vs
-370 +340
UFC Fight Night: Vieira vs. Tate · Nov 20, 2021 · Women's Strawweight · Completed
Prev Fight UFC Fight Night: Vieira vs. Tate
Age 33
Height 5' 2"
Reach 62.0"
Weight 115 lbs.
Stance Orthodox
Age 33
Height 5' 5"
Reach 64.0"
Weight 115 lbs.
Stance Orthodox
Career Averages - Luana Pinheiro
3.29 SLpM
39.0% Str. Acc.
4.06 SApM
60.0% Str. Def.
2.33 TD Avg
37.0% TD Acc.
71.0% TD Def.
0.2 Sub. Avg
Career Averages - Sam Hughes
4.41 SLpM
47.0% Str. Acc.
4.69 SApM
58.0% Str. Def.
1.12 TD Avg
29.0% TD Acc.
63.0% TD Def.
0.2 Sub. Avg
Luana Pinheiro
Moneyline
Caesars -370
KO/TKO
FanDuel +420
Submission
FanDuel +220
Decision
BetMGM +175
Sam Hughes
Moneyline
BetMGM +340
KO/TKO
BetMGM +2200
Submission
FanDuel +1600
Decision
BetMGM +550
Luana Pinheiro - Fight History
Decision R3 5:00 · UFC Fight Night: Burns vs. Morales · May 17, 2025
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Tecia Pennington 0 63 of 127 49% 78 of 149 0 of 2 0% 0 0 0:44
Luana Pinheiro 0 40 of 110 36% 46 of 118 5 of 10 50% 0 0 1:42
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Tecia Pennington 0 26 of 61 42% 30 of 67 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Luana Pinheiro 0 16 of 51 31% 19 of 55 0 of 2 0% 0 0 0:08
2 Tecia Pennington 0 18 of 38 47% 21 of 45 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:27
Luana Pinheiro 0 20 of 39 51% 20 of 39 0 of 2 0% 0 0 0:00
3 Tecia Pennington 0 19 of 28 67% 27 of 37 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:17
Luana Pinheiro 0 4 of 20 20% 7 of 24 5 of 6 83% 0 0 1:34
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Tecia Pennington 63 of 127 49% 34 of 82 10 of 17 19 of 28 56 of 109 7 of 18 0 of 0
Luana Pinheiro 40 of 110 36% 23 of 85 5 of 9 12 of 16 33 of 95 7 of 15 0 of 0
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Tecia Pennington 26 of 61 42% 18 of 42 2 of 6 6 of 13 21 of 51 5 of 10 0 of 0
Luana Pinheiro 16 of 51 31% 11 of 44 3 of 4 2 of 3 11 of 43 5 of 8 0 of 0
2 Tecia Pennington 18 of 38 47% 8 of 25 2 of 5 8 of 8 17 of 35 1 of 3 0 of 0
Luana Pinheiro 20 of 39 51% 11 of 26 2 of 5 7 of 8 18 of 35 2 of 4 0 of 0
3 Tecia Pennington 19 of 28 67% 8 of 15 6 of 6 5 of 7 18 of 23 1 of 5 0 of 0
Luana Pinheiro 4 of 20 20% 1 of 15 0 of 0 3 of 5 4 of 17 0 of 3 0 of 0
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Confident picked May 11, 2025 (6 days before fight)
Tecia Pennington

Angelo picks Tecia Pennington, stating she should win all day long. He notes that Pennington is good everywhere, with good boxing, solid grappling, and insane cardio. He acknowledges that the line at -400 is a little sketchy but believes she wins more often than not. He suggests the over might be more affordable and advises keeping an eye on the over line.

Angelo suggests the over might be more affordable than Pennington's moneyline and advises keeping an eye on the over line.
"This should be Tisha all day long. The line reflects that at four to one favorite here."
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked May 15, 2025 (2 days before fight)
Tecia Pennington

Big Brady picks Tecia Pennington, noting that Luana Pinheiro fades after the 7.5-minute mark. He argues Pennington's losses are to elite fighters in close decisions, and a loss to Pinheiro would be her worst ever. He expects Pennington to win by decision.

Pennington by decision
"I got to go Pennington. You know, she's not somebody you typically want to lay minus 350 on, but I will pick her to win. And I'll pick her to win by decision."
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Lean picked May 16, 2025 (1 day before fight)
Luana Pinheiro

The host is surprised Pennington is such a big favorite, believing Pinheiro matches her in physicality and may be the better striker in terms of landing significant damage. He sees Pinheiro as very live to pull off the upset and picks her to win by decision. However, the pick is not made with high confidence, as he acknowledges the line is surprising.

Pinheiro by decision
"I'm going to start with her to pull off the upset to to begin the card by decision."
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked May 16, 2025 (1 day before fight)
Tecia Pennington

The Guru picks Tecia Pennington, calling her underrated and strong for the division. He believes she scrambles well and won't be outgrappled by Luana Pinheiro. He notes Pennington was robbed in past decisions against Mackenzie Dern and Tabatha Ricci, and thinks she is better overall. He predicts a 29-28 decision win.

Pennington to land more than 64.5 significant strikes (via Prize Picks)
"I think this is a pretty easy Tisha Pennington decision win."
Decision (unanimous) (29–27, 29–28, 29–28) R3 5:00 · UFC Fight Night: Magny vs. Prates · Nov 09, 2024
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Gillian Robertson 0 42 of 105 40% 63 of 128 0 of 0 --- 0 1 0:17
Luana Pinheiro 0 52 of 108 48% 78 of 145 5 of 17 29% 0 1 8:13
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Gillian Robertson 0 14 of 38 36% 16 of 42 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:04
Luana Pinheiro 0 15 of 32 46% 15 of 35 3 of 8 37% 0 0 2:33
2 Gillian Robertson 0 25 of 61 40% 29 of 65 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Luana Pinheiro 0 20 of 47 42% 22 of 55 1 of 6 16% 0 0 1:22
3 Gillian Robertson 0 3 of 6 50% 18 of 21 0 of 0 --- 0 1 0:13
Luana Pinheiro 0 17 of 29 58% 41 of 55 1 of 3 33% 0 1 4:18
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Gillian Robertson 42 of 105 40% 23 of 84 16 of 18 3 of 3 41 of 102 1 of 3 0 of 0
Luana Pinheiro 52 of 108 48% 33 of 72 5 of 18 14 of 18 28 of 76 4 of 4 20 of 28
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Gillian Robertson 14 of 38 36% 8 of 32 5 of 5 1 of 1 14 of 37 0 of 1 0 of 0
Luana Pinheiro 15 of 32 46% 6 of 17 2 of 5 7 of 10 9 of 23 1 of 1 5 of 8
2 Gillian Robertson 25 of 61 40% 13 of 48 11 of 12 1 of 1 24 of 59 1 of 2 0 of 0
Luana Pinheiro 20 of 47 42% 11 of 32 3 of 9 6 of 6 17 of 44 3 of 3 0 of 0
3 Gillian Robertson 3 of 6 50% 2 of 4 0 of 1 1 of 1 3 of 6 0 of 0 0 of 0
Luana Pinheiro 17 of 29 58% 16 of 23 0 of 4 1 of 2 2 of 9 0 of 0 15 of 20
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Confident picked Nov 3, 2024 (6 days before fight)
Gillian Robertson

Angelo argues that since Luana Pinheiro was submitted by Angela Hill (the least dangerous grappler), she will certainly be submitted by Gillian Robertson, who has the most submission wins in flyweight history. He acknowledges Pinheiro has decent takedown defense and striking, but the MMA math leads him to Robertson. He calls it the only logical conclusion.

"Jillian Robertson has to be the pick here that has to be the only logical conclusion that you could draw so Jillian Robertson's the pick simple done"
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked Nov 7, 2024 (2 days before fight)
Gillian Robertson

Big Brady believes this is a terrible matchup for Pinheiro, who fades after 7.5 minutes and has been submitted before. He praises Robertson's size, strength, cardio, and ground game, predicting she will take over late and submit Pinheiro in the second round.

Robertson by submission, round 2
"I'll take Jillian Robertson second round submission"
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Confident picked Nov 6, 2024 (3 days before fight)
Gillian Robertson

Cody echoes Paul's concerns about Pinheiro's wrestling and notes her quit in the Ronda Marcos fight. He highlights Robertson's high ring IQ and ability to grind opponents down with ground and pound. Cody expects Robertson to dominate on the mat and finish or win a clear decision.

"I think Jullian Robertson rolls here I would love the CF dot model myself but minus 400 favorite seems pretty accurate for Robertson."
CO
Connor Ruebusch Expert Confident picked Nov 7, 2024 (2 days before fight)
Gillian Robertson

Connor agrees with Zane, noting that Pinheiro's striking is aimless and formless. He thinks Robertson can ride out Pinheiro's initial success and eventually get her to the mat. He expects a submission win for Robertson.

"I think Robertson can ride out Pinero's success and eventually get her to the mat and start beating her."
DA
Daniel Vreeland Expert Confident picked Nov 6, 2024 (3 days before fight)
Gillian Robertson

Daniel Vreeland confidently picks Gillian Robertson, highlighting her record for most submission wins in UFC women's history and her ability to get takedowns. He criticizes Luana Pinheiro's toughness and cites past performances where Pinheiro was taken down and submitted by lesser grapplers. Vreeland expects Robertson to dominate on the ground and secure a finish.

"My pick is Julian Robertson."
LU
Lucrative James Expert Confident picked Nov 5, 2024 (4 days before fight)
Gillian Robertson

Lucrative James confidently picks Gillian Robertson to win by submission. He highlights that Robertson has more physicality at strawweight and is a dangerous BJJ artist, while Pinheiro has cardio issues and is not strong in grappling. He predicts Robertson will get top position and finish via rear-naked choke or armbar, and also suggests the fight won't go to decision.

by submission, fight doesn't go to decision, under 2.5 rounds
"Julian Robinson to win via submission"
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Nov 8, 2024 (1 day before fight)
Gillian Robertson

This is a horrible stylistic matchup for Pinheiro. If she can't get success in the first round, Robertson will wear her down with pressure and pace, leading to a submission victory in round two.

wins by submission, round 2
"this is a horrible stylistic match up for Pinero if she's unable to get success in the first round which will eventually lead to Robertson wearing her down with the pressure and Pace eventually leading to a submission victory for …"
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Confident picked Nov 6, 2024 (3 days before fight)
Gillian Robertson

Paul sees Pinheiro's takedown defense as a major red flag, citing her struggles against Angela Hill and Michelle Waterson. He believes Robertson's relentless top control and submission threats will be too much. Paul likes Robertson by submission and thinks the -400 line is accurate.

Robertson by submission
"I think like plus 140 Jillian Robertson by sub is how I would bet this fight."
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Nov 6, 2024 (3 days before fight)
Gillian Robertson

The Guru picks Gillian Robertson, citing her grappling advantage and recent submission wins. He notes Luana Pinheiro's two-fight losing streak and that Robertson is a big favorite. He expects Robertson to implement her grappling and get a submission or TKO finish.

submission or TKO finish
"I'll go Julian Robertson getting her grappling off and implementing that part of her game"
ZA
Zane Simon Expert Confident picked Nov 7, 2024 (2 days before fight)
Gillian Robertson

Zane picks Robertson confidently. He notes that Pinheiro has a one-dimensional judo clinch game and no real striking. Robertson is a diligent takedown artist and ruthless on the ground. He expects Robertson to get the takedown and likely submit Pinheiro.

