vs
-225 +200
UFC Fight Night: Brunson vs. Till · Sep 04, 2021 · Heavyweight · Completed
Prev Fight UFC Fight Night: Brunson vs. Till Next Fight
Age 33
Height 6' 5"
Reach 78.0"
Weight 256 lbs.
Stance Orthodox
Age 31
Height 6' 3"
Reach 78.0"
Weight 260 lbs.
Stance Orthodox
Career Averages - Tom Aspinall
7.63 SLpM
67.0% Str. Acc.
3.62 SApM
56.0% Str. Def.
2.62 TD Avg
80.0% TD Acc.
100.0% TD Def.
1.3 Sub. Avg
Career Averages - Serghei Spivac
3.57 SLpM
47.0% Str. Acc.
4.23 SApM
52.0% Str. Def.
3.82 TD Avg
59.0% TD Acc.
63.0% TD Def.
0.5 Sub. Avg
Tom Aspinall
Moneyline
BetWay -225
KO/TKO
FanDuel +120
Submission
BetMGM +550
Decision
FanDuel +550
Serghei Spivac
Moneyline
FanDuel +200
KO/TKO
BetMGM +650
Submission
BetMGM +1250
Decision
DraftKings +550
Tom Aspinall - Fight History
NC vs Ciryl Gane
NC R1 4:35 · UFC 321 · Oct 25, 2025
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Tom Aspinall 0 27 of 39 69% 27 of 39 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:00
Ciryl Gane 0 30 of 40 75% 30 of 40 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Tom Aspinall 0 27 of 39 69% 27 of 39 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:00
Ciryl Gane 0 30 of 40 75% 30 of 40 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Tom Aspinall 27 of 39 69% 14 of 25 5 of 6 8 of 8 27 of 39 0 of 0 0 of 0
Ciryl Gane 30 of 40 75% 8 of 16 9 of 11 13 of 13 30 of 40 0 of 0 0 of 0
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Tom Aspinall 27 of 39 69% 14 of 25 5 of 6 8 of 8 27 of 39 0 of 0 0 of 0
Ciryl Gane 30 of 40 75% 8 of 16 9 of 11 13 of 13 30 of 40 0 of 0 0 of 0
Play-by-Play
View on Sherdog
Tom Aspinall vs. Ciryl Gane
BETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Aspinall (-380), Gane (+300)

Round 1
Despite never engaging in an undisputed championship bout, Aspinall (15-3, 8-1 UFC) is the current undisputed heavyweight king. He achieved this feat by annihilating Sergei Pavlovich in 69 seconds to claim the interim strap, and then defended that silver title by punching out Curtis Blaydes in exactly one minute. He has been away for a smidge under 15 months, during which time he was elevated to the undisputed holder when Jon Jones cast his throne aside again. Like the Liverpudlian, Gane (13-2, 10-2 UFC)—who forgot his groin cup—has only held the interim belt, so there are a lot of marbles on the line. A potential date with either Jones or light heavyweight kingpin Alex Pereira looms, and referee Jason Herzog will be on the ball to make sure everything stays copacetic. He takes a deep breath and brings the two to the middle of the cage to issue instructions, and the big men gladly touch ‘em up with no ill will between them. It’s on with the show.
Gane marches forward and slips a right hand, and he cannot get out of the way of a body kick. Aspinall rushes after him, ignoring kicks and jabs to hurl his big right hand, and he knocks Gane back to the wall. Gane responds with his own overhand right and a kick, and he barely blocks a head kick in time. Every collision is a veritable car crash of danger and pain with these two heavyweights, and Gane has already bloodied up Aspinall’s nose. Aspinall shoots for a takedown, and the Frenchman bucks him to the side without concern and resets on the outside. Aspinall fires off a high kick that pounds into the raised guard, and Gane bounces back and forth on his toes while looking for his sharp jab. Gane pump-fakes to draw a reaction out of his opponent, and Aspinall comes out swinging and trips Gane up with a low kick. The Brit spins with a back kick to the torso, and he darts in and out to draw Gane’s reactions.
Gane jabs him in the stomach, and Aspinall counters with a right hand. Gane stomps the front leg with a kick and peppers Aspinall with his jab, and he tries to escape a body kick but is not out of range. The French fighter keeps behind his jab, and he snaps Aspinall’s head back with a particularly strong one. Gane hyperextends the lead leg with his stomp kick, and Aspinall thinks about a spin and bails on it, only to offer a high-five and a grin to his opponent. Gane pecks away with his sharp jab, staying light on his feet and switching stances frequently. Aspinall chambers and fires a hefty leg kick that Gane takes well, and Gane’s jab is bloodying up the Brit more and more with every impact. They crash together with punches, and Gane’s fingers push off and jam into both of Aspinall’s eyes at once in a Three Stooges-esque disaster. Herzog sees it and calls time, and Aspinall walks to the cage and leans on it in pain. Herzog calls in the doctor as the replays shows both eyes were impacted. Aspinall appears to tell the doctor that he cannot see, and that would be the worst possible outcome if true. Herzog goes over to calm Aspinall down, giving him a towel to hold over his eye and take more time. Once more, Aspinall appears to tell someone that he cannot see. Aspinall is struggling to even open his eye, and he has the doctor further check on the condition. Herzog handles this ordeal like a consummate professional, asking Aspinall once more if he can see. Aspinall says no, so Herzog declares properly that this heavyweight championship bout will be ruled a no contest due to the accidental foul. Gane, learning this news, collapses to the ground in contrition and melancholy, and fans abandon ship in droves and depart the building silently.
Aspinall, who still cannot open his right eye, is incensed that the remaining audience is booing him and curses them out. They keep booing until they see the definitive slow-mo replay, and ouch. He does not stick around long, as he wants to get his eye checked out by the professionals. The crestfallen Gane apologizes to everyone for the inadvertent foul—sometimes these things really do happen in MMA—and hopes that he can get another crack at Aspinall soon. If they run it back in the near future, we will be here for it. We hope you are too.

The Official Result
Tom Aspinall vs. Ciryl Gane is Ruled a No Contest (Accidental Eye Poke) R1 4:35
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Confident picked Oct 19, 2025 (6 days before fight)
Tom Aspinall

Angelo picks Tom Aspinall confidently, calling Ciryl Gane undeserving of the title shot. He notes Aspinall's well-rounded skills, 100% takedown accuracy and defense, and hand speed. However, he admits uncertainty about Aspinall's ability to handle adversity or a long fight, as he has only fought 16 minutes in nine UFC fights. Despite this, he believes Aspinall wins any way he wants.

"I'm going to pick Tom, all right? Tom's the pick. ... I think Tom beats Ciryl any way he wants to. So, he is the pick."
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked Oct 22, 2025 (3 days before fight)
Tom Aspinall

Big Brady is extremely confident in Tom Aspinall, stating he should run through Ciryl Gane. He criticizes Gane's takedown defense and grappling, noting he was outgrappled by Ngannou, Volkov, and submitted by Jones. Brady believes Aspinall has the power to KO anyone and the grappling to submit Gane. He expects Aspinall to close the distance, get the fight to the ground, and finish Gane in the first round via submission.

Aspinall by first round submission
"Give me Aspinall here. Give me Aspinall to win this fight by first round submission."
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Confident picked Oct 22, 2025 (3 days before fight)
Tom Aspinall

Cody picks Tom Aspinall to retain the title, citing Aspinall's wrecking ball form and Gane's exploitable grappling. He notes that while Gane has good elbows and cardio, his takedown defense is weak, as seen against Jon Jones and Francis Ngannou. Cody believes Aspinall can knock him out or submit him early, but acknowledges the risk if the fight extends past the first round due to Aspinall's history of early finishes and potential cardio issues.

"Tom Aspinall retains for me."
CO
Connor Ruebusch Expert Confident picked Oct 23, 2025 (2 days before fight)
Tom Aspinall

Connor also picks Aspinall, emphasizing that Gane struggles against opponents who press him and don't respect his range. He compares Aspinall's approach to Volkov's pressure in their fight, which caused Gane to make poor grappling decisions. Connor believes Aspinall's athleticism and wrestling will be too much for Gane, though he notes Aspinall's cardio could be a concern if the fight goes long.

"I have to pick Aspinall. And I think even if it goes all rounds, he might still be in the driver's seat the whole way through, but this could end up being an extremely ugly fight."
DA
Daniel Vreeland Expert Confident picked Oct 23, 2025 (2 days before fight)
Tom Aspinall

Daniel Vreeland is extremely high on Tom Aspinall, calling him the 'baddest man on the planet' and praising his one-two combination, ground game, and finishing ability. He acknowledges Ciryl Gane's diversity and leg lock threat but believes Aspinall's speed and power will be too much. He notes that Aspinall hasn't been tested past the first round but doesn't see that as a flaw. He picks Aspinall to win decisively.

"I haven't picked against this guy yet, and I'm not going to start Saturday night."
LU
Lucrative James Expert Confident picked Oct 20, 2025 (5 days before fight)
Tom Aspinall

Lucrative James picks Tom Aspinall to win by submission or ground-and-pound finish in the first round. He highlights Aspinall's massive power and speed advantage early, as well as his superior grappling, noting that Ciryl Gane has repeatedly shown grappling holes against strikers like Francis Ngannou and Alexander Volkov. He acknowledges Gane's technical striking and cardio advantage if the fight goes late, but believes Aspinall's early finishing ability and wrestling will be too much. He also mentions that Gane has been training in Abu Dhabi for a month, giving him an acclimatization edge, but still favors Aspinall.

submission or ground-and-pound finish in round 1
"I predict a Tom Aspenol submission in this fight or a ground and pound finish from top position in the very first round."
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Oct 22, 2025 (3 days before fight)
Tom Aspinall

The host believes Aspinall's physical advantages in speed and power will be too much for Gane. He expects Aspinall to touch Gane up on the feet and mix in takedowns, leading to a finish within two rounds.

finish within 2 rounds
"I really think it's going to be Aspenol touching him up on the feet with the power, but also mixing in a few takedowns. And I think that should lead to a finish within two rounds."
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Confident picked Oct 22, 2025 (3 days before fight)
Tom Aspinall

Paul also picks Tom Aspinall, emphasizing his well-rounded game with high-level BJJ and knockout power. He notes Aspinall's 100% takedown accuracy in the UFC and believes he can submit Gane similar to Jon Jones. However, Paul warns that if Aspinall doesn't finish early, his cardio could be a concern, as seen in the Arlovski fight, and suggests live betting on Gane if the fight goes past round one.

"pre-fight flop for me it's a champion retains as well. I got Tom Aspinall."
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Oct 21, 2025 (4 days before fight)
Tom Aspinall

The MMA Guru picks Tom Aspinall by Kimura submission in the first round, around 3-4 minutes. He believes Aspinall's speed and power will be too much for Gane, and that Gane overthinks in high-pressure situations. He compares their common opponents (Spivac, Volkov, Tuivasa) and sees Aspinall as levels above. He predicts Aspinall will sting Gane on the feet, then get a body lock takedown and transition to a Kimura from top position. He also mentions a PrizePicks bet on Aspinall under 1.5 rounds.

Kimura submission in round one (3-4 minutes); also mentioned in a PrizePicks parlay for less than 1.5 total rounds
"I've got Tom Aspinall by Kimura. I've got a Kimura submission for Tom Aspinall and I'll tell you why."
ZA
Zane Simon Expert Confident picked Oct 23, 2025 (2 days before fight)
Tom Aspinall

Zane picks Aspinall, believing his pressure and willingness to exchange will overwhelm Gane. He notes Aspinall's lack of deep fight experience but thinks his aggression and wrestling will force Gane into mistakes, likely finishing within two rounds. Zane acknowledges Gane's technical striking but doubts his ability to handle Aspinall's relentless forward pressure.

