vs
-280 +245
UFC Fight Night: Vieira vs. Tate · Nov 20, 2021 · Bantamweight · Completed
Prev Fight UFC Fight Night: Vieira vs. Tate Next Fight
Age 32
Height 5' 7"
Reach 70"
Weight 135 lbs.
Stance Orthodox
Age 40
Height 5' 8"
Reach 69.0"
Weight 135 lbs.
Stance Orthodox
Career Averages - Adrian Yañez
5.96 SLpM
41.0% Str. Acc.
5.24 SApM
56.0% Str. Def.
0.0 TD Avg
0.0% TD Acc.
75.0% TD Def.
0.0 Sub. Avg
Career Averages - Davey Grant
5.14 SLpM
44.0% Str. Acc.
3.82 SApM
55.0% Str. Def.
1.03 TD Avg
40.0% TD Acc.
63.0% TD Def.
0.2 Sub. Avg
Adrian Yañez
Moneyline
Caesars -280
KO/TKO
DraftKings +110
Submission
FanDuel +1800
Decision
BetRivers +275
Davey Grant
Moneyline
FanDuel +245
KO/TKO
FanDuel +950
Submission
FanDuel +1400
Decision
BetMGM +550
Adrian Yañez - Fight History
SCHED vs Cody Garbrandt
UFC 329 · Jul 11, 2026
Draw vs Ricky Simón
Draw R3 5:00 · UFC Fight Night: Adesanya vs. Pyfer · Mar 28, 2026
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Ricky Simón 0 44 of 139 31% 52 of 149 2 of 5 40% 0 0 2:06
Adrian Yañez 1 71 of 169 42% 73 of 171 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:06
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Ricky Simón 0 12 of 55 21% 12 of 55 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:00
Adrian Yañez 0 16 of 46 34% 16 of 46 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
2 Ricky Simón 0 15 of 35 42% 23 of 45 2 of 3 66% 0 0 2:06
Adrian Yañez 0 15 of 29 51% 16 of 30 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
3 Ricky Simón 0 17 of 49 34% 17 of 49 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:00
Adrian Yañez 1 40 of 94 42% 41 of 95 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:06
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Ricky Simón 44 of 139 31% 33 of 121 7 of 13 4 of 5 38 of 132 2 of 2 4 of 5
Adrian Yañez 71 of 169 42% 63 of 159 6 of 8 2 of 2 67 of 156 0 of 0 4 of 13
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Ricky Simón 12 of 55 21% 9 of 48 1 of 4 2 of 3 12 of 55 0 of 0 0 of 0
Adrian Yañez 16 of 46 34% 15 of 45 1 of 1 0 of 0 16 of 46 0 of 0 0 of 0
2 Ricky Simón 15 of 35 42% 13 of 31 1 of 3 1 of 1 9 of 28 2 of 2 4 of 5
Adrian Yañez 15 of 29 51% 13 of 26 2 of 3 0 of 0 15 of 29 0 of 0 0 of 0
3 Ricky Simón 17 of 49 34% 11 of 42 5 of 6 1 of 1 17 of 49 0 of 0 0 of 0
Adrian Yañez 40 of 94 42% 35 of 88 3 of 4 2 of 2 36 of 81 0 of 0 4 of 13
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Confident picked Mar 22, 2026 (6 days before fight)
Ricky Simón

Angelo picks Ricky Simon because he believes Simon's relentless pressure and wrestling will negate Yanez's technical striking. He notes that Simon's takedown defense was exposed against Honey Balcelos, but Balcelos is a high-level wrestler, while Yanez has no offensive takedowns. Angelo also mentions the hometown advantage and the possibility of a close decision, but expects Simon's wrestling to be effective enough to secure the win.

"I think Ricky's pressure is going to negate the technical striking. I think he's going to open up the takedowns."
BI
Big Brady Expert Hesitant picked Mar 23, 2026 (5 days before fight)
Ricky Simón

Big Brady picks Ricky Simón to win by decision, but he is hesitant. He notes that Simón has been on a three-fight losing streak and his cardio and wrestling have declined. However, he believes Simón's wrestling upside is key, as Adrian Yañez has not faced a wrestler in the UFC. Simón is the hometown fighter, and Brady thinks he can mix in takedowns, cage push, and win minutes in the clinch to secure a decision.

Simón by decision
"I think Ricky Simón can cage push here, win minutes in the clinch. I think he can mix in the takedowns, and I think he wins this fight by decision."
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Lean picked Mar 25, 2026 (3 days before fight)
Adrian Yañez

Cody picks Yanez, believing his striking and takedown defense will be enough to win rounds. He's concerned about Simon's hometown advantage but thinks Yanez lands the more significant shots.

"My official pick is actually Adrian Yanez."
CO
Connor Ruebusch Expert Hesitant picked Mar 27, 2026 (1 day before fight)
Adrian Yañez

Connor picks Yañez, thinking that Simón doesn't want to win just by holding someone down and will engage in the pocket, where Yañez can catch him. He notes that Simón is square and takes his eyes off the target, and Yañez has power.

"I'm going to take Yanya's."
DA
Daniel Vreeland Expert Confident picked Mar 24, 2026 (4 days before fight)
Adrian Yañez

Daniel believes Yanez's boxing and takedown defense will be too much for Simon, who he thinks is past his best. He cites sources saying Yanez is sharp again and likes the underdog value.

"I'm picking Adrian Yanez as an underdog pick here at UFC Seattle."
DI
Diary of a Pro Gambler Expert Confident picked Mar 28, 2026 (fight day)
Ricky Simón

The host picks Simón despite his poor fight IQ and tendency to strike instead of wrestle. He argues that Simón's wrestling is his path to victory, and Yanez's takedown defense is inflated because he has only faced strikers. Footage from Yanez's fight against Daniel Marcos shows he can be taken down and held down easily. However, the host warns that Simón may not commit to grappling, making this a risky bet.

Pass on fight spread and over/under; odds not favorable.
"If you came to me and you said, 'Hey Chris, I've got a crystal ball... I can promise you Ricky Simon will grapple his dick off for 15 minutes nonstop.' I'd be like, 'Great. Let's bet 100 units on Simon.'"
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Mar 24, 2026 (4 days before fight)
Adrian Yañez

The host sees Yañez as the better striker with good takedown defense and getups, allowing him to keep the fight standing. He believes Yañez's striking edge and reach advantage will allow him to piece up Simón, and he even suggests Yañez might score a knockout. He notes Simón's reliance on power and wrestling, but thinks Yañez can avoid the big shots and find a finish.

knockout
"I still think that Yanz will showcase his striking in edge here, which is why I like him as a plus uh 125 dog. I think so much so that he might even be able to uncor a big knockout …"
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Lean picked Mar 25, 2026 (3 days before fight)
Ricky Simón

Paul leans Simon, citing his wrestling and hometown crowd. He thinks Simon's control time could sway judges, especially with the Seattle crowd.

"I think Simon wins this fight."
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Mar 27, 2026 (1 day before fight)
Ricky Simón

The MMA Guru picks Ricky Simón, noting his improved demeanor and grappling ability. He believes Simón is well-rounded enough to grapple his way to a decision victory. He criticizes Adrian Yañez's recent performances, pointing out losses to Rob Font and Daniel Marcos, and suggests Yañez struggles against capable opponents. He expects Simón to mix in grappling and land good shots on the feet.

"I'm going to go with Ricky Simone. He looks mean for this one."
ZA
Zane Simon Expert Hesitant picked Mar 27, 2026 (1 day before fight)
Ricky Simón

Zane picks Simón for the wrestling, noting that Simón has shown more interest in keeping people down recently. He is hesitant because Yañez has good defensive wrestling and is a higher output fighter, but he thinks Simón's wrestling will be the difference in a close fight.

"I think I'm going to take Ricky Simone here for the wrestling."
LOSS vs Daniel Marcos
Decision (split) (28–29, 30–27, 29–28) R3 5:00 · UFC on ESPN: Covington vs. Buckley · Dec 14, 2024
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Daniel Marcos 0 79 of 183 43% 85 of 189 0 of 1 0% 0 0 1:15
Adrian Yañez 0 86 of 147 58% 95 of 156 2 of 4 50% 0 0 3:23
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Daniel Marcos 0 24 of 55 43% 29 of 60 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:23
Adrian Yañez 0 29 of 46 63% 30 of 47 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:46
2 Daniel Marcos 0 41 of 98 41% 41 of 98 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Adrian Yañez 0 39 of 70 55% 39 of 70 0 of 2 0% 0 0 0:00
3 Daniel Marcos 0 14 of 30 46% 15 of 31 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:52
Adrian Yañez 0 18 of 31 58% 26 of 39 2 of 2 100% 0 0 2:37
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Daniel Marcos 79 of 183 43% 57 of 156 8 of 10 14 of 17 79 of 182 0 of 1 0 of 0
Adrian Yañez 86 of 147 58% 60 of 111 9 of 16 17 of 20 81 of 142 3 of 3 2 of 2
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Daniel Marcos 24 of 55 43% 15 of 46 2 of 2 7 of 7 24 of 55 0 of 0 0 of 0
Adrian Yañez 29 of 46 63% 14 of 30 4 of 5 11 of 11 27 of 44 2 of 2 0 of 0
2 Daniel Marcos 41 of 98 41% 29 of 82 5 of 6 7 of 10 41 of 97 0 of 1 0 of 0
Adrian Yañez 39 of 70 55% 29 of 52 5 of 10 5 of 8 39 of 70 0 of 0 0 of 0
3 Daniel Marcos 14 of 30 46% 13 of 28 1 of 2 0 of 0 14 of 30 0 of 0 0 of 0
Adrian Yañez 18 of 31 58% 17 of 29 0 of 1 1 of 1 15 of 28 1 of 1 2 of 2
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Confident picked Dec 8, 2024 (6 days before fight)
Adrian Yañez

Angelo picks Yañez as the better boxer with faster hands, expecting a striking-only fight. He notes Yañez's technical boxing, fight IQ, and 100% takedown defense, while Marcos is undefeated but untested against high-level strikers. He believes Marcos will be forced into a boxing match where Yañez has the edge. He cannot bet on this fight due to unknowns about Marcos.

No bet.
"I think yany is a little faster and I think he has the better hands... I'm going to pick yanes here but I'm I can't bet on this fight."
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked Dec 12, 2024 (2 days before fight)
Daniel Marcos

Big Brady picks Daniel Marcos to win by second-round knockout. He likes Marcos's diverse striking (leg kicks, body kicks, head kicks) and thinks Yañez is hittable and has durability issues, noting Yañez was knocked out by Rob Font. He expects Marcos to hurt Yañez and finish him.

"I'm going Daniel Marcos here I think he's going to pick apart Yan and eventually hurt him and get him out of there in the second round"
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Confident picked Dec 11, 2024 (3 days before fight)
Daniel Marcos

Cody picks Daniel Marcos, citing his durability, cardio, and pressure fighting. He notes that Yañez has been knocked out by strikers and struggles against volume. Marcos's ability to take a shot and keep coming forward is key. Cody sees this as a striker vs striker matchup where Marcos's durability gives him the edge.

"I think Marcos wins given you're getting the best version of Marcos but the one outlier is that fight with Davey Grant where he just doesn't do anything."
CO
Connor Ruebusch Expert Lean picked Dec 12, 2024 (2 days before fight)
Daniel Marcos

Connor picks Marcos, citing that his game has smaller gaps and he is more consistent. He notes that Marcos can target Yañez's leg kicks and build momentum over rounds, while Yañez may fade if his initial blitz fails. Connor acknowledges it's a close fight and could go either way.

Yañez opened at +124, now +180; Marcos opened at -139, now -207
"I'll take Marcos. Just, you know, to justify it a little, it's really just like I say, the gaps in his game are so much smaller."
DA
Daniel Vreeland Expert Confident picked Dec 12, 2024 (2 days before fight)
Daniel Marcos

Daniel Vreeland picks Daniel Marcos, citing his high fight IQ and well-rounded skills. He notes that Yañez is one-dimensional with fast hands but predictable, while Marcos can box, kickbox, wrestle, and do jiu-jitsu. Vreeland expects Marcos to avoid unnecessary pocket exchanges and use a varied attack. He mentions the price (-225) is a bit high but still picks Marcos.

"I'mma pick Danielle Marcos come out here and get this dub"
LU
Lucrative James Expert Confident picked Dec 11, 2024 (3 days before fight)
Daniel Marcos

Lucrative James picks Daniel Marcos to win, citing Marcos' superior striking skills, clinch work, and leg kicks. He acknowledges Marcos' cardio issues in round three but believes Marcos has enough early upside to win the first two rounds or secure a finish. He notes Yañez's toughness and cardio but points out Yañez's vulnerabilities to leg kicks and head punches, as seen in past losses.

"I think Marcos is going to win the fight but I would be scared to bet on Marcos if the fight gets into round three."
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Dec 12, 2024 (2 days before fight)
Daniel Marcos

Marcos's calf-kicking abilities will render Yañez defenseless, leading to a TKO victory within the second or third round. The public line movement from -170 to -230 supports this pick.

wins by TKO in round 2 or 3
"I believe his calf kicking abilities will render yanes defenseless and that will allow Marcos to put together a TKO Victory within the second or third round"
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Lean picked Dec 11, 2024 (3 days before fight)
Daniel Marcos

Paul leans towards Marcos, citing his durability and undefeated record. He notes that Yañez has questionable durability and has been knocked out before. Paul is concerned if Marcos doesn't push the pace, but overall favors Marcos's volume and pressure.

"I think the the durability is what makes me side with Marcos obviously he's undefeated."
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Hesitant picked Dec 11, 2024 (3 days before fight)
Daniel Marcos

The MMA Guru initially leans toward Adrian Yañez due to his slick hands and underdog status, but after reviewing Marcos' undefeated record and tougher competition on the regional scene, he switches to Daniel Marcos. He predicts Marcos will use lateral movement and leg kicks to win a close decision (29-28). He admits Yañez may have the talent edge but trusts Marcos' resume.

decision 29-28
"I'll go Daniel Marcos then I'll go Marcos winning a close fought 2928 decision over Adrian yanz"
ZA
Zane Simon Expert Lean picked Dec 12, 2024 (2 days before fight)
Adrian Yañez

Zane leans toward Yañez because of his flashier punching and ability to hurt opponents. He notes that Marcos has a tendency to have inactive periods and can be hurt, which could be dangerous against Yañez. However, Zane is concerned about Yañez's leg kick defense and his tendency to start fast and fade.

