going to be the pick"
BI
Big Brady Expert Hesitant picked May 8, 2024 (3 days before fight)
Viacheslav Borshchev

Big Brady picks Slava Borshchev to win by first-round knockout, but admits it's a tough call and he could look stupid. He notes that on the feet, Borshchev has a huge advantage, as Hooper has been knocked down repeatedly by strikers like Steve Garcia. However, if Hooper gets the fight to the ground, he will dominate. Borshchev has poor takedown defense (36%), but Hooper's wrestling may not be as good as previous opponents. He hopes Borshchev stuffs takedowns and makes it look easy.

"I'm going to take Slava to win this fight by first round knockout um hopefully stuff the takedowns and if he does I think he makes it look pretty easy"
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Confident picked May 7, 2024 (4 days before fight)
Chase Hooper

Cody picks Hooper as a confident underdog, noting that Borshchev has terrible takedown defense (35% in UFC) and has been taken down 24 times in 6 fights. Hooper, despite his own takedown accuracy issues, should be able to take Borshchev down and dominate on the ground with his elite BJJ. Cody believes Hooper's cardio and tenacity will allow him to survive early striking exchanges and find takedowns later. He already bet Hooper at plus 140.

Bet at +140
"I think Chase gets the dub I'll take Chase as the dog I actually already bet him"
DA
Daniel Vreeland Expert Confident picked May 9, 2024 (2 days before fight)
Chase Hooper

Daniel Vreeland picks Chase Hooper, noting that Borshchev has poor takedown defense, especially when tired. He believes Hooper can weather the early storm and drag Borshchev to the ground for a ground-and-pound TKO or submission. He mentions that Hooper has moved up to 155 and is growing into his body.

by submission or ground-and-pound TKO
"If Hooper can weather this storm and not get knocked the [ __ ] out he can drag this guy down and either ground and pound TKO or submission."
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Lean picked May 7, 2024 (4 days before fight)
Viacheslav Borshchev

The host leans Borshchev due to his improved takedown defense and striking advantage. He expects Borshchev to land big shots as Hooper recklessly closes distance, and hopes his submission defense holds up on the mat. He acknowledges Hooper's grappling danger but thinks Borshchev can survive and find a knockout. The pick is a lean, as he understands the underdog appeal.

"I'll lean borchev um but a very dangerous fight on both sides"
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Confident picked May 7, 2024 (4 days before fight)
Chase Hooper

Paul picks Hooper, echoing Cody's reasoning. He emphasizes that Borshchev's takedown defense is abysmal and that Hooper, despite his own flaws, has the grappling to exploit it. Paul notes that Hooper has shown heart and improvement at 155, and his BJJ is elite. He expects Hooper to get the fight to the ground and submit or control Borshchev. Paul calls it a 'dog pick' and is confident Hooper can win.

"I got a dog I was hoping that this was going to be our shoy bet of the week"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked May 7, 2024 (4 days before fight)
Viacheslav Borshchev

The MMA Guru picks Viacheslav Borshchev over Chase Hooper, despite acknowledging Hooper's improvement. He believes the striking gap is too large and that Borshchev's leg kicks and body shots will be effective. He notes that Hooper lacks the strength to power through takedowns against Borshchev, who has good takedown defense. He predicts a body shot TKO finish.

