vs
+130 -150
UFC on ESPN: Reyes vs. Prochazka · May 01, 2021 · Featherweight · Completed
Prev Fight UFC on ESPN: Reyes vs. Prochazka Next Fight
Age 36
Height 5' 9"
Reach 72"
Weight 145 lbs.
Stance Switch
Age 31
Height 5' 7"
Reach 69"
Weight 145 lbs.
Stance Orthodox
Career Averages - T.J. Brown
3.37 SLpM
44.0% Str. Acc.
2.89 SApM
49.0% Str. Def.
3.41 TD Avg
57.0% TD Acc.
36.0% TD Def.
1.3 Sub. Avg
Career Averages - Kai Kamaka III
5.4 SLpM
59.0% Str. Acc.
5.67 SApM
56.0% Str. Def.
1.51 TD Avg
53.0% TD Acc.
55.0% TD Def.
0.2 Sub. Avg
T.J. Brown
Moneyline
FanDuel +130
KO/TKO
BetWay +700
Submission
BetWay +500
Decision
BetWay +300
Kai Kamaka III
Moneyline
BetWay -150
KO/TKO
BetWay +400
Submission
BetWay +1600
Decision
BetWay +130
T.J. Brown - Fight History
LOSS vs Darren Elkins
Submission (rear-naked choke) R3 2:23 · UFC Fight Night: Yusuff vs. Barboza · Oct 14, 2023
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Darren Elkins 0 11 of 33 33% 95 of 146 5 of 8 62% 2 1 8:09
T.J. Brown 0 15 of 50 30% 45 of 86 2 of 2 100% 0 1 1:29
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Darren Elkins 0 2 of 11 18% 53 of 80 2 of 2 100% 1 0 3:32
T.J. Brown 0 4 of 13 30% 11 of 25 1 of 1 100% 0 0 0:37
2 Darren Elkins 0 7 of 16 43% 28 of 43 3 of 5 60% 0 1 2:49
T.J. Brown 0 9 of 29 31% 32 of 53 1 of 1 100% 0 1 0:44
3 Darren Elkins 0 2 of 6 33% 14 of 23 0 of 1 0% 1 0 1:48
T.J. Brown 0 2 of 8 25% 2 of 8 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:08
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Darren Elkins 11 of 33 33% 8 of 29 3 of 3 0 of 1 11 of 32 0 of 1 0 of 0
T.J. Brown 15 of 50 30% 11 of 45 1 of 2 3 of 3 15 of 49 0 of 0 0 of 1
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Darren Elkins 2 of 11 18% 2 of 10 0 of 0 0 of 1 2 of 11 0 of 0 0 of 0
T.J. Brown 4 of 13 30% 2 of 11 0 of 0 2 of 2 4 of 13 0 of 0 0 of 0
2 Darren Elkins 7 of 16 43% 4 of 13 3 of 3 0 of 0 7 of 15 0 of 1 0 of 0
T.J. Brown 9 of 29 31% 7 of 26 1 of 2 1 of 1 9 of 28 0 of 0 0 of 1
3 Darren Elkins 2 of 6 33% 2 of 6 0 of 0 0 of 0 2 of 6 0 of 0 0 of 0
T.J. Brown 2 of 8 25% 2 of 8 0 of 0 0 of 0 2 of 8 0 of 0 0 of 0
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Lean picked Oct 8, 2023 (6 days before fight)
T.J. Brown

Angelo leans T.J. Brown despite his suspect takedown defense and chin, because he believes Brown's pressure and grappling will be enough to outwork the aging Elkins. He notes Brown has never been knocked out and expects him to win, but he wants to wait for the line to tighten before betting.

"I am fairly confident that TJ is going to be able to win this fight"
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked Oct 11, 2023 (3 days before fight)
Darren Elkins

Big Brady picks Darren Elkins for the upset by third-round finish. He notes T.J. Brown has poor fight IQ and takedown defense, and often makes mistakes. He worries about Elkins' age and recent injuries but expects Brown to gas out or make a mistake, allowing Elkins to take over late.

Elkins by finish in round 3
"I'm going to pick Darren alkins for the up set I think TJ Brown probably looks really good early but in TJ Brown fashion I expect him to make a mistake as the fight goes on or gas out"
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Confident picked Oct 11, 2023 (3 days before fight)
Darren Elkins

Cody picks Elkins, arguing that Brown has a history of losing when favored and that Elkins finds ways to win. He notes that Brown fades in later rounds and has poor takedown defense, while Elkins has a grinding style and excellent cardio. Cody believes Elkins can take Brown down and wear him out, especially after the first round.

Live bet on Elkins after first round
"I got Elkins he's the underdog"
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Oct 12, 2023 (2 days before fight)
T.J. Brown

The host picks T.J. Brown to win inside the distance, expecting him to bite down on his mouthpiece and land big shots early. He notes Brown's speed and power advantage over the aging Elkins, and suggests avoiding the moneyline in favor of the plus money prop. He predicts a first-round stoppage.

Brown wins inside distance +165
"taking him to win inside the distance at plus 165 probably a good way of taking this chalky spot and making a plus money spot"
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Confident picked Oct 11, 2023 (3 days before fight)
Darren Elkins

Paul picks Elkins, citing his toughness and ability to grind out wins. He notes that Brown has a fast start but fades, and that Elkins has fought much tougher competition. Paul believes Elkins' wrestling and cardio will be too much for Brown, and that Elkins can survive the early storm and take over.

Bet Darren Elkins at +160
"I've got Darren Elkins plus 160"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Oct 10, 2023 (4 days before fight)
T.J. Brown

The MMA Guru picks T.J. Brown over Darren Elkins. He praises Brown's performance against Bill Algeo despite the loss, and notes Brown trains with Bryce Mitchell in grappling, so he won't be outwrestled. He criticizes Elkins as a geriatric old man at 39 who has taken too much damage, citing his loss to Jonathan Pearce. He believes Brown is in his prime and can go three hard rounds, winning by decision or big shots.

"I'm going to go TJ Brown over Darren Elkins nothing personal against Darren Elkins but he fights like a geriatric old man these days"
LOSS vs Bill Algeo
Submission (rear-naked choke) R2 1:40 · UFC on ESPN: Holloway vs. Allen · Apr 15, 2023
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Bill Algeo 1 64 of 110 58% 77 of 123 1 of 1 100% 1 0 1:42
T.J. Brown 0 46 of 91 50% 49 of 94 1 of 2 50% 0 1 0:39
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Bill Algeo 0 45 of 85 52% 48 of 88 1 of 1 100% 0 0 1:03
T.J. Brown 0 39 of 77 50% 42 of 80 0 of 0 --- 0 1 0:19
2 Bill Algeo 1 19 of 25 76% 29 of 35 0 of 0 --- 1 0 0:39
T.J. Brown 0 7 of 14 50% 7 of 14 1 of 2 50% 0 0 0:20
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Bill Algeo 64 of 110 58% 44 of 81 6 of 13 14 of 16 48 of 94 5 of 5 11 of 11
T.J. Brown 46 of 91 50% 34 of 78 8 of 9 4 of 4 33 of 76 13 of 15 0 of 0
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Bill Algeo 45 of 85 52% 26 of 59 6 of 12 13 of 14 43 of 83 2 of 2 0 of 0
T.J. Brown 39 of 77 50% 28 of 65 8 of 9 3 of 3 27 of 64 12 of 13 0 of 0
2 Bill Algeo 19 of 25 76% 18 of 22 0 of 1 1 of 2 5 of 11 3 of 3 11 of 11
T.J. Brown 7 of 14 50% 6 of 13 0 of 0 1 of 1 6 of 12 1 of 2 0 of 0
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Confident picked Apr 9, 2023 (6 days before fight)
T.J. Brown

