vs
-225 +1040
UFC Fight Night: Gane vs. Volkov · Jun 26, 2021 · Featherweight · Completed
Prev Fight UFC Fight Night: Gane vs. Volkov Next Fight
Age 36
Height 5' 11"
Reach 74.0"
Weight 145 lbs.
Stance Orthodox
Age 40
Height 5' 7"
Reach 69.0"
Weight 145 lbs.
Stance Orthodox
Career Averages - Andre Fili
3.88 SLpM
37.0% Str. Acc.
4.34 SApM
50.0% Str. Def.
2.32 TD Avg
46.0% TD Acc.
71.0% TD Def.
0.2 Sub. Avg
Career Averages - Daniel Pineda
2.85 SLpM
49.0% Str. Acc.
3.26 SApM
45.0% Str. Def.
1.42 TD Avg
24.0% TD Acc.
54.0% TD Def.
1.5 Sub. Avg
Andre Fili
Moneyline
BetMGM -225
KO/TKO
BetMGM +210
Submission
BetMGM +1100
Decision
BetWay +200
Daniel Pineda
Moneyline
FanDuel +1040
KO/TKO
BetRivers +600
Submission
BetRivers +1000
Decision
BetMGM +450
Andre Fili - Fight History
AJ
AJ DeVito Expert Confident picked Jun 19, 2026 (1 day before fight)
Andre Fili

AJ picks Andre Fili as an underdog, doubting Oliveira's move to 145 after a broken arm and loss. He believes Fili can outbox him, being taller and longer, and that Oliveira's size bullying won't work at featherweight. He calls the -285 line on Oliveira crazy.

Fili moneyline; Fili split decision +1200; over 1.5 -210
"I'm going with Andre Phy, bro. ... I'm not believing in Venicius, dude."
AJ
AJ DeVito Expert Confident picked Jun 17, 2026 (3 days before fight)
Andre Fili

AJ sees Andre Fili as a live underdog at +200, believing Fili can catch Oliveira with straight punches. He notes Oliveira's awkwardness and potential quit after a broken arm, and thinks Fili's recent performance against Delgado shows he's sharp. AJ doubts Oliveira's move up to 145 and thinks Fili deserves respect.

"Andre Fili at +200. I was this close to doing Andre Fili as my underdog lock."
AJ
AJ DeVito Expert Hesitant picked Jun 15, 2026 (5 days before fight)
Andre Fili

AJ picks Fili as an underdog, citing Oliveira's poor defense, recent broken arm, and move up in weight. He thinks Fili's veteran savvy, reach, and clean punching will be key, and expects a competitive decision win or possibly a knockout.

Fili decision +315, over 2.5 rounds -135
"I'm going Andre Philly. I think Philly's live for the shock in this one."
AJ
AJ DeVito Expert Confident picked Jun 16, 2026 (4 days before fight)
Andre Fili

AJ picks Andre Fili as an underdog, arguing that Oliveira's bullying style won't work at 145 where he loses size advantage. He notes Fili is a technical striker with good footwork and has looked sharp against tough opponents. He expects Fili to outpoint Oliveira, possibly by split decision, and calls Fili his underdog lock.

Fili by decision +315, Fili by split decision +1050
"I think Andre Phy close decision. ... I'm picking Feelely at plus 205. I'm going crafty veteran getting the win over an overrated guy."
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Confident picked Jun 19, 2026 (1 day before fight)
Vinicius Oliveira

Angelo picks Vinicius Oliveira (Lock Dog) over Andre Fili, citing Oliveira's relentless pace and work rate. He notes Oliveira is always moving forward, throwing strikes, and mixing in takedowns, which leads to high DFS scores. He worries about Fili's low fight IQ and tendency to abandon game plans, but acknowledges Fili's wrestling experience. He believes Oliveira's busy style will overwhelm Fili.

Angelo mentions Oliveira's DFS scoring history (98, 73, 80, 88 points) and that he covers his salary. He says he'll put Oliveira in his lineup.
"I think Locked Dog wins this fight because he is insanely busy, and I think he can score well because I can see Locked Dog wrestling a bit."
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Hesitant picked Jun 17, 2026 (3 days before fight)
Vinicius Oliveira

Angelo picks Oliveira but is hesitant, worried that Fili might finally live up to his potential. He thinks Oliveira will outwork Fili with pressure, takedowns, and volume, and expects the fight to go the distance. He has a small bet on Oliveira and notes that Oliveira's last loss was to a top contender.

Small bet; expects fight to go the distance
"I think Venicious wins his fight. He's fighting Andre Phy. Andre Phy is the half that scares me."
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Confident picked Jun 14, 2026 (6 days before fight)
Vinicius Oliveira

Angelo picks Vinicius Oliveira, citing his pressure and pace as key in a three-round fight. He has concerns about Oliveira's takedown defense against Andre Fili's wrestling, but still believes Oliveira's chaos and aggression will be too much. He notes he was more confident when Oliveira was fighting Giga Chikadze.

"I'm still going to pick Venicious here. I think the pressure is going to be a big deal."
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Confident picked Jun 17, 2026 (3 days before fight)
Andre Fili

Cody picks Andre Fili as a dog, citing his reach advantage, veteran savvy, and improved wrestling. He believes Fili can implement a game plan of jabbing, matadoring, and scoring takedowns, exploiting Oliveira's wild, loopy punches and poor takedown defense. He notes Oliveira's first fight at featherweight and potential cardio issues.

"I got Andre Phy. I just It's not that Venicius Oliver can't possibly catch him. That's certainly on the table, but for like minus 260, I I need a little more than that."
CO
Connor Ruebusch Expert Confident picked Jun 18, 2026 (2 days before fight)
Andre Fili

Connor picks Fili, noting that Oliveira's style of marching forward with his face exposed is a liability against a technical veteran like Fili. He points out Fili has a fantastic shot and underrated head kick, and can replicate what Mario Bautista did to Oliveira. Connor acknowledges Fili's inconsistency but believes he can suck Oliveira into mistakes.

Fili is the underdog at +225. Connor mentions the line is surprising.
"I got to pick. I got to take Feely."
LU
Lucrative James Expert Confident picked Jun 15, 2026 (5 days before fight)
Vinicius Oliveira

Lucrative James picks Vinicius Oliveira to win, highlighting Oliveira's unpredictable striking, explosive power, and speed advantage moving up to featherweight. He notes that Andre Fili, while tricky and durable, gets dropped often and has a questionable chin. James predicts Oliveira will land a knockout, as Fili's reaction time may not handle Oliveira's unorthodox angles.

KO
"I'm going to predict Venicius Olivea gets the win here. I'm going to predict him to get the win via KO as well."
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Jun 16, 2026 (4 days before fight)
Vinicius Oliveira

Oliveira is a violent, aggressive striker who can finish. Fili struggles against aggressive fighters and is not a finishing threat. Oliveira should dictate the pace and land big shots, likely winning by knockout.

Oliveira by knockout
"I'm going to go Olivea by by knockout."
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Jun 17, 2026 (3 days before fight)
Vinicius Oliveira

Oliveira will create chaos and find a finish over Fili within two rounds, as Fili doesn't react well to aggressive fighters like Oliveira.

finish within 2 rounds
"Look for Oliveira to create a lot of chaos and eventually find a finish here over Fili within two rounds."
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Lean picked Jun 17, 2026 (3 days before fight)
Vinicius Oliveira

Paul leans toward Oliveira, thinking he might clip Fili with a knockout, but is not confident. He notes Oliveira's power and size but acknowledges his recent submission loss and Fili's wrestling improvements. He seems to prefer Fili as a value play but doesn't fully commit.

"my heart is saying that Vince Olivea probably clips him gets a knockout here gets back on track and that Fely's chin kind of gets exposed here"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Jun 20, 2026 (fight day)
Andre Fili

The MMA Guru picks Andre Fili to win, possibly by decision or knockout. He believes Fili is better everywhere technically, with superior stand-up, wrestling, and conditioning. He notes Oliveira relies on early KO and will fade, while Fili has experience at higher weight and a good chin. He thinks Fili can counter Oliveira's wild offense and mix in takedowns.

good dog this week to target
"Andre Fili is a good dog this week to target in my opinion."
ZA
Zane Simon Expert Confident picked Jun 18, 2026 (2 days before fight)
Vinicius Oliveira

Zane picks Oliveira because he is much more used to facing adversity and can walk through Fili's shots. He notes Fili has a tendency to leave himself open when countering and can be caught. Zane acknowledges Fili has a clean path to win but doubts he'll stick to it. He also mentions Oliveira's power and durability as key factors.

Oliveira opened at -350, now -265. Zane is surprised by the line, saying he'd be happy with dead even odds.
"I'm going to pick Vinicius Olivera. Oh, pick that mistake."
LOSS vs Jose Delgado
Decision R3 5:00 · UFC Fight Night: Emmett vs. Vallejos · Mar 14, 2026
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Andre Fili 0 62 of 141 43% 70 of 154 4 of 6 66% 0 1 0:59
Jose Delgado 0 94 of 169 55% 103 of 179 1 of 3 33% 0 0 0:36
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Andre Fili 0 19 of 39 48% 19 of 39 1 of 1 100% 0 0 0:23
Jose Delgado 0 23 of 46 50% 26 of 49 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:00
2 Andre Fili 0 18 of 39 46% 19 of 41 1 of 1 100% 0 1 0:11
Jose Delgado 0 30 of 62 48% 34 of 66 1 of 2 50% 0 0 0:31
3 Andre Fili 0 25 of 63 39% 32 of 74 2 of 4 50% 0 0 0:25
Jose Delgado 0 41 of 61 67% 43 of 64 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:05
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Andre Fili 62 of 141 43% 46 of 121 11 of 13 5 of 7 61 of 139 0 of 0 1 of 2
Jose Delgado 94 of 169 55% 37 of 99 34 of 47 23 of 23 83 of 153 9 of 14 2 of 2
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Andre Fili 19 of 39 48% 15 of 32 2 of 4 2 of 3 19 of 39 0 of 0 0 of 0
Jose Delgado 23 of 46 50% 7 of 26 7 of 11 9 of 9 23 of 46 0 of 0 0 of 0
2 Andre Fili 18 of 39 46% 16 of 36 2 of 2 0 of 1 18 of 39 0 of 0 0 of 0
Jose Delgado 30 of 62 48% 9 of 35 15 of 21 6 of 6 22 of 49 6 of 11 2 of 2
3 Andre Fili 25 of 63 39% 15 of 53 7 of 7 3 of 3 24 of 61 0 of 0 1 of 2
Jose Delgado 41 of 61 67% 21 of 38 12 of 15 8 of 8 38 of 58 3 of 3 0 of 0
Play-by-Play
View on Sherdog
Jose Delgado vs. Andre Fili
BETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Delgado (-310); Fili (+250)

Round 1
Chris Tognoni is the referee. Early leg kick for Delgado, who follows with a jab. Delgado jabs the body then lands a hard body kick. Fili answers with a combination to back his foe up. Delgado is using a variety of kicks early. Delgado jabs the body, then alternates between an inside and ouside leg kick. Delgado moves forward on the attack and Fili buckles him with a short right hand. Delgado seems to have recovered. Delgado kicks the body. Fili answers with a body kick of his own. A straight left lands for Fili. Delgado goes back to the calf kick. Fili with another long left. Fili counters a low kick with a jab. A nice counter right lands for Fili. Fili flicks out a jab. Fili is doing well keeping Delgado guessing with stance switches and intelligent movement. Fili with a solid right hand. Shortly thereafter, he lands a takedown late in the round. Delgado stands, and the round ends with Fili attached to his opponent against the cage.

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

Round 2
Delgado kicks the body and is immediately countered. Delgago targets the legs as he circles. Fili works behind his jab. Delgado wants a takedown, but Fili denies it. Fili fires off a jab. Delgado kicks the body. Fili finds the range on a right. Delgado lands a spinning back kick to the body, and he follows it with a rear kick ot the body. He backs up Fili with a head kick, but it’s blocked. Delgado steps in with a right and he ups the aggression. He tested off with punches and elbows, then moves into the clinch with knees. Fili frees himself after a barrage from his opponent. Fili jabs high and low. Another jab lands for Fili. A high kick glances off Delgado’s head. They trade in the center of the cage, with both men landing. A hard inside low kick lands for Delgado. Delgado goes upstairs with a kick. Fili steps in with a right. Delgado shifts gears and secures a single leg takedown. He’s in half guard with a minute to go. Delgado drops a forceful elbow. Fili explodes to his feet and lands a right hand. A front kick digs into Fili’s body. Fili ducks under a punch and closes out the round with a takedown.

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

Round 3
Fili comes out aggressive with a 1-2. A hard low kick lands for Fili. Delgado lands a jab to the body. A right gets through for Fili. Delgado has a high kick blocked. They trade in the pocket, but nothing clean lands. Fili is still leading the dance, but Delgado backs him up with a right, a kick to the body and a front kick down the middle. Fili moves forward behind a right. Another front kick to the body lands for Delgado. Delgado wraps a high kick around Fili’s gaurd. Fili fires back almost immediately. Fili attacks the calf. Fili with a glancing right hand. Fili pressures and kicks the body. Delgado moves forward and eats a knee. Delgado tags Fili with a right hand, and Fili clinches. Delgado rips an elbow on the break. Delgado lands a 1-2 and hten kicks the body. He backs Fili up with another right. Delgado jabs the body. An inside leg kick lands heavily for Delgado. Delgado stays busy with front kicks to the body. With about 30 seconds to go, Fili times a level change and gets Delgado down. Delgado gets up, but Fili plants him on his back again. Fili does his best to unleash ground and pound until the horn, but Delgado’s defenses are largely on point.

