vs
-176 +170
UFC Fight Night: Costa vs. Vettori · Oct 23, 2021 · Light Heavyweight · Completed
UFC Fight Night: Costa vs. Vettori Next Fight
Age 32
Height 6' 0"
Reach 74.0"
Weight 185 lbs.
Stance Southpaw
Age 35
Height 6' 1"
Reach 72.0"
Weight 185 lbs.
Stance Orthodox
Career Averages - Marvin Vettori
4.74 SLpM
45.0% Str. Acc.
4.55 SApM
56.0% Str. Def.
1.41 TD Avg
43.0% TD Acc.
68.0% TD Def.
0.4 Sub. Avg
Career Averages - Paulo Costa
6.26 SLpM
58.0% Str. Acc.
6.2 SApM
49.0% Str. Def.
0.32 TD Avg
50.0% TD Acc.
80.0% TD Def.
0.0 Sub. Avg
Marvin Vettori
Moneyline
FanDuel -176
KO/TKO
BetRivers +400
Submission
BetMGM +450
Decision
FanDuel +230
Paulo Costa
Moneyline
Caesars +170
KO/TKO
FanDuel +310
Submission
FanDuel +2800
Decision
DraftKings +600
Marvin Vettori - Fight History
SCHED vs Ismail Naurdiev
LOSS vs Brunno Ferreira
Decision R3 5:00 · UFC 323 · Dec 06, 2025
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Marvin Vettori 0 88 of 186 47% 90 of 188 1 of 4 25% 0 0 1:08
Brunno Ferreira 0 77 of 149 51% 77 of 149 1 of 7 14% 0 0 0:05
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Marvin Vettori 0 27 of 49 55% 28 of 50 0 of 2 0% 0 0 0:04
Brunno Ferreira 0 25 of 47 53% 25 of 47 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:02
2 Marvin Vettori 0 31 of 71 43% 31 of 71 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:00
Brunno Ferreira 0 30 of 55 54% 30 of 55 0 of 2 0% 0 0 0:00
3 Marvin Vettori 0 30 of 66 45% 31 of 67 1 of 1 100% 0 0 1:04
Brunno Ferreira 0 22 of 47 46% 22 of 47 1 of 4 25% 0 0 0:03
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Marvin Vettori 88 of 186 47% 78 of 176 1 of 1 9 of 9 86 of 181 2 of 4 0 of 1
Brunno Ferreira 77 of 149 51% 60 of 130 9 of 10 8 of 9 73 of 143 3 of 3 1 of 3
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Marvin Vettori 27 of 49 55% 22 of 44 0 of 0 5 of 5 27 of 48 0 of 1 0 of 0
Brunno Ferreira 25 of 47 53% 18 of 40 3 of 3 4 of 4 25 of 45 0 of 0 0 of 2
2 Marvin Vettori 31 of 71 43% 27 of 67 1 of 1 3 of 3 29 of 68 2 of 3 0 of 0
Brunno Ferreira 30 of 55 54% 21 of 45 5 of 5 4 of 5 27 of 52 3 of 3 0 of 0
3 Marvin Vettori 30 of 66 45% 29 of 65 0 of 0 1 of 1 30 of 65 0 of 0 0 of 1
Brunno Ferreira 22 of 47 46% 21 of 45 1 of 2 0 of 0 21 of 46 0 of 0 1 of 1
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Confident picked Nov 30, 2025 (6 days before fight)
Marvin Vettori

Angelo picks Marvin Vettori, citing his incredible durability and experience against top competition. He notes that Vettori has been fighting the top 10 for years, while Ferreira has not faced the same level. Angelo acknowledges Ferreira's power and judo but doubts his cardio and ability to hurt Vettori. He expects Vettori to weather an early storm and win a decision, and he bet on the over 2.5 rounds.

over 2.5 rounds (bet at -140, half unit)
"Marvin Vettori is gonna be the pick here. I think Marvin gets it done. I even bet on the round over."
BI
Big Brady Expert Hesitant picked Nov 26, 2025 (10 days before fight)
Marvin Vettori

Big Brady picks Marvin Vettori despite calling him 'washed'. He notes Vettori's durability and volume, and Ferreira's cardio issues, referencing Ferreira's loss to Abus Magomedov. He expects Vettori to mix in takedowns, grind on Ferreira, and submit him in the third round.

Vettori by third round submission
"I'm going to take Vtori to, you know, mix in the takedowns, grind on Ferrer, get him tired, and actually submit Ferrer in the third round."
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Confident picked Dec 3, 2025 (3 days before fight)
Marvin Vettori

Cody picks Vettori, citing his durability and volume. He notes that Vettori has never been finished and has gone the distance with top competition. He believes Ferreira relies on early finishes and will fade if he doesn't get them. He thinks Vettori will outwork Ferreira and win by decision.

"It's got to be Marv. It's got to be Marv. Is this where Marv's head actually falls off for the first time? If it is, then then so be it."
CO
Connor Ruebusch Expert Lean picked Dec 5, 2025 (1 day before fight)
Brunno Ferreira

Connor picks Brunno Ferreira, citing that Vettori has lost his way after leaving Kings MMA and now fights without a clear game plan. He notes that Ferreira is a power puncher with submission threats, and while Vettori should win on paper, his recent performances show he is adrift. Connor calls it a vibes pick.

"I'm going to take Fajeta. He seems totally adrift to me. Like he just does not know what the aim is."
DA
Daniel Vreeland Expert Confident picked Nov 27, 2025 (9 days before fight)
Brunno Ferreira

Daniel picks Ferreira, citing Vettori's decline (1-5 since title fight), lack of power, and fading durability. He believes Ferreira's power and finishing ability will be too much, and he expects Ferreira to become the first to finish Vettori in the UFC. He notes Vettori's volume edge but doubts it matters.

"Bruno Hulk Ferra is going to be the first man in UFC history to finish Marvin Vtori."
LU
Lucrative James Expert Hesitant picked Nov 29, 2025 (7 days before fight)
Brunno Ferreira

Lucrative James believes Marvin Vettori has looked washed recently, with declining durability. He notes Ferreira's power and thinks Vettori's chin may finally crack. He acknowledges the risk of betting against a proven chin but sees value in Ferreira as an underdog. He leans towards a KO win for Ferreira but does not predict the method definitively.

"I got Bruno Ferrer here, man."
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Dec 5, 2025 (1 day before fight)
Marvin Vettori

The host notes the opposite recent records but sees this as a step up in competition for Ferreira. He highlights Vettori's never-been-finished durability and Ferreira's lack of decision wins, expecting Vettori to bully Ferreira and pull out the win in deep water.

"Vtori's never been finished and Fera has never won a fight by decision... Vtori puts it on him, bullies him, and pulls his fight out in deep water."
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Confident picked Dec 3, 2025 (3 days before fight)
Marvin Vettori

Paul agrees, emphasizing Vettori's chin and experience against elite fighters. He notes that Ferreira's wins are all first-round finishes and that he has never won a decision. He believes Vettori's size and durability will allow him to outlast Ferreira and win by decision or late finish.

"Marvin Vtori is one hell of a survivor."
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Dec 3, 2025 (3 days before fight)
Brunno Ferreira

The Guru picks Brunno Ferreira to finish Marvin Vettori, despite Vettori's legendary chin. He notes Vettori is becoming more hittable and showing damage, and Ferreira has KO power and submissions. The Guru predicts a first-round finish by TKO or submission.

first round finish
"Brunno Fe is going to finish Marvin Vtori by TKO early in this fight. I reckon I think it's going to be the first or second round."
ZA
Zane Simon Expert Lean picked Dec 5, 2025 (1 day before fight)
Brunno Ferreira

Zane picks Brunno Ferreira, agreeing that Vettori has destroyed his own ability to fight with a good process. He notes that Ferreira is a power puncher with poor footwork but has knockout wins. Zane believes Vettori's indecision and gun-shyness could lead to Ferreira landing a big shot.

"I agree. The head of the game makes no, it is not even a borderline elite middleweight game."
LOSS vs Brendan Allen
Decision R3 5:00 · UFC 318: Holloway vs. Poirier 3 · Jul 19, 2025
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Marvin Vettori 0 109 of 253 43% 115 of 262 0 of 0 --- 0 1 1:17
Brendan Allen 0 111 of 224 49% 119 of 233 3 of 4 75% 0 0 1:27
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Marvin Vettori 0 29 of 58 50% 35 of 67 0 of 0 --- 0 1 1:17
Brendan Allen 0 30 of 55 54% 38 of 64 2 of 3 66% 0 0 1:20
2 Marvin Vettori 0 36 of 95 37% 36 of 95 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Brendan Allen 0 42 of 83 50% 42 of 83 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
3 Marvin Vettori 0 44 of 100 44% 44 of 100 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Brendan Allen 0 39 of 86 45% 39 of 86 1 of 1 100% 0 0 0:07
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Marvin Vettori 109 of 253 43% 98 of 239 5 of 7 6 of 7 99 of 240 4 of 5 6 of 8
Brendan Allen 111 of 224 49% 86 of 194 18 of 23 7 of 7 100 of 210 4 of 4 7 of 10
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Marvin Vettori 29 of 58 50% 25 of 53 1 of 1 3 of 4 21 of 47 2 of 3 6 of 8
Brendan Allen 30 of 55 54% 23 of 46 6 of 8 1 of 1 23 of 45 0 of 0 7 of 10
2 Marvin Vettori 36 of 95 37% 34 of 92 0 of 1 2 of 2 36 of 95 0 of 0 0 of 0
Brendan Allen 42 of 83 50% 32 of 71 6 of 8 4 of 4 41 of 82 1 of 1 0 of 0
3 Marvin Vettori 44 of 100 44% 39 of 94 4 of 5 1 of 1 42 of 98 2 of 2 0 of 0
Brendan Allen 39 of 86 45% 31 of 77 6 of 7 2 of 2 36 of 83 3 of 3 0 of 0
Play-by-Play
View on Sherdog
Brendan Allen vs. Marvin Vettori
BETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Allen (-245), Vettori (+200)

Round 1
Last year, middleweight contenders Vettori (19-8-1, 9-6-1 UFC) and Allen (24-7, 12-4 UFC) met on a casino floor, where their meeting ended with a brawl. The promotion elected to place that inside the Octagon, with referee Bassel Mahgoub in charge. They plan on settling their bad blood, and have the next 15 minutes or fewer to do so. There is no glove touch.
Vettori advances, trusting his iron chin, and he tests it early when Allen wings several high kicks and punches at him. Vettori takes them all cleanly without budging, firing back a right hook that shakes Allen up. Allen retaliates and busts Vettori’s nose up, and he shoots in for a double and hurls the Italian to the mat. Allen’s ground-and-pound makes Vettori turn around, and he takes the back and gets both hooks in. Allen starts hunting for a rear-naked choke, but partially because of the blood, Vettori slips his neck free. The explosive Italian surges up to a knee despite Allen riding him like a bucking bronco, under fire the whole time. Chants for “USA” in support of Allen boom in the building, and he clasps his hands and takes Vettori for a ride. Allen clings on the back but slides off, with Vettori assuming top position and finding himself quickly in leglock danger. Vettori pushes through the sub setup to spin around and deliver fierce ground-and-pound until Allen ties him up.
Vettori uses his elbow to bash Allen in the cheek, and his own strikes briefly have Allen turning around to present his own back. Vettori threatens with a rear-naked choke, and Allen shakes him off and gets to his feet. Allen drives a kick to the ribs, and they both nail one another with looping punches. Vettori’s face is a bloody mess but there may not be many individual cuts on it, and he is unconcerned as he lets his hands go and rings Allen’s bell once or twice. Allen absorbs a body kick and a right hand, and he jabs his man back. Allen tries to put a few punches together, and Vettori hits him harder and makes him reevaluate his approach. Vettori follows a jab with a left hand, and Allen cracks him with a right that sends him staggering back. Allen leaps forward and takes a right hand on the bow, and when he lands, they bang it out to the bell.

Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Allen
Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-9 Allen
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Allen

Round 2
The middleweights measure one another with early jabs, with Allen’ head movement protecting him from most other than a couple straight left hands that reach him. Allen responds with a body kick, and Vettori snaps his head back with power jabs. A huge left hook from Vettori goes wide, and Allen times a solid body shot down the middle. Allen loops two lefts around the guard and points at the Italian, and Vettori returns fire with a pair of one-twos. Allen has busted Vettori up again with his brief but effective combos, and he times an elbow when Vettori comes at him. Allen slams a shin to the ribs and pecks out a jab, escaping out of the way from the worst of a pair of hooks. The two trade it out, with Allen pushing Vettori back after the exchange. Allen snaps out several jabs, rocking Vettori with two subsequent right hands that he celebrates by pointing at Vettori again. Allen walks Vettori down to the wall, cornering him and making him bite on fakes and feints.
Allen is briefly drawn into a slugfest that knocks him back, and he sees the telegraphed hurled arms coming at and past him. When Vettori misses, Allen stabs him in the torso with two front kicks, toes extended. They land at the same time, and Allen counts his connect and hits Vettori again for good measure. Vettori is bloodied and bruised but still throwing just as hard as before, clipping Allen at the end of a left but not slowing him down one instant. Allen is right back in his face with jabs and right hands to follow, and a body kick lands on the belt line as Vettori appears briefly concerned of a foul but does not ask for it to be called. Allen overswings a right hand, and Vettori stands him up with his counter. Allen replies with a right hand and points once more, drawing “The Italian Dream” into a slugfest where he controls the terms of engagement. Vettori knocks Allen back a step with a punch or two, but he cannot get Allen to reset as the pressure may be starting to get to him. Allen wraps his foot upside Vettori’s head, and Vettori drills him with a punch combination right as the horn sounds.

Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Allen
Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-9 Allen
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Allen

Round 3
Reaching the last round, Allen reintroduces himself with a body kick. Vettori does not want to be left out, and he hurls a high kick at his opponent that bangs into the guard. Allen chips at the front leg to disrupt Vettori’s forward movement, drilling him with a one-two after it. Allen pops Vettori in the chops with a right hand, briefly stunning him, but his remarkable durability is on display again as Allen walks him down pointing at him. Allen keeps his right hand up to parry the check right hook coming his way, slipping around another to catch Vettori. Not to be outdone, Vettori hurts Allen with a combination. Allen gathers his thoughts and makes blood spray from the Italian’s face with a thunderous combination, but Vettori does not so much as wobble. Vettori mixes up punches to split the guard with one, and Allen gives him something to think about with one to the solar plexus. Vettori wings a big left hand that skims off the side of the head, and his right that follows hits a little harder. Allen ignores them to work the body with a kick.
Allen keeps on the pressure, celebrating his handiwork when something clean lands and he avoids the response. He does this a few times, as Vettori slows every so often but is still throwing fire. Vettori whiffs with looping punches, and a left hand knocks Allen back a bit. Allen bites down on his mouthpiece and cracks Vettori back. Vettori is a bruiser and stands right in the pocket to trade, while Allen does the same and follows a few punches with a knee that stings his opponent. Vettori a little shaken up, Allen takes him down with a well-timed double. The Italian does not stay grounded for long, exploding back to his feet with a bit under a minute left. The defense falls through the floor for these two, who jack one another in the jaw with everything they still have. Allen lands a left and gets up a head kick on the other side, and his follow-up elbow hurts Vettori. Vettori backs off to the fence, bounces off it and rallies to engage in one final brawl. “All In” obliges him, and the two middleweights bang it out right to the final bell in a blood-and-guts battle that is an early frontrunner for “Fight of the Night” if one is awarded at night’s end. Each round was individually close, so scores could be all over the map here.

Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Allen (30-27 Allen)
Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-9 Vettori (29-28 Allen)
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Vettori (29-28 Allen)

The Official Result
Brendan Allen def. Marvin Vettori via Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Hesitant picked Jul 13, 2025 (6 days before fight)
Marvin Vettori

Angelo picks Marvin Vettori despite being an underdog, citing his durability and consistent forward pressure. He questions Brendan Allen's mental consistency and identity, noting Allen's talent but tendency to underperform. He suggests a plus 3.5 bet on Vettori as a safer play.

Says the bet here is probably a plus three and a half on Vettori.
"The pick is going to be Marvin Vtori. Low confidence in that."
BI
Big Brady Expert Lean picked Jul 15, 2025 (4 days before fight)
Marvin Vettori

Big Brady leans Marvin Vettori, disagreeing with the line that makes Allen a heavy favorite. He argues Vettori has advantages in striking volume, cardio, and durability, and that Allen's best wins are unimpressive. He expects a close split decision, possibly influenced by Allen's hometown.

Vettori by split decision; line value on Vettori at +175
"I'm going to take Marvin Vtori here. ... This fight has split written all over it."
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Jul 16, 2025 (3 days before fight)
Marvin Vettori

The host thinks this is a great matchup for Vettori to keep the fight upright, bully Allen in the clinch and in pocket exchanges, and pull away on the scorecards. This indicates a clear path to victory.

"I think this is a great match up for Vtori to keep this fight upright, bully Allen in the clinch, and bully him even more in the pocket exchanges as he pulls away winning this matchup on the scorecards."
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Jul 16, 2025 (3 days before fight)
Brendan Allen

The MMA Guru picks Brendan Allen over Marvin Vettori, predicting a 29-28 decision. He criticizes Vettori's lack of power and volume, noting that he landed only about 90 significant strikes in recent fights. Allen is described as more versatile with kicks and grappling, though he can be reckless. The Guru believes Allen will mix in takedowns and out-hustle Vettori, who is coming off a long layoff and personal issues. He also notes that Vettori cannot finish Allen and that Allen's chin is durable enough to handle Vettori's shots.

"I'm going to go with Brendan Allen to win this one."
LOSS vs Roman Dolidze
Decision R5 5:00 · UFC Fight Night: Vettori vs. Dolidze 2 · Mar 15, 2025
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Marvin Vettori 0 111 of 220 50% 112 of 221 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Roman Dolidze 0 141 of 338 41% 141 of 340 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:15
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Marvin Vettori 0 19 of 38 50% 19 of 38 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Roman Dolidze 0 17 of 52 32% 17 of 52 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
2 Marvin Vettori 0 20 of 45 44% 20 of 45 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Roman Dolidze 0 31 of 66 46% 31 of 66 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
3 Marvin Vettori 0 22 of 34 64% 22 of 34 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Roman Dolidze 0 18 of 62 29% 18 of 63 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:15
4 Marvin Vettori 0 21 of 43 48% 21 of 43 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Roman Dolidze 0 37 of 71 52% 37 of 71 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
5 Marvin Vettori 0 29 of 60 48% 30 of 61 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Roman Dolidze 0 38 of 87 43% 38 of 88 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Marvin Vettori 111 of 220 50% 72 of 173 8 of 11 31 of 36 110 of 218 1 of 2 0 of 0
Roman Dolidze 141 of 338 41% 85 of 253 20 of 36 36 of 49 137 of 332 4 of 6 0 of 0
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Marvin Vettori 19 of 38 50% 8 of 26 2 of 2 9 of 10 19 of 38 0 of 0 0 of 0
Roman Dolidze 17 of 52 32% 9 of 40 2 of 2 6 of 10 17 of 52 0 of 0 0 of 0
2 Marvin Vettori 20 of 45 44% 12 of 36 0 of 0 8 of 9 20 of 45 0 of 0 0 of 0
Roman Dolidze 31 of 66 46% 18 of 50 2 of 3 11 of 13 31 of 66 0 of 0 0 of 0
3 Marvin Vettori 22 of 34 64% 16 of 26 3 of 4 3 of 4 22 of 34 0 of 0 0 of 0
Roman Dolidze 18 of 62 29% 12 of 50 2 of 8 4 of 4 17 of 61 1 of 1 0 of 0
4 Marvin Vettori 21 of 43 48% 12 of 32 0 of 1 9 of 10 21 of 43 0 of 0 0 of 0
Roman Dolidze 37 of 71 52% 24 of 51 4 of 7 9 of 13 36 of 70 1 of 1 0 of 0
5 Marvin Vettori 29 of 60 48% 24 of 53 3 of 4 2 of 3 28 of 58 1 of 2 0 of 0
Roman Dolidze 38 of 87 43% 22 of 62 10 of 16 6 of 9 36 of 83 2 of 4 0 of 0
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Confident picked Mar 9, 2025 (6 days before fight)
Roman Dolidze

Angelo picks Roman Dolidze over Marvin Vettori in the rematch. He cites Vettori's two-year layoff, a rumored shoulder injury, and Dolidze's progression since their first fight. Angelo notes Dolidze has improved his striking and grappling activity, and he likes the 'win inside distance, decision no action' prop for Dolidze because he can finish and is durable.

Win inside distance, decision no action (Roman Dolidze)
"I got to go Roman here. Roman has picked up the striking activity he's picked up the grappling activity he got the hair done up and I think he can get it done here."
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked Mar 10, 2025 (5 days before fight)
Marvin Vettori

Big Brady picks Marvin Vettori, arguing that the first fight was close but Vettori outlanded Dolidze in two of three rounds. He emphasizes that this is a five-round fight, which favors Vettori's superior cardio and minute-winning style, while Dolidze is not a five-round fighter and needs a finish to win. Brady believes Vettori's takedown defense will keep the fight standing, where he will outwork Dolidze. He predicts a decision win for Vettori, though he expresses concern about corrupt judges.

Vettori by decision
"I got to go vtori here... I think vtori wins this fight and wins it by decision."
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Confident picked Aug 6, 2025 (fight day)

Cody believes Hernandez's weaponized gas tank and constant pressure will eventually break Dolidze, especially in a five-round fight. He notes Hernandez is a slow starter and has durability issues, but expects him to take over in later rounds. He suggests live betting Hernandez after the first round for better value.

"I do got him. I don't love the price, but five rounds is built for three round fight at this price. I'm thinking of the dog. I actually am five round fight. That's enough for me to go Fluffy's way. …"
CO
Connor Ruebusch Expert Hesitant picked Mar 13, 2025 (2 days before fight)
Marvin Vettori

Connor picks Vettori despite acknowledging the X-factors of injury and camp change, because he believes Vettori's Kings MMA programming makes him durable and consistent. He notes that Vettori's style of moving forward and punching is hard to break, and that Dolidze's unathletic brawling may not be enough to overcome Vettori's pressure. However, he expresses concern that Vettori might try to be too technical after the layoff.

Odds: Vettori opened -127, now -149; Dolidze opened +107, now +132. Connor mentions the line seems logical.
"I'm going to take Marvin Vittori still."
DA
Daniel Vreeland Expert Hesitant picked Jan 31, 2024 (409 days before fight)
Roman Dolidze

Daniel picks Roman Dolidze as a plus money underdog, acknowledging the speed and movement advantage of Imavov but believing Dolidze's dangerous finishing ability and durability give him a chance over five rounds. He notes Dolidze's cardio concerns but thinks Imavov fades harder, and that Dolidze's leg lock threat is mitigated by Imavov's training with Ciryl Gane. He is not confident, calling it a tough fight where he could be frustrated if Dolidze gets outpointed.

"I kind of feel like I should just because I'm picking like a plus 150 dog out right but I I'm not delusional and I know what the concerns are"
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Mar 12, 2025 (3 days before fight)
Marvin Vettori

The host expects Vettori to replicate his previous decision win, using his ability to mix it up in the clinch and improved striking to shut down Dolidze's overaggressive nature. He predicts Vettori will outpoint, out strike, and out grapple Dolidze to win on the scorecards.

"I expect him to replicate that result here as I believe his ability to mix it up in the clinch and land his improving striking approach should be able to shut down the overaggressive nature of Del's game look for …"
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Confident picked Aug 6, 2025 (fight day)
Roman Dolidze

Paul thinks Dolidze has improved striking and can exploit Hernandez's questionable standup and body vulnerability. He believes the market has overcooked Hernandez and sees value in Dolidze as a dog. He plans to wait for better odds, possibly plus 300 on fight day.

"I think it's deletes. He's shown more in the striking. Like I the biggest like he he absolutely crushed me against Victoria and there was nothing I could really say about it except for the fact that I really really …"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Mar 14, 2025 (1 day before fight)
Roman Dolidze

The MMA Guru picks Roman Dolidze, believing he could have won the first fight. He notes Dolidze's momentum with three fights in 2024, including wins over Anthony Smith and Kevin Holland, showing improvement. He questions Marvin Vettori's activity and recovery from the Cannonier beatdown and an injury. He thinks Dolidze's finishing potential and size advantage are key, and he predicts a 48-47 decision win for Dolidze, though a finish is possible. He also notes Dolidze is an underdog.

Dolidze is an underdog; predicted 48-47 decision.
"I'm actually going to go with Roman delzy over Marvin vtori... I'm going to say he wins this one 48 47 decision but if there is a finish I think it will go to delzy as well"
ZA
Zane Simon Expert Hesitant picked Mar 13, 2025 (2 days before fight)
Roman Dolidze

Zane picks Dolidze based on the suspicion that Vettori's long layoff and potential camp change to American Top Team could disrupt his game. He notes that Vettori backed up a lot and got hit hard in their first fight, and that Dolidze came worryingly close to outworking him. However, he acknowledges Dolidze's unathletic style and that Vettori is durable and hard to put away.

Odds: Vettori opened -127, now -149; Dolidze opened +107, now +132. Zane mentions the line seems logical.
"I'm going to say to Lizzie just on that suspicion."
LOSS vs Jared Cannonier
Decision (unanimous) (49–45, 49–45, 48–46) R5 5:00 · UFC on ESPN: Vettori vs. Cannonier · Jun 17, 2023
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Jared Cannonier 0 153 of 301 50% 154 of 302 1 of 1 100% 0 0 0:28
Marvin Vettori 0 241 of 411 58% 257 of 428 4 of 6 66% 0 0 3:07
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Jared Cannonier 0 38 of 71 53% 38 of 71 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Marvin Vettori 0 29 of 66 43% 29 of 66 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
2 Jared Cannonier 0 24 of 50 48% 24 of 50 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Marvin Vettori 0 82 of 125 65% 94 of 138 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:46
3 Jared Cannonier 0 31 of 50 62% 31 of 50 1 of 1 100% 0 0 0:23
Marvin Vettori 0 49 of 81 60% 52 of 84 1 of 2 50% 0 0 0:43
4 Jared Cannonier 0 37 of 76 48% 37 of 76 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Marvin Vettori 0 32 of 57 56% 32 of 57 1 of 2 50% 0 0 0:34
5 Jared Cannonier 0 23 of 54 42% 24 of 55 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:05
Marvin Vettori 0 49 of 82 59% 50 of 83 2 of 2 100% 0 0 1:04
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Jared Cannonier 153 of 301 50% 117 of 257 15 of 21 21 of 23 148 of 293 5 of 8 0 of 0
Marvin Vettori 241 of 411 58% 173 of 339 39 of 43 29 of 29 195 of 354 26 of 31 20 of 26
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Jared Cannonier 38 of 71 53% 31 of 63 3 of 4 4 of 4 37 of 69 1 of 2 0 of 0
Marvin Vettori 29 of 66 43% 14 of 51 8 of 8 7 of 7 28 of 65 1 of 1 0 of 0
2 Jared Cannonier 24 of 50 48% 21 of 44 2 of 4 1 of 2 22 of 47 2 of 3 0 of 0
Marvin Vettori 82 of 125 65% 62 of 104 15 of 16 5 of 5 58 of 96 12 of 13 12 of 16
3 Jared Cannonier 31 of 50 62% 23 of 42 3 of 3 5 of 5 30 of 49 1 of 1 0 of 0
Marvin Vettori 49 of 81 60% 36 of 66 8 of 10 5 of 5 41 of 70 7 of 10 1 of 1
4 Jared Cannonier 37 of 76 48% 26 of 63 4 of 5 7 of 8 37 of 75 0 of 1 0 of 0
Marvin Vettori 32 of 57 56% 22 of 46 3 of 4 7 of 7 32 of 57 0 of 0 0 of 0
5 Jared Cannonier 23 of 54 42% 16 of 45 3 of 5 4 of 4 22 of 53 1 of 1 0 of 0
Marvin Vettori 49 of 82 59% 39 of 72 5 of 5 5 of 5 36 of 66 6 of 7 7 of 9
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Confident picked Jun 11, 2023 (6 days before fight)
Marvin Vettori

Angelo picks Marvin Vettori, trusting his chin and pressure. He notes that Vettori's takedowns and volume should be effective against Jared Cannonier, who can be gun shy at 39. Vettori lands more significant strikes and has only lost to top competition. Angelo has a half unit moneyline bet on Vettori at minus 145.