Angelo picks T.J. Brown as an underdog, citing his high pace, solid striking, and good grappling with almost 4 takedowns per fight. He notes Algeo's takedown defense is poor (38%) and that Algeo doesn't use his wrestling offensively. He expects Brown to get takedowns, set the pace, and win a decision. He has a quarter-unit bet on Brown at +140.

quarter unit moneyline bet at +140
"I see TJ getting the takedown set in the pace riding it out on top and getting the win"
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked Apr 11, 2023 (4 days before fight)
Bill Algeo

Big Brady picks Bill Algeo to win by submission in the second or third round. He notes Algeo's poor takedown defense but excellent get-up game and scrambling. He expects Brown to have early success with takedowns but tire, allowing Algeo to take over and potentially submit him, as Brown has been submitted before.

submission
"give me algo give me algo by sub I think he finishes Brown later in this fight"
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Confident picked Apr 12, 2023 (3 days before fight)
Bill Algeo

Cody notes Algeo's takedown defense is poor (55%) but his cardio and BJJ are excellent. He expects Brown to get early takedowns but fade, allowing Algeo to take over with volume. He sees Algeo winning by decision or late stoppage.

Live bet after first round if Brown takes Algeo down
"bill ljo again and we've mentioned this about a lot of other fights on this card excellent live betting opportunity"
CO
Connor Ruebusch Expert Confident picked Apr 13, 2023 (2 days before fight)
Bill Algeo

Connor agrees with Zane, noting that Algeo's strong start doesn't walk him into danger and that Algeo's pressure and range control will allow him to rack up damage early. He also mentions Algeo's height advantage and active kicking game.

"Yeah, I agree. It feels like the kind of fight where Algeo starting strong doesn't walk him into anything dangerous enough."
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Apr 11, 2023 (4 days before fight)
Bill Algeo

Algeo's unorthodox striking and scrambling ability will be too much for Brown. Brown's path to victory is grappling, but Algeo is hard to hold down and creates scrambles. Algeo's cardio and striking volume should win rounds. Expect a decision, as both are durable and finishes are unlikely.

Over 2.5 rounds
"I think algo wins this fight I think the best way to approach it though could possibly be the over two and a half."
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Confident picked Apr 12, 2023 (3 days before fight)
Bill Algeo

Paul agrees with Cody, emphasizing Algeo's cardio and Jiu-Jitsu. He thinks Brown's wrestling will be effective early but he'll tire, and Algeo will take over in later rounds.

"yeah that all makes sense to me"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Apr 11, 2023 (4 days before fight)
Bill Algeo

The MMA Guru picks Bill Algeo, citing his unorthodox striking, length, and takedown defense (55%). He believes Algeo will keep the fight standing and outpoint Brown, who relies on wrestling. He notes Brown's recent win over Eric Silva but thinks Algeo's tricky style and output will edge a close fight.

"give me senor Perfecto Bill algio to get the job done"
ZA
Zane Simon Expert Confident picked Apr 13, 2023 (2 days before fight)
Bill Algeo

Zane picks Algeo because he starts strong and puts too much information into TJ Brown's computer for him to adjust in time. He notes Algeo's hyper-aggressive style, good kicking game, and height advantage, and believes Brown's slow starts will cost him.

"I am going to pick Algeo here. I just think he is going to start too strong and put too much information in the TJ Brown computer for him to make the necessary adjustments in time."
WIN vs Erik Silva
Submission (arm-triangle choke) R3 3:41 · UFC 282: Blachowicz vs. Ankalaev · Dec 10, 2022
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
T.J. Brown 0 24 of 38 63% 82 of 109 2 of 7 28% 1 2 9:43
Erik Silva 0 21 of 29 72% 32 of 42 3 of 4 75% 0 1 2:35
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 T.J. Brown 0 10 of 14 71% 21 of 29 1 of 6 16% 0 1 3:01
Erik Silva 0 9 of 11 81% 14 of 17 2 of 2 100% 0 1 1:35
2 T.J. Brown 0 7 of 14 50% 36 of 49 0 of 0 --- 0 1 3:14
Erik Silva 0 10 of 15 66% 14 of 20 1 of 1 100% 0 0 1:00
3 T.J. Brown 0 7 of 10 70% 25 of 31 1 of 1 100% 1 0 3:28
Erik Silva 0 2 of 3 66% 4 of 5 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:00
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
T.J. Brown 24 of 38 63% 20 of 33 4 of 5 0 of 0 13 of 25 6 of 7 5 of 6
Erik Silva 21 of 29 72% 12 of 19 6 of 7 3 of 3 13 of 20 7 of 7 1 of 2
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 T.J. Brown 10 of 14 71% 8 of 11 2 of 3 0 of 0 5 of 8 5 of 6 0 of 0
Erik Silva 9 of 11 81% 5 of 7 3 of 3 1 of 1 3 of 5 6 of 6 0 of 0
2 T.J. Brown 7 of 14 50% 6 of 13 1 of 1 0 of 0 7 of 14 0 of 0 0 of 0
Erik Silva 10 of 15 66% 6 of 10 2 of 3 2 of 2 9 of 13 0 of 0 1 of 2
3 T.J. Brown 7 of 10 70% 6 of 9 1 of 1 0 of 0 1 of 3 1 of 1 5 of 6
Erik Silva 2 of 3 66% 1 of 2 1 of 1 0 of 0 1 of 2 1 of 1 0 of 0
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Confident picked Dec 4, 2022 (6 days before fight)
Erik Silva

Angelo picks Erik Silva because he believes Silva's grappling pressure and control will be too much for T.J. Brown. He notes that Brown has poor takedown defense (41%) and makes poor decisions in fights, creating scrambles he can't win. Silva is an aggressive grappler who marches forward and looks to get the fight to the ground, where he controls opponents. Angelo expects Silva to bully Brown and win via control.

"I like Eric to bully in this fight I like him to get it to the ground and I like him to control his way to a win"
BI
Big Brady Expert Hesitant picked Dec 7, 2022 (3 days before fight)
Erik Silva

Big Brady picks Erik Silva, citing Silva's impressive grappling and ground-and-pound, while criticizing T.J. Brown's poor fight IQ and lackluster performances. He notes Silva has faced weaker competition but Brown has been knocked out and submitted multiple times. He expects Silva to catch Brown in a submission in the second round, but admits he is not very confident.

Silva wins by second round submission
"I gotta go Silva here um I like the grappling of silver the ground a pound of Silva TJ Brown's been knocked out three times he's been submitted three times I think Silva eventually catches him in something in the …"
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Lean picked Dec 7, 2022 (3 days before fight)
Erik Silva

Cody leans Silva, citing his explosiveness and power. He notes Brown's cardio and durability issues, and that Brown may tire himself out with takedowns. He thinks Silva can exploit Brown's low hands and lack of head movement. He suggests under 1.5 rounds as a prop.