Sherdog Scores
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Delgado (29-28 Delgado)
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Delgado (29-28 Delgado)
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Delgado (29-28 Delgado)

The Official Result
Jose Delgado def. Andre Fili via Split Decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28) R3 5:00
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Confident picked Mar 8, 2026 (6 days before fight)
Jose Delgado

Angelo picks Jose Delgado, praising his spectacular striking and talent. He acknowledges Delgado's takedown defense issues but dismisses them because 'Las Vegas doesn't care about wrestling.' He notes that Andre Fili has been wrestling more lately but chooses not to warn viewers, implying that wrestling won't be scored heavily.

"Jose's going to be the pick. He's got to be the pick."
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked Mar 9, 2026 (5 days before fight)
Jose Delgado

Big Brady picks Jose Delgado to win by first-round knockout. He loves Delgado's power and aggression, and criticizes Fili's chin and striking defense (51%). He believes Delgado will come forward with reckless abandon and knock Fili out early, calling it the best fight on the card.

"I think he knocks out Feeley and I think he knocks him out in the very first round."
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Confident picked Mar 11, 2026 (3 days before fight)
Rolando Delgado

Cody picks Delgado confidently, citing his knockout power and improved cardio. He notes Fili's path is wrestling, but Delgado's knees and takedown defense are deterrents. He expects Delgado to catch Fili eventually.

"I got Delgato all day long. We'll talk about what could go wrong of course, but I think Delgato is prime for a knockout win here."
CO
Connor Ruebusch Expert Confident picked Mar 12, 2026 (2 days before fight)
Jose Delgado

Connor picks Delgado, agreeing that Fili will get caught taking pictures. He notes Delgado's flow state striking and that Fili's defensive habits make him vulnerable to being timed.

Odds: Delgado opened at -300, currently -350; Fili opened at +250, currently +285.
"Feli is going to get caught taking pictures, as you say."
LU
Lucrative James Expert Confident picked Mar 8, 2026 (6 days before fight)
Rolando Delgado

James picks Rolando Delgado to win by first-round knockout. He believes Delgado's dynamic striking, speed, and power will be too much for the older Fili, who has been knocked out early in recent fights. He notes that if Delgado doesn't finish early, Fili can compete over three rounds, but his prediction is a round one stoppage.

"I see Jose Delgado knocking him out in round one."
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Mar 10, 2026 (4 days before fight)
Jose Delgado

The host picks Delgado to win by knockout, citing his power and speed. He believes Delgado's striking will be too much for Fili, who is inconsistent and aging. However, he is hesitant about the high price and would prefer a line closer to -185. He suggests looking at the KO prop if it offers value.

Delgado by KO (if prop at +150 or better)
"I think Delgato finds a chin and and gets the knockout win here, but it's tough to get behind minus 340."
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Confident picked Mar 11, 2026 (3 days before fight)
Rolando Delgado

Paul agrees with Cody, noting Delgado's power and the old guard being replaced. He thinks Fili's wrestling path is possible but Delgado is working on it. He expects Delgado to win.

"I'm on the same page um with that."
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Mar 14, 2026 (fight day)
Jose Delgado

The Guru picks Jose Delgado, citing his finishing ability and size. He thinks Fili is finishable and may switch off in clinch exchanges, where Delgado can land elbows or knees. He predicts a nasty finish, noting Delgado's previous wins over Connor Matthews and Destroyer.

Prediction: finish (elbow, spinning elbow, or knee)
"I'm going to go with Jose Miguel Delgado... I think he'll destroy him. And I think he'll get a finish."
ZA
Zane Simon Expert Confident picked Mar 12, 2026 (2 days before fight)
Jose Delgado

Zane picks Delgado, citing his fluid combination punching and ability to catch Fili when he gets predictable. He notes Fili tends to get finished when facing dynamic finishers, and Delgado is a natural puncher.

Odds: Delgado opened at -300, currently -350; Fili opened at +250, currently +285.
"Delgado is just too fucking fluid on the attack."
Decision R3 5:00 · UFC on ESPN: Dolidze vs. Hernandez · Aug 09, 2025
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Andre Fili 0 64 of 182 35% 74 of 193 3 of 5 60% 0 0 1:42
Christian Rodriguez 0 83 of 174 47% 95 of 190 1 of 7 14% 0 0 1:35
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Andre Fili 0 22 of 63 34% 27 of 68 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Christian Rodriguez 0 29 of 64 45% 29 of 66 1 of 3 33% 0 0 0:35
2 Andre Fili 0 23 of 69 33% 23 of 69 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:00
Christian Rodriguez 0 29 of 56 51% 30 of 57 0 of 3 0% 0 0 0:28
3 Andre Fili 0 19 of 50 38% 24 of 56 3 of 4 75% 0 0 1:42
Christian Rodriguez 0 25 of 54 46% 36 of 67 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:32
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Andre Fili 64 of 182 35% 52 of 164 6 of 10 6 of 8 62 of 179 2 of 3 0 of 0
Christian Rodriguez 83 of 174 47% 49 of 130 8 of 13 26 of 31 69 of 157 13 of 16 1 of 1
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Andre Fili 22 of 63 34% 19 of 56 1 of 4 2 of 3 22 of 63 0 of 0 0 of 0
Christian Rodriguez 29 of 64 45% 13 of 43 4 of 6 12 of 15 28 of 63 0 of 0 1 of 1
2 Andre Fili 23 of 69 33% 18 of 62 2 of 3 3 of 4 23 of 69 0 of 0 0 of 0
Christian Rodriguez 29 of 56 51% 17 of 40 3 of 5 9 of 11 27 of 54 2 of 2 0 of 0
3 Andre Fili 19 of 50 38% 15 of 46 3 of 3 1 of 1 17 of 47 2 of 3 0 of 0
Christian Rodriguez 25 of 54 46% 19 of 47 1 of 2 5 of 5 14 of 40 11 of 14 0 of 0
Play-by-Play
View on Sherdog
Andre Fili vs. Christian Rodriguez
BETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Rodriguez (-250); Fili (+200)

Round 1
With eight years separating the two, this featherweight contest could be considered one of the “passing of the torch” variety. Fili (24-12, 1 NC; 12-11, 1 NC UFC), 35, needs a win badly, as he has alternated them with defeats for his seven outings and is a loss away from a .500 UFC record. Rodriguez (12-3, 5-3 UFC) is a bit above the midpoint line, but he can scarcely afford coming up short as well given that he has dropped two of three. Something’s gotta give, and referee Mike Beltran will be there for it every step of the way. The 145ers touch ‘em up.
Rodriguez says hello with a long one-two, and Fili gets right behind jabbing and low kicks. Rodriguez gets in his face and busts Fili in the chops with a few punches, and a second combination backs Fili off. Fili replies with a crisp right hand over the top, but Rodriguez does not retreat for long and continue to pursue the taller man. Fili uses his range to keep Rodriguez at bay, coming up missing with a head kick and wiping his nose after. Fili keeps his jab going, and he reddens the nose of the younger man and kicks him under the armpit to boot. Rodriguez gets right in Fili’s face and punches him, and Fili changes stances and re-enters the pocket. Both men lob big punches at one another, with Fili clipping “CeeRod” with a few left hands.
Fili gives chase and wings a head kick, and Rodriguez shakes out the cobwebs and re-engages. Fili snaps out his powerful jab, and some damage is showing on Rodriguez’ face on several places. Fili styles on Rodriguez with his jab and short hook, staying out of the range of the biggest power. Fili’s jab is his best weapon, breaking up Rodriguez attacks. Rodriguez catches a body kick and rushes forward to take the vet down, hurling him to the mat like a sack of potatoes with 15 seconds to spare. Rodriguez rides out the remainder of the round on top.

Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Fili
Dayne Fox scores the round: 10-9 Fili
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Fili

Round 2
Both fighters get right back to business when the second round kicks off, as Fili opens up with his jab to get going with high kicks. Rodriguez throws back and ducks down to grab hold of a single, and when that fails, he spins with an elbow that goes wide. Rodriguez reaches his man with a head kick, and Fili takes it cleanly without flinching. Rodriguez stomps at the front leg, and when he comes out swinging, Fili is there to chew him up with jabs and calf kicks. Rodriguez sits down on a hard right hand, and his low kick after further gets Fili’s attention. Fili kicks his foe in the front leg, which is welding up and turning colors fast. Rodriguez wades in to brawl, and Fili meets him with his fists until Rodriguez gloms onto him and looks for a body lock.
Fili escapes to reset, and they bang it out for a few seconds, with Rodriguez nodding after taking heavy blows and getting his nose busted open. Rodriguez does land his own power punches, but Fili is more fluid and appears to be putting out a higher volume. Rodriguez swarms forward and misses the mark, allowing Fili to jack him in the jaw with a pair of straight punches. Fili chains a jab into a leg kick that freezes Rodriguez for a second, and “CeeRod” gathers his thoughts and returns to his own leg-based assault. Fili probes and prods with effective jabs, forcing blood to smear on the younger fighter’s visage. Fili clubs Rodriguez with a left hook, and he takes a jab to put two punches on the cheeks. Fili swaps stances and shoots for a takedown, with Rodriguez stonewalling him and kneeing him on the break. Rodriguez goes way wide with a spin, and the horn sounds.

Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Fili
Dayne Fox scores the round: 10-9 Fili
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Fili

Round 3
The featherweights bump fists and promptly punch one another square in the face. There are no feelers, with the jabs from both sides coming with some fire behind them. Rodriguez takes one or two and decides to tie the Californian up, where he knees him in the thigh several times while controlling him against the wire. Rodriguez lets loose with some punches before Fili strikes back, and the jab from Fili ends the exchange as they both gather steam for a second. Rodriguez leaps at Fili, and Fili lets him land so he can tee off on him with fast fists. Fili times a picture-perfect takedown to scoop “CeeRod” off his feet, putting the younger man down to the floor. Rodriguez scrambles, and Fili gladly hangs onto him from behind while looking for trips. Fili lifts Rodriguez up and slams him down with emphasis, although Rodriguez is still with it after bouncing his melon off the floor. Rodriguez scrambles well, getting to his knees in a hurry, and he spins out to split.
Rodriguez walks Fili down, looping punches at him that set up a head kick. Fili pecks with repetitive, painful jabs, and Rodriguez has no answer to them but tries to counter with a wheel kick that is so far away, Fili could have taken a picture of it on a Polaroid and developed it by the time Rodriguez was good to go again. Rodriguez gets mad, and he starts swinging up close and personal. Fili fires back with a vengeance, only to get clipped with a left hand that changes his course. “Touchy” grabs Rodriguez and bowls him over to the mat, landing some ground-and-pound until Rodriguez explodes to his knees. Fili tries a mat return with Rodriguez leaned up against the wire, and Rodriguez breaks off and just misses a slashing elbow. Fili’s jab is turning Rodriguez’ face to hamburger, and Rodriguez just nods at him looking for more. Rodriguez walks Fili down, briefly clinching only to let go so he can let his hands go. Fili intercepts two spinning moves, with Rodriguez tries to initiate a crazy final brawl but not getting it from the veteran. Fili ends the match by landing some shots, and when the dust settles, Fili plants a kiss on the defeated man’s forehead.

Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Fili (30-27 Fili)
Dayne Fox scores the round: 10-9 Fili (30-27 Fili)
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Fili (30-27 Fili)

The Official Result
Andre Fili def. Christian Rodriguez via Split Decision (29-28, 28-29, 30-27)
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Lean picked Aug 3, 2025 (6 days before fight)
Andre Fili

Angelo leans Andre Fili, believing he is the more skilled fighter with better speed and cleaner striking. He notes Christian Rodriguez is a prospect killer but struggles against experienced, well-rounded fighters. However, Fili is unreliable and his chin is questionable. Angelo may change his pick later in the week.

"I think I'm going to lean Andre here. This is a pick that I might change later in the week."
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked Aug 6, 2025 (3 days before fight)
Christian Rodriguez

Big Brady picks Christian Rodriguez, noting Andre Fili's recent decline and tendency to get submitted. He highlights Rodriguez's guillotine threat and believes he can snatch a neck if Fili shoots for takedowns. Brady predicts a second-round submission for Rodriguez.

second round submission
"I like Rodriguez here. I'll take him to win this fight by second round submission."
CO
Connor Ruebusch Expert Confident picked Aug 7, 2025 (2 days before fight)
Andre Fili

Connor picks Fili because Rodriguez struggles against veterans who don't run into his defensive wall. He notes that Fili will stay at range, use jabs and high kicks, and not get drawn into a wrestling match. Connor points out that Rodriguez has shown an inability to adjust when his plan A fails, as seen against Melquizael Costa. He acknowledges Fili's tendency for catastrophic errors but believes Rodriguez won't capitalize consistently.

Odds mentioned: Rodriguez opened -300, currently -235; Fili opened +250, currently +200.
"I have to pick Andre Fili."
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Aug 7, 2025 (2 days before fight)
Christian Rodriguez

The host is a big C-rod fan but thinks he is being overappreciated, making him a chalky favorite. He notes a size advantage for Rodriguez fighting at 145 when he should be at 135, which gives some concern, but believes it's a matter of time before Rodriguez finds a submission opportunity and forces the tap.

by submission, odds comment: would be happy to pull the trigger at -180 range
"I think he is the technically superior fighter. It's just a size advantage of Rodriguez constantly fighting at 145 lbs when he should be down at 135. That gives me some cause for concern, but I think it's just a …"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Aug 8, 2025 (1 day before fight)
Andre Fili

The MMA Guru picks Andre Fili as an underdog, despite acknowledging Christian Rodriguez should win. He believes Fili's size, reach, and veteran savvy will be too much, and that Rodriguez can't finish him. He predicts a close 29-28 decision win for Fili.