"I'm going to pick Jillian Robertson to beat her."
LOSS vs Angela Hill
Submission (guillotine choke) R2 4:12 · UFC Fight Night: Barboza vs. Murphy · May 18, 2024
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Angela Hill 0 17 of 60 28% 25 of 77 1 of 7 14% 0 0 0:04
Luana Pinheiro 0 28 of 79 35% 39 of 91 2 of 6 33% 1 1 3:06
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Angela Hill 0 7 of 20 35% 14 of 36 0 of 2 0% 0 0 0:00
Luana Pinheiro 0 8 of 34 23% 15 of 42 2 of 2 100% 0 0 2:03
2 Angela Hill 0 10 of 40 25% 11 of 41 1 of 5 20% 0 0 0:04
Luana Pinheiro 0 20 of 45 44% 24 of 49 0 of 4 0% 1 1 1:03
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Angela Hill 17 of 60 28% 11 of 51 3 of 6 3 of 3 15 of 54 2 of 6 0 of 0
Luana Pinheiro 28 of 79 35% 19 of 64 9 of 15 0 of 0 21 of 71 3 of 3 4 of 5
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Angela Hill 7 of 20 35% 6 of 19 0 of 0 1 of 1 6 of 17 1 of 3 0 of 0
Luana Pinheiro 8 of 34 23% 8 of 29 0 of 5 0 of 0 4 of 29 0 of 0 4 of 5
2 Angela Hill 10 of 40 25% 5 of 32 3 of 6 2 of 2 9 of 37 1 of 3 0 of 0
Luana Pinheiro 20 of 45 44% 11 of 35 9 of 10 0 of 0 17 of 42 3 of 3 0 of 0
Play-by-Play
View on Sherdog
Luana Pinheiro vs. Angela Hill
BETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Hill (-135), Pinheiro (+114)

Round 1
It’s on with the main card. Two strawweights on the outside of the top 15 looking in—the UFC does have one of them ranked—will come to blows in hopes of making that next big step towards contention. Pinheiro (11-2, 3-1 UFC) will be looking to get back into the green after her last outing saw her nine-fight win streak snapped violently. On the other side of the equation, divisional staple Hill (16-13, 11-13 UFC) has won three of our last four and is on a solid run despite turning 39 in January. Referee Herb Dean is ready for the long haul, and the women are too as they get right to it with no consideration of a glove touch. Hill feints her way forward, flicking out a front kick to test the waters and find her range. Pinheiro circles to both directions, and Hill cuts her off and pitches out a high kick that is several feet away from her intended target. Hill leaps forward with two right hands, both still too distant. Hill closes in, but the first actual strike landing is a calf kick from the Brazilian. Both women throw and land simultaneous right hands, and Pinheiro keeps her left hand ready to release. Hill puts the ball of her foot on Pinheiro’s torso, and she continues to walk Pinheiro down winging a right hand. The two women stick out jabs, and Pinheiro shoots for a takedown but cannot get anywhere. Hill backs away from a right hand, and she meanders forward and tosses out a head kick that is inaccurate. Pinheiro stick out a jab that marks up Hill’s nose, and they rush towards one another and start trading. Pinheiro looks to mix things up and throw Hill to the floor, but “Overkill” keeps her balance and pushes Pinheiro back to the fencing. Pinheiro jumps guard with a guillotine choke, and Hill threatens back with a Von Preux shoulder choke all while looking to establish better top position. Pinheiro releases her choke so that she does not get countered, and Hill lands a solid right hand before getting pushed off by Pinheiro’s flailing legs. Pinheiro gets off an upkick or two, and Hill pounces and bops her in the noggin with a right hand. Hill gets backed off with upkicks, and she connects with two mean standing-to-ground punches. Pinheiro jumps back to her feet, and Hill hurls her back down and lands a few strikes before the bell sounds.

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

Round 2
Pinheiro races out of her corner to engage, only for Hill to jab her back. Pinheiro loads upon on a power right hand, and when that misses, she leans back as one from Hill buzzes past her as well. Pinheiro splits the guard with a front kick, and Hill flirts with a single-leg takedown and comes over the top with a right. Pinheiro pirouettes with a back fist, and Hill’s guard is high enough to protect her. Pinheiro uses her jab effectively to score, and she times a right hand over the top. When Hill crowds her, Pinheiro lands hard again and grins to celebrate her handiwork. Pinheiro spins with a back fist, and Hill sees it coming and ducks it so she can throw Pinheiro to the ground. Pinheiro grabs the fence a few times to stay afloat, and Dean warns her for the fouls. The two fight for position in the clinch when Hill’s takedown comes up short, and Hill stifles a trip that Pinheiro offers back. Pinheiro escapes the clinch, and Hill gives chase with a front kick and a stabbing jab that snaps the head back. They both go after high kicks, and Hill tries a jumping switch kick and a high kick that both miss the mark. Hill misses with a head kick, and she knocks Pinheiro off her feet with a lunging jab. Pinheiro hops back up, and Hill is on her with pressure and strikes. Pinheiro shoots for a takedown, and Hill stops it and clings to a guillotine choke that she uses to knee the Brazilian in the head. Pinheiro escapes, and Hill runs at her and kicks her in the face. Pinheiro swings back and lands a left hand that cuts Hill’s eye, and Pinheiro shoots for a takedown.
Hill snatches up the neck while stuffing the attempt, and she sits down with a guillotine choke. When they hit the ground, Hill sweeps to claim the mounted guillotine, and the choke is crushingly tight. Pinheiro, who holds most of her finishes by submission while never suffering a submission loss, taps out.
Hill punts an 11-fight consecutive streak of fights going the distance with her tapout victory, and she is so excited when Dean intervenes that she does not know what to do with her hands. Hill figures it out and offers to help the defeated Pinheiro back to her feet, and she jumps into the arms of her corner to celebrate her first-ever submission win.

The Official Result
Angela Hill def. Luana Pinheiro R2 4:12 via Submission (Guillotine Choke)
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Confident picked May 12, 2024 (6 days before fight)
Angela Hill

Angela Hill is a veteran with high fight IQ, good speed, volume, and versatility, though she lacks power. Luana Pinheiro is a powerful striker with solid takedowns and BJJ, but Hill's experience and game planning should prevail. Hill recently showed she can wrestle, and Angelo expects her to stick to a game plan and win a decision.

"Angela Hill is going to be the pick"
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Confident picked May 15, 2024 (3 days before fight)
Angela Hill

Cody highlights Pinheiro's pattern of coming out fast and then gassing, as seen against Amanda Lemos and Randa Markos. He believes Hill's technical striking, footwork, and cardio will allow her to weather the early storm and take over in later rounds. Cody also notes Hill's improved wrestling, which she used to get five takedowns against Denise Gomes.

"I'll take her on one of those."
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked May 14, 2024 (4 days before fight)
Angela Hill

Pinheiro is effective early but slows down, and Hill has improved her takedown defense and getups. Hill's volume and cardio advantage will allow her to piece up Pinheiro in the later rounds. Hill has derailed prospects before and should keep the fight standing. Expects Hill to win a decision.

"I do think it's the veteran Angela Hill as The Slight favorite who ends up getting her hand raised by decision"
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Confident picked May 15, 2024 (3 days before fight)
Angela Hill

Paul expects Hill to use her veteran savvy and volume to outwork Pinheiro, who has a history of gassing after a fast start. He notes Hill's technical striking and footwork will allow her to capitalize as the fight goes on. Paul also mentions Hill's recent use of wrestling as a new wrinkle.

"I actually do like Angela Hill to get the job done here."
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked May 14, 2024 (4 days before fight)
Angela Hill

The MMA Guru picks Angela Hill over Luana Pinheiro, calling Pinheiro 'quite [__]'. He argues that Hill has a misrepresented record with several robbery losses, and that she is difficult to finish. He believes Hill will outwork Pinheiro over three rounds and win a decision, as Pinheiro barely scraped by against Michelle Waterson.

"I'll go Angela Hill over Lana Pano I think Lana Pano is quite [__] so I'll go with Angela Hill"
LOSS vs Amanda Ribas
TKO (spinning wheel kick and punches) R3 3:53 · UFC Fight Night: Allen vs. Craig · Nov 18, 2023
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Amanda Ribas 0 55 of 116 47% 56 of 120 1 of 6 16% 0 0 1:11
Luana Pinheiro 1 87 of 224 38% 96 of 234 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:30
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Amanda Ribas 0 25 of 54 46% 25 of 54 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Luana Pinheiro 0 18 of 69 26% 19 of 70 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:16
2 Amanda Ribas 0 18 of 35 51% 18 of 36 0 of 2 0% 0 0 0:00
Luana Pinheiro 0 40 of 98 40% 40 of 98 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
3 Amanda Ribas 0 12 of 27 44% 13 of 30 1 of 4 25% 0 0 1:11
Luana Pinheiro 1 29 of 57 50% 37 of 66 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:14
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Amanda Ribas 55 of 116 47% 36 of 86 11 of 18 8 of 12 51 of 109 4 of 6 0 of 1
Luana Pinheiro 87 of 224 38% 57 of 158 8 of 29 22 of 37 81 of 212 3 of 6 3 of 6
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Amanda Ribas 25 of 54 46% 17 of 42 4 of 7 4 of 5 24 of 52 1 of 2 0 of 0
Luana Pinheiro 18 of 69 26% 12 of 51 1 of 8 5 of 10 17 of 68 1 of 1 0 of 0
2 Amanda Ribas 18 of 35 51% 11 of 23 4 of 7 3 of 5 18 of 35 0 of 0 0 of 0
Luana Pinheiro 40 of 98 40% 23 of 64 3 of 14 14 of 20 39 of 96 1 of 2 0 of 0
3 Amanda Ribas 12 of 27 44% 8 of 21 3 of 4 1 of 2 9 of 22 3 of 4 0 of 1
Luana Pinheiro 29 of 57 50% 22 of 43 4 of 7 3 of 7 25 of 48 1 of 3 3 of 6
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Confident picked Nov 12, 2023 (6 days before fight)
Amanda Ribas

Angelo picks Amanda Ribas, expecting her to use her size and strength to grind out a win. He notes she is well-rounded with solid takedown defense and cardio. He warns she must stay controlled and not get sucked into a brawl. He also mentions a prop bet on Luana Pinheiro inside the distance.

Bet on Luana Pinheiro inside the distance (decision no action)
"Amanda's going to be the pick here but honestly the bet is going to be Lanna Panera inside the distance decision no action"
BI
Big Brady Expert Hesitant picked Nov 17, 2023 (1 day before fight)
Amanda Ribas

Big Brady thinks Ribas is better everywhere—striking, wrestling, grappling, cardio—but her chin is very bad, having been dropped and knocked out multiple times. He finds it hard to pick Pinheiro, who he doesn't think is that great, to win by knockout. He predicts Ribas wins by decision but calls it a sketchy fight due to durability concerns.

"I'm going to pick heos to win this fight by decision but a sketchy fight to be honest"
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Confident picked Nov 16, 2023 (2 days before fight)
Amanda Ribas

Cody picks Amanda Ribas, citing her takedown offense and volume striking. He notes that Pinheiro is a front-runner who tires, and Ribas can mix in takedowns and striking to win. He acknowledges Ribas took damage in her last fight but believes she has the dog in her to win.

"I'll pick heus as well to win on volume and just that she has that hashtag dog in her"
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Lean picked Nov 17, 2023 (1 day before fight)
Luana Pinheiro

Pinheiro has good striking power and can hurt Ribas on the feet. Ribas's grappling is a threat, but Pinheiro is strong enough to keep it standing. Pinheiro's power punches can find the button and knock Ribas out, likely in the second round. The line is too wide; Pinheiro has value at plus money.

win by knockout
"give me Pinero and I think I'm going to go down a limb here uh and I'm going to take her to win this fight by knockout low confidence but I think she can find the button on heos and …"
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Confident picked Nov 16, 2023 (2 days before fight)
Amanda Ribas

Paul picks Ribas, noting her takedown accuracy and ability to grind. He points out that Pinheiro gasses and has questionable durability. Paul believes Ribas can take her down, tire her, and open up striking. He mentions Ribas' loss to Barber but thinks Pinheiro lacks that finishing ability.

