vs
-134 +112
UFC on ABC: Vettori vs. Holland · Apr 10, 2021 · Featherweight · Completed
Prev Fight UFC on ABC: Vettori vs. Holland Next Fight
Age 35
Height 5' 11"
Reach 73"
Weight 145 lbs.
Stance Orthodox
Age 36
Height 5' 10"
Reach 73.0"
Weight 145 lbs.
Stance Southpaw
Career Averages - Luis Saldaña
5.16 SLpM
50.0% Str. Acc.
3.65 SApM
60.0% Str. Def.
0.64 TD Avg
17.0% TD Acc.
44.0% TD Def.
0.2 Sub. Avg
Career Averages - Jordan Griffin
2.52 SLpM
46.0% Str. Acc.
3.02 SApM
50.0% Str. Def.
1.45 TD Avg
35.0% TD Acc.
42.0% TD Def.
1.9 Sub. Avg
Luis Saldaña
Moneyline
FanDuel -134
KO/TKO
BetWay +450
Submission
BetWay +900
Decision
BetWay +175
Jordan Griffin
Moneyline
DraftKings +112
KO/TKO
BetWay +700
Submission
BetWay +500
Decision
BetWay +240
Luis Saldaña - Fight History
LOSS vs Sean Woodson
Draw (split) (29–27, 27–29, 28–28) R3 5:00 · UFC 278: Usman vs. Edwards 2 · Aug 20, 2022
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Sean Woodson 0 73 of 157 46% 86 of 170 0 of 0 --- 1 0 0:22
Luis Saldaña 2 91 of 176 51% 96 of 181 1 of 7 14% 0 0 3:20
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Sean Woodson 0 34 of 55 61% 34 of 55 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:10
Luis Saldaña 2 44 of 80 55% 44 of 80 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:04
2 Sean Woodson 0 15 of 38 39% 23 of 46 0 of 0 --- 1 0 0:00
Luis Saldaña 0 18 of 33 54% 20 of 35 1 of 1 100% 0 0 2:22
3 Sean Woodson 0 24 of 64 37% 29 of 69 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:12
Luis Saldaña 0 29 of 63 46% 32 of 66 0 of 5 0% 0 0 0:54
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Sean Woodson 73 of 157 46% 53 of 133 17 of 19 3 of 5 70 of 154 3 of 3 0 of 0
Luis Saldaña 91 of 176 51% 46 of 108 14 of 24 31 of 44 85 of 166 3 of 5 3 of 5
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Sean Woodson 34 of 55 61% 23 of 41 9 of 11 2 of 3 33 of 54 1 of 1 0 of 0
Luis Saldaña 44 of 80 55% 22 of 49 6 of 11 16 of 20 39 of 72 2 of 3 3 of 5
2 Sean Woodson 15 of 38 39% 12 of 34 3 of 3 0 of 1 15 of 38 0 of 0 0 of 0
Luis Saldaña 18 of 33 54% 9 of 19 3 of 5 6 of 9 18 of 33 0 of 0 0 of 0
3 Sean Woodson 24 of 64 37% 18 of 58 5 of 5 1 of 1 22 of 62 2 of 2 0 of 0
Luis Saldaña 29 of 63 46% 15 of 40 5 of 8 9 of 15 28 of 61 1 of 2 0 of 0
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Confident picked Aug 14, 2022 (6 days before fight)
Sean Woodson

Angelo picks Sean Woodson over Luis Saldaña. He praises Woodson's boxing and range management, noting that he actually knows how to use his reach effectively. He acknowledges Saldaña is a versatile striker with good movement, but doubts his 20% takedown accuracy will be enough to get the fight to the ground. Without the takedown threat, Angelo sees this as a kickboxing match where Woodson is the superior striker. He mentions Woodson's 81% takedown defense and recent power showcase.

"the pick is definitely gonna be sean woodson here but saldana has a very clear albeit tough but clear path to victory with the grappling i just don't think he's going to be able to do it"
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked Aug 15, 2022 (5 days before fight)
Sean Woodson

Big Brady is confident in Sean Woodson. He notes that Luis Saldaña has a horrendous gas tank, gassing out in the second round in multiple fights, and puts his hands on his hips or knees when tired. Woodson has a huge reach advantage (79 vs 73 inches) and excellent cardio. Brady expects Woodson to mix in body shots and finish Saldaña in the second or third round by knockout. He believes Saldaña's cardio issues will be his downfall.

Woodson by KO, round 2-3
"i like what's in here i like the reach advantage i think he's gonna have the cardio advantage by a mile um and i think he puts saldana out here in that second or third round so late finish here …"
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Confident picked Aug 17, 2022 (3 days before fight)
Sean Woodson

Cody picks Woodson, emphasizing his reach and boxing. He thinks Woodson's jab and range control will be key, and that Saldaña's kicks will be countered. He notes Woodson's output and thinks Saldaña will drown under the pace.

"i got woodson you know that's why i tweet stuff out on saturday because it's like nothing's ever locked in but woodson's gonna need to be one of these guys that's likely high up because he's a relatively okay price …"
DA
Daniel Levi Expert Confident picked Aug 17, 2022 (3 days before fight)
Sean Woodson

Daniel Levi picks Sean Woodson to win, citing Woodson's massive physical advantages (6'2" with 78-inch reach at featherweight). He notes that Luis Saldaña has cardio issues even at sea level, and in the elevation of Salt Lake City, Saldaña will fade in the second and third rounds. Levi believes Woodson will pull away down the stretch and has been paying his dues against good competition.