"I'm going with Andre Philly. Crafty vet performance. Little bit too big. Little bit too physical. This is my underdog of the card."
ZA
Zane Simon Expert Confident picked Aug 7, 2025 (2 days before fight)
Andre Fili

Zane agrees with Connor, noting that Rodriguez's game is built for opponents who make mistakes, but Fili is a veteran who won't just run into his defense. He highlights that Fili's wrestling is tough to out-grapple and that Rodriguez hasn't proven he can beat a veteran like Fili. Zane is concerned about Fili's age and recent wins over older fighters, but still sees Rodriguez as unproven at this level.

Odds mentioned: Rodriguez opened -300, currently -235; Fili opened +250, currently +200.
"I think I'm going to go with you. I want my gut says pick Rodriguez, but it does really feel like his game is not made to beat veterans right now."
Submission R1 4:30 · UFC Fight Night: Cejudo vs. Song · Feb 22, 2025
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Andre Fili 0 7 of 24 29% 7 of 24 1 of 1 100% 0 0 0:24
Melquizael Costa 0 27 of 56 48% 27 of 56 0 of 1 0% 1 0 0:00
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Andre Fili 0 7 of 24 29% 7 of 24 1 of 1 100% 0 0 0:24
Melquizael Costa 0 27 of 56 48% 27 of 56 0 of 1 0% 1 0 0:00
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Andre Fili 7 of 24 29% 4 of 20 3 of 4 0 of 0 7 of 24 0 of 0 0 of 0
Melquizael Costa 27 of 56 48% 3 of 25 10 of 13 14 of 18 26 of 55 1 of 1 0 of 0
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Andre Fili 7 of 24 29% 4 of 20 3 of 4 0 of 0 7 of 24 0 of 0 0 of 0
Melquizael Costa 27 of 56 48% 3 of 25 10 of 13 14 of 18 26 of 55 1 of 1 0 of 0
Play-by-Play
View on Sherdog
Melquizael Costa vs. Andre Fili

Round 1
A veritable chasm of UFC-level experience separates the next two featherweights, with grizzled Team Alpha Male product Fili (24-11, 1 NC; 12-10, 1 NC UFC) looking to hold the line and remind folks he is still very much a factor. Like Fili, Costa’s (21-7, 2-2 UFC) tenure thus far has been somewhat inconsistent but fairly violent. Referee Jeff Hoiby draws the charge between the two, and the local man Fili has no time for a glove touch as he wants to get going immediately. Fili chases his foe around the cage, looking for his jab. Costa backs him off briefly with a pair of high kicks, and he doubles up on leg kicks as well. Fili walks through everything pitched at him to sling leather, including a right left hand that zips through his guard. “Let’s go Fili” chants boom through the building, and they both fire off head kicks. Fili’s gets his foe’s attention, with Costa smiling at him. They decide to throw caution to the wind for a moment and brawl with no interest in defense, and they tag one another cleanly but do not budge. Costa backs off and fires off a wheel kick, and he settles himself to chop at the Washington-based fighter’s knee with oblique kicks. Costa rips a kick to the ribs as Fili is marching ever forward, and he narrowly evades getting his chin checked with a low kick but still walks into a left hook. Fili blocks a high kick but cannot stop a body kick, and he plods forward, energized by “USA” chants. Fili whiffs on a head kick, unable to lock his foe down, and he brushes his shoulder when Costa misses as well. Fili blocks a kick and hurls one right back, and Costa breathes a sight of relief and strikes back with a high kick. Fili motions that he protected himself from it, and Costa stays on his bike prodding with oblique kicks. Fili connects with a heavy body kick, dodges one that comes back and makes a matador motion. Fili takes a kick and shoots in for a takedown, and when he hits it,
Costa wraps up a guillotine choke and wrenches with all his might. The Brazilian clings to the choke, which is not going anywhere as he has it tight as a drum with his right leg wrapped around Fili’s waist. Fili is fine until suddenly he is not, and he frantically taps out.
The stunned audience is silenced in a second, as the hometown fighter surrenders from the submission and walks off disappointed that he got caught. Meanwhile, Costa has just earned the biggest win of his career, and he goes off to celebrate with teammate Joanderson Brito who previously put Fili away in the first round.

The Official Result
Melquizael Costa def. Andre Fili R1 4:30 via Submission (Guillotine Choke)
BI
Big Brady Expert Lean picked Feb 17, 2025 (5 days before fight)
Melquizael Costa

Big Brady picks the underdog Melquizael Costa, noting that Andre Fili's durability is declining after many wars, and he was dropped and knocked out recently. He thinks Costa is younger, has more tools on the feet with hard kicks to head, legs, and body, and has solid grappling with seven takedowns in his last three fights. He expects a close fight going to decision, with Costa winning a close decision.

by decision
"I'm going toide with the underdog here in in Mel Costa so give me Mel Costa to win the fight I think it's going to be close though I think it's going to be close I think it goes 15"
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Feb 20, 2025 (2 days before fight)
Andre Fili

The host acknowledges the fight is close as odds indicate, but believes Fili's strength of schedule, experience, and unorthodox striking will shut down Costa's grappling. He expects Fili to win on the scorecards, possibly by split decision.

"I believe ph's strength of schedule experience and unorthodox striking approach will be enough for him to shut down the grappling of Costa really touching him up from distance and winning this fight on the scorecards but I wouldn't be …"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Hesitant picked Feb 21, 2025 (1 day before fight)
Andre Fili

The Guru hesitantly picks Fili, noting he never likes picking him but sees Costa as getting 'fraud checked'. He values Fili's win over Cub Swanson and thinks Costa's loss to Thiago Moisés is a bad look. He expects Fili to mix in grappling in the second and third rounds and win a close decision.

"I'm going to have to do it again we ride Andre Philly Pickers we ride again"
WIN vs Cub Swanson
Decision (split) (28–29, 29–28, 29–28) R3 5:00 · UFC 303: Pereira vs. Prochazka 2 · Jun 29, 2024
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Andre Fili 0 62 of 111 55% 90 of 140 0 of 2 0% 0 0 0:29
Cub Swanson 0 67 of 147 45% 70 of 151 2 of 11 18% 0 0 3:50
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Andre Fili 0 20 of 31 64% 20 of 31 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:07
Cub Swanson 0 18 of 42 42% 19 of 43 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:00
2 Andre Fili 0 12 of 29 41% 22 of 39 0 of 2 0% 0 0 0:19
Cub Swanson 0 18 of 35 51% 18 of 35 1 of 4 25% 0 0 2:27
3 Andre Fili 0 30 of 51 58% 48 of 70 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:03
Cub Swanson 0 31 of 70 44% 33 of 73 1 of 6 16% 0 0 1:23
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Andre Fili 62 of 111 55% 43 of 86 7 of 11 12 of 14 53 of 101 9 of 10 0 of 0
Cub Swanson 67 of 147 45% 49 of 118 13 of 22 5 of 7 52 of 126 15 of 21 0 of 0
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Andre Fili 20 of 31 64% 9 of 18 3 of 4 8 of 9 18 of 29 2 of 2 0 of 0
Cub Swanson 18 of 42 42% 12 of 31 4 of 8 2 of 3 13 of 36 5 of 6 0 of 0
2 Andre Fili 12 of 29 41% 11 of 27 0 of 1 1 of 1 11 of 28 1 of 1 0 of 0
Cub Swanson 18 of 35 51% 14 of 29 4 of 6 0 of 0 15 of 29 3 of 6 0 of 0
3 Andre Fili 30 of 51 58% 23 of 41 4 of 6 3 of 4 24 of 44 6 of 7 0 of 0
Cub Swanson 31 of 70 44% 23 of 58 5 of 8 3 of 4 24 of 61 7 of 9 0 of 0
Play-by-Play
View on Sherdog
Cub Swanson vs. Andre Fili
BETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Fili (-245), Swanson (+200)

Round 1
A featherweight banger many may be surprised never happened to this point plays out in the Octagon next. The unfair recipient of some recent shade, WEC vet Swanson (29-13, 14-9 UFC) has had plenty of exceptional moments despite never winning gold in the UFC or in the confines of the blue WEC cage. On the other hand, Fili (23-11, 1 NC; 11-10, 1 NC UFC) always welcomes a brawl but he is a loss away from holding a .500 record in the UFC. Keeping tabs on this dark horse “Fight of the Night” candidate will be referee Jason Herzog. The longtime veterans partially touch gloves, but they are amped up to compete against one another as they face off in alternating stances. A committed strike does not come until 25 seconds in, when Swanson lands a low kick and pushes out a jab. Fili answers with his own jab, and his lead leg gets kicked two more times in the process. Swanson reaches out with a left hook, and he ducks down directly into a flush knee. Swanson does not mind, as he keeps chopping at the lead leg of his adversary. Fili lets fly a head kick that gets through the guard, and he chambers and fires a body kick with his other leg to great effect. Swanson walks him down, hands fairly low, and he jumps forward to snap the head back with a jab. Fili strafes to the side, looking for a jab but getting jabbed back in the process. Fili stays far enough away to potshot with body work, and he dodges the largest of Swanson’s hooks along the way. Swanson sits down on a heavy leg kick, and he targets a straight right hand to the solar plexus. “Killer Cub” follows the punch with two more up top, and Fili motions that he did not take the strikes flush. Swanson does not believe it, and he bears down on the Team Alpha Male fighter and clubs him with a number of powerful punches. Fili splits off and ends up getting grabbed in the clinch, and he frames off with an elbow and gets two thudding knees to the body before they separate. Swanson continues walking “Touchy” down, and he slips off-balance when throwing a strike and is countered on the way down. Swanson gets up with no issue, and he keeps his guard up to block a few jabs flying at him. The round ends.

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

Round 2
The fighters are so ready to get back to it, Herzog has to back them off before clocking in the round. They immediately start throwing, with Swanson aiming hooks and Fili trying to parry and counter. As Swanson keeps after him, Fili ducks down and hits a takedown. Swanson does not settle for being on his back, and he explodes back to his feet without concern. Fili jabs, and he gets countered by a Swanson right hook. Swanson reaches him with another right, and he smacks the front leg with a kick for good measure. Swanson gets off a big right hand, resulting in Fili grabbing hold of his leg to try to take the fight down. Swanson leans himself up against the cage wall, and Fili’s pressure slows the bout down to a crawl. Boos rain down, and Swanson tries to answer their call by escaping, to no avail. Swanson briefly gets his back away from the fencing, and Fili looks for a throw to put him back to it. Swanson elevates his foe briefly, and Fili realizes the threat and releases his grip so they separate. Swanson opens up with a right hand and a sharp jab, and Fili responds with a counter and shoots in on a takedown. Swanson looks around, irritated that he cannot stand and bang, but he otherwise defends the level change and remains on his feet. Fili gets spun around and has to keep his balance when Swanson sweeps the leg, and Fili breaks off to reset. Swanson pursues “Touchy” like a man on a mission, reaching him with power punches when he surges into action. Fili sits down on counters and knocks Swanson back, and he sticks his tongue out to celebrate. Swanson does not back off, instead plodding forward loading up on hooks that at least partially connect. Fili stops this in its tracks with a takedown shot, and Swanson is stuck against the fence with an elbow bouncing off his forehead. As the two move for position in the tie-up, the round ends.

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

Round 3
The last round starts with a flurry, as Swanson walks Fili down with punches and gets kicked in the head as he comes in. Fili lands a solid punch to the body, and Swanson whips a head kick at him. Fili pushes him away and ties him up, but Swanson breaks free before absorbing a clinch strike. Swanson unloads with two punches, and Fili stuns him with a heavy left hook. Swanson swings for the bleachers with wide hooks, and Fili times one and shoots in for a single that puts Swanson down for a moment. Swanson climbs back up and gets away with a fence grab on his way up, and he defends himself from a lifted knee right before it tagged him. Fili knees him in the liver while they are clinched, and they dirty box one another. Fili gets just enough space to hammer him with an elbow, and a left hand from Fili on the break does not dissuade Swanson from following him around. Swanson punches his way in, and Fili lands last and perhaps a bit more powerfully. Swanson ducks an intercepting right hook to land his own right hand, and he blocks a head kick from close proximity to keep pressure on the Team Alpha Male product. Fili gets in his licks when trading hands with Swanson, and his short check hook connects several times. Swanson beans him with a right hand, and Fili sticks his tongue out and releases a counter that falls just short. Swanson leaps in with a right hand, and Fili kicks him on the calf on the way out. Swanson ducks a haymaker and accepts a leg kick so he can lunge forward with a left, resulting in Fili tying him up for a few seconds. Swanson pushes off and maintains his constant forward motion, no matter how hard Fili hits him. Swanson releases a bomb of a right hand that shakes Fili up, but Fili is quick to gather his thoughts and grab hold of Swanson to slow him down. Fili considers dropping down for a double, and Swanson gets free and wipes his hands off. Swanson blocks a head kick and just avoids a left hand so he can keep after Fili. Another two head kicks from Fili come, and Swanson avoids them and lets Fili have it with a final torrent of punches. Fili lets his hands go, and a wild exchange concludes the ultra-close fight.