left hook to the body, liver shot TKO
"I'm going to go with vishav borchev over Chase Hooper... I think he's going to chop that leg kick... and probably finish people with a body shot."
LOSS vs Nazim Sadykhov
Draw (majority) (28–29, 28–28, 28–28) R3 5:00 · UFC 295: Prochazka vs. Pereira · Nov 11, 2023
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Nazim Sadykhov 1 91 of 207 43% 109 of 228 4 of 7 57% 0 0 3:32
Viacheslav Borshchev 0 143 of 241 59% 144 of 242 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:10
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Nazim Sadykhov 0 23 of 68 33% 23 of 68 0 of 2 0% 0 0 0:02
Viacheslav Borshchev 0 58 of 79 73% 58 of 79 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
2 Nazim Sadykhov 1 39 of 77 50% 51 of 91 1 of 1 100% 0 0 2:06
Viacheslav Borshchev 0 29 of 60 48% 30 of 61 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:10
3 Nazim Sadykhov 0 29 of 62 46% 35 of 69 3 of 4 75% 0 0 1:24
Viacheslav Borshchev 0 56 of 102 54% 56 of 102 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Nazim Sadykhov 91 of 207 43% 65 of 172 19 of 26 7 of 9 66 of 175 5 of 8 20 of 24
Viacheslav Borshchev 143 of 241 59% 87 of 178 30 of 34 26 of 29 141 of 239 2 of 2 0 of 0
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Nazim Sadykhov 23 of 68 33% 12 of 52 8 of 11 3 of 5 22 of 67 1 of 1 0 of 0
Viacheslav Borshchev 58 of 79 73% 27 of 46 14 of 15 17 of 18 58 of 79 0 of 0 0 of 0
2 Nazim Sadykhov 39 of 77 50% 35 of 72 3 of 4 1 of 1 19 of 53 2 of 2 18 of 22
Viacheslav Borshchev 29 of 60 48% 16 of 46 7 of 7 6 of 7 27 of 58 2 of 2 0 of 0
3 Nazim Sadykhov 29 of 62 46% 18 of 48 8 of 11 3 of 3 25 of 55 2 of 5 2 of 2
Viacheslav Borshchev 56 of 102 54% 44 of 86 9 of 12 3 of 4 56 of 102 0 of 0 0 of 0
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Confident picked Nov 5, 2023 (6 days before fight)
Viacheslav Borshchev

Angelo picks Borshchev, trusting his striking pressure and ability to defend takedowns. He notes Sadykhov is not a grappler and will likely strike, which favors Borshchev. He acknowledges Sadykhov could win a decision but leans on Borshchev's power and volume.

"I like viav to win this fight... I'm going to trust the absolute nonstop striking pressure."
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked Nov 6, 2023 (5 days before fight)
Viacheslav Borshchev

Big Brady picks Viacheslav Borshchev to win by first-round knockout. He praises Borshchev's incredible striking and notes that opponents constantly try to take him down because they want nothing to do with his striking. He worries that Sadykhov doesn't wrestle enough to exploit Borshchev's poor takedown defense, and that Sadykhov was outstruck by Evan Elder. Brady expects a striking battle and favors Borshchev's power.

Borshchev by first-round knockout
"I'm going to take another dog here, I'm gonna take Slava Borshchev to win this fight by knockout... give me Slava by first round knockout."
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Lean picked Nov 8, 2023 (3 days before fight)
Viacheslav Borshchev

Cody leans Borshchev, expecting a striking match where Borshchev's volume and durability give him an edge. He notes Sadykhov hasn't shown wrestling in the UFC, and Borshchev's takedown defense and ability to get up are solid. He's not confident but sees value.

"borchev will be the official pick just on the fact that I feel like this is going to be a 15-minute striking Affair"
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Nov 7, 2023 (4 days before fight)
Viacheslav Borshchev

Borshchev is more tested against better competition and his defensive grappling is improving. He should be able to keep the fight in the striking realm where he has a decided advantage. Expects Borshchev to batter Sadykhov and eventually finish him by knockout in the second or third round. Surprised to see Borshchev as the underdog and happy to take a shot on him.

finish by knockout in round 2 or 3
"I was kind of surprised to see borchev as the underdog here and I was more than happy to take a shot on him"
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Confident picked Nov 8, 2023 (3 days before fight)
Viacheslav Borshchev

Paul picks Borshchev, citing Sadykhov's lack of wrestling and questionable takedown defense. He thinks Borshchev's striking and cardio will be too much, and that Sadykhov hasn't shown enough to warrant being a favorite. He calls Borshchev a dog play.