"I'm going to end up going with heos"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Hesitant picked Nov 14, 2023 (4 days before fight)
Amanda Ribas

The MMA Guru picks Amanda Ribas despite concerns about her chin after being knocked out at flyweight. He criticizes Luana Pinheiro's record as padded, noting her controversial win over Michelle Waterson and a fake knockout against Randa Markos. He believes Ribas has a massive reach advantage and that Pinheiro lacks the power to finish her, predicting a 29-28 decision win.

decision 29-28
"I am going to go Amanda Ribas here... I don't see Pinheiro having the power to finish her at this point so I'm going to go Ribas wins a decision 29-28."
Decision (split) (28–29, 29–28, 29–28) R3 5:00 · UFC 287: Pereira vs. Adesanya 2 · Apr 08, 2023
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Luana Pinheiro 0 61 of 188 32% 70 of 199 1 of 2 50% 0 0 1:01
Michelle Waterson-Gomez 0 44 of 122 36% 48 of 132 0 of 5 0% 0 0 1:25
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Luana Pinheiro 0 20 of 67 29% 20 of 67 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Michelle Waterson-Gomez 0 15 of 43 34% 15 of 43 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:01
2 Luana Pinheiro 0 19 of 62 30% 22 of 65 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Michelle Waterson-Gomez 0 19 of 50 38% 20 of 55 0 of 2 0% 0 0 0:47
3 Luana Pinheiro 0 22 of 59 37% 28 of 67 1 of 2 50% 0 0 1:01
Michelle Waterson-Gomez 0 10 of 29 34% 13 of 34 0 of 3 0% 0 0 0:37
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Luana Pinheiro 61 of 188 32% 18 of 114 16 of 34 27 of 40 53 of 178 8 of 10 0 of 0
Michelle Waterson-Gomez 44 of 122 36% 16 of 79 15 of 21 13 of 22 38 of 109 6 of 13 0 of 0
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Luana Pinheiro 20 of 67 29% 5 of 39 4 of 11 11 of 17 20 of 67 0 of 0 0 of 0
Michelle Waterson-Gomez 15 of 43 34% 5 of 29 4 of 6 6 of 8 14 of 42 1 of 1 0 of 0
2 Luana Pinheiro 19 of 62 30% 9 of 43 4 of 7 6 of 12 18 of 59 1 of 3 0 of 0
Michelle Waterson-Gomez 19 of 50 38% 9 of 34 5 of 7 5 of 9 15 of 42 4 of 8 0 of 0
3 Luana Pinheiro 22 of 59 37% 4 of 32 8 of 16 10 of 11 15 of 52 7 of 7 0 of 0
Michelle Waterson-Gomez 10 of 29 34% 2 of 16 6 of 8 2 of 5 9 of 25 1 of 4 0 of 0
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Lean picked Apr 5, 2023 (3 days before fight)
Luana Pinheiro

Angelo picks Luana Pinheiro but with low confidence, citing age and career trajectory. He notes that Luana is a powerful striker with solid takedowns, but Michelle Waterson has veteran savvy and is the better overall striker. He is concerned about Luana coming off major knee surgery, which could affect her athleticism. He thinks Michelle is very live as an underdog.

"Luana should win right luana's got great wrestling"
BI
Big Brady Expert Hesitant picked Apr 3, 2023 (5 days before fight)
Michelle Waterson-Gomez

Big Brady picks Michelle Waterson-Gomez as an underdog, citing the massive step down in competition for Waterson. He notes that Pinheiro has a strong judo and early power but fades as the fight goes on. He believes Waterson's striking and experience will allow her to take over in later rounds. He is hesitant due to Waterson's age (37) but sees value.

"I will take Michelle Waterson Gomez to pull off the upset here and win this fight by decision"
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Hesitant picked Apr 5, 2023 (3 days before fight)
Michelle Waterson-Gomez

Cody picks Waterson as a value play. He thinks the fight is closer to 50-50 than the line suggests, so he sides with the plus money. He notes Pinheiro hasn't proven much and her DQ win over Randa Marcos was unimpressive. However, he doesn't love the pick and says he probably won't bet it. He acknowledges Waterson is at the end of her career.

"I'll side with what I think there's a value side in Michelle Crotty the karate hottie uh Waterson at plus 140 but don't love it"
CO
Connor Ruebusch Expert Confident picked Apr 6, 2023 (2 days before fight)
Michelle Waterson-Gomez

Connor agrees with Zane, picking Waterson. He notes that Pinheiro is raw and that Waterson is a competent, tough, high-level fighter who knows how to win. Connor also mentions that Pinheiro's potential hasn't been realized yet.

"I guess I'll side with you and take Watterson here."
JA
Jacob Lines Expert Confident picked Apr 5, 2023 (3 days before fight)
Michelle Waterson-Gomez

Jacob flips to Michelle Waterson after film study, noting that Luana's takedowns are almost all Judo headlock throws that work against lower-level opponents. He believes Michelle's experience and superior striking will allow her to stay out of the clinch and dominate. He also points out that Luana is coming off major knee surgery, which could be a factor.

"I flip completely I think Michelle Waterson can dominate this fight"
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Lean picked Apr 3, 2023 (5 days before fight)
Michelle Waterson-Gomez

Waterson-Gomez is a veteran with good movement, kicks, and underrated grappling. Pinheiro has power and a strong top game but questionable cardio and competition level. I think Waterson's experience and ability to stay at range will wear on Pinheiro's gas tank, leading to a decision win. However, I lack high confidence because Pinheiro could land effective damage early.

"I'm going to lean with the experience and the veteran Savvy of a girl like or a woman like Michelle Waterson Gomez and I think she wins this fight by decision"
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Hesitant picked Apr 5, 2023 (3 days before fight)
Luana Pinheiro

Paul picks Pinheiro but is hesitant. He notes Pinheiro is younger, stronger, and has better wrestling and power. He thinks Pinheiro can take Waterson down and win rounds. However, he acknowledges Waterson's experience and fan-friendly style could lead to a close split decision in Florida. Paul says this is a low-confidence pick and not a top play.

"I will take Pinero it is I'm gonna put it way down the list this week"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Apr 8, 2023 (fight day)
Michelle Waterson-Gomez

The MMA Guru picks Michelle Waterson to win by 29-28 decision. He describes it as a 'snooze fest' where Waterson will use fight IQ to secure a takedown at the end of each round, stealing the rounds on the scorecards. He expects a close fight with little action, but Waterson's experience and late-round takedowns will be the difference.

"I'm gonna go with Michelle Waterson doing that"
ZA
Zane Simon Expert Confident picked Apr 6, 2023 (2 days before fight)
Michelle Waterson-Gomez

Zane picks Waterson because she is a crafty veteran who can stay tight and technical, taking Pinheiro off her feet with takedowns. He notes that Pinheiro's game is raw and she doesn't have a great top game or method to get ground and pound. Zane also mentions that Waterson is tough to knock out and has good reactive shots.

"I'm definitely going to take Watterson with the toughness and the grappling to just find ways of not having to have a physical fight with Piniero on the feet."
WIN vs Sam Hughes
Decision (unanimous) (30–27, 30–27, 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
Luana Pinheiro 1 60 of 159 37% 67 of 170 2 of 3 66% 1 0 2:07
Sam Hughes 0 53 of 130 40% 65 of 147 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:19
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Luana Pinheiro 0 11 of 39 28% 16 of 45 2 of 2 100% 1 0 1:51
Sam Hughes 0 11 of 27 40% 22 of 39 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
2 Luana Pinheiro 1 23 of 63 36% 24 of 67 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:16
Sam Hughes 0 19 of 47 40% 20 of 51 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:04
3 Luana Pinheiro 0 26 of 57 45% 27 of 58 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Sam Hughes 0 23 of 56 41% 23 of 57 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:15
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Luana Pinheiro 60 of 159 37% 40 of 126 14 of 25 6 of 8 53 of 148 2 of 4 5 of 7
Sam Hughes 53 of 130 40% 23 of 72 6 of 22 24 of 36 50 of 126 3 of 4 0 of 0
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Luana Pinheiro 11 of 39 28% 5 of 30 4 of 6 2 of 3 10 of 37 0 of 1 1 of 1
Sam Hughes 11 of 27 40% 3 of 11 2 of 4 6 of 12 11 of 27 0 of 0 0 of 0
2 Luana Pinheiro 23 of 63 36% 20 of 56 2 of 6 1 of 1 18 of 55 1 of 2 4 of 6
Sam Hughes 19 of 47 40% 9 of 28 2 of 9 8 of 10 19 of 46 0 of 1 0 of 0
3 Luana Pinheiro 26 of 57 45% 15 of 40 8 of 13 3 of 4 25 of 56 1 of 1 0 of 0
Sam Hughes 23 of 56 41% 11 of 33 2 of 9 10 of 14 20 of 53 3 of 3 0 of 0
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Confident picked Nov 17, 2021 (3 days before fight)
Luana Pinheiro

Angelo picks Luana Pinheiro, citing her power striking, solid takedowns, and BJJ. He notes Sam Hughes is tough but hittable with a negative striking differential, and that Luana's grappling will be the difference. He expects a decision win rather than a finish, as Luana doesn't have one-punch KO power. He mentions the odds are probably correct at -290.

Decision win expected; DraftKings price 9300 for Luana, 6900 for Sam; monkey knife fight more/more
"luanna is the pick"
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked Nov 16, 2021 (4 days before fight)
Luana Pinheiro

Big Brady picks Luana Pinheiro to win by first-round finish. He notes Pinheiro's phenomenal judo and ability to get the fight to the mat, but also highlights her gas tank issues as she hasn't seen the second round in over seven fights. He believes Sam Hughes' 44% takedown defense is a major hole and that Pinheiro will exploit it early. However, he warns that if Hughes survives the first round, the fight could get sketchy for Pinheiro.

first round finish
"I'm going to take her to win by first round finish I think she does get sam hughes out of there"
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Confident picked Nov 18, 2021 (2 days before fight)
Luana Pinheiro

Cody picks Pinheiro but is concerned about her cardio. He notes that all her wins are first-round finishes and she lost a decision when the fight went past the first round. However, he believes her judo and grappling are superior to Hughes's. He thinks Pinheiro will likely finish Hughes early, but if it goes longer, she may fade. He recommends betting Pinheiro inside the distance at plus money to mitigate the cardio risk.

Cody suggests betting Pinheiro inside the distance at plus money rather than the moneyline. He mentions that plus money across the board for her to win inside the distance is available.
"pinero inside the distance plus money is probably something i'm gonna add to the card here"
DA
Daniel Levi Expert Confident picked Nov 18, 2021 (2 days before fight)
Luana Pinheiro

Daniel Levi picks Luana Pinheiro to win by armbar. He notes her judo throws and power, but worries about her panic when fights go past the first round. He criticizes Sam Hughes for being hesitant and timid, and believes Pinheiro will build a 10-8 round early and cruise to victory. He expects a submission finish.

armbar
"give me a luana pinero via armbar"
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Nov 19, 2021 (1 day before fight)
Sam Hughes

Lock likes Sam Hughes as a plus money underdog. He believes Pinheiro has a terrible gas tank and will fade if she doesn't finish early. Hughes is gritty and durable, and Lock thinks she can push a pace that exposes Pinheiro's cardio. He also notes that Hughes won a round off Loma Lookboonmee, showing she can compete. Lock took a half unit on Hughes moneyline and also sprinkled round props.