"I'm confident in Marvin here I have a money line him at minus 145. I think Marvin vittori gets it done"
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked Jun 10, 2023 (7 days before fight)
Marvin Vettori

Big Brady picks Marvin Vettori to win by decision. He believes Vettori will implement a wrestling-heavy game plan, pushing Cannonier against the cage and taking him down, similar to Israel Adesanya's second fight strategy. He notes Cannonier hasn't faced many wrestlers recently and has been taken down in the past by Derek Brunson and David Branch. Brady emphasizes Vettori's superior cardio, toughness, and durability, and thinks he can win minutes with control and grappling over 25 minutes. He does not expect a finish but sees a clear path to a decision win.

"I think Marvin vittori is going to go out there with that Israel adesanya game plan... I think he's going to implement that game plan here and I think he will have success."
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Lean picked Jun 14, 2023 (3 days before fight)
Jared Cannonier

Cody initially gravitates toward Vettori due to his elite generalist skills, cardio, and durability, but he reconsiders after reviewing Cannonier's last fight against Sean Strickland, where Cannonier landed 141 significant strikes and proved he can maintain pace for five rounds despite his muscular build. He notes that Vettori's wrestling may not be good enough to take Cannonier down and hold him there, and that Vettori's last fight against Roman Dolidze was a close call where many thought he lost. Cody ultimately leans Cannonier for landing more damaging strikes, but acknowledges the fight could go either way and recommends betting live rather than pre-fight.

recommends betting live; mentions over 2 takedowns for Vettori but doesn't commit
"I think I'm gonna go with Cannon here"
CO
Connor Ruebusch Expert Confident picked Jun 15, 2023 (2 days before fight)
Marvin Vettori

Connor picks Vettori, citing his consistency, durability, and high output. He argues that Vettori is more reliable minute-to-minute than Cannonier, and that Cannonier's lack of a systematic approach will allow Vettori to outwork him. Connor expects a five-round decision where Vettori lands more strikes and edges out rounds.

"I'll take Vittori."
DA
Daniel Levi Expert Confident picked Jun 15, 2023 (2 days before fight)
Jared Cannonier

Daniel Levi picks Jared Cannonier, citing comparable volume but a significant power advantage for Cannonier. He notes Cannonier's high output against Strickland (140+ significant strikes) and believes Cannonier lands the harder shots that impress judges. He expects a decision win for Cannonier, though acknowledges a finish is possible. He also mentions Cannonier's leg kicks as a key weapon and Vettori's susceptibility to them. He got Cannonier at +100 and expects the fight to be close but favors Cannonier's power.

bet at +100, decision likely, leg kicks key
"I jumped on that plus 100 when it was available"
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Jun 13, 2023 (4 days before fight)
Jared Cannonier

Cannonier lands more significant strikes over a prolonged period, similar to what Roman Dolidze did but for longer. Vettori's striking is improving but he will struggle to implement his clinch/grappling game because Cannonier is tough to keep in one spot and difficult to hold down. Cannonier keeps the fight upright, uses leg kicks and movement, and lands big shots down the middle. Vettori is very durable so Cannonier wins by decision.

"I'm gonna go with Jared Cannonier here because I feel like he can land the more significant strikes from a prolonged period of time... give me Jared cannonier by decision"
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Lean picked Jun 14, 2023 (3 days before fight)
Jared Cannonier

Paul agrees with Cody, noting the line has shortened from +130s to near pick'em, which he considers sharp. He thinks Vettori can take Cannonier down but cannot hold him down and maintain position. He likes the over 2 takedowns prop for Vettori but is not fully committed. He leans Cannonier for landing more damaging strikes over 25 minutes but says anything could happen.

likes over 2 takedowns for Vettori
"I'm with you I I'm leaning towards Jared Cannon here just on Landing the more damaging strikes over the course of 25 minutes"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Jun 13, 2023 (4 days before fight)
Jared Cannonier

The MMA Guru picks Jared Cannonier over Marvin Vettori, arguing Cannonier is more dynamic with leg kicks, body kicks, and elbows, while Vettori mostly boxes. He compares their common opponents: Cannonier held his own against Robert Whittaker and Israel Adesanya, while Vettori was schooled by both. He also notes Cannonier knocked out Derek Brunson, while Vettori went to a decision. He predicts a 49-46 decision win for Cannonier.

"I'm gonna be going with Ma I'm going Jared can near over Marvin Victoria... Cannon here has better leg kicks than Victoria"
ZA
Zane Simon Expert Confident picked Jun 15, 2023 (2 days before fight)
Jared Cannonier

Zane picks Cannonier because he believes Cannonier's power will be the deciding factor. He notes that Cannonier is not consistent but has a 'get out of jail free card' with his power, and that Vettori has been pushed out of his fight by power punchers like Whittaker and Adesanya. Zane expects a close fight where Cannonier's power wins out over Vettori's durability and output.

"I'm going to stick with Cannoneer."
WIN vs Roman Dolidze
Decision (unanimous) (29–28, 29–28, 30–27) R3 5:00 · UFC 286: Edwards vs. Usman 3 · Mar 18, 2023
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Marvin Vettori 0 106 of 218 48% 106 of 218 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Roman Dolidze 0 71 of 192 36% 71 of 192 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:14
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Marvin Vettori 0 38 of 75 50% 38 of 75 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Roman Dolidze 0 29 of 71 40% 29 of 71 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
2 Marvin Vettori 0 28 of 69 40% 28 of 69 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Roman Dolidze 0 16 of 50 32% 16 of 50 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:05
3 Marvin Vettori 0 40 of 74 54% 40 of 74 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Roman Dolidze 0 26 of 71 36% 26 of 71 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:09
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Marvin Vettori 106 of 218 48% 60 of 165 8 of 13 38 of 40 100 of 212 6 of 6 0 of 0
Roman Dolidze 71 of 192 36% 52 of 169 11 of 15 8 of 8 67 of 180 4 of 12 0 of 0
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Marvin Vettori 38 of 75 50% 24 of 60 2 of 3 12 of 12 35 of 72 3 of 3 0 of 0
Roman Dolidze 29 of 71 40% 20 of 62 3 of 3 6 of 6 29 of 69 0 of 2 0 of 0
2 Marvin Vettori 28 of 69 40% 11 of 48 3 of 6 14 of 15 28 of 69 0 of 0 0 of 0
Roman Dolidze 16 of 50 32% 12 of 44 3 of 5 1 of 1 16 of 50 0 of 0 0 of 0
3 Marvin Vettori 40 of 74 54% 25 of 57 3 of 4 12 of 13 37 of 71 3 of 3 0 of 0
Roman Dolidze 26 of 71 36% 20 of 63 5 of 7 1 of 1 22 of 61 4 of 10 0 of 0
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Confident picked Mar 15, 2023 (3 days before fight)
Marvin Vettori

Angelo picks Vettori because of his cement chin, incredible cardio, and submission defense. He thinks Dolidze will fade and cannot take Vettori down. He notes Dolidze's takedowns are trash and his only path is a submission, but Vettori's submission defense is good enough. He has a bet on Dolidze inside distance (decision no action) as a hedge.

bet on Dolidze inside distance (decision no action)
"I think Marvin wins I'm not betting actually I do have a bet and the BET's on Roman Romans leads inside the distance decision no action."
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked Mar 14, 2023 (4 days before fight)
Marvin Vettori

Big Brady picks Vettori, citing his higher output (4.20 vs 2.62 significant strikes per minute) and durability (never knocked out). He questions Dolidze's path to victory, as Vettori is tough to finish and Dolidze has low volume. He predicts a decision win, but notes the odds are surprising and he may look for a prop instead.

maybe a prop will stick out
"I'm gonna go vittori to win by decision"
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Confident picked Mar 15, 2023 (3 days before fight)
Marvin Vettori

Cody picks Vettori, arguing Dolidze is a 'comeback kid' who relies on finishing but fades in longer fights. He notes Dolidze's low volume and poor cardio, while Vettori is durable, has solid wrestling, and good cardio. He thinks Vettori wins by decision, possibly with takedowns. He says minus 270 isn't bad and likes Vettori by decision prop.

Marvin Vettori by decision, Vettori over 1.5 takedowns (PrizePicks)
"I feel like Victoria's got him beat out everywhere... probably more of a decision kind of performance... minus 270 he doesn't sound great but some of these favorites you're gonna have to trust"
CO
Connor Ruebusch Expert Confident picked Apr 30, 2023 (fight day)
Marvin Vettori

Connor picks Vettori for his consistency and durability. He notes that Vettori is a roundly solid fighter who doesn't get submitted or knocked out, and he maintains a steady output of one-twos. Dolidze is more of a wild athlete who relies on flashy moments but lacks process. Connor points out that Jack Hermansson was dominating Dolidze before collapsing, and Vettori is a tougher matchup because he won't break. He thinks Vettori's pace and durability will overwhelm Dolidze, who cannot craft a game plan to break Vettori down.

Vettori opened -275, currently -297; Dolidze opened +235, currently +247
"Vittori is simply too meatheaded to lose to him."
JA
Jacob Lines Expert Confident picked Mar 15, 2023 (3 days before fight)
Roman Dolidze

Jacob picks Dolidze, believing Vettori is an emotional idiot who will eventually shoot a takedown and get submitted. He thinks Vettori has no power and Dolidze can land a big shot. He notes Dolidze is undefeated except for a fight where Jacob picked against him. He is riding the Dolidze train until it falls off.

"I think the fight goes to the ground eventually Roman finds his sweep and finds a submission on this knucklehead fighter."
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Mar 13, 2023 (5 days before fight)
Marvin Vettori

Vettori is a strong grappler with good clinch work and durability, though his striking is still developing. Dolidze is on a four-fight winning streak with knockout power, but his striking is technically lacking and he can be reckless. Vettori should weather early storms and use his wrestling to control the fight, likely winning a decision. The minus 300 line is a bit steep but the skill gap is clear.

"I really believe the avatory should have little to no issue in this matchup"
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Confident picked Mar 15, 2023 (3 days before fight)
Marvin Vettori

Paul agrees with Cody, picking Vettori. He notes Dolidze's volume is so low that an elite fighter should be able to do what Jack Hermansson did and extend it over 15 minutes. He likes Vettori by decision at minus 120 and says Dolidze has never been finished but Vettori can outpoint him.

Marvin Vettori by decision
"vittori by decision definitely has my interest this week"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Mar 13, 2023 (5 days before fight)
Marvin Vettori

The MMA Guru picks Marvin Vettori over Roman Dolidze, despite Vettori's sometimes questionable game plans. He notes Dolidze is dangerous on the ground but has poor striking and was easily picked apart by Jack Hermansson on the feet. Vettori outstruck Hermansson and stuffed his takedowns, so he should do the same to Dolidze. He predicts a 30-27 decision for Vettori, warning that if Vettori shoots takedowns he deserves to lose.

Vettori wins by decision 30-27
"I'm gonna go with Marvin vittori over Roman the Lindsay here"
ZA
Zane Simon Expert Confident picked Apr 30, 2023 (fight day)
Marvin Vettori

Zane agrees with Connor, emphasizing Vettori's block-headed consistency. He notes that Vettori doesn't collapse when outsmarted; he just keeps coming. Dolidze is a flashy fighter but lacks the technical foundation to break Vettori down. Zane also mentions that Vettori's takedown defense and ability to stop takedowns are solid. He thinks Dolidze's best chance is a lucky shot, but Vettori's durability and pace will carry him to a decision win.

Vettori opened -275, currently -297; Dolidze opened +235, currently +247
"If Marvin Vittori collapsed every time he was outsmarted, you'd never make it out of bed."
Decision (unanimous) (30–27, 30–27, 29–28) R3 5:00 · UFC Fight Night: Gane vs. Tuivasa · Sep 03, 2022
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Robert Whittaker 0 74 of 166 44% 74 of 166 1 of 1 100% 0 0 0:12
Marvin Vettori 0 33 of 116 28% 38 of 121 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:28
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Robert Whittaker 0 22 of 56 39% 22 of 56 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Marvin Vettori 0 14 of 41 34% 16 of 43 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:09
2 Robert Whittaker 0 25 of 53 47% 25 of 53 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Marvin Vettori 0 10 of 45 22% 11 of 46 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:07
3 Robert Whittaker 0 27 of 57 47% 27 of 57 1 of 1 100% 0 0 0:12
Marvin Vettori 0 9 of 30 30% 11 of 32 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:12
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Robert Whittaker 74 of 166 44% 49 of 138 6 of 9 19 of 19 72 of 163 0 of 0 2 of 3
Marvin Vettori 33 of 116 28% 15 of 94 7 of 10 11 of 12 33 of 116 0 of 0 0 of 0
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Robert Whittaker 22 of 56 39% 15 of 48 1 of 2 6 of 6 22 of 56 0 of 0 0 of 0
Marvin Vettori 14 of 41 34% 6 of 33 5 of 5 3 of 3 14 of 41 0 of 0 0 of 0
2 Robert Whittaker 25 of 53 47% 17 of 43 3 of 5 5 of 5 25 of 53 0 of 0 0 of 0
Marvin Vettori 10 of 45 22% 4 of 36 1 of 3 5 of 6 10 of 45 0 of 0 0 of 0
3 Robert Whittaker 27 of 57 47% 17 of 47 2 of 2 8 of 8 25 of 54 0 of 0 2 of 3
Marvin Vettori 9 of 30 30% 5 of 25 1 of 2 3 of 3 9 of 30 0 of 0 0 of 0
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Confident picked Aug 27, 2022 (7 days before fight)
Robert Whittaker

Angelo picks Robert Whittaker easily, citing his speed, cleaner striking, five-round cardio, and improved grappling. He notes Vettori has a brick head and is hard to finish, so he expects a decision win. He has a moneyline bet on Whittaker at -235 and says the line has moved to -300s.