"borchev KO official pick for me it's plus 250 at like the only book that has the prop on that right now"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Nov 6, 2023 (5 days before fight)
Nazim Sadykhov

The MMA Guru picks Nazim Sadykhov, highlighting his grappling as the X-factor. He notes that Sadykhov showed composure against Terrance McKinney's early danger and that his team knows when to use takedowns. He predicts a late second-round submission, as Borshchev is a great striker but has takedown defense issues.

submission in round 2
"I'm going to go of nazim sadikov getting a late second round submission is what I'm going to go for there"
WIN vs Maheshate
TKO (punches) R2 2:37 · UFC Fight Night: Dern vs. Hill · May 20, 2023
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Viacheslav Borshchev 0 32 of 109 29% 33 of 110 0 of 2 0% 0 0 0:00
Maheshate 3 85 of 148 57% 85 of 148 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:09
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Viacheslav Borshchev 0 22 of 70 31% 23 of 71 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:00
Maheshate 1 57 of 100 57% 57 of 100 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:05
2 Viacheslav Borshchev 0 10 of 39 25% 10 of 39 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:00
Maheshate 2 28 of 48 58% 28 of 48 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:04
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Viacheslav Borshchev 32 of 109 29% 26 of 100 1 of 3 5 of 6 29 of 99 3 of 10 0 of 0
Maheshate 85 of 148 57% 40 of 99 17 of 19 28 of 30 69 of 118 11 of 18 5 of 12
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Viacheslav Borshchev 22 of 70 31% 17 of 63 1 of 3 4 of 4 21 of 67 1 of 3 0 of 0
Maheshate 57 of 100 57% 23 of 64 11 of 12 23 of 24 49 of 81 7 of 12 1 of 7
2 Viacheslav Borshchev 10 of 39 25% 9 of 37 0 of 0 1 of 2 8 of 32 2 of 7 0 of 0
Maheshate 28 of 48 58% 17 of 35 6 of 7 5 of 6 20 of 37 4 of 6 4 of 5
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Lean picked May 14, 2023 (6 days before fight)
Viacheslav Borshchev

Angelo picks Borshchev because in a striking match he should win easily, but he is concerned about Borshchev's poor takedown defense (31%) and the possibility that Maheshate could wrestle. He notes Borshchev is tough and never stops working, but is waiting for props before betting.

Waiting for props
"the pick's gonna be borshev but betting spot again we're gonna have to wait for some props and see what happens"
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked May 12, 2023 (8 days before fight)
Viacheslav Borshchev

Big Brady picks Viacheslav Borshchev to knock out Maheshate in the first round. He is happy the UFC is giving Borshchev a striker, as his takedown defense is terrible but he is a beautiful striker with power. He expects Maheshate to stand and trade, which favors Borshchev. He predicts a first-round knockout.

knockout in round 1
"I'm going to take him to win this fight by first round knockout"
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Confident picked May 18, 2023 (2 days before fight)
Viacheslav Borshchev

Cody argues that Borshchev's takedown defense is poor, but Maheshate has never attempted a takedown in the UFC. He expects a striking match where Borshchev's volume and power will prevail. He notes Borshchev's ability to get up from takedowns and finish opponents.

"I'll take borshev."
CO
Connor Ruebusch Expert Lean picked May 19, 2023 (1 day before fight)
Maheshate

Connor picks Maheshate because he believes Borshchev is more hurtable and can be caught with a big counter hook or knee. He notes that Maheshate is bigger, more well-rounded, and has never been knocked out. Connor also mentions the possibility of Maheshate out-grappling Borshchev, who is bad on the ground. He admits part of his pick is to avoid being trolled by a Twitter account claiming to be Maheshate.

"I'll take Mahashatte just because I think that Borshove is more hurtable."
DA
Daniel Levi Expert Confident picked May 18, 2023 (2 days before fight)
Viacheslav Borshchev

Daniel Levi picks Viacheslav Borshchev, assuming the fight stays standing. He notes Borshchev has a clear striking advantage and is the more experienced kickboxer, while Maheshate has attempted zero takedowns in his UFC/Contender Series appearances. Levi acknowledges Borshchev's poor takedown defense but thinks Maheshate won't exploit it. He sees this as a striking match and favors Borshchev's cleaner technique.

"I'm gonna go vicious love barchov"
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked May 15, 2023 (5 days before fight)
Viacheslav Borshchev

The host picks Viacheslav Borshchev, expecting a striking battle where Borshchev's cleaner technique and body work will be key. He thinks Borshchev will slow Maheshate with body kicks and punches, then find a knockout. He likes the under and predicts a TKO victory.

under
"I like borshev here I like the unders I'm expecting some violence here and I think it's going to be Slava claws that comes out once again snaps that two fine winning streak and earns another knockout victory in the …"
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Lean picked May 18, 2023 (2 days before fight)
Maheshate

Paul is intrigued by Maheshate's power and durability, and notes that Borshchev's takedown defense is a liability. He thinks Maheshate could land a knockout if Borshchev stands with him. He takes the underdog for value.