Yañez opened at +124, now +180; Marcos opened at -139, now -207
"I think I'll take Yanyas. I think he might hurt Marcos."
TKO (punches) R1 2:47 · UFC Fight Night: Barboza vs. Murphy · May 18, 2024
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Adrian Yañez 1 36 of 56 64% 36 of 58 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:17
Vinicius Salvador 0 17 of 34 50% 17 of 34 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Adrian Yañez 1 36 of 56 64% 36 of 58 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:17
Vinicius Salvador 0 17 of 34 50% 17 of 34 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Adrian Yañez 36 of 56 64% 27 of 45 1 of 2 8 of 9 15 of 28 0 of 0 21 of 28
Vinicius Salvador 17 of 34 50% 6 of 20 6 of 6 5 of 8 17 of 34 0 of 0 0 of 0
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Adrian Yañez 36 of 56 64% 27 of 45 1 of 2 8 of 9 15 of 28 0 of 0 21 of 28
Vinicius Salvador 17 of 34 50% 6 of 20 6 of 6 5 of 8 17 of 34 0 of 0 0 of 0
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Lean picked May 12, 2024 (6 days before fight)
Adrian Yañez

Angelo acknowledges Adrian Yañez is the more technical striker with fast hands and real power, but he is coming off back-to-back finish losses and is a 3-to-1 favorite, which Angelo considers poor value. Vinicius Salvador is durable, has forward pressure, and is more well-rounded. Angelo leans Yañez due to his takedown defense and striking edge, but will not bet at current odds.

"I'm going to lean him here but Jesus 3 to1 Adrien yanz just got finished in back-to-back fights he should not be a 3 to1 favorite"
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Confident picked May 15, 2024 (3 days before fight)
Adrian Yañez

Cody sees this as a bounceback fight for Yañez, who is a slow starter but has the skills to take over. He notes Salvador is a career flyweight moving up, with no real power and poor takedown defense. Cody predicts Yañez will find his rhythm in the second round and potentially knock Salvador out in the third, as Salvador will feel the power of a true bantamweight.

Yañez round 3 knockout (+700)
"I got yanz to take the bounce back and do exactly what he's supposed to do with it."
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked May 14, 2024 (4 days before fight)
Adrian Yañez

Yañez has superior technical striking and underrated power. Salvador is 0-2 in the UFC, showboats, and has an unorthodox style but a good chin. Yañez should counter Salvador's flashy strikes and chip away to win a decision. A knockout is possible but not likely due to Salvador's durability.

"I think that Janis is superior technical striking will come in Advantage especially when Salvador tries to showb or throw a lot of flashy strikes"
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Confident picked May 15, 2024 (3 days before fight)
Adrian Yañez

Paul expects Yañez to get back on track after two tough losses. He notes Salvador is moving up from flyweight, where he was 0-2, and his striking volume and wrestling are not elite. Paul believes Yañez's boxing and body work will be too much, and he expects a finish later in the fight.

"Everything kind of points towards Adrian Yan is getting back on track."
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked May 14, 2024 (4 days before fight)
Adrian Yañez

The MMA Guru picks Adrian Yañez to win by TKO over Vinicius Salvador, calling it a 'layup' for Yañez. He criticizes Salvador's losses and lack of urgency, and believes Yañez's boxing will be superior. He notes that Yañez has shown takedown defense improvements and expects him to get back on track with a finish.

TKO
"I think yanz is gonna get a TKO win here unless Salvador shows off some great grappling"
TKO (leg kick) R2 2:26 · UFC Fight Night: Yusuff vs. Barboza · Oct 14, 2023
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Jonathan Martinez 2 36 of 58 62% 36 of 60 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:19
Adrian Yañez 0 20 of 72 27% 20 of 73 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:10
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Jonathan Martinez 1 16 of 30 53% 16 of 32 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:12
Adrian Yañez 0 14 of 46 30% 14 of 46 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
2 Jonathan Martinez 1 20 of 28 71% 20 of 28 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:07
Adrian Yañez 0 6 of 26 23% 6 of 27 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:10
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Jonathan Martinez 36 of 58 62% 7 of 15 0 of 2 29 of 41 36 of 58 0 of 0 0 of 0
Adrian Yañez 20 of 72 27% 9 of 59 10 of 12 1 of 1 17 of 66 3 of 6 0 of 0
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Jonathan Martinez 16 of 30 53% 1 of 5 0 of 2 15 of 23 16 of 30 0 of 0 0 of 0
Adrian Yañez 14 of 46 30% 5 of 37 8 of 8 1 of 1 13 of 44 1 of 2 0 of 0
2 Jonathan Martinez 20 of 28 71% 6 of 10 0 of 0 14 of 18 20 of 28 0 of 0 0 of 0
Adrian Yañez 6 of 26 23% 4 of 22 2 of 4 0 of 0 4 of 22 2 of 4 0 of 0
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Lean picked Oct 8, 2023 (6 days before fight)
Adrian Yañez

Angelo picks Adrian Yañez despite the massive line movement toward Martinez. He believes Yañez's boxing is cleaner and faster, and his 100% takedown defense should keep the fight standing. However, he notes Yañez needs to not be gun-shy after his knockout loss and let his hands go. He expects a great fight and potential Fight of the Night.

"Adrian jannis is going to be the pick but you know we're going to need him to let his hands go"
BI
Big Brady Expert Lean picked Oct 11, 2023 (3 days before fight)
Adrian Yañez

Big Brady picks Adrian Yañez in a close fight. He thinks Yañez has the volume and power advantage, with great boxing and hand speed, while Martinez relies on kicks. He sees it as a 15-minute striking match that goes to decision, and worries about judges but leans Yañez as a bounce-back spot after his loss to Rob Font.

"I think I'm going to pick Giannis here not a not a ton of confidence because I like Martinez quite a bit"
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Confident picked Oct 11, 2023 (3 days before fight)
Jonathan Martinez

Cody picks Martinez, arguing that Yañez is overhyped and has not faced top competition. He points to Yañez's struggles against Randy Costa and Davey Grant, and his loss to Rob Font. Cody highlights Martinez's five-fight win streak, including a dominant win over Cub Swanson, and believes his jab and kicks will trouble Yañez. He also notes Martinez's improved cardio and seasoning at Factory X.

"Jonathan Martinez is the pick"
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Oct 12, 2023 (2 days before fight)
Adrian Yañez

The host picks Adrian Yañez as an underdog, surprised at the betting public flipping on him after his loss to Rob Font. He believes Yañez's boxing combinations and power will counter Martinez's kicking game. He expects Yañez to crash the pocket and land a knockout, likely in the first two rounds.

by KO in rounds 1-2
"I was more than happy to take the underdog shot here on yany and uh again surprised at the shortsightedness of the the the betting Community"
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Confident picked Oct 11, 2023 (3 days before fight)
Jonathan Martinez

Paul agrees with Cody, noting that Yañez has not been tested by wrestlers and that Martinez could mix in takedowns. He points out that Martinez's kicks can keep the fight at range, neutralizing Yañez's boxing. Paul also mentions that Martinez's volume is lower but his striking is effective, and he expects Martinez to win two of three rounds.

"I'm with you Jonathan Martinez is the pick"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Oct 10, 2023 (4 days before fight)
Jonathan Martinez

The MMA Guru picks Jonathan Martinez over Adrian Yañez. He notes Yañez's boxing is good but he has a weakness against kicks, as shown in his fight with Davey Grant (which he thinks Grant won). He praises Martinez's five-fight win streak, including wins over Cub Swanson and Said Nurmagomedov, and his ability to mix in low kicks. He believes Martinez has better momentum and will be more switched on, winning a close decision.

decision
"I'm going to go with Jonathan Martinez over Adrien yunz I think he's got a lot better momentum right now"
LOSS vs Rob Font
TKO (punches) R1 2:57 · UFC 287: Pereira vs. Adesanya 2 · Apr 08, 2023
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Rob Font 1 33 of 75 44% 33 of 75 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:04
Adrian Yañez 0 25 of 54 46% 25 of 54 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Rob Font 1 33 of 75 44% 33 of 75 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:04
Adrian Yañez 0 25 of 54 46% 25 of 54 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Rob Font 33 of 75 44% 30 of 69 2 of 5 1 of 1 27 of 66 1 of 2 5 of 7
Adrian Yañez 25 of 54 46% 21 of 49 1 of 2 3 of 3 25 of 51 0 of 3 0 of 0
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Rob Font 33 of 75 44% 30 of 69 2 of 5 1 of 1 27 of 66 1 of 2 5 of 7
Adrian Yañez 25 of 54 46% 21 of 49 1 of 2 3 of 3 25 of 51 0 of 3 0 of 0
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Lean picked Apr 5, 2023 (3 days before fight)
Adrian Yañez

Angelo picks Adrian Yañez but is not highly confident, noting that Rob Font is a clean technical striker who is very live. He thinks Yañez is a younger version of Font, faster and with more power, but Font has a good chin and could win. He warns that this could be a changing of the guard, but Font could also remind everyone he's still elite.

"Jana's the pick but Rob font super live here clean technical Striker"
BI
Big Brady Expert Hesitant picked Apr 3, 2023 (5 days before fight)
Adrian Yañez

Big Brady picks Adrian Yañez despite wanting to pick Rob Font, due to Font's recent durability issues. He notes Font has taken massive damage in his last two fights and has been dropped repeatedly. He believes Yañez has power and volume, and can win by decision or knockout. He predicts a decision win for Yañez.

"give me honest here I'm gonna say Yana's by ... decision"
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Confident picked Apr 5, 2023 (3 days before fight)
Rob Font

Cody agrees with Paul on Font. He points out that Yañez struggled early against Randy Costa, getting dominated in round one before Costa gassed. Cody believes Font's constant jab and long-range strikes will disrupt Yañez's timing and prevent him from landing his power shots. He sees Font's volume as overwhelming and thinks Yañez may struggle to find his rhythm. Cody also notes Font by decision at +200 is worth a look.

Font by decision at +200
"I'm with you I'm with you the knockdowns are a bit of a concern Yanez does hit very very hard but the volume is just overbearing"
CO
Connor Ruebusch Expert Confident picked Apr 6, 2023 (2 days before fight)
Adrian Yañez

Connor picks Yañez because Font's defensive flaws are well-documented: he has poor footwork after committing to his right hand and relies on a static high guard. Yañez is a fantastic counter puncher who will find openings as Font falls into predictable rhythms. However, Connor notes that Yañez can be a slow starter and may lose the first round if Font's jab takes over. He also mentions that Yañez's high-output style can lead to fatigue, as seen against Davey Grant. Despite these concerns, Connor believes Yañez's sharp countering will eventually catch Font.

Font opened at +126, now +155; Yañez opened at -140, now -175. Connor thinks the odds are getting too wide given Yañez's unproven resume at this level.
"I'll take Yanez as well, but this is a great fight for that. It's a genuine divisional sorting matchup."
JA
Jacob Lines Expert Confident picked Apr 5, 2023 (3 days before fight)
Adrian Yañez

Jacob is extremely high on Adrian Yañez, calling him his guy and predicting he will be champion by 2025. He praises Yañez's beautiful boxing, combinations, and power. He believes Yañez will find the timing and land the more impactful shots, possibly finishing inside the distance. He acknowledges that Yañez can be a slow starter but trusts his dog mentality.

inside the distance
"Adrian Yanez wins this fight I think he sends out inside the distance"
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Hesitant picked Apr 3, 2023 (5 days before fight)
Rob Font

Font has high output, a great jab, and good footwork, but his durability is questionable after losses to Aldo and Vera. Yañez is a crisp boxer with power, but this is his toughest test. Font's volume and jab could frustrate Yañez, and Font's cardio should hold up. However, if Font's chin is shot, Yañez could land a big shot. I lean Font by decision but with hesitation.

"I'm gonna lean with the veteran here I'm gonna lean with the guy that showcases that he has the style to give a guy like Giannis fits"
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Confident picked Apr 5, 2023 (3 days before fight)
Rob Font

Paul likes Rob Font as a plus-money underdog. He questions Yañez's level of competition, noting his wins are over lower-tier fighters and his only step-up against Davey Grant was a close split decision. Paul highlights Font's elite striking volume, footwork, and jab, and notes that Font has gone five rounds with top bantamweights. He acknowledges Font's tendency to get knocked down but believes his volume and experience will overwhelm Yañez.

Font by decision at +200 considered
"this kind of plus money we're going to need dogs and we're in Florida it does feel like Rob Funk and outwork almost anybody in the division"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Apr 8, 2023 (fight day)
Adrian Yañez

The MMA Guru picks Adrian Yañez to win by decision. He expects Font to have success early with his jab and takedowns, but Yañez will weather the storm and start finding his range. He predicts Yañez will hurt Font badly in rounds two and three, with moments of near-finishes, but Font will survive to the final bell. He compares it to a Marlon Vera-esque performance.

"I'm gonna go with Adrian Yanez by decision"
ZA
Zane Simon Expert Confident picked Apr 6, 2023 (2 days before fight)
Adrian Yañez

Zane picks Yañez because Font's defensive issues are severe: he gets hit cleanly in every fight and has been knocked down repeatedly. Yañez is a sharp counter puncher who will exploit Font's tendency to leave himself open after throwing the right hand. Zane acknowledges that Yañez may start slow and lose the first round, but he expects Yañez to figure out Font's rhythm and land big shots. He also notes that Font's chin is a major concern, as even if Yañez fades, he only needs one clean shot to change the fight.