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

The Official Result
Andre Fili def. Cub Swanson via Split Decision (28-29, 29-28, 29-28)
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Hesitant picked Jun 26, 2024 (3 days before fight)
Andre Fili

Cody picks Fili but is not confident due to his recent knockout losses. He notes that Fili is younger and faster, but his chin is questionable. Cody believes Fili's volume and wrestling could give him an edge, but acknowledges that Swanson is a fan favorite who often gets close decisions. He warns that Fili needs to finish Swanson to avoid a controversial decision loss.

"I think Fili because he's younger, a little faster... I still side with him here but the line is again..."
DA
Daniel Vreeland Expert Confident picked Jun 27, 2024 (2 days before fight)
Cub Swanson

Daniel is picking Swanson as a plus 210 underdog, citing Swanson's path to victory via knockout and his strong performance against Hakim Dawodu at similar odds. He notes that Fili is hot and cold and can be chinned. He envisions a retirement moment for Swanson where he knocks out Fili and puts his gloves down in the Octagon.

wins by KO
"I'm gonna go Cub Swanson here to have like a Robbie Lawler vs Nico Price type retirement moment where he goes out there knocks out Fely puts his gloves down."
LU
Lucrative James Expert picked Jun 26, 2024 (3 days before fight)

The host does not discuss this fight at all in the transcript. The entire podcast is focused on the Conor McGregor vs Michael Chandler fight, which is not on the provided fight card. Therefore, no pick is made for this fight.

MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Lean picked Jun 25, 2024 (4 days before fight)
Andre Fili

The host picks Fili to win on the scorecards, but criticizes the -260 line as too high, saying Fili should be closer to -150 or -180. He expects a competitive striking battle that goes to decision, and recommends the over 2.5 rounds at -110. He notes Swanson is a live underdog at +210.

over 2.5 rounds at -110
"I will pick him to win this fight though... I think it's ultimately uh phy who ends wins this fight on the scorecards."
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Lean picked Jun 26, 2024 (3 days before fight)
Cub Swanson

Paul picks Swanson, citing his experience and durability. He notes that Swanson has a history of winning close decisions and that Fili has been knocked out recently. Paul believes Swanson's volume and toughness will be key, and that he can win a decision or even catch Fili with a knockout. He also mentions that Swanson is a fan favorite, which may help in a close fight.

"I think it's a pretty clear dogger pass, Cub Swanson for me."
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Jun 25, 2024 (4 days before fight)
Andre Fili

The Guru picks Andre Fili over Cub Swanson. He believes Fili is bigger, stronger, and more explosive at this stage. He notes Swanson's age (40) and size disadvantage. He likes Fili's low kicks and thinks he can finish Swanson by TKO.

TKO
"I'm going to go with Andre Philly... TKO"
LOSS vs Dan Ige
KO (punches) R1 2:43 · UFC Fight Night: Hermansson vs. Pyfer · Feb 10, 2024
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Dan Ige 1 11 of 19 57% 11 of 19 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:01
Andre Fili 0 8 of 33 24% 8 of 33 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Dan Ige 1 11 of 19 57% 11 of 19 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:01
Andre Fili 0 8 of 33 24% 8 of 33 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Dan Ige 11 of 19 57% 4 of 11 2 of 3 5 of 5 10 of 18 0 of 0 1 of 1
Andre Fili 8 of 33 24% 7 of 28 1 of 5 0 of 0 8 of 33 0 of 0 0 of 0
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Dan Ige 11 of 19 57% 4 of 11 2 of 3 5 of 5 10 of 18 0 of 0 1 of 1
Andre Fili 8 of 33 24% 7 of 28 1 of 5 0 of 0 8 of 33 0 of 0 0 of 0
Play-by-Play
View on Sherdog
Andre Fili vs. Dan Ige
BETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Ige (-175), Fili (+145)

Round 1
The UFC knew exactly what it was doing when it gave Ige (17-7, 9-6 UFC) the replacement of Fili (23-10, 1 NC; 11-9, 1 NC UFC) after Lerone Murphy suffered an injury. Booking these two featherweights together almost guaranteed post-fight bonus money, and it very likely could come in the form of “Fight of the Night” when the dust settles. Referee Jason Herzog will get to enjoy these two exciting competitors go to battle for three rounds or fewer, and friends will put their friendship on hold as they get after it. There is no glove touch. Fili does not hold back, racing towards Ige and throwing hands. Ige steels himself and delivers a fierce left hook when Fili advances, and he cracks him a second time on a second exchange. Fili uses a long jab to reach Ige before the Hawaiian can get to him, and he slips and moves left and right while changing stances. Ige whiffs on a short but dangerous left hook, and he closes in on Fili to tag him with a strong left. Fili returns fire, willing to engage in this kind of high-intensity affair. This is the worst idea for “Touchy,” who connects with a straight left hand but is standing directly in front of Ige.
Ige uncorks a bomb of a right hand that detonates on his foe's temple, sending Fili crashing to the ground possibly out cold. To seal the deal, “50K” likely snatches a $50,000 bonus check with one devastating standing-to-ground right hand, completely separating Fili from all senses.
Ige walks off, knowing his work here is done. Wow.

The Official Result
Dan Ige def. Andre Fili R1 2:43 via KO (Punches)
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Lean picked Feb 4, 2024 (6 days before fight)
Dan Ige

Angelo calls this a 50-50 fight. Dan Ige is a fantastic kickboxer with good BJJ and underrated wrestling, having defended 10 takedowns from Bryce Mitchell. Andre Fili has all the tools but a questionable chin and tends to brawl. Angelo thinks if Fili wrestles, he can win, but expects him to brawl, favoring Ige. He suggests this is a great live bet fight.

might be the best live BET fight on the card
"Dan eay is going to be the pick but low confidence."
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked Feb 5, 2024 (5 days before fight)
Dan Ige

Big Brady picks Dan Ige to win by second-round knockout. He notes that Ige is durable (never knocked out or submitted), hits hard, and has fought top competition, while Fili has been knocked out multiple times and has questionable striking defense. He expects a stand-up fight where Ige's power and durability prevail, dropping and finishing Fili.

second round knockout
"I'm going to take Dan EA here I'm going to take him to win this fight by second round knockout"
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Confident picked Feb 7, 2024 (3 days before fight)
Dan Ige

Cody picks Ige, expecting a close decision. He notes Ige's durability and power, while Fili has been knocked out before. He thinks the fight will likely go to decision, with Ige's superior hand speed and pressure being key. Cody also mentions the Apex environment may favor Ige's impactful strikes. He suggests a prop on Ige by decision or the over 2.5 rounds.

fight goes to decision, over 2.5 rounds, Ige by decision
"I'm gonna go with Dan eay but again it's not like I love the money line specifically because this is going to be a very close competitive fight likely goes to decision"
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Feb 5, 2024 (5 days before fight)
Dan Ige

Ige has crisp boxing, high fight IQ, and a great game plan. He should be able to counter Fili's unorthodox striking and potentially mix in grappling to open up his boxing. Fili has a reach advantage but struggles to land big shots against disciplined strikers. Ige's experience and reliability should lead to a decision victory.

"I think we'll see the better damage and better productivity come from the Dan eay side which would eventually go out there and allow him to get a decision Victory"
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Confident picked Feb 7, 2024 (3 days before fight)
Dan Ige

Paul also picks Ige, noting Fili's experience but questioning if his wrestling is enough to neutralize Ige. He thinks Ige's chin and power are key, and that Fili's volume may not be enough. Paul mentions a possible Ige knockout, but leans toward Ige on the moneyline. He also considers a sprinkle on Ige by KO in round 1 at +850.

Ige by KO round 1 (+850)
"Dan eay on the money line is where I'm going here as well"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Feb 7, 2024 (3 days before fight)
Dan Ige

The MMA Guru picks Dan Ige because he follows game plans well and performs against opponents just outside the rankings. He expects Ige to chop low kicks and work his way inside, finishing Fili in the second round. He notes Ige's wins over Damon Jackson and his competitive fight with Bryce Mitchell.

finish in the second round
"I'm gonna go Dan eay... I think he will find the finish on Andre Philly... chewing up Philly's legs and then finishing him at some point in the second round."
WIN vs Lucas Almeida
TKO (punches) R1 3:32 · UFC 296: Edwards vs. Covington · Dec 16, 2023
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Andre Fili 1 20 of 36 55% 25 of 42 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:15
Lucas Almeida 0 10 of 25 40% 10 of 25 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Andre Fili 1 20 of 36 55% 25 of 42 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:15
Lucas Almeida 0 10 of 25 40% 10 of 25 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Andre Fili 20 of 36 55% 16 of 29 3 of 6 1 of 1 8 of 21 0 of 0 12 of 15
Lucas Almeida 10 of 25 40% 1 of 11 0 of 1 9 of 13 10 of 25 0 of 0 0 of 0
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Andre Fili 20 of 36 55% 16 of 29 3 of 6 1 of 1 8 of 21 0 of 0 12 of 15
Lucas Almeida 10 of 25 40% 1 of 11 0 of 1 9 of 13 10 of 25 0 of 0 0 of 0
Play-by-Play
View on Sherdog
Lucas Almeida vs. Andre Fili
BETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Fili (-175), Almeida (+145)

Round 1
Wasting little time, the second fight of the evening is on deck. In the featherweight category, Fili (22-10, 1 NC; 10-9, 1 NC UFC) aims to keep his record with the promotion over .500. His action-packed opponent Almeida (14-2, 1-1 UFC), who has a 100% finish rate and wants to lift his own UFC win/loss total above 1-1, will almost certainly meet him in the middle and trade. Before this happens, referee Jason Herzog clocks them in. The fighters do not touch ‘em up, and instead Fili pushes the pace immediately and starts cutting Almeida off. Fili dips and moves with capoeira gestures until Almeida tosses a low kick at him, and Fili checks it with a resounding thump. Fili replies with a body kick, and he absorbs a leg kick when advancing. Fili lets loose with a left hand, and Almeida takes it flush and tries to respond, but the UFC vet rolls with it. Almeida paws out a pair of leg kicks that miss the mark, and Fili slams a body kick home to offer something back. Fili ducks down low when Almeida swings at him, and he pops back up and dings Almeida with a left hook. Almeida continues working the lead leg when he finds openings, and Fili checks one or two but absorbs the brunt of them. Almeida turns his hips into a stern kick, and Fili gathers himself and jabs Almeida hard in the solar plexus. Fili rips a kick to the ribs, and he leans back from a head kick and brushes his shoulder dismissively. Almeida chops at the lead wheel, and Fili gives it back with interest. Fili sits down on a ferocious right hand during an exchange, knocking the Brazilian clean off his feet. Fili lowers himself down to finish the job, with Almeida’s eyes wide as he tries to defend himself.
Fili unleashes a lengthy barrage of hammerfists and punctuating punches as Herzog comes in close to consider the stoppage. Herzog backs off, and Fili continues to pelt Almeida with his fists until the gold-standard referee calls a halt to the matchup.
Almeida climbs back to his feet and tries to protest, but he learns he has moved to Wobble Street and can barely stand up on his own power. Fili sprints off to celebrate his handiwork, and lets loose some raw emotion after earning the huge win.

The Official Result
Andre Fili def. Lucas Almeida R1 3:32 via TKO (Punches)
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Lean picked Dec 10, 2023 (6 days before fight)
Lucas Almeida

Angelo picks Lucas Almeida as an underdog, citing his real power and killer instinct. He acknowledges Fili's talent but distrusts his chin and lack of wrestling usage. He does not bet because both fighters are unreliable.

No bet; both fighters unreliable
"I'm going to take a chance I'm going to shoot my shot on the underdog here I'm going to pick Lucas... there's not going to be a bet here"
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked Dec 13, 2023 (3 days before fight)
Lucas Almeida

Big Brady picks Lucas Almeida to win by second-round KO, despite acknowledging Fili's wrestling path. He notes Fili hasn't wrestled much recently and isn't a dominant grappler like Pat Sabatini, so he expects the fight to stay standing. Brady highlights Almeida's 100% finish rate and power, while Fili has been finished 5 times and has a questionable chin. He believes Almeida will land a knockout as an underdog.

"I'm going to take ALA to win this fight by knockout in the second round"
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Confident picked Dec 14, 2023 (2 days before fight)
Andre Fili

Cody picks Fili, arguing that Almeida is hittable and walks in a straight line. He notes that Fili has good footwork, a jab, and can mix in wrestling. Cody believes Fili will outpoint Almeida by striking and using takedowns to secure rounds. He expects a decision win for Fili, as Almeida's takedown defense is suspect and Fili is the more well-rounded fighter.

Andre Fili by decision
"I'm going to take fely by decision"
JE
Jeff Fox Expert Confident picked Dec 14, 2023 (2 days before fight)
Lucas Almeida

Jeff Fox picks Lucas Almeida as his dog, explaining that Almeida is a better striker and is fighting a guy on a skid. He thinks Almeida is a worthy gamble at plus 145.

"give me Lucas Almeida over Andre fely"
LU
Lucrative James Expert Confident picked Dec 12, 2023 (4 days before fight)
Lucas Almeida

Lucrative James picks Lucas Almeida as the value side. He believes Andre Fili has clear deficiencies in striking defense and chin, getting hurt in almost every fight. He thinks Fili's path is via wrestling, but Fili often chooses to stand and bang. Almeida hits hard, has good durability, and Fili's tendency to get cracked makes Almeida the play at underdog odds.

"I think this is a dog or pass spot... the value lies in Lucas Almeida."
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Lean picked Dec 12, 2023 (4 days before fight)
Andre Fili

The host leans toward Fili but is not confident due to the chalk. He believes Fili's experience and grappling advantage should be the difference, as he can take Almeida down and grind out a decision. However, he warns that if Fili chooses to strike, he could get knocked out. He expects Fili to shoot multiple takedowns and win a decision, avoiding his first losing streak in the UFC.