Moneyline bet placed at -235; line moved to -300s; likely decision win
"whitaker is an easy pick here he's going to be faster have the far cleaner striking"
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked Aug 31, 2022 (3 days before fight)
Robert Whittaker

Big Brady picks Robert Whittaker to win by decision. He argues that Whittaker has phenomenal takedown defense and get-up game, so the fight will stay on the feet where Whittaker is the better striker. He notes that Vettori has a granite chin and has never been knocked out, so a finish is unlikely, but Whittaker should outpoint him comfortably.

"i think whitaker does does win this fight by decision"
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Confident picked Aug 31, 2022 (3 days before fight)
Robert Whittaker

Cody picks Robert Whittaker, arguing that Whittaker is at his best against aggressive fighters who come forward, as he becomes the counter puncher. He notes that Vettori is a 'junkyard dog' who will brawl, but Whittaker's precision, volume, and ability to make mid-round adjustments will be decisive. Cody also points out that Vettori is not a power puncher, so Whittaker's suspect chin is less of a concern, and that the fight is three rounds, which favors Whittaker's cardio. He recommends Whittaker by decision to improve the -210 price.

Whittaker wins by decision
"I'd take Robert Whittaker... the over under set 280 I think to the over and yeah I think this thing's going a decision so if you want to try to improve that 210 price tag on Robert Whittaker almost certainly …"
DA
Daniel Levi Expert Hesitant picked Aug 31, 2022 (3 days before fight)
Robert Whittaker

Daniel Levi picks Robert Whittaker but expresses hesitation, citing concerns about Whittaker's motivation after two title losses and potential drop-off. He acknowledges Vettori's hunger and mental strength, but believes Whittaker is technically superior. He notes that Whittaker has been hurt in recent fights and that Vettori could potentially finish him, but ultimately leans on the chalk. He does not bet the fight himself.

Fight goes to decision; Vettori by KO at +1200 (mentioned by co-host)
"I'm gonna go Whitaker but I'm just sketched about it because at some point I think that drop-off will come I just don't know when it's gonna be"
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Aug 31, 2022 (3 days before fight)
Robert Whittaker

The host is confident in Whittaker, citing his superior athleticism, striking, wrestling, and overall skill. He expects Whittaker to stay at range, land leg kicks, and possibly secure takedowns. He prefers the decision prop at minus 105, as Vettori is durable and hard to finish.

Whittaker by decision (minus 105)
"Give me Bobby Knuckles via decision."
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Lean picked Aug 31, 2022 (3 days before fight)
Marvin Vettori

Paul leans toward Marvin Vettori as a slight underdog, citing Vettori's durability, forward pressure, and wrestling. He is concerned that Whittaker has been hurt many times and may be shopworn from wars with Yoel Romero and Israel Adesanya. Paul believes Vettori's volume and ability to grind out takedowns could be the difference, and that the line is closer than -215/+185. He admits he hasn't bet it yet and will see how weigh-ins go.

"I'm gonna lean ever so slightly to the dogma of inventory to pull off the upset here... I think marvin vittorio obviously is only three years younger but it's like in terms of like robert whittaker's 31 with city miles."
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Aug 29, 2022 (5 days before fight)
Robert Whittaker

The MMA Guru confidently picks Robert Whittaker over Marvin Vettori, stating that Vettori's main problem is talent and skill. He praises Whittaker's boxing ability, footwork, and evolution, noting his dominant win over Kelvin Gastelum. He believes Whittaker will outclass Vettori on the feet with teeps, leg kicks, jabs, and head kicks, and that Vettori won't be able to take him down or outgrapple him. He predicts a 30-27 unanimous decision for Whittaker, with Vettori complaining about the decision afterward.

Whittaker wins by decision 30-27
"i think the main problem that vettori has is talent and skill"
WIN vs Paulo Costa
Decision (unanimous) (48–46, 48–46, 48–46) R5 5:00 · UFC Fight Night: Costa vs. Vettori · Oct 23, 2021
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Marvin Vettori 0 163 of 260 62% 172 of 269 1 of 1 100% 0 0 0:47
Paulo Costa 0 190 of 346 54% 214 of 373 1 of 5 20% 0 0 3:27
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Marvin Vettori 0 35 of 53 66% 35 of 53 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Paulo Costa 0 39 of 68 57% 42 of 71 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:09
2 Marvin Vettori 0 36 of 65 55% 36 of 65 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Paulo Costa 0 40 of 80 50% 40 of 80 1 of 1 100% 0 0 0:22
3 Marvin Vettori 0 17 of 29 58% 19 of 31 1 of 1 100% 0 0 0:24
Paulo Costa 0 31 of 55 56% 47 of 74 0 of 0 --- 0 0 1:27
4 Marvin Vettori 0 30 of 47 63% 32 of 49 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Paulo Costa 0 49 of 81 60% 53 of 85 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:30
5 Marvin Vettori 0 45 of 66 68% 50 of 71 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:23
Paulo Costa 0 31 of 62 50% 32 of 63 0 of 3 0% 0 0 0:59
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Marvin Vettori 163 of 260 62% 82 of 174 67 of 72 14 of 14 154 of 249 5 of 5 4 of 6
Paulo Costa 190 of 346 54% 154 of 307 33 of 36 3 of 3 168 of 316 21 of 29 1 of 1
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Marvin Vettori 35 of 53 66% 13 of 29 18 of 20 4 of 4 34 of 52 1 of 1 0 of 0
Paulo Costa 39 of 68 57% 34 of 62 5 of 6 0 of 0 37 of 66 2 of 2 0 of 0
2 Marvin Vettori 36 of 65 55% 14 of 42 18 of 19 4 of 4 35 of 64 1 of 1 0 of 0
Paulo Costa 40 of 80 50% 29 of 69 10 of 10 1 of 1 36 of 72 4 of 8 0 of 0
3 Marvin Vettori 17 of 29 58% 13 of 24 3 of 4 1 of 1 14 of 24 0 of 0 3 of 5
Paulo Costa 31 of 55 56% 23 of 46 7 of 8 1 of 1 27 of 51 3 of 3 1 of 1
4 Marvin Vettori 30 of 47 63% 16 of 32 11 of 12 3 of 3 28 of 45 2 of 2 0 of 0
Paulo Costa 49 of 81 60% 41 of 73 7 of 7 1 of 1 38 of 66 11 of 15 0 of 0
5 Marvin Vettori 45 of 66 68% 26 of 47 17 of 17 2 of 2 43 of 64 1 of 1 1 of 1
Paulo Costa 31 of 62 50% 27 of 57 4 of 5 0 of 0 30 of 61 1 of 1 0 of 0
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Hesitant picked Oct 20, 2021 (3 days before fight)
Marvin Vettori

Angelo finds this a very tough pick. He initially had Costa but flipped to Vettori because Vettori has more ways to win (grappling, durability). He notes Vettori's takedown accuracy is under 50% and he struggles to keep people down, while Costa has 80% takedown defense. He's worried Vettori will get sucked into a striking match. He ultimately picks Vettori but is not confident. He loves a prop bet on Costa: 'wins inside the distance, decision no action' at -110, meaning if Costa wins by KO he gets paid, if he loses a decision he gets a refund.

loves Costa wins inside distance, decision no action at -110; likes more/more on monkey knife fight (over 117.5 combined strikes)
"i love the palo costa wins inside the distance decision no action bet"
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked Oct 19, 2021 (4 days before fight)
Marvin Vettori

Big Brady picks Vettori to survive Costa's early storm and win late, citing Vettori's durability, five-round experience, and never-been-KO'd record. He notes Costa's takedown defense (80%) and strength make him hard to take down, but believes Vettori's wrestling and cardio will prevail in later rounds. He predicts a fifth-round TKO or submission.

fifth round TKO or submission
"i'm gonna say marvin vittori does win i'm gonna say like a fifth round either a tko or a sub"
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Confident picked Oct 21, 2021 (2 days before fight)
Marvin Vettori

Cody picks Marvin Vettori, expecting to get a better live price after Vettori likely drops the first round. He highlights Vettori's durability, cardio, and experience in five-round fights, contrasting with Costa's questionable cardio and history of gassing. Cody notes Costa's impressive pressure against Yoel Romero but points out his poor performance against Adesanya and his tendency to fade after two rounds. He believes Vettori can take over in rounds 3-5 and recommends betting live after the first round.

Bet live after first round; expects better odds if Vettori drops round 1
"i feel like i want to go with marvin vittori but we're going to get a much better price on him live after he likely drops the first round"
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Oct 22, 2021 (1 day before fight)
Marvin Vettori

Lock picks Vettori based on durability and cardio advantage. He notes Costa's cardio drops after 8 minutes and Vettori's pace will take over late. He expects Vettori to survive early onslaught and finish in rounds 3-5. He also likes Vettori inside the distance and round props.

Vettori inside the distance +250, Vettori round 3 +1100, round 4 +1700, round 5 +2500, under 4.5 rounds -128
"i do like the vitoria line here i don't even mind him up to that minus 200 miles to 20 point because i think his durability will come through and then his cardio will be the beneficiary"
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert picked Oct 21, 2021 (2 days before fight)

Paul initially leans towards Costa but is swayed by Cody's reasoning. He acknowledges Vettori's durability and chin, but also notes Costa's power and the possibility of a knockout. Paul suggests that if betting Costa, the knockout prop at +225 is the way to go. He ultimately agrees that waiting for live markets is the best approach, but does not commit to a clear pick.

Costa by KO +225
"i was thinking costa because i'm just not entirely sure that marvin can just out grapple him early on"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Oct 17, 2021 (6 days before fight)
Marvin Vettori

The MMA Guru picks Marvin Vettori, citing Costa's questionable cardio and mindset after his first KO loss. He believes Vettori's durability, pressure, and activity will allow him to take over in the later rounds. He predicts a rear-naked choke finish in round 4, drawing parallels to Vettori's fight with Omari Akhmedov.

rear naked choke round 4
"i'm going with marvin vittori here as a slight favorite in the main events and i reckon he gets this one done over paulo costa as the rounds go on"
Paulo Costa - Fight History
TKO R3 1:23 · UFC 327 · Apr 11, 2026
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Azamat Murzakanov 0 34 of 70 48% 34 of 70 1 of 2 50% 1 0 0:20
Paulo Costa 1 55 of 80 68% 61 of 86 0 of 1 0% 0 1 1:20
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Azamat Murzakanov 0 7 of 26 26% 7 of 26 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Paulo Costa 0 21 of 31 67% 23 of 33 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:31
2 Azamat Murzakanov 0 23 of 38 60% 23 of 38 1 of 2 50% 1 0 0:20
Paulo Costa 0 19 of 31 61% 23 of 35 0 of 1 0% 0 1 0:49
3 Azamat Murzakanov 0 4 of 6 66% 4 of 6 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Paulo Costa 1 15 of 18 83% 15 of 18 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Azamat Murzakanov 34 of 70 48% 26 of 59 8 of 11 0 of 0 30 of 65 4 of 5 0 of 0
Paulo Costa 55 of 80 68% 27 of 44 16 of 23 12 of 13 44 of 66 6 of 7 5 of 7
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Azamat Murzakanov 7 of 26 26% 6 of 23 1 of 3 0 of 0 6 of 25 1 of 1 0 of 0
Paulo Costa 21 of 31 67% 8 of 14 5 of 9 8 of 8 14 of 22 2 of 2 5 of 7
2 Azamat Murzakanov 23 of 38 60% 16 of 30 7 of 8 0 of 0 20 of 34 3 of 4 0 of 0
Paulo Costa 19 of 31 61% 9 of 17 7 of 10 3 of 4 15 of 26 4 of 5 0 of 0
3 Azamat Murzakanov 4 of 6 66% 4 of 6 0 of 0 0 of 0 4 of 6 0 of 0 0 of 0
Paulo Costa 15 of 18 83% 10 of 13 4 of 4 1 of 1 15 of 18 0 of 0 0 of 0
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Confident picked Apr 5, 2026 (6 days before fight)
Azamat Murzakanov

Angelo picks Azamat Murzakanov, citing his power, wrestling, and knockdowns in every UFC fight. He acknowledges Paulo Costa's recent good performance but is skeptical of Costa moving up in weight and his history of canceled fights. He expects Azamat to bring pressure and suggests a possible over 1.5 rounds bet.

over 1.5 rounds
"Azamat's going to be the pick. Maybe we get lucky enough for a one and a half round line because I do think this is going to go a little bit longer."
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked Apr 5, 2026 (6 days before fight)
Azamat Murzakanov

Big Brady is impressed with Murzakanov's speed, power, takedown defense, and defensive striking. He notes that Murzakanov's cardio has improved and he carries power late. He doubts Paulo Costa's recent performances, citing losses to Vettori, Strickland, and Adesanya. He predicts Murzakanov wins by decision, possibly hurting Costa but not finishing him.

decision
"I like Merzikanov in this matchup... give me Azamat Merzikanov to win this fight and win it by decision."
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Lean picked Apr 8, 2026 (3 days before fight)
Paulo Costa

Cody picks Costa as an underdog, believing he can weather Murzakanov's early storm and outwork him in later rounds. He notes Murzakanov's low volume and Costa's durability, expecting a decision win for Costa.

"I am actually going to take Paul Costa. Very small stakes, but I feel like he weathers the early storm and just outworks him down in rounds two and three."
CO
Connor Ruebusch Expert Confident picked Apr 9, 2026 (2 days before fight)
Azamat Murzakanov

Connor picks Murzakanov, citing Costa's inconsistency and lack of defensive awareness. He notes that Murzakanov is a one-shot knockout artist with excellent timing and defensive awareness, and that Costa's high-volume, low-defense style leaves him vulnerable. Connor also questions Costa's motivation and his move up to light heavyweight, suggesting that Murzakanov's calm, patient approach will allow him to land a clean shot. He compares Murzakanov to Fedor Emelianenko in terms of timing and cage craft.