Font opened at +126, now +155; Yañez opened at -140, now -175. Zane thinks the odds are getting too wide.
"If you can see one fighter clearly winning a round of a fight and the other rounds being close, pick the clear round winner."
WIN vs Tony Kelley
TKO (punches) R1 3:49 · UFC on ESPN: Kattar vs. Emmett · Jun 18, 2022
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Adrian Yañez 1 35 of 67 52% 36 of 68 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:04
Tony Kelley 0 20 of 49 40% 21 of 50 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:02
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Adrian Yañez 1 35 of 67 52% 36 of 68 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:04
Tony Kelley 0 20 of 49 40% 21 of 50 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:02
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Adrian Yañez 35 of 67 52% 29 of 60 6 of 7 0 of 0 29 of 60 1 of 2 5 of 5
Tony Kelley 20 of 49 40% 12 of 29 6 of 16 2 of 4 20 of 48 0 of 1 0 of 0
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Adrian Yañez 35 of 67 52% 29 of 60 6 of 7 0 of 0 29 of 60 1 of 2 5 of 5
Tony Kelley 20 of 49 40% 12 of 29 6 of 16 2 of 4 20 of 48 0 of 1 0 of 0
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Confident picked Jun 12, 2022 (6 days before fight)
Tony Kelley

Angelo picks Tony Kelley in an upset, citing his forward pressure, volume, and ability to disrupt Adrian Yañez's rhythm. He notes Yañez's slow starts and willingness to brawl, which plays into Kelley's hands. He mentions Kelley's impressive win over Randy Costa (129 strikes to 32) and believes Kelley can maintain pace.

"i think i'm going tony kelly here because even though yanez is the more technical striker his slow start and willingness to engage in a brawl can lead him down the wrong path"
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked Jun 15, 2022 (3 days before fight)
Adrian Yañez

Big Brady picks Adrian Yañez to win by third-round knockout. He notes Yañez is a slow starter but has clear power advantage and good combinations, while Kelley is very hittable with 45% striking defense. He expects Kelley to win the first round but Yañez's damage to accumulate and lead to a late knockout.

third round knockout
"I like giannis here i like him by second or third round knockout"
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Confident picked Jun 15, 2022 (3 days before fight)
Adrian Yañez

Cody picks Yañez but emphasizes the over 2.5 rounds as the best bet on the card. He notes neither fighter has been finished and Yañez tends to have close fights. He thinks Yañez's technical striking will win but the fight goes to decision. He calls the over 2.5 a 'face slapper' line.

Over 2.5 rounds (biggest investment of the week)
"over two and a half i think is the play of the card here"
DA
Daniel Levi Expert Lean picked Jun 16, 2022 (2 days before fight)
Adrian Yañez

Daniel Levi leans Adrian Yañez, citing his cleaner hands and improved kicking game, plus the hometown advantage in Texas. However, he notes Yañez absorbs a lot of strikes (nearly six per minute) and Tony Kelley is a durable, high-output fighter who could make it competitive. Levi thinks it will be a close three-round fight and Yañez may get a decision, but the -280 price is too high for comfort. He acknowledges Kelley at +240 has value.

Yañez -280 is too high; Kelley +240 has value; close decision likely
"i lean yanez but i mean i don't fault y'all for taking that shot on tony kelly"
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Lean picked Jun 15, 2022 (3 days before fight)
Tony Kelley

Paul is considering a Tony Kelley play, noting Yañez's struggles against aggressive fighters and his close split decisions. He thinks Kelley's durability and improved training with Andrea Lee make him a live underdog. He also likes the over 2.5 rounds.

Over 2.5 rounds; Tony Kelley by decision +600
"i'm contemplating a tony kelly play truth be told"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Jun 13, 2022 (5 days before fight)
Adrian Yañez

The MMA Guru picks Adrian Yañez, though he worries about his performance against Davey Grant. He believes Tony Kelley is tough but has been eking out close decisions. He expects Yañez to use better distance control and body shots, winning a decision (29-28 or 30-27) in a scrappy fight, with Kelley surviving but losing.

"i'm gonna be sliding with adrien yanez here... i think he'll invest in body shots he has got good take down defense"
WIN vs Davey Grant
Decision (split) (27–30, 29–28, 29–28) R3 5:00 · UFC Fight Night: Vieira vs. Tate · Nov 20, 2021
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Adrian Yañez 0 98 of 273 35% 98 of 274 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:10
Davey Grant 0 100 of 255 39% 100 of 255 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Adrian Yañez 0 29 of 74 39% 29 of 74 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Davey Grant 0 24 of 65 36% 24 of 65 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
2 Adrian Yañez 0 27 of 92 29% 27 of 93 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:10
Davey Grant 0 31 of 81 38% 31 of 81 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
3 Adrian Yañez 0 42 of 107 39% 42 of 107 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Davey Grant 0 45 of 109 41% 45 of 109 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Adrian Yañez 98 of 273 35% 40 of 182 40 of 68 18 of 23 98 of 272 0 of 1 0 of 0
Davey Grant 100 of 255 39% 66 of 212 14 of 22 20 of 21 100 of 255 0 of 0 0 of 0
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Adrian Yañez 29 of 74 39% 5 of 42 15 of 21 9 of 11 29 of 74 0 of 0 0 of 0
Davey Grant 24 of 65 36% 15 of 52 5 of 9 4 of 4 24 of 65 0 of 0 0 of 0
2 Adrian Yañez 27 of 92 29% 19 of 66 3 of 18 5 of 8 27 of 91 0 of 1 0 of 0
Davey Grant 31 of 81 38% 21 of 70 4 of 5 6 of 6 31 of 81 0 of 0 0 of 0
3 Adrian Yañez 42 of 107 39% 16 of 74 22 of 29 4 of 4 42 of 107 0 of 0 0 of 0
Davey Grant 45 of 109 41% 30 of 90 5 of 8 10 of 11 45 of 109 0 of 0 0 of 0
Play-by-Play
View on Sherdog
Davey Grant vs. Adrian Yanez

Round 1
The prelims were rough, but an immediate “Fight of the Night” contender greets fans in the main card opener between Yanez (14-3, 3-0 UFC) and Grant (13-5, 4-4 UFC), in an intriguing striker-grappler affair at 135 pounds. Yanez has won all three of his UFC outings by knockout, while Grant has never been knocked out with his last two victories also by KO. Something might have to give, and referee Herb Dean is ready to catch the chips that fall where they may. They touch gloves before getting down to business, and Yanez tries to get the fight over early with a huge right hand that whizzes past his target. Grant backs away, chops at the leg a few times, and then goes up higher with a kick. Yanez looks to counter Grant’s kicks, or attempts to check them down low. Yanez walks through a few kicks, and Grant keeps letting go with leg strikes of all direction. The front kicks land flush, and the Brit turns through a kick to spin with a back fist that just misses. An inside leg kick from Grant trips Yanez down to the ground, but Yanez gets up and aims a right hand across the bow. Grant stays composed, but Yanez bears down on him with one to the body and one to the head. Yanez scores a leg kick, and he clips his foe with a left hand. “Dangerous Davey” just misses with a spinning wheel kick, and Yanez blocks a subsequent flying knee so that he can let go with a few punches up top. Body kicks from both feet connect for Grant, and he just misses with a looping left hand. Yanez does not appear concerned and is calmly attempting to counter, with a right hook that is not far from the mark. Grant kicks Yanez in the calf again, causing Yanez to lose his footing, and Yanez gathers himself with a one-two that cuts Grant on the nose. Grant puts a few punches on Yanez, and Yanez slips a spinning wheel kick that comes right after. Grant stands tall and gets nailed with a left and a right, and the Houstonian ducks a punch to nail Grant with a right hand. Grant shakes it off and raises his arms in the air to celebrate a tough scrap, and they stand right in front of one another and bang. When they back away, Grant keeps his distance with reaching front and high kicks. Grant takes a leg kick, and a punch that busts his nose up a little more. The Brit spins with a hook kick to the legs in the vein of Andy Hug, and Yanez shrugs it off so that he can wind up a right hand. Grant swings and misses, and he turns all the way through with a tornado punch after a full rotation. Right after that bounces off Yanez’ shoulder, the round ends.

Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Yanez
Lev Pisarsky scores the round: 10-9 Yanez
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Yanez

Round 2
The bantamweights clap hands before getting right to it, with heavy strikes right out of the gate. Grant backs off to land a low kick, and then a combination of punches follows. Shortly after another kick to the calf from Grant, Yanez snipes him with a right hand but Grant is not fazed. They trade ferociously, and one kick collides with Yanez’ cup, but Yanez does not want to pause. Grant keeps his range with kicks, and he tries to spin with them but Yanez sees them coming. Yanez brushes off punches and kicks, but a scraping finger to the eye makes the American take a break. Dean brings in the doctor, who lets Yanez wipe his own eye out. After a minute to recover and blink it out, they clap hands to start off again. Grant surges forward with a single-leg takedown try immediately, and Yanez stuffs it and even tags Grant with a right hand as they separate. Yanez begins to chop at Grant’s legs with kicks, and they go back to full-throated brawling, with each landing cleanly and not budging. Grant’s nose gets battered even more after absorbing blows, but he does not seem to care as he spins with a back fist and then a follow-up punch with the momentum. Yanez stays composed, but Grant swipes a right hand around the guard right in the face. Yanez scores a one-two, and Grant is right there to answer back. These two bantamweights are not afraid of the other’s power, and they have complete faith in their chins as they are unloading with ferocious strikes. A looping punch leads to a knee, and Grant lands to score a few punches and shake Yanez up a little. The Houstonian wears it well and marches forward to engage, but Grant’s looping shots still find their home on the nose. Grant keeps his hands wide, using awkward striking and the occasional head kick to keep Yanez honest. A few more dangerous shots from “Dangerous Davey” connect right before the bell.

Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Grant
Lev Pisarsky scores the round: 10-9 Yanez
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Grant

Round 3
The gloves get touched to start the last round, and they unload immediately. Grant lands a few kicks, including a head kick that glances off the side of Yanez’ head, and Yanez tries to return fire. Yanez flicks out a jab or two, and Grant still manages to connect with his wild right hand. Grant rushes forward with his sprinting, spinning blow, but Yanez sees it coming and tries to intercept him with a heavy calf kick. Grant checks it, and Yanez marks him up with a one-two. Grant shrugs it off to attack with a flying knee, and he winds up with power punches even as Yanez scores a clean combination right on the face. Yanez sinks in a one-two, and Grant comes back at him with a spinning back kick. Yanez connects with a single right hand, and Grant eats it so that he can chain together a combination of punches and a head kick. Yanez’ strikes are cleaner and crisper, while Grant’s looping punches sound louder. Yanez dings Grant with a few punches, and Grant is right there every time to throw right back at him even as the blood continues to flow. Yanez sticks out a piston-like jab several times to bloody Grant up badly, and Grant is able to still be in his face throwing everything and the kitchen sink. The easiest pick for “Fight of the Night” so far is going down in the cage tonight, and Yanez triples up on a jab only to absorb a flush overhand right. Grant lines up a left hook, and then another, as Yanez tries to defend himself. Yanez continues to batter Grant with a jab, and the jab is disrupting the ridiculous hooks of his opponent. Yanez is able to stick and move, rolling with the telegraphed power punches and letting them hit his shoulder. Yanez lands jab after jab, and Grant lets it go with a leaping kick, a few wild punches, a knee and a couple more punchers for good measure. Yanez stays light on his feet, dodging and weaving from most of them while piercing the guard with his jab. The fight ends with a fun exchange, putting a cap on the best fight on the card so far. When the battle ends, Yanez collapses to the ground in tears, letting out all of his emotions as he mourns his fallen coach Saul Soliz.

Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Yanez (29-28 Yanez)
Lev Pisarsky scores the round: 10-9 Yanez (30-27 Yanez)
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Yanez (29-28 Yanez)

The Official Result
Adrian Yanez def. Davey Grant via Split Decision (27-30, 29-28, 29-28)
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Hesitant picked Nov 17, 2021 (3 days before fight)
Adrian Yañez

Angelo picks Adrian Yañez but is hesitant, noting Davey Grant has a clear path to victory via grappling. He acknowledges Yañez is the cleaner striker with a good chin, but Grant is a grappler at heart who could mix in takedowns. He does not place a bet because he sees value on Grant as a live dog. He expects Yañez to win but not confidently enough to bet.

DraftKings prices: Yañez 9100, Grant 7100; monkey knife fight more/more
"the pick is janez"
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked Nov 16, 2021 (4 days before fight)
Adrian Yañez

Big Brady picks Adrian Yañez to win by third-round knockout. He praises Yañez's striking, speed, and volume, and notes his 100% takedown defense in the UFC. He believes Davey Grant's recent striking success won't work against Yañez, and that Yañez has paths to victory both on the feet and on the ground. He predicts Yañez will be the first to knock out Grant.

win by knockout, third round
"give me adriana's to win by third round knockout i think he does get him out of there and davey grant's never been knocked out but i think that does change here"
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Confident picked Nov 18, 2021 (2 days before fight)
Adrian Yañez

Cody picks Yañez despite the high price. He praises Yañez's crisp boxing and compares him to Jorge Masvidal. He notes that Yañez is a slow starter but takes over as opponents fade, as seen against Randy Costa. He believes Yañez's striking is superior and that Grant is hittable, having been wobbled in recent fights. Cody is concerned about Grant's takedowns and top game, but thinks Yañez's takedown defense will hold up and he will win rounds two and three.

"got to go with giannis do i love the price no no i don't but i agree adrian yanez is the favorite and i'm gonna have to play him"
DA
Daniel Levi Expert Confident picked Nov 18, 2021 (2 days before fight)
Adrian Yañez

Daniel Levi confidently picks Adrian Yañez to knock out Davey Grant. He praises Yañez's clean hands, countering ability, and toughness, noting that he has never been knocked out. He criticizes Grant's chin-up style and wild looping shots, believing Yañez's superior boxing will capitalize on openings. Levi predicts Yañez will be the first to knock out Grant.

knockout
"i think adrian yanez has way better hands than jonathan martinez and i think that adriana's will be able to capitalize on these openings and i think he's going to be the first man in mma history to knock out …"
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Nov 19, 2021 (1 day before fight)
Adrian Yañez

Lock thinks Yañez will be the first to knock out Grant. He notes Grant has never been KO'd but has taken damage, especially in his last fight. Yañez has straight punches and speed advantage, and Lock believes he will counter Grant's looping hooks. He likes Yañez by KO at around -105 rather than the -310 moneyline.