Aspinall finishes in two rounds
"I'm going to pick Tom Aspinall. I am too. And I think he probably finishes gone or in two rounds because gone is so mistake prone on the mat and Aspinall is so violent and aggressive on the mat."
KO (punches) R1 1:00 · UFC 304: Edwards vs. Muhammad 2 · Jul 27, 2024
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Tom Aspinall 1 14 of 19 73% 14 of 19 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:13
Curtis Blaydes 0 5 of 11 45% 5 of 12 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Tom Aspinall 1 14 of 19 73% 14 of 19 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:13
Curtis Blaydes 0 5 of 11 45% 5 of 12 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Tom Aspinall 14 of 19 73% 14 of 19 0 of 0 0 of 0 4 of 8 0 of 0 10 of 11
Curtis Blaydes 5 of 11 45% 5 of 11 0 of 0 0 of 0 5 of 11 0 of 0 0 of 0
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Tom Aspinall 14 of 19 73% 14 of 19 0 of 0 0 of 0 4 of 8 0 of 0 10 of 11
Curtis Blaydes 5 of 11 45% 5 of 11 0 of 0 0 of 0 5 of 11 0 of 0 0 of 0
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Confident picked Jul 21, 2024 (6 days before fight)
Tom Aspinall

Angelo picks Tom Aspinall, noting that Curtis Blaydes has abandoned his wrestling and has not attempted a takedown in three years. He believes Aspinall is the much better striker and may even mix in takedowns after watching Blaydes get taken down by Jailton Almeida. Angelo warns that heavyweights can always land a knockout, but confidently picks Aspinall.

"Tom is the much better Striker honestly Tom might work in some takedowns after watching what gton did to him so Tom's got to be the pick"
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Confident picked Jul 24, 2024 (3 days before fight)
Tom Aspinall

Cody picks Tom Aspinall, noting his superior boxing, power, and athleticism. He points out that Curtis Blaydes often fails to commit to takedowns and gets knocked out when standing, as seen against Francis Ngannou and Sergei Pavlovich. Cody believes Aspinall's chin is better and that he can finish Blaydes early, likely by knockout in round one or two. He also mentions that Blaydes' wrestling may not be effective against Aspinall's BJJ.

Tom Aspinall by KO/TKO in round 1 or 2
"I think most likely result in this fight is Aspen in round one or round two by knockout."
DA
Daniel Vreeland Expert Confident picked Jul 24, 2024 (3 days before fight)
Tom Aspinall

Daniel dismisses the first fight as a fluke injury TKO and believes Tom Aspinall is the superior athlete with better footwork, striking, and fight IQ. He criticizes Blaydes' decision to stand with Pavlovich and thinks Aspinall will finish him early. He predicts a first-round knockout.

wins in round 1 by KO
"I'm going Tom Aspen all to knock out Curtis blades in the first round"
DA
Daniel Vreeland Expert Confident picked Jul 25, 2024 (2 days before fight)
Tom Aspinall

Daniel picks Tom Aspinall, citing his superior wrestling, athleticism, and striking power. He notes that Aspinall took down and submitted Volkov, and knocked out Pavlovich, while Blaydes has been exposed by grapplers like Jailton Almeida. He doubts Blaydes can grind out a 25-minute decision and believes Aspinall is far more dangerous on the feet.

"I think between his athleticism, the way that he does wrestle when he needs to and just I mean like look at the power in the boxing and that last fight with Pavlovich"
JE
Jeff Fox Expert Confident picked Jul 25, 2024 (2 days before fight)
Tom Aspinall

Jeff also picks Aspinall, agreeing with Daniel's assessment. He notes Aspinall has the complete package and Blaydes has been out-grappled before. He wishes the line were better but accepts it.

"Aspinall is a pick hoping we could get a little better line than we did but sadly we cannot"
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Lean picked Jul 24, 2024 (3 days before fight)
Curtis Blaydes

Paul takes a shot on Curtis Blaydes at plus money, citing the volatility of heavyweights. He acknowledges that Aspinall is the more likely winner but notes that Blaydes has cardio and wrestling that could cause problems if the fight goes into later rounds. Paul mentions that he faded Blaydes before but is willing to take a chance at plus 421, as heavyweights are unpredictable.

"I took the plus 421 cuz I'm like I'm not going to get a better number than that... top of the food chain or bottom of the food chain heavyweights if you give me like plus 400 pretty much on …"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Jul 22, 2024 (5 days before fight)
Tom Aspinall

The MMA Guru picks Tom Aspinall by TKO in the first round. He believes Aspinall is better in every way—faster, more powerful, and with better grappling. He dismisses the first fight due to Aspinall's injury and notes that Blaydes didn't land a clean punch. The Guru points to Aspinall's quick submission of Sergei Pavlovich and his ability to finish fights. He also mentions that Jon Jones tossed Blaydes around, suggesting Aspinall can do the same. He expects Aspinall to land a one-two and finish on the feet.

TKO in round 1
"I'm going to go with Tom aspel purely because he's the better fighter and he wins this fight 9 times out of 10"
KO (punches) R1 1:09 · UFC 295: Prochazka vs. Pereira · Nov 11, 2023
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Tom Aspinall 0 1 of 7 14% 1 of 7 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Sergei Pavlovich 1 10 of 14 71% 10 of 14 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:02
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Tom Aspinall 0 1 of 7 14% 1 of 7 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Sergei Pavlovich 1 10 of 14 71% 10 of 14 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:02
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Tom Aspinall 1 of 7 14% 1 of 7 0 of 0 0 of 0 1 of 7 0 of 0 0 of 0
Sergei Pavlovich 10 of 14 71% 7 of 10 0 of 1 3 of 3 7 of 11 0 of 0 3 of 3
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Tom Aspinall 1 of 7 14% 1 of 7 0 of 0 0 of 0 1 of 7 0 of 0 0 of 0
Sergei Pavlovich 10 of 14 71% 7 of 10 0 of 1 3 of 3 7 of 11 0 of 0 3 of 3
Play-by-Play
View on Sherdog
UFC Interim Heavyweight Title Fight: Sergei Pavlovich vs. Tom Aspinall
BETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Aspinall (-118), Pavlovich (-102)

Round 1
The interim heavyweight strap looms, while current champ Jon Jones is on the mend from shoulder surgery. It is unclear if the winner of this fight will face the victor between the rescheduled Jones-Stipe Miocic tilt that may happen next year, as a lot of factors remain. This silver medal will be vied for by a pair of finishers that have each claimed six victories opposite a single defeat in the UFC thus far, and in those 14 fights, only Aspinall (13-3, 6-1 UFC) has reached Round 2. Once. The betting line that Pavlovich (18-1, 6-1 UFC) and Aspinall reach the final bell is currently around -1400, although that same prop for Jailton Almeida and Derrick Lewis last week was an astounding -3500, and everyone knows what happened. This is MMA, where anything can and often does happen. The fighters share an embrace when brought together, and referee Dan Miragliotta takes a deep breath. Pavlovich keeps his left hand out early to measure, and Aspinall kicks the lead leg in a hurry. Aspinall splits the guard with a front kick that just grazes the midsection, and a kick is checked by Pavlovich. A flurry from the Russian dislodges Aspinall’s mouthpiece, and he appears surprised at the power that came his way as he resets it. Pavlovich blocks a high kick and crowds his man with an overhand right that connects and hurts Pavlovich. Aspinall reaches out with a left, and follows with a momentous right hook that collides square into the temple. Pavlovich’s eyes go wide as his balance gives out, and he slowly collapses to his back like a flan in a cupboard. Confidence through the roof, Aspinall pounces, and he completely hammers the nail with three hammerfists before Miragliotta reaches him to shove the new champion off of the fallen Russian. Aspinall has done it, becoming the third Brit to claim a UFC belt, and joining Michael Bisping and Leon Edwards. What a night of fights so far, and there is one more championship to go.

The Official Result
Tom Aspinall def. Sergei Pavlovich R1 1:09 via TKO (Punches)
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Confident picked Nov 5, 2023 (6 days before fight)
Tom Aspinall

Angelo picks Aspinall, citing his well-roundedness and ability to mix in takedowns. He notes Pavlovich has insane power but is untested in later rounds and against takedowns. He thinks Aspinall's wrestling and BJJ will be the difference, but he is not betting due to the even odds and volatility.

"Tom Aspen's well-roundedness the ability to work in a takedown if he needs to... Tom aspal is going to be the pick."
BI
Big Brady Expert Lean picked Nov 6, 2023 (5 days before fight)
Tom Aspinall

Big Brady slightly leans Tom Aspinall, citing his multiple paths to victory. He notes Aspinall has a significant advantage on the ground with his BJJ and ground-and-pound, while Pavlovich has shown nothing off his back. However, he acknowledges Pavlovich's terrifying power and that Aspinall must get the fight to the mat. Brady says he probably won't bet the moneyline but might look at a prop.

Aspinall by submission or ground-and-pound (implied)
"I like Aspinall here in this match ever so slightly but I don't have a strong lean towards him... I think Aspinall has more paths here."
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Lean picked Nov 8, 2023 (3 days before fight)
Sergei Pavlovich

Cody leans Pavlovich, citing Aspinall's questionable cardio after the first round and his knee injury history. He thinks Pavlovich's power and pressure will be too much, and that Aspinall hasn't proven he can go into deep waters. He notes Pavlovich's training partners praise his cardio, and he believes Pavlovich will land something big and take over.

"for my money's worth I gotta go with the Russian Sergey pavlovich"
LU
Lucrative James Expert Confident picked Nov 7, 2023 (4 days before fight)
Tom Aspinall

James picks Tom Aspinall, believing he should be a decent favorite despite the even line. He sees the striking as roughly 50/50, but gives Aspinall 80% of the grappling upside. He notes Pavlovich's takedown defense is untested and Aspinall has athletic takedowns. He acknowledges the short notice for Aspinall but thinks it matters less at heavyweight. He sees Aspinall having more paths to win: decision, submission, or knockout.

Mentions hedging with Pavlovich round 1/2 knockout and Aspinall moneyline.
"I'm picking Aspinall in this fight."
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Nov 7, 2023 (4 days before fight)
Tom Aspinall

Aspinall's speed, agility, and athleticism will be key. He can land a straight right or secure a takedown and dominate from top position. Pavlovich's grappling vulnerability was exposed by Overeem. Aspinall's physicality will allow him to snatch the victory. Expects a finish, calling it round two. Short notice is less of a concern at heavyweight.

finish in round 2
"give me Aspen and give me Aspen by finish I'm going to call it round two"
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Confident picked Nov 8, 2023 (3 days before fight)
Sergei Pavlovich

Paul is a believer in Pavlovich, having taken him at +135 earlier. He dismisses the Overeem loss as a debut five years ago, noting Pavlovich has improved immensely at Eagles MMA. He thinks Pavlovich's takedown defense and devastating power make him a problem, and that Aspinall's cardio and durability are unproven.