Odds comment: Murzakanov opened -155, currently -187; Costa opened +135, currently +162.
"I got to take, I got to take Merzicon off just wait, Costa..."
DA
Daniel Vreeland Expert Confident picked Apr 6, 2026 (5 days before fight)
Azamat Murzakanov

Daniel believes Murzakanov is being disrespected and sees him as a heavy hitter with good takedown defense. He thinks Costa gets discouraged in fights and that Murzakanov will box him up.

"I feel like people are disrespecting Mzakanov and I'm going to come out here and pick him and I think that he boxes up Paulo Costa."
DA
Daniel Vreeland Expert Confident picked Apr 8, 2026 (3 days before fight)
Azamat Murzakanov

Daniel Vreeland picks Azamat Murzakanov because he believes Murzakanov is criminally underrated and has been disrespected by oddsmakers. He notes that Murzakanov has heavy hands and good wrestling, and that Costa's cardio and discipline are questionable. He also points out that Costa's move up to light heavyweight may not help his psyche or performance.

"I got Murzakanov here, and I think he's being disrespected again, coach."
DI
Diary of a Pro Gambler Expert Lean picked Apr 10, 2026 (1 day before fight)
Paulo Costa

The host thinks the odds are too aggressive favoring Murzakanov (implied probability 67%) and would cap the fight closer to 50/50. He believes Costa has better cardio and is the more complete striker, while Murzakanov is a better boxer with more power but fades after the first round. He prefers the underdog value on Costa but is not confident in a win.

Likes Costa +3.5 on the fight spread; thinks fight likely goes to decision.
"If I were capping this fight personally, I would probably have it closer to 50/50. I don't really know why Merab Dvalishvili is such a big favorite."
LU
Lucrative James Expert Confident picked Apr 6, 2026 (5 days before fight)
Azamat Murzakanov

James picks Murzakanov, citing his power, speed, and accuracy advantage over Costa, who he believes is on a downtrend and not suited for light heavyweight. He expects Murzakanov to hurt Costa early and possibly finish him.

"I did end up picking Azimat Makanov as my official pick. And I do think he's going to win this fight."
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Apr 7, 2026 (4 days before fight)
Paulo Costa

Costa's durability and volume should be too much for Murzakanov, who relies heavily on knockout power. Murzakanov has been close to losing in several fights and his power may not phase Costa. Costa's athleticism and counter-striking can neutralize Murzakanov's blitzes. Costa looked sharp against Kopylov and can outpoint or even knock out Murzakanov. This is a winnable fight for Costa at plus money.

Costa wins by knockout
"I'm gonna go Costa here to pull off the upset. I think he ends up landing a big shot on Mzakonov."
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Confident picked Apr 8, 2026 (3 days before fight)
Azamat Murzakanov

Paul favors Murzakanov due to Costa's questionable commitment and Murzakanov's knockout power. He thinks Costa may be one foot in, one foot out, while Murzakanov's sole purpose is knocking dudes out.

"Makana is a side for me. What about you? Yeah, I'm gonna go with Paulo Costa..."
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Apr 10, 2026 (1 day before fight)
Paulo Costa

The MMA Guru picks Paulo Costa over Azamat Murzakanov. He is very confident, calling it a 'masterclass'. He believes Costa's speed, body kicks, and technical striking will be too much for Murzakanov, who he thinks is overrated and whose best days are behind him. He predicts a TKO in round two via body kick or similar.

"You're about to witness a Paulo Costa masterclass."
ZA
Zane Simon Expert Confident picked Apr 9, 2026 (2 days before fight)
Azamat Murzakanov

Zane picks Murzakanov, emphasizing Costa's psychological fragility and tendency to fade when pressured. He notes that Murzakanov does a lot of maintenance work—cutting off the cage, feinting, and being defensively aware—which will set up his knockout power. Zane also points out that Costa's only recent good performance was against Roman Kopylov, and that moving up to light heavyweight again raises questions about his commitment. He believes Murzakanov's timing and power will be too much for Costa, who is prone to getting hit and may not want to engage.

Odds comment: Murzakanov opened -155, currently -187; Costa opened +135, currently +162.
"I think this may be one of those fights where that genuinely is the deciding factor. Yeah, because Marzakonov landing a clean shot on Paula Costa may not be so different from Israel, out of Sonia landing a clean shot …"
WIN vs Roman Kopylov
Decision R3 5:00 · UFC 318: Holloway vs. Poirier 3 · Jul 19, 2025
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Paulo Costa 1 99 of 159 62% 102 of 162 0 of 2 0% 0 0 0:13
Roman Kopylov 0 48 of 104 46% 48 of 104 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Paulo Costa 1 34 of 54 62% 37 of 57 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:13
Roman Kopylov 0 11 of 27 40% 11 of 27 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
2 Paulo Costa 0 32 of 57 56% 32 of 57 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Roman Kopylov 0 16 of 32 50% 16 of 32 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
3 Paulo Costa 0 33 of 48 68% 33 of 48 0 of 2 0% 0 0 0:00
Roman Kopylov 0 21 of 45 46% 21 of 45 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Paulo Costa 99 of 159 62% 34 of 89 41 of 46 24 of 24 87 of 141 3 of 3 9 of 15
Roman Kopylov 48 of 104 46% 29 of 79 14 of 20 5 of 5 48 of 104 0 of 0 0 of 0
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Paulo Costa 34 of 54 62% 13 of 33 7 of 7 14 of 14 25 of 39 0 of 0 9 of 15
Roman Kopylov 11 of 27 40% 5 of 18 3 of 6 3 of 3 11 of 27 0 of 0 0 of 0
2 Paulo Costa 32 of 57 56% 10 of 31 18 of 22 4 of 4 31 of 56 1 of 1 0 of 0
Roman Kopylov 16 of 32 50% 9 of 22 5 of 8 2 of 2 16 of 32 0 of 0 0 of 0
3 Paulo Costa 33 of 48 68% 11 of 25 16 of 17 6 of 6 31 of 46 2 of 2 0 of 0
Roman Kopylov 21 of 45 46% 15 of 39 6 of 6 0 of 0 21 of 45 0 of 0 0 of 0
Play-by-Play
View on Sherdog
Paulo Costa vs. Roman Kopylov
BETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Kopylov (-245), Costa (+200)

Round 1
Without a win since 2022, and no knockout victories in over seven years, Costa (14-4, 6-4 UFC) is back in the Octagon after a while away planning on getting a little more green on his ledger. Standing in his way will be fellow knockout artist Kopylov (14-3, 6-3 UFC), with the heavy-hitting middleweights combining for 23 strike stoppages in their 28 pro wins. Referee Herb Dean will don his proverbial hard hat and try to avoid any errant swings. The fighters do not touch gloves.
Costa wants to party immediately, surging into action with punches and kicks to put the Russian on his back foot. Kopylov responds with a left hand that reddens the face of his opponent, and he gets caught with a right hand to sustain a little damage on his mug as well. Costa scores a kick to the inner thigh, bouncing in and out and just brushing the ear with a right hand. “Borrachinha” whips a kick to the ribs after it, and the two men catch one another with single punches. Kopylov recovers first, bouncing in to kick Costa in the stomach. He then kicks the calf, checking one coming back his direction. Costa jabs and opens up with a left hook, with his right hand chambered back ready to go.
Costa works the inside and outside of his foe’s front leg, and Kopylov times one kick to go upstairs with a left hand. Costa drives a right hand to the sternum, and his head kick shakes the hair of the Russian without causing much damage otherwise. He does hammer Kopylov’s front leg with another calf kick, and he goes on the other side to keep Kopylov guessing. Kopylov drills the midsection with a fierce kick, parrying a high kick aimed at his dome and pushing Costa back with a pair of punches. Costa goes to the body multiple times, chaining a right hand behind it that dislodges Kopylov’s mouthpiece and dropping him to his knees. Costa hammers the hurt Russian with short but powerful punches, and Kopylov stands up and circles away while Dean collects his mouthpiece. Dean finds the right moment to give Kopylov his gumshield back, and Kopylov thanks him by landing once more on the Brazilian before the horn sounds.

Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Costa
Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-9 Costa
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Costa

Round 2
As the second round begins, coach and commentator Din Thomas issues pungent criticisms towards Kopylov’s corner for their questionable advice about how Kopylov was succeeding. When the fighters get going in Round 2, Costa is quick to get in his groove, making Kopylov react every time he throws. This frees Costa up to pick his shots, measuring targets to the body and head when finding openings. The power of Costa makes Kopylov think twice about swinging more than once in a row, as he digs two kicks to the body. Costa rifles a right hand down the middle, walking the Russian down to club him a few more times.
Costa dips and rips an uppercut that catches Kopylov off-guard, but it is his straight right hand that damages Kopylov. Costa blasts the body with a kick, not selling out to force a finish as his power strikes are breaking Kopylov down. Costa goes from body shots to big right hands, and Kopylov is stuck not knowing what to do. He briefly presents in a traditional martial arts stance with his elbow high, but Costa pushes that out of the way. Kopylov thanks him for this with a snappy jab, but it is a single shot as Costa evades anything else. Costa picks and pokes with the most painful seeming jabs and front kicks one can imagine, as his teep kick actually lifts Kopylov off the ground once. He chops down the leg a bit more like a lumberjack, and his body work opens up big rights. Kopylov takes body shots on his way in, breaking up what he wants to do other than a reverse crescent kick. Costa marches through the kicks and punches the Russian square in the face. The round concludes.

Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Costa
Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-9 Costa
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Costa

Round 3
Costa marches out to the center of the Octagon to further establish dominance, hammering his Russian adversary’s front with a few kicks. Kopylov splits the guard when leaping in, but Costa is able to back off and wail on him with kicks to any target. Kopylov catches Costa off-balance with another blitz, only for Costa to rebound off the wire and jump forward to clip Kopylov again. The two hand-fight while in opposing stances, with Kopylov kicking the ribs and punching high as Costa appears to be slowing. “Borrachinha” attacks the body and counters a rushing Kopylov with a right hand, and he points at the Russian after tagging him. Costa loads up with a right to the body and then a right to the head. Kopylov steels himself and winds up with a massive right hand that stings Costa, but Costa wags his finger at him.
The mere wag of his finger dissuades Kopylov from diving in to keep attacking, allowing Costa to shake off any cobwebs and launch additional right hands to the busted nose and swollen midsection. Kopylov rifles a left hand up top, standing straight up and eating a low kick. He goes after the Brazilian, lobbing short combos in punches as Costa sticks his tongue out at him. This encourages Kopylov to throw more, only to get caught and backed off by body shots from Costa. The former title challenger shoots for a single, bailing on it and trying a second time so he can knee Kopylov in the liver. Kopylov springs forward behind a crisp right hand, only to slow down right in front of Costa and take right hands on the eye socket. Kopylov swings hard, and Costa rushes towards him to get a clinch. When he lets it go, he strikes the body and staggers Kopylov with a massive overhand right. The Russian is tough as old beef jerky, who bounces back and goes for broke as the fight concludes.

Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Costa (30-27 Costa)
Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-9 Kopylov (29-28 Costa)
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Costa (30-27 Costa)

The Official Result
Paulo Costa def. Roman Kopylov via Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Confident picked Jul 13, 2025 (6 days before fight)
Roman Kopylov

Angelo picks Roman Kopylov, reasoning that in a striking match, Kopylov is the better striker. He doubts Paulo Costa will use his grappling, as he has been a brawler recently. He notes Costa's durability and output but believes Kopylov's technical striking will win.

"Roman's going to be the pick quite literally because I don't think Paula is going to use all of his tools."
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked Jul 15, 2025 (4 days before fight)
Roman Kopylov

Big Brady picks Roman Kopylov, criticizing Paulo Costa's lack of effort and decline since 2019. He notes Kopylov has improved his striking and wrestling, while Costa has regressed. He predicts Kopylov wins by late finish or decision.

Kopylov by late finish or decision
"I'm taking Copilov here. I'll take Copilov to either get a late finish or win this fight by decision."
CO
Connor Ruebusch Expert Confident picked Jul 17, 2025 (2 days before fight)
Roman Kopylov

Connor picks Kopylov because he believes Costa's current style is vulnerable to a dynamic kicking game. He notes that Costa has not been the same pressure fighter since the Adesanya fight and struggles against opponents who use long-range weapons. Kopylov's ability to pressure and chain combinations on the front foot is seen as a nightmare for Costa's hesitant approach.

"I got to pick Roman Kopylov. 100%."
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Hesitant picked Jul 16, 2025 (3 days before fight)
Roman Kopylov

The host acknowledges Costa is a wild card, making it difficult to determine whether to bet on Kopylov. He expects Kopylov to win, utilizing grappling and striking to win on the scorecards, but the hesitation is due to Costa's unpredictability.

"In terms of a prediction, I expect him to win. And I expect him to point out point Costa utilizing some grappling and striking to win this fight on the scorecards."
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Jul 16, 2025 (3 days before fight)
Roman Kopylov

The MMA Guru picks Roman Kopylov over Paulo Costa, predicting a decision win. He criticizes Costa's inactivity and lack of finishing ability, noting that he rarely punches opponents in the face anymore. Kopylov is described as busier and more active, with a reach advantage. The Guru believes Kopylov will pepper Costa with strikes and possibly land head kicks, while Costa's full-force but ineffective style will not be enough. He also mentions a prop bet that Costa will land less than 63.5 significant strikes.

Paulo Costa lands less than 63.5 significant strikes (prop bet mentioned earlier in transcript)
"I'm going with Roman Copilov over Paulo Costa."
ZA
Zane Simon Expert Confident picked Jul 17, 2025 (2 days before fight)
Roman Kopylov

Zane agrees with Connor, stating that Kopylov's dynamic all-levels kicking game at range and pace is the dagger for Costa's current style. He notes that Costa can still fight in bursts but doesn't trust him to show up the right way. He also mentions that Kopylov's pressure will force Costa to fight, which could lead to a fun but dangerous fight for Costa.