Mentions that Saldaña has cardio dumps in his fights and that elevation will exacerbate that. No specific odds or bet size mentioned.
"I got Sean Woodson to win this fight"
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Aug 18, 2022 (2 days before fight)
Sean Woodson

Woodson's long-range boxing and takedown defense should be too much for Saldaña, who has poor cardio and is not a strong grappler. Woodson will work the body and likely finish late or win a decision. The host likes Woodson inside the distance at +175 or decision at +130.

Mentions Woodson inside the distance (+175) and Woodson decision (+130) as possible props.
"I think woodson kind of rolls in the spot you know his long-range boxing style is going to be tough for us deldonia to get much success with."
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Confident picked Aug 17, 2022 (3 days before fight)
Sean Woodson

Paul picks Woodson, citing his reach advantage and boxing. He thinks Woodson can counter Saldaña's kicks and dictate range. He notes Woodson's output and thinks Saldaña's cardio will be an issue. He likes Woodson as a parlay piece.

"i got woodson you know that's why i tweet stuff out on saturday because it's like nothing's ever locked in but woodson's gonna need to be one of these guys that's likely high up because he's a relatively okay price …"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Aug 20, 2022 (fight day)
Sean Woodson

The Guru predicts Sean Woodson wins by early second-round TKO. He describes Woodson beating Saldaña with a jab and leg kicks, threatening submissions, and landing body shots and knees. He sees Woodson finishing Saldaña with body shots against the cage in round two.

TKO via body shots in round 2
"sean woodson via early second round tko here"
WIN vs Bruno Souza
Decision (unanimous) (29–28, 29–28, 29–28) R3 5:00 · UFC on ESPN: Blaydes vs. Daukaus · Mar 26, 2022
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Luis Saldaña 0 84 of 168 50% 88 of 173 2 of 5 40% 0 0 1:36
Bruno Souza 0 66 of 178 37% 68 of 180 1 of 2 50% 0 0 0:12
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Luis Saldaña 0 26 of 57 45% 27 of 58 2 of 3 66% 0 0 0:29
Bruno Souza 0 15 of 48 31% 15 of 48 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:00
2 Luis Saldaña 0 24 of 53 45% 25 of 54 0 of 2 0% 0 0 0:52
Bruno Souza 0 28 of 70 40% 30 of 72 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:07
3 Luis Saldaña 0 34 of 58 58% 36 of 61 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:15
Bruno Souza 0 23 of 60 38% 23 of 60 1 of 1 100% 0 0 0:05
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Luis Saldaña 84 of 168 50% 41 of 109 14 of 22 29 of 37 78 of 161 3 of 4 3 of 3
Bruno Souza 66 of 178 37% 37 of 134 17 of 30 12 of 14 64 of 174 2 of 4 0 of 0
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Luis Saldaña 26 of 57 45% 9 of 33 3 of 7 14 of 17 23 of 54 2 of 2 1 of 1
Bruno Souza 15 of 48 31% 6 of 31 4 of 10 5 of 7 15 of 47 0 of 1 0 of 0
2 Luis Saldaña 24 of 53 45% 16 of 41 3 of 5 5 of 7 22 of 51 0 of 0 2 of 2
Bruno Souza 28 of 70 40% 13 of 52 9 of 12 6 of 6 27 of 68 1 of 2 0 of 0
3 Luis Saldaña 34 of 58 58% 16 of 35 8 of 10 10 of 13 33 of 56 1 of 2 0 of 0
Bruno Souza 23 of 60 38% 18 of 51 4 of 8 1 of 1 22 of 59 1 of 1 0 of 0
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Hesitant picked Mar 20, 2022 (6 days before fight)
Luis Saldaña

Angelo picks Luis Saldaña but calls it razor thin. He likes Saldaña's volume and pressure, noting that Bruno Souza's lack of urgency could cost him another decision. He acknowledges Souza's karate-style striking and countering ability but thinks Saldaña's volume will win him a decision if he picks his shots while applying pressure.

"i like louis saldina literally because of the volume"
BI
Big Brady Expert Hesitant picked Mar 21, 2022 (5 days before fight)
Luis Saldaña

Big Brady picks Luis Saldaña to win a greasy decision. He notes that Souza has very low volume and doesn't do enough to win minutes, while Saldaña is the better striker with more tools. However, he is concerned about Saldaña's gas tank, as he slows down after the first round. He thinks Saldaña will still throw more volume than Souza and win a close decision.

"I'm going to take luis saldana to win... by probably a really greasy decision."
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Lean picked Mar 21, 2022 (5 days before fight)
Luis Saldaña

Cody picks Saldaña, disagreeing with Paul. He criticizes Souza's low volume and lack of impressive wins. He thinks Saldaña's reach and kicks will be effective. He expects Saldaña to outpoint Souza in the first two rounds and survive the third.