Sam Hughes round 2 +2400, Sam Hughes round 3 +3000, under 2.5 rounds +100
"I already took a half unit shot on her there and I have a couple round props that I've already played for her as well."
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Confident picked Nov 18, 2021 (2 days before fight)
Luana Pinheiro

Paul picks Pinheiro confidently. He dismisses the controversy around her last fight, stating she looked dominant before the illegal kick. He believes her judo is upper echelon and she will easily take Hughes down. He notes that Hughes has been dominated on the ground by Lookboonmee and finished by Tisha Torres. Paul thinks Pinheiro is a real prospect and Hughes is a card filler.

"i got to go with lana panaro and just hope to the betting gods that she's got more than five minutes of cardio or finishes this thing inside of those five minutes"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Nov 15, 2021 (5 days before fight)
Luana Pinheiro

The MMA Guru picks Luana Pinheiro over Sam Hughes. He notes that Sam Hughes has not looked impressive in her UFC fights, facing tough competition in Tisha Torres and Loma Lookboonmee. He highlights Pinheiro's dominant grappling performance against Randa Marcos, where she took her down five times and out-struck her on the feet. He expects Pinheiro to win on the feet and in grappling, likely by unanimous decision.

"i am going to be going with luanna pinero here"
WIN vs Randa Markos
DQ (illegal upkick) R1 4:16 · UFC on ESPN: Reyes vs. Prochazka · May 01, 2021
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Luana Pinheiro 0 18 of 40 45% 28 of 51 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:29
Randa Markos 0 29 of 53 54% 35 of 61 5 of 6 83% 0 0 0:54
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Luana Pinheiro 0 18 of 40 45% 28 of 51 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:29
Randa Markos 0 29 of 53 54% 35 of 61 5 of 6 83% 0 0 0:54
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Luana Pinheiro 18 of 40 45% 12 of 32 6 of 7 0 of 1 12 of 34 5 of 5 1 of 1
Randa Markos 29 of 53 54% 22 of 44 4 of 5 3 of 4 20 of 38 7 of 7 2 of 8
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Luana Pinheiro 18 of 40 45% 12 of 32 6 of 7 0 of 1 12 of 34 5 of 5 1 of 1
Randa Markos 29 of 53 54% 22 of 44 4 of 5 3 of 4 20 of 38 7 of 7 2 of 8
BI
Big Brady Expert Hesitant picked Apr 27, 2021 (4 days before fight)
Luana Pinheiro

Big Brady picks Luana Pinheiro to win by decision, but expresses hesitation about betting on Contender Series fighters, especially in women's MMA. He likes Pinheiro's aggression, power, and ability to take the fight down, noting Markos's poor takedown defense. However, he acknowledges that Contender Series favorites often fail to cover the price tag. He ultimately picks Pinheiro but says he won't bet on it.

"i will pick panera to win by decision"
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Confident picked Apr 27, 2021 (4 days before fight)
Luana Pinheiro

Cody thinks Pinheiro is a strong prospect with hands and a judo background, training at ATT with her boyfriend Matheus Nicolau. He notes that Randa Markos has lost three in a row and seems to be on a downswing, possibly thinking about retirement. He believes Pinheiro can exploit Markos in many areas and that -170 is a fair price. However, he has low confidence due to the unpredictability of women's MMA and the veteran vs. debutant dynamic.

"i think minus 170 is fair what about you"
DA
Daniel Levi Expert Confident picked Apr 29, 2021 (2 days before fight)
Luana Pinheiro

Daniel Levi picks Luana Pinheiro to win, citing her finishing ability and jiu-jitsu credentials. He acknowledges the risk of a debut egg but believes Randa Markos is declining mentally and physically. Levi notes that Pinheiro's path to victory is takedowns and top control, as Markos has been dominated on the ground recently.

"i'm gonna go uh with luana here because i just don't think randa up here mentally is where she once was"
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Lean picked Apr 30, 2021 (1 day before fight)
Randa Markos

The host picks Randa Markos as an underdog, citing her experience and durability. He questions Pinheiro's cardio since all her wins are first-round finishes on the regional scene. He expects Markos to take the fight into deeper waters and grind out a decision.

Randa Markos by decision at +235; Over 2.5 rounds at -220; Fight goes to decision at -185
"I am going to go with marcos not with the utmost confidence and not just because she's canadian"
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Confident picked Apr 27, 2021 (4 days before fight)
Luana Pinheiro

Paul agrees with Cody, noting that Markos has seen better days and is on a losing streak. He points out that Markos has never won back-to-back fights in the UFC and is getting older. He thinks Pinheiro is a natural finisher with good grappling and striking, and that she looks strong for 115 pounds. He believes Pinheiro can exploit Markos' telegraphing and suspect wrestling. He agrees that -170 is fair but has low confidence due to the level of competition.

"yeah yeah i agree i think rhonda marcos has seen better days"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Apr 25, 2021 (6 days before fight)
Luana Pinheiro

The MMA Guru picks Luana Pinheiro over Randa Markos, expressing frustration with Markos' poor decision-making and lack of effort. He highlights Pinheiro's power and finishing ability, noting she has first-round finishes in her recent fights. He predicts Pinheiro will win by first-round finish, either by submission or KO.

first round finish
"i'm going to be picking luanna pinero here pretty confidently uh confidently to beat random archos and i'll say she gets a finish in the first round as well"
Sam Hughes - Fight History
Decision R3 5:00 · UFC Fight Night: Emmett vs. Vallejos · Mar 14, 2026
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Piera Rodríguez 0 107 of 231 46% 111 of 237 1 of 6 16% 0 0 2:35
Sam Hughes 0 77 of 144 53% 91 of 160 0 of 7 0% 0 0 0:22
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Piera Rodríguez 0 40 of 85 47% 41 of 87 0 of 3 0% 0 0 1:04
Sam Hughes 0 33 of 43 76% 37 of 47 0 of 4 0% 0 0 0:22
2 Piera Rodríguez 0 30 of 63 47% 32 of 66 1 of 1 100% 0 0 1:14
Sam Hughes 0 22 of 37 59% 27 of 44 0 of 2 0% 0 0 0:00
3 Piera Rodríguez 0 37 of 83 44% 38 of 84 0 of 2 0% 0 0 0:17
Sam Hughes 0 22 of 64 34% 27 of 69 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:00
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Piera Rodríguez 107 of 231 46% 52 of 163 45 of 55 10 of 13 72 of 188 34 of 42 1 of 1
Sam Hughes 77 of 144 53% 47 of 110 13 of 17 17 of 17 65 of 132 12 of 12 0 of 0
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Piera Rodríguez 40 of 85 47% 18 of 59 16 of 19 6 of 7 29 of 70 11 of 15 0 of 0
Sam Hughes 33 of 43 76% 13 of 23 9 of 9 11 of 11 30 of 40 3 of 3 0 of 0
2 Piera Rodríguez 30 of 63 47% 15 of 46 13 of 15 2 of 2 17 of 48 12 of 14 1 of 1
Sam Hughes 22 of 37 59% 16 of 29 2 of 4 4 of 4 18 of 33 4 of 4 0 of 0
3 Piera Rodríguez 37 of 83 44% 19 of 58 16 of 21 2 of 4 26 of 70 11 of 13 0 of 0
Sam Hughes 22 of 64 34% 18 of 58 2 of 4 2 of 2 17 of 59 5 of 5 0 of 0
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Hesitant picked Mar 8, 2026 (6 days before fight)
Piera Rodríguez

Angelo picks Piera Rodríguez but is hesitant. He thinks Rodríguez's takedowns will be the key, as Sam Hughes's takedown defense has not been great. However, he warns that Las Vegas judges may not value wrestling, and if Hughes is busier on the feet, she could get the decision. He would not bet Rodríguez and prefers Hughes as a dog.

"But is going to be the pick. Sam is a great dog. That plus three and a half bet a literal guarantee."
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked Mar 9, 2026 (5 days before fight)
Piera Rodríguez

Big Brady picks Piera Rodríguez to win by decision, citing her improved cardio and wrestling since their first fight. He notes her elite takedown numbers (4.5 per 15 minutes, 54% accuracy) and believes she will mix in takedowns and control the fight. He sees the rematch playing out similarly to the first, with Rodríguez winning rounds 1 and 2 and possibly not slowing down in round 3.

"give me Piera Rodriguez. Give me Piera Rodriguez to win by decision."
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Confident picked Mar 11, 2026 (3 days before fight)
Sam Hughes

Cody picks Hughes as a dog, citing her toughness, scrambling, and striking advantage. He notes Rodríguez's takedowns don't lead to control. He thinks Hughes can outwork her and win a decision.

"Sam He at the very least, you know, she's going to fight for your dollar because she's rugged, man."
CO
Connor Ruebusch Expert Confident picked Mar 13, 2026 (1 day before fight)
Piera Rodríguez

Connor also picks Rodríguez, emphasizing that she was consistently ahead in the first fight and has the speed and technical edge. He notes that Hughes's wins come against inexperienced fighters, while Rodríguez is more well-rounded. He sees the rematch as unnecessary but expects a similar outcome.

Rodríguez opened at -200, currently -156; Hughes opened at +170, currently +136
"Yeah, I don't really see the reason to do this again. You know, Sam Hughes can win it and does win it. I don't see the reason to do this again."
LU
Lucrative James Expert Lean picked Mar 8, 2026 (6 days before fight)
Sam Hughes

James picks Sam Hughes as an underdog, expecting a close decision. He notes Hughes' improved takedown defense and cardio, and believes she can win by outworking Rodríguez. He acknowledges Rodríguez's grappling advantage but thinks Hughes can edge a split decision.

"I'm going to pick Sam Hughes. F it."
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Mar 10, 2026 (4 days before fight)
Sam Hughes

The host believes Sam Hughes has improved since their first fight, particularly in strength and conditioning, and that her pressure and volume will be key. He notes that Hughes has better takedown defense now and can get back to her feet quickly, negating Rodriguez's clinch advantage. He expects Hughes to outdamage Rodriguez and win a decision, citing that rematches often play out differently and Hughes is the one who has improved more.

"I'm going to go Hughes here. I like her as the dog."
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Lean picked Mar 11, 2026 (3 days before fight)
Piera Rodríguez

Paul leans Rodríguez, citing her wrestling and previous win over Hughes. He thinks she can get takedowns and control. He acknowledges it's close but favors the wrestler.

"Minus 150 seems oddly fair for something like the biggest question kind of answered in that first fight, was it not?"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Mar 14, 2026 (fight day)
Piera Rodríguez

The Guru picks Piera Rodríguez to win the rematch, believing she will improve her striking and that her grappling will be more recognized by the judges this time. He notes that in the first fight, Rodríguez outgrappled Hughes but lost due to striking, and he thinks Rodríguez's youth gives her more room to improve. He predicts a split decision or 29-28.

"I'm actually going to take her to win this time around... Split decision, maybe a 29-28."
ZA
Zane Simon Expert Confident picked Mar 13, 2026 (1 day before fight)
Piera Rodríguez

Zane picks Piera Rodríguez, noting that she was faster and stronger in the first fight and controlled the grappling exchanges. He believes Hughes struggles against fighters with better athleticism and that Rodríguez's speed and technical edge will again be decisive. He acknowledges a chance for Hughes if she comes in more aggressive, but sees Rodríguez as the likely winner.

