vs
-150 +126
UFC 263: Adesanya vs. Vettori 2 · Jun 12, 2021 · Light Heavyweight · Completed
Prev Fight UFC 263: Adesanya vs. Vettori 2 Next Fight
Age 39
Height 6' 1"
Reach 75.0"
Weight 185 lbs.
Stance Southpaw
Age 35
Height 6' 0"
Reach 74.0"
Weight 205 lbs.
Stance Orthodox
Career Averages - Eryk Anders
3.44 SLpM
47.0% Str. Acc.
4.03 SApM
50.0% Str. Def.
1.83 TD Avg
25.0% TD Acc.
80.0% TD Def.
0.1 Sub. Avg
Career Averages - Darren Stewart
3.05 SLpM
45.0% Str. Acc.
3.29 SApM
48.0% Str. Def.
1.75 TD Avg
45.0% TD Acc.
67.0% TD Def.
0.1 Sub. Avg
Eryk Anders
Moneyline
BetWay -150
KO/TKO
BetWay +225
Submission
BetWay +1600
Decision
BetWay +200
Darren Stewart
Moneyline
FanDuel +126
KO/TKO
BetWay +500
Submission
BetWay +1400
Decision
BetWay +240
Eryk Anders - Fight History
WIN vs Brad Tavares
Decision R3 5:00 · UFC Fight Night: Emmett vs. Vallejos · Mar 14, 2026
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Brad Tavares 1 48 of 86 55% 55 of 95 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:29
Eryk Anders 0 35 of 84 41% 68 of 133 3 of 9 33% 0 1 9:20
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Brad Tavares 0 18 of 35 51% 18 of 35 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Eryk Anders 0 20 of 41 48% 33 of 56 0 of 4 0% 0 0 3:10
2 Brad Tavares 1 18 of 31 58% 21 of 34 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:29
Eryk Anders 0 11 of 31 35% 22 of 52 0 of 1 0% 0 1 2:25
3 Brad Tavares 0 12 of 20 60% 16 of 26 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:00
Eryk Anders 0 4 of 12 33% 13 of 25 3 of 4 75% 0 0 3:45
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Brad Tavares 48 of 86 55% 29 of 64 17 of 20 2 of 2 31 of 59 14 of 21 3 of 6
Eryk Anders 35 of 84 41% 26 of 69 9 of 15 0 of 0 15 of 47 19 of 36 1 of 1
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Brad Tavares 18 of 35 51% 7 of 23 10 of 11 1 of 1 6 of 18 12 of 17 0 of 0
Eryk Anders 20 of 41 48% 17 of 34 3 of 7 0 of 0 4 of 14 16 of 27 0 of 0
2 Brad Tavares 18 of 31 58% 11 of 22 6 of 8 1 of 1 13 of 21 2 of 4 3 of 6
Eryk Anders 11 of 31 35% 6 of 24 5 of 7 0 of 0 7 of 21 3 of 9 1 of 1
3 Brad Tavares 12 of 20 60% 11 of 19 1 of 1 0 of 0 12 of 20 0 of 0 0 of 0
Eryk Anders 4 of 12 33% 3 of 11 1 of 1 0 of 0 4 of 12 0 of 0 0 of 0
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Lean picked Mar 8, 2026 (6 days before fight)
Brad Tavares

Angelo picks Brad Tavares but with very low confidence, calling it too close to bet. He notes both fighters have declining chins and the fight could be a quick knockout or a sloppy decision. He thinks Tavares is more well-rounded and faster, but Eryk Anders could bull his way forward. He ultimately goes with Tavares due to technical edge.

"I'm gonna go with Brad because he's the more well-rounded of the two and he should be faster."
BI
Big Brady Expert Hesitant picked Mar 9, 2026 (5 days before fight)
Eryk Anders

Big Brady hesitantly picks Eryk Anders by split decision, calling it a '1-800 Gambler fight.' He thinks both fighters are washed but gives Anders the edge due to slightly harder punching and ability to control against the cage. He predicts a low-quality fight and even considered predicting a draw.

"Give me Eric Anders by greasy greasy greasy split decision."
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Confident picked Mar 11, 2026 (3 days before fight)
Brad Tavares

Cody picks Tavares, citing his experience, takedown defense, and ability to outpoint Anders. He notes Anders' declining durability and retirement announcement. He expects a close decision but Tavares edges it.

"Brad Tavvar's win. Hopefully, he just finishes the job."
CO
Connor Ruebusch Expert picked Mar 13, 2026 (1 day before fight)

Connor does not make a clear pick for this fight, calling it a toss-up and meaningless. He criticizes both fighters as old and irrelevant, suggesting the fight should not be happening in the UFC. He does not express a preference.

"Yeah, that's fair. It's, it's a toss up really. It's just a, this is, this is not a fight that should be happening. It's utterly, utterly meaningless."
LU
Lucrative James Expert Lean picked Mar 8, 2026 (6 days before fight)
Eryk Anders

James picks Eryk Anders as an underdog, citing his grappling advantage and power. He notes that both fighters have fading durability and that Anders is more explosive. He calls the fight volatile and says no result would shock him.

"I will pick Eric Anders for the sake of the show."
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Mar 10, 2026 (4 days before fight)
Brad Tavares

The host picks Tavares to win by decision, citing his superior striking and takedown defense. He believes Anders will struggle to land a knockout and that Tavares's combinations and effective damage will win rounds. He notes that both fighters are aging but Tavares is the better striker and should outwork Anders over 15 minutes.

Anders by knockout hedge
"I have to give the edge to Dvarez. I believe he's the better striker and I don't think Anders can muster up the knockout power to put Dvaris away here."
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert picked Mar 11, 2026 (3 days before fight)

Paul has no clear pick, expressing uncertainty about both fighters. He notes Tavares' recent losses and Anders' inconsistency. He doesn't want to bet either side.

"I don't know what to do with this fight, Cody."
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Mar 14, 2026 (fight day)
Brad Tavares

The Guru picks Brad Tavares, emphasizing his low kicks as the key difference. He notes Anders has a wide stance and has struggled with low kicks before, and that Tavares has fought higher-level competition. He predicts a decision win, 30-27, as he doesn't see Anders finishing Tavares early.

"I'm going to go with Brad Tavares here. I think the low kicks are going to be the difference... by decision, 30-27."
ZA
Zane Simon Expert Lean picked Mar 13, 2026 (1 day before fight)
Brad Tavares

Zane picks Brad Tavares, noting that Tavares looked decent in his fight against GM3 but struggled against Robert Brishik, who pushed a pace. He believes Anders is also slow and throws single strikes, giving Tavares enough space to look like his old self. However, he acknowledges Tavares tends to lose a round due to passivity.

Tavares opened at -185, currently -138; Anders opened at +160, currently +118
"I am going to pick Brad Tavares. I'm going to pick Eric Anders. Sure. Uh, Brad, Brad Tavares looked like there might actually be a little classic Brad Tavares tread left on the tires for that GM three fight."
KO R1 3:53 · UFC on ESPN: Dolidze vs. Hernandez · Aug 09, 2025
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Eryk Anders 0 7 of 12 58% 18 of 24 1 of 3 33% 0 0 1:18
Christian Leroy Duncan 1 24 of 43 55% 27 of 46 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:39
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Eryk Anders 0 7 of 12 58% 18 of 24 1 of 3 33% 0 0 1:18
Christian Leroy Duncan 1 24 of 43 55% 27 of 46 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:39
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Eryk Anders 7 of 12 58% 2 of 7 4 of 4 1 of 1 4 of 9 3 of 3 0 of 0
Christian Leroy Duncan 24 of 43 55% 9 of 26 3 of 4 12 of 13 20 of 37 3 of 3 1 of 3
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Eryk Anders 7 of 12 58% 2 of 7 4 of 4 1 of 1 4 of 9 3 of 3 0 of 0
Christian Leroy Duncan 24 of 43 55% 9 of 26 3 of 4 12 of 13 20 of 37 3 of 3 1 of 3
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Lean picked Aug 3, 2025 (6 days before fight)
Christian Leroy Duncan

Angelo picks Christian Leroy Duncan despite questioning his fight IQ. He notes Duncan is the better striker with solid takedown defense and cardio, but he can be an idiot with game plans. If Duncan decides to wrestle, Anders could bully him. However, Anders' chin is declining, so Duncan should win if he strikes.

"So CLLD is going to have to be the pick. I'm just really hoping this dude isn't making group cheese sandwiches at night."
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked Aug 6, 2025 (3 days before fight)
Christian Leroy Duncan

Big Brady is confident in Christian Leroy Duncan, though he notes Duncan sometimes lacks effort. He points out that Anders has been knocked down in his last three fights by lesser strikers like Jamie Pickett and Chris Weidman, indicating a decline. Brady believes if Duncan cares even a little, he will knock out Anders early. He predicts a first-round knockout for Duncan.

first round knockout
"I like Christian Leroy Duncan. I'm pretty confident he wins this fight. Give me Duncan. I'll take him to win by first round knockout."
CO
Connor Ruebusch Expert Confident picked Aug 7, 2025 (2 days before fight)
Christian Leroy Duncan

Connor picks Duncan, noting that Anders is limited as a strategist and technician, and that Duncan's dynamic striking and range management will be too much. He points out that Anders has only beaten low-level opponents in recent years and is slow-footed, while Duncan is dangerous and annoying to fight. Connor expects Duncan to win and move toward a top 15 matchup.

Odds mentioned: Duncan opened -400, currently -500; Anders opened +330, currently +375.
"I just don't think Eric Anders is consistent enough to keep Duncan from hurting him."
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Aug 7, 2025 (2 days before fight)
Christian Leroy Duncan

The host believes Duncan's speed and power will be too much for Anders, who is slowing down and was hurt badly by Weidman in his last fight. He thinks it's just a matter of time before Duncan lands a clean shot and puts Anders down and out.

by KO
"I think that this is a matchup where the speed and power of Duncan will be too much for Eric Anders, who's starting to slow down a little bit."
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Aug 8, 2025 (1 day before fight)
Christian Leroy Duncan

The MMA Guru picks Christian Leroy Duncan, calling it a potential schooling. He notes Anders' recent wins are over old fighters and that Anders has become too technical. He expects Duncan to piece up Anders and win a dominant decision, possibly with a 10-8 round.