"i think saldana will win and he's close to even"
DA
Daniel Levi Expert Hesitant picked Mar 24, 2022 (2 days before fight)
Luis Saldaña

Daniel Levi picks Luis Saldaña hesitantly, giving him one last chance. He notes Saldaña looks great early but fades, but thinks Souza's low-output karate style may not push the pace and cause Saldaña to gas. He is not betting the fight but picks Saldaña to win a decision if his cardio holds.

"I'm willing to give luis saldana one last chance nick"
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Lean picked Mar 23, 2022 (3 days before fight)
Luis Saldaña

The host likes Saldaña slightly, noting that Souza tends to fight on the back foot, which will allow Saldaña to set the pace. He expects Saldaña's leg kicks and blitzing to be effective, and thinks Saldaña's durability will hold up. However, he acknowledges Saldaña's gas tank issues when pressured, but believes Souza won't pressure him. He predicts a decision win.

fight goes to decision at -200
"i do like saldana just a little bit here i do think it will be you know a mediocre paste fight"
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Lean picked Mar 21, 2022 (5 days before fight)
Bruno Souza

Paul picks Souza as an underdog, citing his karate style and ability to stay on the outside. He thinks Saldaña's cardio and takedown defense are concerns. He expects Souza to frustrate Saldaña and win a decision.

"he'll be my pick in this situation"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Mar 21, 2022 (5 days before fight)
Bruno Souza

The MMA Guru picks Bruno Souza over Luis Saldaña, citing Saldaña's fundamental issues with takedown defense and lack of strength for the featherweight division. He notes that Souza kept it competitive against a much better striker in Melcik Magnussarian, while Saldaña tends to slow down as fights progress. The Guru believes Souza's grappling advantage and ability to build into fights will earn him a split decision win, with Saldaña's only path being a TKO.

"i am gonna go with bruno souza here over luis saldana"
LOSS vs Austin Lingo
Decision (unanimous) (29–28, 29–28, 29–28) R3 5:00 · UFC on ESPN: Cannonier vs. Gastelum · Aug 21, 2021
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Austin Lingo 1 73 of 181 40% 74 of 185 0 of 0 --- 0 0 1:31
Luis Saldaña 0 77 of 160 48% 81 of 165 0 of 5 0% 0 0 0:19
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Austin Lingo 0 24 of 56 42% 24 of 56 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Luis Saldaña 0 34 of 66 51% 34 of 66 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
2 Austin Lingo 0 33 of 81 40% 33 of 81 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:12
Luis Saldaña 0 29 of 61 47% 29 of 61 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:00
3 Austin Lingo 1 16 of 44 36% 17 of 48 0 of 0 --- 0 0 1:19
Luis Saldaña 0 14 of 33 42% 18 of 38 0 of 4 0% 0 0 0:19
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Austin Lingo 73 of 181 40% 45 of 143 23 of 32 5 of 6 73 of 179 0 of 2 0 of 0
Luis Saldaña 77 of 160 48% 34 of 111 26 of 31 17 of 18 75 of 158 2 of 2 0 of 0
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Austin Lingo 24 of 56 42% 16 of 46 6 of 8 2 of 2 24 of 56 0 of 0 0 of 0
Luis Saldaña 34 of 66 51% 16 of 45 11 of 13 7 of 8 34 of 66 0 of 0 0 of 0
2 Austin Lingo 33 of 81 40% 20 of 64 10 of 13 3 of 4 33 of 79 0 of 2 0 of 0
Luis Saldaña 29 of 61 47% 12 of 43 10 of 11 7 of 7 27 of 59 2 of 2 0 of 0
3 Austin Lingo 16 of 44 36% 9 of 33 7 of 11 0 of 0 16 of 44 0 of 0 0 of 0
Luis Saldaña 14 of 33 42% 6 of 23 5 of 7 3 of 3 14 of 33 0 of 0 0 of 0
BI
Big Brady Expert Hesitant picked Aug 17, 2021 (4 days before fight)
Austin Lingo

Big Brady picks Austin Lingo as a dog, but with low confidence. He likes Lingo's pressure and power, and notes both fighters are finishers. He thinks the fight will end in a knockout and picks Lingo to close the distance and land a hard shot. He also mentions the under 2.5 rounds as a solid bet.

under 2.5 rounds
"i'm actually going to take the dog shot on the lingo as far as the pick goes i don't think i'll get there from a betting perspective if anything i think the under two and a half's a solid look"
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Lean picked Aug 18, 2021 (3 days before fight)
Luis Saldaña

Cody leans toward Saldaña, citing his flashy striking, mobility, and ability to stay at range. He notes Lingo's power but questions his cardio and experience in longer fights. He expects a close decision and sees value on Saldaña.

Fight goes to decision; over 2.5 rounds (-140)
"luis saldana is my pick no bet"
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Aug 18, 2021 (3 days before fight)
Luis Saldaña

Saldana is a great striker with good combinations and kicks, and he can fight off his back foot. Lingo has knockout power but tends to follow opponents rather than cut off the cage, which plays into Saldana's matador style. I think Saldana cruises to a decision unless Lingo lands a clean shot early.

"i like saldana here uh again one of my stronger reads as long as he doesn't get knocked out early here i do think that he cruises and absolutely beats up osceola"
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Confident picked Aug 18, 2021 (3 days before fight)
Luis Saldaña

Paul picks Saldaña, highlighting his kick-heavy range game and ability to matador Lingo. He notes Lingo's tendency to load up and tire, and believes Saldaña can maintain distance and outpoint him. He expects the fight to go the distance.