Rodríguez opened at -200, currently -156; Hughes opened at +170, currently +136
"Yeah, I don't really see the reason to do this again. You know, Sam Hughes can win it and does win it. I don't see the reason to do this again."
WIN vs Shauna Bannon
Submission R2 1:58 · UFC Fight Night: Imavov vs. Borralho · Sep 06, 2025
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Shauna Bannon 0 13 of 38 34% 42 of 68 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:00
Sam Hughes 0 21 of 46 45% 55 of 84 2 of 3 66% 1 0 5:29
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Shauna Bannon 0 7 of 21 33% 33 of 48 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:00
Sam Hughes 0 13 of 29 44% 45 of 65 1 of 2 50% 0 0 4:09
2 Shauna Bannon 0 6 of 17 35% 9 of 20 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Sam Hughes 0 8 of 17 47% 10 of 19 1 of 1 100% 1 0 1:20
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Shauna Bannon 13 of 38 34% 5 of 20 4 of 9 4 of 9 12 of 33 1 of 3 0 of 2
Sam Hughes 21 of 46 45% 19 of 43 2 of 3 0 of 0 4 of 21 3 of 5 14 of 20
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Shauna Bannon 7 of 21 33% 3 of 10 2 of 6 2 of 5 6 of 18 1 of 3 0 of 0
Sam Hughes 13 of 29 44% 11 of 27 2 of 2 0 of 0 2 of 14 2 of 3 9 of 12
2 Shauna Bannon 6 of 17 35% 2 of 10 2 of 3 2 of 4 6 of 15 0 of 0 0 of 2
Sam Hughes 8 of 17 47% 8 of 16 0 of 1 0 of 0 2 of 7 1 of 2 5 of 8
Play-by-Play
View on Sherdog
Shauna Bannon vs. Sam Hughes
BETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Hughes (-310); Bannon (+250)

Round 1
After a week to catch our collective breaths, the UFC sallies forth to Paris. As part of its annual French fight card series, local fans will be treated to a bevy of European athletes with decent matchups. It all comes to a head with French fighters in the main and co-main attractions, but before then, there are 11 more fights to get through. We commence the festivities with the sole women’s match on the card, one that will play out at strawweight. Bannon (7-1, 2-1 UFC) will look to keep her momentum going as she clashes with .500 UFC fighter Hughes (10-6, 5-5 UFC) who may be better than her resume appears. The two 115ers will be joined in the Octagon by referee Lukasz Bosacki, who clocks them in as they rush towards one another without a fist bump in sight. It’s on with the show.
Advertisement
They both strike at the same time to greet one another, and Hughes lands cleaner and gest Bannon’s attention right off the bat. Reddening up the Irishwoman’s nose with her fists, she prompts Bannon into shooting in for a takedown. Hughes turns the tables against her and tackles her to the mat, and various chants in French boom throughout the surprisingly populated building. When Bannon closes up her guard and slows Hughes down, members of the audience start wooing rudely. Bosacki calls for more action before long, and the crowd starts to turn on the strawweights as the grind has been embraced two minutes in. Bannon lifts her right leg up for a rubber guard, but Hughes completely ignores it and retains heavy chest pressure.
As little else happens besides a few Hughes punches, Bosacki calls for them to do something more. “Sampage” listens this time around, and she slugs Bannon with several powerful blows. Bannon’s eyes go wide as she takes fire, and she grabs hold of Hughes to slow her down. Hughes looks to pass guard, and Bannon uses upkicks to push off her foe’s chest. The upkicks do not slow Hughes, who steps over to a crucifix position and starts hammering “Mama B” with elbows. Bosacki asks for Bannon to fight back as Hughes thumps Bannon up with her elbows, and Bannon desperately bucks to get her arm free and drags Hughes back to half guard. Hughes explodes over to take the back briefly during a scramble, and she settles for side control so she can beat down Bannon further. When Bannon sits up, Hughes tries for a no-hook rear-naked choke. The Irish fighter is able to escape the choke and work to her feet with the wall behind her, and Hughes knees her in the face and pops her with a left hand before the bell sounds.

Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Hughes
Chris Laporte scores the round: 10-9 Hughes
Dayne Fox scores the round: 10-9 Hughes

Round 2
The ladies get right to business, with Bannon knowing she dropped the round and starting off aggressively. Kicks from the Irish athlete fly to all targets, as she sets up one high by starting on the lead leg. Hughes shrugs it off and counters with an overhand right, and a bit of a mouse develops under her left eye. Hughes is tough as nails as she catches a head kick and slings Bannon to the mat, where she punches her foe all the way down to the canvas. Hughes sits comfortably in an open guard, and Bannon hooks her fingers inside of her opponent’s gloves. Bosacki warns her for the foul, and Hughes punishes her for this by bashing her with heavy ground-and-pound. “Sampage” works her way to side control, where she hunts for another crucifix position—perhaps emulating the recent success of middleweight champ Khamzat Chimaev—and this makes Bannon scramble like a madwoman. Hughes allows her to turn because she has set a trap. When Bannon posts of her hands to sit up, her neck is exposed and Hughes knows it.
Hughes snatches up a textbook rear-naked choke, looping both hooks in and securing her grip beneath the chin. Bannon knows her goose is cooked, and she has no choice but to tap out.
The victorious American has performed her first submission—and second finish overall—in the Octagon, while handing Bannon her first stoppage loss as a pro.

The Official Result
Sam Hughes def. Shauna Bannon R2 1:58 via Submission (Rear-Naked Choke)
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Lock picked Aug 31, 2025 (6 days before fight)
Sam Hughes

Angelo is extremely confident in Sam Hughes, calling her his most confident pick on the entire card. He criticizes Shauna Bannon's unorthodox and ineffective striking style, describing her as having low fight IQ and a 'weirdo fight style.' He believes Hughes' relentless pressure, cardio, and grinding ability will overwhelm Bannon, leading to takedowns and forward pressure. He notes the line has moved from -250 to -320 and expects it to go even higher. He also mentions the over 2.5 rounds as a prop.

over 2.5 rounds
"Sam Hughes is my most confident pick on this card. Period. End of story."
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked Sep 4, 2025 (2 days before fight)
Sam Hughes

Big Brady picks Sam Hughes, noting she is a favorite for the first time in her UFC career. He believes this is her easiest fight yet, citing her pressure, cardio, and pace. He mentions she can mix in grappling but is not willing to bet at -310. He predicts a decision win.

Sam Hughes by decision
"Sam Hughes should be able to win this fight. You know, do the better work pretty much wherever the fight goes."
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Sep 4, 2025 (2 days before fight)
Sam Hughes

The host believes Sam Hughes is a great matchup to expose Shauna Bannon as not a UFC-level talent. He expects Hughes to control the fight from the start with her pressure striking or takedowns and top control, grinding out a decision win.

"I feel like this is a great fight for Sam Hughes to showcase that Bannon is not a UFC level talent."
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Sep 3, 2025 (3 days before fight)
Sam Hughes

The Guru picks Sam Hughes because she has a clear method of victory: her wrestling and gritty cardio. He criticizes Shauna Bannon for lacking any standout skill, noting her win over Pujitoma was circumstantial. He expects Hughes to win a close decision by securing takedowns at the end of rounds, which often sways judges in women's MMA.

"I'm going to go with Sam Hughes to win this in the early prelim opener."
Decision R3 5:00 · UFC Fight Night: Vettori vs. Dolidze 2 · Mar 15, 2025
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Stephanie Luciano 0 82 of 251 32% 101 of 273 1 of 2 50% 0 0 1:15
Sam Hughes 0 76 of 152 50% 146 of 233 3 of 8 37% 1 0 4:21
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Stephanie Luciano 0 42 of 104 40% 52 of 114 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:15
Sam Hughes 0 35 of 68 51% 42 of 75 2 of 2 100% 0 0 0:47
2 Stephanie Luciano 0 18 of 44 40% 20 of 47 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Sam Hughes 0 13 of 29 44% 71 of 98 1 of 1 100% 1 0 3:19
3 Stephanie Luciano 0 22 of 103 21% 29 of 112 1 of 1 100% 0 0 1:00
Sam Hughes 0 28 of 55 50% 33 of 60 0 of 5 0% 0 0 0:15
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Stephanie Luciano 82 of 251 32% 45 of 202 23 of 34 14 of 15 79 of 246 3 of 5 0 of 0
Sam Hughes 76 of 152 50% 43 of 113 15 of 20 18 of 19 69 of 144 3 of 4 4 of 4
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Stephanie Luciano 42 of 104 40% 21 of 76 13 of 19 8 of 9 41 of 102 1 of 2 0 of 0
Sam Hughes 35 of 68 51% 21 of 48 6 of 11 8 of 9 32 of 64 3 of 4 0 of 0
2 Stephanie Luciano 18 of 44 40% 9 of 35 7 of 7 2 of 2 16 of 41 2 of 3 0 of 0
Sam Hughes 13 of 29 44% 8 of 24 1 of 1 4 of 4 9 of 25 0 of 0 4 of 4
3 Stephanie Luciano 22 of 103 21% 15 of 91 3 of 8 4 of 4 22 of 103 0 of 0 0 of 0
Sam Hughes 28 of 55 50% 14 of 41 8 of 8 6 of 6 28 of 55 0 of 0 0 of 0
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Confident picked Mar 9, 2025 (6 days before fight)
Stephanie Luciano

Angelo picks Stephanie Luciano over Sam Hughes. He believes Luciano is better everywhere—striking, wrestling, and cardio. He notes that Hughes is a pressure fighter but Luciano won't fade early. He also mentions the plus 3.5 round line as a potential value bet on Hughes.

Sam Hughes +3.5 round line
"Stephanie luchano is going to be the pick and honestly if the odds are just who wins this fight I think the odds are correct."
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked Mar 10, 2025 (5 days before fight)
Stephanie Luciano

Big Brady picks Stephanie Luciano, noting her excellent cardio and output, which should allow her to maintain pace for all 15 minutes. He observes that Sam Hughes' wins come against opponents who slow down after the first 7-8 minutes, but Luciano won't fade. Brady thinks if Luciano can stuff takedowns, she will pick Hughes apart on the feet. He predicts a decision win but does not like the -225 price.

Luciano by decision
"I like Luciano here... I think she wins a decision."
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Confident picked Aug 6, 2025 (fight day)

Cody picks Yur Medeiros, but with low confidence due to his volatile style and durability issues. He notes that Medeiros is a finisher but has been knocked out. He prefers the under on the fight, expecting a finish. He considers Gilbert Urbina as a dog play because of the high line.

Under 1.5 rounds at -155
"I think I this just feels like unders uh for me whether it's fight doesn't or you know I don't know if that line even still exists but uh if you can find an under two and a half and …"
DA
Daniel Vreeland Expert picked Jan 31, 2024 (409 days before fight)

Daniel does not make a clear pick for this fight. He discusses the matchup briefly but does not state a preference or bet.

MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Mar 12, 2025 (3 days before fight)
Stephanie Luciano

The host believes Luciano's striking advantage will prove decisive, though the fight might be closer than odds indicate. He expects Luciano to land more damage and win on the scorecards.

Hughes is always a dog at plus money
"I believe hu uh Luciano's striking Advantage here will prove prove fo for for her it might play out closer than the odds indicate and Hughes is always a dog when she's uh at this plus money but I still …"
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Lean picked Aug 6, 2025 (fight day)

Paul picks Gilbert Urbina as a dog, citing Medeiros's inconsistency and durability issues. He notes that Urbina has a reach advantage and has been off for a while, possibly making improvements. He believes the line is too high and that Urbina has a chance to win, especially if he can avoid early knockout.

"I'm going to take Gilbert or Beina. Strictly a system play. Too big of a line. If one of these big favorites is is is going to do something stupid, it's probably Euros Medic that kind of fights like a, …"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Mar 14, 2025 (1 day before fight)
Stephanie Luciano

The MMA Guru picks Stephanie Luciano, citing her improved takedown defense after facing an opponent who shot 24 takedowns in her last fight. He notes she's tall for the division with nasty striking, planting her feet when she throws punches. He dismisses Sam Hughes as a 'fraud checker' who has beaten prospects but thinks Luciano's takedown defense and striking will be too much. He also suggests judges might rob Hughes even if she wins, so he's confident in Luciano.