"I took pavlovich plus 135 when it opened... I'm just a believer in this guy"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Nov 6, 2023 (5 days before fight)
Tom Aspinall

The MMA Guru picks Tom Aspinall, citing his superior movement and fight IQ. He notes that Pavlovich's opponents have stood still, while Aspinall will use footwork, feints, and takedown threats. He predicts Aspinall will get a takedown and submit Pavlovich in round two, possibly with a rear-naked choke. He also mentions Pavlovich's high activity may lead to accumulated injuries.

submission in round 2
"I think aspan now is going to get this one done by submission in the second round"
WIN vs Marcin Tybura
TKO (elbow and punches) R1 1:13 · UFC Fight Night: Aspinall vs. Tybura · Jul 22, 2023
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Tom Aspinall 1 13 of 18 72% 13 of 18 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:05
Marcin Tybura 0 4 of 15 26% 4 of 15 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Tom Aspinall 1 13 of 18 72% 13 of 18 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:05
Marcin Tybura 0 4 of 15 26% 4 of 15 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Tom Aspinall 13 of 18 72% 12 of 17 1 of 1 0 of 0 7 of 10 0 of 0 6 of 8
Marcin Tybura 4 of 15 26% 2 of 13 2 of 2 0 of 0 4 of 15 0 of 0 0 of 0
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Tom Aspinall 13 of 18 72% 12 of 17 1 of 1 0 of 0 7 of 10 0 of 0 6 of 8
Marcin Tybura 4 of 15 26% 2 of 13 2 of 2 0 of 0 4 of 15 0 of 0 0 of 0
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Lock picked Jul 16, 2023 (6 days before fight)
Tom Aspinall

Angelo is all-in on Tom Aspinall, believing he should dominate anywhere the fight goes. He acknowledges the knee injury concern but thinks Aspinall's speed, power, and BJJ are superior. He calls Aspinall the most confident pick on the card and suggests him as a parlay piece with Molly McCann.

suggested as parlay piece with Molly McCann
"I'm all in on Tom aspinall here I think he's a solid parlay piece"
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked Jul 18, 2023 (4 days before fight)
Tom Aspinall

Big Brady picks Tom Aspinall to win by first-round knockout. He calls it a setup fight for Aspinall after his injury. He notes Tybura has been knocked out by Derrick Lewis and others, and questions his chin. He thinks Aspinall's speed and power will be too much, and Tybura's only path is to take Aspinall down or outlast him, which he doubts. He mentions Tybura looked skinny at the face-off.

first round knockout
"give me Tom aspinall Tom Aspen to win this fight by first round knockout"
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Lean picked Jul 19, 2023 (3 days before fight)
Marcin Tybura

Cody acknowledges Aspinall is likely to win but sees value on Tybura at +380 due to Aspinall's knee injury and heavyweight volatility. He took a very small bet on Tybura, fully expecting to lose, but thinks the price is too high on Aspinall. He mentions that historically, plus money heavyweights have value.

small bet on Tybura moneyline at +380
"I took a little bit very very small bet of Marcin tibora plus 380. I'm prepared to look really really dumb"
DA
Daniel Levi Expert Confident picked Jul 20, 2023 (2 days before fight)
Tom Aspinall

Daniel picks Tom Aspinall to win, citing his speed, technical striking, and well-rounded game including takedowns and submissions. He notes that Aspinall represents the new wave of heavyweights and has a significant speed advantage over Tybura. However, he is concerned about the price at -475, calling it a 'sucker bet' and stating he lines Aspinall closer to -400. He also mentions the risk of freak injury given Aspinall's recent surgery. Despite the pick, he passes on betting due to poor value.

Daniel says the price is 'absolutely terrible' and that laying -475 to -500 is a 'sucker bet'. He lines Aspinall closer to -400 and passes on betting.
"I do think Tom's gonna win this fight but I mean I think that laying minus 475 to minus 500 here is a sucker bet"
LU
Lucrative James Expert Confident picked Jul 18, 2023 (4 days before fight)
Tom Aspinall

James picks Tom Aspinall to win by finish in round two. He acknowledges Aspinall's cardio is an unknown but notes that the only evidence of a cardio issue was the Arlovski fight where Aspinall seemed to have an adrenaline dump but still finished. He believes Aspinall is better than Tybura everywhere and that Tybura's only advantages are experience and potential cardio. James thinks Aspinall will be smarter this time and not steamroll in round one, but will get the finish in round two. He mentions that Tybura at +350 is the value side but he still favors Aspinall.

Tom Aspinall wins in round two
"I think he probably finishes tybora in round two and that's my prediction of the fire I've got time in round two"
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Jul 17, 2023 (5 days before fight)
Tom Aspinall

The host picks Tom Aspinall, citing his speed, power, and ability to finish. He notes Tybura has been hurt early in fights before but that Aspinall is a better finisher than those opponents. He predicts a first-round stoppage and suggests targeting under 1.5 rounds.

under 1.5 rounds at -140/-150
"I think that early speed and power Advantage for Tom aspinel is going to be too much for tibura... I think it's going to end up with him getting his hand raised by a first round stoppage here"
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Confident picked Jul 19, 2023 (3 days before fight)
Tom Aspinall

Paul picks Aspinall but notes the price is too high to bet straight. He suggests live betting Tybura after the first round if Aspinall gasses. He highlights Aspinall's speed, power, and BJJ, but also his cardio concerns and the knee injury. He would hedge if Aspinall is on a parlay.

suggests live betting Tybura after round 1
"I would take Tom maskman all here don't know if I end up putting them on the top ticket an option"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Jul 17, 2023 (5 days before fight)
Tom Aspinall

The MMA Guru picks Tom Aspinall, calling it a logical pick. He criticizes Marcin Tybura's age and conditioning, and notes Tybura has no submission wins in the UFC. The Guru believes Aspinall has a massive advantage on the feet and on the ground, and predicts a finish in the first round, either by TKO or takedown. He also mentions Aspinall's year off and vengeance after surgery.

finish in first round
"I'm going with asper now I think it's a very logical pick"
LOSS vs Curtis Blaydes
TKO (knee injury) R1 0:15 · UFC Fight Night: Blaydes vs. Aspinall · Jul 23, 2022
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Curtis Blaydes 0 4 of 10 40% 4 of 10 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:01
Tom Aspinall 0 3 of 5 60% 3 of 5 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Curtis Blaydes 0 4 of 10 40% 4 of 10 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:01
Tom Aspinall 0 3 of 5 60% 3 of 5 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Curtis Blaydes 4 of 10 40% 2 of 8 1 of 1 1 of 1 4 of 10 0 of 0 0 of 0
Tom Aspinall 3 of 5 60% 0 of 2 1 of 1 2 of 2 3 of 5 0 of 0 0 of 0
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Curtis Blaydes 4 of 10 40% 2 of 8 1 of 1 1 of 1 4 of 10 0 of 0 0 of 0
Tom Aspinall 3 of 5 60% 0 of 2 1 of 1 2 of 2 3 of 5 0 of 0 0 of 0
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Confident picked Jul 17, 2022 (6 days before fight)
Curtis Blaydes

Angelo picks Curtis Blaydes, citing his next-level wrestling and recent striking improvement. He notes Blaydes has taken down elite heavyweights like Volkov, Overeem, and Hunt, while Aspinall's 100% takedown defense is based on only two defended attempts. He believes Blaydes will have success on the feet but ultimately get takedowns and win. He has a moneyline bet on Blaydes as an underdog.

moneyline bet placed
"i like blades to have some success on his feet but ultimately get the takedowns and get the win i do have a money line bet on him as an underdog"
BI
Big Brady Expert Hesitant picked Jul 18, 2022 (5 days before fight)
Tom Aspinall

Big Brady picks Tom Aspinall to win by first-round knockout, but he is hesitant. He notes Blaydes is a tough matchup with great wrestling, but Aspinall is the much better striker with power and speed. He questions Aspinall's takedown defense but thinks his BJJ black belt and get-up game could be key. He believes Aspinall can knock Blaydes out early.

Aspinall by KO in round 1
"i'll pick him i'll pick him to win by knockout i'll say tom aspinall to win by a first round knockout"
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Lean picked Jul 20, 2022 (3 days before fight)
Tom Aspinall

Cody leans towards Tom Aspinall, expecting an early stoppage within the first 10 minutes. He highlights Aspinall's superior hands, pro boxing experience, and size advantage. Cody notes Blaydes' tendency to get complacent striking and his late notice for the fight. He also mentions Aspinall's jiu-jitsu can keep him safe on the ground. Cody plans to live bet Blaydes if Aspinall doesn't finish early.

live betting: if Aspinall doesn't finish early, bet Blaydes at plus money
"i'm leaning towards the early stoppage i'm thinking that tom hospital maybe goes out there and catches him within the the first 10 minutes of the fight"
DA
Daniel Levi Expert Confident picked Jul 20, 2022 (3 days before fight)
Tom Aspinall

Daniel Levi picks Tom Aspinall to win, arguing that Aspinall's speed, variety, and well-rounded game will be too much for Curtis Blaydes. He dismisses the notion that Blaydes can simply extend the fight and win, noting that Blaydes lost the championship rounds against Volkov. Levi emphasizes Aspinall's impressive grappling, including a straight arm lock submission on Volkov, and believes Aspinall's takedown defense and offensive wrestling are underrated. He also mentions the home crowd advantage and Blaydes' potential jet lag.

Mentions that Aspinall might finish Blaydes, but advises against prop bets since the straight bet is already decent value.
"I think that tom aspinall is a lot faster i think that tom aspinall has a lot more variety to his game i think he's more well-rounded"
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Jul 20, 2022 (3 days before fight)
Curtis Blaydes

Aspinall has cardio questions. If Blaydes survives the early onslaught and takes Aspinall down, Aspinall will gas. Blaydes has faced tougher competition and has more tools to win over a longer fight. I see Blaydes finishing Aspinall in the third round via TKO from top position.

under 3.5 rounds -175 (violence play); Blaydes via third round TKO
"I'm gonna go blades and let the hate continue to pour on"
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Hesitant picked Jul 20, 2022 (3 days before fight)
Curtis Blaydes

Paul leans towards Curtis Blaydes at plus money, citing uncertainty about Tom Aspinall's cardio and performance if taken down multiple times. He notes Blaydes has never been an underdog in the UFC and has strong wrestling and top control. Paul suggests live betting Aspinall early and then Blaydes if Aspinall doesn't finish. He admits he doesn't love the pick and probably won't bet it.

suggests live betting: bet Aspinall early, then Blaydes if Aspinall doesn't finish
"right now i'm kind of leaning towards curtis blades because they're giving me the plus 115 on that side and i just don't know what tom aspinall looks like if he's getting taken down multiple times"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Jul 18, 2022 (5 days before fight)
Tom Aspinall

The MMA Guru picks Tom Aspinall to win by first-round TKO. He notes Blaydes has a pattern of overcommitting to a strategy and losing. Aspinall is quick, technical, and has a jiu-jitsu background. He will chop the legs, land combos, and time a takedown. Blaydes will get back up but take damage, and Aspinall will finish him late in the first round.

first round TKO
"first round late tko from tom aspinall is what i'm gonna go for there"
Submission (straight armbar) R1 3:45 · UFC Fight Night: Volkov vs. Aspinall · Mar 19, 2022
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Tom Aspinall 0 13 of 23 56% 13 of 23 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Alexander Volkov 0 29 of 43 67% 35 of 50 2 of 2 100% 1 0 1:54
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Tom Aspinall 0 13 of 23 56% 13 of 23 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Alexander Volkov 0 29 of 43 67% 35 of 50 2 of 2 100% 1 0 1:54
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Tom Aspinall 13 of 23 56% 6 of 16 5 of 5 2 of 2 13 of 22 0 of 0 0 of 1
Alexander Volkov 29 of 43 67% 16 of 30 5 of 5 8 of 8 16 of 26 1 of 1 12 of 16
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Tom Aspinall 13 of 23 56% 6 of 16 5 of 5 2 of 2 13 of 22 0 of 0 0 of 1
Alexander Volkov 29 of 43 67% 16 of 30 5 of 5 8 of 8 16 of 26 1 of 1 12 of 16
Play-by-Play
View on Sherdog
Alexander Volkov vs. Tom Aspinall

Round 1
In extremely hostile territory, Russian striker Volkov (34-9, 8-3 UFC) will compete as one half of the main event against surging British upstart and pure finisher Aspinall (11-2, 4-0 UFC). The partisan crowd has been treated to plenty of locals getting their hand raised thus far tonight, and they hope to end the night with the Team Kaobon fighter out of Manchester getting it done once more. Referee Marc Goddard will serve as the final Octagon ranger of the evening, and a cool hand shake is exchanged before the two inflict powerful heavyweight violence on one another. Aspinall starts first with several quick punches, landing a trio of shots on the chin as Volkov is caught standing still. Volkov backs off to get into his preferred range, landing leg kicks and checking one of his own. The Brit surges forward, grabbing hold of his opponent and wrenching him down to the mat. Landing in side control one minute into the round, Aspinall elects to step into half guard and hack down with short elbows. Volkov is already cut from these elbows on the side of his head, and Aspinall continues working on it. Aspinall lets go with his other hand, slamming down fists and elbows as Volkov struggles to work his way to the fence. When the Russian sits up, Aspinall isolates a two-on-one wrist lock to try to hunt for a kimura, but Volkov straightens his arm and fights back up to his feet. Aspinall resets, and Volkov chips at him with a leg kick and a right hand as Aspinall advances with a hacking standing elbow. Aspinall attacks the leg and stands right in front of his opponent, throwing strikes, and Volkov is frozen watching it happen. Aspinall throws a kick and falls to the ground, and although Volkov runs over to try to capitalize on the position, Aspinall rolls and stands back up to high five Volkov. The Brit gathers his footing and rushes in, hitting a tackle of a double-leg takedown to put the Russian down to the canvas again.
Instead of hunting for ground-and-pound, Aspinall immediately goes after Volkov’s left arm. Briefly considering a kimura again, Aspinall changes it up to lock up a straight armbar, and Volkov taps out frantically when his elbow hyperextends.
The Team Kaobon fighter releases, and he sprints to the cage wall to climb it alongside teammate Darren Till. This is unquestionably a breakout performance for the instant heavyweight contender, blowing through a durable, crafty veteran while barely breaking a sweat. What a major turn of events in a fight card full of them, closing out a thrilling card that very well will be involved in “Event of the Year” conversations in nine-plus months. In his post-fight conversation with commentator Michael Bisping, the victorious Aspinall challenges Tai Tuivasa to drink beer with him – and fight – when the promotion returns to England. Should that come together, we will be here for it, and we hope you are too.