"I bet him at plus 138."
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked May 16, 2023 (4 days before fight)
Viacheslav Borshchev

The MMA Guru picks Borshchev, believing he is better on the feet and that Maheshate won't be able to dominate him on the ground. He notes Borshchev has been working on his grappling and had moments against Mike Davis. He expects a stand-up fight and predicts Borshchev will finish via late-round TKO to the body. He is not impressed by Maheshate's win over Steve Garcia.

late rounds TKO to the body
"I'm gonna go with borshev ... I reckon you finish this one by late rounds TKO to a body shot"
ZA
Zane Simon Expert Hesitant picked May 19, 2023 (1 day before fight)
Viacheslav Borshchev

Zane picks Borshchev primarily for his aggression and body punching. He notes that Borshchev is more hittable and easier to get to, but his liver hunting could be a key factor against Maheshate, who has never been knocked out but may not withstand a clean shot to the liver. Zane sees this as a very 50/50 fight and is hesitant, but leans toward Borshchev's offensive pressure.

"I'm going to take Borshchev, but this looks like a very 50 50 fight to me."
LOSS vs Mike Davis
Decision (unanimous) (29–28, 30–26, 30–26) R3 5:00 · UFC Fight Night: Dern vs. Yan · Oct 01, 2022
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Mike Davis 0 65 of 133 48% 101 of 174 9 of 11 81% 1 0 8:02
Viacheslav Borshchev 0 63 of 118 53% 84 of 139 0 of 0 --- 0 1 0:14
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Mike Davis 0 37 of 61 60% 59 of 87 4 of 6 66% 0 0 2:52
Viacheslav Borshchev 0 21 of 34 61% 22 of 35 0 of 0 --- 0 1 0:14
2 Mike Davis 0 20 of 46 43% 22 of 49 3 of 3 100% 1 0 2:17
Viacheslav Borshchev 0 26 of 60 43% 29 of 63 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
3 Mike Davis 0 8 of 26 30% 20 of 38 2 of 2 100% 0 0 2:53
Viacheslav Borshchev 0 16 of 24 66% 33 of 41 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Mike Davis 65 of 133 48% 53 of 118 5 of 7 7 of 8 27 of 75 1 of 1 37 of 57
Viacheslav Borshchev 63 of 118 53% 29 of 81 10 of 13 24 of 24 62 of 115 0 of 0 1 of 3
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Mike Davis 37 of 61 60% 34 of 57 1 of 2 2 of 2 9 of 20 1 of 1 27 of 40
Viacheslav Borshchev 21 of 34 61% 8 of 20 2 of 3 11 of 11 20 of 32 0 of 0 1 of 2
2 Mike Davis 20 of 46 43% 16 of 41 2 of 3 2 of 2 12 of 31 0 of 0 8 of 15
Viacheslav Borshchev 26 of 60 43% 11 of 43 5 of 7 10 of 10 26 of 59 0 of 0 0 of 1
3 Mike Davis 8 of 26 30% 3 of 20 2 of 2 3 of 4 6 of 24 0 of 0 2 of 2
Viacheslav Borshchev 16 of 24 66% 10 of 18 3 of 3 3 of 3 16 of 24 0 of 0 0 of 0
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Confident picked Sep 28, 2022 (3 days before fight)
Mike Davis

Cody picks Mike Davis to win, highlighting Davis's talent and the praise from training partners. He notes Davis has been inactive but is still young and improving. He expects Davis to counter Borshchev's hooks and low kicks with his jab and straight right, and to mix in takedowns to secure rounds. He is confident Davis gets the job done despite the layoff.

"I think Davis is wrestling is underrated the red flags are more around the fact that he rare he hasn't really fought all that much"
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Confident picked Sep 28, 2022 (3 days before fight)
Mike Davis

Paul picks Mike Davis by decision, citing Davis's superior wrestling and ability to mix in takedowns. He notes that Borshchev gives up takedowns frequently and Davis has underrated wrestling. He expects Davis to use his jab and hand speed to outpoint Borshchev on the feet if he chooses, but believes mixing in wrestling will solidify rounds. He mentions the 2.5 takedown prop on PrizePicks.