Under 1.5 rounds (+145)
"I'll probably get some of this like plus 145 to the under one and a half I'll pick Silva"
DA
Daniel Levi Expert Confident picked Dec 6, 2022 (4 days before fight)
Erik Silva

Daniel Levi picks Erik Silva, despite Silva's untested competition. He criticizes T.J. Brown for being prone to getting dropped and submitted, calling him 'not the brightest.' Levi likes Silva's size, ground-and-pound, elbows, and kicks. He notes Silva has been past the first round before. While he wishes he knew more about Silva, he trusts him over Brown, who he says will likely get dropped and choked out.

"I think TJ Brown's gonna do good and then he's gonna get dropped and choked out so I'm gonna go with Eric Silver to win this fight"
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Lean picked Dec 9, 2022 (1 day before fight)
T.J. Brown

Lock favors T.J. Brown because he is more proven and represents a step up in competition for Erik Silva. He notes that Silva has only finishes on his regional record but may falter against decent competition, showing cardio issues or being unable to handle being the nail instead of the hammer. Lock does not have a bet on it himself, as he doesn't see Brown as super reliable, but from a narrative and PredictionStrike perspective, he thinks Brown has the edge.

"I like the TJ Brown side here I don't have a bet on it I don't want to bet it myself like I've never really seen TJ Brown as a super reliable fighter but just taking The Narrative of him …"
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Lean picked Dec 7, 2022 (3 days before fight)
Erik Silva

Paul leans Silva, noting Brown's inconsistency and the turmoil at Glory MMA. He thinks Silva's power and explosiveness could be the difference, but acknowledges it's a coin flip. He is not confident and considers it a pass for now.

"I'm gonna just uh it's basically a pass for now but I'm gonna lean towards Silva"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Dec 5, 2022 (5 days before fight)
Erik Silva

The MMA Guru picks Erik Silva over T.J. Brown, arguing that Silva is a step above bottom-level UFC featherweights and has shown good potential. He criticizes Brown for only beating very low-level opponents and barely scraping by, while Silva is more experienced and has a good record. He predicts a decision win for Silva.

"I'm gonna go Eric still for getting this one done I think he's going to beat TJ Brown up"
Decision (unanimous) (29–28, 29–28, 29–28) R3 5:00 · UFC on ESPN: Tsarukyan vs. Gamrot · Jun 25, 2022
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Shayilan Nuerdanbieke 1 47 of 79 59% 86 of 121 3 of 6 50% 0 2 7:32
T.J. Brown 0 42 of 99 42% 58 of 125 1 of 2 50% 4 2 2:54
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Shayilan Nuerdanbieke 1 22 of 42 52% 30 of 50 1 of 2 50% 0 0 2:17
T.J. Brown 0 24 of 49 48% 29 of 55 0 of 1 0% 3 0 0:05
2 Shayilan Nuerdanbieke 0 5 of 8 62% 17 of 20 1 of 3 33% 0 1 2:47
T.J. Brown 0 2 of 9 22% 7 of 20 1 of 1 100% 1 0 1:39
3 Shayilan Nuerdanbieke 0 20 of 29 68% 39 of 51 1 of 1 100% 0 1 2:28
T.J. Brown 0 16 of 41 39% 22 of 50 0 of 0 --- 0 2 1:10
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Shayilan Nuerdanbieke 47 of 79 59% 41 of 73 1 of 1 5 of 5 32 of 61 2 of 2 13 of 16
T.J. Brown 42 of 99 42% 30 of 86 9 of 10 3 of 3 36 of 92 3 of 3 3 of 4
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Shayilan Nuerdanbieke 22 of 42 52% 18 of 38 0 of 0 4 of 4 17 of 37 2 of 2 3 of 3
T.J. Brown 24 of 49 48% 15 of 39 6 of 7 3 of 3 20 of 45 3 of 3 1 of 1
2 Shayilan Nuerdanbieke 5 of 8 62% 4 of 7 0 of 0 1 of 1 1 of 2 0 of 0 4 of 6
T.J. Brown 2 of 9 22% 2 of 9 0 of 0 0 of 0 2 of 9 0 of 0 0 of 0
3 Shayilan Nuerdanbieke 20 of 29 68% 19 of 28 1 of 1 0 of 0 14 of 22 0 of 0 6 of 7
T.J. Brown 16 of 41 39% 13 of 38 3 of 3 0 of 0 14 of 38 0 of 0 2 of 3
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Confident picked Jun 19, 2022 (6 days before fight)
T.J. Brown

Angelo picks T.J. Brown, believing he can win either the grappling or kickboxing exchanges. He notes both fighters have poor takedown defense, so the fight may come down to who shoots first. He worries about Brown's defensive wrestling but expects Brown to initiate and get takedowns, leading to a win.

"i think tj brown gets it done i think he can win the grappling match or the kickboxing match here"
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked Jun 21, 2022 (4 days before fight)
T.J. Brown

Big Brady picks T.J. Brown to win by first-round submission. He believes Brown's grappling is superior and that Nuerdanbieke is one-dimensional (wrestling only) with poor takedown defense (33%) and has been submitted six times. He notes Brown's submission skills (arm triangle) and that he nearly submitted Charles Rosa. He warns that Brown's fight IQ and cardio are questionable, but expects an early submission. He calls it a bad matchup for Nuerdanbieke.

Brown wins by submission in round 1
"i think tj brown subs this guy and does it probably early on... i'll say tj brown first round submission"
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Confident picked Jun 22, 2022 (3 days before fight)
T.J. Brown

Cody thinks Brown is the better wrestler and grappler, and has a striking advantage. He notes Nuerdanbieke's poor striking and inability to finish takedowns. He expects Brown to win by decision.

"i got to go tj brown to land the more eye-catching moments and secure himself a decision victory"
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Confident picked Jun 22, 2022 (3 days before fight)
T.J. Brown

Paul agrees, pointing out Nuerdanbieke's low output and poor takedown stats. He thinks Brown's pressure and striking will look better to the judges.

"i mean those stats for land pretty embarrassing against a guy like sean soriano"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Jun 20, 2022 (5 days before fight)
T.J. Brown

The host picks T.J. Brown, citing his training with Bryce Mitchell as beneficial for grappling. He believes Brown will stuff takedowns as Shayilan slows down, and win the second and third rounds via decision. He notes Shayilan's wins are not impressive and he lost clearly to Joshua Culibao.