Fili by decision
"I will ever so slightly lean the fely way I'm not so happy with a chalk in this spot as if fely decides to go out there and strike with Almeida that could spell some trouble for him"
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Confident picked Dec 14, 2023 (2 days before fight)
Andre Fili

Paul picks Fili, agreeing that Fili is the more experienced and well-rounded fighter. He notes that Fili has faced much tougher competition and has multiple paths to victory. Paul believes Fili's wrestling and striking will be too much for Almeida, who is a banger but lacks defensive skills. He expects Fili to win by decision or potentially by submission.

"fely is the pick for me as well"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Dec 12, 2023 (4 days before fight)
Andre Fili

The Guru picks Andre Fili over Lucas Almeida, noting Fili has looked good even in losses and has a reach and range advantage. He believes Almeida lacks the KO power to finish Fili and that Fili's wrestling will be a factor. He predicts a 29-28 decision win.

Fili by decision (29-28)
"I am going to go with Andre Philly... I'm going to go Andre Philly gets this one done 2928 decision"
LOSS vs Nathaniel Wood
Decision (unanimous) (29–28, 29–28, 29–28) R3 5:00 · UFC Fight Night: Aspinall vs. Tybura · Jul 22, 2023
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Nathaniel Wood 1 84 of 148 56% 108 of 174 1 of 2 50% 0 0 1:47
Andre Fili 1 58 of 151 38% 76 of 179 0 of 2 0% 0 1 2:55
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Nathaniel Wood 1 37 of 69 53% 37 of 69 0 of 0 --- 0 0 1:23
Andre Fili 0 17 of 49 34% 20 of 52 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:00
2 Nathaniel Wood 0 10 of 15 66% 34 of 41 1 of 1 100% 0 0 0:24
Andre Fili 1 17 of 34 50% 32 of 59 0 of 0 --- 0 1 2:55
3 Nathaniel Wood 0 37 of 64 57% 37 of 64 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:00
Andre Fili 0 24 of 68 35% 24 of 68 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:00
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Nathaniel Wood 84 of 148 56% 38 of 90 10 of 18 36 of 40 71 of 123 0 of 0 13 of 25
Andre Fili 58 of 151 38% 45 of 134 7 of 10 6 of 7 53 of 144 3 of 5 2 of 2
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Nathaniel Wood 37 of 69 53% 21 of 48 4 of 7 12 of 14 24 of 44 0 of 0 13 of 25
Andre Fili 17 of 49 34% 15 of 45 0 of 2 2 of 2 17 of 49 0 of 0 0 of 0
2 Nathaniel Wood 10 of 15 66% 4 of 9 1 of 1 5 of 5 10 of 15 0 of 0 0 of 0
Andre Fili 17 of 34 50% 14 of 31 2 of 2 1 of 1 12 of 27 3 of 5 2 of 2
3 Nathaniel Wood 37 of 64 57% 13 of 33 5 of 10 19 of 21 37 of 64 0 of 0 0 of 0
Andre Fili 24 of 68 35% 16 of 58 5 of 6 3 of 4 24 of 68 0 of 0 0 of 0
Play-by-Play
View on Sherdog
Andre Fili vs. Nathaniel Wood
BETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Wood (-195), Fili (+165)

Round 1
Action may be the operative word for this featured featherweight affair, when Great Britain Top Team export Wood (19-5, 6-2 UFC) attempts to thrill his home city fans by taking on “Touchy” Fili (22-9, 1 NC; 10-8, 1 NC UFC). With upwards of 15 minutes to work, the two get after it as referee Marc Goddard stands by. Both men amped up, they race to the center of the cage without bothering to touch ‘em up. Fili instead sticks a left hand down the pipe, and Wood responds with a head kick. Fili drives a left hand down Broadway, sending Wood crashing to his seat. As Wood jumps back up, Fili just misses on a head kick that would have put him down for good. Fili settles down, and he aims a head kick at his man after resetting. Wood nails the lead leg to trip Fili up, but Fili is able to shake it off and touch him with several straighter strikes. The range of Fili is able to fluster Wood, as Fili chips away with low kicks and distance shots. Wood gets tired of taking damage, and he blazes forward, smashing Fili in the face with a flurry of fists. As Fili backs up to the wall, Wood lays into him and knocks him down to the floor. Fili falls to his back, and Wood is quick to pursue him and try to finish the job. Wood slashes down with elbows, opening a cut on the inner eyebrow to draw blood that leaks into his eye. Fili tells Goddard he is fine and to not intervene, and Wood beats on him with several strikes. Wood stands back up, feeling he will be better off upright, and he delivers a harsh leg kick that hurts Fili badly. Fili appears to have otherwise recovered from the strikes to the cranium, and he motions to Wood to get things going. The two trade jabs, and Wood gives chase and reaches Fili with an overhand right. Fili goes up high with a kick, and Wood just misses a massive right hook by a matter of inches. Fili showboats at him and even salsa dances a little, and the wild round wraps up.

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

Round 2
The featherweights are extremely amped up, and almost get going before Goddard can check them in. Goddard has to back them off, and when they start fighting, one jab from Wood shakes Fili up significantly. Wood walks him down but does not come in recklessly, as Fili wings a high kick in hopes of catching Wood coming after him. Fili circles away, and he tosses out another head kick. Wood jabs the body, and Fili whiffs on two punches. The power discrepancy for Wood is noteworthy, as he seems to sting Fili any time he lands flush. Fili’s volume answers Wood, and he strings several punches that surprise Wood. Fili drills his man on the chin with a barrage of knees, and Wood crumples to the floor a bloody mess. Fili jumps on top and is able to take his back, but he cannot pursue a choke from the position. Wood gets his bearings and musters himself out of the position and back to his feet, and as Fili returns upright, Wood manages to move around him to take his back and drag him down from behind. Wood is unable to hold him tightly in the position, as Fili spins around and takes top position. Both men take some time to clear out the cobwebs, with a stalemate largely ensuing as Wood closes the guard. Fili scores a few short punches, and Wood responds off his back with elbows. Fili stays busy from above as he remains tightly pressed to his man, sneaking in the occasional elbow or punch when he is not chattering at Wood. Fili drops down a hefty elbow, and the horn sounds.

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

Round 3
The two furiously begin the last round of action, and Wood clips his foe with a left hook and a jab. Fili tries to kick him reactively, and he is forced to get on his bike and back away to measure himself. Fili dodges a left hook and breathes a sigh of relief, and he peppers Wood with jabs. Wood loads up on his power punches, but one thumping leg kick does connect square on the inner calf. Wood swats out a few jabs, reaching Fili but getting sniped with a straight left hand. Wood forces a stance switch from his foe from a kick, and he times that to land another kick on the other leg. They snap out jabs one after the other, and Wood’s appear to be slightly more impactful. Fili’s jab is intercepted via a leg kick, and Wood slowly stalks him down and keeps his guard up. When Fili kicks high, Wood is able to block it, although his own counter misses. Wood chips away at the inside of Fili’s knee, and they both put speedy combinations on one another. “Touchy” crashes forward for a takedown, and Wood stonewalls him and breaks the grip. Wood lands a leg kick and shakes his own leg out from the check. Wood gets off a front kick to the body, and he defends against a sudden spin kick that is aimed at his dome. Wood allows Fili to come at him so he can knock Fili back with a left hook, and they proceed to trade vicious leg kicks as Fili lands awkwardly. Wood’s jab finds its home on the jaw, and he kicks the body as Fili ducks in for a takedown. Wood backs off and snatches up the leg, and he lets it go. Fili jumps at him with a high kick, and Wood laughs. In one final maneuver, Fili spins with a wheel kick that is feet away from his intended target, and the fight comes to a close. The two clap hands after a hard-fought battle.

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

The Official Result
Nathaniel Wood def. Andre Fili via Unanimous Decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Confident picked Jul 16, 2023 (6 days before fight)
Nathaniel Wood

Angelo picks Nathaniel Wood, believing a healthy Wood beats an inconsistent Andre Fili. He notes Wood's injury was just a cut, not a knee issue, so he should be fine. He does not bet the moneyline but may explore props because Fili is better than the odds suggest.

may explore props
"I think a full-blown healthy Nathaniel would probably beats an inconsistent Andre feeling"
BI
Big Brady Expert Lean picked Jul 18, 2023 (4 days before fight)
Nathaniel Wood

Big Brady picks Nathaniel Wood by decision, citing hometown advantage and volume striking. He notes Wood is undersized with a reach disadvantage but throws high volume (6.34 sig strikes/min). He thinks Wood can mix in takedowns and that close decisions will favor the London fighter. He admits the line should be closer.

by decision
"give me wood to win this fight I think it's gonna be close potentially even a split decision of this one but I think wood wins it by decision"
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Confident picked Jul 19, 2023 (3 days before fight)
Nathaniel Wood

Cody picks Wood based on volume advantage, noting Wood lands over 97 significant strikes in recent fights while Fili's career high is 98. He thinks Wood's wrestling and pressure will overwhelm Fili, and that Wood's chin issues were due to weight cuts at 135. He expects a 30-27 decision.

Wood by decision at +120, Wood over 76.5 significant strikes on PrizePicks
"Nathaniel would and like want to say he's one of them more confident picks on the card because I believe he is"
DA
Daniel Levi Expert Confident picked Jul 20, 2023 (2 days before fight)
Nathaniel Wood

Daniel made this his first bet of the card, taking Nathaniel Wood at -180 to win 2 units. He highlights Wood's pace and volume advantage, noting Fili has never landed 100 significant strikes in a UFC fight while Wood has exceeded 130 multiple times. He believes Wood's calf kicks and pressure will neutralize Fili's reach, and that Wood's improved chin at featherweight (no longer cutting to bantamweight) is a key factor. He acknowledges the threat of Fili's head kick but trusts Wood's game plan to close distance and outwork him.

Daniel bet Wood at -180 to win 2 units. He mentions Wood's volume advantage and Fili's lack of output.
"I took Nathaniel wood at -180 and I played it to win two units"
LU
Lucrative James Expert Confident picked Jul 18, 2023 (4 days before fight)
Nathaniel Wood

James picks Nathaniel Wood to win, calling this a potential coming-out party for him. He notes that Wood has deserved a big win and that Fili doesn't always rise to the occasion. He mentions that Wood is fighting in his hometown of London and that he thinks Wood will rise to the occasion. James acknowledges his bias as he is friendly with Wood but still believes in his skills.

"I do think this is could be his coming out party you know he's deserved one for a while"
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Jul 17, 2023 (5 days before fight)
Nathaniel Wood

The host picks Nathaniel Wood, citing his improved cardio at featherweight, patient striking, and ground game. He believes Wood's overall game will be too much for Fili, who struggles against higher competition. He predicts a decision win for Wood.

"give me Nathaniel wood to win this fight by decision"
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Confident picked Jul 19, 2023 (3 days before fight)
Nathaniel Wood

Paul agrees with Cody on volume, noting Fili lacks knockout power and has durability issues. He thinks Wood's wrestling advantage and pace will be key. He also likes Wood by decision and the over on significant strikes.

Wood by decision at +120, Wood over 76.5 significant strikes
"I think it comes down to volume"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Jul 17, 2023 (5 days before fight)
Nathaniel Wood

The MMA Guru picks Nathaniel Wood, calling it a no-brainer. He praises Wood's leg kicks, noting he may hold the record for most leg kicks landed in a fight. He criticizes Andre Fili's recent decline and skinny legs, and believes Wood's high guard will defend against head kicks. The Guru expects Wood to bust up Fili's lead leg and win by decision or late TKO.

"Gotta go Nathaniel wood here in my opinion no-brainer"
Daniel Pineda - Fight History
LOSS vs Darren Elkins
Decision (unanimous) (29–28, 29–28, 29–28) R3 5:00 · UFC Fight Night: Hernandez vs. Pereira · Oct 19, 2024
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Darren Elkins 0 39 of 88 44% 102 of 170 3 of 12 25% 0 1 6:33
Daniel Pineda 0 31 of 53 58% 61 of 85 0 of 0 --- 2 1 3:02
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Darren Elkins 0 3 of 8 37% 23 of 35 1 of 2 50% 0 1 2:07
Daniel Pineda 0 13 of 15 86% 27 of 30 0 of 0 --- 2 1 2:07
2 Darren Elkins 0 19 of 47 40% 39 of 72 2 of 4 50% 0 0 2:24
Daniel Pineda 0 12 of 24 50% 17 of 29 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:05
3 Darren Elkins 0 17 of 33 51% 40 of 63 0 of 6 0% 0 0 2:02
Daniel Pineda 0 6 of 14 42% 17 of 26 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:50
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Darren Elkins 39 of 88 44% 30 of 78 9 of 10 0 of 0 28 of 70 3 of 7 8 of 11
Daniel Pineda 31 of 53 58% 21 of 38 7 of 10 3 of 5 17 of 37 1 of 1 13 of 15
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Darren Elkins 3 of 8 37% 3 of 8 0 of 0 0 of 0 2 of 6 0 of 1 1 of 1
Daniel Pineda 13 of 15 86% 12 of 13 1 of 2 0 of 0 1 of 2 0 of 0 12 of 13
2 Darren Elkins 19 of 47 40% 15 of 42 4 of 5 0 of 0 12 of 37 0 of 0 7 of 10
Daniel Pineda 12 of 24 50% 6 of 15 5 of 6 1 of 3 10 of 22 1 of 1 1 of 1
3 Darren Elkins 17 of 33 51% 12 of 28 5 of 5 0 of 0 14 of 27 3 of 6 0 of 0
Daniel Pineda 6 of 14 42% 3 of 10 1 of 2 2 of 2 6 of 13 0 of 0 0 of 1
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Confident picked Oct 13, 2024 (6 days before fight)
Darren Elkins

Angelo is surprised Darren Elkins is the underdog and has a bet on him at +102. He notes Elkins' incredible toughness, grinding style, and ability to fight a full 15 minutes without fading, while Pineda is a feast-or-famine fighter who fades quickly after an initial burst. He thinks Elkins can weather the early storm and take over as the fight goes on. He sees value in the underdog line and expects Elkins to win.

bet on Elkins at +102
"Darren Elkins is going to be the pick and I have a bet on him at plus 102"
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked Oct 17, 2024 (2 days before fight)
Darren Elkins

Big Brady picks Darren Elkins by third-round knockout. He sees it as Pineda early, Elkins late. Pineda is dangerous early with power and grappling, but gasses badly. Elkins is extremely tough and will not let Pineda off the hook if he fades. He expects Elkins to take over, take Pineda down, and finish him in the third round.

third round knockout
"I'm going Darren Elkin One Last Ride uh to win this fight by third round knockout"
CO
Connor Ruebusch Expert Hesitant picked Oct 17, 2024 (2 days before fight)
Darren Elkins

Connor also picks Elkins hesitantly, noting that Pineda is violent but inconsistent, with a tendency to gas and lose focus. He compares the matchup to the 'Darren Elkins vs Michael Johnson award' for one-true-outcome fights. He acknowledges that Elkins could get knocked out early, but Pineda's self-destructive tendencies make Elkins the safer pick.