Adrian Yañez by KO -105, Adrian Yañez round 3 +800
"I think yanez is going to be the one that finally puts that never been knocked out argument to rest for davey grant."
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Hesitant picked Nov 18, 2021 (2 days before fight)
Adrian Yañez

Paul likes Yañez's hands but is concerned about the -320 price. He points out that Yañez had a bad first round against Randy Costa, looking gun-shy and overwhelmed by volume. He notes that Davey Grant is tough, has never been knocked out, and brings volume and pressure. Paul thinks Yañez could be a live bet candidate if he starts slow again. He is waiting for weigh-ins before committing fully.

Paul mentions he'll be waiting for weigh-ins and might consider a live bet after round one if Yañez starts slow.
"i think giannis at minus 320 is another one of these favorites that is a little bit too much juice here um i'll be waiting for weigh-ins and stuff"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Nov 15, 2021 (5 days before fight)
Adrian Yañez

The MMA Guru picks Adrian Yañez to win by KO in the first round. He notes that Davey Grant is open to shots, as seen in his fight against Jonathan Martinez where he was dropped. He highlights Yañez's quick hands, reach advantage, and training with Aljamain Sterling, which gives him confidence in grappling defense. He expects Yañez to find his range, land a big shot as Grant loads up, and finish with ground and pound.

first round TKO
"i'm going with adrian yanez here i think he wins this one by ko in the first round"
Davey Grant - Fight History
Decision R3 5:00 · UFC Fight Night: Sterling vs. Zalal · Apr 25, 2026
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Davey Grant 0 162 of 307 52% 164 of 309 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:02
Adrián Luna Martinetti 0 99 of 196 50% 100 of 199 1 of 5 20% 0 0 0:43
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Davey Grant 0 44 of 89 49% 46 of 91 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:02
Adrián Luna Martinetti 0 18 of 41 43% 18 of 41 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:00
2 Davey Grant 0 54 of 105 51% 54 of 105 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Adrián Luna Martinetti 0 38 of 79 48% 38 of 79 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:06
3 Davey Grant 0 64 of 113 56% 64 of 113 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Adrián Luna Martinetti 0 43 of 76 56% 44 of 79 1 of 3 33% 0 0 0:37
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Davey Grant 162 of 307 52% 56 of 183 45 of 59 61 of 65 148 of 289 14 of 18 0 of 0
Adrián Luna Martinetti 99 of 196 50% 48 of 136 37 of 43 14 of 17 91 of 183 8 of 13 0 of 0
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Davey Grant 44 of 89 49% 8 of 46 12 of 17 24 of 26 41 of 86 3 of 3 0 of 0
Adrián Luna Martinetti 18 of 41 43% 6 of 25 7 of 10 5 of 6 18 of 40 0 of 1 0 of 0
2 Davey Grant 54 of 105 51% 18 of 62 15 of 20 21 of 23 50 of 100 4 of 5 0 of 0
Adrián Luna Martinetti 38 of 79 48% 19 of 58 16 of 17 3 of 4 35 of 73 3 of 6 0 of 0
3 Davey Grant 64 of 113 56% 30 of 75 18 of 22 16 of 16 57 of 103 7 of 10 0 of 0
Adrián Luna Martinetti 43 of 76 56% 23 of 53 14 of 16 6 of 7 38 of 70 5 of 6 0 of 0
Play-by-Play
View on Sherdog
Adrian Luna Martinetti vs. Davey Grant
BETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Grant (-120); Luna (+100)

Round 1
Getting a high card placement in his promotional debut, Martinetti (17-1, 0-0 UFC) dazzled in his incredible all-out battle on the Contender Series with Mark Vologdin last year. Whether he will be able to keep that momentum of 15 consecutive victories and a good amount of hype on his side, he will have to go through Grant (17-8, 8-7 UFC) to fully introduce himself to the UFC brass. Referee Chris Tognoni will keep tabs on the bantamweights, stepping back as they touch gloves to get going.
Grant lets loose a nearly calf kick, and he checks one coming back his way. Grant chops at the lead leg a few more times, with Grant ready for checks as he expects retaliation from the Ecuadorian. Grant flicks out his jab and stomps down at the knee with a kick, winging a right hand to the ribs after it. Martinetti is stuck dealing with Grant’s offense to offer much of his own, tossing out three of his own kicks amidst Grant’s accurate swings. Grant knocks Martinetti down with a kick, and he slips a few punches to let go with a right hand. Grant tosses out a head kick, one to the body and dings his foe with a right hand, sliding away from the counter in a hurry. Martinetti keeps after him, landing with a solid uppercut and a low kick. He shrugs at Grant when Grant hurls a right hand that partially lands on the temple. Grant’s kicks are consistent and Martinetti’s movement is keeping him safe from the worst of it. Grant steps in with a right hand, and Martinetti chambers and swings back but does not land nearly as cleanly.
Grant’s calf kick is starting to give the newcomer pause, who has a hitch in his step as he uses a knee shield and freezes when doing so. This allow Grant to let his hands go when Martinetti’s leg is in the air. Martinetti bites down on his mouthpiece to throw leather, and when he ducks down, Grant drills him with a knee on the forehead. Martinetti keeps pushing forward, and Grant is starting to time his movement and flusters the man from Ecuador with his kicks. Grant lands another knee when Martinetti leans over, and when Martinetti skitters back, Grant chops at the lead leg. Martinetti answers back with a spinning back kick, and he shoots for a takedown after that does not score. Grant lands a combination beginning and ending with a calf kick, and Martinetti is unable to find a pattern and just has to swing back with sheer power. Grant is able to dodge them, brushing past a jump knee and watching a swinging kick go past him after Martinetti lands. The round wraps.

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

Round 2
The fighters touch gloves, and within seconds, Grant lashes out with his low kick and a few more kicks after it. Martinetti plods forward, seemingly ignoring the kicks so he can trade vicious leather. He keeps after Grant, pushing the pace and forcing Grant to fight off his back foot, but that does not bother the Brit. Grant is content to crush the front leg with enough kicks to force Martinetti to change stances, and when that happens, he kicks the other leg. A right hand from Martinetti opens a cut on Grant’s temple, who pays it no mind and circles away to drill his foe with a left hand. Grant nearly kicks out the newly placed front leg, and he misses a head kick and recovers it to a side kick. Martinetti rushes ever forward, and Grant deals with the largely single strikes aimed at him to chain two or three together. Martinetti elbows Grant to back him off, and he doubles up with body shots to allow him to close in and shoot for a double. Grant scores a few knees before pushing out of the clinch, flicking punches and kicks out to varied targets with aplomb.
Martinetti keeps pinning shots to the body, but they are largely single swings while Grant strings a few together. Martinetti stays right in front of Grant, taking everything he throws at him in hopes of giving him back power. Martinetti stomps at the knee and spins with a back fist, the swing missing and opening him up to heavy right hand. Martinetti has to blink it out, and Grant targets it with one more and ducks to circle away. Grant stays in the pocket to throw hands, Martinetti scoring to the body while he shells up from the head shots. Martinetti pocket boxes to get off short but solid uppercuts, and Grant breaks his front leg down with kicks to force Martinetti to switch back to orthodox. Fists fly from both sides, with Grant getting slightly pushed back but by no means struggling with the pressure. Grant sinks in a brutal calf kick and beans Martinetti with two hooks, and he raises his hands in the air to celebrate his handiwork. Feeling himself, Grant keeps his hands up and takes a spinning back fist right in the face, laughing at it and encouraging Martinetti to hit him with more. A few more punches from Grant conclude the violent round.

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

Round 3
The fighters lather up those in the building at the Apex to start off the final frame, with Grant immediately scoring with accurate combinations. Martinetti presses towards him and pursues a takedown, backing Grant down to the wall but not grounding him. Grant stays right in front of his foe, consistently striking with anything that comes to mind at that moment. His unpredictability, mixed in with a non-recurring pattern of solid low kicks, irritate Martinetti. Martinetti gathers his thoughts and starts loading up, landing on Grant with a right hand and a body kick. Grant shrugs it off and keeps his guard up to block a sudden flurry of fists. Martinetti spins with a back kick aimed up high that careens off the gloves, and Grant greets him in the proverbial phone booth with elbows and short punches. Martinetti is hellbent for leather, swinging with reckless abandon, while commentator John Gooden remarks that “these two gentlemen woke up and chose violence.” How fitting.
It is all gas, no brakes for these two bantamweights, who trade no matter the damage, pain or impact from any of the numerous blows absorbed thus far. Grant may be leaking from a few spots around his face, but he might not even register the damage as he sits down on a left hand to rock the Ecuadorian. Martinetti’s nostrils spray blood as Grant’s fists meet them again and again, and Martinetti sells out for a low takedown and hits the ankle pick to put Grant on his seat. Grant turns to his knee with the wall at his side, and Martinetti climbs to his back to search for a choke. Grant wills his way upright, and Martinetti drags him right back down. The squirming Brit works his way back to his feet, and the two men decide it’s time to stand and bang. They proceed to duke it out with no fear of reprisal, and Martinetti even tries a Hail Mary rolling thunder kick that Grant dodges but celebrates. They reach the final horn, and celebrate their handiwork, very likely the frontrunners for the $100K “Fight of the Night” bonus that was still quite up for grabs.

Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Grant (30-27 Grant)
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Grant (30-27 Grant)
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Grant (30-27 Grant)

The Official Result
Davey Grant def. Adrian Luna Martinetti via Unanimous Decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Confident picked Apr 19, 2026 (6 days before fight)
Adrián Luna Martinetti

Angelo confidently picks Adrián Luna Martinetti, citing his insane volume, solid chin, and solid takedown defense. He notes that Davey Grant is 40 years old with a poor chin, and expects Martinetti to overwhelm him with strikes. He is surprised the odds are close and has bet on Martinetti.

Angelo says he bet on Martinetti.
"I am going to pick Martinelli. I also bet on Martinetti. His volume is nuts."
BI
Big Brady Expert Lean picked Apr 21, 2026 (4 days before fight)
Davey Grant

Big Brady picks Davey Grant over Adrián Luna Martinetti. He notes Grant's age (40) but sees no decline, citing recent performances. He believes Grant is the better striker and more durable, and expects a competitive fight that Grant wins by decision.

Grant wins by decision
"Give me Davey Grant to win and win by decision here."
DI
Diary of a Pro Gambler Expert Confident picked Apr 25, 2026 (fight day)
Davey Grant

The host believes Grant is a lot better than Martinez, who looked like a basic striker with poor wrestling and cardio in his Contender Series fight. Grant is more experienced, skilled, powerful, and has better cardio despite being 40. He acknowledges the risk of age-related decline but thinks Grant should win comfortably. He will bet Grant.

Not interested in fight spreads or over/under
"I will be betting Davey Grant this weekend because he's a lot better than Adrian Yanez Martinez."
LU
Lucrative James Expert Lean picked Apr 19, 2026 (6 days before fight)
Adrián Luna Martinetti

James picks Martinetti due to his youth (10-year age advantage) and similar high-volume style. He thinks Martinetti's takedowns and durability will outlast Grant, who is 40 and coming off a quick loss. He predicts a decision win.

"I am going to pick Martinetti overall and the reason I'm going to do that is just because of his age."
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Lean picked Apr 21, 2026 (4 days before fight)
Davey Grant

Grant is a pressure fighter with power and a BJJ black belt, but he has been submitted multiple times. Martinetti is an unorthodox striker with good grappling, but his striking defense is suspect. Grant should be able to walk Martinetti down and land big shots, leading to a knockout. However, Martinetti could also land a flashy strike and submit Grant. The fight is expected to be chaotic and finish early.

under 2.5 rounds
"I think Grant probably gets the win. I think he's able to walk Martinetti down, land big shots, maybe get a club and sub of his own, um or even just a straight up knockout."
Submission R1 3:05 · UFC Fight Night: de Ridder vs. Allen · Oct 18, 2025
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Charles Jourdain 1 25 of 43 58% 25 of 43 0 of 0 --- 1 0 0:20
Davey Grant 0 9 of 26 34% 9 of 26 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Charles Jourdain 1 25 of 43 58% 25 of 43 0 of 0 --- 1 0 0:20
Davey Grant 0 9 of 26 34% 9 of 26 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Charles Jourdain 25 of 43 58% 20 of 35 5 of 8 0 of 0 17 of 31 0 of 0 8 of 12
Davey Grant 9 of 26 34% 3 of 14 1 of 3 5 of 9 9 of 26 0 of 0 0 of 0
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Charles Jourdain 25 of 43 58% 20 of 35 5 of 8 0 of 0 17 of 31 0 of 0 8 of 12
Davey Grant 9 of 26 34% 3 of 14 1 of 3 5 of 9 9 of 26 0 of 0 0 of 0
Play-by-Play
View on Sherdog
Davey Grant vs. Charles Jourdain
BETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Jourdain (-170); Grant (+140)

Round 1
Hold onto your hats, because Jourdain (16-8-1, 7-7-1 UFC) and Grant (17-7, 8-6 UFC) are about to trade leather. The bantamweights that tend to put on a show will be officiated by referee Jason Herzog. They opt to bump fists before jacking one another on the jaw.
Grant strides forward, and he catches an oncoming body kick. He releases it and lets fly a clubbing calf kick. Jourdain bounces off the fence and is just out of range from another kick to the midsection. Jourdain tags his man with a one-two, and Grant opens up with his own overhand right. Jourdain times a jump knee as Grant bears down on him, and he misses by a matter of inches. Grant hammers home another low kick, and he blocks a big knee. Jourdain lines up a straight left hand down the middle, and he whiffs on a looping left of his own. Jourdain absorbs a pair of punches and has to bounce on his heels to gets his bearings, and then leaps into action with a head kick and a powerful right hand. Grant grins at him and asks for more, so Jourdain obliges him. Grant throws back hard. Jourdain catches Grant with his jump knee, and Grant is tough but his forehead is split ever so slightly.
Grant calms himself and looses a heavy leg kick, and he gets blasted with another head kick. Jourdain finds the target with his flying knee, and Grant’s nose explodes in a bloody mess and topples to his back in a bad way.
Jourdain leaps on top and hammers the Brit with ground-and-pound, and Grant somehow survives even though his face is quickly transforming into a crimson mask. Grant turns over, and the Canadian sees his opening and snatches up his preferred move of a power guillotine choke. The moment that Jourdain, who has the grip clutched tight as can be, rolls Grant over, Grant taps out as fast as he can.
Even with Herzog getting between them in a timely manner, Grant appears to at least partially go out, as when he stands back up looking like a victim in an 80's slasher film, he finds that he is not quite capable of doing so on his own. The crowd goes ballistic.