"I'm going with Christian Leroy Duncan over Eric Anders."
ZA
Zane Simon Expert Confident picked Aug 7, 2025 (2 days before fight)
Christian Leroy Duncan

Zane agrees, calling Duncan a meme fighter with flashy skills but noting that Anders is a limited opponent who has struggled against similar fighters. He highlights that Anders has only beaten Kyle Daukaus, Jamie Pickett, and an aged Chris Weidman in recent years, while Duncan's athleticism and tricky style will cause problems. Zane thinks Duncan will win and eventually get exposed against top competition.

Odds mentioned: Duncan opened -400, currently -500; Anders opened +330, currently +375.
"I just don't think he's going to have a good time against a CLD."
WIN vs Chris Weidman
TKO (punches) R2 4:51 · UFC 310: Pantoja vs. Asakura · Dec 07, 2024
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Eryk Anders 1 16 of 36 44% 27 of 50 0 of 1 0% 1 0 2:15
Chris Weidman 0 62 of 102 60% 121 of 193 0 of 6 0% 0 0 4:24
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Eryk Anders 1 13 of 26 50% 20 of 36 0 of 1 0% 0 0 2:10
Chris Weidman 0 11 of 23 47% 12 of 29 0 of 4 0% 0 0 0:41
2 Eryk Anders 0 3 of 10 30% 7 of 14 0 of 0 --- 1 0 0:05
Chris Weidman 0 51 of 79 64% 109 of 164 0 of 2 0% 0 0 3:43
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Eryk Anders 16 of 36 44% 11 of 30 5 of 6 0 of 0 12 of 23 0 of 2 4 of 11
Chris Weidman 62 of 102 60% 56 of 96 6 of 6 0 of 0 7 of 25 7 of 12 48 of 65
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Eryk Anders 13 of 26 50% 8 of 20 5 of 6 0 of 0 9 of 13 0 of 2 4 of 11
Chris Weidman 11 of 23 47% 8 of 20 3 of 3 0 of 0 3 of 10 7 of 12 1 of 1
2 Eryk Anders 3 of 10 30% 3 of 10 0 of 0 0 of 0 3 of 10 0 of 0 0 of 0
Chris Weidman 51 of 79 64% 48 of 76 3 of 3 0 of 0 4 of 15 0 of 0 47 of 64
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Hesitant picked Nov 30, 2024 (7 days before fight)
Eryk Anders

Angelo flips his pick from Chris Weidman to Eryk Anders. He cites Weidman's age (40), potential frustration from not getting paid after the canceled fight, and the loss of the Madison Square Garden atmosphere. He believes Anders' physicality, power, and aggression will overwhelm Weidman, who has a questionable chin. Angelo acknowledges the fight is at 195 lbs, which may favor Anders.

"I am going to go Eric Anders here I flip my pick"
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Confident picked Dec 4, 2024 (3 days before fight)
Chris Weidman

Cody picks Weidman, citing his wrestling advantage and experience. He notes Anders' inconsistency and recent losses. He expects a close decision win for Weidman, possibly by outworking Anders.

Weidman by decision
"Widman by decision... I'm in agreement."
CO
Connor Ruebusch Expert Confident picked Dec 6, 2024 (1 day before fight)
Eryk Anders

Connor is very confident in Anders, stating he will never pick Chris Weidman to win again. He notes that Weidman is washed and that his recent win over Bruno Silva was against a shot fighter. Connor points out that Anders has been slowly improving technically over the years, while Weidman has not shown any improvement and is only getting older. He believes Anders' athleticism and steady development will be too much for Weidman.

Connor explicitly says: 'I'm telling you if you have money to spare and you like to bet, bet a little on eric anders.' He also notes the odds are near even, with Anders at -101.
"I don't care what happened in this last fight I don't care what the official result is i'm never picking chris wide men to win a fight again."
DA
Daniel Vreeland Expert Confident picked Dec 3, 2024 (4 days before fight)
Chris Weidman

Daniel picks Weidman, noting Anders' tendency to choke in big fights and his recent knockdowns. He expects a clinch-heavy fight and believes Weidman's grappling will be the difference. He mentions he previously bet Weidman at better odds.

"I'm still going to go with Widman. I'm not going to change my pick."
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Lean picked Dec 6, 2024 (1 day before fight)
Chris Weidman

This is a tough matchup to predict given both fighters are further along in their careers. However, Weidman showed impressive activity and comfort in the striking realm against Bruno Silva earlier this year. He will utilize that to mix in his clinch grappling and striking to win on the scorecards.

"I was impressed with wiman's activity and comfort in the Striking R against Bruno Silva earlier this year and I expect him to utilize that here to mix in his clinch grappling and striking game alt together to win this …"
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Confident picked Dec 4, 2024 (3 days before fight)
Chris Weidman

Paul picks Weidman, noting his superior wrestling and fight IQ. He criticizes Anders' cardio and durability, and thinks Weidman can grind out a decision. He acknowledges Weidman's age but believes he has enough left.

"I think Weidman... it's Weidman for me."
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Dec 3, 2024 (4 days before fight)
Chris Weidman

The MMA Guru picks Weidman, noting the fight is at a catchweight which benefits the older Weidman. He thinks Weidman's wrestling and game plan will be too much for Anders, who he considers a B-level middleweight. He predicts Weidman out-wrestles Anders and wins by decision 30-27.

"I'm going with widman I think he's good I think weidman's good in general"
ZA
Zane Simon Expert Confident picked Dec 6, 2024 (1 day before fight)
Eryk Anders

Zane agrees with Connor, picking Anders confidently. He notes that Weidman is completely washed and that Anders has been getting better year after year, albeit slowly. Zane points out that Weidman's only recent win was against a similarly shot Bruno Silva, and that his other recent fights have been close against aging opponents. He believes Anders' athleticism and improved technique will be enough to beat Weidman.

"We're both picking eric anders that's all we did not pick chris wide man."
WIN vs Jamie Pickett
Decision (unanimous) (29–27, 29–28, 29–28) R3 5:00 · UFC Fight Night: Rozenstruik vs. Gaziev · Mar 02, 2024
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Eryk Anders 0 23 of 59 38% 83 of 147 5 of 13 38% 0 0 10:08
Jamie Pickett 1 20 of 55 36% 26 of 64 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:16
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Eryk Anders 0 7 of 19 36% 20 of 32 1 of 6 16% 0 0 2:42
Jamie Pickett 1 8 of 19 42% 9 of 21 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:16
2 Eryk Anders 0 10 of 23 43% 33 of 59 2 of 4 50% 0 0 2:57
Jamie Pickett 0 11 of 24 45% 14 of 28 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
3 Eryk Anders 0 6 of 17 35% 30 of 56 2 of 3 66% 0 0 4:29
Jamie Pickett 0 1 of 12 8% 3 of 15 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Eryk Anders 23 of 59 38% 14 of 48 7 of 9 2 of 2 12 of 38 7 of 9 4 of 12
Jamie Pickett 20 of 55 36% 11 of 45 8 of 9 1 of 1 12 of 46 8 of 8 0 of 1
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Eryk Anders 7 of 19 36% 2 of 13 4 of 5 1 of 1 5 of 16 2 of 3 0 of 0
Jamie Pickett 8 of 19 42% 3 of 14 4 of 4 1 of 1 5 of 15 3 of 3 0 of 1
2 Eryk Anders 10 of 23 43% 6 of 18 3 of 4 1 of 1 5 of 16 5 of 6 0 of 1
Jamie Pickett 11 of 24 45% 8 of 20 3 of 4 0 of 0 6 of 19 5 of 5 0 of 0
3 Eryk Anders 6 of 17 35% 6 of 17 0 of 0 0 of 0 2 of 6 0 of 0 4 of 11
Jamie Pickett 1 of 12 8% 0 of 11 1 of 1 0 of 0 1 of 12 0 of 0 0 of 0
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Confident picked Feb 25, 2024 (6 days before fight)
Eryk Anders

Angelo picks Eryk Anders, citing his athleticism, durability, and ability to bully his way to a win. He notes Anders is a large favorite at -330, which is too wide for him, but he expects Anders to win. He suggests there might be value on inside the distance props.

Inside the distance (potential value)
"Eric Anders at minus 330 Eric Anders is a bigger favorite over Jamie picket than Muhammad makv is over Alex bre"
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked Feb 27, 2024 (4 days before fight)
Eryk Anders

Big Brady picks Anders, calling it a cage-pushing fight. He notes Anders has higher volume, more power, and is physically stronger. He expects Anders to push Pickett against the cage and take him down, similar to his 24-takedown-attempt fight. He predicts a greasy decision win for Anders.

"give me Eric Anders to win this fight win this fight by Greasy greasy decision"
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Confident picked Feb 28, 2024 (3 days before fight)
Eryk Anders

Cody picks Anders, calling him a gatekeeper who beats lower-level opponents like Pickett. He notes Pickett's terrible output and lack of finishing ability, and that Anders has been competitive with better fighters. Cody believes Anders will win but calls it a bad bet at minus-500, though he admits he'll include Anders in parlays as a degenerate.