Over 2.5 rounds (-135); fight goes the distance (-125)
"i honestly think he gets matador saldana stays at the outside chips away again this thing's gonna be close it's gonna be competitive"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Aug 15, 2021 (6 days before fight)
Austin Lingo

The MMA Guru picks Austin Lingo as an underdog. He sees red flags in Saldaña's game, especially poor takedown defense and losses to lower-level opponents. Lingo is well-rounded with good cardio, grappling, and a good chin. He believes Lingo can exploit Saldaña's holes and get an upset win.

"i'm gonna go over austin lingo here as an underdog in all honesty i think he's well-rounded he's got good cardio he's got good grappling he's got a good chin"
Decision (unanimous) (29–28, 29–28, 29–28) R3 5:00 · UFC on ABC: Vettori vs. Holland · Apr 10, 2021
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Luis Saldaña 0 36 of 88 40% 40 of 94 0 of 0 --- 1 1 2:18
Jordan Griffin 0 33 of 69 47% 39 of 77 4 of 7 57% 2 1 6:18
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Luis Saldaña 0 19 of 48 39% 19 of 49 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Jordan Griffin 0 18 of 42 42% 20 of 45 2 of 3 66% 0 0 2:13
2 Luis Saldaña 0 9 of 15 60% 10 of 16 0 of 0 --- 1 1 0:30
Jordan Griffin 0 4 of 10 40% 4 of 11 2 of 2 100% 1 0 3:17
3 Luis Saldaña 0 8 of 25 32% 11 of 29 0 of 0 --- 0 0 1:48
Jordan Griffin 0 11 of 17 64% 15 of 21 0 of 2 0% 1 1 0:48
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Luis Saldaña 36 of 88 40% 19 of 67 8 of 10 9 of 11 30 of 79 6 of 9 0 of 0
Jordan Griffin 33 of 69 47% 22 of 55 9 of 11 2 of 3 27 of 60 4 of 6 2 of 3
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Luis Saldaña 19 of 48 39% 10 of 37 3 of 4 6 of 7 17 of 45 2 of 3 0 of 0
Jordan Griffin 18 of 42 42% 14 of 36 4 of 5 0 of 1 16 of 39 2 of 3 0 of 0
2 Luis Saldaña 9 of 15 60% 4 of 9 4 of 5 1 of 1 6 of 12 3 of 3 0 of 0
Jordan Griffin 4 of 10 40% 2 of 7 1 of 2 1 of 1 2 of 7 2 of 3 0 of 0
3 Luis Saldaña 8 of 25 32% 5 of 21 1 of 1 2 of 3 7 of 22 1 of 3 0 of 0
Jordan Griffin 11 of 17 64% 6 of 12 4 of 4 1 of 1 9 of 14 0 of 0 2 of 3
BI
Big Brady Expert Lean picked Apr 7, 2021 (3 days before fight)
Jordan Griffin

Big Brady picks Griffin to win by decision, leaning on the underdog. He notes that Saldaña has limited available tape and has faced poor competition, while Griffin has more UFC experience and a solid grappling game. Brady expects Griffin to use takedowns and grind out a close decision, though he is not overly confident. He thinks the line should be closer to a pick'em.

"i'm kind of going to go with jordan griffin by decision not overly confident in it"
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Lean picked Apr 7, 2021 (3 days before fight)
Jordan Griffin

Cody leans Griffin as a dog, citing his experience and grappling advantage. He notes Saldaña's wins are over lower competition and that Griffin has fought tougher opponents. He thinks Griffin can win if he gets takedowns.

"isn't it dogger pass as much as saul has straight up a dog"
DA
Daniel Levi Expert Lean picked Apr 9, 2021 (1 day before fight)
Luis Saldaña

Daniel Levi picks Luis Saldaña, citing the 'Fight Ready' gym effect and Saldaña's improved kickboxing. He notes that Jordan Griffin makes questionable mistakes and has poor wrestling defense. Levi thinks Saldaña will separate himself in the later rounds with his kickboxing and win a close decision. He acknowledges that Griffin could be a live dog but goes with Saldaña.

"I'm gonna go to luis saldana here via a very close competitive decision"
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Apr 7, 2021 (3 days before fight)
Jordan Griffin

The host thinks Griffin's best path is to make it a grinding, dirty fight by clinching and taking Saldaña down. He notes that Saldaña looked great on the Contender Series but that Griffin has more UFC experience and a better chance of getting the fight to the ground. He picks Griffin to win by decision, though he acknowledges that Saldaña is a flashy striker who could land a head kick.

Griffin by decision
"i'm actually going to side with griffin here i think he's going to be able to do that against saldana"
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Lean picked Apr 7, 2021 (3 days before fight)
Jordan Griffin

Paul leans Griffin, noting his grappling advantage and Saldaña's lack of notable wins. He thinks Griffin's experience and ability to take rounds could be key. He calls it a dogger pass.