unanimous decision 29-28 prediction
"i'm gonna go with tj brown here"
WIN vs Charles Rosa
Decision (unanimous) (29–28, 29–28, 29–28) R3 5:00 · UFC on ESPN: Kattar vs. Chikadze · Jan 15, 2022
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
T.J. Brown 0 58 of 99 58% 88 of 141 6 of 8 75% 3 2 7:39
Charles Rosa 0 46 of 107 42% 71 of 132 0 of 0 --- 1 1 2:42
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 T.J. Brown 0 35 of 67 52% 38 of 70 3 of 4 75% 1 0 1:36
Charles Rosa 0 34 of 73 46% 39 of 78 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:07
2 T.J. Brown 0 16 of 23 69% 29 of 43 1 of 1 100% 2 2 3:34
Charles Rosa 0 9 of 24 37% 24 of 39 0 of 0 --- 1 1 0:26
3 T.J. Brown 0 7 of 9 77% 21 of 28 2 of 3 66% 0 0 2:29
Charles Rosa 0 3 of 10 30% 8 of 15 0 of 0 --- 0 0 2:09
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
T.J. Brown 58 of 99 58% 46 of 85 10 of 12 2 of 2 49 of 87 2 of 5 7 of 7
Charles Rosa 46 of 107 42% 21 of 76 5 of 10 20 of 21 42 of 99 1 of 2 3 of 6
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 T.J. Brown 35 of 67 52% 26 of 56 8 of 10 1 of 1 31 of 60 2 of 5 2 of 2
Charles Rosa 34 of 73 46% 14 of 49 5 of 9 15 of 15 34 of 72 0 of 1 0 of 0
2 T.J. Brown 16 of 23 69% 14 of 21 2 of 2 0 of 0 13 of 20 0 of 0 3 of 3
Charles Rosa 9 of 24 37% 4 of 17 0 of 1 5 of 6 7 of 21 0 of 0 2 of 3
3 T.J. Brown 7 of 9 77% 6 of 8 0 of 0 1 of 1 5 of 7 0 of 0 2 of 2
Charles Rosa 3 of 10 30% 3 of 10 0 of 0 0 of 0 1 of 6 1 of 1 1 of 3
BI
Big Brady Expert Lean picked Jan 10, 2022 (5 days before fight)
T.J. Brown

Big Brady questions T.J. Brown's fight IQ, recalling his poor game plan against Danny Chavez. However, he notes Brown's striking improvements and training at Glory MMA with Bryce Mitchell. He thinks Brown can win if he mixes in takedowns against Benitez's 56% takedown defense, but he cannot trust Brown enough to bet him. He picks Brown as a dog pick but is not confident.

"give me tj brown as far as a dog pick"
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Lean picked Jan 12, 2022 (3 days before fight)
T.J. Brown

Cody leans toward Brown, citing the blueprint of taking Rosa down and holding him there. He notes Brown's wrestling should be effective. However, he is wary of Brown's low fight IQ and the short notice change. He calls -280 too risky for parlays.

"laying minus 280 on t.j brown it's too much risky risky risky biz man"
DA
Daniel Levi Expert Confident picked Jan 13, 2022 (2 days before fight)
T.J. Brown

Daniel Levi picks T.J. Brown, though he is uncomfortable laying -250. He notes that Brown is better than he has shown, but his chin is questionable and he gets dropped often. However, Levi believes Brown will outwork Charles Rosa, who is on short notice and has poor takedown defense. He thinks Brown's physicality and wrestling will be key, and that Rosa's best days are behind him. Levi expects Brown to win, possibly by finish.

possible finish
"i still am picking him to win this fight"
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Jan 9, 2022 (6 days before fight)

The host picks Gabriel Benitez, praising his southpaw striking, body kicks, and leg kicks. He expects Benitez to use his technical striking to outwork T.J. Brown, who is more chaotic and less technical. The host notes Brown's power and BJJ but believes Benitez's cardio and striking accuracy will secure a decision. He compares the matchup to Brown's loss to Danny Chavez, where leg kicks were effective.

"i'm gonna go with gabrielle benitez and i'll take him to win this fight via decision"
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Lean picked Jan 12, 2022 (3 days before fight)
Charles Rosa

Paul leans toward Rosa as a dog, citing his win-loss streak pattern and submission threat. He notes Rosa's takedown defense is poor but Brown's fight IQ is low. He expects Rosa might catch Brown in a submission. He advises waiting for weigh-ins and possibly better odds.

Rosa by submission (if prop becomes available)
"i think it's dog or pass here a hundred percent"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Jan 10, 2022 (5 days before fight)
Charles Rosa

The MMA Guru picks Charles Rosa (Gabriel Benitez) to win by first-round TKO. He notes that Benitez has devastating kicks, especially calf kicks, which will slow Brown down early. Brown has shown problems with kicks in the past (e.g., against Danny Chavez). He expects Benitez to chop at the legs and body, then clip Brown with a big shot when Brown tries to make something happen. He predicts a first-round TKO, with Brown getting dropped with no base.

"i'm gonna trust gabriel benitez to get this one done i think he's just that next step up in competition"
Decision (split) (27–30, 29–28, 29–28) R3 5:00 · UFC on ESPN: Reyes vs. Prochazka · May 01, 2021
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
T.J. Brown 1 61 of 128 47% 85 of 155 1 of 1 100% 0 0 5:38
Kai Kamaka III 0 82 of 211 38% 110 of 243 2 of 4 50% 1 0 0:36
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 T.J. Brown 0 22 of 47 46% 23 of 48 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:45
Kai Kamaka III 0 34 of 88 38% 35 of 91 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:00
2 T.J. Brown 1 26 of 49 53% 40 of 65 0 of 0 --- 0 0 1:44
Kai Kamaka III 0 24 of 69 34% 40 of 87 1 of 1 100% 1 0 0:25
3 T.J. Brown 0 13 of 32 40% 22 of 42 1 of 1 100% 0 0 3:09
Kai Kamaka III 0 24 of 54 44% 35 of 65 1 of 2 50% 0 0 0:11
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
T.J. Brown 61 of 128 47% 38 of 100 14 of 17 9 of 11 51 of 115 1 of 1 9 of 12
Kai Kamaka III 82 of 211 38% 54 of 174 19 of 26 9 of 11 77 of 204 3 of 5 2 of 2
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 T.J. Brown 22 of 47 46% 11 of 34 4 of 4 7 of 9 18 of 43 1 of 1 3 of 3
Kai Kamaka III 34 of 88 38% 17 of 63 9 of 15 8 of 10 33 of 85 1 of 3 0 of 0
2 T.J. Brown 26 of 49 53% 18 of 40 7 of 8 1 of 1 20 of 40 0 of 0 6 of 9
Kai Kamaka III 24 of 69 34% 19 of 63 5 of 6 0 of 0 24 of 69 0 of 0 0 of 0
3 T.J. Brown 13 of 32 40% 9 of 26 3 of 5 1 of 1 13 of 32 0 of 0 0 of 0
Kai Kamaka III 24 of 54 44% 18 of 48 5 of 5 1 of 1 20 of 50 2 of 2 2 of 2
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked Apr 27, 2021 (4 days before fight)
T.J. Brown

Big Brady picks T.J. Brown to win by decision, taking a shot on the underdog. He believes Brown's wrestling and grappling are superior, and that Brown can take Kamaka down and wear him out. Brady notes that Kamaka slows down as fights progress and has poor grappling off his back. He also mentions Brown's full training camp at Glory MMA with James Krause, which he sees as a positive. Brady thinks the line should be closer to a pick'em.

decision win for Brown
"i'm going to take a shot on the dog here i'm going to take tj brown to win by decision"
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Lean picked Apr 27, 2021 (4 days before fight)
T.J. Brown

Cody sees T.J. Brown as a live underdog now that he is training with James Krause at Glory MMA. He notes that Brown has a submission game and grappling prowess, but his cardio is a major concern. He thinks if Brown uses a proper game plan and doesn't gas out, he can take down Kamaka and submit him. He points out that Kamaka has looked unimpressive, with losses to low-level opponents and a close win over Tony Kelley. He believes Krause's coaching can help Brown manage his energy and fight smart.