"I think he wins and I'm a degenerate and I'll pay minus 500 on him and some stupid parlays but if they lost I got nobody to blame but myself because it's B it's a bad bet"
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Hesitant picked Feb 26, 2024 (5 days before fight)
Eryk Anders

Anders should be able to force the action, push Pickett against the cage, and land takedowns. However, Anders is 36 and slowing down, and -400 is not a number to trust with him. The fight is expected to be closely competitive and go to the scorecards, with Anders likely getting his hand raised. The host prefers the over or fight goes to decision.

fight goes to decision
"minus 400 is not a number that I really want to trust Andre with I expect this fight to be closely competitive in certain spots but I think that we see this fight go to the judge's scorecards"
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Hesitant picked Feb 28, 2024 (3 days before fight)
Eryk Anders

Paul picks Anders but is hesitant due to the minus-500 price. He notes Anders has been inconsistent but has faced better competition and has shown improved cardio and output recently. He thinks Pickett is on a losing streak and lacks volume or power. Paul expects Anders to win but acknowledges the price is steep and that Pickett could make it close.

"Eric Anders is uh he's the rightful favorite he should win the fight he wins the fight more often than not but like at minus 500 you got to realize with Anders is he fights with his foot not on …"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Feb 27, 2024 (4 days before fight)
Eryk Anders

The MMA Guru initially considered Pickett but decided Anders is the pick. He notes Anders was close with Marc-André Barriault and had a scrap, while Pickett is on a four-fight losing streak and has no impressive wins. He calls Pickett 'awful' and says his wins are unimpressive.

"We're going to go Eric Anders over Jamie Pickett in 2024... Jamie Pickett's awful"
Decision (unanimous) (30–27, 30–27, 30–27) R3 5:00 · UFC 289: Nunes vs. Aldana · Jun 10, 2023
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Marc-André Barriault 1 95 of 192 49% 103 of 200 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:40
Eryk Anders 0 83 of 169 49% 87 of 173 1 of 11 9% 0 0 3:18
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Marc-André Barriault 1 30 of 49 61% 37 of 56 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:40
Eryk Anders 0 37 of 62 59% 38 of 63 0 of 4 0% 0 0 1:40
2 Marc-André Barriault 0 24 of 61 39% 24 of 61 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Eryk Anders 0 24 of 51 47% 24 of 51 1 of 3 33% 0 0 0:59
3 Marc-André Barriault 0 41 of 82 50% 42 of 83 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Eryk Anders 0 22 of 56 39% 25 of 59 0 of 4 0% 0 0 0:39
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Marc-André Barriault 95 of 192 49% 62 of 148 32 of 43 1 of 1 67 of 154 26 of 35 2 of 3
Eryk Anders 83 of 169 49% 42 of 122 39 of 45 2 of 2 41 of 115 42 of 52 0 of 2
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Marc-André Barriault 30 of 49 61% 23 of 41 7 of 8 0 of 0 10 of 25 18 of 21 2 of 3
Eryk Anders 37 of 62 59% 18 of 42 19 of 20 0 of 0 10 of 25 27 of 35 0 of 2
2 Marc-André Barriault 24 of 61 39% 11 of 44 13 of 17 0 of 0 20 of 54 4 of 7 0 of 0
Eryk Anders 24 of 51 47% 12 of 36 10 of 13 2 of 2 14 of 41 10 of 10 0 of 0
3 Marc-André Barriault 41 of 82 50% 28 of 63 12 of 18 1 of 1 37 of 75 4 of 7 0 of 0
Eryk Anders 22 of 56 39% 12 of 44 10 of 12 0 of 0 17 of 49 5 of 7 0 of 0
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Confident picked Jun 4, 2023 (6 days before fight)
Marc-André Barriault

Angelo picks Marc-André Barriault to win, but plans to bet on Eryk Anders by inside the distance. He explains that Barriault is more well-rounded and technical, but Anders is more dangerous and powerful. He expects Anders to either finish Barriault or lose a decision, so he will bet on Anders inside the distance (no action if decision).

Bet: Eryk Anders inside the distance (no action if decision) - prop not yet available
"I'm gonna pick Mark Andre to win right he's the pick... but I'm gonna bet on Eric Anders when it drops I'm going inside the distance decision no action on Eric Anders"
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked Jun 3, 2023 (7 days before fight)
Marc-André Barriault

Big Brady picks Marc-André Barriault by decision. He notes that Barriault is high volume (6 significant strikes per minute) while Anders is low volume and will likely try to wrestle, but his takedown attempts are inefficient and will tire him. Barriault should win the striking exchanges and take over as the fight goes on, winning the second and third rounds.

"I'm gonna take Mark Andre Barry to win this fight give me Mark Andre Barrio by decision"
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Confident picked Jun 7, 2023 (3 days before fight)
Marc-André Barriault

Cody picks Barriault, expecting a close competitive fight that will likely go to a decision. He notes that Anders relies heavily on clinch work, but Barriault thrives in the clinch and has better cardio. He thinks Anders will slow down in the third round, allowing Barriault to pull ahead. He also mentions that Canadian judging may favor Barriault in a close fight.

Barriault by decision; over 63.5 significant strikes for Barriault on PrizePicks
"I think Mark Andre Barrio to win by decision on prize picks um I like the 63 and a half significant strikes"
CO
Connor Ruebusch Expert Confident picked Jun 8, 2023 (2 days before fight)
Eryk Anders

Connor picks Anders, citing his recent technical improvement and physical advantages. He notes that Anders has learned to put combinations together and use his jab effectively. He believes Anders' strength and wrestling will be too much for Barriault, who is not a power puncher. He acknowledges Barriault's improvement but thinks Anders' ceiling is higher.

Anders opened at +119, currently +116; Barriault opened at -132, currently -128. Connor notes the odds should be closer to 50/50.
"I think, I think I'm going to pick Anders here."
DA
Daniel Levi Expert Lean picked Jun 8, 2023 (2 days before fight)
Eryk Anders

Daniel Levi picks Eryk Anders in a coin-flip fight, noting that Anders looked good against Dacus and has better defense, while Barriault has more volume but is slower. He is unsure about Canadian judges and the fact that Anders is no longer at Fight Ready, which could affect his conditioning. He sees this as a close fight that could go either way, so he takes the dog, but warns against making Anders a heavy play.

"I'm gonna go with Erica boy Anders just because I think it could be a coin flip type fight"
LU
Lucrative James Expert picked Jun 10, 2023 (fight day)

James has no strong opinion on this fight. He sees both fighters as similar and expects a close fight if it goes to decision. He notes it could finish inside the distance due to pace, but he is leaning towards the fight going over. He passes on betting because he doesn't like betting on fights he expects to be very close unless there is a big number.

"I'm definitely passing I don't like to bet on fights where I think it's going to be super close"
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Jun 6, 2023 (4 days before fight)
Marc-André Barriault

Barriault's cardio and forward pressure are his key weapons; he wears opponents down with volume and durability. Anders relies on physical advantages but has shown limited technical improvements. Barriault should outwork Anders, especially in later rounds, and could even secure a late finish. Anders' only path is an early KO, but Barriault's durability is underrated.

Barriault wins by decision or late finish (round 3)
"give me Barrio similar to what he did against Julian Marquez may be possible late finish for barrio here at worst I think he wins this fight by decision"
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Confident picked Jun 7, 2023 (3 days before fight)
Marc-André Barriault

Paul picks Barriault, citing volume as the key factor. He notes that Anders will need to make it ugly with takedowns, but he is not confident in Anders' wrestling to hold Barriault down. He expects Barriault to outwork Anders over three rounds, similar to the Daukaus fight. He also likes the over on Barriault's significant strikes.

Over 63.5 significant strikes for Barriault on PrizePicks
"I think it really comes down to the volume"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Jun 5, 2023 (5 days before fight)
Marc-André Barriault

The MMA Guru picks Marc-André Barriault, criticizing Eryk Anders for being stiff and having a history of injuries and beatings. He notes Barriault is fluid and coming off a great performance, and that Anders must finish early or he fades. He expects Barriault to pick up the pace and win by decision or late finish in front of his Canadian home crowd.

"I'm gonna go with Mark Andre Barrio over Eric Anders"
ZA
Zane Simon Expert Confident picked Jun 8, 2023 (2 days before fight)
Eryk Anders

Zane picks Anders, emphasizing his physicality and improved striking. He notes that Anders' strength makes him difficult to take down and that he has become more fluid. He believes Barriault's volume will not be enough to overcome Anders' power and wrestling. He also mentions that Barriault is not a power puncher.

"Me too. The danger of the strength barrio, even volume barrio is still not a power puncher really."
WIN vs Kyle Daukaus
TKO (punches) R2 2:45 · UFC on ESPN: Thompson vs. Holland · Dec 03, 2022
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Eryk Anders 1 49 of 94 52% 97 of 159 1 of 1 100% 0 0 2:26
Kyle Daukaus 0 37 of 79 46% 38 of 83 0 of 8 0% 0 0 0:44
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Eryk Anders 1 29 of 62 46% 36 of 75 1 of 1 100% 0 0 0:58
Kyle Daukaus 0 33 of 63 52% 33 of 63 0 of 2 0% 0 0 0:06
2 Eryk Anders 0 20 of 32 62% 61 of 84 0 of 0 --- 0 0 1:28
Kyle Daukaus 0 4 of 16 25% 5 of 20 0 of 6 0% 0 0 0:38
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Eryk Anders 49 of 94 52% 27 of 70 14 of 14 8 of 10 23 of 55 6 of 8 20 of 31
Kyle Daukaus 37 of 79 46% 14 of 55 8 of 9 15 of 15 35 of 76 2 of 2 0 of 1
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Eryk Anders 29 of 62 46% 12 of 43 9 of 9 8 of 10 20 of 46 5 of 7 4 of 9
Kyle Daukaus 33 of 63 52% 13 of 43 8 of 8 12 of 12 31 of 61 2 of 2 0 of 0
2 Eryk Anders 20 of 32 62% 15 of 27 5 of 5 0 of 0 3 of 9 1 of 1 16 of 22
Kyle Daukaus 4 of 16 25% 1 of 12 0 of 1 3 of 3 4 of 15 0 of 0 0 of 1
Play-by-Play
View on Sherdog
Eryk Anders vs. Kyle Daukaus
BETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Daukaus (-215), Anders (+185)