The Official Result
Charles Jourdain def. Davey Grant R1 3:05 via Submission (Guillotine Choke)
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Confident picked Oct 17, 2025 (1 day before fight)
Davey Grant

Angelo picks Davey Grant, citing his forward pressure, solid defense, and durability. He notes Charles Jourdain has cleaned up his wild style but may still be exploitable. Grant's age and chin are concerns, but his recent wins over Blackshear and a close fight with Marcos give confidence.

"I'm going to pick Davey Grant here."
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked Oct 17, 2025 (1 day before fight)
Charles Jourdain

Big Brady likes Jourdain fighting at home and thinks the judges favor him. He notes Grant is 39 and father time is undefeated, especially at lower weight classes. He thinks Jourdain is getting Grant at the right time and picks him by decision, though he won't lay -170.

"I got to go with the Jordane side. Give me Charles Jordane to win this fight and win it by decision."
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Confident picked Oct 15, 2025 (3 days before fight)
Charles Jourdain

Cody picks Jourdain, citing his volume and unorthodox striking. He notes Grant doesn't wrestle much, which plays into Jourdain's strengths. Jourdain's takedown defense is a concern, but Grant doesn't shoot. Cody expects Jourdain to win by decision or late stoppage.

"I'm gonna go Charles Jordane on this one. Jump back on team Canada."
CO
Connor Ruebusch Expert Lean picked Oct 17, 2025 (1 day before fight)
Davey Grant

Connor leans toward Davey Grant, citing Grant's consistent toughness, awkwardness, and ability to capitalize on retreating opponents. He notes that Jourdain can drift and have wrong ideas, and that Grant's pressure and durability could cause Jourdain trouble, especially given Jourdain's poor defensive wrestling and tendency to improvise. Connor also mentions the age gap (Grant is 39) but still favors Grant's reliability.

Grant opened at +170, dropped to -110, now +145; Jourdain opened -200, now -170. Connor notes the odds movement and suggests the line is influenced by age.
"I'm kind of leaning Davey Grant in this one."
LU
Lucrative James Expert Lean picked Oct 14, 2025 (4 days before fight)
Charles Jourdain

James finds this a tough fight to call, noting both fighters have struggled with certain styles. He leans toward Jourdain due to his better career trajectory and Grant's age (39). James mentions Jourdain's guillotine threat but expects a close fight.

"I'm going to end up going with Charles Jordane for my official prediction. I feel like his career trajectory is a little bit better than Davy Grant. Davy Grant is 39. At some point, he's going to fall off a …"
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Oct 17, 2025 (1 day before fight)
Charles Jourdain

The host thinks Jourdain's youth, speed, unorthodox striking, and dangerous BJJ will help him chip away at Grant, pull off a desperation takedown, and eventually snatch a submission victory.

win by submission
"I think it's going to be the youth speed, unorthodox striking, and dangerous BJJ game of Davy Grant, which eventually helps him chip away at Grant, pull out a desperation takedown, and eventually lead to Jordane snatching up another submission …"
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Confident picked Oct 15, 2025 (3 days before fight)
Davey Grant

Paul picks Grant, citing his value as a dog. He notes Grant is always game and has good volume. Jourdain's weight cut to 135 is a concern, and Grant can exploit that. Paul plans to bet Grant at plus money.

"you give me plus money on Dave David Grant. I'm not going to waste your time with two months. This is like plus 150."
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Oct 16, 2025 (2 days before fight)
Charles Jourdain

The MMA Guru picks Charles Jourdain over Davey Grant. He initially considered Grant due to his underdog success but believes Jourdain's skills are superior. He notes Jourdain's ability to beat opponents to the punch on the inside and his guillotine threats. He predicts Jourdain will catch Grant with a straight shot and possibly finish by TKO or guillotine, citing Grant's neck surgeries.

TKO or guillotine submission
"I'm going to go with Charles Jourdain getting this one done. And I think he'll chin Davey Grant."
ZA
Zane Simon Expert Lean picked Oct 17, 2025 (1 day before fight)
Davey Grant

Zane agrees with Connor, picking Davey Grant. He emphasizes that Grant is always tough and crafty, and that Jourdain often shows up with the wrong plan or no plan, resorting to wild brawling that doesn't work well. Zane acknowledges that Grant's success can't last forever at 39, but he still expects Grant to deliver.

"Yeah, I think I'm gonna pick Davey Grant here, too."
Decision R3 5:00 · UFC on ABC: Whittaker vs. de Ridder · Jul 26, 2025
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Davey Grant 0 66 of 130 50% 66 of 133 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:19
Da'Mon Blackshear 0 33 of 74 44% 36 of 78 1 of 5 20% 1 0 3:52
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Davey Grant 0 3 of 5 60% 3 of 8 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:19
Da'Mon Blackshear 0 2 of 4 50% 4 of 7 1 of 1 100% 1 0 3:52
2 Davey Grant 0 29 of 57 50% 29 of 57 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Da'Mon Blackshear 0 17 of 33 51% 18 of 34 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:00
3 Davey Grant 0 34 of 68 50% 34 of 68 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Da'Mon Blackshear 0 14 of 37 37% 14 of 37 0 of 3 0% 0 0 0:00
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Davey Grant 66 of 130 50% 17 of 67 27 of 39 22 of 24 65 of 128 1 of 1 0 of 1
Da'Mon Blackshear 33 of 74 44% 12 of 45 7 of 13 14 of 16 31 of 72 1 of 1 1 of 1
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Davey Grant 3 of 5 60% 0 of 1 0 of 0 3 of 4 3 of 4 0 of 0 0 of 1
Da'Mon Blackshear 2 of 4 50% 2 of 4 0 of 0 0 of 0 1 of 3 0 of 0 1 of 1
2 Davey Grant 29 of 57 50% 9 of 31 13 of 19 7 of 7 29 of 57 0 of 0 0 of 0
Da'Mon Blackshear 17 of 33 51% 6 of 17 5 of 9 6 of 7 17 of 33 0 of 0 0 of 0
3 Davey Grant 34 of 68 50% 8 of 35 14 of 20 12 of 13 33 of 67 1 of 1 0 of 0
Da'Mon Blackshear 14 of 37 37% 4 of 24 2 of 4 8 of 9 13 of 36 1 of 1 0 of 0
Play-by-Play
View on Sherdog
Davey Grant vs. Da'Mon Blackshear
BETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Blackshear (-270); Grant (+210)

Round 1
Turning 40 in December, Grant (16-7, 7-6 UFC) knows he may be fast approaching the age cliff, although he did win his last bout. He faces a submission magician in Blackshear (17-7-1, 5-3-1 UFC) nearly a decade his junior, which might not be in his best interest as “Dangerous Davey” posts more losses by sub than any other method. With three rounds to work, the bantamweights meet in the middle with no plan on bumping fists, and referee Jason Herzog will take it from there.
Grant opens up with wide low kicks to the thigh, hoping to keep an arc on them that would dissuade an early takedown effort. He goes after the longer legs of Blackshear a few times on the inside and out, and Blackshear still manages to pursue a takedown and hit it. Grant scoots his way to put his back to the fence, and he uses his legs to try to post off and gets some space from “Da Monster.” Grant gets to a knee, and Blackshear welcomes this as he hops to the side and slides a hook in. Blackshear sneaks his leg around the other side, and he follows a turning Grant until he can secure both hooks.
Blackshear does not set up a body triangle, instead retaining control while thwarting attempts to buck and escape. Grant turns over and finds himself in submission danger, as Blackshear grips hold of what turns into a face and neck crank rather than a textbook rear-naked choke. Grant toughs it out and tries to get out of the back take, only for Blackshear to turn to the proper direction to isolate the Brit’s left arm for a potential armbar. Grant stays heavy on his opponent to not allow Blackshear to extend a limb, and he explodes just enough to wrench his arm out of danger. Grant rains down a couple left hands and an elbow as the round concludes.

Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Blackshear
Chris Laporte scores the round: 10-9 Blackshear
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Blackshear

Round 2
Grant takes to the center of the cage to start the round, walking down the grappler and punching him a couple times in the stomach. Grant’s blitz forces Blackshear to ricochet off the wire, and he digs a kick to the ribs. Grant doubles up on a jab and follows with an overhand right that is parried, but his jab to the midsection does connect. They back off to disengage for a time, reaching one another with single low kicks but little else. Grant turns his hips into a thumping kick to the lead leg, and Blackshear drives him away with an overhand right. Grant plants punches to the midsection, a left to the dome and a head kick on the other side to keep Blackshear guessing.
Blackshear rebounds off the wire but has become target practice at this point, with little offense offered on his side other than the occasional kick. Grant times a shot by catching Blackshear with an uppercut, and he gets his foe’s attention with a string of punches to follow. Blackshear nods at him, and he wades forward trying to mask a takedown setup with punches that he does not let fly. Both men land hard punches, but Grant’s are far heavier and knock Blackshear back a step or two when he lands flush. Blackshear circles on the outside offering a body kick and keeping his guard up to block a series of punches and a high kick, the similar combination to earlier. Blackshear goes for body kicks, and Grant peppers him with punches and a low kick that makes Blackshear evaluate his footing. As Grant spams high kicks, the horn sounds.

Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Grant
Chris Laporte scores the round: 10-9 Grant
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Grant

Round 3
The bantamweights reach the final frame, and Blackshear says hello again with a calf kick. Grant misses his counter, and Blackshear jabs him up and opens a cut on the bridge of his foe’s nose. Grant is putting a lot of mustard behind his swings, including two concussive blows that make Blackshear bounce off the fencing. Blackshear responds with kicks, but Grant’s fists are having an impact as Blackshear reacts poorly when struck. Grant keeps his man guessing with mixed up punches and kicks to varied targets, like a calf kick to a body shot to a high kick upstairs in rapid succession.
Blackshear targets the wounded spot on his opponent’s forehead to set up a takedown, and Grant’s defense holds up as he clubs “Da Monster” in the jaw with a right hand after stopping the shot. Blackshear goes to his knees for a double, and Grant once more tosses it aside and hurls a right hand at his foe. Blackshear tries to intercept the hard-charging Brit with a knee, and Grant avoids it and starts hammering the front leg with kicks as Blackshear is starting to limp. The kicks from Grant are so powerful that getting checked splits his shin open, as blood flows down his foot to leave partial scarlet footprints around the Octagon. This does not slow him from pitching kicks one second, as he keeps beating on the taller man’s front leg until Blackshear switches stances. When this happens, Grant starts kicking the other leg, and he stops a takedown in its tracks and holds back on firing off a knee that would have been illegal. He lets Blackshear stand, marching him down and hurling right hands at him. Blackshear blocks the worst of them, evading the final strikes as the match comes to a close.

Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Grant (29-28 Grant)
Chris Laporte scores the round: 10-9 Grant (29-28 Grant)
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Grant (29-28 Grant)

The Official Result
Davey Grant def. Da'Mon Blackshear via Unanimous Decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Confident picked Jul 20, 2025 (6 days before fight)
Da'Mon Blackshear

Angelo picks Da'Mon Blackshear, stating he wins 7 out of 10 times. He notes Blackshear's athletic striking, speed, power, and grappling, but worries about his hesitancy. Davey Grant is old, chinny, but relentless with volume. Angelo likely will bet on Blackshear but wishes he knew Blackshear would let his hands go.

Likely will bet on Blackshear
"Dean Blackshere is going to be the pick and I'm gonna pick him. I likely have a bet on him at some point this week."
BI
Big Brady Expert Hesitant picked Jul 22, 2025 (4 days before fight)
Da'Mon Blackshear

Big Brady picks Da'Mon Blackshear but with hesitation, noting Blackshear has not wrestled in his last four fights despite having a huge grappling advantage. He believes if Blackshear grapples, he will win easily via submission, but if he strikes, he could lose to Grant's awkward volume and power. He predicts a first-round submission.

first round submission
"I got to go Blackshere just because it's like so clear. ... I think he finishes Davy Grant in the very first round by submission."
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Jul 23, 2025 (3 days before fight)
Da'Mon Blackshear

Blackshear should be able to chip away at Grant from distance, mix in takedowns, and ultimately lock up a submission to force the tap.

submission
"I believe Blackshere should be able to chip away at Grant from distance, maybe even mix in a few takedowns, but I ultimately think it leads to Blackshire locking up a submission and forcing the tap from Davy Grant."
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Jul 24, 2025 (2 days before fight)
Da'Mon Blackshear

The MMA Guru picks Da'Mon Blackshear over Davey Grant, citing Blackshear's underrated submission and grappling game, and his composed performance against Eli Alateng. He worries Grant may have declined after neck surgery and time off. He predicts a second-round finish by submission or TKO after a wild first round.

Finish, round 2
"I'm gonna take Deon Blackshere to get this one done by finish. Submission TKO. Second round finish for Deon Blackshere."
CANCEL vs Daniel Santos
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Confident picked Mar 30, 2025 (6 days before fight)
Davey Grant

Angelo describes Davey Grant as an awkward fighter who wins fights despite looking like he's losing, with good fight IQ and the ability to survive early storms. He notes Daniel Santos is a typical Chute Boxe fighter with explosive power but no striking defense and poor takedown defense. Angelo predicts Grant will survive an early onslaught, then grind Santos against the cage and win rounds two and three. He considers waiting for prop bets but is confident Grant pulls it off.

"I'm gonna pick daav Grant he's the type of guy that wins fights but looks like he's losing."
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked Apr 1, 2025 (4 days before fight)
Davey Grant

Big Brady picks the underdog Davey Grant, noting Santos's long layoff and hittability. He believes Grant has improved with age, has better accuracy, and an awkward style. He expects a close fight but sees Grant winning a decision, possibly a split.

"give me the dog here and Davy grant to get to get it done by decision"
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Apr 3, 2025 (2 days before fight)
Davey Grant

Despite being 39, Grant has recently showcased he can still compete against young prospects. He is expected to engage in a pocket exchange and uncork a big shot to knock Santos out.

knockout
"even though Grant is 39 years old he has recently showcased that he can still go out there and compete against young prospects and I expect him to do so once again here against Daniel Santos as he engages in …"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Apr 3, 2025 (2 days before fight)
Davey Grant

The Guru is very confident in Davey Grant, calling him a phenom who defies aging logic. He praises Grant's speed, power, long limbs, and snappy kicks, and believes he will TKO Daniel Santos. He notes Grant's win over Jonathan Martinez as a fraud check and thinks Grant's high-volume, Muay Thai style will overwhelm Santos, leading to a finish or dominant decision.