"so uh again i'm going to classify him as live underdog"
DA
Daniel Levi Expert Confident picked Apr 29, 2021 (2 days before fight)
Kai Kamaka III

Daniel Levi picks Kai Kamaka III to win, citing his potential as a prospect and the fact that T.J. Brown has a weak chin and poor fight IQ. He notes that Kamaka's last loss was on short notice with a bad weight cut, and that he has since moved to a better training camp. Levi believes Kamaka can outwork Brown if he stays off his back.

"i'm going to pick kakamaka to get this win"
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Apr 30, 2021 (1 day before fight)
T.J. Brown

The host picks T.J. Brown by submission, expecting him to take down Kai Kamaka and wear him out. He notes Kamaka's poor cardio and lack of power, while Brown is a grappler who can chain wrestle. He believes Brown will eventually find a submission in the second or third round.

T.J. Brown by submission at +525; also mentions Brown inside the distance at +335 and round 3 prop at +1500
"I like tj brown i think he's gonna outlast kai kamaka hopefully he stretches it all the way to the third round and chokes him up there"
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert picked Apr 27, 2021 (4 days before fight)

Paul does not make a clear pick for this fight. He discusses both fighters' cardio issues and the difficulty in capping the fight. He mentions that Brown's game falls apart if he doesn't finish early, and that Kamaka has looked poor. He does not commit to a side.

"this one's very difficult to cap because they both got bad cardio so it's like who's bad cardio is going to cost them the fight"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Apr 25, 2021 (6 days before fight)
Kai Kamaka III

The MMA Guru picks Kai Kamaka III over T.J. Brown, noting that Kamaka is younger and more committed to his career, while Brown has been beaten eight times and seems to be Bryce Mitchell's sparring partner. He expects Brown to get takedowns in the first round but fade in the later rounds, allowing Kamaka to win the last two rounds and take a 29-28 decision.

"i'm going to be going with kakamaka here he made a mistake in his last fight i feel like he's going to bounce back from that"
LOSS vs Danny Chavez
Decision (unanimous) (29–28, 29–28, 29–28) R3 5:00 · UFC 252: Miocic vs. Cormier 3 · Aug 15, 2020
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Danny Chavez 0 43 of 139 30% 59 of 156 0 of 6 0% 0 0 1:03
T.J. Brown 0 49 of 110 44% 52 of 113 4 of 4 100% 0 0 2:05
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Danny Chavez 0 12 of 42 28% 12 of 42 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:02
T.J. Brown 0 17 of 36 47% 17 of 36 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:04
2 Danny Chavez 0 12 of 45 26% 18 of 52 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:10
T.J. Brown 0 20 of 43 46% 23 of 46 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:59
3 Danny Chavez 0 19 of 52 36% 29 of 62 0 of 4 0% 0 0 0:51
T.J. Brown 0 12 of 31 38% 12 of 31 4 of 4 100% 0 0 1:02
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Danny Chavez 43 of 139 30% 25 of 103 12 of 24 6 of 12 38 of 132 5 of 7 0 of 0
T.J. Brown 49 of 110 44% 23 of 81 8 of 9 18 of 20 40 of 97 0 of 0 9 of 13
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Danny Chavez 12 of 42 28% 4 of 29 5 of 9 3 of 4 12 of 42 0 of 0 0 of 0
T.J. Brown 17 of 36 47% 4 of 21 1 of 2 12 of 13 17 of 35 0 of 0 0 of 1
2 Danny Chavez 12 of 45 26% 7 of 33 3 of 5 2 of 7 12 of 45 0 of 0 0 of 0
T.J. Brown 20 of 43 46% 13 of 35 4 of 4 3 of 4 14 of 35 0 of 0 6 of 8
3 Danny Chavez 19 of 52 36% 14 of 41 4 of 10 1 of 1 14 of 45 5 of 7 0 of 0
T.J. Brown 12 of 31 38% 6 of 25 3 of 3 3 of 3 9 of 27 0 of 0 3 of 4
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked Aug 12, 2020 (3 days before fight)
T.J. Brown

Big Brady likes T.J. Brown's wrestling and ground game, expecting him to dominate and possibly get a submission. He notes Brown's chin is a concern but thinks Chavez's ground game is inferior. He would bet if the line gets closer.

first round submission
"i'm going to pick tj brown to win by first round submission"
DA
Daniel Levi Expert Lean picked Aug 14, 2020 (1 day before fight)
Danny Chavez

Daniel Levi picks Danny Chavez by finish. He notes that T.J. Brown has durability issues, often getting knocked out or submitted even when winning. He believes Chavez's black belt is legit and that he can catch Brown. However, he admits he knows little about Chavez beyond a head-kick knockout and a photo with a black belt. He feels Brown is mentally fragile and prone to getting finished.

Chavez by finish; Brown's durability is questionable; Chavez's black belt is legit
"i have a feeling that he is going to get a knockout i feel like tj brown just can't keep it together ... i'll take chavez by finish"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Aug 9, 2020 (6 days before fight)
T.J. Brown

The MMA Guru picks T.J. Brown, citing his dangerous grappling and training with Bryce Mitchell. He expects Chavez to come out overzealous looking for a quick finish, which will allow Brown to secure a takedown and control the fight on the ground.

"tj downtown brown dangerous grappler danny chavez explosive knockout striker ... tj downtown brown is gonna take danny chavez downtown"
LOSS vs Jordan Griffin
Technical Submission (guillotine choke) R2 3:38 · UFC Fight Night: Benavidez vs. Figueiredo · Feb 29, 2020
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Jordan Griffin 0 15 of 23 65% 20 of 28 0 of 1 0% 3 0 0:05
T.J. Brown 0 32 of 47 68% 91 of 119 7 of 7 100% 0 0 7:31
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Jordan Griffin 0 5 of 8 62% 7 of 10 0 of 1 0% 2 0 0:05
T.J. Brown 0 18 of 24 75% 56 of 70 4 of 4 100% 0 0 4:30
2 Jordan Griffin 0 10 of 15 66% 13 of 18 0 of 0 --- 1 0 0:00
T.J. Brown 0 14 of 23 60% 35 of 49 3 of 3 100% 0 0 3:01
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Jordan Griffin 15 of 23 65% 13 of 21 2 of 2 0 of 0 9 of 17 3 of 3 3 of 3
T.J. Brown 32 of 47 68% 26 of 39 6 of 7 0 of 1 9 of 22 10 of 10 13 of 15
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Jordan Griffin 5 of 8 62% 5 of 8 0 of 0 0 of 0 4 of 7 1 of 1 0 of 0
T.J. Brown 18 of 24 75% 13 of 18 5 of 5 0 of 1 2 of 6 7 of 7 9 of 11
2 Jordan Griffin 10 of 15 66% 8 of 13 2 of 2 0 of 0 5 of 10 2 of 2 3 of 3
T.J. Brown 14 of 23 60% 13 of 21 1 of 2 0 of 0 7 of 16 3 of 3 4 of 4
Kai Kamaka III - Fight History
SCHED vs Luke Riley
UFC 329 · Jul 11, 2026
WIN vs Dakota Hope
Decision R3 5:00 · UFC Fight Night: Moicano vs. Duncan · Apr 04, 2026
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Kai Kamaka III 0 105 of 159 66% 144 of 199 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:23
Dakota Hope 1 106 of 258 41% 155 of 312 1 of 3 33% 0 0 1:18
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Kai Kamaka III 0 21 of 36 58% 31 of 46 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:05
Dakota Hope 1 42 of 89 47% 66 of 117 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:35
2 Kai Kamaka III 0 41 of 54 75% 59 of 72 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:10
Dakota Hope 0 32 of 83 38% 44 of 95 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:19
3 Kai Kamaka III 0 43 of 69 62% 54 of 81 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:08
Dakota Hope 0 32 of 86 37% 45 of 100 1 of 3 33% 0 0 0:24
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Kai Kamaka III 105 of 159 66% 44 of 94 47 of 51 14 of 14 83 of 131 22 of 28 0 of 0
Dakota Hope 106 of 258 41% 62 of 201 43 of 54 1 of 3 61 of 197 44 of 57 1 of 4
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Kai Kamaka III 21 of 36 58% 4 of 17 10 of 12 7 of 7 18 of 31 3 of 5 0 of 0
Dakota Hope 42 of 89 47% 23 of 68 19 of 21 0 of 0 19 of 56 22 of 29 1 of 4
2 Kai Kamaka III 41 of 54 75% 18 of 30 19 of 20 4 of 4 32 of 45 9 of 9 0 of 0
Dakota Hope 32 of 83 38% 19 of 64 13 of 18 0 of 1 20 of 71 12 of 12 0 of 0
3 Kai Kamaka III 43 of 69 62% 22 of 47 18 of 19 3 of 3 33 of 55 10 of 14 0 of 0
Dakota Hope 32 of 86 37% 20 of 69 11 of 15 1 of 2 22 of 70 10 of 16 0 of 0
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Confident picked Apr 2, 2026 (2 days before fight)
Kai Kamaka III