Round 1
Middleweights open up the main card in a fight that will get one man back up to .500 inside the Octagon. Whether that is former light heavyweight Anders (14-7, 1 NC; 6-7, 1 NC UFC) or submission specialist Daukaus (11-3, 1 NC; 2-3, 1 NC UFC), that remains to be seen. They bump fists in front of referee Keith Peterson, who clocks them in right after ejecting nonsense from the Amway Center. Anders strikes first with a body kick, and Daukaus strides forward with two punches and two low kicks in response. Anders stutter-steps his way forward, and Daukaus intercepts him with a few punches and makes Anders turn around. As they trade leather, commentators Michael Bisping and Daniel Cormier talk about popular television shows. Daukaus gets off a knee to the body, and he shoots in for a double but is stuffed by the brick wall former football player. Daukaus sticks out a jab, and when he kicks the body, Anders lifts him up and throws him to the ground like a sack of potatoes. Anders lords over his grounded opponent with several slapping low kicks, and Daukaus considers a leglock before Anders hops away. Daukaus allows his opponent to adjust his shorts, and they touch ‘em up before re-engaging. Daukaus feints and gets kicked, and he wings a left hand over the top that slams into the side of Anders’ head. Anders backs his man up and punches the body, prompting Daukaus to spring into action. The Philadelphia native leaps forward, and after landing a few, Anders clips him with a right hand and sends Daukaus tumbling to the mat. Anders considers kicking the legs a few times before letting Daukaus back up, and Daukaus takes a few deep breaths when coming back to his feet. Anders is swinging heavily, and Daukaus does not shy away from these exchanges as he similarly slugs back. Daukaus scores thudding hooks on the side of Anders’ head, but Anders is tough and throws back with a ferocious uppercut that snaps the head back. Anders reddens the nose with a one-two, and he continues to push the pace as he works the body and head. The fighters rush together, and the crown of Anders’ head slams square into Daukaus’ face and drops him to his knees. Peterson sees it and immediately calls it, and he informs the outside officials that it was an accidental clash of heads. Daukaus takes the time he needs and gets right back to it, but Anders is on him and belts him with a few punches with a left hand that send Daukaus straight back to the floor. As Daukaus attempts to scramble and look for some kind of late submission, the round ends.

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

Round 2
Anders senses that Daukaus may not be fully recovered, and he immediately pushes the pace to start Round 2 with a vengeance. A few heavy strikes prompt “The D’Arce Knight” to shoot for a takedown, and he chains singles into doubles as Anders gets away with a fence grab. Anders slugs Daukaus on the side of the head, and these punches may be hurting Daukaus, as he lets go and flops to his back. Anders kicks the legs a few times, and this time, he lowers himself to the ground to drop a few hammerfists. Anders lands several standing-to-ground punches in rapid succession, and Daukaus kicks him back. Peterson lets Daukaus stand back up, and
Anders coils his fist and cracks Daukaus in the face with a brutal left hand. Daukaus awkwardly slumps to his knees and half-heartedly pursues a low single takedown, only to get shoved to his back, as Anders beats him down with right hand after merciless right hand. The hammerfists and punches continue to get through while Daukaus is shelled up, and Peterson has no choice but to call it on account of rain.
The knockout victory for Anders is his first finish in almost three and a half years, while he also snaps a two-fight skid in the process.

The Official Result
Eryk Anders def. Kyle Daukaus R2 2:45 via TKO (Punches)
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Confident picked Nov 27, 2022 (6 days before fight)
Eryk Anders

Angelo picks Eryk Anders as a solid underdog, expecting him to bully Kyle Daukaus with better wrestling and power. He criticizes Daukaus's chin and mediocre striking, calling him a 'jiu jitsu nerd' who can snatch submissions but lacks wrestling control. He believes Anders will avoid submissions and take Daukaus's head off with strikes.

Calls Anders one of the best underdogs on the card
"I am going to go Eric Anders though I think he's going to come in here just bully the hell out of Kyle Dawkins he's gonna Big Brother him"
BI
Big Brady Expert Lean picked Nov 28, 2022 (5 days before fight)
Eryk Anders

Big Brady picks the underdog Anders, citing his takedown defense (75%) and power advantage on the feet. He notes Daukaus is hittable (40% striking defense) and not a great wrestler. He expects Anders to keep the fight standing and win a close decision, though he acknowledges it could go either way.

Anders wins by decision
"I actually like the dog here in Eric Anders... I will take him to win by decision"
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Confident picked Dec 1, 2022 (2 days before fight)
Kyle Daukaus

Cody provides a detailed breakdown of Anders' career, calling him untrustworthy. He thinks Daukaus will land combinations and has a grappling advantage. He expects a boring decision win for Daukaus.

"I just feel like delkus is going to land the combinations when it is in the open field when it's up against the cage he's going to be landing those short shots"
DA
Daniel Levi Expert Lean picked Nov 30, 2022 (3 days before fight)
Kyle Daukaus

Daniel Levi leans Daukaus to slightly out-hustle Anders, but he has concerns about Daukaus not putting a stamp on fights and Anders' physicality. He notes Anders' lack of activity and tendency to not pull the trigger. He picks Daukaus but is not confident.

"I uh I'm gonna lean with Kyle Dockers to come out here and just slightly out hustle Eric Anders"
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Lean picked Nov 29, 2022 (4 days before fight)
Kyle Daukaus

The host leans towards Daukaus but is not confident enough to bet the minus 200 line. He thinks Daukaus may have a slight striking advantage and could win by decision, but he is concerned about Anders' strength and grappling. He prefers the over 2.5 rounds as a bet, expecting a clinch-heavy fight that goes to decision.

over 2.5 rounds -175; Daukaus by decision
"I do like Kyle docus to get his hand raise and for him to get his hand race via decision but I want none of that minus 200th line"
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Confident picked Dec 1, 2022 (2 days before fight)
Kyle Daukaus

Paul picks Daukaus, noting Anders' inconsistency and poor performances. He thinks Daukaus has a grappling edge and will land more strikes. He is cautious about betting but expects Daukaus to win cleanly.

"I'm just not betting Eric Anders um on the back on the back uh half of this part of his career"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Nov 28, 2022 (5 days before fight)
Kyle Daukaus

The MMA Guru picks Kyle Daukaus, believing Eryk Anders has lost his touch. He notes Anders looked bad against Jun Yong Park and Darren Stewart, while Daukaus has more potential and looked good against Jamie Pickett. He predicts Daukaus will win a decision with grappling and submission attempts.

Daukaus by decision (29-28)
"I'm gonna go with Kyle Dorcas"
LOSS vs JunYong Park
Decision (split) (28–29, 29–28, 29–28) R3 5:00 · UFC Fight Night: Holm vs. Vieira · May 21, 2022
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
JunYong Park 0 65 of 142 45% 75 of 155 3 of 24 12% 0 0 4:45
Eryk Anders 0 105 of 184 57% 108 of 187 0 of 1 0% 0 1 0:31
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 JunYong Park 0 16 of 30 53% 22 of 37 1 of 6 16% 0 0 2:32
Eryk Anders 0 25 of 36 69% 26 of 37 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:07
2 JunYong Park 0 16 of 38 42% 20 of 44 2 of 6 33% 0 0 1:36
Eryk Anders 0 31 of 52 59% 33 of 54 0 of 0 --- 0 1 0:24
3 JunYong Park 0 33 of 74 44% 33 of 74 0 of 12 0% 0 0 0:37
Eryk Anders 0 49 of 96 51% 49 of 96 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
JunYong Park 65 of 142 45% 45 of 112 17 of 25 3 of 5 56 of 131 9 of 11 0 of 0
Eryk Anders 105 of 184 57% 74 of 152 16 of 17 15 of 15 85 of 161 20 of 23 0 of 0
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 JunYong Park 16 of 30 53% 12 of 22 4 of 7 0 of 1 11 of 24 5 of 6 0 of 0
Eryk Anders 25 of 36 69% 11 of 21 11 of 12 3 of 3 16 of 27 9 of 9 0 of 0
2 JunYong Park 16 of 38 42% 9 of 29 6 of 7 1 of 2 12 of 33 4 of 5 0 of 0
Eryk Anders 31 of 52 59% 21 of 42 1 of 1 9 of 9 27 of 46 4 of 6 0 of 0
3 JunYong Park 33 of 74 44% 24 of 61 7 of 11 2 of 2 33 of 74 0 of 0 0 of 0
Eryk Anders 49 of 96 51% 42 of 89 4 of 4 3 of 3 42 of 88 7 of 8 0 of 0
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Confident picked May 15, 2022 (6 days before fight)
Eryk Anders

Angelo picks Eryk Anders because he believes Anders's toughness, power, and wrestling will be the difference. He notes that Park is the better overall fighter but lacks danger in his striking or submissions. Park relies on trips and pressure for takedowns, which Angelo doesn't think will work against Anders. He also suggests a plus 3.5 round bet on Anders.

Eryk Anders plus 3.5 round bet (buy a round on judge's scorecard) - available at BetOnline
"i'm on the honors side and honestly i think he's a perfect one you're this big of an underdog he's a perfect plus three and a half bet"
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked May 17, 2022 (4 days before fight)
JunYong Park

Big Brady picks JunYong Park to win by decision, favoring his higher volume and striking defense over Eryk Anders. He notes Anders is a low-volume, one-shot-at-a-time striker with poor striking defense. He expects Park to outland Anders on the feet and win rounds. He acknowledges Anders could have success with takedowns but doubts he can hold Park down.

"give me jungyeon park to win a buy decision"
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Confident picked May 18, 2022 (3 days before fight)
JunYong Park

Cody picks Park, citing his better pace, ground game, and consistency. He criticizes Anders for low volume, lack of urgency, and getting outstruck in many fights. He believes Park will come forward, outland Anders, and grind out a decision. He is confident in the moneyline.