Davey Grant wins by TKO inside the distance
"Davy Grant is an absolute phenom and he is defying the aging logic of bantamweights. He takes out Daniel Santos by TKO in this fight."
WIN vs Ramon Taveras
Decision (unanimous) (29–28, 30–27, 30–27) R3 5:00 · UFC on ESPN: Covington vs. Buckley · Dec 14, 2024
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Davey Grant 0 147 of 290 50% 147 of 290 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:00
Ramon Taveras 0 69 of 156 44% 69 of 156 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Davey Grant 0 39 of 72 54% 39 of 72 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Ramon Taveras 0 12 of 34 35% 12 of 34 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
2 Davey Grant 0 45 of 89 50% 45 of 89 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:00
Ramon Taveras 0 25 of 49 51% 25 of 49 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
3 Davey Grant 0 63 of 129 48% 63 of 129 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Ramon Taveras 0 32 of 73 43% 32 of 73 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Davey Grant 147 of 290 50% 50 of 158 42 of 67 55 of 65 147 of 290 0 of 0 0 of 0
Ramon Taveras 69 of 156 44% 63 of 149 5 of 6 1 of 1 67 of 152 2 of 3 0 of 1
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Davey Grant 39 of 72 54% 5 of 28 15 of 22 19 of 22 39 of 72 0 of 0 0 of 0
Ramon Taveras 12 of 34 35% 10 of 32 2 of 2 0 of 0 12 of 34 0 of 0 0 of 0
2 Davey Grant 45 of 89 50% 16 of 46 12 of 22 17 of 21 45 of 89 0 of 0 0 of 0
Ramon Taveras 25 of 49 51% 23 of 47 1 of 1 1 of 1 23 of 45 2 of 3 0 of 1
3 Davey Grant 63 of 129 48% 29 of 84 15 of 23 19 of 22 63 of 129 0 of 0 0 of 0
Ramon Taveras 32 of 73 43% 30 of 70 2 of 3 0 of 0 32 of 73 0 of 0 0 of 0
Play-by-Play
View on Sherdog
Davey Grant vs. Ramon Taveras
BETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Taveras (-130), Grant (+110)

Round 1
The bantamweight fight will be overseen by Keith Peterson. Grant lands a solid leg kick to start. Taveras takes the center of the Octagon. A nice straight right lands for Taveras, who is timing it well as Grant comes in. Grant is finding distance with his kicks. Grant is staying on the outside and throwing side kicks. Nice right hand from Grant to the body. A body kick from Grant slaps into the side of Taveras. Grant is the much more active fighter so far. A sneaky right hand lands for Grant, who then lands a head kick. Taveras eats two leg kicks but throws a nice straight left. A low blow lands for Grant, so Taveras will take time to recover. The fight restarts with under two minutes left. Nice side kick from Grant. Taveras avoids a big right hand and is able to counter with some hooks. A night left for Taveras, who is starting to find his distance. Grant still finding success with leg kicks. Grant misses a spinning kick. A nice combination of hooks land for Grant, who misses a spinning back fist as the round ends.

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

Round 2
Taveras takes the center of the cage again but comes up short trying to fire punches back at Grant, who continues to land kicks at range. Grant gets clipped by a big left hand from Taveras, who allows his opponent to get back up. Grant still looks rocked, but Taveras isn't rushing. Grant seems to have recovered but isn't nearly as confident. Taveras is loading up on big shots as an overhand left misses. A head kick for Grant is blocked. Grant falls after attempting a spin kick but gets back up without taking much damage. Taveras is once again failing to do much in terms of output. Big left hook comes up short for Taveras. Grant lands a big swinging right hook of his own. Several kicks land for Grant. Big hooks land for Grant as Taveras shows how good his chin is. Taveras avoids a spinning back fist but is being outstruck here despite the big moment early on. Grant doing a good job of following up his punches with kicks. The round ends with Grant swinging wildly with hooks and then landing a kick to the shin.

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

Round 3
Taveras eats a big right hook to start the final round. Grant was told not to spin by his coaches between rounds and has been following their direction. Taveras is finding his distance and landing a nice jab. Grant gets busier and hurts Taveras with a left hook. Grant is once again staying busier. Nice body kick lands for Grant, who follows it up with hooks. Grant's pace is really impressive to be getting busier in the third round. Grant lands a nice leg kick and is throwing hard to the body. Two minutes left. Taveras is defending well but needs to be landing. A big right straight lands for Grant, who stuns Taveras late. Really strong performance from Grant, who has really separated himself from Taveras as a far more varied and better striker. One minute left, and Taveras needs something big. Taveras is looking for a big shot but not throwing. Grant eats a right hand but comes back with several punches of his own. Taveras is swinging wildly in the last 20 seconds but most aren't connecting. The fight ends with Grant jabbing his way to what will be a clear-cut decision.

Sherdog Scores
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Grant (30-27 Grant)
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Grant (30-27 Grant)
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Grant (30-27 Grant)

The Official Result
Davey Grant def. Ramon Taveras via Unanimous Decision (29-28, 30-27, 30-27); R3, 5:00.
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Confident picked Dec 8, 2024 (6 days before fight)
Ramon Taveras

Angelo picks Taveras due to his power and hand speed, which he believes will be too much for the aging Davey Grant. He notes Grant's blind forward pressure and lack of output, while Taveras is a powerful southpaw striker with good takedown defense. He expects Taveras to look good despite the experience gap.

"Ramon's power and hand speed are going to be big issues for the guy... Ramon Taris is going to be the pick and frankly you're going to get some decent value on him."
BI
Big Brady Expert Hesitant picked Dec 12, 2024 (2 days before fight)
Ramon Taveras

Big Brady picks Ramon Taveras to win by decision, but is hesitant due to concerns about Grant's neck surgery and long layoff. He notes Taveras has heavy hands and has knocked down opponents in almost every fight, but worries about Taveras's chin. He originally leaned Grant but flipped after learning about Grant's neck surgery and age (39). He thinks Grant might look like a shell of himself.

"I'm going to go with the younger guy in tares I think he could potentially knock out David Grant but at the very least I think he is going to drop him"
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Confident picked Dec 11, 2024 (3 days before fight)
Davey Grant

Cody picks Davey Grant, citing his experience, durability, and well-rounded skills. He notes that Taveras is a one-round fighter who gasses, and Grant's volume and pressure will overwhelm him. Cody believes Grant's grappling and striking are superior, and he expects a finish or clear decision.

"I got DAV Grant I got daav Grant but what could possibly go wrong."
CO
Connor Ruebusch Expert Confident picked Dec 13, 2024 (1 day before fight)
Davey Grant

Connor also picks Grant, emphasizing that Grant's game makes sense despite his poor technique, and that he has a good understanding of tempo and momentum. He notes that Taveras is a fighter who backs up against the cage and throws counter combinations, leaving himself open. Until Grant shows signs of decline, Connor will pick him over a fighter like Taveras.

"Until I see some evidence that Grant is really slid, which I have yet to see it yet, then I'm always gonna pick him over a guy like Ramon Tavares."
DA
Daniel Vreeland Expert Confident picked Dec 12, 2024 (2 days before fight)
Ramon Taveras

Daniel Vreeland picks Ramon Taveras, citing his fast hands and boxing skills for MMA. He notes Davey Grant is coming off neck surgery at 39, and Taveras is nearly 10 years younger. Vreeland believes Taveras could knock out Grant, though he acknowledges Grant's calf kicks could be a factor. He expects a banger and leans toward the younger fighter.

"I think Ramon Tas might actually come out here and sleep the Beloved Davy Grant"
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Dec 12, 2024 (2 days before fight)
Davey Grant

Grant's strength of schedule, durability, and cardio advantage will allow him to land big shots on Ramon Taveras, leading to a knockout victory. The public has been backing Grant this week, which aligns with the pick.

wins by KO
"I believe his strength of schedule durability and cardio Advantage will all him to allow him to land big enough shots against Ramon tarez here and I believe that will eventually leave to a knockout victory for the veteran"
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Confident picked Dec 11, 2024 (3 days before fight)
Davey Grant

Paul picks Davey Grant, citing his experience and ability to go toe-to-toe with top fighters. He notes that Taveras is untested and Grant's submission skills could be a factor. Paul expects Grant to win, possibly by submission.

"I wouldn't be completely shocked if DAV Grant goes out there is able to find a submission."
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Dec 11, 2024 (3 days before fight)
Davey Grant

The MMA Guru picks Davey Grant, citing his history as a tricky underdog who has been competitive against tough opponents. He believes Grant's leg kicks and body work will keep Taveras at bay, and notes that Taveras is a flat-footed boxer who has been finished before. He acknowledges Grant's recent neck surgery and age (38) but dismisses those as reasons to bet against him, stating that Taveras is not a dangerous enough prospect to beat Grant.

"I'm going to go with Dave Grant plus I think ramont ves's big chances to get a KO and dve Grant's never been ko'ed in the UF and he's been around for a long time"
ZA
Zane Simon Expert Confident picked Dec 13, 2024 (1 day before fight)
Davey Grant

Zane picks Grant confidently, describing him as a legitimate technical brawler with a great feel for fighting, despite his ugly technique. He notes that Grant has given tough fights to better strikers like Adrian Yanez and Daniel Marcos, while Taveras has a record built on beating low-level competition and barely beat Serhiy Sidey. Zane sees this as a levels matchup where Grant should win by knockout.

Grant opened at +119, now -107; Taveras opened at -134, now -104. Zane says the odds are dead even but he sees it as a clear mismatch.
"Davy Grant should should pants him he should march Davy Grant is legitimately good. Should knock him out real really? This just looks like a levels matchup to me."
LOSS vs Daniel Marcos
Decision (split) (28–29, 29–28, 29–28) R3 5:00 · UFC Fight Night: Aspinall vs. Tybura · Jul 22, 2023
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Daniel Marcos 0 70 of 215 32% 70 of 215 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:06
Davey Grant 0 48 of 140 34% 49 of 141 1 of 1 100% 0 0 0:13
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Daniel Marcos 0 16 of 49 32% 16 of 49 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Davey Grant 0 13 of 35 37% 13 of 35 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
2 Daniel Marcos 0 26 of 75 34% 26 of 75 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Davey Grant 0 15 of 51 29% 15 of 51 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
3 Daniel Marcos 0 28 of 91 30% 28 of 91 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:06
Davey Grant 0 20 of 54 37% 21 of 55 1 of 1 100% 0 0 0:13
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Daniel Marcos 70 of 215 32% 17 of 127 27 of 55 26 of 33 70 of 213 0 of 2 0 of 0
Davey Grant 48 of 140 34% 21 of 90 6 of 24 21 of 26 47 of 139 1 of 1 0 of 0
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Daniel Marcos 16 of 49 32% 1 of 28 7 of 10 8 of 11 16 of 49 0 of 0 0 of 0
Davey Grant 13 of 35 37% 1 of 15 2 of 8 10 of 12 13 of 35 0 of 0 0 of 0
2 Daniel Marcos 26 of 75 34% 9 of 48 8 of 15 9 of 12 26 of 75 0 of 0 0 of 0
Davey Grant 15 of 51 29% 4 of 33 3 of 8 8 of 10 14 of 50 1 of 1 0 of 0
3 Daniel Marcos 28 of 91 30% 7 of 51 12 of 30 9 of 10 28 of 89 0 of 2 0 of 0
Davey Grant 20 of 54 37% 16 of 42 1 of 8 3 of 4 20 of 54 0 of 0 0 of 0
Play-by-Play
View on Sherdog
Davey Grant vs. Daniel Marcos
BETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Marcos (-140), Grant (+120)

Round 1
In the one corner, “Dangerous Davey” Grant (15-6, 6-5 UFC) stands firm, ready to represent his home country. In the other, lead-fisted and lead-kneed Peruvian Marcos (14-0, 1-0 UFC) puts his unblemished record on the line. Grant has only been defeated in the past via submission, while Marcos has never before forced a foe to tap out. Something’s gotta give in this newly minted bantamweight main card opener that could be a banger, and it begins with a glove touch. Referee Marc Goddard adjusts his gloves, pulls up his pants and sits back to observed the proceedings, and The two fighters come out to the middle of the cage to engage, and Grant goes first with a heavy leg kick. Grant walks down Marcos and kicks on the inside, and he throws one more to the outer calf. Marcos replies with one that sends Grant off-balance, but the Brit adjusts himself and continues coming forward. Grant pushes out a front kick, and he wings a right hand that slides off the top of the guard to bounce off Marcos’ temple. Marcos shrugs at him and kicks so hard on the calf that he takes Grant off his feet. Grant jumps back up and rips a kick to the ribs, and he checks a kick that comes his way. Grant turns an uppercut into a spinning back fist, and Marcos dances out of the way and keeps his guard up high to stop another strike from getting through. Grant comes out swinging, throwing a right hook that puts himself off-balance, and Marcos does not capitalize on it but is able to eat up Grant’s calf with another kick. Grant strides in with a side kick, and he jumps forward with a stomping kick to the knee. The unbeaten fighter ducks down and absorbs a side kick, and Grant then plants the ball of his foot on the chest to follow. Grant snipes out a left hook when Marcos advances, and he jumps forward with a knee that glances off his intended target. Grant counters a leg kick with a clean right hand, and he kicks the body and backs off when Marcos throws hands. Marcos walks “Dangerous Davey” down and kicks him in the chest, and Grant is able to time a right hand when Marcos loads up. Grant sweeps the leg as he comes forward, and he chains a calf kick into a head kick with the same leg. Marcos gives a body kick back, only for Grant to defend against it. Marcos reaches his man with a right hook, and Grant spins with a wheel kick that ricochets off the chest of his foe. Marcos rubs his chest, and the round ends.

