Career Averages - Francisco Trinaldo
Career Averages - Jai Herbert
Francisco Trinaldo - Fight History
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Randy Brown | 1 | 60 of 141 | 42% | 65 of 148 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 1 | 1 | 0:38 |
| Francisco Trinaldo | 0 | 40 of 67 | 59% | 82 of 111 | 1 of 4 | 25% | 0 | 0 | 5:21 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Randy Brown | 1 | 23 of 49 | 46% | 27 of 53 | 0 of 0 | --- | 1 | 1 | 0:38 |
| Francisco Trinaldo | 0 | 9 of 15 | 60% | 13 of 19 | 1 of 3 | 33% | 0 | 0 | 1:04 | |
| 2 | Randy Brown | 0 | 25 of 69 | 36% | 25 of 69 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Francisco Trinaldo | 0 | 19 of 37 | 51% | 22 of 40 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:50 | |
| 3 | Randy Brown | 0 | 12 of 23 | 52% | 13 of 26 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Francisco Trinaldo | 0 | 12 of 15 | 80% | 47 of 52 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 3:27 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Randy Brown | 60 of 141 | 42% | 30 of 101 | 10 of 16 | 20 of 24 | 56 of 136 | 0 of 1 | 4 of 4 |
| Francisco Trinaldo | 40 of 67 | 59% | 20 of 44 | 9 of 12 | 11 of 11 | 33 of 59 | 0 of 1 | 7 of 7 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Randy Brown | 23 of 49 | 46% | 8 of 28 | 2 of 5 | 13 of 16 | 21 of 46 | 0 of 1 | 2 of 2 |
| Francisco Trinaldo | 9 of 15 | 60% | 1 of 6 | 3 of 4 | 5 of 5 | 9 of 15 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | |
| 2 | Randy Brown | 25 of 69 | 36% | 15 of 55 | 6 of 9 | 4 of 5 | 25 of 69 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Francisco Trinaldo | 19 of 37 | 51% | 8 of 24 | 6 of 8 | 5 of 5 | 19 of 36 | 0 of 1 | 0 of 0 | |
| 3 | Randy Brown | 12 of 23 | 52% | 7 of 18 | 2 of 2 | 3 of 3 | 10 of 21 | 0 of 0 | 2 of 2 |
| Francisco Trinaldo | 12 of 15 | 80% | 11 of 14 | 0 of 0 | 1 of 1 | 5 of 8 | 0 of 0 | 7 of 7 |
Cody picks Trinaldo as a plus money underdog, believing the line should be closer to -170/+150. He argues that Trinaldo is very good at making opponents fight at his pace and that Brown's boxing is not as functional as it seems. He expects a close fight and wants to be holding the plus 270 ticket if it goes to decision. He plans to bet Trinaldo and may wait for a better price at weigh-ins.
Paul picks Randy Brown by decision, citing Brown's significant reach advantage, improved striking, and ability to use his jab and footwork to outpoint Trinaldo. He acknowledges Trinaldo's durability and winning streak but believes Brown's superior technique and youth will prevail. He notes that Trinaldo has never been knocked down and hasn't been submitted since 2017, so a decision is the most likely outcome.
The MMA Guru sees this as a complete mismatch, citing Randy Brown's significant advantages in height, reach, and athleticism over the 44-year-old Trinaldo. He expects Brown to use volume striking from distance and possibly mix in wrestling, similar to his win over Cowboy Oliveira. He believes Trinaldo's only path is an early knockout, but Brown's activity and youth should overwhelm him. He calls it a 'free betting boost' and includes Brown in his parlay.
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Francisco Trinaldo | 0 | 80 of 124 | 64% | 91 of 137 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 1 | 0 | 4:21 |
| Danny Roberts | 0 | 36 of 118 | 30% | 44 of 128 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:39 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Francisco Trinaldo | 0 | 23 of 37 | 62% | 25 of 39 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:21 |
| Danny Roberts | 0 | 16 of 57 | 28% | 16 of 57 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:04 | |
| 2 | Francisco Trinaldo | 0 | 34 of 48 | 70% | 41 of 57 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 1 | 0 | 3:14 |
| Danny Roberts | 0 | 7 of 17 | 41% | 9 of 20 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:03 | |
| 3 | Francisco Trinaldo | 0 | 23 of 39 | 58% | 25 of 41 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:46 |
| Danny Roberts | 0 | 13 of 44 | 29% | 19 of 51 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:32 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Francisco Trinaldo | 80 of 124 | 64% | 62 of 102 | 16 of 20 | 2 of 2 | 51 of 86 | 21 of 26 | 8 of 12 |
| Danny Roberts | 36 of 118 | 30% | 15 of 92 | 12 of 15 | 9 of 11 | 27 of 103 | 8 of 14 | 1 of 1 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Francisco Trinaldo | 23 of 37 | 62% | 15 of 27 | 8 of 10 | 0 of 0 | 20 of 33 | 3 of 4 | 0 of 0 |
| Danny Roberts | 16 of 57 | 28% | 6 of 44 | 4 of 7 | 6 of 6 | 15 of 55 | 1 of 2 | 0 of 0 | |
| 2 | Francisco Trinaldo | 34 of 48 | 70% | 28 of 40 | 5 of 7 | 1 of 1 | 14 of 21 | 12 of 15 | 8 of 12 |
| Danny Roberts | 7 of 17 | 41% | 5 of 15 | 1 of 1 | 1 of 1 | 3 of 10 | 3 of 6 | 1 of 1 | |
| 3 | Francisco Trinaldo | 23 of 39 | 58% | 19 of 35 | 3 of 3 | 1 of 1 | 17 of 32 | 6 of 7 | 0 of 0 |
| Danny Roberts | 13 of 44 | 29% | 4 of 33 | 7 of 7 | 2 of 4 | 9 of 38 | 4 of 6 | 0 of 0 |
Angelo picks Francisco Trinaldo, continuing to ride the Trinaldo train. He likes the matchup because Danny Roberts won't initiate takedowns and has poor takedown defense. He acknowledges Trinaldo's age but believes his chin is still intact, though he notes Roberts has the power to test it.