"i gotta go with the logical thinking here and the logical thinking is park's just gonna come forward back him up outland him hopefully not get caught by anything and then uh slowly just grind away in route to what …"
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert picked May 21, 2022 (fight day)

The host is uncertain about this fight. He notes that it could be volatile and come down to who is stronger, with Anders being the stronger fighter. He finds the Park line too wide but does not have the courage to bet Anders at plus money. He passes on betting the moneyline and instead considers the over 2.5 rounds, which he thinks is around -160.

over 2.5 rounds (part of totals parlay)
"tough fight i'm passing man if anything i bet the over two and a half"
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Confident picked May 18, 2022 (3 days before fight)
JunYong Park

Paul agrees with Cody, saying Park is the logical pick. He notes Anders' inconsistency and low volume, and that Park should be able to outwork him. He is with Cody on this one.

"i'm with you on that one bro"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked May 17, 2022 (4 days before fight)
JunYong Park

The MMA Guru picks JunYong Park, citing his superior cardio, leg kicks, and combination striking. He thinks Eryk Anders is a simple fighter and may have less power after trimming down. He believes Park's grappling defense and pace will be too much, predicting a 29-28 decision with Park taking the last two rounds.

"i'm going to have to go of yoon yong park here over ericander's"
LOSS vs André Muniz
Submission (armbar) R1 3:13 · UFC 269: Oliveira vs. Poirier · Dec 11, 2021
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
André Muniz 0 8 of 16 50% 12 of 20 2 of 5 40% 2 0 2:18
Eryk Anders 0 3 of 13 23% 3 of 13 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:00
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 André Muniz 0 8 of 16 50% 12 of 20 2 of 5 40% 2 0 2:18
Eryk Anders 0 3 of 13 23% 3 of 13 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:00
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
André Muniz 8 of 16 50% 6 of 14 1 of 1 1 of 1 5 of 12 2 of 2 1 of 2
Eryk Anders 3 of 13 23% 0 of 8 3 of 5 0 of 0 3 of 12 0 of 1 0 of 0
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 André Muniz 8 of 16 50% 6 of 14 1 of 1 1 of 1 5 of 12 2 of 2 1 of 2
Eryk Anders 3 of 13 23% 0 of 8 3 of 5 0 of 0 3 of 12 0 of 1 0 of 0
BI
Big Brady Expert Hesitant picked Dec 8, 2021 (3 days before fight)
Eryk Anders

Big Brady picks Eryk Anders as an underdog, but with low confidence. He notes that Muniz is a phenomenal grappler with a wizard-like BJJ, but his striking is poor and he has been knocked out in all four losses. Anders has good takedown defense (76%) and power, and if he can stuff takedowns and extend the fight, he can finish Muniz by knockout. However, if the fight hits the mat, Muniz is extremely dangerous. Brady is concerned about Muniz's cardio and Anders' fight IQ.

Anders by knockout
"i'm going to go with eric anders here to stuff the takedowns get into the second round the third round and eventually finish andre minis and give him his fifth knockout loss"
DA
Daniel Levi Expert Lean picked Dec 9, 2021 (2 days before fight)
Eryk Anders

Daniel Levi picks Eryk Anders to upset André Muniz. He argues that Muniz will have difficulty taking Anders down due to Anders' size and strength, and that Anders' jiu-jitsu is good enough to survive on the mat. Levi notes that Anders has never been submitted and rarely taken down. On the feet, he believes Anders throws more and has knockout power. Levi acknowledges Muniz's elite jiu-jitsu but thinks Anders can sprawl-and-brawl to a decision or KO.

"give me eric anders to upset someone i respect very much in andre muniz"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Dec 6, 2021 (5 days before fight)
André Muniz

The MMA Guru picks André Muniz to win by first-round submission (rear-naked choke). He highlights Muniz's dangerous grappling, as seen in his armbar win over Jacaré. He notes Anders is taking the fight on short notice and has been taken down before. He suggests a live bet on Anders if the fight goes to the third round, as Muniz has slowed down in the past.

first-round rear-naked choke; live bet on Anders in third round if Muniz fails to secure early submission
"i think he's going to get this one done on draymond is by the way by real naked choke in the in the first round"
Darren Stewart - Fight History
LOSS vs Dustin Jacoby
TKO (punches) R1 3:04 · UFC on ESPN: Barboza vs. Chikadze · Aug 28, 2021
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Dustin Jacoby 0 37 of 61 60% 38 of 63 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:23
Darren Stewart 0 18 of 33 54% 22 of 37 2 of 2 100% 0 0 0:43
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Dustin Jacoby 0 37 of 61 60% 38 of 63 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:23
Darren Stewart 0 18 of 33 54% 22 of 37 2 of 2 100% 0 0 0:43
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Dustin Jacoby 37 of 61 60% 33 of 53 3 of 6 1 of 2 30 of 52 6 of 8 1 of 1
Darren Stewart 18 of 33 54% 11 of 26 4 of 4 3 of 3 13 of 28 5 of 5 0 of 0
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Dustin Jacoby 37 of 61 60% 33 of 53 3 of 6 1 of 2 30 of 52 6 of 8 1 of 1
Darren Stewart 18 of 33 54% 11 of 26 4 of 4 3 of 3 13 of 28 5 of 5 0 of 0
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Confident picked Aug 25, 2021 (3 days before fight)
Dustin Jacoby

Angelo picks Jacoby, citing his Muay Thai striking adapted to MMA, size advantage, and Stewart's chin issues. He notes Stewart is moving up in weight and has lost two in a row. He has an inside the distance bet on Jacoby and likes the less less on monkey knife fight.

Angelo has an inside the distance bet on Jacoby; he likes the less less on monkey knife fight.
"i absolutely love dustin jacoby in general i love him in this fight he is in my draftking lineup and i have an inside the distance bet on him"
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Lean picked Aug 25, 2021 (3 days before fight)
Dustin Jacoby

Cody leans toward Jacoby but is not confident. He notes Jacoby's poor cardio and unimpressive UFC performances, but thinks his striking should be enough against Stewart, who is a natural middleweight. Cody considers Stewart's wrestling a threat but believes Jacoby's size and striking will allow him to pull away. He says the smart move is a pass but he'll probably end up taking Jacoby in parlays.

"the smart move is probably a pass but what we'll end up doing is probably end up ending taking jeff and jacoby and keeping him on the the later end of the parlays"
JA
Jacob Lines Expert Confident picked Aug 25, 2021 (3 days before fight)
Dustin Jacoby

Jacob picks Jacoby, emphasizing his ability to dictate pressure and steal rounds with fight IQ. He notes Stewart took an easy way out in his last fight and that Jacoby's takedowns are better. He expects Jacoby to win, possibly by decision.

"i actually like jacoby in this matchup as well"
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Aug 27, 2021 (1 day before fight)
Dustin Jacoby

Lock picks Jacoby by KO at +300, citing the size and striking skill advantage. He thinks Stewart will struggle to close distance and Jacoby's leg kicks and boxing will be effective. Lock likes the under 2.5 rounds at +150 as well, expecting a striking match that ends early. He notes Stewart has power but is hittable and has been knocked out before.

under 2.5 rounds +150, Jacoby by KO +300
"i do like jacoby here i think he's the rightful favorite i do think the line is a little bit wide uh jacoby via ko plus 300 not too bad of a line in my opinion"
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Lean picked Aug 25, 2021 (3 days before fight)
Dustin Jacoby

Paul leans toward Jacoby but is hesitant. He notes Jacoby's cardio issues and Stewart's wrestling, but thinks Jacoby's kickboxing should give him an edge. Paul says he'll watch the weigh-ins and might add Jacoby to parlays. He is not fully confident and considers passing.

"i think this is another one of these spots that i'd rather pass or you know end up with justin jacoby on some later stuff"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Aug 22, 2021 (6 days before fight)
Dustin Jacoby

The Guru picks Dustin Jacoby, noting his size and reach advantage over Darren Stewart, who is a small middleweight moving up. He expects Jacoby's takedown defense and striking to be too much, predicting a TKO in the second round via leg kicks and body work. The Guru believes Stewart's only path is grappling, but Jacoby's improved defense will nullify that.

Jacoby by TKO in round 2
"i'll say dustin jacoby tko in the second round chops darren stewart's legs up chops up the body as well and then starts going to work with the hands in the second round"
LOSS vs Eryk Anders
Decision (unanimous) (29–28, 29–27, 29–27) R3 5:00 · UFC 263: Adesanya vs. Vettori 2 · Jun 12, 2021
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Eryk Anders 0 44 of 74 59% 112 of 148 0 of 4 0% 0 1 8:19
Darren Stewart 0 33 of 58 56% 63 of 93 2 of 4 50% 0 0 2:15
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Eryk Anders 0 5 of 11 45% 26 of 33 0 of 0 --- 0 0 1:11
Darren Stewart 0 9 of 14 64% 23 of 30 1 of 2 50% 0 0 1:52
2 Eryk Anders 0 12 of 23 52% 33 of 47 0 of 4 0% 0 0 3:03
Darren Stewart 0 19 of 31 61% 30 of 43 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:17
3 Eryk Anders 0 27 of 40 67% 53 of 68 0 of 0 --- 0 1 4:05
Darren Stewart 0 5 of 13 38% 10 of 20 1 of 1 100% 0 0 0:06
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Eryk Anders 44 of 74 59% 36 of 61 7 of 11 1 of 2 9 of 28 17 of 22 18 of 24
Darren Stewart 33 of 58 56% 8 of 28 7 of 8 18 of 22 22 of 44 11 of 13 0 of 1
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Eryk Anders 5 of 11 45% 2 of 6 3 of 5 0 of 0 0 of 4 3 of 5 2 of 2
Darren Stewart 9 of 14 64% 0 of 2 4 of 4 5 of 8 5 of 10 4 of 4 0 of 0
2 Eryk Anders 12 of 23 52% 8 of 18 4 of 5 0 of 0 7 of 17 5 of 6 0 of 0
Darren Stewart 19 of 31 61% 7 of 18 3 of 4 9 of 9 12 of 22 7 of 9 0 of 0
3 Eryk Anders 27 of 40 67% 26 of 37 0 of 1 1 of 2 2 of 7 9 of 11 16 of 22
Darren Stewart 5 of 13 38% 1 of 8 0 of 0 4 of 5 5 of 12 0 of 0 0 of 1
BI
Big Brady Expert Hesitant picked Jun 8, 2021 (4 days before fight)
Eryk Anders

Big Brady picks Eryk Anders despite expressing distrust in his fight IQ and inconsistency. He notes Anders hurt Stewart in their first fight and has a wrestling advantage. However, he is wary of the weight move to 205 and the close line, calling it a potential trap. He expects a decision win.