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

Round 2
The 135ers bump fists before getting after it, and Grant spurs into action in a hurry with several kicks to multiple targets. Grant sprints and pulls back to draw a reaction, and he does this to clip Marcos with a short left hook. Grant aims a right hand when Marcos rushes at him with a jump knee, and Grant scampers away before it reaches him. Grant kicks the side and goes with a hook kick up high, and they proceed to throw fists at the same time. Marcos catches Grant with a solid right hand, and Grant gathers his thoughts and chips at the lead wheel of his foe. Grant punches his way into a combination that ends with a low kick, and he misses with a wheel kick as Marcos backs off. Grant nails a leg kick and wings a right hook over the top, and Marcos ignores it and tries to counter with a right hand. A few jabs from the Peruvian fighter have bloodied Grant’s nose up, and Grant pays it no mind as his offense is still as active as ever. Grant strings three hooks together and pushes off the chest with the ball of his foot when Marcos attempts to reply. Marcos swings as hard as he can with a right hand, and Grant ducks and nails Marcos with a front kick on the chin. Grant swings a high kick that grazes off the red hair of his opponent, and Marcos responds with two punches and a step-in kick that splits the uprights and slams square into Grant’s cup. Grant grimaces and bends over as Goddard calls time, and Grant tells Goddard he is good to go after about 45 seconds off. When restarting, Marcos offers an apologetic glove touch. Grant gets going again with a huge right hand, and he watches Marcos comes towards him and raise up a hook kick. Grant plants his shin on the lower calf of “Soncora,” and he steps in with an elbow. Grant trips on Marcos’ leg when spinning with a strike, and Marcos’ jabs are starting to bloody Grant up further. “Dangerous Davey” plants a dangerous right hand on the nose, and Marcos shakes his head and defends against the standing hook kick. Grant lets go with several punches and a side kick, and he gives chase as Marcos backpedals. The round ends with the lower part of Grant’s face covered in blood.

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

Round 3
Grant nods and winks at Marcos to lead off the last round, and the two hug it out before getting down to business. Marcos strikes first with a calf kick, and Grant strides forward and lets go with a spinning wheel kick. It only takes a jab or two from Marcos to bust up Grant’s nose again. Grant absorbs a jab and goes forward into a takedown. The unbeaten fighter stands him up, and the two fighters stand in the pocket and trade. Marcos backs off first, and Grant follows him down with a head kick, a front kick and a right hand. Grant puts three fists on Marcos before Marcos is able to land one. Marcos, out of nowhere, jumps at his man with a knee, and Grant takes it flush and keeps coming ever forward. Marcos waves his arms around, and Grant comes at him with a knee. Marcos swats him aside and strafes on the outside, and it is up to Grant to initiate the offense. Grant spins with a back fist, and then keeps spinning to throw other strikes. Marcos nods approvingly from the strikes, and he keeps backing off as Grant is pushing the pace. Grant walks through jabs to swing with far harder strikes, and one such blow comes in the form of a right to the body. Marcos jabs up his man, and Grant unloads with a right hand that bounces off the shoulder. Grant walks Marcos down, getting in a leg kick and a right hand, and Marcos tries to reply with a left hook that only slightly connects. Grant ducks a flailing fist to come in and land a straight right to the body, and a subsequent kick makes Marcos drops his guard and back off. Grant jumps with a knee, and when he misses and lands, Marcos greets him with a stern right hand down the pipe. Grant doggedly pursues his opponent, throwing everything and the kitchen sink at him. Marcos times a takedown out of nowhere, hitting it with ease. Grant frantically works his way up with the fence behind him, and he separates. Grant spins with a wheel kick that bounces off the shoulder, and he raise his arm to draw Marcos into a final brawl. Grant spams any kind of kick he can think of, all while Marcos backs away, until time expires.

Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Grant (30-27 Grant)
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Grant (30-27 Grant)
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Grant (30-27 Grant)

The Official Result
Daniel Marcos def. Davey Grant via Split Decision (28-29, 29-28, 29-28)
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Confident picked Jul 16, 2023 (6 days before fight)
Daniel Marcos

Angelo is very confident in Daniel Marcos, believing the odds are incredible value. He thinks Davey Grant is chinny and if he can't get a takedown (which he hasn't since 2021), he will get lit up on the feet. He has a half-unit bet at -121 and calls it some of the best value on the card.

half unit bet at -121
"I'm confident Daniel Marcos I have a half a unit on him at minus 121 And I genuinely think as of right now this minute at that 121 line that's some of the best value you're going to get on …"
BI
Big Brady Expert Lean picked Jul 18, 2023 (4 days before fight)
Daniel Marcos

Big Brady picks Daniel Marcos by decision. He likes Marcos' striking and volume, and thinks he can outwork Grant over 15 minutes. He notes Grant is durable and has power, but Marcos is younger and has upside. He is concerned about Marcos' chin not being tested. He thinks it will be close but Marcos' volume and youth give him the edge.

by decision
"give me Marcos to win this fight by decision I think it is close I think it is competitive but I like a striking I like his volume"
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Confident picked Jul 19, 2023 (3 days before fight)
Davey Grant

Cody picks Grant, questioning Marcos's hype. He notes Grant has fought tougher competition (Vera, Yanez) and is a gatekeeper. He thinks the line is an overreaction to Marcos's win over Oliveira. He sees Grant as a live dog.

"Davey Grant will be my pick here"
DA
Daniel Levi Expert Lean picked Jul 20, 2023 (2 days before fight)
Daniel Marcos

Daniel picks Daniel Marcos, calling him the best Peruvian prospect ever and praising his professional approach, training in Florida, and high-tech recovery. He thinks Marcos's pressure and intensity make opponents fight uncharacteristically, as seen in the Simon Oliveira fight. He acknowledges Davey Grant's toughness and experience but believes Marcos is catching him at the right time. However, he is not willing to lay -140 and says he would be interested if the price drops to around -115. He passes on betting but picks Marcos to win.

Daniel says he is not willing to lay -140 and would be interested if the price drops 25 cents. He picks Marcos but does not bet.
"I'm just not willing to lay the chalk at minus 140 to find out"
LU
Lucrative James Expert Confident picked Jul 18, 2023 (4 days before fight)
Daniel Marcos

James picks Daniel Marcos to win. He thinks Marcos is a better striker than Grant, with cleaner technique and better footwork. He believes Marcos can play the range game and punish Grant with straight shots. James notes that Grant is older and may be slowing down, while Marcos is on an upward trajectory. He acknowledges that this is a step up in competition for Marcos and that Grant has knockout power, but he favors Marcos's skills and potential.

"I like Marcos in this spot um I bet on Marcos before at an underdog price"
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Jul 17, 2023 (5 days before fight)
Daniel Marcos

The host picks Daniel Marcos, believing his overall game, output, grappling, and calf kicks will neutralize Grant's power. He expects Marcos to withstand Grant's early power and win by decision. He notes it's a stiff test but thinks Marcos passes.

"give me Marcos by decision but again big spot for him in Grants you know neck of the woods let's see if he shows up I think he does and I think he wins by decision"
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Lean picked Jul 19, 2023 (3 days before fight)
Daniel Marcos

Paul leans toward Marcos, noting his undefeated record and willingness to engage. He thinks Marcos can outwork Grant, though Grant has power and grappling advantages. He is not fully confident and calls it a dog or pass.

"I feel like I'm leaning towards him if if I had to just chalk it up to a dog or pass situation"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Jul 17, 2023 (5 days before fight)
Davey Grant

The MMA Guru picks Davey Grant, initially considering Daniel Marcos but ultimately favoring Grant's experience and power. He notes Grant's win over Aiemann Zahabi is underrated and that Marcos was timid in his fight against Simon Oliveira. The Guru believes Grant's size, power, and front kicks will overwhelm Marcos, and predicts a KO win in a scrap against the cage.

KO
"I'm gonna go Davey Grant here a little bit more damaging"
Technical Submission (inverted triangle choke) R3 4:43 · UFC Fight Night: Yan vs. Dvalishvili · Mar 11, 2023
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Davey Grant 0 42 of 58 72% 67 of 85 5 of 12 41% 0 0 4:17
Raphael Assunção 1 65 of 138 47% 80 of 154 0 of 0 --- 1 0 0:52
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Davey Grant 0 13 of 19 68% 23 of 31 1 of 1 100% 0 0 1:46
Raphael Assunção 0 20 of 39 51% 20 of 39 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
2 Davey Grant 0 16 of 20 80% 27 of 31 2 of 4 50% 0 0 1:38
Raphael Assunção 0 20 of 44 45% 22 of 46 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
3 Davey Grant 0 13 of 19 68% 17 of 23 2 of 7 28% 0 0 0:53
Raphael Assunção 1 25 of 55 45% 38 of 69 0 of 0 --- 1 0 0:52
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Davey Grant 42 of 58 72% 16 of 29 8 of 8 18 of 21 38 of 53 3 of 4 1 of 1
Raphael Assunção 65 of 138 47% 28 of 91 18 of 28 19 of 19 59 of 132 4 of 4 2 of 2
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Davey Grant 13 of 19 68% 4 of 8 2 of 2 7 of 9 12 of 18 0 of 0 1 of 1
Raphael Assunção 20 of 39 51% 5 of 21 7 of 10 8 of 8 20 of 39 0 of 0 0 of 0
2 Davey Grant 16 of 20 80% 4 of 8 4 of 4 8 of 8 14 of 17 2 of 3 0 of 0
Raphael Assunção 20 of 44 45% 6 of 25 4 of 9 10 of 10 18 of 42 2 of 2 0 of 0
3 Davey Grant 13 of 19 68% 8 of 13 2 of 2 3 of 4 12 of 18 1 of 1 0 of 0
Raphael Assunção 25 of 55 45% 17 of 45 7 of 9 1 of 1 21 of 51 2 of 2 2 of 2
Play-by-Play
View on Sherdog
Raphael Assuncao vs. Davey Grant
BETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Grant (-140), Assuncao (+120)

Round 1
One of the more underrated bantamweight greats might be entering the final fight of his storied career, as longtime Brazilian contender Assuncao (28-9, 12-6 UFC) is a few months away from his 41st birthday. He battles .500 UFC fighter Grant (14-6, 5-5 UFC), who posts an 86% finish rate and generally lives up to his “Dangerous” nickname. The match will be officiated by nonsense-allergic referee Keith Peterson, and the two fighters opt to clap hands. Assuncao moves to the center of the cage briefly, and they clash legs early. As Assuncao pushes back, Grant does the same, and fingers rake eyes. Grant offers an apology, and they resume nailing one another on the legs. Assuncao sits down on a booming right hand, wrapping his arm just around the head and not connecting with it. Grant boots his foe in the body, and Assuncao catches it and scores a right hand to put Grant on his back. Assuncao whips an elbow down, and Grant threatens with a triangle choke that the Brazilian sees coming from a mile away. Grant scoots to the wall on his backside, and Assuncao follows him from behind and slides his left arm around the chest in hopes of setting up a rear-naked choke. Assuncao releases the arm so that he can punch Grant in the side of the head repeatedly, all while Grant tries and fails to scramble away. Grant stands back up despite Assuncao’s arm around his neck, and he spins around and shoves his man back to get space. Grant, with distance to strike, does just that with a front kick. Grant goes to the body and tries to swing a left hand over the top, but Assuncao intercepts him with a push kick. Grant scores a right hand after regaining his balance, and he switches stances right into a right hook in response. Assuncao lets go with a few punches on the inside, and he ducks back and blocks a head kick. Grant darts forward with a few punches, sneaking them in and evading the counters. Assuncao measures a right hand, and he signals to Peterson that the two clashed heads. Grant spins with a wheel kick that just misses, and Assuncao ducks a few leaping punches to clinch up and push Grant to the wire. The Brazilian lands a few knees to the thigh before breaking off with a right hand. Grant winds up with a right hook, landing it a second before the bell.

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

Round 2
The respect is high to start off the second round, as the two gladly high-five to get going again. They trade body kicks, and Assuncao leans back to dodge a spinning wheel kick. Assuncao checks a low kick, and he tries to engage but gets popped with an overhand right. Assuncao chips at the calf of his opponent, while checking those that come back to his lead wheel. Assuncao grabs hold of a single, ducking a punch from his opponent, and he is stood up before securing it. Assuncao does land a right hand on the break, and they reset. The two land lefts at the same time, and Grant goes high with a kick that whizzes past his foe’s face. Grant throws a naked leg kick, and Assuncao counters with an emphatic right hand that makes Grant turn about. Grant steps in to release a spinning back elbow, and Assuncao blocks the worst of it and fires off a low kick. Grant kicks high and low, and the Brazilian swats them away without much concern. Assuncao looses a head kick, and he backs off as Grant walks him down and wings right hooks. Grant lunges forward, and his only strike that lands is a low kick. Grant gets a little too reckless, getting countered on the way in, and he finds himself getting grabbed by the veteran. Grant is warned for grabbing the fence to prevent the takedown, and Assuncao still drags him to his knees despite the foul. Grant fights his way back to his feet, but Assuncao has his arm around Grant’s waist with his legs intertwined for a trip. Grant looks to counter Assuncao with a trip, only to get thrown down once more. Assuncao gets a hook in as he takes the back, and Grant defends himself from anything else until the bell rings.