"I just don't trust Costa to show up the right way for Kopylov."
LOSS vs Sean Strickland
Decision (split) (46–49, 50–45, 49–46) R5 5:00 · UFC 302: Makhachev vs. Poirier · Jun 01, 2024
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Sean Strickland 0 182 of 402 45% 182 of 402 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:01
Paulo Costa 0 158 of 266 59% 158 of 266 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Sean Strickland 0 24 of 56 42% 24 of 56 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:01
Paulo Costa 0 31 of 43 72% 31 of 43 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
2 Sean Strickland 0 25 of 70 35% 25 of 70 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Paulo Costa 0 32 of 49 65% 32 of 49 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
3 Sean Strickland 0 45 of 83 54% 45 of 83 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Paulo Costa 0 34 of 54 62% 34 of 54 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
4 Sean Strickland 0 39 of 88 44% 39 of 88 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Paulo Costa 0 29 of 53 54% 29 of 53 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
5 Sean Strickland 0 49 of 105 46% 49 of 105 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Paulo Costa 0 32 of 67 47% 32 of 67 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Sean Strickland 182 of 402 45% 104 of 258 67 of 127 11 of 17 179 of 397 3 of 5 0 of 0
Paulo Costa 158 of 266 59% 28 of 100 84 of 111 46 of 55 157 of 265 1 of 1 0 of 0
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Sean Strickland 24 of 56 42% 5 of 18 16 of 35 3 of 3 24 of 54 0 of 2 0 of 0
Paulo Costa 31 of 43 72% 4 of 10 17 of 21 10 of 12 30 of 42 1 of 1 0 of 0
2 Sean Strickland 25 of 70 35% 12 of 40 11 of 24 2 of 6 25 of 70 0 of 0 0 of 0
Paulo Costa 32 of 49 65% 2 of 17 16 of 17 14 of 15 32 of 49 0 of 0 0 of 0
3 Sean Strickland 45 of 83 54% 28 of 56 15 of 25 2 of 2 45 of 83 0 of 0 0 of 0
Paulo Costa 34 of 54 62% 7 of 19 17 of 23 10 of 12 34 of 54 0 of 0 0 of 0
4 Sean Strickland 39 of 88 44% 22 of 61 14 of 22 3 of 5 38 of 87 1 of 1 0 of 0
Paulo Costa 29 of 53 54% 9 of 26 13 of 19 7 of 8 29 of 53 0 of 0 0 of 0
5 Sean Strickland 49 of 105 46% 37 of 83 11 of 21 1 of 1 47 of 103 2 of 2 0 of 0
Paulo Costa 32 of 67 47% 6 of 28 21 of 31 5 of 8 32 of 67 0 of 0 0 of 0
Play-by-Play
View on Sherdog
Paulo Costa vs. Sean Strickland
BETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Strickland (-245), Costa (+205)

Round 1
Fresh off a close decision loss to surrender his title, Strickland (28-6, 15-6 UFC) is back in for another five-round contest. With no belt or main event between them, the UFC still decided to schedule this matchup for 25 minutes. He stands across the cage from Brazilian marauder Costa (14-3, 6-3 UFC), who celebrates about 80% of his wins via knockout even as he has not landed one since 2018. Referee Jason Herzog will take control of the cage for this co-main attraction, and possibly due to their back-and-forth on fight week, they do not touch gloves. Costa rushes out of his corner to strike first, where he lands two hearty leg kicks early. Strickland jabs him back, and Costa chops at him with another kick. Strickland raises his leg preemptively to protect against a few others, with damage showing on it less than one minute in. Strickland walks forward despite the kicks, and he prods out a front kick of his own a few times. Costa catches Strickland walking in with a check left hook, and he swats away subsequent front kicks so he can jab the midsection of his foe. Costa pushes off the chest with a much heavier push kick, and Strickland relies on his own front kick again and again. Even if it does not land, he is making Costa think about it. Costa comes up short on an overhand right, but he does connect with a calf kick that is partially checked. They trade jabs, and the Brazilian aims a one-two to the body. Costa clacks a kick off the calf, and Strickland raises his leg up and keeps walking forward tossing out constant front kicks. Costa circles away and fakes a high kick to draw a reaction, and he kicks low to follow. A jab from “The Eraser” reddens the former champ’s nose, and he kicks Strickland in the side and jabs him in the chest. Practically every other step, Strickland is pushing out with the ball of his foot at Costa’s chest and body. Strickland catches a kick and knocks Costa down with a right hand, but Costa hops back upright without batting an eye. Costa spins with a back kick, and Strickland continues pressuring him with these continuous front kicks. The round ends.

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

Round 2
Strickland does not sit between rounds, instead standing up and watching Costa while receiving advance. He wants to keep fighting, even if he has to take a break. As soon as they resume, Strickland goes right back to his kick spam, as if he were a young child playing a fighting game hitting the same button for one specific strike a hundred times. Costa loads up on power shots to back him off momentarily, and he sits down on a loud low kick that makes Strickland pause. A second kick hurts Strickland’s front leg further, and Strickland’s kick-heavy approach wanes momentarily. Costa attacks that lead leg once more, and he lands a left hand but starts to back off from Strickland’s pressure. Strickland starts prodding his front kicks once more, and Costa stands firm and takes a one-two across the forward bow. Strickland closes distance with this front kick when he is not throwing it directly, and it keeps Costa busy thinking about it enough to stifle most of his own offense. Strickland’s nullifying approach makes the crowd restless, and Costa skips away and hacks down with a low kick that is checked hard. Strickland pokes with kicks to the body, and he snaps the head back with a jab while checking a calf kick. A front kick leads to two punches from the ex-champ, and Costa explodes at him pursuing a takedown, but Strickland tosses him aside. Costa delivers two solid low kicks, and Strickland lifts his leg to shake it out and keeps a poker face. Costa spins with a wheel kick that bounces off the guard, and he backs away as Strickland jabs him again and again. Strickland connects with a stiff jab, and he drops Costa to a knee as the pressure appears to be wilting the Brazilian. Costa stands and sticks his tongue out, and Strickland does not falter in his gameplan of front kicks, jabs and the occasional right hand. This plays out to the bell.

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

Round 3
It takes all of a few seconds for Strickland to turn the game plan back on of front kick after stifling front kick. Even if every other kick actually lands, they add up, and Costa’s midsection is marking up fast. Costa digs a pair of left hands to the body, and he pounds his own kick to the ribs and then goes low. Strickland checks the latter, and he leans back to avoid a left hook. Strickland powers forward, loading up on a combination until Costa bounces off the cage wall and sticks his tongue out. Costa whips a high kick up and it is blocked, and he strikes low and has his kick checked hard. Costa limps away, and Strickland walks him down while touching up him with jabs. Strickland jabs and jabs again, and he pushes Costa away when Costa rushes at him for a level change. Costa thinks about spinning with a strike, but he just twirls around without throwing anything. Strickland chips away at him with jabs and front kicks, and he evades a spinning wheel kick that zips past his nose. Costa lands a pair of low kicks, and the second makes him hobble away. Costa jabs to the body, and he gets his guts kicked a few more times. Strickland comes up short on two hooks, but the straight strikes land regularly. Two jabs, a front kick and two more come from the former champ, who is cruising while Costa is fading. Costa puts all his power into an overhand right, and Strickland dodges as it glances past him. Strickland strings three heavier punches together, and Costa skirts away and tosses a half-hearted right hand that surprises Strickland. The former champion rips an uppercut as Costa ducks, and the horn sounds.

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

Round 4
The middleweights tap gloves as they enter the championship rounds, and Strickland does not need much time before revving up his engines to steadily work Costa over. Costa flails with heavy strikes, and he gets a right hand in, but Strickland lands three of his own, a body kick and a few more jabs. The Brazilian gets off a low kick, and he reaches Strickland with a number of jabs. Costa swipes out with a left hook, and when he has a leg kick checked, he almost falls over from the impact. Costa sells out for a head kick on the other side, and Strickland keeps walking him down and protecting himself from the telegraphed heavy blows. Strickland presses ever forward, jabbing the body and head with punches and front kicks. The approach has been steady and effective, if not overly entertaining. The crowd expresses its restlessness as Costa swings for the fences but hits air, and Strickland does not load up on much while simply outworking his opponent. Costa’s head kicks are blocked, his hooks go wide and his leg kicks are largely checked. Costa gets off a front kick to the body that has much more impact than Strickland’s, and he scores a calf kick that is not checked. He turns and fakes one type of kick so that he can set up a side kick that lands flush on the midsection. Strickland pushes him back with jabs and twos, and Costa slams his left hand on the liver and dings the front leg with another powerful kick. Costa’s kicks are not being checked like before, and Strickland frowns when absorbing them. Costa lands a punch to the body, and he absorbs four punches from up close before backing away. Strickland wings a right hand that bounces into the ear, and Costa stumbles away as the horn blares.

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

Round 5
The fifth round has been reached by the middleweights, and they touch gloves presumably one last time. Costa tosses out two punches and a low kick, and Strickland lifts his leg up to defend it. Costa kicks it again, and Strickland meanders forward with a front kick from either leg. Costa plants his shin on the front leg of his opponent again as Strickland is coming at him, and Strickland rolls to avoid a right hand and checks a low kick to follow. Costa winds up on power punches, and one more leg kick gets checked. Strickland catches a body kick and makes Costa pay for it with a pair of straight left hands before releasing the leg, and the two throw hands at the same time. A body kick from “The Eraser” backs Strickland off for a moment, but Strickland gets back into his rhythm of jab to front kick territory. Strickland has his own body struck from kicks and punches, and Costa doubles down on body shots. Costa kicks the body on the other side, and Strickland jabs him and pushes him away with a teep kick. Strickland’s jab is on point, disrupting Costa’s sweeping strikes. Costa goes to the body with a stern left hand, and Strickland no-sells it and works the body with front kick after front kick. Costa just misses on a one-two, and he barrels forward and pushes Strickland back but does not change levels. Strickland misses the mark on a pair of punches, and Costa snaps his head back with a power jab and sits down on a low kick. Costa reaches his man with a left hook, and he is driven away with a handful of jabs. Costa thinks about pursuing a single, but he gives it up and spins with a back fist as he eats a jab. Costa sits down on a few punches, and Strickland pours it on with a barrage of punches. As Costa bounces off the fence, Strickland boots him in the raised guard with a head kick with enough impact to still put Costa on his seat. Costa springs back up, and Strickland runs at him with a jumping front kick as the long engagement comes to a close.

Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Strickland (49-46 Strickland)
Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-9 Strickland (49-46 Strickland)
Devin Tejada scores the round: 10-9 Strickland (50-45 Strickland)

The Official Result
Sean Strickland def. Paulo Costa via Split Decision (46-49, 50-45, 49-46)
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Confident picked May 26, 2024 (6 days before fight)
Sean Strickland

Angelo picks Sean Strickland because of his dependability and the Philly shell defense. He acknowledges Paulo Costa's power and cardio but believes Strickland's volume and durability will win a decision, especially in a five-round fight. He notes that Costa might try wrestling after seeing Dricus du Plessis take Strickland down, but still favors Strickland.

"I am going to pick Sean Strickland here because he is dependable and I trust the Philly shell"
BI
Big Brady Expert Lean picked May 31, 2024 (1 day before fight)
Sean Strickland

Big Brady likes Sean Strickland at 8,800 because it's a five-round fight, giving Strickland 25 minutes to rack up volume (6 significant strikes per minute). He thinks Strickland's pace will add up and he could even get a late finish. He also likes Paulo Costa in cash games for the same five-round volume, noting Costa's durability and potential takedowns. He sees Costa as a live dog but expects Strickland to win a decision or late finish.

Sean Strickland wins by decision or late finish, Paulo Costa goes five rounds and scores well in cash
"I don't mind some Shan Strickland 8,800 just because it is five rounds and he's going to have 25 minutes to rack up that volume"
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Confident picked May 29, 2024 (3 days before fight)
Sean Strickland

Cody picks Strickland, highlighting his jab and reach advantage. He notes Strickland's durability and volume, and believes Costa's power is overrated (last KO of note was Uriah Hall in 2018). Cody expects Strickland to drown Costa with pressure and volume, possibly getting a late stoppage. He mentions Strickland's experience in five-round fights and Costa's lack thereof.

Strickland inside the distance
"Strickland's a former champion... his number one weapon is his jab... he's got a 76 inch reach which is long for the division... I got Strickland by stoppage."
DA
Daniel Vreeland Expert Lean picked May 28, 2024 (4 days before fight)
Sean Strickland

Daniel notes that Costa can compete at this level but questions if he can win. He highlights Strickland's insane output and Philly shell, and expects Strickland to edge a decision with higher volume. He acknowledges either could get knocked out but leans Strickland.

"I'm gonna lean him with Strickland in that fight"
DA
Daniel Vreeland Expert Confident picked May 30, 2024 (2 days before fight)
Paulo Costa

Daniel Vreeland also picks Costa, agreeing with Fox. He was initially concerned about the 25-minute fight but was reassured by Costa's performance against Whittaker. Vreeland notes Strickland won't grapple and Costa is a decent grappler anyway. He sees risk standing with Costa for 25 minutes but believes Costa's power and durability give him the edge.

"I'm glad you didn't talk me out of Costa because he was the one I had my name down"
JE
Jeff Fox Expert Confident picked May 30, 2024 (2 days before fight)
Paulo Costa

Jeff Fox picks Paulo Costa at +200, citing that Strickland's five-round losses (to Jared Cannonier and Dricus du Plessis) came because opponents landed harder shots that judges value more. He believes Costa will land the bigger shots and notes Costa's strong performance against Robert Whittaker. Fox thinks Costa can take three rounds and possibly win a split decision, and he's not worried about Strickland wrestling.

split decision
"I'm gonna say Paulo Costa is going to come in here he's going to land the bigger shots"
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked May 27, 2024 (5 days before fight)
Paulo Costa

The host believes Costa's power punching is the key to beating Strickland, who has struggled against power punchers. Costa's ability to land big shots over five rounds could lead to a knockout or sway judges with damage. The host notes Costa's recent activity and motivation, and sees value at +205, picking Costa by knockout.

knockout
"I'm going to take Costa here, I'm going to take Costa by knockout as well."
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Confident picked May 29, 2024 (3 days before fight)
Sean Strickland

Paul picks Strickland, emphasizing volume advantage. He notes Costa can land big shots but lacks volume; Strickland will put up 200+ significant strikes while Costa struggles to reach 100. He expects Strickland by decision or late stoppage, and mentions Strickland's reach advantage (76-inch reach vs Costa's 72-inch). He also notes Costa's poor body language and cardio in past fights.