The Official Result
Tom Aspinall def. Alexander Volkov R1 3:45 via Submission (Straight Armbar)
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Confident picked Mar 12, 2022 (7 days before fight)
Tom Aspinall

Angelo picks Tom Aspinall, citing his superior pure striking, more power, and better grappling compared to Volkov. He notes that Volkov has lost to strikers like Gane and Lewis, and to grapplers like Blaydes. Angelo acknowledges Volkov's durability and the fact that Aspinall has never gone three rounds, but still sees Aspinall as the straightforward pick. He has a moneyline bet on Aspinall at minus 110.

moneyline bet at -110
"i like aspinall here but we will absolutely find out if he's more hyped than substance because volkov always shows up and he is not an easy win for anyone but i am going with the brit tom aspinall here …"
BI
Big Brady Expert Hesitant picked Mar 14, 2022 (5 days before fight)
Alexander Volkov

Big Brady picks Alexander Volkov to win by late knockout. He has question marks about Aspinall's cardio, as Aspinall has never won a fight past 1.5 rounds and slowed in the Arlovski fight. Brady believes Volkov has a proven chin, excellent cardio, and has faced much better competition. He doubts Aspinall can take Volkov down and thinks the fight will stay on the feet, where Volkov's experience and durability will prevail.

late knockout
"give me alexander volkov to knock out tom aspinall later the fight goes"
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Hesitant picked Mar 16, 2022 (3 days before fight)
Tom Aspinall

Cody picks Aspinall but is hesitant due to the five-round distance. He notes Aspinall's speed and power advantage, and thinks his grappling might be better, but the five rounds scare him. He hasn't placed a bet on it.

"aspinall is the pick for me but i haven't put any money on it"
DA
Daniel Levi Expert Confident picked Mar 17, 2022 (2 days before fight)
Tom Aspinall

Daniel Levi picks Tom Aspinall at dog odds (+110), citing his speed advantage, confidence, and Volkov's potential decline after missing a title shot. He notes Aspinall's footwork and movement are rare for a heavyweight, and that Volkov's recent performances have been shaky. Levi acknowledges the cardio question but believes Aspinall can finish early or outpoint Volkov. He also mentions that Volkov's last two five-round fights were losses.

Bet Aspinall at +110 before line flipped
"I got dog odds on a guy who i think has a big speed advantage i think he's got a confidence advantage"
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Mar 16, 2022 (3 days before fight)
Alexander Volkov

Volkov is a 43-fight veteran who has only been knocked out twice, showing durability. Aspinall's win condition is a first-round KO; if he doesn't get it, he fades. Volkov's range kickboxing, teeps, and leg kicks will chip away at Aspinall's gas tank. Aspinall's win over Spivak was impressive but Spivak looked intimidated. Volkov at underdog odds is great value; I'll bet him at +120 to +130 for 2 units. I'm picking Volkov via third-round TKO.

Volkov via TKO round 3; under 3.5 rounds; live bet Volkov after round 1
"I love Volkov in this spot... I think Volkov gives him a veteran lesson here."
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Confident picked Mar 16, 2022 (3 days before fight)
Alexander Volkov

Paul picks Volkov, emphasizing the five-round advantage and Volkov's durability. He argues Aspinall needs a first-round KO, but Volkov has a good chin and cardio. He cites Volkov's improvements in takedown defense and size, and believes Aspinall's aggressive style will lead to fatigue in later rounds.

"i'm taking alexander vogel"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Mar 14, 2022 (5 days before fight)
Tom Aspinall

The Guru picks Tom Aspinall despite the close odds, citing Aspinall's speed, power, and grappling pedigree. He notes Volkov's vulnerability to being cracked, referencing Derrick Lewis's knockout, and believes Aspinall's team focus (after Darren Till left) will elevate him. He also mentions potential hometown judging bias in the UK. He predicts a first-round TKO, with Aspinall landing a 1-2 straight down the pipe.

first round TKO
"i'm going to go with tom aspinall here... i think he's going to crack volkov out there in the first round by tko"
TKO (elbow and punches) R1 2:30 · UFC Fight Night: Brunson vs. Till · Sep 04, 2021
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Tom Aspinall 1 16 of 26 61% 16 of 26 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:03
Serghei Spivac 0 0 of 11 0% 0 of 11 0 of 2 0% 0 0 0:00
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Tom Aspinall 1 16 of 26 61% 16 of 26 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:03
Serghei Spivac 0 0 of 11 0% 0 of 11 0 of 2 0% 0 0 0:00
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Tom Aspinall 16 of 26 61% 12 of 22 4 of 4 0 of 0 7 of 13 3 of 3 6 of 10
Serghei Spivac 0 of 11 0% 0 of 11 0 of 0 0 of 0 0 of 11 0 of 0 0 of 0
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Tom Aspinall 16 of 26 61% 12 of 22 4 of 4 0 of 0 7 of 13 3 of 3 6 of 10
Serghei Spivac 0 of 11 0% 0 of 11 0 of 0 0 of 0 0 of 11 0 of 0 0 of 0
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked Aug 31, 2021 (4 days before fight)
Tom Aspinall

Big Brady picks Tom Aspinall to win by knockout, citing Aspinall's excellent striking volume (7.43 sig strikes/min, 66% accuracy) and power. He acknowledges question marks about Aspinall's takedown defense and cardio beyond the first round, but believes Spivac's short notice and questionable cardio will prevent him from wrestling effectively for three rounds. Brady notes Spivac has been knocked out before (by Walt Harris) and expects Aspinall to finish him either early or late as Spivac gasses. He cautions against parlays this week due to close fights.

Aspinall by knockout; caution against parlays
"i will take aspen to get a finish some point in this fight could be early could be later if spuvak really does gas out"
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Lean picked Sep 1, 2021 (3 days before fight)
Tom Aspinall

Cody picks Aspinall but suggests betting Spivac live after the first round, expecting Aspinall to dominate early and the line to swell. He notes Aspinall's cardio concerns and Spivac's ability to fight deep, but thinks Spivac looked awful against Olenyk and is on short notice. He believes Aspinall's speed and power will be too much early, but if it goes past round one, Spivac could take over.

Live bet on Spivac after round 1
"i am going to take the coward's way out here i'm going to start with asphalt but what i would suggest though if you are feedback better is this is another excellent opportunity to bet speed back after the first …"
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Sep 3, 2021 (1 day before fight)
Serghei Spivac

I'm fading Aspinall because his cardio is suspect—he gassed against Stuart Austin and slowed against Arlovski. Spivak has shown he can go deep into fights, like against Carlos Felipe. Aspinall's grappling defense is questionable; he got submitted by Austin and looked bad on his back. Spivak keeps a high pace and can wrestle. If Aspinall doesn't finish early, Spivak will take over. I bet Spivak on the moneyline and like Spivak by decision at +500.

Spivac by decision +500, Spivac round 3 +1800
"I like Spivak here... I bet him on the money line... I like Spivak by decision which I believe is plus 500."
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert picked Sep 1, 2021 (3 days before fight)

Paul is staying away from this fight, citing the big juice on heavyweights and the uncertainty of both young fighters. He mentions Aspinall's cardio issues and Spivac's poor performance against Olenyk, but doesn't commit to a pick. He notes the prop 'Aspinall by KO' is -120 but still doesn't want to bet.

"it's just a fight i think i'm gonna stay away from i don't like betting uh big time juice on uh on heavyweights"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Aug 30, 2021 (5 days before fight)
Tom Aspinall

The MMA Guru picks Tom Aspinall to win by first-round TKO. He believes Aspinall's size, athleticism, and jiu-jitsu black belt will prevent Spivac from grinding him out. He notes Spivac starts slow and makes mistakes on the feet early, and on short notice, Spivac's cardio will be compromised. He compares it to Walt Harris's TKO of Spivac.

first round tko
"i'm gonna go with tom aspinall here i think it's a good bet to go for i think i'm gonna go with first round tko for tom aspinall"
Submission (rear-naked choke) R2 1:09 · UFC Fight Night: Blaydes vs. Lewis · Feb 20, 2021
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Tom Aspinall 0 20 of 55 36% 22 of 57 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Andrei Arlovski 0 37 of 60 61% 41 of 64 1 of 1 100% 1 0 2:17
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Tom Aspinall 0 16 of 42 38% 18 of 44 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Andrei Arlovski 0 33 of 54 61% 37 of 58 0 of 0 --- 0 0 2:09
2 Tom Aspinall 0 4 of 13 30% 4 of 13 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Andrei Arlovski 0 4 of 6 66% 4 of 6 1 of 1 100% 1 0 0:08
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Tom Aspinall 20 of 55 36% 8 of 40 7 of 9 5 of 6 17 of 49 3 of 6 0 of 0
Andrei Arlovski 37 of 60 61% 22 of 44 6 of 7 9 of 9 24 of 40 13 of 20 0 of 0
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Tom Aspinall 16 of 42 38% 7 of 31 6 of 7 3 of 4 13 of 36 3 of 6 0 of 0
Andrei Arlovski 33 of 54 61% 21 of 42 6 of 6 6 of 6 20 of 34 13 of 20 0 of 0
2 Tom Aspinall 4 of 13 30% 1 of 9 1 of 2 2 of 2 4 of 13 0 of 0 0 of 0
Andrei Arlovski 4 of 6 66% 1 of 2 0 of 1 3 of 3 4 of 6 0 of 0 0 of 0
DA
Daniel Levi Expert Confident picked Feb 19, 2021 (1 day before fight)
Tom Aspinall

Daniel Levi dismisses the narrative that Aspinall gasses after the first round, noting his only real loss was a heel hook in 2015 and a DQ due to an illegal elbow. He praises Aspinall's physical traits: 6'5", 265 lbs, 78-inch reach, and straight punches down the pipe. Levi believes Aspinall's sparring with Tyson Fury and training at Team Cowboy have elevated his game. He expects Aspinall to knock out Arlovski in the first round, comparing it to when Jairzinho Rozenstruik knocked out Arlovski.

first round knockout
"i think he knocks out andre arlovski in the first round saturday night"
Serghei Spivac - Fight History
WIN vs Ante Delija
Decision R3 5:00 · UFC Fight Night: Strickland vs. Hernandez · Feb 21, 2026
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Serghei Spivac 0 67 of 149 44% 102 of 185 1 of 4 25% 0 0 3:00
Ante Delija 0 61 of 172 35% 61 of 173 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:12
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Serghei Spivac 0 20 of 46 43% 20 of 46 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Ante Delija 0 19 of 58 32% 19 of 58 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
2 Serghei Spivac 0 20 of 41 48% 34 of 55 0 of 0 --- 0 0 1:08
Ante Delija 0 26 of 63 41% 26 of 64 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:12
3 Serghei Spivac 0 27 of 62 43% 48 of 84 1 of 4 25% 0 0 1:52
Ante Delija 0 16 of 51 31% 16 of 51 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Serghei Spivac 67 of 149 44% 65 of 145 1 of 3 1 of 1 67 of 148 0 of 1 0 of 0
Ante Delija 61 of 172 35% 56 of 166 5 of 6 0 of 0 58 of 168 3 of 4 0 of 0
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Serghei Spivac 20 of 46 43% 20 of 46 0 of 0 0 of 0 20 of 46 0 of 0 0 of 0
Ante Delija 19 of 58 32% 17 of 55 2 of 3 0 of 0 19 of 58 0 of 0 0 of 0
2 Serghei Spivac 20 of 41 48% 20 of 39 0 of 2 0 of 0 20 of 40 0 of 1 0 of 0
Ante Delija 26 of 63 41% 25 of 62 1 of 1 0 of 0 23 of 59 3 of 4 0 of 0
3 Serghei Spivac 27 of 62 43% 25 of 60 1 of 1 1 of 1 27 of 62 0 of 0 0 of 0
Ante Delija 16 of 51 31% 14 of 49 2 of 2 0 of 0 16 of 51 0 of 0 0 of 0
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Confident picked Feb 15, 2026 (6 days before fight)
Ante Delija

Angelo picks Ante Delija, believing his size, wrestling, and pressure will stifle Serghei Spivac's takedowns. He notes Spivac struggles against athletic pressure and Delija is the better wrestler. He is slightly worried about Delija's chin but thinks Spivac lacks knockout power.