Davis by decision; over 2.5 takedowns on PrizePicks
"I got Davis by decision"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Sep 27, 2022 (4 days before fight)
Mike Davis

The MMA Guru picks Mike Davis, emphasizing his multiple paths to victory. He notes that Davis is a smart fighter who can implement wrestling and grappling, similar to Mark D. Casey's game plan against Borshchev. He warns Davis not to get into a pure striking affair, as Borshchev is a world-class kickboxer. He expects Davis to mix takedowns with striking and win a decision, citing Davis's layoff and Borshchev's short notice as factors.

Mike Davis by decision
"I think Mike Davis is just gonna fight a really smart fight here... implements the wrestling and grappling and wins the decision."
Expert Picks (7)
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Confident picked Mar 20, 2022 (6 days before fight)
Viacheslav Borshchev

Angelo picks Viacheslav Borshchev, calling him the more technical striker. He notes that while Marc Diakiese has more power, Borshchev's kickboxing background and technical ability should control the fight. He mentions Borshchev needs to avoid Diakiese's leg kicks and power. He may throw a moneyline bet despite the 2-1 odds.

i may throw a money line bet on him two to one
"i like worship to win here but he definitely needs to avoid the leg kicks and avoid the power of mark dioxis"
BI
Big Brady Expert Hesitant picked Mar 21, 2022 (5 days before fight)
Viacheslav Borshchev

Big Brady picks Viacheslav Borshchev to win by decision, but is not overly confident. He likes Borshchev's striking and volume, but is concerned about his takedown defense, as he gets taken down in every fight. However, he notes that Borshchev has an elite get-up game and can get back to his feet. He thinks Diakiese can make it competitive with takedowns, but Borshchev will win the striking exchanges.

Viacheslav Borshchev wins by decision
"I'll go borschev but I don't feel like overly confident about it... I'm going to take borah chef to win... by decision."
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Confident picked Mar 21, 2022 (5 days before fight)
Viacheslav Borshchev

Cody picks Borshchev, disagreeing with the line. He criticizes Diakiese's inconsistency and poor performances as a favorite. He likes Borshchev's pressure, power, and ability to get up from takedowns. He thinks Borshchev will overwhelm Diakiese and get a finish.

"i think borishev wins i just think it's going to be a very volatile fight"
DA
Daniel Levi Expert Lean picked Mar 24, 2022 (2 days before fight)
Viacheslav Borshchev

Daniel Levi leans Viacheslav Borshchev, citing his superior boxing and striking. He notes Borshchev has defensive flaws on the ground but is training at Alpha Male to improve. He thinks Diakiese will get early takedowns but Borshchev will get back up and pull away on the feet. He is not betting the fight but picks Borshchev to win.

"I think borscht probably gets taken down early and if he can avoid getting submitted... he gets back up and starts to kind of pull away"
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Lean picked Mar 23, 2022 (3 days before fight)
Marc Diakiese

The host slightly favors Diakiese, citing his overall MMA game, experience against better competition, and the threat of takedowns that could disrupt Borshchev's striking. He notes Borshchev's body shot power but thinks Diakiese's speed and wrestling could be key. He expects a decision win for Diakiese.

Diakiese by decision at +300
"i do favor him ever so slightly because i think he can put together a better 15-minute fight than we're going to see from borschev"
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Lean picked Mar 21, 2022 (5 days before fight)
Marc Diakiese

Paul leans Diakiese as an underdog, citing recency bias on Borshchev. He notes Diakiese's close fight with a talented kickboxer and thinks the price is too high on Borshchev. He sees Diakiese getting back on track but isn't confident.

"i'm leaning towards gia casey to get back on track here"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Mar 21, 2022 (5 days before fight)
Viacheslav Borshchev

The MMA Guru picks Viacheslav Borshchev by late first-round TKO over Marc Diakiese. He believes Borshchev is better in the pocket and notes Diakiese's chin issues after being rocked by Rafael Alves. The Guru expects Diakiese to shoot for takedowns but Borshchev to work back up and land big shots, as he won't be as worried about the grappling threat as he was against Dakota Bush.

late first round tko
"i'm gonna go with via schlav borishev"