Big Brady picks Danny Roberts to win by decision, but he is leaning and not confident. He notes that Trinaldo is 43 years old and small for welterweight, while Roberts is nine years younger, taller, and has a reach advantage. However, Roberts has shown poor fight IQ and durability issues, being finished in all his losses. Brady thinks the youth and size advantage will be decisive, but it's a close fight and he cannot be confident. He expects a competitive decision.
Cody picks Danny Roberts as his second underdog. He notes that Roberts is faster, has better footwork, and higher output. Cody believes Roberts can win the first two rounds and survive the third. He acknowledges Roberts' history of bonehead decisions but thinks the big cage and Sanford MMA game plan will help. Cody sees it as a close fight that could go either way.
Daniel Levi leans toward Danny Roberts as a slight underdog, citing Roberts' size, power, and prime age versus the 44-year-old Trinaldo. He acknowledges Trinaldo's durability and experience but thinks age may finally catch up. He plans to bet one unit on Roberts if the line improves to around +105 or +110, but has not placed the bet yet.
The host picks Danny Roberts but is not betting the fight. He believes Roberts is the better fighter at this stage, younger and faster, and should outpoint Trinaldo. However, he acknowledges Trinaldo's knockout power and Roberts' questionable chin. He mentions a possible Trinaldo KO prop at +450 to +550 as a small shot. He is staying away from betting due to the volatility.
Paul picks Francisco Trinaldo, despite acknowledging that Roberts will likely be winning early. He believes Trinaldo's durability and power will eventually catch Roberts, similar to the Jai Herbert fight. Paul notes that Roberts has a suspect chin and Trinaldo can land a big left hand late. He expects Trinaldo to be losing on the scorecards before getting a finish.
The MMA Guru hesitantly picks Danny Roberts as an underdog, acknowledging Roberts' history of being KO'd but noting Trinaldo's age (43) and lack of power at welterweight. He believes Roberts' reach and rangy style will allow him to fight patiently and win a close decision. He mentions Roberts has momentum with a couple of wins and confidence, while Trinaldo hasn't had many finishes recently. He predicts a razor-close 29-28 decision.
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Francisco Trinaldo | 0 | 36 of 70 | 51% | 61 of 101 | 1 of 3 | 33% | 0 | 0 | 4:45 |
| Dwight Grant | 0 | 31 of 133 | 23% | 41 of 145 | 1 of 1 | 100% | 0 | 0 | 0:11 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Francisco Trinaldo | 0 | 11 of 20 | 55% | 11 of 20 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Dwight Grant | 0 | 14 of 51 | 27% | 14 of 51 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 | |
| 2 | Francisco Trinaldo | 0 | 15 of 28 | 53% | 16 of 31 | 0 of 2 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 1:08 |
| Dwight Grant | 0 | 8 of 48 | 16% | 13 of 55 | 1 of 1 | 100% | 0 | 0 | 0:11 | |
| 3 | Francisco Trinaldo | 0 | 10 of 22 | 45% | 34 of 50 | 1 of 1 | 100% | 0 | 0 | 3:37 |
| Dwight Grant | 0 | 9 of 34 | 26% | 14 of 39 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Francisco Trinaldo | 36 of 70 | 51% | 20 of 50 | 11 of 14 | 5 of 6 | 26 of 57 | 4 of 5 | 6 of 8 |
| Dwight Grant | 31 of 133 | 23% | 20 of 114 | 7 of 14 | 4 of 5 | 28 of 128 | 1 of 1 | 2 of 4 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Francisco Trinaldo | 11 of 20 | 55% | 4 of 12 | 5 of 6 | 2 of 2 | 11 of 20 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Dwight Grant | 14 of 51 | 27% | 6 of 39 | 4 of 7 | 4 of 5 | 14 of 51 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | |
| 2 | Francisco Trinaldo | 15 of 28 | 53% | 9 of 19 | 4 of 6 | 2 of 3 | 11 of 23 | 4 of 5 | 0 of 0 |
| Dwight Grant | 8 of 48 | 16% | 8 of 44 | 0 of 4 | 0 of 0 | 5 of 43 | 1 of 1 | 2 of 4 | |
| 3 | Francisco Trinaldo | 10 of 22 | 45% | 7 of 19 | 2 of 2 | 1 of 1 | 4 of 14 | 0 of 0 | 6 of 8 |
| Dwight Grant | 9 of 34 | 26% | 6 of 31 | 3 of 3 | 0 of 0 | 9 of 34 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
Angelo leans Trinaldo because he thinks the shorter, stockier fighter can get inside Grant's reach, get to the hips, and grind. He notes Grant has questionable cardio and was knocked out in his last fight despite winning early. However, he's worried about Trinaldo's age (43) and when he'll start to decline. He likes the more/more on the monkey knife fight and will have Trinaldo in his DraftKings lineup.