"Ante Delija is the pick."
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked Feb 8, 2026 (13 days before fight)
Ante Delija

Big Brady picks Ante Delija to defeat Serghei Spivak, citing Spivak's poor durability and Delija's well-rounded skills. He notes Spivak's wins have aged poorly and that he was knocked out by Jailton Almeida, which is embarrassing. He believes Delija can stuff takedowns and then destroy Spivak on the feet, predicting a first-round knockout. He references Delija's performance against Marcin Tybura where he stuffed all takedowns and finished early.

Ante Delija by first-round knockout
"I got to go De Lima here. I think De Lima wins this fight by first round knockout."
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Lean picked Feb 18, 2026 (3 days before fight)
Serghei Spivac

Cody is chasing plus money on Spivac, noting Delija's poor gas tank and chin issues. He thinks if Delija doesn't get an early KO, Spivac's grappling and cardio will take over. He admits it's a low-confidence play but likes the value.

"I got to take a dog shot on Spac. I do have a lot of favorites on this card, but Eay and Spac are two guys I think that are very capable of performing."
CO
Connor Ruebusch Expert Confident picked Feb 19, 2026 (2 days before fight)
Ante Delija

Connor picks Delija because he believes Delija's explosive, aggressive style will overwhelm Spivak, who is slow and has poor defense. He notes that Delija is a glass cannon but that Spivak's chin is also questionable, and that Delija's size and power should be enough to finish early. He also points out that Spivak's game relies on clinch takedowns, which Delija's size can neutralize.

Delija opened +105, now -135; Spivak opened +160, now +115; Connor thinks the line should be dead even
"I'm gonna take Delia. Same. Yep, Spivak is slow in every metric. Slow hands, slow feet. No defense, not a great chin for a heavyweight."
DI
Diary of a Pro Gambler Expert picked Feb 14, 2026 (7 days before fight)

The host believes Delija is better in all aspects and has a clear stylistic advantage, but the odds (-181) do not offer value. He cannot confidently give Delija a 70% win probability required for value, so he passes on betting.

"For me the only problem I have with betting Deija in this fight is the odds. In order to get any value on Elijah at all, you'd have to give him around a 70% chance of winning. And even though …"
LU
Lucrative James Expert Lean picked Feb 14, 2026 (7 days before fight)
Ante Delija

James leans toward Ante Delija via first-round KO, citing Delija's early power and aggression. He notes that Spivac can be hurt early and that Delija has more finishing upside in the first round. However, he acknowledges Spivac's grappling advantage if the fight goes longer, and he is not fully confident due to Delija's questionable chin and the weird nature of the fight.

under 1.5 rounds (lean)
"My prediction will be Ante Dia via KO in round one and it will be a lean to the under one and a half rounds."
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Feb 17, 2026 (4 days before fight)
Ante Delija

Delija is a much better striker with good defensive wrestling. Spivac needs to get fights to the ground to win, but Delija should be able to stuff takedowns and force a striking match. Spivac has lost to athletic strikers before. Delija will walk him down and land big shots, likely a TKO in the first round. The line dropping is a gift.

"I think Dia wins and I think he makes it look quite one-sided as well."
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert picked Feb 18, 2026 (3 days before fight)

Paul has no conviction on this fight, calling it a coin flip. He notes Delija's power and Spivac's grappling but doesn't see a clear edge. He prefers to avoid betting it.

"Yeah, I have like next to no conviction on this fight whatsoever."
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Feb 19, 2026 (2 days before fight)
Ante Delija

The MMA Guru picks Ante Delija by decision, believing he will be sharper at range with low kicks. He notes Delija's good cage defense and three-round experience. He thinks Spivac is slower and less athletic, and that Delija can avoid being out-grappled.

29-28 decision
"I'm going to go with Ante getting this one done by 29-28 decision."
ZA
Zane Simon Expert Confident picked Feb 19, 2026 (2 days before fight)
Ante Delija

Zane agrees with Connor, noting that Delija's one-dimensional but effective style works well at heavyweight. He points out that Spivak is slow and upright, and that Delija's fast hands and straight punches can catch him. He also mentions that Delija's losses come when he gets hurt, but Spivak is not a big puncher, so Delija should be safe to swarm.

"Yep, delia does one thing and lucky for him, this is heavyweight. So that one thing will work more than 50% of the time."
Decision R3 5:00 · UFC 316: Dvalishvili vs. O'Malley 2 · Jun 07, 2025
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Serghei Spivac 0 48 of 119 40% 53 of 124 2 of 6 33% 0 0 2:25
Waldo Cortes Acosta 0 110 of 235 46% 111 of 236 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Serghei Spivac 0 14 of 36 38% 17 of 39 1 of 3 33% 0 0 1:36
Waldo Cortes Acosta 0 27 of 59 45% 28 of 60 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
2 Serghei Spivac 0 18 of 42 42% 18 of 42 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:15
Waldo Cortes Acosta 0 36 of 77 46% 36 of 77 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
3 Serghei Spivac 0 16 of 41 39% 18 of 43 1 of 2 50% 0 0 0:34
Waldo Cortes Acosta 0 47 of 99 47% 47 of 99 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Serghei Spivac 48 of 119 40% 39 of 109 4 of 5 5 of 5 45 of 115 3 of 4 0 of 0
Waldo Cortes Acosta 110 of 235 46% 76 of 196 16 of 20 18 of 19 105 of 225 5 of 10 0 of 0
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Serghei Spivac 14 of 36 38% 11 of 33 1 of 1 2 of 2 14 of 36 0 of 0 0 of 0
Waldo Cortes Acosta 27 of 59 45% 12 of 41 8 of 11 7 of 7 26 of 58 1 of 1 0 of 0
2 Serghei Spivac 18 of 42 42% 12 of 35 3 of 4 3 of 3 17 of 40 1 of 2 0 of 0
Waldo Cortes Acosta 36 of 77 46% 21 of 62 7 of 7 8 of 8 33 of 72 3 of 5 0 of 0
3 Serghei Spivac 16 of 41 39% 16 of 41 0 of 0 0 of 0 14 of 39 2 of 2 0 of 0
Waldo Cortes Acosta 47 of 99 47% 43 of 93 1 of 2 3 of 4 46 of 95 1 of 4 0 of 0
Play-by-Play
View on Sherdog
Waldo Cortes-Acosta vs. Serghei Spivac
BETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Spivac (-148), Cortes-Acosta (+124)

Round 1
Mike Beltran is once again the referee. Spivac opens the round with a strong jab and then misses an overhand right. Cortes-Acosta eats a right hand and then a head kick. Spivac is very aggressive early. Nice leg kick lands for Spivac. Cortes-Acosta throws a left hook, but it comes up very short. Spivac catches a low kick and clinches with Cortes-Acosta. Spivac goes to the body with left hands. Cortes-Acosta is trying to circle out but can't free himself of the clinch. They finally break. Cortes-Acosta resets after eating a jab and then lands a big right hand. Spivac is walking down Cortes-Acosta and keeping him against the cage. The two heavyweights trade jabs. Cortes-Acosta throws a front kick up the middle and then a leg kick. Spivac ends the round defending well as Cortes-Acosta gets more aggressive.

Sherdog Scores
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Spivac
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Spivac
Devin Tejada scores the round: 10-9 Spivac

Round 2
Spivac once again takes the center of the cage. A big overhand right connects for Cortes-Acosta, who then throws hard to the body. Despite losing the first round, Cortes-Acosta is finding his confidence inside the cage. Spivac is much less active this round. Spivac's jabs are landing. The two trade hooks, with Spivac landing. Hard leg kicks from Cortes-Acosta, who has the more varied attack. Spivac clinches but can't keep him there. Cortes-Acosta's shorts just ripped, but it isn't impacting the action. Cortes-Acosta lands another leg kick, but that allows Spivac to charge forward with a takedown attempt. Cortes-Acosta stays on his feet and then lands a 1-2. Spivac answers back with a high kick that doesn't quite land. Cortes-Acosta is jabbing and going to the body with his punches. Spivac looks to be slowing down as he's unable to match the volume of punches of Cortes-Acosta. 30 seconds left. The two trade jabs. A nice jab to the body by Cortes-Acosta. The round ends with Cortes-Acosta landing a hook to the body.

Sherdog Scores
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Cortes-Acosta
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Cortes-Acosta
Devin Tejada scores the round: 10-9 Cortes-Acosta

Round 3
Cortes-Acosta gets a new pair of shorts on between rounds, so that crisis is averted. Cortes-Acosta is working his jab well. A huge overhand right hand lands for Spivac. Cortes-Acosta pretends to be totally dazed by the punch, which glances off the side of his head, but Spivac doesn't bite. Cortes-Acosta tries to catch Spivac but eats a big elbow instead. Spivac has the momentum with three minutes left. A nice step-in knee for Cortes-Acosta. Spivac misses with a high kick and then looks to clinch. Cortes-Acosta slips out and answers with a 1-2 combination. Two minutes left. Spivac throws a big right hand, but he's being peppered away at by Cortes-Acosta. Cortes-Acosta is showing some fatigue, as he isn't throwing back after slipping punches like he was earlier. Spivac goes for another takedown and picks up Cortes-Acosta. However, Cortes-Acosta gets back to his feet before Spivac can take advantage of the situation. Spivac is eating jabs while whiffing overhand rights. A big straight right lands for Spivac right before the round expires, but it might be too little, too late.

Sherdog Scores
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Spivac (29-28 Spivac)
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Spivac (29-28 Spivac)
Devin Tejada scores the round: 10-9 Spivac (29-28 Spivac)

The Official Result
Waldo Cortes-Acosta def. Serghei Spivac via Unanimous Decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Confident picked Jun 1, 2025 (6 days before fight)
Waldo Cortes Acosta

Angelo picks Waldo Cortes Acosta as an underdog, citing his athleticism, speed, power, and improvements since his loss to Del Lima. He thinks Spivac is unathletic and lumbering, and Waldo's foot movement and power will be too much. He bet half a unit on Waldo because he likes betting dogs at that stake.

Bet half a unit on Waldo as a dog.
"I threw a half a unit on him as a bet cuz when I bet dogs, I only do a half a unit instead of a full."
BI
Big Brady Expert Hesitant picked Jun 3, 2025 (4 days before fight)
Serghei Spivac

Big Brady picks Spivac but is hesitant due to his inconsistency. He notes that when Spivac is on, he ragdolls opponents, but when he faces adversity, he folds. He thinks Spivac should be able to take down Cortes Acosta, who has been taken down by lesser wrestlers, and that Spivac can finish by submission or TKO. He predicts a second-round submission but says he probably won't bet it because of the risk.