"I am inclined to pick a 40 year old Darren Elkins with the full knowledge that he may get knocked out immediately"
LU
Lucrative James Expert picked Feb 21, 2026 (fight day)

This fight was not discussed in the transcript.

MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Oct 17, 2024 (2 days before fight)
Darren Elkins

Pineda has finished all 28 of his victories but will struggle with the relentless style of Elkins. As long as Elkins' durability holds up early, he should be able to break Pineda down and find a finish in the second or third round.

finish in round 2 or 3
"as long as Elkin durability holds up early he should be able to break pan down and find a finish in the second or third round"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Oct 15, 2024 (4 days before fight)
Daniel Pineda

The Guru believes Darren Elkins has taken too much damage and no longer has it at age 40. He notes Pineda had good performances against Nathaniel Wood and Alex Caceres, and expects Pineda to destroy Elkins' lead leg with calf kicks and get a guillotine off a lazy takedown. He predicts a TKO or submission finish.

TKO or submission, calf kicks, guillotine
"I'm going to go with Daniel panada getting this one done by TKO or submission"
ZA
Zane Simon Expert Hesitant picked Oct 17, 2024 (2 days before fight)
Darren Elkins

Zane picks Elkins but with hesitation, acknowledging that Elkins is 40 and could get knocked out. However, he notes that Pineda is the type of fighter who beats himself—he gasses, loses focus, and makes bad decisions. Elkins historically beats those kinds of fighters by accepting the gift. Zane says he can't feel good about it but can't pick Pineda either.

Elkins opened +111, now +100; Pineda opened -123, now -112; Zane says there's no reason Pineda should be a favorite
"I'm taking Elkins can't feel good about it, but I also don't feel like I can really pick Panetta"
LOSS vs Nathaniel Wood
Decision (unanimous) (29–27, 29–27, 29–28) R3 5:00 · UFC 304: Edwards vs. Muhammad 2 · Jul 27, 2024
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Nathaniel Wood 1 66 of 93 70% 81 of 110 0 of 0 --- 1 1 3:42
Daniel Pineda 0 32 of 69 46% 80 of 125 1 of 6 16% 0 2 5:32
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Nathaniel Wood 0 15 of 21 71% 24 of 31 0 of 0 --- 0 0 2:09
Daniel Pineda 0 13 of 18 72% 30 of 37 0 of 2 0% 0 1 1:47
2 Nathaniel Wood 1 42 of 61 68% 47 of 67 0 of 0 --- 0 0 1:22
Daniel Pineda 0 12 of 36 33% 24 of 49 0 of 3 0% 0 0 0:04
3 Nathaniel Wood 0 9 of 11 81% 10 of 12 0 of 0 --- 1 1 0:11
Daniel Pineda 0 7 of 15 46% 26 of 39 1 of 1 100% 0 1 3:41
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Nathaniel Wood 66 of 93 70% 35 of 56 12 of 14 19 of 23 55 of 79 0 of 0 11 of 14
Daniel Pineda 32 of 69 46% 21 of 53 3 of 5 8 of 11 19 of 53 2 of 2 11 of 14
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Nathaniel Wood 15 of 21 71% 8 of 14 3 of 3 4 of 4 11 of 16 0 of 0 4 of 5
Daniel Pineda 13 of 18 72% 10 of 14 0 of 1 3 of 3 4 of 8 0 of 0 9 of 10
2 Nathaniel Wood 42 of 61 68% 22 of 37 8 of 9 12 of 15 35 of 52 0 of 0 7 of 9
Daniel Pineda 12 of 36 33% 5 of 26 2 of 3 5 of 7 11 of 35 1 of 1 0 of 0
3 Nathaniel Wood 9 of 11 81% 5 of 5 1 of 2 3 of 4 9 of 11 0 of 0 0 of 0
Daniel Pineda 7 of 15 46% 6 of 13 1 of 1 0 of 1 4 of 10 1 of 1 2 of 4
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Confident picked Jul 21, 2024 (6 days before fight)
Nathaniel Wood

Angelo picks Nathaniel Wood as the biggest favorite on the card, citing Wood's superior striking, grappling, and durability. He notes that Daniel Pineda is dangerous early but fades quickly, and Wood only needs to survive the first few minutes. Angelo believes Wood is better everywhere and is safe to parlay.

"Nathaniel is the pick and probably safe to Parlay"
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Confident picked Jul 24, 2024 (3 days before fight)
Nathaniel Wood

Cody picks Nathaniel Wood, citing his technical striking, cardio, and improving wrestling. He notes that Daniel Pineda is a dangerous first-round fighter but fades quickly, and that Wood can survive the early onslaught and take over in later rounds. Cody believes Wood can win by decision or late finish, and suggests waiting for a better live price after the first round.

"I think Nathaniel would maybe either buy either it's going to be a decision or I do again see him maybe finishing off finishing off pan late in the third round could be by TKO could be by submission."
DA
Daniel Vreeland Expert Lean picked Jul 24, 2024 (3 days before fight)
Nathaniel Wood

Daniel thinks Nathaniel Wood is better everywhere but has a questionable chin. He notes Daniel Pineda is a kill-or-be-killed fighter with all wins by finish, but 0-6 in decisions. He expects Wood to weather an early storm and win a decision if he survives.

"I think Nathaniel wood probably wins the decision here"
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Confident picked Jul 24, 2024 (3 days before fight)
Nathaniel Wood

Paul agrees with Cody, expecting Wood to win. He notes that Pineda's best chance is early, and he might sprinkle on Pineda by submission in round one at long odds. However, he believes Wood's volume and cardio will be too much as the fight goes on.

Daniel Pineda by submission in round 1 (small sprinkle)
"I'll probably throw a small little sprink because I'm a I'm a sick degenerate Cody I'll probably have like a small little sprinkle on P round one at plus 1,000."
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Jul 22, 2024 (5 days before fight)
Nathaniel Wood

The MMA Guru picks Nathaniel Wood, calling Daniel Pineda 'trash' and a former PED user. He believes Wood is levels above Pineda in skill, especially on the feet, and will win the low kick battle, which is key to Pineda's game. Wood's recent grappling win over Alex Caceres shows his well-roundedness. The Guru sympathizes with Wood's bad luck in past fights and expects him to win decisively.

"I'm going to go with Nathaniel wood I think Daniel Pan's trash former ped CH well always a ped CH but um got caught on Peds when he came to the UFC"
LOSS vs Alex Caceres
Decision (unanimous) (29–28, 29–28, 29–28) R3 5:00 · UFC on ESPN: Kara-France vs. Albazi · Jun 03, 2023
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Alex Caceres 0 60 of 99 60% 86 of 128 1 of 2 50% 0 1 4:26
Daniel Pineda 0 27 of 56 48% 43 of 74 3 of 11 27% 1 1 3:57
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Alex Caceres 0 15 of 30 50% 29 of 46 0 of 1 0% 0 0 3:02
Daniel Pineda 0 5 of 7 71% 11 of 13 1 of 6 16% 1 0 0:16
2 Alex Caceres 0 5 of 9 55% 7 of 12 0 of 0 --- 0 1 0:43
Daniel Pineda 0 9 of 14 64% 19 of 26 2 of 3 66% 0 1 3:36
3 Alex Caceres 0 40 of 60 66% 50 of 70 1 of 1 100% 0 0 0:41
Daniel Pineda 0 13 of 35 37% 13 of 35 0 of 2 0% 0 0 0:05
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Alex Caceres 60 of 99 60% 32 of 69 26 of 28 2 of 2 45 of 76 11 of 15 4 of 8
Daniel Pineda 27 of 56 48% 15 of 42 3 of 4 9 of 10 22 of 50 2 of 3 3 of 3
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Alex Caceres 15 of 30 50% 9 of 24 5 of 5 1 of 1 6 of 15 5 of 7 4 of 8
Daniel Pineda 5 of 7 71% 1 of 3 0 of 0 4 of 4 5 of 7 0 of 0 0 of 0
2 Alex Caceres 5 of 9 55% 2 of 6 3 of 3 0 of 0 3 of 5 2 of 4 0 of 0
Daniel Pineda 9 of 14 64% 8 of 12 1 of 1 0 of 1 4 of 8 2 of 3 3 of 3
3 Alex Caceres 40 of 60 66% 21 of 39 18 of 20 1 of 1 36 of 56 4 of 4 0 of 0
Daniel Pineda 13 of 35 37% 6 of 27 2 of 3 5 of 5 13 of 35 0 of 0 0 of 0
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Confident picked May 31, 2023 (3 days before fight)
Alex Caceres

Angelo picks Caceres, believing he can weather Pineda's early storm and then take over as Pineda fades. He notes Pineda is dangerous but only for about three minutes. Angelo is concerned about recency bias from Caceres' knockout win over Julian Erosa, but still thinks Caceres' durability and experience will carry him.

"I gotta go with Bruce Leroy here I the line is moving he's becoming a bigger favorite"
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Lean picked May 31, 2023 (3 days before fight)
Alex Caceres

Cody picks Caceres, noting his resurgence and improved skills across the board. He mentions Caceres has a knack for taking the back and fishing for rear-naked chokes. Cody contrasts Pineda's early-finish style with Caceres's ability to go the distance. He also notes Caceres recently lost a grappling match to Pat Sabatini, which could be a concern. Overall, he feels Caceres should win over 15 minutes but isn't overly confident.

"I feel like casera should win over the course of 15."
CO
Connor Ruebusch Expert Hesitant picked Jun 1, 2023 (2 days before fight)
Daniel Pineda

Connor picks Pineda, citing that Caceres has historically struggled against intense, fast-starting power punchers. He notes that Pineda's aggression and power could overwhelm Caceres early, as seen in Caceres' losses to Francisco Rivera and Juan Wong. However, Connor is hesitant because Pineda is inconsistent and can be outmaneuvered by mobile strikers.

"I'm picking a repeat of the Cub Swanson fight, essentially."
DA
Daniel Levi Expert Lean picked Jun 1, 2023 (2 days before fight)
Daniel Pineda

Daniel sees this as a dog-or-pass situation, noting that Pineda is a kill-or-be-killed fighter with 30 finishes in 30 wins. He believes the line has overcorrected after Caceres' win over Julian Erosa, and that Pineda's grappling and finishing ability make him a live underdog. However, he acknowledges Pineda's cardio issues and the risk of him getting finished himself.

"it's a dog or pass situation and ... I'll pick him as well"
JA
Jacob Lines Expert Confident picked May 31, 2023 (3 days before fight)
Daniel Pineda

Jacob picks Pineda, citing his power and finishing ability. He thinks Pineda's leg kicks will slow Caceres' movement and set up takedowns or knockout shots. Jacob notes Caceres' recent knockout was against a broken Julian Erosa and he hasn't shown real power since 2010. He believes Pineda finds a finish.

"I think Daniel Pineda can can find a way to find the shot on Alex caceres and maybe he starts taking a desperate shot when he's hurt"
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Jun 1, 2023 (2 days before fight)
Alex Caceres

Caceres has cleaner technical striking and a sneaky submission game. Pineda is aggressive but leaves openings. Caceres will likely land a head kick or set up a submission in the second or third round. The fight not going to decision is a strong prop.

fight doesn't go to decision
"I'm going to go with the Bruce Leroy side here I think he finds uh probably a head kick submission or a head kick and then rear naked choke submission in the second or third round"
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Lean picked May 31, 2023 (3 days before fight)
Alex Caceres

Paul picks Alex Caceres but is not confident at the -180 price. He notes Caceres has improved his wrestling and striking, and his grappling is his best asset. Paul points out Pineda is a front-runner who fades in later rounds, while Caceres can survive and be dangerous in the second and third. However, he acknowledges Pineda's physical strength and BJJ could pose problems if he gets takedowns early. Paul leans Caceres over 15 minutes but won't bet heavily.