Strickland by decision or late stoppage
"I feel like this fight really comes down to volume... Strickland's going to put up 200 significant strikes and Costa would be lucky to get up to upwards of 100."
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked May 27, 2024 (5 days before fight)
Sean Strickland

The MMA Guru picks Sean Strickland, noting that Costa is inconsistent and has been effectively jabbed before. He believes Strickland can survive Costa's early pressure and take over in later rounds. He predicts Strickland by TKO in rounds 4 or 5. He acknowledges Costa's dangerous right hand and head kick but trusts Strickland's durability.

Strickland by TKO round 4 or 5
"I'm going to go with Strickland to win this fight by TKO in the later rounds"
Decision (unanimous) (29–28, 29–28, 30–27) R3 5:00 · UFC 298: Volkanovski vs. Topuria · Feb 17, 2024
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Robert Whittaker 0 95 of 175 54% 95 of 175 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:00
Paulo Costa 0 67 of 151 44% 67 of 151 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Robert Whittaker 0 38 of 62 61% 38 of 62 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Paulo Costa 0 27 of 49 55% 27 of 49 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
2 Robert Whittaker 0 32 of 55 58% 32 of 55 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Paulo Costa 0 26 of 54 48% 26 of 54 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
3 Robert Whittaker 0 25 of 58 43% 25 of 58 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:00
Paulo Costa 0 14 of 48 29% 14 of 48 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Robert Whittaker 95 of 175 54% 63 of 143 4 of 4 28 of 28 95 of 172 0 of 3 0 of 0
Paulo Costa 67 of 151 44% 39 of 117 8 of 12 20 of 22 67 of 151 0 of 0 0 of 0
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Robert Whittaker 38 of 62 61% 26 of 50 1 of 1 11 of 11 38 of 61 0 of 1 0 of 0
Paulo Costa 27 of 49 55% 16 of 38 4 of 4 7 of 7 27 of 49 0 of 0 0 of 0
2 Robert Whittaker 32 of 55 58% 20 of 43 3 of 3 9 of 9 32 of 55 0 of 0 0 of 0
Paulo Costa 26 of 54 48% 16 of 43 2 of 3 8 of 8 26 of 54 0 of 0 0 of 0
3 Robert Whittaker 25 of 58 43% 17 of 50 0 of 0 8 of 8 25 of 56 0 of 2 0 of 0
Paulo Costa 14 of 48 29% 7 of 36 2 of 5 5 of 7 14 of 48 0 of 0 0 of 0
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Confident picked Feb 11, 2024 (6 days before fight)
Robert Whittaker

Angelo picks Robert Whittaker, citing his well-roundedness, diverse striking, and takedowns. He notes Costa's power and durability but questions his activity. He is slightly worried about Whittaker's chin after the Dricus loss but believes Whittaker's resume and skills outweigh Costa's. He will leave Whittaker out of the safety parlay.

"I'm still going to pick Whitaker here I'm probably gonna leave him out of the safety parlay as well"
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked Feb 13, 2024 (4 days before fight)
Robert Whittaker

Big Brady picks Robert Whittaker to win by decision. He questions Costa's motivation and activity, noting he's fought only twice in five years and didn't look impressive against Luke Rockhold. He believes Whittaker is the better fighter and more hungry, though he acknowledges Costa's durability and power. He says if Costa doesn't pull out, Whittaker should win a decision.

Whittaker by decision
"give me Robert Whitaker Robert Whitaker by decision this fight doesn't happen probably"
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Confident picked Feb 14, 2024 (3 days before fight)
Robert Whittaker

Cody picks Whittaker, citing his higher volume and tactical approach. He notes that Costa's knockout of Luke Rockhold is less impressive given Rockhold's chin issues. He mentions the over 1.5 rounds total has been steamed, suggesting a decision win for Whittaker. He acknowledges the risk of Costa landing a bomb but trusts Whittaker's jab and fight IQ.

over 1.5 rounds (mentioned as steamed line)
"Whitaker is going to be the pick for me as well I think he just throws more volume is a little bit more tactical in his approach he has to avoid the bomb but it's like..."
DA
Daniel Vreeland Expert Confident picked Feb 13, 2024 (4 days before fight)
Robert Whittaker

Daniel Vreeland picks Robert Whittaker, arguing that Paulo Costa was never that great and has only one win since the pandemic (over an aged Luke Rockhold). He notes Whittaker's losses are only to champions (Adesanya and du Plessis) and that he has a cleaner striking game and better counter-striking. He expects Whittaker to get reads on Costa and outpoint him, possibly finishing late.

"I feel like Paulo Costa was never that great... I think Whitaker's gonna beat Costa."
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Feb 15, 2024 (2 days before fight)
Robert Whittaker

Whittaker uses a cagey style, blitzing in and out with hands and kicks. He has underrated wrestling to implement. If he avoids Costa's power, he should win on the scorecards.

"I think if he's able to stay away from the big Power that Costa presents he should be able to get up on the judges scorecards and win this fight"
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Hesitant picked Feb 14, 2024 (3 days before fight)
Robert Whittaker

Paul acknowledges Whittaker's superior technique, speed, and experience but worries about his durability due to past knockouts and damage from Romero, Adesanya, and DDP. He notes Costa's power and the threat of a one-punch KO, but points out Costa's wins are over shopworn or lower-level opponents. He ultimately picks Whittaker by decision, trusting his jab and footwork to outpoint Costa.

Whittaker by decision (mentioned as potential prop)
"I just got to go with the better technique the cleaner guy uh to I think just win a decision I don't see him knocking out Paul a Costa but again I think with his footwork in his jab stay …"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Feb 13, 2024 (4 days before fight)
Robert Whittaker

The MMA Guru picks Robert Whittaker, citing his speed and movement, and the bigger cage favoring him. He criticizes Paulo Costa's recent performance against Luke Rockhold and his inability to close distance effectively. He notes Whittaker's reach advantage and believes Costa's orthodox stance will be easier to read than Dricus du Plessis's unorthodox style. He predicts a sting-and-move masterclass.

I love this being in the bigger cage by the way that's a huge part of this fight.
"I'm going for Robert Whittaker here... Whitaker speed will shock him and stumble him off balance."
WIN vs Luke Rockhold
Decision (unanimous) (30–27, 30–27, 30–27) R3 5:00 · UFC 278: Usman vs. Edwards 2 · Aug 20, 2022
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Paulo Costa 0 73 of 103 70% 106 of 137 2 of 2 100% 0 0 5:28
Luke Rockhold 0 51 of 70 72% 57 of 78 1 of 4 25% 0 1 0:47
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Paulo Costa 0 27 of 34 79% 56 of 64 1 of 1 100% 0 0 2:48
Luke Rockhold 0 19 of 23 82% 19 of 23 0 of 2 0% 0 0 0:03
2 Paulo Costa 0 30 of 42 71% 31 of 43 1 of 1 100% 0 0 0:17
Luke Rockhold 0 23 of 35 65% 23 of 35 1 of 1 100% 0 0 0:12
3 Paulo Costa 0 16 of 27 59% 19 of 30 0 of 0 --- 0 0 2:23
Luke Rockhold 0 9 of 12 75% 15 of 20 0 of 1 0% 0 1 0:32
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Paulo Costa 73 of 103 70% 37 of 61 33 of 39 3 of 3 53 of 80 3 of 4 17 of 19
Luke Rockhold 51 of 70 72% 23 of 40 23 of 25 5 of 5 48 of 67 2 of 2 1 of 1
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Paulo Costa 27 of 34 79% 13 of 19 13 of 14 1 of 1 11 of 15 2 of 3 14 of 16
Luke Rockhold 19 of 23 82% 6 of 8 11 of 13 2 of 2 17 of 21 2 of 2 0 of 0
2 Paulo Costa 30 of 42 71% 14 of 22 14 of 18 2 of 2 29 of 41 1 of 1 0 of 0
Luke Rockhold 23 of 35 65% 11 of 23 9 of 9 3 of 3 23 of 35 0 of 0 0 of 0
3 Paulo Costa 16 of 27 59% 10 of 20 6 of 7 0 of 0 13 of 24 0 of 0 3 of 3
Luke Rockhold 9 of 12 75% 6 of 9 3 of 3 0 of 0 8 of 11 0 of 0 1 of 1
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Confident picked Aug 14, 2022 (6 days before fight)
Paulo Costa

Angelo picks Paulo Costa over Luke Rockhold. He describes Costa as a massive middleweight with power, output, and surprising cardio, noting his relentless pace even when exhausted. Angelo acknowledges Rockhold's credentials as a former champion and talented wrestler, but believes the three-year layoff and age (38) are too much to overcome against a top-ranked opponent. He mentions that Costa has good takedown defense (80%) and that he already placed a moneyline bet on Costa at better odds earlier.

Placed moneyline bet on Paulo Costa at better odds earlier in the week.
"palo costa absolutely the pick i love luke rockhold but man first fight back in three years is who they give you that's a tough go"
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked Aug 15, 2022 (5 days before fight)
Paulo Costa

Big Brady is confident in Paulo Costa. He notes that Luke Rockhold hasn't fought in three years, hasn't won in nearly five years, and was knocked out in his last fight. Rockhold's chin is gone, and he looked slow and washed against Jan Błachowicz. Costa is younger, more active, hits hard, and has solid cardio. Brady expects Costa to knock Rockhold out in the first or second round. He mentions Costa's takedown defense is good, so Rockhold's wrestling won't work.

Costa by KO, round 2
"i think costa knocks him out i think austin knocks him out in the first or second round"
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Confident picked Aug 17, 2022 (3 days before fight)
Paulo Costa

Cody picks Costa but expresses concerns about Costa's weight cut and his poor grappling off his back. He notes Rockhold's durability issues but acknowledges Rockhold's BJJ could be a threat if Costa gets taken down. Ultimately, he trusts Costa's power and finishing ability.

"i'm back on the holocaust team yeah i think he'd be a fool not to it seems too good to be true but i try not to overthink it"
DA
Daniel Levi Expert Confident picked Aug 17, 2022 (3 days before fight)
Paulo Costa

Daniel Levi picks Paulo Costa to knock out Luke Rockhold in the first round. He notes that Rockhold's chin has been suspect for a long time, citing knockouts by Vitor Belfort, Michael Bisping, Yoel Romero, and Jan Błachowicz. He believes Rockhold hasn't fought since 2019 and is coming back for a paycheck, which is a bad sign. Levi praises Costa's takedown defense (stuffing Yoel Romero's takedowns) and his power, and thinks Costa is catching Rockhold at the right time. He also mentions that Costa looked back to form in his last fight against Marvin Vettori.

Mentions he missed the line at -255 and now it's -360, so he's not betting but would have liked Costa at a better price. Says Costa will knock out Rockhold in the first round.
"I think he's gonna come out here and knock Luke rockhold out in the first round so yeah I got Paula Costa here"
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Aug 18, 2022 (2 days before fight)
Paulo Costa

Costa should knock out Rockhold, who has a weak chin and has been inactive for three years. However, the -350 price is too high for a finish-reliant fighter. The host prefers Costa by KO at -120 (now -170) but is passing on the moneyline. He warns that if Costa doesn't finish early, Rockhold could make it a tough fight.

Costa by KO was preferred at -120 but line moved to -170; host passes.
"I'm gonna go costa costa ko but please please please do not put all your eggs in this polycaster basket."
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Confident picked Aug 17, 2022 (3 days before fight)
Paulo Costa

Paul picks Costa to knock out Rockhold inside the first two rounds. He notes Rockhold's chin issues and long layoff, and likes the under 10 minutes on Prize Picks. He mentions Costa's wild card nature but thinks he's in great shape for this fight.

under 10 minutes (fight time) on Prize Picks
"i think costa knocks them out inside the first two rounds on prize picks they've got uh this fight set at fight time 10 minutes and it's like at some of the books right now it's like minus 175 minus …"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Aug 20, 2022 (fight day)
Paulo Costa

The Guru predicts Paulo Costa wins by first-round KO. He describes Costa rushing across the cage, landing a big kick, and then clipping Rockhold with a shot. He sees Costa slipping Rockhold's jab, landing a right hand and body shot, then a switch kick to the body. He envisions Costa blocking Rockhold's kicks and landing an inside leg kick, then a body kick, and finally a left hook that drops Rockhold about two and a half minutes into the first round.