Spivac by submission in round 2
"I'm going to take Spac, but my concern and and why I probably won't be betting him here is because there is a chance he shows up and it looks like he doesn't want to be there and he gets …"
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Jun 4, 2025 (3 days before fight)
Serghei Spivac

Spivac is expected to deal with Acosta's striking, take the fight to the ground, and keep Acosta on his back until a submission opportunity opens. The pick is for Spivac to win by submission.

win by submission
"I fully expect Spac to deal with Aosta's striking, eventually take this fight to the ground, keeping Cortez Aosta on his back until that submission opportunity opens itself, giving Spac the win by submission."
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Jun 4, 2025 (3 days before fight)
Serghei Spivac

The MMA Guru picks Serghei Spivac, believing his grappling will be the edge. He notes Spivac had moments against Jailton Almeida and submitted Marcin Tybura. He worries about Spivac's striking but thinks he can take Waldo down and finish by submission or TKO in the first two rounds. He acknowledges Waldo could win again but trusts Spivac's grappling.

Finish prediction: first round submission or second round TKO. Fight not going past two rounds.
"I'm going to go Sergey Spivac. I'm going to say that Sergey Spivac is going to get his grappling off here and be able to submit Waldo Cortez A Costa."
LOSS vs Jailton Almeida
TKO (punches) R1 4:53 · UFC 311: Makhachev vs. Moicano · Jan 18, 2025
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Jailton Almeida 0 23 of 31 74% 36 of 49 1 of 1 100% 0 1 1:48
Serghei Spivac 0 15 of 28 53% 34 of 47 1 of 1 100% 0 1 2:08
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Jailton Almeida 0 23 of 31 74% 36 of 49 1 of 1 100% 0 1 1:48
Serghei Spivac 0 15 of 28 53% 34 of 47 1 of 1 100% 0 1 2:08
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Jailton Almeida 23 of 31 74% 20 of 27 1 of 2 2 of 2 7 of 12 4 of 6 12 of 13
Serghei Spivac 15 of 28 53% 14 of 27 1 of 1 0 of 0 2 of 7 0 of 0 13 of 21
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Jailton Almeida 23 of 31 74% 20 of 27 1 of 2 2 of 2 7 of 12 4 of 6 12 of 13
Serghei Spivac 15 of 28 53% 14 of 27 1 of 1 0 of 0 2 of 7 0 of 0 13 of 21
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Confident picked Jan 12, 2025 (6 days before fight)
Jailton Almeida

Angelo is very confident in Jailton Almeida, citing his dominant wrestling and takedown ability against all opponents, including elite wrestlers like Curtis Blaydes. He believes Spivac will not be able to defend the takedowns and that Almeida's grappling is on another level. He considers -250 affordable and suggests parlay with Zachary Reese.

Parlay with Zachary Reese suggested.
"I absolutely think he wins this fight I don't know what s bvx going to do he's not going to defend the take downs"
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Confident picked Jan 16, 2025 (2 days before fight)
Jailton Almeida

Cody picks Jailton Almeida as a top-line parlay piece. He highlights Almeida's takedown ability, having taken down everyone he's faced, including Curtis Blaydes nine times. Cody notes that Spivac has not faced strong wrestlers and has been taken down by older fighters. He believes Almeida will get takedowns, establish top control, and grapple his way to a win, possibly a finish. Cody acknowledges heavyweight volatility but trusts Almeida's skills.

Almeida is part of the Saftic Super Boost parlay. No specific prop bet mentioned.
"I think gelel M has got the skill here honestly in all the fights that we've seen him in at this level... he's taking down his opponent and all of them"
DA
Daniel Levi Expert Confident picked Jan 14, 2025 (4 days before fight)
Jailton Almeida

Daniel picks Almeida, believing his takedown ability is elite and that he will take Spivac down and finish him. He notes that Almeida took down Curtis Blaydes and Romanov easily, and that Spivac does not have the same wrestling credentials. Daniel acknowledges Spivac's improvements but thinks Almeida's grappling is too much. He is not betting due to the high price.

Daniel says he is passing on betting due to the -420 price. He mentions Almeida's takedown ability and Spivac's lack of wrestling.
"I'll pick him as well but I'm passing betting wise"
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Jan 17, 2025 (1 day before fight)
Jailton Almeida

The host expects Almeida to do exactly what he did to Alexander Romanov: grab the body lock, find a trip, get top position, and smash Spivac until he gets a TKO stoppage.

TKO stoppage
"I expect him to go out there and do exactly what he did to Alexander Romanov grab the body lock find a trip get that top position against speac and smash him until he eventually gets that TKO stoppage"
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Confident picked Jan 16, 2025 (2 days before fight)
Jailton Almeida

Paul agrees with Cody, picking Almeida. He notes the massive grappling disparity and believes Almeida's takedown onslaught will be too much for Spivac. Paul mentions that Spivac's path to victory is to survive the early onslaught and hope Almeida gasses, but he thinks Almeida will get the job done. He also notes that Almeida has shown improvement in finishing fights.

No specific prop bet mentioned.
"I think that there's a massive grappling disparity here and I think gon's the the rightful favorite"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Jan 14, 2025 (4 days before fight)
Jailton Almeida

The MMA Guru picks Jailton Almeida over Serghei Spivac. He expects Almeida to win a decision, possibly spending time in bad positions but using athleticism to escape submission attempts. He notes Spivac is technical and not easily bulldozed, but Almeida's athleticism will carry him. He predicts a 29-28 decision for Almeida.

decision
"I am going to go with Jon Al MAA to beat Sergey spivac I reckon he will win a decision"
WIN vs Marcin Tybura
Submission (armbar) R1 1:44 · UFC on ESPN: Tybura vs. Spivac 2 · Aug 10, 2024
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Serghei Spivac 0 0 of 4 0% 9 of 18 0 of 0 --- 0 1 0:43
Marcin Tybura 0 3 of 5 60% 8 of 11 1 of 1 100% 1 0 0:34
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Serghei Spivac 0 0 of 4 0% 9 of 18 0 of 0 --- 0 1 0:43
Marcin Tybura 0 3 of 5 60% 8 of 11 1 of 1 100% 1 0 0:34
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Serghei Spivac 0 of 4 0% 0 of 2 0 of 2 0 of 0 0 of 4 0 of 0 0 of 0
Marcin Tybura 3 of 5 60% 2 of 4 0 of 0 1 of 1 3 of 5 0 of 0 0 of 0
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Serghei Spivac 0 of 4 0% 0 of 2 0 of 2 0 of 0 0 of 4 0 of 0 0 of 0
Marcin Tybura 3 of 5 60% 2 of 4 0 of 0 1 of 1 3 of 5 0 of 0 0 of 0
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Lean picked Aug 4, 2024 (6 days before fight)
Marcin Tybura

Angelo picks Marcin Tybura because he already won the first fight and has good takedown defense (only taken down once in six years). He notes that Spivac hasn't evolved much and had a sloppy fight against Oleinik. However, he cautions that Tybura is 38 and Spivac is 9 years younger, and heavyweights are unpredictable. He likely won't bet on this fight.

Likely no money on this fight; age difference a concern
"I think Tor wins here"
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Confident picked Aug 7, 2024 (3 days before fight)
Marcin Tybura

Cody agrees with Paul, favoring Tybura due to his cardio, striking, wrestling, and experience. He points out that Spivac's skill set hasn't evolved, his grappling isn't high-level, and he struggles when he can't take down opponents. Cody believes Tybura's ability to persevere and land better shots in later rounds gives him the edge.

"I'm going to agree it's a dogger pass main event for me as well it's not like there's huge dog money on marcine Toro but you got a guy that won the previous matchup"
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Aug 5, 2024 (5 days before fight)
Marcin Tybura

Tybura is the better overall fighter with superior striking, cardio, and experience. He won the first fight and has only lost to top-tier heavyweights since. Spivac's improvements may not be enough to overcome Tybura's well-rounded game. The fight likely goes to the scorecards, making Tybura by decision a solid play at plus money.

Tybura by decision; over 2.5 rounds (or over 3.5 rounds) at even money
"I still think he's the better overall fighter in this spot better Striker can compete in the wrestling in my opinion maybe the better pure BJJ specialist probably the better cardio so it's kind of surprising to see him as …"
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Confident picked Aug 7, 2024 (3 days before fight)
Marcin Tybura

Paul favors Tybura because he won the previous matchup and still holds advantages in striking, wrestling, cardio, and experience. He notes Spivac hasn't evolved much, has robotic striking, poor cardio, and relies on wrestling which Tybura can neutralize. Paul sees Tybura as a durable journeyman who can grind out a win in a five-round fight.

"I took some Plus 138 on Tuesday Cody cuz I just think tor's got better standup submission grappling may be an edge there speac really lays on the wrestling on a lot of people is he able to you know …"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Aug 8, 2024 (2 days before fight)
Marcin Tybura

The MMA Guru picks Marcin Tybura, citing his win in their first fight and his improved takedown defense. He notes Tybura's cardio advantage in a five-round fight and his ability to win later rounds, as seen against Blaydes and Romanov. He criticizes Spivac's lack of improvement and finishing ability, pointing out that Spivac landed no significant strikes against Tom Aspinall.

"I'm gonna go with Martin toura over Sergey spivac I don't think toura can be finished on the ground and their first fight toura one"
LOSS vs Ciryl Gane
TKO (punches) R2 3:44 · UFC Fight Night: Gane vs. Spivac · Sep 02, 2023
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Ciryl Gane 0 109 of 156 69% 110 of 157 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:09
Serghei Spivac 0 11 of 44 25% 11 of 44 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:02
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Ciryl Gane 0 51 of 69 73% 52 of 70 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:09
Serghei Spivac 0 7 of 26 26% 7 of 26 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:02
2 Ciryl Gane 0 58 of 87 66% 58 of 87 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Serghei Spivac 0 4 of 18 22% 4 of 18 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Ciryl Gane 109 of 156 69% 48 of 85 39 of 49 22 of 22 105 of 152 4 of 4 0 of 0
Serghei Spivac 11 of 44 25% 7 of 38 2 of 3 2 of 3 11 of 44 0 of 0 0 of 0
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Ciryl Gane 51 of 69 73% 19 of 32 19 of 24 13 of 13 50 of 68 1 of 1 0 of 0
Serghei Spivac 7 of 26 26% 5 of 23 1 of 1 1 of 2 7 of 26 0 of 0 0 of 0
2 Ciryl Gane 58 of 87 66% 29 of 53 20 of 25 9 of 9 55 of 84 3 of 3 0 of 0
Serghei Spivac 4 of 18 22% 2 of 15 1 of 2 1 of 1 4 of 18 0 of 0 0 of 0
Play-by-Play
View on Sherdog
Ciryl Gane vs. Sergey Spivak
BETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Gane (-166), Spivak (+140)

Round 1
It’s heavyweight time. In the main attraction, with 25 minutes or less to get things done, former interim champ Gane (11-2, 8-2 UFC) wants to give home country fans something to cheer about in a big way. Standing across from him will be Spivak (16-3, 7-3 UFC), a veritable polar bear that has developed into a serious contender. In this classic striker vs. grappler contest, anything could happen. Referee Marc Goddard will be here for it. The respect is ample as the big men bump their fists together, and away we go. Spivak moves right to the center of the cage, and Gane keeps his hands low and circles around him. Gane splits the guard with a quick jab, and he pushes out with a front kick. Spivak responds with a body kick, and Gane switches stances and paws out with a leg kick. Gane snipes with a jab, and he dips a looping right hand that slides past his shoulder. Gane hand-fights when Spivak gets close, and he jabs the midsection. Spivak attempts a takedown, and Gane pushes both of his hands on the back of Spivak’s head to stop it in its tracks. Gane picks away with front kicks to the body and jabs, and Spivak is already not having a great time in there. Biting down on his mouthpiece, Spivak closes the distance and tags Gane with a right hand. Spivak sells out for a charging takedown, and Gane expertly sprawls, allows Spivak to stand back up, and knees him square in the liver. Gane targets all areas with impunity, and both men snap the other’s head back with power jabs. Gane works the body and goes up top when places open up. Gane continues to do work and evade a few looping strikes, and a jab makes Spivak blink it out repeatedly. The continued jabs from Gane bloody up the nose, and his chipping leg kicks are having an impact as well. Gane digs two hands to the body, and he ducks the overhand right counter with ease. Gane styles on Spivak with distant strikes, and his range is such that Spivak cannot touch him back. Gane doubles up on a jab and pushes out a right hand, and he chains a high kick that slaps into the guard. Spivak lumbers forward, and Gane dances around while scoring three jabs and a right hand to conclude the fairly one-sided round.