Under 0.5 takedowns for Alex Caceres on PrizePicks
"I'm leaning towards Bruce Leroy but I will admit Daniel Pineda is very physically strong is it BJJ black belt as well and probably does have the wrestling Advantage"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked May 29, 2023 (5 days before fight)
Alex Caceres

The MMA Guru picks Alex Caceres, noting he is very hard to finish due to his elusiveness. He highlights Caceres' five-fight win streak with finishes, and a close fight with Sadiq Youssef. He believes Caceres will make it tricky for Pineda on the feet and that Pineda will slow down due to rough weight cuts. He thinks if it goes to decision, Caceres wins, though Pineda is a finisher.

"I'm going with Alex caceres over Daniel Pineda... is very hard to finish because he's so Elusive and tricky"
ZA
Zane Simon Expert Confident picked Jun 1, 2023 (2 days before fight)
Alex Caceres

Zane picks Caceres because he believes Pineda's striking falls apart against fighters who use movement and angles. He notes that Pineda overthrows and is vulnerable to fluid strikers like Caceres. Zane expects Caceres to survive Pineda's early intensity and then take over, similar to how Andre Fili beat Pineda.

"I think that that is actually going to work pretty well for Caceres here."
WIN vs Tucker Lutz
Submission (guillotine choke) R2 2:50 · UFC on ESPN: Vera vs. Sandhagen · Mar 25, 2023
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Daniel Pineda 1 24 of 45 53% 41 of 66 1 of 2 50% 2 0 2:20
Tucker Lutz 0 28 of 78 35% 33 of 84 0 of 4 0% 0 0 1:27
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Daniel Pineda 1 17 of 32 53% 28 of 45 1 of 2 50% 0 0 0:50
Tucker Lutz 0 24 of 65 36% 29 of 71 0 of 2 0% 0 0 0:44
2 Daniel Pineda 0 7 of 13 53% 13 of 21 0 of 0 --- 2 0 1:30
Tucker Lutz 0 4 of 13 30% 4 of 13 0 of 2 0% 0 0 0:43
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Daniel Pineda 24 of 45 53% 10 of 24 4 of 10 10 of 11 22 of 41 2 of 4 0 of 0
Tucker Lutz 28 of 78 35% 17 of 61 8 of 11 3 of 6 22 of 71 6 of 7 0 of 0
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Daniel Pineda 17 of 32 53% 4 of 14 4 of 9 9 of 9 16 of 30 1 of 2 0 of 0
Tucker Lutz 24 of 65 36% 15 of 50 7 of 10 2 of 5 18 of 58 6 of 7 0 of 0
2 Daniel Pineda 7 of 13 53% 6 of 10 0 of 1 1 of 2 6 of 11 1 of 2 0 of 0
Tucker Lutz 4 of 13 30% 2 of 11 1 of 1 1 of 1 4 of 13 0 of 0 0 of 0
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Confident picked Mar 22, 2023 (3 days before fight)
Tucker Lutz

Angelo picks Lutz, expecting him to weather Pineda's early storm and then take over with wrestling. He notes that Pineda is feast-or-famine with a 100% finish rate but fades quickly. He thinks Lutz is powerful and should get takedowns and a finish. He recommends betting 'fight doesn't go the distance' rather than a moneyline.

Fight doesn't go the distance (recommended parlay piece)
"Tucker Lutz should win this fight he should be able to get the wrestling going."
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked Mar 22, 2023 (3 days before fight)
Tucker Lutz

Big Brady picks Tucker Lutz by third-round TKO, viewing it as a fade on Daniel Pineda. He notes Pineda's age (37), history of PED use, and tendency to gas out after the first round. Brady believes Lutz's grinding style and pace will wear down Pineda, who has never won a 15-minute fight. He expects Lutz to survive the early danger and finish Pineda late.

Lutz by TKO in round 3
"I'm going to say Lutz wins this fight I'll say like third round TKO just due to Pineda having nothing left in the tank"
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Confident picked Mar 22, 2023 (3 days before fight)
Tucker Lutz

Cody picks Lutz confidently, calling Pineda a one-round fighter with poor cardio and a history of fading. He notes Pineda is 37, off a two-year layoff, and was previously caught for steroids. He believes Lutz's takedown defense and volume striking will neutralize Pineda's early grappling threat, and that Lutz will break Pineda down over three rounds.

Lutz wins by decision; live bet Lutz after first round
"We're going with Tucker Lutz this weekend I think that he gonna get the job done against Pineda"
CO
Connor Ruebusch Expert Hesitant picked Mar 23, 2023 (2 days before fight)
Tucker Lutz

Connor leans toward Tucker Lutz but expresses hesitation, noting that Lutz hasn't faced a fighter as violent and unpredictable as Daniel Pineda. He points out that Pineda has crushed young prospects before and that Lutz's recent UFC wins have been decisions against less dangerous opponents. Connor is curious to see how Lutz handles Pineda's calf kicks and chaotic pressure, and he wouldn't be super confident in Lutz passing this test just yet.

Same odds commentary as Zane.
"I wouldn't be super duper confident in him, in him passing it just yet."
JA
Jacob Lines Expert Lean picked Mar 22, 2023 (3 days before fight)
Tucker Lutz

Jacob picks Lutz but is not confident, echoing that Lutz should win but the fight is not worth betting. He notes that Pineda is tough and wild, and that Lutz was out-grappled by Sabatini, but that is not a concern. He says the breakdowns are repetitive because many favorites on this card are similar.

"Tucker Lutz yes he should win he should be tough enough again as we mentioned the time before nothing jumps out on the film."
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Lean picked Mar 20, 2023 (5 days before fight)
Tucker Lutz

The host leans with the younger, faster, more explosive Tucker Lutz, expecting him to come back with vengeance after his first UFC loss. He thinks Lutz's combination striking, speed, and explosiveness will find Pineda's chin and put him away via ground and pound. He also likes the prop 'fight doesn't go to decision' as Pineda's fights almost always finish inside the distance.

fight doesn't go to decision
"I'm going to lean with a younger faster more explosive Tucker Lutz in this spot"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Mar 20, 2023 (5 days before fight)
Tucker Lutz

The Guru picks Lutz, noting Pineda's gas tank issues and tendency to fade after the first round. He believes Lutz's durability and cardio will allow him to win the last two rounds via decision, despite a tough first round.

"I'm gonna go with Tucker Lutz... I can actually see him winning this one by 29-28 unanimous decision based on the last two rounds"
ZA
Zane Simon Expert Confident picked Mar 23, 2023 (2 days before fight)
Tucker Lutz

Zane picks Tucker Lutz because he sees Lutz as a solid, reliable fighter who is difficult to finish and has a safe, counter-punching style that should outlast Daniel Pineda's wild aggression. He notes that Pineda is prone to self-destructing and fading as the fight goes on, while Lutz has the durability and technical boxing to stay out of harm's way and accumulate points. Zane also mentions that Lutz's style is similar to Cody Stamann's, which has proven effective against aggressive but less technical opponents.

Odds: Lutz opened at -225, currently -274; Pineda opened at +190, currently +216. Zane thinks the odds are too wide, saying 'I don't really think the odds should be too, too wide for this.'
"That is the reason really that I'm picking Lutz. I just solid, reliable."
LOSS vs Andre Fili
No Contest (accidental eye poke) R2 0:46 · UFC Fight Night: Gane vs. Volkov · Jun 26, 2021
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Andre Fili 0 34 of 67 50% 44 of 78 1 of 1 100% 0 0 0:45
Daniel Pineda 0 15 of 34 44% 43 of 62 0 of 7 0% 0 0 1:38
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Andre Fili 0 29 of 57 50% 39 of 68 1 of 1 100% 0 0 0:45
Daniel Pineda 0 10 of 24 41% 38 of 52 0 of 6 0% 0 0 1:38
2 Andre Fili 0 5 of 10 50% 5 of 10 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Daniel Pineda 0 5 of 10 50% 5 of 10 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:00
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Andre Fili 34 of 67 50% 29 of 61 4 of 4 1 of 2 28 of 59 2 of 2 4 of 6
Daniel Pineda 15 of 34 44% 7 of 25 3 of 4 5 of 5 15 of 34 0 of 0 0 of 0
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Andre Fili 29 of 57 50% 26 of 53 2 of 2 1 of 2 23 of 49 2 of 2 4 of 6
Daniel Pineda 10 of 24 41% 4 of 17 2 of 3 4 of 4 10 of 24 0 of 0 0 of 0
2 Andre Fili 5 of 10 50% 3 of 8 2 of 2 0 of 0 5 of 10 0 of 0 0 of 0
Daniel Pineda 5 of 10 50% 3 of 8 1 of 1 1 of 1 5 of 10 0 of 0 0 of 0
Play-by-Play
View on Sherdog
Andre Fili vs. Daniel Pineda

Round 1
From one action-packed battle to the next we go, as Fili (21-8, 9-7 UFC) will look to thwart Pineda (27-14, 2 NC; 4-5 UFC) and his constant forward momentum. Pineda sports a 100 percent finish rate through his lengthy career, so both Fili and referee Herb Dean will need to tread lightly here. The intense featherweights do decide to touch gloves before starting off. Pineda ducks down to avoid a strike so that he can go over the top, and he throws so hard that he falls across the cage. Fili walks him down, ignores a leg kick, and is forced to quickly defend himself from a takedown attempt. The California native stays upright and pushes off, and Pineda wings w a right hand. Fili tags him with a huge right hand, and Pineda falls to his knees. “Touchy” touches him up with several more punches in a long combination, and he backs off instead of burning his gas tank to seek a finish. Pineda climbs back to his feet and pushes Fili into the wire, where he can gather his senses after taking some serious damage. Pineda grinds Fili into the wall as if it were a cheese grater, until Fili pushes off with one hand. Pineda slips and rips a right hand, and he nails Fili with a heavy low kick that makes the Californian stumble. Fili switches stances after just a few kicks, and he eats a few punches when he backpedals. Fili surprises his foe with a head kick, and a one-two catches Pineda square on the jaw. The Houston native is rocked, and Fili grabs him and hits a suplex to put Pineda down to the ground hard. Pineda is split open over his left eye, and after getting off some ground-and-pound, Fili lets his foe back up. After eating a thudding leg kick, Fili sits down on a liver kick that buckles Pineda’s knees, and “Touchy” leaps down to finish the job with some ferocious ground punches. Pineda closes his guard and ties Fili up to ride out the round, having survived a vicious onslaught.

Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-8 Fili
John Brannigan scores the round: 10-8 Fili
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-8 Fili

Round 2
The featherweights touch gloves to begin the round, and Pineda is ready to brawl as he charges ahead with a salvo of punches. Pineda takes a stunning liver kick, and he just barely blocks a head kick in time. Pineda gets off a leg kick, puts two punches together, and is countered by standing in front of his man. Fili pushes off to gain some space, and a finger plunges deep into Pineda’s eye. The Texan is in serious pain as Dean pauses the action, and the doctor comes in to check it out immediately. Pineda’s body language is not good, as it is the eye that is already cut up and damaged. Pineda’s eye gets checked out, and he is ready to keep fighting, but both Dean and the doctor tell him to take a little more time to clear it out. Pineda is trying to open his left eye, but it is not responsive and Pineda cannot even tell the doctor how many fingers he is holding up. Dean recognizes this and calls the fight off, as Pineda is trying to tough it out even though he cannot see out of that closed eye. Unfortunately, with the stoppage due to an accidental eye poke at this early into the bout, this thriller of a battle will go down as a no contest. If there is a silver lining, it is that the promotion will most likely run this back sooner than later.

The Official Result
Andre Fili vs. Daniel Pineda is Ruled a No Contest (Accidental Eye Poke) R2 0:46
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Confident picked Jun 23, 2021 (3 days before fight)
Andre Fili

Angelo picks Andre Fili, noting he is more technical and will avoid Pineda's haymakers, survive the first round, and pull out a win. He does not love the -225 odds or 8900 price tag but believes Fili wins. He has a bet on under 2.5 rounds because Pineda is feast or famine.

under 2.5 rounds
"i have andre feely winning this fight i don't love minus 225 odds i don't necessarily love the 8 900 draftking price tag because daniel pineda does hit hard and is willing to throw everything into those strikes"
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked Jun 22, 2021 (4 days before fight)
Andre Fili

Big Brady picks Andre Fili to win by KO, noting Pineda's 100% finish rate but also his age (35) and recent poor performance against Cub Swanson. He thinks Pineda is very dangerous in the first round but will gas out, and Fili can weather the storm and finish him later. He compares it to the Rosa/Jaynes fight. He would not bet it due to Pineda's danger.

by KO, would not bet
"i'm gonna say philly wins by knockout here i'm gonna say philly knocks out daniel pineda"
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Hesitant picked Jun 23, 2021 (3 days before fight)
Andre Fili

Cody picks Andre Fili but expects a sweat. He notes Pineda has never won a decision in 50 pro fights, meaning he must finish Fili. Fili is extremely durable, having been dropped but never finished cleanly. Cody thinks Fili's cardio and toughness will allow him to outlast Pineda, who tends to fade after the first round. He suggests live betting Pineda early and then Fili later.

"i think that this is going to be a sweat a sweat big time sweat for around a round and a half and then i think feely should pull away"
JA
Jacob Lines Expert Confident picked Jun 23, 2021 (3 days before fight)
Andre Fili

Jacob picks Andre Fili, praising his toughness and competition level. He notes Fili has lost only to top fighters and has survived against tough opponents. Jacob believes Fili will dominate and is great value at 8900. He likes more/more on the monkey knife fight line.