Cody picks Kamaka, citing his experience and ability to win close decisions. He expects Kamaka's striking and takedown defense to edge out Hope, who may gas due to his explosive style.

"So for me it's Kai Kamaka in this one."
CO
Connor Ruebusch Expert Confident picked Apr 3, 2026 (1 day before fight)
Kai Kamaka III

Connor picks Kamaka, noting that Hope is aimless and doesn't build attacks. He expects Kamaka to make the fight harder than necessary but still win. Kamaka's experience and short-notice readiness are advantages, though he acknowledges Kamaka can get trapped into weird fights.

Kamaka opened -190, now -155; Hope opened +165, now +135. Short notice favors Kamaka.
"Kai kamaka is likely to go out there and get a finish always has been."
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Lean picked Apr 2, 2026 (2 days before fight)
Dakota Hope

Paul leans towards Hope, noting his physicality and wrestling. He expects Hope to take Kamaka down and control him, though he acknowledges Kamaka's experience.

"I think Dakota Hope's a guy heading in the right direction and he's got a path to victory that could work for him here. So hope for me as a small underdog will be you."
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Apr 4, 2026 (fight day)
Kai Kamaka III

The MMA Guru picks Kai Kamaka III, citing his experience as a crafty veteran who has fought tough competition like Brendan Loughnane and Bubba Jenkins. He dismisses Dakota Hope's record as padded against lesser opponents and notes that Hope lost to a 9-7 fighter. He believes Kamaka's veteran savvy will be the difference.

"I think Kaik Kamaka's going to be a crafty vet out there... I'm going with Kaik Kamaka the third getting this one done."
ZA
Zane Simon Expert Confident picked Apr 3, 2026 (1 day before fight)
Kai Kamaka III

Zane picks Kamaka confidently, noting that Kamaka is a more experienced professional who is likely to be ready on short notice. He sees Hope as a good athlete but without much MMA game, aimless and one-and-done as a striker. Kamaka's front-foot pressure and wrestling should overwhelm Hope.

Kamaka opened -190, now -155; Hope opened +165, now +135. Short notice favors Kamaka.
"I got it. Hey kai kamaka here. Yeah, I think so."
LOSS vs Danny Chavez
Draw (majority) (29–27, 28–28, 28–28) R3 5:00 · UFC on ESPN: Hall vs. Strickland · Jul 31, 2021
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Kai Kamaka III 0 41 of 110 37% 53 of 122 1 of 5 20% 0 0 0:35
Danny Chavez 0 48 of 77 62% 80 of 114 0 of 3 0% 0 0 3:33
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Kai Kamaka III 0 9 of 31 29% 9 of 31 1 of 1 100% 0 0 0:06
Danny Chavez 0 14 of 19 73% 14 of 19 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:00
2 Kai Kamaka III 0 15 of 47 31% 15 of 47 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:00
Danny Chavez 0 22 of 39 56% 22 of 39 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:06
3 Kai Kamaka III 0 17 of 32 53% 29 of 44 0 of 3 0% 0 0 0:29
Danny Chavez 0 12 of 19 63% 44 of 56 0 of 2 0% 0 0 3:27
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Kai Kamaka III 41 of 110 37% 25 of 81 7 of 14 9 of 15 28 of 91 10 of 16 3 of 3
Danny Chavez 48 of 77 62% 9 of 28 15 of 20 24 of 29 42 of 68 6 of 9 0 of 0
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Kai Kamaka III 9 of 31 29% 2 of 18 3 of 6 4 of 7 9 of 31 0 of 0 0 of 0
Danny Chavez 14 of 19 73% 3 of 7 3 of 3 8 of 9 14 of 19 0 of 0 0 of 0
2 Kai Kamaka III 15 of 47 31% 9 of 35 2 of 5 4 of 7 14 of 45 1 of 2 0 of 0
Danny Chavez 22 of 39 56% 3 of 13 6 of 9 13 of 17 21 of 36 1 of 3 0 of 0
3 Kai Kamaka III 17 of 32 53% 14 of 28 2 of 3 1 of 1 5 of 15 9 of 14 3 of 3
Danny Chavez 12 of 19 63% 3 of 8 6 of 8 3 of 3 7 of 13 5 of 6 0 of 0
BI
Big Brady Expert Hesitant picked Jul 27, 2021 (4 days before fight)
Kai Kamaka III

Big Brady picks Kai Kamaka III in what he calls the toughest fight to call on the card. He favors Kamaka's youth and higher volume, noting that Chavez is low-volume and was exposed by Jared Gordon. However, he acknowledges both fighters have flaws and can be taken down. He predicts a decision win for Kamaka.

"i will take kai tomoka to win by decision"
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Lean picked Jul 28, 2021 (3 days before fight)
Danny Chavez

Cody leans towards Danny Chavez, citing Kamaka's poor cardio and Chavez's leg kicks and smart game plan. He notes that Kamaka starts strong but fades, and Chavez has shown he can exploit that. Cody believes Chavez can win a decision or even get a finish if Kamaka gasses. He sees value in Chavez at near pick'em odds.

"i'm kind of leaning towards uh the slight underdog upset on danny chavez"
DA
Daniel Levi Expert Lean picked Jul 31, 2021 (fight day)
Kai Kamaka III

Levi thinks Kamaka has a couple of physical advantages and believes he will edge out a close fight. He references Kamaka's controversial loss to TJ Brown as a robbery, suggesting Kamaka deserved the win. Levi acknowledges Chavez's durability and calf kicks but leans with Kamaka to get it done, though he admits the fight could be close and competitive.