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

Round 2
The heavyweights touch gloves to get started again, and Gane instantly enters cruising altitude with frustrating leg kicks, jabs and other distance-keeping strikes. Spivak looks to catch one low kick and crash the pocket with an overhand right, and Gane parries him aside without allowing the takedown to materialize. Gane confidently stays seemingly right in front of his opponent, landing shots to anywhere he sees fit, and Spivak is tough but not offering much back effectively. Gane dips to his side, and Spivak times a clean left hook. Gane responds by putting some pop into his shots, and he makes Spivak shell up momentarily to protect from further harm. The Frenchman springs back and forth, ducking a right hook and jabbing the body with his toes outstretched when eh resets. Gane strings punches up top to a few to the body, and he steps in with a knee to the breadbasket for good measure. Gane keeps working the body brilliantly, and he steps in with a vertical elbow and a right hand to follow it. Gane digs his shin to the liver, and he leans back right as Spivak is about to counter him. Gane finds a right hand right on the target with odd timing on it, and Spivak reels and bounces off the fencing. Gane blasts the body again and again, and one knee bends the Moldovan over in pain. Spivak recovers, but he is getting picked apart. Spivak is offering nothing back, and Gane lays into him with his punishing fists. Spivak leans over and a few blows bounce off the back of his head, but Gane keeps right on clubbing him without any concern of reprisal.
The strikes do not stop coming from Gane, and he pushes Spivak back to the fence and unloads with punches, hammerfists, tomahawk arcing fists and anything else he feels like drilling Spivak with. As Goddard watches closely, Spivak’s balance nearly betrays him. Before Spivak hits the ground in defeat, Goddard leaps in between the two to cease the dominant beating courtesy of the Frenchman.
Gane is all smiles as the crowd erupts in celebration of his triumph and the others from earlier, with French combatants tonight performing swimmingly – of the seven from this country against foreign opponents, six emerged victorious. The promotion is prepared for the end result, placing heavyweight contender Tom Aspinall in the crowd as the likely next test. If that fight comes together, we will be here for it. We hope you are too.

The Official Result
Ciryl Gane def. Sergey Spivak R2 3:44 via TKO (Punches)
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Confident picked Aug 26, 2023 (7 days before fight)
Serghei Spivac

Angelo picks Serghei Spivac, reasoning that Ciryl Gane has been taken down by the only two opponents who tried (Francis Ngannou and Jon Jones). He believes Spivak can get takedowns and win, though cardio is a concern. He has a half-unit bet at +145 and suggests waiting for better odds. He also mentions this could be a good live bet.

half unit at +145
"I do think Spivak can win I have a half a unit bet on him at plus 145"
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked Aug 30, 2023 (3 days before fight)
Serghei Spivac

Big Brady picks Spivac, believing he can close distance, take Gane down, and dominate on the ground. He notes Gane's takedown defense as a weakness and Spivac's relentless wrestling, ground and pound, and submission threat. He predicts a first-round submission. However, he acknowledges that if Spivac cannot take Gane down, he will look bad on the feet.

Spivac wins by first-round submission
"I like speed vac to close distance get the fight down to the mat and dominate Cyril gone and finish him in the first round... give me a circus be back I'll take him to win by first round submission"
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Confident picked Aug 30, 2023 (3 days before fight)
Serghei Spivac

Cody sees Spivac as a live underdog at +140, citing Gane's poor takedown defense (45% in UFC) and Spivac's improving wrestling and grappling. He notes Spivac's recent takedown output (6 vs Lewis, 3 vs Sakai) and believes Gane is out of his element on the mat. Cody also mentions Spivac by submission at +800 as an intriguing prop, though he later corrects that the best available is +500.

Spivac by submission +500 (best available)
"I think we have a live Underdog here... Spivak at plus 140. I'm interested."
DA
Daniel Levi Expert Confident picked Aug 31, 2023 (2 days before fight)
Ciryl Gane

Daniel Levi picks Ciryl Gane, arguing that Gane's only losses are to the two best heavyweights on earth (Jon Jones and Francis Ngannou) and that those losses are not indicative of his true level. He emphasizes Gane's athleticism, elusive movement, and striking volume, noting that Spivac's grappling style (more judo throws than traditional doubles) will be difficult to implement against Gane's footwork. Levi also points out that Spivac has historically folded when hit to the body, and he expects Gane to hurt him there and finish. He mentions that Gane's aggression on the mat has cost him before but believes he has learned from those mistakes.

Gane inside the distance; moneyline recommended because if the Jones fight never happened he'd be -270
"I think so Rogan's gonna win I think he's probably gonna hurt him uh to the body and then finish him"
LU
Lucrative James Expert Lean picked Sep 2, 2023 (fight day)
Serghei Spivac

Lucrative James bet Spivac at +140 earlier in the week but has become less confident. He believes Gane has clear weaknesses on the ground, as shown against Francis Ngannou and Jon Jones. Spivac is one of the best top grapplers in the division and can break Gane down. He notes Gane mentally quit in the Ngannou fight after being taken down. He also bet under 2.5 rounds, expecting an early finish. He considers hedging with Gane by KO.

Under 2.5 rounds
"I bet him about Monday quite a while ago now... I am a little bit less confident than I once was."
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Lean picked Aug 31, 2023 (2 days before fight)
Serghei Spivac

I'm leaning with the grappler Spivac here. Gane has a tremendous striking advantage but his takedown defense and work off his back are major red flags. Spivac is on a three-fight winning streak and has been improving his takedown timing and top control. I expect Spivac to close the distance, get the fight to the ground, and eventually find a submission or TKO from top position. I like the plus money on Spivac and also like the prop 'fight doesn't go to decision'.

fight doesn't go to decision (minus 350/400), plus money on Spivac
"I'm gonna lean with the grappler you know it's hard for me to really get on the serial God train especially at chalk when he's going up against a legit Grappler until we see those legitimate improvements made in his …"
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Hesitant picked Aug 30, 2023 (3 days before fight)
Ciryl Gane

Paul agrees Spivac is a live underdog but leans Gane due to the five-round nature of the fight. He argues Spivac's cardio is unproven and he may fade in later rounds, while Gane paces himself well and has good cardio. Paul also notes Spivac's chin is suspect and he struggles when forced to strike. He suggests a live bet on Gane if he loses early rounds, as he could come back late.

Live bet on Gane if he loses first round(s)
"I am going to bet thrill gone... the best way to approach this as a gone better would be the live BET."
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Aug 29, 2023 (4 days before fight)
Ciryl Gane

The MMA Guru picks Ciryl Gane by first or second-round TKO, arguing that Gane has had time to improve his grappling and that Spivac's takedowns come from the clinch, not single or double legs. He notes Spivac's poor stand-up and lack of big crowd experience, while Gane will have the Paris crowd behind him. He expects Gane to control distance with kicks and jabs, and Spivac will crumble.

"I'm going Cyril gone first or second round TKO that's what I'm gonna go with"
WIN vs Derrick Lewis
Submission (arm-triangle choke) R1 3:05 · UFC Fight Night: Lewis vs. Spivac · Feb 04, 2023
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Serghei Spivac 0 0 of 3 0% 0 of 3 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Derrick Lewis 0 12 of 21 57% 36 of 54 6 of 8 75% 1 0 2:32
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Serghei Spivac 0 0 of 3 0% 0 of 3 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Derrick Lewis 0 12 of 21 57% 36 of 54 6 of 8 75% 1 0 2:32
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Serghei Spivac 0 of 3 0% 0 of 2 0 of 1 0 of 0 0 of 3 0 of 0 0 of 0
Derrick Lewis 12 of 21 57% 12 of 21 0 of 0 0 of 0 0 of 3 0 of 0 12 of 18
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Serghei Spivac 0 of 3 0% 0 of 2 0 of 1 0 of 0 0 of 3 0 of 0 0 of 0
Derrick Lewis 12 of 21 57% 12 of 21 0 of 0 0 of 0 0 of 3 0 of 0 12 of 18
Play-by-Play
View on Sherdog
Derrick Lewis vs. Sergey Spivak
BETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Spivak (-230), Lewis (+195)

Round 1
The heavyweight main event is set to go, with Marc Goddard drawing the final referee assignment of the evening. Both big men are in orthodox stance. Spivak inches forward with feints, and when Lewis steps in to throw, Spivak uses a beautiful scarf throw to put him down. Spivak is in side control, looking for a choke, then moves to the back and throws heavy punches. Goddard looks on, giving Lewis time to work, and Lewis stands back up, only to be hurled down again. Lewis gets back to his feet and Spivak throws him again, with Lewis landing right on his head. Lewis gets back up and Spivak repeats the cycle yet once more. This time, Spivak tries for an arm-triangle and gets it with minimal resistance. He squeezes and Lewis taps. Complete domination on the ground by Sergey Spivak.

The Official Result
Sergey Spivak def. Derrick Lewis R1 3:05 via Submission (Arm-Triangle Choke)
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked Jan 29, 2023 (6 days before fight)
Serghei Spivac

Big Brady favors Spivac due to his wrestling, cardio, and ability to maul opponents on the ground. He acknowledges Lewis's knockout power but believes Spivac will take him down and make him quit. He predicts a third-round submission win.

third round submission
"I'll take speedvac to win by third round submission here"
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Confident picked Feb 1, 2023 (3 days before fight)
Serghei Spivac

Cody picks Spivac, citing his wrestling ability to take Lewis down repeatedly. He notes that Lewis has been taken down by many heavyweights and that Spivac's takedown volume should lead to a finish in round 2 or 3. He also likes the prop of Spivac over 1.5 takedowns on PrizePicks. He acknowledges Lewis's puncher's chance but believes Spivac wins 70% of the time.

Spivac over 1.5 takedowns (PrizePicks); Spivac inside the distance; Spivac by submission (+360)
"I still like speed vac to win the price at minus 225 seems about right to me... I feel like more often than not like 70 of the time the speed vac is able to take him down... and probably …"
CO
Connor Ruebusch Expert Hesitant picked Feb 2, 2023 (2 days before fight)
Derrick Lewis

Connor picks Derrick Lewis despite acknowledging Spivak's well-rounded game and youth. He believes Lewis's style of surviving and landing big shots has historically beaten grinders like Spivak. However, he is concerned that Lewis's recent aggression and overconfidence may lead to him being off-balanced and taken down. He calls this a 'last ride' for Lewis, indicating low confidence.

"I'll pick Derek Lewis along with you still. I guess I came in prepared to pick Spivak just for the gut feeling... but I will go this will be the last ride."
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Confident picked Feb 1, 2023 (3 days before fight)
Serghei Spivac

Paul agrees with Spivac, noting he got the line at -190 before it moved. He argues that Lewis's weight loss is a red flag at age 37, and that Spivac's youth and improving grappling will overwhelm Lewis. He expects Spivac to get takedowns and eventually submit Lewis, as Lewis has not faced many submission threats. He strongly disagrees with the idea that Lewis will knock out Spivac.

Spivac by submission
"I'm going to agree man honestly the line opened up minus 180 two days ago I got it at -190... I think speedback probably locks It Up by submission"
ZA
Zane Simon Expert Hesitant picked Feb 2, 2023 (2 days before fight)
Derrick Lewis

Zane picks Derrick Lewis, agreeing with Connor that Spivak's style is not the kind that beats Lewis. He notes that Lewis has always been beaten by punchers, not grinders, and that Spivak's takedowns are inefficient and may gas him. However, he is concerned about Lewis's recent losses and aggressive mindset, making this a low-confidence pick.