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

Round 3
The last round opens with a glove touch, and then the two throw hands. Both fighters connect with clean overhand rights, and they back off to measure one another. Assuncao beats the Brit to the punch with another right over the top, and Grant tries and fails to reach him back. As Grant advances, Assuncao kicks at his lead leg, which changes as Grant switches stances a few times. Assuncao hops away from a low kick, and he gets caught with a right hand coming in. Grant shucks him aside and strings a few punches together, ending it with a head kick that slides over the top. “Dangerous Davey” suddenly unleashes a torrent of punishment, blasting Assuncao with punches until he knocks Assuncao off-balance. Assuncao wobbles back to the fence, and he shoots for a desperation takedown to keep himself afloat. Grant defends the first try, but Assuncao redoubles his effort and pulls Grant’s ankle out to strip away his footing and put the Brit on his back. Assuncao holds on from an unorthodox half guard, but this posture allows Grant to explode back up. Grant fires off an uppercut that snaps Assuncao’s head back like a Pez dispenser, and he still has the Brazilian hurt. Grant tosses aside takedown entries from the veteran so that he can lay into him with punches, and he hurts Assuncao again in an exchange. Assuncao dives after a takedown, and Grant grabs the fence again to stop it. This time, Peterson has had enough of this nonsense, and he pauses the fight and deducts a point from Grant. Assuncao also loses his position from this, and Grant is thrilled so that he can tee off on the Brazilian some more. Assuncao struggles to stay on his feet from an onslaught of strikes, and Grant spins with a back fist that drills into the side of Assuncao’s head. Assuncao tries desperately to get the fight down, and he falls on top of Grant as the British fighter still tries to scramble.
“Dangerous Davey” wraps his legs around Assuncao’s neck to set up an inverted triangle choke, and the unexpected move is secured in a hurry. Assuncao is nonresponsive from on top after the choke gets tight, and he goes out without Peterson recognizing it immediately. Peterson reaches in to check on the Brazilian, who is completely unconscious, and he determines that Assuncao is out and stops the fight.
As soon as the fight is stopped, Assuncao’s coach, Eric Nicksick, is outraged from Peterson’s point deduction that also resulted in Assuncao losing his position, and it is explained that Grant had sat up and gained a superior position – and cannot be rewarded for gaining that position due to a foul. After Assuncao comes to, he removes his gloves and places them in the center of the cage to signal his retirement, while saying in his quick farewell interview that, “I think my time has come.”

The Official Result
Davey Grant def. Raphael Assuncao R3 4:43 via Technical Submission (Inverted Triangle Choke)
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Confident picked Mar 5, 2023 (6 days before fight)
Davey Grant

Angelo picks Davey Grant as the better striker with takedown defense that should hold up against the aging Assunção. He acknowledges Assunção's past success but believes Grant's power and composure will prevail. He notes the line at -160 is likely to move and considers it a safe pick.

line movement comment: expects line to close at -300
"I'm still going the Davey Grant side because I do think he's going to be the better Striker and his takedown defense should hold up."
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked Mar 8, 2023 (3 days before fight)
Davey Grant

Big Brady picks Davey Grant, noting Grant has never looked this good and is in his prime at 37. He expects Grant to march forward with wild looping shots and put Assunção away, as Assunção has been knocked out recently by Garbrandt and Simon. Brady predicts a second-round knockout, though he acknowledges Assunção could win via wrestling if Grant struggles on the mat.

win by KO in round 2
"I think Davey Grant is going to March this guy down Wing big looping shots wild shots and I think he puts a sunset out here"
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Lean picked Mar 8, 2023 (3 days before fight)
Davey Grant

Cody picks Grant, citing Grant's toughness and ability to push the pace. He notes Assunção's age and recent surgery, but acknowledges Assunção could win a close decision. He calls it a close fight.

"I think I will go with Davey Grant don't feel great about it"
CO
Connor Ruebusch Expert Hesitant picked Mar 9, 2023 (2 days before fight)
Raphael Assunção

Connor picks Assunção despite concerns about his age and recent performances. He believes Assunção's counter-striking, jab, and wrestling will be key against Grant's wild brawling style. He notes that Grant makes many mistakes and Assunção can take him down and control him, though there's always a risk of Grant landing a lucky shot.

Grant is favorite at -130 to -150; Assunção underdog at +110 to +120. Connor notes the line has moved toward Grant.
"I think I have to pick a Sun Tso too. That's it. I just think it's, I'm worried that he'll get knocked out because Grant's got a weird stuff is going to happen to him more and more."
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Mar 6, 2023 (5 days before fight)
Davey Grant

I think Grant's power will be too much for Assunção, who has shown durability issues at 40. Assunção is the better technical striker, but Grant throws heavy shots and can end the fight at any moment. Assunção's recent losses have come by knockout, and Grant has the power to exploit that. I expect a knockout within the first 12 minutes.

Grant by KO
"I think that one of those big shots from David Grant are going to get through within the first 12 minutes of this fight and I think that will likely be the end of the night"
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Lean picked Mar 8, 2023 (3 days before fight)
Davey Grant

Paul picks Grant but is not confident, noting Assunção's low volume and close fights. He thinks Grant's volume and takedown defense could be key, but calls it a dicey fight and says he won't bet it.

"I'll take David Grant on price because they got 62 and a half which is super low for a grand fight"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Mar 7, 2023 (4 days before fight)
Davey Grant

The MMA Guru picks Davey Grant, citing his toughness and finishing ability. He believes Grant can finish Assunção, while Assunção is unlikely to finish Grant. He notes Grant's win over Jonathan Martinez and his competitive fight with Adrian Yanez (which he thought Grant won). He predicts a KO in the second round.

by KO, second round
"I'm gonna go with Davey Grant too dangerous I think he finds a finish by KO second round"
ZA
Zane Simon Expert Hesitant picked Mar 9, 2023 (2 days before fight)
Raphael Assunção

Zane picks Assunção but is hesitant due to his age and recent decline. He notes that Assunção's counter-striking and wrestling should neutralize Grant's wild pressure, but Grant's power and unpredictability make it a risky pick. He mentions that Assunção has seen everything and should be able to handle Grant's style.

"I'm with you. I mean, I would expect these odds to be pretty close. Again, Sun Tso's old and we're both understandably nervous about his chances here."
WIN vs Louis Smolka
KO (punches) R3 0:49 · UFC on ESPN: Blachowicz vs. Rakic · May 14, 2022
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Davey Grant 1 81 of 197 41% 84 of 200 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:35
Louis Smolka 0 71 of 139 51% 75 of 145 0 of 3 0% 0 0 0:35
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Davey Grant 1 45 of 90 50% 46 of 91 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:22
Louis Smolka 0 14 of 37 37% 14 of 37 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:02
2 Davey Grant 0 27 of 87 31% 29 of 89 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:06
Louis Smolka 0 56 of 93 60% 60 of 99 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:33
3 Davey Grant 0 9 of 20 45% 9 of 20 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:07
Louis Smolka 0 1 of 9 11% 1 of 9 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:00
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Davey Grant 81 of 197 41% 36 of 134 29 of 42 16 of 21 68 of 180 6 of 8 7 of 9
Louis Smolka 71 of 139 51% 46 of 101 19 of 31 6 of 7 67 of 133 1 of 1 3 of 5
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Davey Grant 45 of 90 50% 17 of 54 18 of 24 10 of 12 39 of 84 2 of 2 4 of 4
Louis Smolka 14 of 37 37% 8 of 24 3 of 10 3 of 3 13 of 36 1 of 1 0 of 0
2 Davey Grant 27 of 87 31% 14 of 66 10 of 17 3 of 4 23 of 81 4 of 6 0 of 0
Louis Smolka 56 of 93 60% 37 of 70 16 of 20 3 of 3 53 of 88 0 of 0 3 of 5
3 Davey Grant 9 of 20 45% 5 of 14 1 of 1 3 of 5 6 of 15 0 of 0 3 of 5
Louis Smolka 1 of 9 11% 1 of 7 0 of 1 0 of 1 1 of 9 0 of 0 0 of 0
Play-by-Play
View on Sherdog
Davey Grant vs. Louis Smolka
BETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Grant (-290) Smolka (+230)

Round 1
In a fight clearly booked for its potential entertainment value, “Dangerous Davey” and “Da Last Samurai” square off, with veteran ref Mike Beltran set to supervise the expected violence. Grant comes out in southpaw and is met by the orthodox Smolka. Grant throws a kick to the Hawaiian’s lead leg. Smolka comes forward, bobbing and weaving. He throws a front kick up the middle which lands. Grant launches a spinning high kick, but comes up short. Grant lands a hard pair of hooks to the body. Grant lands a hard outside kick to Smolka’s lead left leg, then just misses with a murderous punch up top. Smolka lunges in and scores with a nice jab. Two minutes left in the round. Smolka lunges in again and lands a left hand, but Grant scores with a pair of counters. Grant lands another hard leg kick, then a spinning back fist. Smolka is still marching forward, but Grant is hitting with just about everything he throws. Smolka walks right into a hard jab and falls to his rear, dazed. Grant jumps on him and after a brief scramble, lets Smolka back up. The round expires.

Sherdog Scores
Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-9 Grant
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-8 Grant
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Grant

Round 2
Smolka charges forward, swinging big hooks. Grant gives ground and circles away, tagging the Hawaiian with punches as he goes. Grant goes to the body several times in the first minute, then follows up with combinations upstairs. Smolka keeps on coming, however, and is landing quite a few of his own shots. Grant appears to be slowing just a bit. Smolka wades in and lands a right kick to the body. Smolka mixes in level elbow strikes at close range, catching the Englishman. Smolka takes a collar tie and looks to punch with the other hand, but Grant shrugs him off and throws a pair of wide hooks. A minute left, and the momentum seems to have shifted. Smolka catches a kick, hoists Grant’s leg high and runs him to the ground. Smolka moves to the back, then out to the side, working for an armbar. Grant defends the hold, and escapes to his feet. They swing wildly as the final seconds expire.

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

Round 3
Grant lands a hard low kick, then a pair of punches upstairs. Smolka sneaks a look at his own leg, comes forward somewhat gingerly, and
Grant lands another low kick that takes his base out from under him completely.
Smolka lunges forward for a desperate takedown attempt, but Grant sprawls all over it, then dives in with punches that land unblocked, the last of which puts “Da Last Samurai” out. Ref Beltran is there a heartbeat later, and it’s another stoppage win for Davey Grant.

The Official Result
Davey Grant def. Louis Smolka R3 0:49 via TKO (Leg Kick and Punches)
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Confident picked May 11, 2022 (3 days before fight)
Davey Grant

Cody is confident in Davey Grant, citing his durability, cardio, power, and improved striking. He notes Grant has been fighting more frequently and showing heart, while Smolka has durability issues, poor wrestling, and was knocked out by Vince Morales. He thinks Grant is much stronger and will march Smolka down, though the -300 price is rich.

"davey grant is that dog he is that guy that comes forward he's that guy that makes it up he's got a lot of durability his cardio checks out he's got big power punching standing he can wrestle he can …"
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Confident picked May 11, 2022 (3 days before fight)
Davey Grant

Paul agrees with Grant, struggling to see where Smolka wins unless by submission. He notes Grant is making up for lost time, has made significant improvements, and is an Ultimate Fighter winner. He thinks Grant's style and effort make him the pick despite the high price.

"i struggle to see where where smoke really wins i guess if he takes him down and and and finds a submission but otherwise like we've seen like david graham really seems like a guy you know he's like six …"
Expert Picks (7)
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Hesitant picked Nov 17, 2021 (3 days before fight)
Adrian Yañez

Angelo picks Adrian Yañez but is hesitant, noting Davey Grant has a clear path to victory via grappling. He acknowledges Yañez is the cleaner striker with a good chin, but Grant is a grappler at heart who could mix in takedowns. He does not place a bet because he sees value on Grant as a live dog. He expects Yañez to win but not confidently enough to bet.

DraftKings prices: Yañez 9100, Grant 7100; monkey knife fight more/more
"the pick is janez"
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked Nov 16, 2021 (4 days before fight)
Adrian Yañez

Big Brady picks Adrian Yañez to win by third-round knockout. He praises Yañez's striking, speed, and volume, and notes his 100% takedown defense in the UFC. He believes Davey Grant's recent striking success won't work against Yañez, and that Yañez has paths to victory both on the feet and on the ground. He predicts Yañez will be the first to knock out Grant.

win by knockout, third round
"give me adriana's to win by third round knockout i think he does get him out of there and davey grant's never been knocked out but i think that does change here"
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Confident picked Nov 18, 2021 (2 days before fight)
Adrian Yañez

Cody picks Yañez despite the high price. He praises Yañez's crisp boxing and compares him to Jorge Masvidal. He notes that Yañez is a slow starter but takes over as opponents fade, as seen against Randy Costa. He believes Yañez's striking is superior and that Grant is hittable, having been wobbled in recent fights. Cody is concerned about Grant's takedowns and top game, but thinks Yañez's takedown defense will hold up and he will win rounds two and three.

"got to go with giannis do i love the price no no i don't but i agree adrian yanez is the favorite and i'm gonna have to play him"
DA
Daniel Levi Expert Confident picked Nov 18, 2021 (2 days before fight)
Adrian Yañez

Daniel Levi confidently picks Adrian Yañez to knock out Davey Grant. He praises Yañez's clean hands, countering ability, and toughness, noting that he has never been knocked out. He criticizes Grant's chin-up style and wild looping shots, believing Yañez's superior boxing will capitalize on openings. Levi predicts Yañez will be the first to knock out Grant.

knockout
"i think adrian yanez has way better hands than jonathan martinez and i think that adriana's will be able to capitalize on these openings and i think he's going to be the first man in mma history to knock out davey grant"
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Nov 19, 2021 (1 day before fight)
Adrian Yañez

Lock thinks Yañez will be the first to knock out Grant. He notes Grant has never been KO'd but has taken damage, especially in his last fight. Yañez has straight punches and speed advantage, and Lock believes he will counter Grant's looping hooks. He likes Yañez by KO at around -105 rather than the -310 moneyline.

Adrian Yañez by KO -105, Adrian Yañez round 3 +800
"I think yanez is going to be the one that finally puts that never been knocked out argument to rest for davey grant."
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Hesitant picked Nov 18, 2021 (2 days before fight)
Adrian Yañez

Paul likes Yañez's hands but is concerned about the -320 price. He points out that Yañez had a bad first round against Randy Costa, looking gun-shy and overwhelmed by volume. He notes that Davey Grant is tough, has never been knocked out, and brings volume and pressure. Paul thinks Yañez could be a live bet candidate if he starts slow again. He is waiting for weigh-ins before committing fully.

Paul mentions he'll be waiting for weigh-ins and might consider a live bet after round one if Yañez starts slow.
"i think giannis at minus 320 is another one of these favorites that is a little bit too much juice here um i'll be waiting for weigh-ins and stuff"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Nov 15, 2021 (5 days before fight)
Adrian Yañez

The MMA Guru picks Adrian Yañez to win by KO in the first round. He notes that Davey Grant is open to shots, as seen in his fight against Jonathan Martinez where he was dropped. He highlights Yañez's quick hands, reach advantage, and training with Aljamain Sterling, which gives him confidence in grappling defense. He expects Yañez to find his range, land a big shot as Grant loads up, and finish with ground and pound.

first round TKO
"i'm going with adrian yanez here i think he wins this one by ko in the first round"