"I personally think that kai kamaka is going to edge out this fight"
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Lean picked Jul 30, 2021 (1 day before fight)
Danny Chavez

Chavez trains at MMA Masters and uses calf kicks effectively. Kamaka struggles when opponents push the pace and get their own game going. Chavez should target the calf kick early to slow Kamaka, then mix in striking and takedowns. Kamaka is on short notice, which favors Chavez. Even money is a slight advantage for Chavez.

"I do like Chavez on the spot... if you're getting even money here I give the slight advantage to Chavez"
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Lean picked Jul 28, 2021 (3 days before fight)
Danny Chavez

Paul also picks Danny Chavez, agreeing with Cody's reasoning. He notes that Chavez has a clear path to victory with leg kicks and takedowns, and that Kamaka's cardio is a major liability. Paul is not extremely confident but sees Chavez as the slight favorite in a close fight.

"i definitely see a clear path to victory for danny chavez here so i'm with you"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Jul 26, 2021 (5 days before fight)
Danny Chavez

The MMA Guru picks Danny Chavez over Kai Kamaka III, noting that Chavez's main weakness is grappling, but Kamaka is not a grappler. He expects Chavez to chop at Kamaka's lead leg with calf kicks, as Kamaka sits heavy on his lead leg. He predicts Chavez will win by unanimous decision 29-28, with Kamaka possibly winning the first round but fading as the fight goes on.

Chavez by unanimous decision 29-28
"i'm gonna go with danny chavez here... i think danny chavez is going to be able to chop at the calf of kakamaka"
LOSS vs T.J. Brown
Decision (split) (27–30, 29–28, 29–28) R3 5:00 · UFC on ESPN: Reyes vs. Prochazka · May 01, 2021
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
T.J. Brown 1 61 of 128 47% 85 of 155 1 of 1 100% 0 0 5:38
Kai Kamaka III 0 82 of 211 38% 110 of 243 2 of 4 50% 1 0 0:36
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 T.J. Brown 0 22 of 47 46% 23 of 48 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:45
Kai Kamaka III 0 34 of 88 38% 35 of 91 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:00
2 T.J. Brown 1 26 of 49 53% 40 of 65 0 of 0 --- 0 0 1:44
Kai Kamaka III 0 24 of 69 34% 40 of 87 1 of 1 100% 1 0 0:25
3 T.J. Brown 0 13 of 32 40% 22 of 42 1 of 1 100% 0 0 3:09
Kai Kamaka III 0 24 of 54 44% 35 of 65 1 of 2 50% 0 0 0:11
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
T.J. Brown 61 of 128 47% 38 of 100 14 of 17 9 of 11 51 of 115 1 of 1 9 of 12
Kai Kamaka III 82 of 211 38% 54 of 174 19 of 26 9 of 11 77 of 204 3 of 5 2 of 2
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 T.J. Brown 22 of 47 46% 11 of 34 4 of 4 7 of 9 18 of 43 1 of 1 3 of 3
Kai Kamaka III 34 of 88 38% 17 of 63 9 of 15 8 of 10 33 of 85 1 of 3 0 of 0
2 T.J. Brown 26 of 49 53% 18 of 40 7 of 8 1 of 1 20 of 40 0 of 0 6 of 9
Kai Kamaka III 24 of 69 34% 19 of 63 5 of 6 0 of 0 24 of 69 0 of 0 0 of 0
3 T.J. Brown 13 of 32 40% 9 of 26 3 of 5 1 of 1 13 of 32 0 of 0 0 of 0
Kai Kamaka III 24 of 54 44% 18 of 48 5 of 5 1 of 1 20 of 50 2 of 2 2 of 2
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked Apr 27, 2021 (4 days before fight)
T.J. Brown

Big Brady picks T.J. Brown to win by decision, taking a shot on the underdog. He believes Brown's wrestling and grappling are superior, and that Brown can take Kamaka down and wear him out. Brady notes that Kamaka slows down as fights progress and has poor grappling off his back. He also mentions Brown's full training camp at Glory MMA with James Krause, which he sees as a positive. Brady thinks the line should be closer to a pick'em.

decision win for Brown
"i'm going to take a shot on the dog here i'm going to take tj brown to win by decision"
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Lean picked Apr 27, 2021 (4 days before fight)
T.J. Brown

Cody sees T.J. Brown as a live underdog now that he is training with James Krause at Glory MMA. He notes that Brown has a submission game and grappling prowess, but his cardio is a major concern. He thinks if Brown uses a proper game plan and doesn't gas out, he can take down Kamaka and submit him. He points out that Kamaka has looked unimpressive, with losses to low-level opponents and a close win over Tony Kelley. He believes Krause's coaching can help Brown manage his energy and fight smart.

"so uh again i'm going to classify him as live underdog"
DA
Daniel Levi Expert Confident picked Apr 29, 2021 (2 days before fight)
Kai Kamaka III

Daniel Levi picks Kai Kamaka III to win, citing his potential as a prospect and the fact that T.J. Brown has a weak chin and poor fight IQ. He notes that Kamaka's last loss was on short notice with a bad weight cut, and that he has since moved to a better training camp. Levi believes Kamaka can outwork Brown if he stays off his back.

"i'm going to pick kakamaka to get this win"
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Apr 30, 2021 (1 day before fight)
T.J. Brown

The host picks T.J. Brown by submission, expecting him to take down Kai Kamaka and wear him out. He notes Kamaka's poor cardio and lack of power, while Brown is a grappler who can chain wrestle. He believes Brown will eventually find a submission in the second or third round.

T.J. Brown by submission at +525; also mentions Brown inside the distance at +335 and round 3 prop at +1500
"I like tj brown i think he's gonna outlast kai kamaka hopefully he stretches it all the way to the third round and chokes him up there"
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert picked Apr 27, 2021 (4 days before fight)

Paul does not make a clear pick for this fight. He discusses both fighters' cardio issues and the difficulty in capping the fight. He mentions that Brown's game falls apart if he doesn't finish early, and that Kamaka has looked poor. He does not commit to a side.

"this one's very difficult to cap because they both got bad cardio so it's like who's bad cardio is going to cost them the fight"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Apr 25, 2021 (6 days before fight)
Kai Kamaka III

The MMA Guru picks Kai Kamaka III over T.J. Brown, noting that Kamaka is younger and more committed to his career, while Brown has been beaten eight times and seems to be Bryce Mitchell's sparring partner. He expects Brown to get takedowns in the first round but fade in the later rounds, allowing Kamaka to win the last two rounds and take a 29-28 decision.