Anders by decision
"i'll take anders but i don't feel great about it so give me eric anders i'm going to take him to win by decision"
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Confident picked Jun 9, 2021 (3 days before fight)
Eryk Anders

Cody is confident in Anders, citing his improved performance at Fight Ready MMA and the fact that he was dominating Stewart before the illegal knee. He thinks Anders will replicate that performance and possibly get a finish. He notes Stewart's poor conditioning in the first fight.

"i got to go with ya boy"
DA
Daniel Levi Expert Confident picked Jun 10, 2021 (2 days before fight)
Eryk Anders

Daniel Levi picks Eryk Anders by decision, noting that Anders knocked Stewart down in the first fight before the no-contest. He thinks Anders is the bigger man and has the mental edge. He praises Anders' training at Fight Ready and expects him to be more physical. He warns that every fight is different but believes Anders will get the win.

by decision
"i'm gonna go with eric anders by decision this time"
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Jun 12, 2021 (fight day)
Eryk Anders

Anders is the bigger fighter and will have a strength advantage, especially at 205 lbs. He had success in the first fight with clinch work and dirty boxing, and that game plan should work again. Stewart is not used to fighting at this weight. Anders likely wins a decision by controlling the clinch and avoiding big shots.

Anders by decision
"I'll go with Eric Anders here again I think clinch work being the stronger guy... should allow Eric Anders to go out there and pull off a decision victory."
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Confident picked Jun 9, 2021 (3 days before fight)
Eryk Anders

Paul is confident in Anders and has already bet him at -141. He notes that Anders was dominating Stewart before the illegal knee and expects a similar outcome. He thinks the line is a trap but is willing to take it.

"i just laid it uh cool bet minus 141"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Jun 4, 2021 (8 days before fight)
Eryk Anders

The MMA Guru picks Eryk Anders, switching from his original pick of Stewart after Anders proved him wrong in the first fight. He notes Anders' size and reach advantage at light heavyweight, and that Stewart was knocked out (even if ruled NC) just three months ago. He predicts a first-round TKO without illegal knees.

TKO in the first round
"i'm gonna go with eric anders here i was proven wrong and i'm switching my pick"
LOSS vs Eryk Anders
No Contest (illegal knee) R1 4:37 · UFC Fight Night: Edwards vs. Muhammad · Mar 13, 2021
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Eryk Anders 1 43 of 63 68% 58 of 79 3 of 7 42% 0 0 2:35
Darren Stewart 0 15 of 42 35% 21 of 51 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Eryk Anders 1 43 of 63 68% 58 of 79 3 of 7 42% 0 0 2:35
Darren Stewart 0 15 of 42 35% 21 of 51 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Eryk Anders 43 of 63 68% 38 of 57 3 of 3 2 of 3 17 of 32 11 of 14 15 of 17
Darren Stewart 15 of 42 35% 7 of 32 2 of 2 6 of 8 11 of 38 4 of 4 0 of 0
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Eryk Anders 43 of 63 68% 38 of 57 3 of 3 2 of 3 17 of 32 11 of 14 15 of 17
Darren Stewart 15 of 42 35% 7 of 32 2 of 2 6 of 8 11 of 38 4 of 4 0 of 0
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked Mar 11, 2021 (2 days before fight)
Darren Stewart

Big Brady picks Darren Stewart, expressing distrust in Eryk Anders due to inconsistent performances and poor game plans. He notes Stewart has been more active and has better striking volume. He expects a boring fight going to decision, with Stewart winning by doing more on the feet. He is not confident enough to bet at -175 but sees Stewart as the likely winner.

"I'm going to take Darren Stewart to win based off of just doing more on the feet."
DA
Daniel Levi Expert Hesitant picked Mar 12, 2021 (1 day before fight)
Eryk Anders

Daniel Levi picks Eryk Anders as a dog, believing the fight is a 50/50 and Anders has paths to victory via takedowns and clinch work. He notes Anders' move to Fight Ready camp could improve his output, but he wants to see it first. He criticizes Darren Stewart's inconsistency and tendency to underperform, and thinks Stewart's price is too high. He expects a close decision where Anders edges it.

"50 50 fight i'm taking stuart but at this line i think his dog are passing and i'll actually go with eric your boy anders to kind of edge out a very close decision"
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Mar 2, 2021 (11 days before fight)
Darren Stewart

Lock favors Stewart, noting his hands and striking have been looking good, and his cardio is solid. He criticizes Anders for relying on athleticism rather than technique, and thinks Anders has been 'found out.' Lock believes Stewart should win, but thinks -185 is a bit wide, so he might stay off betting it. He mentions Anders' recent loss to Christos Giagos and Stewart's competitive fights with Kevin Holland and others.

"i definitely favor darren stewart there minus 185 i think is a little bit wide so maybe i'd stay off of that"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Mar 7, 2021 (6 days before fight)
Darren Stewart

The Guru is confident in Darren Stewart, citing Eryk Anders' recent lackluster performances and questionable win over Vinicius Moreira. He notes Stewart's technical, compact style and ability to push pace in later rounds. He expects Anders to win the first round but Stewart to take over in the second and third, winning by 29-28 unanimous decision. He also mentions Anders' age and accumulated brain damage from his NFL career and wars.

"i'm gonna go if darren stewart getting it done he's technical he's compact he rarely leaves himself open he doesn't get emotional"
LOSS vs Kevin Holland
Decision (split) (28–29, 29–28, 29–28) R3 5:00 · UFC Fight Night: Covington vs. Woodley · Sep 19, 2020
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Kevin Holland 0 74 of 129 57% 163 of 223 0 of 3 0% 0 0 3:35
Darren Stewart 0 57 of 110 51% 97 of 159 3 of 8 37% 0 0 4:09
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Kevin Holland 0 33 of 56 58% 68 of 92 0 of 1 0% 0 0 2:04
Darren Stewart 0 17 of 35 48% 35 of 53 0 of 2 0% 0 0 0:20
2 Kevin Holland 0 31 of 57 54% 49 of 78 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:10
Darren Stewart 0 28 of 40 70% 30 of 43 1 of 2 50% 0 0 1:18
3 Kevin Holland 0 10 of 16 62% 46 of 53 0 of 1 0% 0 0 1:21
Darren Stewart 0 12 of 35 34% 32 of 63 2 of 4 50% 0 0 2:31
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Kevin Holland 74 of 129 57% 54 of 101 9 of 13 11 of 15 62 of 112 11 of 15 1 of 2
Darren Stewart 57 of 110 51% 26 of 74 6 of 7 25 of 29 33 of 69 6 of 8 18 of 33
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Kevin Holland 33 of 56 58% 26 of 45 4 of 5 3 of 6 28 of 50 5 of 6 0 of 0
Darren Stewart 17 of 35 48% 9 of 26 3 of 4 5 of 5 13 of 29 4 of 6 0 of 0
2 Kevin Holland 31 of 57 54% 19 of 41 5 of 8 7 of 8 26 of 49 4 of 6 1 of 2
Darren Stewart 28 of 40 70% 8 of 17 2 of 2 18 of 21 17 of 29 0 of 0 11 of 11
3 Kevin Holland 10 of 16 62% 9 of 15 0 of 0 1 of 1 8 of 13 2 of 3 0 of 0
Darren Stewart 12 of 35 34% 9 of 31 1 of 1 2 of 3 3 of 11 2 of 2 7 of 22
Play-by-Play
View on Sherdog
Kevin Holland vs. Darren Stewart

Round 1
Opening the main card – the whole event is airing on ESPN+ – is a middleweight matchup pitting Stewart (12-5, 1 NC; 5-5, 1 NC UFC) against yet another fighter initially signed from the Contender Series in Holland (18-5, 5-2 UFC). The pairing between two men who prefer to get the finish will be presided over by referee Mark Smith, and the two men touch gloves to start off. Holland opens up with a leg kick and blocks an overhand right. Stewart goes to the same big right hand, and Holland charges him. In the clinch, a wild volley from both men comes in the form of several knees and elbows. Holland pushes Stewart to the fence, and he tells Stewart that he is strong. Holland gets kneed in the groin and is allowed time to recover, and he says it is an “Apex thing.” The action resumes as Holland kicks the leg, and they both clash leg kicks at the same time. Holland ducks a pair of looping hooks on the way out, and as he jabs he gets kicked in the leg. Stewart connects with a hard leg kick, and he tries to check it but does not get his guard up in time. Holland flings a head kick and Stewart eats it like a sandwich, and Stewart responds with a huge right hand that wobbles Holland. “Trailblazer” falls back to the canvas, possibly to lure his opponent in or he could be hurt, and he cracks Stewart with two huge punches that make the Brit have rubber legs. The two bite down on their gumshields and swing furious leather until they die up, and Holland stomps his toes as hard as he can. Both men start punching each other in the thigh as they turn one another about against the fence, and Holland works the body and checks Stewart in the face with his shoulder. Stewart absorbs several loud stomps on his toes and knees to the thigh, and Holland backs off to fire two punches but the Brit blocks them. Holland steps in with a side kick, and as Stewart steps out of the way, Holland hits him with a standing hammerfist. When Stewart throws a naked leg kick, Holland counters him with a left hand, and Stewart wears it well. The Brit crashes in for a takedown, and Holland defends it with a guillotine choke to stand Stewart up. Smith already calls both men to work, and Holland attempts to throw his man. They separate, and Holland kicks him in the head and points at him to laugh. The horn sounds, and the two men grin.