"i think there is a massive grappling advantage for griffin"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Hesitant picked Apr 4, 2021 (6 days before fight)
Luis Saldaña

The MMA Guru picks Luis Saldaña but expresses doubt. He notes Saldaña has been submitted before but has improved his takedown defense with Henry Cejudo's help. He thinks Saldaña's front kicks to the body will be effective against Griffin, who is a great grappler. He predicts Saldaña will lose the first round but win the next two for a 29-28 decision.

"i'm going to say louis saudarna but trust me if you see jordan griffin beat this man know that i question myself"
Jordan Griffin - Fight History
LOSS vs Luis Saldaña
Decision (unanimous) (29–28, 29–28, 29–28) R3 5:00 · UFC on ABC: Vettori vs. Holland · Apr 10, 2021
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Luis Saldaña 0 36 of 88 40% 40 of 94 0 of 0 --- 1 1 2:18
Jordan Griffin 0 33 of 69 47% 39 of 77 4 of 7 57% 2 1 6:18
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Luis Saldaña 0 19 of 48 39% 19 of 49 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Jordan Griffin 0 18 of 42 42% 20 of 45 2 of 3 66% 0 0 2:13
2 Luis Saldaña 0 9 of 15 60% 10 of 16 0 of 0 --- 1 1 0:30
Jordan Griffin 0 4 of 10 40% 4 of 11 2 of 2 100% 1 0 3:17
3 Luis Saldaña 0 8 of 25 32% 11 of 29 0 of 0 --- 0 0 1:48
Jordan Griffin 0 11 of 17 64% 15 of 21 0 of 2 0% 1 1 0:48
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Luis Saldaña 36 of 88 40% 19 of 67 8 of 10 9 of 11 30 of 79 6 of 9 0 of 0
Jordan Griffin 33 of 69 47% 22 of 55 9 of 11 2 of 3 27 of 60 4 of 6 2 of 3
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Luis Saldaña 19 of 48 39% 10 of 37 3 of 4 6 of 7 17 of 45 2 of 3 0 of 0
Jordan Griffin 18 of 42 42% 14 of 36 4 of 5 0 of 1 16 of 39 2 of 3 0 of 0
2 Luis Saldaña 9 of 15 60% 4 of 9 4 of 5 1 of 1 6 of 12 3 of 3 0 of 0
Jordan Griffin 4 of 10 40% 2 of 7 1 of 2 1 of 1 2 of 7 2 of 3 0 of 0
3 Luis Saldaña 8 of 25 32% 5 of 21 1 of 1 2 of 3 7 of 22 1 of 3 0 of 0
Jordan Griffin 11 of 17 64% 6 of 12 4 of 4 1 of 1 9 of 14 0 of 0 2 of 3
BI
Big Brady Expert Lean picked Apr 7, 2021 (3 days before fight)
Jordan Griffin

Big Brady picks Griffin to win by decision, leaning on the underdog. He notes that Saldaña has limited available tape and has faced poor competition, while Griffin has more UFC experience and a solid grappling game. Brady expects Griffin to use takedowns and grind out a close decision, though he is not overly confident. He thinks the line should be closer to a pick'em.

"i'm kind of going to go with jordan griffin by decision not overly confident in it"
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Lean picked Apr 7, 2021 (3 days before fight)
Jordan Griffin

Cody leans Griffin as a dog, citing his experience and grappling advantage. He notes Saldaña's wins are over lower competition and that Griffin has fought tougher opponents. He thinks Griffin can win if he gets takedowns.

"isn't it dogger pass as much as saul has straight up a dog"
DA
Daniel Levi Expert Lean picked Apr 9, 2021 (1 day before fight)
Luis Saldaña

Daniel Levi picks Luis Saldaña, citing the 'Fight Ready' gym effect and Saldaña's improved kickboxing. He notes that Jordan Griffin makes questionable mistakes and has poor wrestling defense. Levi thinks Saldaña will separate himself in the later rounds with his kickboxing and win a close decision. He acknowledges that Griffin could be a live dog but goes with Saldaña.

"I'm gonna go to luis saldana here via a very close competitive decision"
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Apr 7, 2021 (3 days before fight)
Jordan Griffin

The host thinks Griffin's best path is to make it a grinding, dirty fight by clinching and taking Saldaña down. He notes that Saldaña looked great on the Contender Series but that Griffin has more UFC experience and a better chance of getting the fight to the ground. He picks Griffin to win by decision, though he acknowledges that Saldaña is a flashy striker who could land a head kick.

Griffin by decision
"i'm actually going to side with griffin here i think he's going to be able to do that against saldana"
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Lean picked Apr 7, 2021 (3 days before fight)
Jordan Griffin

Paul leans Griffin, noting his grappling advantage and Saldaña's lack of notable wins. He thinks Griffin's experience and ability to take rounds could be key. He calls it a dogger pass.

"i think there is a massive grappling advantage for griffin"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Hesitant picked Apr 4, 2021 (6 days before fight)
Luis Saldaña

The MMA Guru picks Luis Saldaña but expresses doubt. He notes Saldaña has been submitted before but has improved his takedown defense with Henry Cejudo's help. He thinks Saldaña's front kicks to the body will be effective against Griffin, who is a great grappler. He predicts Saldaña will lose the first round but win the next two for a 29-28 decision.