"I'm still concerned. I'll pick Derek Lewis along with you still. I guess I came in prepared to pick Spivak just for the gut feeling... but it is not the kind of game that has ever beat Derek Lewis."
WIN vs Augusto Sakai
TKO (punches) R2 3:42 · UFC on ESPN: Santos vs. Hill · Aug 06, 2022
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Serghei Spivac 0 8 of 23 34% 14 of 29 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:23
Augusto Sakai 0 33 of 49 67% 86 of 119 6 of 8 75% 1 0 6:37
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Serghei Spivac 0 7 of 11 63% 12 of 16 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Augusto Sakai 0 10 of 13 76% 36 of 43 4 of 5 80% 1 0 4:09
2 Serghei Spivac 0 1 of 12 8% 2 of 13 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:23
Augusto Sakai 0 23 of 36 63% 50 of 76 2 of 3 66% 0 0 2:28
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Serghei Spivac 8 of 23 34% 1 of 14 6 of 8 1 of 1 2 of 17 6 of 6 0 of 0
Augusto Sakai 33 of 49 67% 33 of 49 0 of 0 0 of 0 9 of 15 0 of 0 24 of 34
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Serghei Spivac 7 of 11 63% 1 of 5 5 of 5 1 of 1 1 of 5 6 of 6 0 of 0
Augusto Sakai 10 of 13 76% 10 of 13 0 of 0 0 of 0 3 of 6 0 of 0 7 of 7
2 Serghei Spivac 1 of 12 8% 0 of 9 1 of 3 0 of 0 1 of 12 0 of 0 0 of 0
Augusto Sakai 23 of 36 63% 23 of 36 0 of 0 0 of 0 6 of 9 0 of 0 17 of 27
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Confident picked Jul 31, 2022 (6 days before fight)
Serghei Spivac

Angelo picks Serghei Spivac, expecting him to use a cage-pressing and takedown-heavy game plan similar to his win over Tai Tuivasa. He notes Sakai's takedown defense is solid but has been exploited by Alistair Overeem, and believes Spivac can get takedowns and potentially stop Sakai, who has no movement off his back. He plans to bet on Spivac's moneyline.

I'm probably gonna throw a money line bet on sergey speak back in this fight
"I see spivak getting takedowns and will win with a potential stoppage because sakai off his back has no movement and he just takes whatever you give him"
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked Aug 2, 2022 (4 days before fight)
Serghei Spivac

Big Brady picks Serghei Spivac, citing his strong wrestling and ground game. He notes that Augusto Sakai is on a three-fight losing streak, all by finish, and has poor defense off his back. Spivac has 60% takedown accuracy and dangerous ground-and-pound and submissions. Brady predicts a second-round finish by TKO or submission, though he acknowledges Sakai's power and the possibility of a knockout if Spivac chooses to strike.

second round finish prediction (TKO or submission)
"i'll go speed back to win and buy like a second round like a second round tk or submission"
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Confident picked Aug 3, 2022 (3 days before fight)
Serghei Spivac

Cody picks Spivac, citing his improvements and youth. He notes that Spivac will likely take Sakai down and maul him, as Sakai has shown poor takedown defense and cardio issues. Cody mentions that Sakai has become gun-shy since the Overeem loss and doesn't let his hands go. He believes Spivac's grappling will be the difference.

Spivac over 1.5 takedowns on PrizePicks
"My gut instinct is Spivac is going to eventually take him down... put a mauling on him... gotta go with Sergey Spivak."
DA
Daniel Levi Expert Hesitant picked Aug 3, 2022 (3 days before fight)
Serghei Spivac

Daniel Levi picks Spivac but with low confidence, calling it a 'dog or pass' situation. He notes Sakai has been knocked out in his last two fights but Spivac lacks one-punch power, so Sakai could be competitive if his chin holds. Levi thinks Spivac's path to victory is via takedowns and ground control, but he's not confident enough to bet the -250 line.

"I see it as a dog or pass situation I guess pure pick I'll go Spivac just because the momentum's on his side"
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Lean picked Aug 3, 2022 (3 days before fight)
Augusto Sakai

Paul picks Sakai as a dog, noting that Sakai has power and a striking advantage. He mentions that Spivac has been knocked out before and that Sakai can crack. Paul is waiting for weigh-ins to see if Sakai has improved his conditioning. He sees a path for Sakai by knockout, especially if he can keep the fight standing.

Sakai by knockout (looking for +500 or better); Sakai inside the distance at +350
"Sakai will be my pick... Sakai by knockout... I see Sakai inside the distance at plus 350."
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Aug 1, 2022 (5 days before fight)
Serghei Spivac

The MMA Guru picks Serghei Spivac by decision 29-28. He calls Augusto Sakai a 'fat slob' who is too timid and has been KO'd three times in a row. He notes Spivac's deceptive size, good grappling (flipping Greg Hardy), and ability to adjust. He expects Sakai to make it difficult but Spivac to win a close fight.

"i'm going to be going with sergey spivak... i think he's a great fighter... i feel as though sergey spivak is going to get this one done by decision at 29 28"
WIN vs Greg Hardy
TKO (punches) R1 2:16 · UFC 272: Covington vs. Masvidal · Mar 05, 2022
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Serghei Spivac 0 14 of 27 51% 17 of 30 3 of 4 75% 0 0 1:21
Greg Hardy 0 7 of 12 58% 7 of 12 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Serghei Spivac 0 14 of 27 51% 17 of 30 3 of 4 75% 0 0 1:21
Greg Hardy 0 7 of 12 58% 7 of 12 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Serghei Spivac 14 of 27 51% 14 of 27 0 of 0 0 of 0 0 of 7 0 of 0 14 of 20
Greg Hardy 7 of 12 58% 3 of 8 1 of 1 3 of 3 7 of 12 0 of 0 0 of 0
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Serghei Spivac 14 of 27 51% 14 of 27 0 of 0 0 of 0 0 of 7 0 of 0 14 of 20
Greg Hardy 7 of 12 58% 3 of 8 1 of 1 3 of 3 7 of 12 0 of 0 0 of 0
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Confident picked Feb 25, 2022 (8 days before fight)
Serghei Spivac

Angelo picks Spivac but says he wouldn't bet the fight due to heavyweight volatility. He notes Spivac needs to wrestle early and often, and that Hardy has power but poor grappling. He mentions Spivac had trouble with Oleinik but chalks it up to fear of the ground. He expects Spivac to shoot immediately.

would not bet this fight
"spivak is the pick but he needs to start diving at legs immediately after the glove touch i would not bet this fight"
BI
Big Brady Expert Lean picked Feb 28, 2022 (5 days before fight)
Greg Hardy

Big Brady picks Greg Hardy to win by first-round knockout. He is not high on Spivac, noting that Spivac often waits too long to shoot takedowns and has poor striking defense. Brady acknowledges Hardy's power and good takedown defense early, but admits Hardy's ground game is weak. He sees the fight as a coin flip: if Spivac gets it to the mat, he wins; if not, Hardy knocks him out. Brady leans toward Hardy because he doubts Spivac's game plan.

Hardy by first-round knockout
"i'm actually going to take the dog here with greg hardy i know a lot of people are going to be upset with that"
CO
Cody Saftic Expert picked Mar 2, 2022 (3 days before fight)

Cody does not have a strong lean on this fight. He acknowledges Hardy's early power and finishing ability but notes his cardio and grappling holes. He suggests a live betting opportunity if Spivac takes Hardy down early, but he has no interest in betting the fight outright.

Live betting: Spivac inside the distance if he dominates round 1 on top
"i have no interest in betting that fight to be perfectly honest"
DA
Daniel Levi Expert Confident picked Mar 3, 2022 (2 days before fight)
Serghei Spivac

Daniel Levi picks Serghei Spivac via ground and pound TKO. He believes Spivac will take Hardy down and dominate on the ground, as Hardy has nothing off his back and gasses out. He notes that Spivac doesn't like getting hit but should avoid striking exchanges. He criticizes Hardy's mental toughness and cardio, citing the inhaler incident and recent losses.

"i'm going sergey spivak via ground and pound tko"
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Mar 2, 2022 (3 days before fight)
Serghei Spivac

Spivak is a big heavyweight who should dominate Hardy on the ground. Hardy gasses and gives up when taken down, as seen in the Tai Tuivasa fight. Spivak can take Hardy down, wear on him, and finish with a submission or ground and pound. The line should be closer to -300. Hardy's only chance is an early KO, but Spivak can survive the first round and take over.

Spivak wins inside the distance (round 2 submission)
"i like speedvac i'll likely have to be back inside the distance um yeah that this this is a squash match if honestly if i've ever seen one spivak should absolutely cruise here"
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Lean picked Mar 2, 2022 (3 days before fight)
Greg Hardy

Paul sees this as closer to 50/50 than the odds suggest. He notes Hardy's early power and nearly finishing Tai Tuivasa and Marcin Tybura, but acknowledges his cardio and grappling deficiencies. Paul thinks Hardy could finish Spivac early, but if not, Spivac will take over. He calls it a dog-or-pass situation and leans Hardy as a live underdog.

"this is closer to 50 50 dude so again there's going to be dogs on this card that hit i think this is a chance for one of them"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Feb 28, 2022 (5 days before fight)
Greg Hardy

The MMA Guru picks Greg Hardy as an underdog over Serghei Spivac, despite acknowledging Spivac's grappling advantage. He believes Hardy's explosiveness and power will catch Spivac early, as Spivac is poor on the feet in the first round. He notes Hardy prepared for Aleksei Oleinik and Spivac stepped in on short notice, and that Spivac is coming off a KO loss. He predicts a first-round KO for Hardy.

underdog pick, odds comment: 'almost two to one'
"i'm going to take greg hardy as an underdog against spivak"
Expert Picks (5)
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked Aug 31, 2021 (4 days before fight)
Tom Aspinall

Big Brady picks Tom Aspinall to win by knockout, citing Aspinall's excellent striking volume (7.43 sig strikes/min, 66% accuracy) and power. He acknowledges question marks about Aspinall's takedown defense and cardio beyond the first round, but believes Spivac's short notice and questionable cardio will prevent him from wrestling effectively for three rounds. Brady notes Spivac has been knocked out before (by Walt Harris) and expects Aspinall to finish him either early or late as Spivac gasses. He cautions against parlays this week due to close fights.

Aspinall by knockout; caution against parlays
"i will take aspen to get a finish some point in this fight could be early could be later if spuvak really does gas out"
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Lean picked Sep 1, 2021 (3 days before fight)
Tom Aspinall

Cody picks Aspinall but suggests betting Spivac live after the first round, expecting Aspinall to dominate early and the line to swell. He notes Aspinall's cardio concerns and Spivac's ability to fight deep, but thinks Spivac looked awful against Olenyk and is on short notice. He believes Aspinall's speed and power will be too much early, but if it goes past round one, Spivac could take over.

Live bet on Spivac after round 1
"i am going to take the coward's way out here i'm going to start with asphalt but what i would suggest though if you are feedback better is this is another excellent opportunity to bet speed back after the first round"
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Sep 3, 2021 (1 day before fight)
Serghei Spivac

I'm fading Aspinall because his cardio is suspect—he gassed against Stuart Austin and slowed against Arlovski. Spivak has shown he can go deep into fights, like against Carlos Felipe. Aspinall's grappling defense is questionable; he got submitted by Austin and looked bad on his back. Spivak keeps a high pace and can wrestle. If Aspinall doesn't finish early, Spivak will take over. I bet Spivak on the moneyline and like Spivak by decision at +500.

Spivac by decision +500, Spivac round 3 +1800
"I like Spivak here... I bet him on the money line... I like Spivak by decision which I believe is plus 500."
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert picked Sep 1, 2021 (3 days before fight)
No clear pick

Paul is staying away from this fight, citing the big juice on heavyweights and the uncertainty of both young fighters. He mentions Aspinall's cardio issues and Spivac's poor performance against Olenyk, but doesn't commit to a pick. He notes the prop 'Aspinall by KO' is -120 but still doesn't want to bet.

"it's just a fight i think i'm gonna stay away from i don't like betting uh big time juice on uh on heavyweights"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Aug 30, 2021 (5 days before fight)
Tom Aspinall

The MMA Guru picks Tom Aspinall to win by first-round TKO. He believes Aspinall's size, athleticism, and jiu-jitsu black belt will prevent Spivac from grinding him out. He notes Spivac starts slow and makes mistakes on the feet early, and on short notice, Spivac's cardio will be compromised. He compares it to Walt Harris's TKO of Spivac.

first round tko
"i'm gonna go with tom aspinall here i think it's a good bet to go for i think i'm gonna go with first round tko for tom aspinall"