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

Round 2
The second round begins with Holland cracking jokes and laughing, before he kicks the lead leg. Holland stomps forward to make Stewart react, and he kicks the knee hard. Stewart returns with one of his own, and Holland kicks high and gets his leg caught. The Brit picks up the leg and slams Holland down, before landing a strike on the ground before standing up. When Holland tries to hit him with an upkick, Stewart punches the sole of his foot. Both men trade leg kicks, with Holland trying to sweep the leg and kick out the knee. Smith decides he has had enough of that exchange and stands them up. Holland kicks the leg, and Stewart kicks straight to the kneecap in response. Holland chops at the leg again, and he avoids the counter while smacking Stewart with a hammerfist. They trade leg kicks, and Holland blasts Stewart with a one-two. Stewart spins about possibly hurt, but he fires back at him and shouts “Let’s go” repeatedly. Holland backs off and takes a few leg kicks along with a jab, before chaining together an unorthodox combination with a back fist and hammerfist included. Stewart lands a kick to the groin, and Smith does not see it so we do not take a pause. Holland shoots in low to duck an overhand right, and his neck is instantly in guillotine choke danger. Stewart grabs hold of the neck but bails on it to punch him in the side of the head. Holland stands up and wings a few punches, but Stewart defends them without concern. Stewart stomps the knee again, forcing Holland to shake his leg out. The Brit kicks it again, halting Holland in his tracks. Holland lands a side kick, and he avoids a jab to shoot in from a distance. He abandons the takedown to start swinging heavy leather on Stewart, landing shots until they clinch up. Stewart spins him around and lifts him in the air as the horn blares. Mid-air, Stewart decides to slam Holland down with gusto, and Smith breaks them up.

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

Round 3
They clap hands to check in the third round, and as Stewart walks forward, Holland slings a few hooks that glance off the chin. Stewart winds up with a right hand and Holland is barely able to duck out of the way. Holland kicks the leg and gets it caught, so he punches Stewart in the face a few times until the Brit elevates the leg and slams Holland down. Holland works his way back up, but Stewart has his hands clasped and he puts Holland back to the ground. “Trailblazer” again fights his way up and sets up a kimura to sweep Stewart. Stewart holds the cage several times with his toes, and Smith and Holland both call him out on it. The two get back up against the cage, and they jockey for position while they deliver a few knees to the body. After landing a few punches to the thigh, they disengage. Holland stings him with a right hand, and Stewart is not concerned and walks forward. The American ducks down to take the fight to the ground, and “The Dentist” stuffs it and cracks Holland on the chops with an elbow. Holland stays committed to the takedown, but Stewart turns him around and scoops Holland up to slam him down. Stewart lands a few strikes from on top, and Holland rolls to his side to eat several punches and draw a warning to fight back from Smith. Holland boxes his ears and elbows him from his back, and Stewart postures up to rain down punches and elbows. Stewart starts trash talking Holland on top as he drops down punches, and yells at his opponent while punishing him from on top. Stewart continues to shout and strike until the final horn ends this unusual fight.

Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Stewart (29-28 Holland)
Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-9 Stewart (29-28 Holland)
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Stewart (29-28 Holland)

The Official Result
Kevin Holland def. Darren Stewart via Split Decision (28-29, 29-28, 29-28)
BI
Big Brady Expert Hesitant picked Sep 17, 2020 (2 days before fight)
Kevin Holland

Big Brady picks Kevin Holland but is hesitant due to Holland's low fight IQ and tendency to mess around. He notes Holland has a seven-inch reach advantage and is the better striker, but his takedown game is inconsistent. He expects a close decision, though he acknowledges Stewart's poor takedown defense could be exploited.

"i gotta go with kevin hall in here i think he's the better fighter"
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Sep 18, 2020 (1 day before fight)
Kevin Holland

The host favors Kevin Holland's length, awkward style, and high-level jiu-jitsu, believing he will take Darren Stewart down and submit him. He notes Stewart's underwhelming performance against Maki Pitolo and the travel disadvantage from the UK. He predicts a third-round submission for Holland, and likes the under 2.5 rounds at +155.

Under 2.5 rounds +155; Kevin Holland wins by submission in round 3
"I am going to take kevin holland to win this fight i think he's going to do it probably second round or third round but i believe that the submission is the weight that he's gonna go."
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Sep 11, 2020 (8 days before fight)
Kevin Holland

The host picks Kevin Holland over Darren Stewart, citing Holland's range, versatility, and experience. He notes Stewart's stiffness and predictability, and predicts a submission win in the second or third round, possibly via guillotine or rear-naked choke after hurting Stewart on the feet.

submission in second or third round
"I'll go with kevin holland by submission in the second round or third round."
WIN vs Maki Pitolo
Submission (guillotine choke) R1 3:41 · UFC Fight Night: Lewis vs. Oleinik · Aug 08, 2020
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Darren Stewart 0 12 of 31 38% 14 of 33 1 of 1 100% 0 0 0:17
Maki Pitolo 0 13 of 38 34% 14 of 39 0 of 1 0% 1 0 0:19
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Darren Stewart 0 12 of 31 38% 14 of 33 1 of 1 100% 0 0 0:17
Maki Pitolo 0 13 of 38 34% 14 of 39 0 of 1 0% 1 0 0:19
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Darren Stewart 12 of 31 38% 7 of 22 4 of 8 1 of 1 12 of 31 0 of 0 0 of 0
Maki Pitolo 13 of 38 34% 9 of 32 2 of 4 2 of 2 13 of 38 0 of 0 0 of 0
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Darren Stewart 12 of 31 38% 7 of 22 4 of 8 1 of 1 12 of 31 0 of 0 0 of 0
Maki Pitolo 13 of 38 34% 9 of 32 2 of 4 2 of 2 13 of 38 0 of 0 0 of 0
BI
Big Brady Expert Hesitant picked Aug 5, 2020 (3 days before fight)
Maki Pitolo

Big Brady picks Pitolo as an underdog, believing his volume striking and improved cardio at 185 will be key. He notes Stewart's power but thinks Pitolo can outwork him and possibly get a knockout, as Stewart has never been knocked out. He predicts a second-round knockout for Pitolo.

"i think patola's going to win by knockout uh give me round two knockout for maki patolo gonna be the first person to knock out darren stewart there"
DA
Daniel Levi Expert Confident picked Aug 7, 2020 (1 day before fight)
Maki Pitolo

Daniel Levi picks Maki Pitolo to win, citing that Pitolo is a different fighter at 185 pounds compared to 170, where he had brutal weight cuts. He notes Pitolo's improved durability, volume striking, and wrestling, and believes he is the better fighter across the board. Levi acknowledges the risk of Stewart's knockout power but thinks Pitolo can avoid it and win a decision or finish.

"i'm going with mackie coconut bombs patolo to extend his win streak to two here in the 85 division"
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Lean picked Aug 4, 2020 (4 days before fight)
Darren Stewart

Stewart is the better striker with more power and technical kicking. Pitolo may try to grapple, but his takedowns are not as good as Stewart's previous opponents. Stewart's cardio is a question, but Pitolo has also gassed in the past. The fight likely ends inside the distance, but the line at -160 is a bit steep. Stewart by TKO in the second or third round.

fight doesn't go to decision -155
"I'm going to pick Darren Stewart to win this fight by second round tko"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Aug 3, 2020 (5 days before fight)
Darren Stewart

The MMA Guru picks Darren Stewart because he is too big, strong, and dangerous in the clinch. He notes that Pitolo has dangerous body shots in the clinch, but Stewart has nasty elbows there. He expects Stewart to crack Pitolo with an elbow and win by unanimous decision, possibly a TKO.