"I'm going to go of Stephanie Luciano I don't think the judges will even let Sam Hughes get another fraud check at women's MMA I just don't think so"
Decision (split) (27–30, 29–28, 29–28) R3 5:00 · UFC on ABC: Sandhagen vs. Nurmagomedov · Aug 03, 2024
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Sam Hughes 0 61 of 144 42% 104 of 199 3 of 10 30% 0 0 4:38
Viktoriia Dudakova 0 97 of 193 50% 139 of 240 0 of 0 --- 0 0 2:14
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Sam Hughes 0 25 of 66 37% 34 of 79 1 of 3 33% 0 0 1:24
Viktoriia Dudakova 0 30 of 70 42% 39 of 80 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:33
2 Sam Hughes 0 25 of 53 47% 34 of 65 1 of 5 20% 0 0 1:23
Viktoriia Dudakova 0 41 of 80 51% 54 of 96 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:31
3 Sam Hughes 0 11 of 25 44% 36 of 55 1 of 2 50% 0 0 1:51
Viktoriia Dudakova 0 26 of 43 60% 46 of 64 0 of 0 --- 0 0 1:10
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Sam Hughes 61 of 144 42% 45 of 122 15 of 21 1 of 1 50 of 125 11 of 19 0 of 0
Viktoriia Dudakova 97 of 193 50% 65 of 147 24 of 38 8 of 8 86 of 179 6 of 9 5 of 5
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Sam Hughes 25 of 66 37% 16 of 54 9 of 12 0 of 0 17 of 53 8 of 13 0 of 0
Viktoriia Dudakova 30 of 70 42% 19 of 51 7 of 15 4 of 4 26 of 64 4 of 6 0 of 0
2 Sam Hughes 25 of 53 47% 19 of 46 6 of 7 0 of 0 22 of 48 3 of 5 0 of 0
Viktoriia Dudakova 41 of 80 51% 29 of 66 10 of 12 2 of 2 39 of 77 1 of 2 1 of 1
3 Sam Hughes 11 of 25 44% 10 of 22 0 of 2 1 of 1 11 of 24 0 of 1 0 of 0
Viktoriia Dudakova 26 of 43 60% 17 of 30 7 of 11 2 of 2 21 of 38 1 of 1 4 of 4
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Hesitant picked Jul 28, 2024 (6 days before fight)
Viktoriia Dudakova

Angelo picks Dudakova but is hesitant because the odds are too high for a close fight. He thinks Dudakova is the better fighter skill-for-skill and expects her to wrestle early, but warns that if she lets Hughes pressure, she could have a tough night. He advises against betting the moneyline and recommends the over 2.5 rounds.

Over 2.5 rounds; do not bet moneyline
"I'm going to pick Victoria dudova... these odds are atrocious do not bet on Victoria dudova don't touch the money line Hammer the over two and a half"
BI
Big Brady Expert Hesitant picked Aug 1, 2024 (2 days before fight)
Viktoriia Dudakova

Big Brady acknowledges Sam Hughes is a live dog but thinks Dudakova can go the full 15 minutes without gassing. He notes Hughes has poor takedown defense and striking defense, while Dudakova should do enough to win a close decision. He mentions Dudakova's last poor performance was due to a staph infection on her ass, which should not be a factor this time.

"I'm going to take d toova by decision I think a lot of people are very low on D toova after her last fight against jinu fry and I kind of am as well"
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Confident picked Jul 30, 2024 (4 days before fight)
Sam Hughes

Cody picks Sam Hughes, citing Dudakova's poor performances, weight miss, and medical issues. He notes that Dudakova has low volume and overrated wrestling, while Hughes has faced better competition and is constantly in your face. Cody thinks Hughes can outwork Dudakova and win a decision. He also mentions that Hughes is always an underdog and fights to the last minute.

"I'll go Sam Hughes as well."
DA
Daniel Vreeland Expert Lean picked Jul 31, 2024 (3 days before fight)
Viktoriia Dudakova

Daniel leans towards Dudakova, citing her reach advantage, youth, and takedown ability against Hughes' poor takedown defense. He acknowledges Hughes' higher pace but thinks Dudakova can seal rounds with takedowns and win a close decision. He is not fully confident due to Dudakova's greenness.

"I think I'm gonna lean towards uh dudakova to kind of win a a close decision"
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Aug 1, 2024 (2 days before fight)
Sam Hughes

Hughes is a live underdog if not at a huge physical disadvantage. She should put on a pace and grind out Dudakova, winning at least two rounds on the scorecards.

"I expect her to put on a bit of a pace here and really put dudakova through the grind and at least picking up two rounds here to win this fight on the scorecards"
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Confident picked Jul 30, 2024 (4 days before fight)
Sam Hughes

Paul picks Sam Hughes, noting that Dudakova has not impressed and has had weight issues. He thinks Hughes can make the fight ugly and grind out a decision. Paul also mentions that Hughes is underrated and always gives 100% effort. He believes the line is too wide and that Hughes has a good chance to win.

"I think Sam Hughes can make this grimy get up in her face make it ugly make it close."
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Jul 30, 2024 (4 days before fight)
Viktoriia Dudakova

The MMA Guru picks Victoria Dudakova over Sam Hughes, calling Hughes 'awful' and past her prime. He notes Dudakova is a younger, improving Russian prospect with a win streak, including a win over Maria Silva on the contender series. He expects Dudakova to do enough to win.

"I'm gonna go Victoria dudova she's undefeated... Sam Hughes is just awful"
LOSS vs Yazmin Jauregui
Decision (unanimous) (30–27, 30–27, 30–27) R3 5:00 · UFC Fight Night: Moreno vs. Royval 2 · Feb 24, 2024
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Yazmin Jauregui 0 94 of 269 34% 97 of 272 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Sam Hughes 0 83 of 197 42% 88 of 206 0 of 6 0% 0 0 0:17
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Yazmin Jauregui 0 28 of 88 31% 29 of 89 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Sam Hughes 0 19 of 47 40% 21 of 52 0 of 3 0% 0 0 0:05
2 Yazmin Jauregui 0 32 of 91 35% 33 of 92 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Sam Hughes 0 36 of 75 48% 39 of 78 0 of 2 0% 0 0 0:10
3 Yazmin Jauregui 0 34 of 90 37% 35 of 91 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Sam Hughes 0 28 of 75 37% 28 of 76 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:02
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Yazmin Jauregui 94 of 269 34% 52 of 197 24 of 42 18 of 30 84 of 253 10 of 16 0 of 0
Sam Hughes 83 of 197 42% 40 of 143 17 of 24 26 of 30 80 of 190 3 of 7 0 of 0
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Yazmin Jauregui 28 of 88 31% 16 of 65 8 of 14 4 of 9 22 of 78 6 of 10 0 of 0
Sam Hughes 19 of 47 40% 11 of 36 3 of 6 5 of 5 19 of 47 0 of 0 0 of 0
2 Yazmin Jauregui 32 of 91 35% 18 of 67 9 of 14 5 of 10 29 of 87 3 of 4 0 of 0
Sam Hughes 36 of 75 48% 15 of 53 11 of 11 10 of 11 34 of 70 2 of 5 0 of 0
3 Yazmin Jauregui 34 of 90 37% 18 of 65 7 of 14 9 of 11 33 of 88 1 of 2 0 of 0
Sam Hughes 28 of 75 37% 14 of 54 3 of 7 11 of 14 27 of 73 1 of 2 0 of 0
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Confident picked Feb 18, 2024 (6 days before fight)
Yazmin Jauregui

Angelo is very confident in Jauregui, believing the UFC set this up for her to get back on track. He notes her striking and grappling are impressive, and while she was knocked out quickly in her last fight, Sam Hughes doesn't hit as hard. He trusts the process.

"Yasmin yui is going to be the pick very confident in that pick but Sam Hughes has played spoiler before"
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked Feb 19, 2024 (5 days before fight)
Yazmin Jauregui

Big Brady picks Yazmin Jauregui to win by second-round knockout. He notes that Jauregui is the biggest favorite on the card at -500 and that the matchup is favorable. He praises Jauregui's takedown defense and striking, while criticizing Sam Hughes's hittability and toughness. He thinks Jauregui will dominate on the feet and potentially finish Hughes, though he questions Jauregui's chin after being dropped in her last two fights.

Jauregui wins by KO in round 2
"I'm going to take Yasmin hery here I think it's going to be an absolute beat down minus 500 it's scary but maybe she does look minus 500 when it's all said and done so give me asmin hery to …"
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Hesitant picked Feb 21, 2024 (3 days before fight)
Yazmin Jauregui

Cody picks Jauregui but is hesitant, calling it the coward's way out. He notes Jauregui's durability is a question mark after being knocked out by Denise Gomes, but her takedown defense held against Lendo. He thinks Jauregui has a massive advantage on the feet and is more interested in live betting.

"I will take the coward's way out I will take yadman oriki as a pick here I think this is a fight that I'm more interested in a live betting perspective"
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Feb 22, 2024 (2 days before fight)
Sam Hughes

The host believes Hughes will be the best wrestler Jauregui has faced, despite Jauregui's 100% takedown defense rate (only two attempts faced). He thinks Hughes's improvement at Fortis MMA and game planning will allow her to take the fight into deep waters and win on the scorecards, springing a massive upset.

"I think Hughes will be the best wrestler that y has faced and even though yui showcases at 100% takedown defense rate she's only faced two takedown attempts in her three UFC fights thus far I think Sam Hughes has …"
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Lean picked Feb 21, 2024 (3 days before fight)
Sam Hughes

Paul leans towards Hughes due to the massive plus price. He notes Hughes is 3-1 in her last four, gritty, and has been using more wrestling lately. He questions what makes Jauregui such a huge favorite, as she hasn't excelled in hard 15-minute fights. However, he admits Hughes isn't a power puncher and if it's a striking affair, Jauregui likely wins.

"I think I might take Sam Hughes if for no other reason then the price tag is just ridiculous"
Decision (unanimous) (29–28, 29–28, 29–28) R3 5:00 · UFC 287: Pereira vs. Adesanya 2 · Apr 08, 2023
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Sam Hughes 0 12 of 52 23% 52 of 109 2 of 10 20% 3 0 3:42
Jaqueline Amorim 0 46 of 104 44% 107 of 176 1 of 1 100% 0 1 7:02
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Sam Hughes 0 7 of 25 28% 11 of 34 2 of 2 100% 3 0 3:24
Jaqueline Amorim 0 11 of 25 44% 13 of 27 0 of 0 --- 0 1 0:02
2 Sam Hughes 0 3 of 6 50% 8 of 11 0 of 4 0% 0 0 0:17
Jaqueline Amorim 0 6 of 21 28% 34 of 55 1 of 1 100% 0 0 3:29
3 Sam Hughes 0 2 of 21 9% 33 of 64 0 of 4 0% 0 0 0:01
Jaqueline Amorim 0 29 of 58 50% 60 of 94 0 of 0 --- 0 0 3:31
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Sam Hughes 12 of 52 23% 12 of 42 0 of 7 0 of 3 11 of 49 0 of 0 1 of 3
Jaqueline Amorim 46 of 104 44% 45 of 101 1 of 3 0 of 0 19 of 62 6 of 7 21 of 35
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Sam Hughes 7 of 25 28% 7 of 17 0 of 5 0 of 3 6 of 22 0 of 0 1 of 3
Jaqueline Amorim 11 of 25 44% 11 of 25 0 of 0 0 of 0 5 of 18 6 of 7 0 of 0
2 Sam Hughes 3 of 6 50% 3 of 5 0 of 1 0 of 0 3 of 6 0 of 0 0 of 0
Jaqueline Amorim 6 of 21 28% 6 of 20 0 of 1 0 of 0 3 of 16 0 of 0 3 of 5
3 Sam Hughes 2 of 21 9% 2 of 20 0 of 1 0 of 0 2 of 21 0 of 0 0 of 0
Jaqueline Amorim 29 of 58 50% 28 of 56 1 of 2 0 of 0 11 of 28 0 of 0 18 of 30
Play-by-Play
View on Sherdog
Jaqueline Amorim vs. Sam Hughes
BETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Amorim (-245), Hughes (+205)