"i'm going to be going with kakamaka here he made a mistake in his last fight i feel like he's going to bounce back from that"
LOSS vs Jonathan Pearce
TKO (punches) R2 4:28 · UFC on ESPN: Smith vs. Clark · Nov 28, 2020
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Jonathan Pearce 0 51 of 100 51% 113 of 172 5 of 7 71% 1 0 3:26
Kai Kamaka III 0 47 of 83 56% 48 of 84 1 of 3 33% 1 1 0:33
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Jonathan Pearce 0 22 of 55 40% 23 of 56 1 of 3 33% 0 0 0:35
Kai Kamaka III 0 35 of 64 54% 36 of 65 1 of 2 50% 0 0 0:11
2 Jonathan Pearce 0 29 of 45 64% 90 of 116 4 of 4 100% 1 0 2:51
Kai Kamaka III 0 12 of 19 63% 12 of 19 0 of 1 0% 1 1 0:22
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Jonathan Pearce 51 of 100 51% 34 of 76 12 of 19 5 of 5 27 of 71 6 of 9 18 of 20
Kai Kamaka III 47 of 83 56% 20 of 51 20 of 25 7 of 7 44 of 79 2 of 3 1 of 1
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Jonathan Pearce 22 of 55 40% 10 of 37 9 of 15 3 of 3 19 of 51 3 of 4 0 of 0
Kai Kamaka III 35 of 64 54% 13 of 37 15 of 20 7 of 7 35 of 64 0 of 0 0 of 0
2 Jonathan Pearce 29 of 45 64% 24 of 39 3 of 4 2 of 2 8 of 20 3 of 5 18 of 20
Kai Kamaka III 12 of 19 63% 7 of 14 5 of 5 0 of 0 9 of 15 2 of 3 1 of 1
WIN vs Tony Kelley
Decision (unanimous) (29–28, 29–28, 29–28) R3 5:00 · UFC 252: Miocic vs. Cormier 3 · Aug 15, 2020
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Kai Kamaka III 0 114 of 185 61% 138 of 216 5 of 5 100% 0 0 5:09
Tony Kelley 0 114 of 226 50% 185 of 298 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:00
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Kai Kamaka III 0 43 of 72 59% 49 of 79 3 of 3 100% 0 0 1:13
Tony Kelley 0 24 of 59 40% 37 of 72 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
2 Kai Kamaka III 0 32 of 56 57% 34 of 58 2 of 2 100% 0 0 1:37
Tony Kelley 0 43 of 81 53% 63 of 102 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:00
3 Kai Kamaka III 0 39 of 57 68% 55 of 79 0 of 0 --- 0 0 2:19
Tony Kelley 0 47 of 86 54% 85 of 124 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Kai Kamaka III 114 of 185 61% 49 of 113 64 of 71 1 of 1 90 of 160 22 of 22 2 of 3
Tony Kelley 114 of 226 50% 63 of 152 35 of 54 16 of 20 76 of 182 38 of 44 0 of 0
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Kai Kamaka III 43 of 72 59% 22 of 49 21 of 23 0 of 0 34 of 62 8 of 8 1 of 2
Tony Kelley 24 of 59 40% 5 of 35 9 of 14 10 of 10 22 of 57 2 of 2 0 of 0
2 Kai Kamaka III 32 of 56 57% 12 of 32 19 of 23 1 of 1 30 of 54 1 of 1 1 of 1
Tony Kelley 43 of 81 53% 29 of 56 11 of 20 3 of 5 24 of 60 19 of 21 0 of 0
3 Kai Kamaka III 39 of 57 68% 15 of 32 24 of 25 0 of 0 26 of 44 13 of 13 0 of 0
Tony Kelley 47 of 86 54% 29 of 61 15 of 20 3 of 5 30 of 65 17 of 21 0 of 0
BI
Big Brady Expert Lean picked Aug 12, 2020 (3 days before fight)
Tony Kelley

Big Brady was impressed by Tony Kelley's performance against Kevin Aguilar, noting his crisp striking and takedowns. He thinks Kelley is the better defensive striker and has a size advantage. However, he admits the pick might change after more research and is not confident due to limited tape on Kamaka.

"i think tony kelly is the better fighter and i'm picking him to win"
DA
Daniel Levi Expert Confident picked Aug 14, 2020 (1 day before fight)
Kai Kamaka III

Daniel Levi picks Kai Kamaka III to win his UFC debut. He believes Kamaka is the superior athlete and more well-rounded fighter. He notes Kamaka's aggressive style, body work, and cardio from his LFA fight. He criticizes Tony Kelley's takedown defense and tendency to play off his back. He expects Kamaka to push the pace and win a decision or late finish.

Kamaka by decision; Kelley's takedown defense is a weakness; Kamaka's body attacks are effective
"i'm going to go with kamaka i think he's probably the more well-rounded fighter i think he's got the higher ceiling"
Expert Picks (6)
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked Apr 27, 2021 (4 days before fight)
T.J. Brown

Big Brady picks T.J. Brown to win by decision, taking a shot on the underdog. He believes Brown's wrestling and grappling are superior, and that Brown can take Kamaka down and wear him out. Brady notes that Kamaka slows down as fights progress and has poor grappling off his back. He also mentions Brown's full training camp at Glory MMA with James Krause, which he sees as a positive. Brady thinks the line should be closer to a pick'em.

decision win for Brown
"i'm going to take a shot on the dog here i'm going to take tj brown to win by decision"
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Lean picked Apr 27, 2021 (4 days before fight)
T.J. Brown

Cody sees T.J. Brown as a live underdog now that he is training with James Krause at Glory MMA. He notes that Brown has a submission game and grappling prowess, but his cardio is a major concern. He thinks if Brown uses a proper game plan and doesn't gas out, he can take down Kamaka and submit him. He points out that Kamaka has looked unimpressive, with losses to low-level opponents and a close win over Tony Kelley. He believes Krause's coaching can help Brown manage his energy and fight smart.

"so uh again i'm going to classify him as live underdog"
DA
Daniel Levi Expert Confident picked Apr 29, 2021 (2 days before fight)
Kai Kamaka III

Daniel Levi picks Kai Kamaka III to win, citing his potential as a prospect and the fact that T.J. Brown has a weak chin and poor fight IQ. He notes that Kamaka's last loss was on short notice with a bad weight cut, and that he has since moved to a better training camp. Levi believes Kamaka can outwork Brown if he stays off his back.

"i'm going to pick kakamaka to get this win"
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Apr 30, 2021 (1 day before fight)
T.J. Brown

The host picks T.J. Brown by submission, expecting him to take down Kai Kamaka and wear him out. He notes Kamaka's poor cardio and lack of power, while Brown is a grappler who can chain wrestle. He believes Brown will eventually find a submission in the second or third round.

T.J. Brown by submission at +525; also mentions Brown inside the distance at +335 and round 3 prop at +1500
"I like tj brown i think he's gonna outlast kai kamaka hopefully he stretches it all the way to the third round and chokes him up there"
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert picked Apr 27, 2021 (4 days before fight)
No clear pick

Paul does not make a clear pick for this fight. He discusses both fighters' cardio issues and the difficulty in capping the fight. He mentions that Brown's game falls apart if he doesn't finish early, and that Kamaka has looked poor. He does not commit to a side.

"this one's very difficult to cap because they both got bad cardio so it's like who's bad cardio is going to cost them the fight"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Apr 25, 2021 (6 days before fight)
Kai Kamaka III

The MMA Guru picks Kai Kamaka III over T.J. Brown, noting that Kamaka is younger and more committed to his career, while Brown has been beaten eight times and seems to be Bryce Mitchell's sparring partner. He expects Brown to get takedowns in the first round but fade in the later rounds, allowing Kamaka to win the last two rounds and take a 29-28 decision.

"i'm going to be going with kakamaka here he made a mistake in his last fight i feel like he's going to bounce back from that"