"i'm going to say louis saudarna but trust me if you see jordan griffin beat this man know that i question myself"
LOSS vs Youssef Zalal
Decision (unanimous) (29–28, 29–28, 29–28) R3 5:00 · UFC on ESPN: Poirier vs. Hooker · Jun 27, 2020
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Youssef Zalal 0 28 of 69 40% 33 of 74 2 of 8 25% 0 1 5:34
Jordan Griffin 0 59 of 112 52% 70 of 123 0 of 2 0% 0 1 4:23
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Youssef Zalal 0 3 of 19 15% 3 of 19 1 of 2 50% 0 0 1:54
Jordan Griffin 0 11 of 29 37% 12 of 30 0 of 1 0% 0 0 1:13
2 Youssef Zalal 0 8 of 24 33% 12 of 28 0 of 1 0% 0 1 1:55
Jordan Griffin 0 13 of 31 41% 22 of 40 0 of 0 --- 0 1 1:39
3 Youssef Zalal 0 17 of 26 65% 18 of 27 1 of 5 20% 0 0 1:45
Jordan Griffin 0 35 of 52 67% 36 of 53 0 of 1 0% 0 0 1:31
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Youssef Zalal 28 of 69 40% 26 of 67 2 of 2 0 of 0 28 of 67 0 of 0 0 of 2
Jordan Griffin 59 of 112 52% 42 of 85 11 of 18 6 of 9 47 of 98 12 of 12 0 of 2
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Youssef Zalal 3 of 19 15% 3 of 19 0 of 0 0 of 0 3 of 19 0 of 0 0 of 0
Jordan Griffin 11 of 29 37% 7 of 18 0 of 4 4 of 7 11 of 29 0 of 0 0 of 0
2 Youssef Zalal 8 of 24 33% 7 of 23 1 of 1 0 of 0 8 of 22 0 of 0 0 of 2
Jordan Griffin 13 of 31 41% 7 of 23 5 of 7 1 of 1 9 of 26 4 of 4 0 of 1
3 Youssef Zalal 17 of 26 65% 16 of 25 1 of 1 0 of 0 17 of 26 0 of 0 0 of 0
Jordan Griffin 35 of 52 67% 28 of 44 6 of 7 1 of 1 27 of 43 8 of 8 0 of 1
Play-by-Play
View on Sherdog
Jordan Griffin vs. Youssef Zalal

Round 1
For this final card on a five-event stop at the UFC Apex, we will be on ESPN and ESPN+ all the way through. We kick things off in the featherweight division, when Roufusport’s Griffin (18-7, 1-2 UFC) takes on Factory X representative Zalal (8-2, 1-0 UFC) in a clash of high-level teams. Referee Herb Dean will oversee the action in this card-opening contest, and with a touch of gloves, away we go! Zalal takes the center of the cage, but it is Griffin that comes out swinging with a looping right hand. Zalal dances away, and Griffin chases him down with a string of reaching punches. Zalal lands a low kick to the calf, and then another as Griffin charges in. Griffin ducks down with his hands low, and is content to swarm Zalal. “The Moroccan Devil” evades most of the strikes, and calmly works the other leg with a slapping kick. Griffin rushes forward to swing wildly, and Zalal blocks the strikes, so Griffin changes levels to shoot in for a double. Zalal is able to keep his balance, but Griffin grabs hold of his back to try to muscle him down. Zalal fights off one wrist with both his hands to try to break the grip, and slowly and methodically turns his way out and gains separation. Griffin puts together a combination with a head kick to punctuate it, and when he closes in, Zalal grabs him to turn him against the fence. With Griffin’s back to the cage, Zalal leaps up with a flying knee that partially connects, and he is attempting to set up a body lock to possibly take the fight down. Zalal nearly hits a trip to wrench Griffin down, but “The Native Psycho” stays upright and turns him about. Griffin lifts him in the air, slams him down, and takes Zalal’s back with seconds to go in the round. Griffin looks to fish for a choke attempt, but with only one arm in, there is nothing there. The horn sounds to end the round.

Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Griffin
Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-9 Griffin
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Griffin

Round 2
They touch gloves again to begin the second frame, and Zalal presses forward and fires off a head kick. Using the kick as a way to close distance, Zalal pursues a flying knee that Griffin blocks. Griffin wings a high kick that is a little too high, and he falls to his back, but Zalal is too far away to capitalize on it. In an attempt to catch Griffin standing, he leaps forward with another flying knee, but nothing doing. Zalal nails Griffin to the body with a reaching right hand, and we can hear an audible exhale as Griffin is hurt. Zalal chases him down, and the two scramble around on the ground while Zalal tries to land ground-and-pound. Griffin continues to keep moving, and circles around to take Zalal’s back. He hops on like a backpack, but he does not the energy to stay on or get a choke, so Zalal pushes him off. Zalal breaks, and targets the body with a long right hand. Griffin appears to be heavily fatigued, so while he catches his breath, Zalal tags him up top with a stiff jab and a significant one-two. Zalal tries to hit another flying knee, but Griffin collides with him in midair and forces Zalal to his back. Having avoided upkicks, Griffin hops on top to try to rain down punches, but Zalal is crafty and spins out to stand back up. Griffin holds on tight to try to get him back down, and Zalal is out of submission danger while trying to get back up. When he stands, Zalal is immediately pursuing his own single leg takedown, and with it he has Griffin pressed against the wall. Griffin defends against it, so Zalal knees him in the gut for good measure. The two continue to jockey for position to the end of the round.

Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Zalal
Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-9 Zalal
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Zalal

Round 3
Griffin kicks off the final round aggressively, with long punches as he tries to bull rush his opponent. Zalal takes everything he has, and gives it right back to him. Griffin drops his hands as if to say his opponent’s strikes don’t hurt, so Zalal obliges him by teeing off on him until Griffin realizes he should probably stop allowing these free shots. Zalal pushes a little too aggressively, and Griffin manages to stave off a takedown to try to take Zalal’s back. As they both scramble at the same time, Zalal turns to allow Griffin on top, but only for a moment. “The Moroccan Devil” spins with a fury, and forces his way up before marking up Griffin with crisp punches. Griffin allows them to happen, trying to throw back with labored punches and a head kick that gets blocked. Griffin changes levels while Zalal is trying to hit him with a flying knee, and pursues a double leg takedown but Zalal stuffs it and separates. A string of jabs from Zalal is followed by a knee that lands right on the solar plexus, and Griffin visibly reacts, shooting low for a desperation takedown. Zalal stands him up, and after they go back and forth against the fence, Zalal drops down for a single. He transitions to a double while Griffin is fighting him off, but again “The Native Psycho” stays upright. When they break, Zalal knees him on the jaw, and rushes after him to land another and then a stern elbow. Griffin practically laughs them off, but Zalal presses him heavily against the cage. This featherweight match ends in the clinch, and Griffin raises his hands in the air to signal to the judges that he thinks he has done enough.

Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Zalal (29-28 Zalal)
Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-9 Zalal (29-28 Zalal)
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Zalal (29-28 Zalal)

The Official Result
Youssef Zalal def. Jordan Griffin via Unanimous Decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked Jun 24, 2020 (3 days before fight)
Youssef Zalal

Big Brady picks Youssef Zalal by decision, citing his good BJJ, top control, and smart fight IQ. He thinks Zalal can keep the fight on the feet or control on top, and that Griffin is dangerous but often loses until he gets a submission. He is confident Zalal can avoid submissions and win a comfortable decision. He notes that if Zalal goes to underdog, he'd bet him.

Zalal by decision; Griffin by sub is a possibility; wouldn't bet at -115 but would if plus money
"I am gonna go Zalal by decision... honestly pretty confident in that."
DA
Daniel Levi Expert Lean picked Jun 26, 2020 (1 day before fight)
Jordan Griffin

Daniel Levi picks Jordan Griffin, citing his experience and ability to capitalize on Zalal's defensive flaws. He notes that Zalal fights with his hands down and Griffin's pressure could exploit that. Levi acknowledges Zalal's footwork and well-rounded skills but thinks Griffin's veteran savvy and submission threat will be key. He expects a close decision, possibly a back-and-forth fight, but leans Griffin due to his experience edge.

Griffin wins by close decision
"I'm gonna also go with Jordan Griffin to kind of vet this one out."
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Jun 22, 2020 (5 days before fight)
Jordan Griffin

The MMA Guru picks Jordan Griffin, praising his grappling and submission skills. He notes Griffin's win over TJ Brown and believes he will not stand with Zalal, instead working takedowns and securing a submission in the second round. He questions Zalal's competition level.