"i feel as though darren stewart is going to get the job done too big too strong and too dangerous up close in the clinch"
WIN vs Deron Winn
Decision (split) (29–28, 28–29, 29–28) R3 5:00 · UFC on ESPN: Reyes vs. Weidman · Oct 18, 2019
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Darren Stewart 0 29 of 53 54% 66 of 98 6 of 15 40% 0 1 8:04
Deron Winn 0 57 of 119 47% 77 of 140 1 of 1 100% 0 0 0:31
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Darren Stewart 0 12 of 12 100% 35 of 38 3 of 6 50% 0 0 4:15
Deron Winn 0 14 of 20 70% 31 of 38 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:02
2 Darren Stewart 0 7 of 16 43% 10 of 20 2 of 6 33% 0 0 2:15
Deron Winn 0 21 of 44 47% 23 of 46 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
3 Darren Stewart 0 10 of 25 40% 21 of 40 1 of 3 33% 0 1 1:34
Deron Winn 0 22 of 55 40% 23 of 56 1 of 1 100% 0 0 0:29
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Darren Stewart 29 of 53 54% 25 of 49 1 of 1 3 of 3 11 of 31 7 of 11 11 of 11
Deron Winn 57 of 119 47% 54 of 115 3 of 4 0 of 0 31 of 88 14 of 17 12 of 14
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Darren Stewart 12 of 12 100% 9 of 9 0 of 0 3 of 3 1 of 1 2 of 2 9 of 9
Deron Winn 14 of 20 70% 13 of 18 1 of 2 0 of 0 2 of 4 6 of 9 6 of 7
2 Darren Stewart 7 of 16 43% 6 of 15 1 of 1 0 of 0 1 of 7 5 of 8 1 of 1
Deron Winn 21 of 44 47% 19 of 42 2 of 2 0 of 0 13 of 36 8 of 8 0 of 0
3 Darren Stewart 10 of 25 40% 10 of 25 0 of 0 0 of 0 9 of 23 0 of 1 1 of 1
Deron Winn 22 of 55 40% 22 of 55 0 of 0 0 of 0 16 of 48 0 of 0 6 of 7
WIN vs Bevon Lewis
Decision (unanimous) (29–28, 29–28, 30–27) R3 5:00 · UFC 238: Cejudo vs. Moraes · Jun 08, 2019
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Darren Stewart 0 31 of 84 36% 45 of 98 0 of 5 0% 0 0 3:42
Bevon Lewis 0 30 of 73 41% 40 of 84 0 of 0 --- 0 0 1:39
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Darren Stewart 0 15 of 28 53% 24 of 37 0 of 2 0% 0 0 1:37
Bevon Lewis 0 15 of 27 55% 18 of 30 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:56
2 Darren Stewart 0 11 of 39 28% 11 of 39 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:04
Bevon Lewis 0 9 of 30 30% 9 of 30 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:03
3 Darren Stewart 0 5 of 17 29% 10 of 22 0 of 3 0% 0 0 2:01
Bevon Lewis 0 6 of 16 37% 13 of 24 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:40
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Darren Stewart 31 of 84 36% 13 of 49 12 of 23 6 of 12 15 of 62 16 of 22 0 of 0
Bevon Lewis 30 of 73 41% 11 of 52 5 of 6 14 of 15 18 of 55 12 of 18 0 of 0
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Darren Stewart 15 of 28 53% 3 of 12 10 of 13 2 of 3 4 of 14 11 of 14 0 of 0
Bevon Lewis 15 of 27 55% 7 of 18 1 of 2 7 of 7 6 of 13 9 of 14 0 of 0
2 Darren Stewart 11 of 39 28% 8 of 27 0 of 4 3 of 8 10 of 37 1 of 2 0 of 0
Bevon Lewis 9 of 30 30% 2 of 22 2 of 2 5 of 6 8 of 29 1 of 1 0 of 0
3 Darren Stewart 5 of 17 29% 2 of 10 2 of 6 1 of 1 1 of 11 4 of 6 0 of 0
Bevon Lewis 6 of 16 37% 2 of 12 2 of 2 2 of 2 4 of 13 2 of 3 0 of 0
Decision (split) (28–29, 29–28, 29–28) R3 5:00 · The Ultimate Fighter: Heavy Hitters Finale · Nov 30, 2018
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Edmen Shahbazyan 0 34 of 71 47% 46 of 84 1 of 3 33% 0 0 0:41
Darren Stewart 0 22 of 37 59% 27 of 43 8 of 21 38% 0 0 9:57
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Edmen Shahbazyan 0 11 of 28 39% 15 of 32 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Darren Stewart 0 11 of 17 64% 12 of 18 2 of 8 25% 0 0 3:23
2 Edmen Shahbazyan 0 2 of 7 28% 5 of 10 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:00
Darren Stewart 0 10 of 15 66% 13 of 19 2 of 6 33% 0 0 4:09
3 Edmen Shahbazyan 0 21 of 36 58% 26 of 42 1 of 2 50% 0 0 0:41
Darren Stewart 0 1 of 5 20% 2 of 6 4 of 7 57% 0 0 2:25
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Edmen Shahbazyan 34 of 71 47% 29 of 63 4 of 6 1 of 2 11 of 40 12 of 16 11 of 15
Darren Stewart 22 of 37 59% 12 of 25 6 of 8 4 of 4 10 of 21 11 of 15 1 of 1
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Edmen Shahbazyan 11 of 28 39% 8 of 24 3 of 3 0 of 1 3 of 20 8 of 8 0 of 0
Darren Stewart 11 of 17 64% 7 of 13 3 of 3 1 of 1 5 of 9 6 of 8 0 of 0
2 Edmen Shahbazyan 2 of 7 28% 1 of 4 0 of 2 1 of 1 2 of 6 0 of 1 0 of 0
Darren Stewart 10 of 15 66% 4 of 9 3 of 3 3 of 3 4 of 7 5 of 7 1 of 1
3 Edmen Shahbazyan 21 of 36 58% 20 of 35 1 of 1 0 of 0 6 of 14 4 of 7 11 of 15
Darren Stewart 1 of 5 20% 1 of 3 0 of 2 0 of 0 1 of 5 0 of 0 0 of 0
Play-by-Play
View on Sherdog
Edmen Shahbazyan vs. Darren Stewart

Round 1
The resurgent Stewart prepares to take on the 21 year-old undefeated Shahbazyan. Mark Smith is the referee. They touch gloves to start and set up in matching orthodox boxing stances. Referee Smith warns Shahbazyan twice about his extended fingers within the first 30 seconds. Shahbazyan ducks under a punch, shoots through Stewart’s hips and gets a takedown. Stewart gets to his feet but Shahbazyan is tenacious, latching onto his back and wrapping Stewart’s waist. An extended sequence of jockeying for position against the fence ends with Stewart escaping, and they separate with 90 seconds left. Shahbazyan again collapses the distance and clinches with Stewart against the fence, appearing to want the takedown again. Stewart shucks him off and catches him with a punch coming in. Stewart appears rocked but throws back, then times Stewart and hauls him to the floor again, where he is working to pass against the fence when the horn sounds.

Sherdog Scores
Ben Duffy scores the round 10-9 Shahbazyan
Jay Pettry scores the round 10-9 Shahbazyan
Jordan Colbert scores the round 10-9 Shahbazyan

Round 2
The middleweights open up by exchanging on the feet until about a minute in, when Shahbazyan drops levels for a deep single. Stewart defends against the fence and once again offers his back. Shahbazyan pivots to the front and grabs a guillotine, but can’t secure it. Halfway through the round, Shahbazyan has Stewart against the fence, throwing knees at his left leg. Stewart turns into Shahbazyan, prompting the younger fighter to try a double-leg, then turns his back again. With a minute and a half left, Shahbazyan gets Stewart to his knees and sinks a hook almost like a folkstyle wrestling ride. He sinks the hook fully, then a body triangle, while fishing for a choke. Stewart escapes to his feet and they finish the round as they spent it: with Shahbazyan on Stewart’s back against the cage.

Sherdog Scores
Ben Duffy scores the round 10-9 Shahbazyan
Jay Pettry scores the round 10-9 Shahbazyan
Jordan Colbert scores the round 10-9 Shahbazyan

Round 3
In the third round, it takes only 50 seconds before Shahbazyan tries his first takedown. It looks like rinse-and-repeat of the first two rounds, but Stewart breaks, turns and smashes Shahbazyan with an elbow. Shahbazyan is visibly rocked and tries to grab hold of Stewart as Stewart tries to tee off, but Shahbazyan manages to recover his wits and halfway through the round they’re back to the fence. With two minutes left, Smith breaks them up and they reset. Shahbazyan looks either tired or rocked and Stewart drops him with a right. Stewart follows him down, throwing desperately, but can’t seem to land the kill shot. Shahbazyan is exhausted, but manages to get back to his feet, where he secures yet another takedown. They end the fight, fittingly, against the fence with Shahbazyan holding on to Stewart’s waist.

Sherdog Scores
Ben Duffy scores the round 10-9 Stewart (29-28 Shahbazyan)
Jay Pettry scores the round 10-9 Stewart (29-28 Shahbazyan)
Jordan Colbert scores the round 10-9 Stewart (29-28 Shahbazyan)

The Official Result
Edmen Shahbazyan def. Darren Stewart via Split Decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
Expert Picks (6)
BI
Big Brady Expert Hesitant picked Jun 8, 2021 (4 days before fight)
Eryk Anders

Big Brady picks Eryk Anders despite expressing distrust in his fight IQ and inconsistency. He notes Anders hurt Stewart in their first fight and has a wrestling advantage. However, he is wary of the weight move to 205 and the close line, calling it a potential trap. He expects a decision win.

Anders by decision
"i'll take anders but i don't feel great about it so give me eric anders i'm going to take him to win by decision"
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Confident picked Jun 9, 2021 (3 days before fight)
Eryk Anders

Cody is confident in Anders, citing his improved performance at Fight Ready MMA and the fact that he was dominating Stewart before the illegal knee. He thinks Anders will replicate that performance and possibly get a finish. He notes Stewart's poor conditioning in the first fight.

"i got to go with ya boy"
DA
Daniel Levi Expert Confident picked Jun 10, 2021 (2 days before fight)
Eryk Anders

Daniel Levi picks Eryk Anders by decision, noting that Anders knocked Stewart down in the first fight before the no-contest. He thinks Anders is the bigger man and has the mental edge. He praises Anders' training at Fight Ready and expects him to be more physical. He warns that every fight is different but believes Anders will get the win.

by decision
"i'm gonna go with eric anders by decision this time"
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Jun 12, 2021 (fight day)
Eryk Anders

Anders is the bigger fighter and will have a strength advantage, especially at 205 lbs. He had success in the first fight with clinch work and dirty boxing, and that game plan should work again. Stewart is not used to fighting at this weight. Anders likely wins a decision by controlling the clinch and avoiding big shots.

Anders by decision
"I'll go with Eric Anders here again I think clinch work being the stronger guy... should allow Eric Anders to go out there and pull off a decision victory."
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Confident picked Jun 9, 2021 (3 days before fight)
Eryk Anders

Paul is confident in Anders and has already bet him at -141. He notes that Anders was dominating Stewart before the illegal knee and expects a similar outcome. He thinks the line is a trap but is willing to take it.

"i just laid it uh cool bet minus 141"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Jun 4, 2021 (8 days before fight)
Eryk Anders

The MMA Guru picks Eryk Anders, switching from his original pick of Stewart after Anders proved him wrong in the first fight. He notes Anders' size and reach advantage at light heavyweight, and that Stewart was knocked out (even if ruled NC) just three months ago. He predicts a first-round TKO without illegal knees.

TKO in the first round
"i'm gonna go with eric anders here i was proven wrong and i'm switching my pick"