KO in round 1
"i've got immediate paulo costa ko"
LOSS vs Marvin Vettori
Decision (unanimous) (48–46, 48–46, 48–46) R5 5:00 · UFC Fight Night: Costa vs. Vettori · Oct 23, 2021
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Marvin Vettori 0 163 of 260 62% 172 of 269 1 of 1 100% 0 0 0:47
Paulo Costa 0 190 of 346 54% 214 of 373 1 of 5 20% 0 0 3:27
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Marvin Vettori 0 35 of 53 66% 35 of 53 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Paulo Costa 0 39 of 68 57% 42 of 71 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:09
2 Marvin Vettori 0 36 of 65 55% 36 of 65 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Paulo Costa 0 40 of 80 50% 40 of 80 1 of 1 100% 0 0 0:22
3 Marvin Vettori 0 17 of 29 58% 19 of 31 1 of 1 100% 0 0 0:24
Paulo Costa 0 31 of 55 56% 47 of 74 0 of 0 --- 0 0 1:27
4 Marvin Vettori 0 30 of 47 63% 32 of 49 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Paulo Costa 0 49 of 81 60% 53 of 85 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:30
5 Marvin Vettori 0 45 of 66 68% 50 of 71 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:23
Paulo Costa 0 31 of 62 50% 32 of 63 0 of 3 0% 0 0 0:59
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Marvin Vettori 163 of 260 62% 82 of 174 67 of 72 14 of 14 154 of 249 5 of 5 4 of 6
Paulo Costa 190 of 346 54% 154 of 307 33 of 36 3 of 3 168 of 316 21 of 29 1 of 1
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Marvin Vettori 35 of 53 66% 13 of 29 18 of 20 4 of 4 34 of 52 1 of 1 0 of 0
Paulo Costa 39 of 68 57% 34 of 62 5 of 6 0 of 0 37 of 66 2 of 2 0 of 0
2 Marvin Vettori 36 of 65 55% 14 of 42 18 of 19 4 of 4 35 of 64 1 of 1 0 of 0
Paulo Costa 40 of 80 50% 29 of 69 10 of 10 1 of 1 36 of 72 4 of 8 0 of 0
3 Marvin Vettori 17 of 29 58% 13 of 24 3 of 4 1 of 1 14 of 24 0 of 0 3 of 5
Paulo Costa 31 of 55 56% 23 of 46 7 of 8 1 of 1 27 of 51 3 of 3 1 of 1
4 Marvin Vettori 30 of 47 63% 16 of 32 11 of 12 3 of 3 28 of 45 2 of 2 0 of 0
Paulo Costa 49 of 81 60% 41 of 73 7 of 7 1 of 1 38 of 66 11 of 15 0 of 0
5 Marvin Vettori 45 of 66 68% 26 of 47 17 of 17 2 of 2 43 of 64 1 of 1 1 of 1
Paulo Costa 31 of 62 50% 27 of 57 4 of 5 0 of 0 30 of 61 1 of 1 0 of 0
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Hesitant picked Oct 20, 2021 (3 days before fight)
Marvin Vettori

Angelo finds this a very tough pick. He initially had Costa but flipped to Vettori because Vettori has more ways to win (grappling, durability). He notes Vettori's takedown accuracy is under 50% and he struggles to keep people down, while Costa has 80% takedown defense. He's worried Vettori will get sucked into a striking match. He ultimately picks Vettori but is not confident. He loves a prop bet on Costa: 'wins inside the distance, decision no action' at -110, meaning if Costa wins by KO he gets paid, if he loses a decision he gets a refund.

loves Costa wins inside distance, decision no action at -110; likes more/more on monkey knife fight (over 117.5 combined strikes)
"i love the palo costa wins inside the distance decision no action bet"
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked Oct 19, 2021 (4 days before fight)
Marvin Vettori

Big Brady picks Vettori to survive Costa's early storm and win late, citing Vettori's durability, five-round experience, and never-been-KO'd record. He notes Costa's takedown defense (80%) and strength make him hard to take down, but believes Vettori's wrestling and cardio will prevail in later rounds. He predicts a fifth-round TKO or submission.

fifth round TKO or submission
"i'm gonna say marvin vittori does win i'm gonna say like a fifth round either a tko or a sub"
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Confident picked Oct 21, 2021 (2 days before fight)
Marvin Vettori

Cody picks Marvin Vettori, expecting to get a better live price after Vettori likely drops the first round. He highlights Vettori's durability, cardio, and experience in five-round fights, contrasting with Costa's questionable cardio and history of gassing. Cody notes Costa's impressive pressure against Yoel Romero but points out his poor performance against Adesanya and his tendency to fade after two rounds. He believes Vettori can take over in rounds 3-5 and recommends betting live after the first round.

Bet live after first round; expects better odds if Vettori drops round 1
"i feel like i want to go with marvin vittori but we're going to get a much better price on him live after he likely drops the first round"
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Oct 22, 2021 (1 day before fight)
Marvin Vettori

Lock picks Vettori based on durability and cardio advantage. He notes Costa's cardio drops after 8 minutes and Vettori's pace will take over late. He expects Vettori to survive early onslaught and finish in rounds 3-5. He also likes Vettori inside the distance and round props.

Vettori inside the distance +250, Vettori round 3 +1100, round 4 +1700, round 5 +2500, under 4.5 rounds -128
"i do like the vitoria line here i don't even mind him up to that minus 200 miles to 20 point because i think his durability will come through and then his cardio will be the beneficiary"
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert picked Oct 21, 2021 (2 days before fight)

Paul initially leans towards Costa but is swayed by Cody's reasoning. He acknowledges Vettori's durability and chin, but also notes Costa's power and the possibility of a knockout. Paul suggests that if betting Costa, the knockout prop at +225 is the way to go. He ultimately agrees that waiting for live markets is the best approach, but does not commit to a clear pick.

Costa by KO +225
"i was thinking costa because i'm just not entirely sure that marvin can just out grapple him early on"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Oct 17, 2021 (6 days before fight)
Marvin Vettori

The MMA Guru picks Marvin Vettori, citing Costa's questionable cardio and mindset after his first KO loss. He believes Vettori's durability, pressure, and activity will allow him to take over in the later rounds. He predicts a rear-naked choke finish in round 4, drawing parallels to Vettori's fight with Omari Akhmedov.

rear naked choke round 4
"i'm going with marvin vittori here as a slight favorite in the main events and i reckon he gets this one done over paulo costa as the rounds go on"
LOSS vs Israel Adesanya
TKO (punches) R2 3:59 · UFC 253: Adesanya vs. Costa · Sep 27, 2020
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Israel Adesanya 1 55 of 84 65% 55 of 84 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:09
Paulo Costa 0 12 of 26 46% 12 of 26 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:01
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Israel Adesanya 0 22 of 37 59% 22 of 37 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Paulo Costa 0 7 of 11 63% 7 of 11 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:01
2 Israel Adesanya 1 33 of 47 70% 33 of 47 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:09
Paulo Costa 0 5 of 15 33% 5 of 15 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Israel Adesanya 55 of 84 65% 24 of 51 5 of 6 26 of 27 45 of 71 2 of 3 8 of 10
Paulo Costa 12 of 26 46% 2 of 13 7 of 8 3 of 5 12 of 26 0 of 0 0 of 0
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Israel Adesanya 22 of 37 59% 4 of 17 3 of 4 15 of 16 22 of 37 0 of 0 0 of 0
Paulo Costa 7 of 11 63% 1 of 4 5 of 6 1 of 1 7 of 11 0 of 0 0 of 0
2 Israel Adesanya 33 of 47 70% 20 of 34 2 of 2 11 of 11 23 of 34 2 of 3 8 of 10
Paulo Costa 5 of 15 33% 1 of 9 2 of 2 2 of 4 5 of 15 0 of 0 0 of 0
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked Sep 23, 2020 (4 days before fight)
Israel Adesanya

Big Brady picks Adesanya after initially leaning Costa. He cites Adesanya's eight-inch reach advantage, superior striking defense, and ability to stick and move in the bigger cage. He thinks Costa is hittable and may fade in later rounds, leading to a fourth-round knockout for Adesanya.

Adesanya by fourth-round knockout; line could be wider
"i'm going to go with israel otasanya to win i'm going to pick him to win by give me a fourth round knockout"
DA
Daniel Levi Expert Confident picked Sep 25, 2020 (2 days before fight)
Paulo Costa

Daniel Levi picks Paulo Costa to become the new champion, citing Costa's pressure, body work, and ability to close distance. He dismisses concerns about Costa's cardio and notes Costa dropped Yoel Romero with a left hook. He believes Izzy's jab will be answered by Costa's combinations, and that Costa can win by decision or knockout. He calls it a dog-or-pass situation at plus 160.

dog or pass situation; plus 160 on paulo costa
"i'm going to go with the paula bohacino and new champion"
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Sep 26, 2020 (1 day before fight)
Israel Adesanya

The host picks Israel Adesanya, expecting him to use his movement and counter-striking to frustrate Paulo Costa. He believes Costa will swing at air and slow down after two rounds, allowing Adesanya to take over and finish in the fourth round. He notes that Costa's power is a threat early, but Adesanya's elusiveness and technical striking will prevail.

Adesanya wins in round 4 (+1050), Costa wins in round 1 (+600) (degenerate parlay)
"Final prediction israel artisan you know when this fight by fourth round tko."
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Sep 20, 2020 (7 days before fight)
Paulo Costa

The MMA Guru picks Paulo Costa, emphasizing Costa's overlooked technical skill, power, and size. He thinks Costa will hurt Adesanya to the body first and then finish upstairs, predicting a second-round TKO. He notes Costa won the trash talk and remains calm, while Adesanya's tentativeness against Romero could be exploited.

Win by TKO in round 2
"i'll go with second round tko for paulo costa start of the second he'll make the reads in the third start wearing him down"
WIN vs Yoel Romero
Decision (unanimous) (29–28, 29–28, 29–28) R3 5:00 · UFC 241: Cormier vs. Miocic 2 · Aug 17, 2019
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Paulo Costa 1 125 of 284 44% 125 of 284 1 of 4 25% 0 0 0:12
Yoel Romero 1 118 of 213 55% 118 of 213 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:06
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Paulo Costa 1 32 of 69 46% 32 of 69 0 of 2 0% 0 0 0:06
Yoel Romero 1 37 of 69 53% 37 of 69 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:04
2 Paulo Costa 0 40 of 91 43% 40 of 91 1 of 1 100% 0 0 0:01
Yoel Romero 0 37 of 71 52% 37 of 71 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
3 Paulo Costa 0 53 of 124 42% 53 of 124 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:05
Yoel Romero 0 44 of 73 60% 44 of 73 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:02
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Paulo Costa 125 of 284 44% 96 of 244 11 of 20 18 of 20 118 of 276 7 of 8 0 of 0
Yoel Romero 118 of 213 55% 67 of 148 46 of 58 5 of 7 110 of 202 5 of 5 3 of 6
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Paulo Costa 32 of 69 46% 23 of 54 2 of 7 7 of 8 31 of 68 1 of 1 0 of 0
Yoel Romero 37 of 69 53% 19 of 46 16 of 20 2 of 3 32 of 61 2 of 2 3 of 6
2 Paulo Costa 40 of 91 43% 28 of 77 6 of 7 6 of 7 39 of 90 1 of 1 0 of 0
Yoel Romero 37 of 71 52% 24 of 53 12 of 17 1 of 1 36 of 70 1 of 1 0 of 0
3 Paulo Costa 53 of 124 42% 45 of 113 3 of 6 5 of 5 48 of 118 5 of 6 0 of 0
Yoel Romero 44 of 73 60% 24 of 49 18 of 21 2 of 3 42 of 71 2 of 2 0 of 0
Expert Picks (6)
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Hesitant picked Oct 20, 2021 (3 days before fight)
Marvin Vettori

Angelo finds this a very tough pick. He initially had Costa but flipped to Vettori because Vettori has more ways to win (grappling, durability). He notes Vettori's takedown accuracy is under 50% and he struggles to keep people down, while Costa has 80% takedown defense. He's worried Vettori will get sucked into a striking match. He ultimately picks Vettori but is not confident. He loves a prop bet on Costa: 'wins inside the distance, decision no action' at -110, meaning if Costa wins by KO he gets paid, if he loses a decision he gets a refund.

loves Costa wins inside distance, decision no action at -110; likes more/more on monkey knife fight (over 117.5 combined strikes)
"i love the palo costa wins inside the distance decision no action bet"
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked Oct 19, 2021 (4 days before fight)
Marvin Vettori

Big Brady picks Vettori to survive Costa's early storm and win late, citing Vettori's durability, five-round experience, and never-been-KO'd record. He notes Costa's takedown defense (80%) and strength make him hard to take down, but believes Vettori's wrestling and cardio will prevail in later rounds. He predicts a fifth-round TKO or submission.

fifth round TKO or submission
"i'm gonna say marvin vittori does win i'm gonna say like a fifth round either a tko or a sub"
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Confident picked Oct 21, 2021 (2 days before fight)
Marvin Vettori

Cody picks Marvin Vettori, expecting to get a better live price after Vettori likely drops the first round. He highlights Vettori's durability, cardio, and experience in five-round fights, contrasting with Costa's questionable cardio and history of gassing. Cody notes Costa's impressive pressure against Yoel Romero but points out his poor performance against Adesanya and his tendency to fade after two rounds. He believes Vettori can take over in rounds 3-5 and recommends betting live after the first round.

Bet live after first round; expects better odds if Vettori drops round 1
"i feel like i want to go with marvin vittori but we're going to get a much better price on him live after he likely drops the first round"
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Oct 22, 2021 (1 day before fight)
Marvin Vettori

Lock picks Vettori based on durability and cardio advantage. He notes Costa's cardio drops after 8 minutes and Vettori's pace will take over late. He expects Vettori to survive early onslaught and finish in rounds 3-5. He also likes Vettori inside the distance and round props.

Vettori inside the distance +250, Vettori round 3 +1100, round 4 +1700, round 5 +2500, under 4.5 rounds -128
"i do like the vitoria line here i don't even mind him up to that minus 200 miles to 20 point because i think his durability will come through and then his cardio will be the beneficiary"
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert picked Oct 21, 2021 (2 days before fight)
No clear pick

Paul initially leans towards Costa but is swayed by Cody's reasoning. He acknowledges Vettori's durability and chin, but also notes Costa's power and the possibility of a knockout. Paul suggests that if betting Costa, the knockout prop at +225 is the way to go. He ultimately agrees that waiting for live markets is the best approach, but does not commit to a clear pick.

Costa by KO +225
"i was thinking costa because i'm just not entirely sure that marvin can just out grapple him early on"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Oct 17, 2021 (6 days before fight)
Marvin Vettori

The MMA Guru picks Marvin Vettori, citing Costa's questionable cardio and mindset after his first KO loss. He believes Vettori's durability, pressure, and activity will allow him to take over in the later rounds. He predicts a rear-naked choke finish in round 4, drawing parallels to Vettori's fight with Omari Akhmedov.

rear naked choke round 4
"i'm going with marvin vittori here as a slight favorite in the main events and i reckon he gets this one done over paulo costa as the rounds go on"