Griffin by submission in round two
"I like Jordan Griffin style... I could see him getting a submission in round two... eventually getting a submission win in the second round"
WIN vs T.J. Brown
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
LOSS vs Chas Skelly
Decision (unanimous) (29–28, 29–28, 29–28) R3 5:00 · UFC Fight Night: Cowboy vs. Gaethje · Sep 14, 2019
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Chas Skelly 0 21 of 59 35% 80 of 125 1 of 3 33% 3 1 8:35
Jordan Griffin 0 37 of 87 42% 66 of 122 1 of 1 100% 2 2 2:57
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Chas Skelly 0 7 of 19 36% 24 of 37 1 of 1 100% 2 0 2:49
Jordan Griffin 0 10 of 27 37% 10 of 27 0 of 0 --- 0 1 0:55
2 Chas Skelly 0 8 of 24 33% 24 of 41 0 of 1 0% 0 1 2:06
Jordan Griffin 0 19 of 37 51% 28 of 47 1 of 1 100% 0 0 1:43
3 Chas Skelly 0 6 of 16 37% 32 of 47 0 of 1 0% 1 0 3:40
Jordan Griffin 0 8 of 23 34% 28 of 48 0 of 0 --- 2 1 0:19
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Chas Skelly 21 of 59 35% 20 of 52 1 of 7 0 of 0 20 of 58 0 of 0 1 of 1
Jordan Griffin 37 of 87 42% 36 of 84 1 of 3 0 of 0 32 of 81 0 of 0 5 of 6
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Chas Skelly 7 of 19 36% 7 of 18 0 of 1 0 of 0 7 of 19 0 of 0 0 of 0
Jordan Griffin 10 of 27 37% 9 of 25 1 of 2 0 of 0 10 of 27 0 of 0 0 of 0
2 Chas Skelly 8 of 24 33% 8 of 21 0 of 3 0 of 0 7 of 23 0 of 0 1 of 1
Jordan Griffin 19 of 37 51% 19 of 36 0 of 1 0 of 0 15 of 32 0 of 0 4 of 5
3 Chas Skelly 6 of 16 37% 5 of 13 1 of 3 0 of 0 6 of 16 0 of 0 0 of 0
Jordan Griffin 8 of 23 34% 8 of 23 0 of 0 0 of 0 7 of 22 0 of 0 1 of 1
LOSS vs Dan Ige
Decision (unanimous) (29–28, 29–28, 29–28) R3 5:00 · UFC on Fox: Lee vs. Iaquinta 2 · Dec 15, 2018
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Dan Ige 0 56 of 107 52% 86 of 144 3 of 7 42% 0 1 6:55
Jordan Griffin 0 56 of 107 52% 71 of 123 0 of 2 0% 1 1 3:59
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Dan Ige 0 28 of 48 58% 35 of 58 1 of 2 50% 0 1 3:24
Jordan Griffin 0 11 of 23 47% 14 of 26 0 of 1 0% 1 0 0:04
2 Dan Ige 0 14 of 26 53% 25 of 37 1 of 1 100% 0 0 0:41
Jordan Griffin 0 24 of 42 57% 34 of 52 0 of 0 --- 0 1 3:21
3 Dan Ige 0 14 of 33 42% 26 of 49 1 of 4 25% 0 0 2:50
Jordan Griffin 0 21 of 42 50% 23 of 45 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:34
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Dan Ige 56 of 107 52% 46 of 95 7 of 8 3 of 4 20 of 53 4 of 4 32 of 50
Jordan Griffin 56 of 107 52% 49 of 100 7 of 7 0 of 0 31 of 65 4 of 4 21 of 38
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Dan Ige 28 of 48 58% 25 of 45 3 of 3 0 of 0 5 of 17 0 of 0 23 of 31
Jordan Griffin 11 of 23 47% 10 of 22 1 of 1 0 of 0 11 of 23 0 of 0 0 of 0
2 Dan Ige 14 of 26 53% 12 of 23 1 of 1 1 of 2 6 of 12 0 of 0 8 of 14
Jordan Griffin 24 of 42 57% 23 of 41 1 of 1 0 of 0 7 of 11 0 of 0 17 of 31
3 Dan Ige 14 of 33 42% 9 of 27 3 of 4 2 of 2 9 of 24 4 of 4 1 of 5
Jordan Griffin 21 of 42 50% 16 of 37 5 of 5 0 of 0 13 of 31 4 of 4 4 of 7
Expert Picks (6)
BI
Big Brady Expert Lean picked Apr 7, 2021 (3 days before fight)
Jordan Griffin

Big Brady picks Griffin to win by decision, leaning on the underdog. He notes that Saldaña has limited available tape and has faced poor competition, while Griffin has more UFC experience and a solid grappling game. Brady expects Griffin to use takedowns and grind out a close decision, though he is not overly confident. He thinks the line should be closer to a pick'em.

"i'm kind of going to go with jordan griffin by decision not overly confident in it"
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Lean picked Apr 7, 2021 (3 days before fight)
Jordan Griffin

Cody leans Griffin as a dog, citing his experience and grappling advantage. He notes Saldaña's wins are over lower competition and that Griffin has fought tougher opponents. He thinks Griffin can win if he gets takedowns.

"isn't it dogger pass as much as saul has straight up a dog"
DA
Daniel Levi Expert Lean picked Apr 9, 2021 (1 day before fight)
Luis Saldaña

Daniel Levi picks Luis Saldaña, citing the 'Fight Ready' gym effect and Saldaña's improved kickboxing. He notes that Jordan Griffin makes questionable mistakes and has poor wrestling defense. Levi thinks Saldaña will separate himself in the later rounds with his kickboxing and win a close decision. He acknowledges that Griffin could be a live dog but goes with Saldaña.

"I'm gonna go to luis saldana here via a very close competitive decision"
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Apr 7, 2021 (3 days before fight)
Jordan Griffin

The host thinks Griffin's best path is to make it a grinding, dirty fight by clinching and taking Saldaña down. He notes that Saldaña looked great on the Contender Series but that Griffin has more UFC experience and a better chance of getting the fight to the ground. He picks Griffin to win by decision, though he acknowledges that Saldaña is a flashy striker who could land a head kick.

Griffin by decision
"i'm actually going to side with griffin here i think he's going to be able to do that against saldana"
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Lean picked Apr 7, 2021 (3 days before fight)
Jordan Griffin

Paul leans Griffin, noting his grappling advantage and Saldaña's lack of notable wins. He thinks Griffin's experience and ability to take rounds could be key. He calls it a dogger pass.

"i think there is a massive grappling advantage for griffin"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Hesitant picked Apr 4, 2021 (6 days before fight)
Luis Saldaña

The MMA Guru picks Luis Saldaña but expresses doubt. He notes Saldaña has been submitted before but has improved his takedown defense with Henry Cejudo's help. He thinks Saldaña's front kicks to the body will be effective against Griffin, who is a great grappler. He predicts Saldaña will lose the first round but win the next two for a 29-28 decision.

"i'm going to say louis saudarna but trust me if you see jordan griffin beat this man know that i question myself"