Round 1
For the third time in five weeks, the UFC is asking its fans to empty their pocketbooks and shell out $80 for a fight card. This event in Miami, with a championship rematch a mere six months in the making sitting atop the marquee, might have something to offer everyone. The now dozen-bout billing begins in the women’s strawweight division, with a match that would be well-suited for an LFA headliner. Unbeaten Amorim (6-0, 0-0 UFC) will make her first walk to the Octagon tonight, where she meets “Sampage” Hughes (7-5, 2-4 UFC). The first fight of the night begins with a touch of gloves in front of referee Andrew Glenn, and it’s on with the show. Amorim introduces herself with a few sweeping kicks, and Hughes dodges or blocks them all. Hughes paws forward a jab, and she is met with a pair of right hooks from the Brazilian. Hughes claims she was poked in the eye, and Glenn does not recognize it so they do not stop. Hughes walks her opponent down, but she gets countered repeatedly by Amorim. Hughes presses forward with jabs outstretched, and Amorim shoots in from afar with a takedown. Hughes defends from her back with an armbar, but Amorim laughs this off and steps over to a dominant position. As Hughes scrambles, Amorim takes her back and briefly considers an armbar setup. Hughes fights it off and explodes back to her feet, and she elbows her foe in the face before defending another level change. Amorim grabs hold of a single-leg takedown and lifts Hughes off the ground to toss her to the mat like a sack of potatoes. Hughes instinctually keeps her legs high for a potential triangle choke, and Amorim slides through and allows Hughes to move to her knees so she can take the back. Briefly flirting with a kimura lock from the back, she instead gets both hooks in and hunts for a rear-naked choke. Amorim secures the body triangle and strangles Hughes, but the tough Hughes grits it out and fights the hands to defend from the choke. Hughes stands up, and Amorim remains on her back and wrenches on the neck. Amorim locks it down, and Hughes fights the hands again to defend the choke and does so by getting her fingers in the gloves. Amorim switches to a palm-to-palm grip as Hughes falls to her back, and once again Hughes survives while still firmly entrenched in the danger zone. Amorim retains her tight body triangle around the waist, and she abandons the back take to step over into mount and set up an arm-triangle choke. Hughes scrambles and gets slugged in the chops, and she manages to stand up. The round ends as she chases Amorim across the cage.
Advertisement

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

Round 2
Amorim has reached the second round for the first time as a pro, and Hughes appears energized as she pushes forward and drives Amorim to the wall. Amorim jumps to guard, and Hughes backs off and lets her stand up. Amorim swings with a body kick, and Hughes lays into her with a pair of punches. Amorim rushes in for a takedown, and Hughes bowls her over and moves into the guard. Amorim sets up the body triangle off her back, keeping Hughes from dropping down ground-and-pound. Hughes looks to free her hands to bust the Brazilian in the face, but Amorim is clinging tightly and looking to sneak her arm under Hughes’ knee. Hughes wrenches out her left hand to bop Amorim in the nose a few times, and Amorim flails with her legs and pushes Hughes off of her to force the standup. Hughes strides forward with a few punches, and a takedown effort from Amorim is again thwarted by “Sampage.” Hughes makes Amorim stand up again, and she dings her with a few punches. Amorim falls to her back, and Hughes complains to Glenn about grabbing the glove. Amorim fastens the body triangle with Hughes on top, and she postures up in the guard and rains down punches. Amorim turns to pursue a leglock, and Hughes rips it out and stands. Amorim is slow to follow her up, seemingly running out of steam, and she pursues a desperation takedown that is easily stuffed. The crowd rains down boos as Amorim overcommits to a single, and she turns it to a double-leg and ends up pulling guard instead. Amorim goes after a heel hook, but Hughes slides the leg free and stands up. Hughes decides to pursue a single of her own, and she dumps Amorim on her back and holds her there until the horn sounds.

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

Round 3
Everyone and their brother in Hughes’ corner informs her that her opponent is exhausted. The third round opens with a glove touch, and Hughes is the immediate aggressor to pick up right where she left off. Amorim flails feebly with her fists, and Hughes ignores them and gets off a right hand. “Sampage” fires off a high kick, and Amorim flops to her back and looks to tie Hughes up. Hughes escapes, and the Brazilian stands and backs up against the cage. Hughes punts her in the face with a front kick, and Amorim moves to her back again and puts her legs around the waist. Hughes opens up with heavy hammerfists and elbows, and Amorim tries to fight back but is getting into a failed slugfest from her back. Hughes settles down when Amorim gets the body triangle around the waist again, and Amorim turns to a side in hopes of setting up a two-on-one wrist lock. Hughes continues to fight off that kimura setup, all while punching the body and otherwise frustrating the unbeaten fighter. Hughes does not slow her methodical offense, and a long series of left hands land on the jaw. Amorim paws back every time to little effect, and she turns over with the body triangle still in play for an armlock. Amorim is warned for grabbing the inside of the glove, and Hughes does not like this and opens up with some heavy ground-and-pound. Hughes bails on the position and stands up, and a fatigued Amorim stands and backs away. Hughes pushes out a front kick and a few punches, and she has Amorim on the ropes and totally spent. Amorim leans forward for a takedown, but has no energy to secure it, so Hughes pushes her to her seat and pounds on her. Hughes pushes off and stands, and Amorim wings a big right hand and follows with a front kick. Amorim gets caught with a few punches, drops down for a takedown, and the match comes to a close. Depending on the scoring of Round 1, a draw could theoretically be in play.

Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Hughes (29-28 Hughes)
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Hughes (29-28 Hughes)
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Hughes (29-28 Hughes)

The Official Result
Sam Hughes def. Jaqueline Amorim via Unanimous Decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Confident picked Apr 5, 2023 (3 days before fight)
Jaqueline Amorim

Angelo sees Jaqueline Amorim as the clear winner due to her undefeated record, all stoppage wins, and superior grappling with blast double takedowns and a wild array of submissions. He notes she also has legitimate one-punch power. However, he is cautious about betting because Sam Hughes is extremely tough and has UFC experience, which could lead to a fade if Amorim doesn't finish early. He suggests an under 2.5 rounds play might be the way to go.

under 2.5 rounds
"this should be Jacqueline morum all the way she should absolutely dominate this fight"
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked Apr 3, 2023 (5 days before fight)
Jaqueline Amorim

Big Brady is confident in Jaqueline Amorim due to her elite BJJ credentials and six first-round finishes. He notes that Sam Hughes has poor takedown defense (47%) and has been taken down multiple times by previous opponents. He believes once Amorim gets the fight to the mat, it will be over quickly via submission. He predicts a first-round submission.

first round submission
"I like amarine to win this fight I'd like her to not only win this fight I like her to finish this fight in the very first round with some type of submission"
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Confident picked Apr 5, 2023 (3 days before fight)
Jaqueline Amorim

Cody picks Amorim but is slightly hesitant due to the price. He notes Amorim's submission skills are elite and that she finishes fights quickly. He points out Hughes' poor takedown defense and believes Amorim will get the fight to the ground and submit her. Cody says he won't parlay her but thinks she wins. He mentions the under on the fight time as a potential play.

Under 12.5 minutes on PrizePicks
"I'll pick amarim"
CO
Connor Ruebusch Expert Confident picked Apr 6, 2023 (2 days before fight)
Sam Hughes

Connor agrees with Zane, picking Hughes. He notes that Amorim is a great prospect but very raw, and Hughes has shown she can break opponents who expect to win quickly.

"I think those odds should get a lot closer. I think Emory, she's a great prospect, but is a very raw fighter at this point."
JA
Jacob Lines Expert Confident picked Apr 5, 2023 (3 days before fight)
Jaqueline Amorim

Jacob agrees that Amorim should dominate, highlighting her methodical takedown timing and excellent top control. He notes that Sam Hughes's toughness may actually work against her because she scrambles to get back to her feet, which opens up submission opportunities for Amorim. He is concerned about Amorim's cardio if the fight goes past the first round, but believes she is good enough to get the job done early.

"I think Jaclyn should come in and dominate this fight"
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Apr 3, 2023 (5 days before fight)
Jaqueline Amorim

Amorim is a BJJ black belt with all six wins by first-round finish. Her grappling should overwhelm Hughes, who has good cardio but may struggle to stop takedowns. The line at -230 is too wide for a debutant, but Amorim's submission threat is real. I expect her to lock up a submission after getting the fight to the ground.

submission prop
"I think ultimately the strong wrestling or at least strong grappling game of amram is going to allow her to get the position she needs here against Sam Hughes so that she can go on to eventually get a submission …"
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Confident picked Apr 5, 2023 (3 days before fight)
Jaqueline Amorim

Paul picks Amorim, believing her BJJ is elite and that she will take Hughes down and submit her. He notes Hughes has poor takedown defense and has been taken down by many opponents. Paul thinks Amorim's grappling is a level above and that she will progressively improve position. He acknowledges Amorim's striking is unproven but expects her to get the fight to the ground quickly. He suggests live betting Hughes if the fight goes past the first round.

Under 12.5 minutes on PrizePicks; live bet on Hughes after round 1
"I am going to take her I think that uh stylistically this fight probably hits the ground if it does hit the ground it's amrams all day"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Apr 8, 2023 (fight day)
Jaqueline Amorim

The MMA Guru predicts Jaqueline Amorim will win by first-round submission via rear-naked choke. He envisions a scramble early on where Amorim gets Hughes against the cage, executes an inside or outside trip to get on top in half guard, then takes the back as Hughes scrambles and sinks in the choke. He is confident in this outcome, describing the sequence in detail.

first round submission, rear-naked choke
"I'm going with Jacqueline Amore in my first round submission"
ZA
Zane Simon Expert Confident picked Apr 6, 2023 (2 days before fight)
Sam Hughes

Zane picks Hughes because Amorim is raw and has never been outside the first round. He notes that Hughes has been building a functional game and is aggressive with intelligent pressure. Zane also mentions that Amorim's grappling is not complex and she may not get clean takedowns.

"I'm going to pick Sam Hughes here personally."
Decision (unanimous) (29–28, 29–28, 29–28) R3 5:00 · UFC Fight Night: Grasso vs. Araujo · Oct 15, 2022
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Piera Rodríguez 0 83 of 160 51% 89 of 166 5 of 11 45% 0 0 1:56
Sam Hughes 0 69 of 155 44% 78 of 164 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:30
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Piera Rodríguez 0 19 of 53 35% 20 of 54 1 of 3 33% 0 0 0:17
Sam Hughes 0 21 of 56 37% 22 of 57 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:01
2 Piera Rodríguez 0 34 of 51 66% 37 of 54 3 of 4 75% 0 0 1:16
Sam Hughes 0 17 of 43 39% 20 of 46 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
3 Piera Rodríguez 0 30 of 56 53% 32 of 58 1 of 4 25% 0 0 0:23
Sam Hughes 0 31 of 56 55% 36 of 61 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:29
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Piera Rodríguez 83 of 160 51% 32 of 101 42 of 48 9 of 11 47 of 122 33 of 35 3 of 3
Sam Hughes 69 of 155 44% 55 of 135 11 of 15 3 of 5 55 of 140 14 of 14 0 of 1
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Piera Rodríguez 19 of 53 35% 7 of 35 9 of 13 3 of 5 14 of 47 4 of 5 1 of 1
Sam Hughes 21 of 56 37% 18 of 50 2 of 4 1 of 2 18 of 52 3 of 3 0 of 1
2 Piera Rodríguez 34 of 51 66% 13 of 29 17 of 18 4 of 4 19 of 35 13 of 14 2 of 2
Sam Hughes 17 of 43 39% 12 of 37 4 of 5 1 of 1 13 of 39 4 of 4 0 of 0
3 Piera Rodríguez 30 of 56 53% 12 of 37 16 of 17 2 of 2 14 of 40 16 of 16 0 of 0
Sam Hughes 31 of 56 55% 25 of 48 5 of 6 1 of 2 24 of 49 7 of 7 0 of 0
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Lean picked Oct 9, 2022 (6 days before fight)
Piera Rodríguez

Angelo picks Piera Rodríguez, believing she is the more talented fighter with a higher ceiling. He notes that Sam Hughes has evolved into a grappler and needs takedowns to win, but Piera has good takedown defense and inflicts damage in scrambles. He calls it a no-bet situation because Sam is live, but he might bet Sam Hughes by decision (+3.5 points) if the odds drop.