"i just love andre's toughness in this fight i think uh you know pineda is very very talented but i think if push comes to shove when things get nasty if there's adversity to overcome andre feel is going to …"
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Jun 24, 2021 (2 days before fight)
Andre Fili

Fili has one of the best jabs in the UFC and should use it to keep Pineda at distance. He needs to stay disciplined and on the outside to avoid Pineda's forward pressure. Fili's height and reach advantage will be key. If he lets Pineda inside or get taken down, it could be a rough night. Fili should outpoint Pineda on the feet and win a decision.

Fili by decision plus 230
"I think that feeling will present a fight here that's gonna you know keep it quite disciplined... I do think it comes via decision"
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Lean picked Jun 23, 2021 (3 days before fight)
Andre Fili

Paul picks Fili but is not excited about the -225 price. He notes Fili's durability and solid grappling, and that Pineda comes out fast but fades. He thinks Fili can survive the early storm and take over. He considered Fili by decision but the +150 odds didn't excite him.

"i'm picking feely in this spot but minus 225 the the price doesn't feel great"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Jun 21, 2021 (5 days before fight)
Andre Fili

The MMA Guru picks Andre Fili by late second-round TKO, citing his size, reach, and range advantage over Pineda. He believes Fili's defense will neutralize Pineda's leg kicks and that Pineda's cardio will fade due to a tough weight cut. He expects Fili to box Pineda up and finish him against the cage in the second round.

late second round TKO
"i'm gonna go with andre philly late second round tko"
LOSS vs Cub Swanson
KO (punches) R2 1:52 · UFC 256: Figueiredo vs. Moreno · Dec 12, 2020
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Cub Swanson 2 46 of 66 69% 51 of 71 1 of 1 100% 0 0 1:34
Daniel Pineda 0 21 of 45 46% 40 of 65 1 of 2 50% 1 0 0:35
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Cub Swanson 1 31 of 47 65% 34 of 50 1 of 1 100% 0 0 1:31
Daniel Pineda 0 16 of 30 53% 35 of 50 1 of 1 100% 1 0 0:08
2 Cub Swanson 1 15 of 19 78% 17 of 21 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:03
Daniel Pineda 0 5 of 15 33% 5 of 15 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:27
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Cub Swanson 46 of 66 69% 35 of 51 7 of 11 4 of 4 37 of 54 3 of 3 6 of 9
Daniel Pineda 21 of 45 46% 9 of 28 3 of 4 9 of 13 19 of 43 2 of 2 0 of 0
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Cub Swanson 31 of 47 65% 23 of 36 4 of 7 4 of 4 23 of 36 3 of 3 5 of 8
Daniel Pineda 16 of 30 53% 6 of 17 2 of 3 8 of 10 14 of 28 2 of 2 0 of 0
2 Cub Swanson 15 of 19 78% 12 of 15 3 of 4 0 of 0 14 of 18 0 of 0 1 of 1
Daniel Pineda 5 of 15 33% 3 of 11 1 of 1 1 of 3 5 of 15 0 of 0 0 of 0
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked Dec 9, 2020 (3 days before fight)
Daniel Pineda

Big Brady picks Daniel Pineda to win by first-round submission. He highlights Pineda's 100% finish rate (27 wins all finishes) and Swanson's history of being submitted six times. He likes Pineda's recent form and believes he is in his prime, while Swanson is past his prime and coming off injury. He recommends betting Pineda inside the distance at +140.

Pineda inside the distance +140
"i'm going to take pineda to win by first round submission"
DA
Daniel Levi Expert Confident picked Dec 11, 2020 (1 day before fight)
Daniel Pineda

Daniel is impressed with Pineda's resurgence, noting his 29 finishes and recent dominant performances. He questions Cub Swanson's level of competition and thinks Swanson is on his way out. He predicts Pineda will catch Cub with a submission, possibly his 20th submission win.

submission win
"imma go with pineda to get his 20th submission win i think he catches cub somewhere along the way"
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Dec 7, 2020 (5 days before fight)
Daniel Pineda

Pineda's wrestling and top pressure will be a nightmare for Swanson, who has struggled with grapplers. Pineda should be able to take Swanson down repeatedly and finish him via ground and pound or submission. Swanson's recent losses have come via submission, and Pineda's style matches up well. The under 2.5 rounds is a good prop.

Under 2.5 rounds; Pineda inside the distance, likely second round
"i'm taking pineda via finnish probably second round... i truly think that he'll be able to get swanson down time and time again and get that damage in"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Dec 6, 2020 (6 days before fight)
Cub Swanson

The MMA Guru picks Cub Swanson, despite the long layoff due to injury. He believes Swanson's experience against good jiu-jitsu guys and his stand-up will be the difference. He expects Swanson to keep the fight standing and win a unanimous decision. He dismisses Daniel Pineda's wins as unimpressive and notes Pineda's past PED issues.

"i'm gonna go with cub swanson getting the job done against daniel pineda i like daniel pineda but i think people are just looking at his herbert burns win"
WIN vs Herbert Burns
TKO (elbows) R2 4:37 · UFC 252: Miocic vs. Cormier 3 · Aug 15, 2020
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Daniel Pineda 0 10 of 22 45% 35 of 48 3 of 4 75% 0 0 2:39
Herbert Burns 0 57 of 75 76% 173 of 205 1 of 2 50% 0 1 6:13
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Daniel Pineda 0 4 of 13 30% 21 of 31 1 of 2 50% 0 0 0:12
Herbert Burns 0 24 of 40 60% 87 of 111 1 of 1 100% 0 0 4:18
2 Daniel Pineda 0 6 of 9 66% 14 of 17 2 of 2 100% 0 0 2:27
Herbert Burns 0 33 of 35 94% 86 of 94 0 of 1 0% 0 1 1:55
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Daniel Pineda 10 of 22 45% 6 of 15 2 of 5 2 of 2 5 of 15 1 of 2 4 of 5
Herbert Burns 57 of 75 76% 50 of 65 4 of 7 3 of 3 8 of 13 1 of 1 48 of 61
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Daniel Pineda 4 of 13 30% 1 of 7 2 of 5 1 of 1 2 of 10 1 of 2 1 of 1
Herbert Burns 24 of 40 60% 19 of 32 3 of 6 2 of 2 6 of 10 1 of 1 17 of 29
2 Daniel Pineda 6 of 9 66% 5 of 8 0 of 0 1 of 1 3 of 5 0 of 0 3 of 4
Herbert Burns 33 of 35 94% 31 of 33 1 of 1 1 of 1 2 of 3 0 of 0 31 of 32
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked Aug 12, 2020 (3 days before fight)
Herbert Burns

Big Brady is impressed with Herbert Burns' improvements and superior grappling. He expects Burns to submit Pineda in the first round, noting Pineda has been submitted five times. He thinks the fight won't go to decision.

first round submission, under on total rounds
"give me herbert burns first round submission"
DA
Daniel Levi Expert Confident picked Aug 14, 2020 (1 day before fight)
Herbert Burns

Daniel Levi picks Herbert Burns to win by first-round submission. He notes that Pineda has never been to a decision (0-6 in decisions) and has been submitted six times. He believes Pineda's scrambling style is a bad matchup against Burns' elite jiu-jitsu. He also points out that Pineda's recent wins were overturned due to PEDs, and he may be deflated under USADA testing. He cites Burns' performance against Dunham as evidence of his submission prowess.

Burns by first-round submission; fight doesn't go the distance (-390); Pineda's PED history is a concern
"i'm going herbert burns here via first round submission again"
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Aug 13, 2020 (2 days before fight)
Daniel Pineda

Pineda is a live dog with strong wrestling and top pressure; he has not been submitted since 2010 and has the experience to survive Burns' early submission threats. Burns' recent finishes are against over-the-hill competition, while Pineda is still in his prime. The line is too wide; Pineda should be closer to +120. He will play it safe, rack up rounds, and win a decision.

Pineda wins by decision (+680)
"Pineda should not be a plus 240 or plus 250 underdog... I think he's a definitely a live dog here."
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Aug 9, 2020 (6 days before fight)
Herbert Burns

The MMA Guru picks Herbert Burns by submission in the first round, calling it the surest win on the card. He highlights Burns' knockout of Nate Landwehr with a knee up the middle as evidence of his finishing ability, and dismisses Pineda as a past-prime cheater.

submission in the first round
"i'm going with herbert burns i think he gets it done by submission in the first round"
Decision (unanimous) (30–27, 29–28, 29–28) R3 5:00 · UFC 171: Hendricks vs. Lawler · Mar 15, 2014
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Robert Whiteford 0 24 of 44 54% 40 of 60 1 of 5 20% 3 0 1:10
Daniel Pineda 0 26 of 50 52% 54 of 84 5 of 14 35% 0 0 7:43
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Robert Whiteford 0 8 of 18 44% 13 of 23 0 of 2 0% 0 0 0:01
Daniel Pineda 0 15 of 29 51% 26 of 42 2 of 6 33% 0 0 2:02
2 Robert Whiteford 0 6 of 11 54% 11 of 16 1 of 2 50% 1 0 0:21
Daniel Pineda 0 9 of 17 52% 20 of 30 1 of 3 33% 0 0 2:39
3 Robert Whiteford 0 10 of 15 66% 16 of 21 0 of 1 0% 2 0 0:48
Daniel Pineda 0 2 of 4 50% 8 of 12 2 of 5 40% 0 0 3:02
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Robert Whiteford 24 of 44 54% 7 of 25 8 of 10 9 of 9 14 of 31 1 of 3 9 of 10
Daniel Pineda 26 of 50 52% 14 of 34 9 of 12 3 of 4 17 of 34 6 of 11 3 of 5
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Robert Whiteford 8 of 18 44% 2 of 11 5 of 6 1 of 1 7 of 16 1 of 2 0 of 0
Daniel Pineda 15 of 29 51% 6 of 16 7 of 10 2 of 3 9 of 19 5 of 9 1 of 1
2 Robert Whiteford 6 of 11 54% 3 of 8 2 of 2 1 of 1 6 of 10 0 of 1 0 of 0
Daniel Pineda 9 of 17 52% 7 of 15 1 of 1 1 of 1 6 of 11 1 of 2 2 of 4
3 Robert Whiteford 10 of 15 66% 2 of 6 1 of 2 7 of 7 1 of 5 0 of 0 9 of 10
Daniel Pineda 2 of 4 50% 1 of 3 1 of 1 0 of 0 2 of 4 0 of 0 0 of 0
Expert Picks (7)
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Confident picked Jun 23, 2021 (3 days before fight)
Andre Fili

Angelo picks Andre Fili, noting he is more technical and will avoid Pineda's haymakers, survive the first round, and pull out a win. He does not love the -225 odds or 8900 price tag but believes Fili wins. He has a bet on under 2.5 rounds because Pineda is feast or famine.

under 2.5 rounds
"i have andre feely winning this fight i don't love minus 225 odds i don't necessarily love the 8 900 draftking price tag because daniel pineda does hit hard and is willing to throw everything into those strikes"
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked Jun 22, 2021 (4 days before fight)
Andre Fili

Big Brady picks Andre Fili to win by KO, noting Pineda's 100% finish rate but also his age (35) and recent poor performance against Cub Swanson. He thinks Pineda is very dangerous in the first round but will gas out, and Fili can weather the storm and finish him later. He compares it to the Rosa/Jaynes fight. He would not bet it due to Pineda's danger.

by KO, would not bet
"i'm gonna say philly wins by knockout here i'm gonna say philly knocks out daniel pineda"
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Hesitant picked Jun 23, 2021 (3 days before fight)
Andre Fili

Cody picks Andre Fili but expects a sweat. He notes Pineda has never won a decision in 50 pro fights, meaning he must finish Fili. Fili is extremely durable, having been dropped but never finished cleanly. Cody thinks Fili's cardio and toughness will allow him to outlast Pineda, who tends to fade after the first round. He suggests live betting Pineda early and then Fili later.

"i think that this is going to be a sweat a sweat big time sweat for around a round and a half and then i think feely should pull away"
JA
Jacob Lines Expert Confident picked Jun 23, 2021 (3 days before fight)
Andre Fili

Jacob picks Andre Fili, praising his toughness and competition level. He notes Fili has lost only to top fighters and has survived against tough opponents. Jacob believes Fili will dominate and is great value at 8900. He likes more/more on the monkey knife fight line.

"i just love andre's toughness in this fight i think uh you know pineda is very very talented but i think if push comes to shove when things get nasty if there's adversity to overcome andre feel is going to overcome that adversity"
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Jun 24, 2021 (2 days before fight)
Andre Fili

Fili has one of the best jabs in the UFC and should use it to keep Pineda at distance. He needs to stay disciplined and on the outside to avoid Pineda's forward pressure. Fili's height and reach advantage will be key. If he lets Pineda inside or get taken down, it could be a rough night. Fili should outpoint Pineda on the feet and win a decision.

Fili by decision plus 230
"I think that feeling will present a fight here that's gonna you know keep it quite disciplined... I do think it comes via decision"
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Lean picked Jun 23, 2021 (3 days before fight)
Andre Fili

Paul picks Fili but is not excited about the -225 price. He notes Fili's durability and solid grappling, and that Pineda comes out fast but fades. He thinks Fili can survive the early storm and take over. He considered Fili by decision but the +150 odds didn't excite him.

"i'm picking feely in this spot but minus 225 the the price doesn't feel great"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Jun 21, 2021 (5 days before fight)
Andre Fili

The MMA Guru picks Andre Fili by late second-round TKO, citing his size, reach, and range advantage over Pineda. He believes Fili's defense will neutralize Pineda's leg kicks and that Pineda's cardio will fade due to a tough weight cut. He expects Fili to box Pineda up and finish him against the cage in the second round.

late second round TKO
"i'm gonna go with andre philly late second round tko"