No bet on moneyline; considering Sam Hughes +3.5 points if odds drop
"I am going to pick Bahia here I think she's gonna stuff some takedowns inflict the damage but this is a no bet situation because Sam Hughes is definitely live"
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked Oct 9, 2022 (6 days before fight)
Piera Rodríguez

Big Brady picks Piera Rodríguez to win by decision. He highlights Rodríguez's improved grappling and powerful striking, and notes that Sam Hughes has poor striking defense and takedown defense. He believes Rodríguez is a bad stylistic matchup for Hughes, who relies on grinding but will struggle to get takedowns. Brady expects a competitive fight but sees Rodríguez winning clearly on the feet and possibly with takedowns.

"I like Rodriguez here I like Rodriguez to win by decision"
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Lean picked Oct 12, 2022 (3 days before fight)
Piera Rodríguez

Cody picks Rodríguez, citing her striking advantage and takedown defense. He notes Hughes has been winning with wrestling against weak opposition, but Rodríguez should be able to keep the fight standing and out-strike her. He is hesitant due to Rodríguez's cardio concerns.

"I'm going with uh greasy pierra."
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Lean picked Oct 11, 2022 (4 days before fight)
Piera Rodríguez

Rodríguez is the better striker with power and leg kicks, and her wrestling is on par with Hughes. Hughes relies on pressure and wrestling, but Rodríguez should be able to stuff takedowns and win the striking exchanges. The host expects a decision win for Rodríguez and likes the decision prop at +105. However, the odds are slightly wide, and Hughes could be live.

Piera Rodríguez by decision +105
"I do think that uh Pierre is the side here she'll land the better shots she'll have the better moments and I think that should be enough for her to get her hand raised via decision"
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Lean picked Oct 12, 2022 (3 days before fight)
Piera Rodríguez

Paul picks Rodríguez but is hesitant. He notes Rodríguez has good takedown defense and a striking advantage, but her cardio and ground game are question marks. He thinks Hughes could tire her out with wrestling, but ultimately Rodríguez should win.

"I'm gonna go with Pierre Rodriguez I think that the takedown defense is good enough the Striking is a slight Advantage."
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Oct 11, 2022 (4 days before fight)
Piera Rodríguez

The MMA Guru picks Piera Rodríguez, noting her undefeated record and experience in main events. He believes she has too much power for Sam Hughes and will drop her in the first round, lose the second, and win the third on pace. He predicts a 29-28 decision, citing Rodríguez's sting in her shots and ability to withstand pressure.

prediction: 29-28 decision
"I'm still gonna go 29-28 Pierre Rodriguez with a little bit too much sting in her shots in the first two rounds to allow the pressure of Sam Hughes to take effect"
WIN vs Elise Reed
TKO (elbow and punches) R3 3:52 · UFC Fight Night: Holm vs. Vieira · May 21, 2022
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Sam Hughes 0 17 of 41 41% 70 of 100 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Elise Reed 0 43 of 65 66% 130 of 161 4 of 7 57% 0 0 11:59
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Sam Hughes 0 16 of 35 45% 57 of 81 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Elise Reed 0 15 of 31 48% 23 of 41 1 of 4 25% 0 0 3:38
2 Sam Hughes 0 1 of 6 16% 11 of 17 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Elise Reed 0 13 of 15 86% 55 of 60 1 of 1 100% 0 0 4:49
3 Sam Hughes 0 0 of 0 --- 2 of 2 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Elise Reed 0 15 of 19 78% 52 of 60 2 of 2 100% 0 0 3:32
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Sam Hughes 17 of 41 41% 10 of 34 7 of 7 0 of 0 13 of 37 4 of 4 0 of 0
Elise Reed 43 of 65 66% 33 of 51 6 of 10 4 of 4 7 of 19 6 of 10 30 of 36
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Sam Hughes 16 of 35 45% 9 of 28 7 of 7 0 of 0 12 of 31 4 of 4 0 of 0
Elise Reed 15 of 31 48% 9 of 21 4 of 8 2 of 2 6 of 17 6 of 10 3 of 4
2 Sam Hughes 1 of 6 16% 1 of 6 0 of 0 0 of 0 1 of 6 0 of 0 0 of 0
Elise Reed 13 of 15 86% 10 of 12 1 of 1 2 of 2 0 of 0 0 of 0 13 of 15
3 Sam Hughes 0 of 0 --- 0 of 0 0 of 0 0 of 0 0 of 0 0 of 0 0 of 0
Elise Reed 15 of 19 78% 14 of 18 1 of 1 0 of 0 1 of 2 0 of 0 14 of 17
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Hesitant picked May 15, 2022 (6 days before fight)
Sam Hughes

Angelo picks Sam Hughes based on her grappling performance in her last fight, where she showcased takedowns and control time. He notes that Elise Reed was taken down four times in two fights, making the takedown the difference. However, he acknowledges it's a close fight and that Elise Reed is better than people think. He is hesitant because both women are coming off career-saving wins.

"if sam does what she did in her last fight i think she wins this fight forward pressure high volume and takedowns i'm gonna go sam hughes here"
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked May 17, 2022 (4 days before fight)
Elise Reed

Big Brady picks Elise Reed because she is the better striker with improved takedown defense. He notes Sam Hughes is a walking punching bag with poor striking defense, and Reed should win on the feet. He predicts a decision win for Reed but says he is not betting on this fight.

"give me a lease read at least read by decision there's no way i'm betting on this fight but i'll take read by decision"
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Confident picked May 18, 2022 (3 days before fight)
Elise Reed

Cody picks Reed confidently, citing her superior striking, footwork, and cardio. He notes Hughes' lack of offense and tendency to rely on opponents gassing. He believes Reed will outpoint Hughes from range and avoid takedowns, winning a decision.

"i actually don't mind elise reed and minus 165 like okay i think there's some there's some other fights on this card i am way more on the fence about that have worse price tag so i'm willing to give …"
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked May 21, 2022 (fight day)
Sam Hughes

The host picks Sam Hughes as his free pick of the night at +145. He believes Hughes's path to victory involves grappling, either takedowns or control time against the cage. He expects Hughes to implement her grappling and grind out a win. He is confident enough to bet one unit on her.

over 2.5 rounds (part of totals parlay)
"my free pick is sam hughes one unit plus 145"
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Confident picked May 18, 2022 (3 days before fight)
Elise Reed

Paul agrees with Cody, saying Reed's kicking game and cardio should be too much for Hughes. He notes Hughes' only win came against a gassed opponent and that Reed won't tire. He is confident in Reed.

"i like where your head's at on this card i like where your head's at this time around i think you're gonna be good"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked May 17, 2022 (4 days before fight)
Elise Reed

The MMA Guru believes Elise Reed is better on the feet and can mitigate damage on the ground, working her way back up. He thinks Sam Hughes will get takedowns but the damage from Reed's striking will be too much. He predicts a razor close 29-28 decision for Reed.

"i think she's better than sam hughes i think she's better on the fee i think even when she does get taken down she doesn't really get dominated on the ground"
Expert Picks (7)
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Confident picked Nov 17, 2021 (3 days before fight)
Luana Pinheiro

Angelo picks Luana Pinheiro, citing her power striking, solid takedowns, and BJJ. He notes Sam Hughes is tough but hittable with a negative striking differential, and that Luana's grappling will be the difference. He expects a decision win rather than a finish, as Luana doesn't have one-punch KO power. He mentions the odds are probably correct at -290.

Decision win expected; DraftKings price 9300 for Luana, 6900 for Sam; monkey knife fight more/more
"luanna is the pick"
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked Nov 16, 2021 (4 days before fight)
Luana Pinheiro

Big Brady picks Luana Pinheiro to win by first-round finish. He notes Pinheiro's phenomenal judo and ability to get the fight to the mat, but also highlights her gas tank issues as she hasn't seen the second round in over seven fights. He believes Sam Hughes' 44% takedown defense is a major hole and that Pinheiro will exploit it early. However, he warns that if Hughes survives the first round, the fight could get sketchy for Pinheiro.

first round finish
"I'm going to take her to win by first round finish I think she does get sam hughes out of there"
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Confident picked Nov 18, 2021 (2 days before fight)
Luana Pinheiro

Cody picks Pinheiro but is concerned about her cardio. He notes that all her wins are first-round finishes and she lost a decision when the fight went past the first round. However, he believes her judo and grappling are superior to Hughes's. He thinks Pinheiro will likely finish Hughes early, but if it goes longer, she may fade. He recommends betting Pinheiro inside the distance at plus money to mitigate the cardio risk.

Cody suggests betting Pinheiro inside the distance at plus money rather than the moneyline. He mentions that plus money across the board for her to win inside the distance is available.
"pinero inside the distance plus money is probably something i'm gonna add to the card here"
DA
Daniel Levi Expert Confident picked Nov 18, 2021 (2 days before fight)
Luana Pinheiro

Daniel Levi picks Luana Pinheiro to win by armbar. He notes her judo throws and power, but worries about her panic when fights go past the first round. He criticizes Sam Hughes for being hesitant and timid, and believes Pinheiro will build a 10-8 round early and cruise to victory. He expects a submission finish.

armbar
"give me a luana pinero via armbar"
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Nov 19, 2021 (1 day before fight)
Sam Hughes

Lock likes Sam Hughes as a plus money underdog. He believes Pinheiro has a terrible gas tank and will fade if she doesn't finish early. Hughes is gritty and durable, and Lock thinks she can push a pace that exposes Pinheiro's cardio. He also notes that Hughes won a round off Loma Lookboonmee, showing she can compete. Lock took a half unit on Hughes moneyline and also sprinkled round props.

Sam Hughes round 2 +2400, Sam Hughes round 3 +3000, under 2.5 rounds +100
"I already took a half unit shot on her there and I have a couple round props that I've already played for her as well."
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Confident picked Nov 18, 2021 (2 days before fight)
Luana Pinheiro

Paul picks Pinheiro confidently. He dismisses the controversy around her last fight, stating she looked dominant before the illegal kick. He believes her judo is upper echelon and she will easily take Hughes down. He notes that Hughes has been dominated on the ground by Lookboonmee and finished by Tisha Torres. Paul thinks Pinheiro is a real prospect and Hughes is a card filler.

"i got to go with lana panaro and just hope to the betting gods that she's got more than five minutes of cardio or finishes this thing inside of those five minutes"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Nov 15, 2021 (5 days before fight)
Luana Pinheiro

The MMA Guru picks Luana Pinheiro over Sam Hughes. He notes that Sam Hughes has not looked impressive in her UFC fights, facing tough competition in Tisha Torres and Loma Lookboonmee. He highlights Pinheiro's dominant grappling performance against Randa Marcos, where she took her down five times and out-struck her on the feet. He expects Pinheiro to win on the feet and in grappling, likely by unanimous decision.

"i am going to be going with luanna pinero here"