Big Brady picks Grant to knock out the 43-year-old Trinaldo, citing Trinaldo's age, size disadvantage, and recent knockdowns. He notes Grant's power and Trinaldo's never-been-KO'd record, but believes the chin will crack. He predicts a first-round knockout.
Cody picks Francisco Trinaldo, admitting it's a heart-over-mind bet. He notes Trinaldo's durability and veteran savvy, and criticizes Dwight Grant's tendency to run away and his unimpressive UFC performances. Cody points out that Grant has looked abysmal, losing to low-level competition and barely beating Stefan Sekulich. He believes Trinaldo's toughness and forward pressure will be enough to win, though he acknowledges the risk.
Lock picks Trinaldo based on pressure and durability. He notes Trinaldo has never been knocked down and should stalk Grant, who tends to backpedal. He expects Trinaldo to win by decision, citing Grant's lack of volume and Trinaldo's superior kickboxing.
Paul does not make a clear pick. He notes that Trinaldo is now the favorite and he is not interested at that price. He also points out that Dwight Grant could win by staying on the outside and landing chip shots. Paul seems to lean towards passing on the fight.
The MMA Guru picks Francisco Trinaldo, trusting his chin and durability. He criticizes Dwight Grant for being gun-shy and compares him to Uriah Hall. He believes Trinaldo's pressure and chin will carry him to a decision win, though he notes Grant has KO power.
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Muslim Salikhov | 0 | 39 of 128 | 30% | 51 of 148 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:40 |
| Francisco Trinaldo | 1 | 62 of 118 | 52% | 71 of 129 | 2 of 3 | 66% | 0 | 0 | 2:07 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Muslim Salikhov | 0 | 13 of 39 | 33% | 13 of 40 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:02 |
| Francisco Trinaldo | 1 | 26 of 49 | 53% | 27 of 50 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:30 | |
| 2 | Muslim Salikhov | 0 | 16 of 48 | 33% | 17 of 52 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:10 |
| Francisco Trinaldo | 0 | 16 of 39 | 41% | 18 of 41 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:16 | |
| 3 | Muslim Salikhov | 0 | 10 of 41 | 24% | 21 of 56 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:28 |
| Francisco Trinaldo | 0 | 20 of 30 | 66% | 26 of 38 | 2 of 2 | 100% | 0 | 0 | 1:21 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Muslim Salikhov | 39 of 128 | 30% | 22 of 101 | 16 of 26 | 1 of 1 | 34 of 119 | 5 of 9 | 0 of 0 |
| Francisco Trinaldo | 62 of 118 | 52% | 29 of 84 | 26 of 27 | 7 of 7 | 48 of 98 | 1 of 1 | 13 of 19 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Muslim Salikhov | 13 of 39 | 33% | 9 of 31 | 4 of 8 | 0 of 0 | 11 of 34 | 2 of 5 | 0 of 0 |
| Francisco Trinaldo | 26 of 49 | 53% | 13 of 36 | 10 of 10 | 3 of 3 | 17 of 35 | 0 of 0 | 9 of 14 | |
| 2 | Muslim Salikhov | 16 of 48 | 33% | 7 of 34 | 9 of 14 | 0 of 0 | 14 of 46 | 2 of 2 | 0 of 0 |
| Francisco Trinaldo | 16 of 39 | 41% | 6 of 28 | 9 of 10 | 1 of 1 | 16 of 39 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | |
| 3 | Muslim Salikhov | 10 of 41 | 24% | 6 of 36 | 3 of 4 | 1 of 1 | 9 of 39 | 1 of 2 | 0 of 0 |
| Francisco Trinaldo | 20 of 30 | 66% | 10 of 20 | 7 of 7 | 3 of 3 | 15 of 24 | 1 of 1 | 4 of 5 |
Play-by-Play
View on SherdogRound 1
For the first time in many years, Trinaldo (26-7, 16-6 UFC) is fighting outside of the lightweight division. In this return to welterweight – Trinaldo started his UFC career at middleweight but his pro career in this 170-pound category – he will meet “King of Kung Fu” Salikhov (17-2, 4-1 UFC). The Octagon ranger for this interesting style matchup is referee Mark Smith, and the two fighters do not touch gloves to begin their melee. Trinaldo wades forward to pressure Salikhov, and “King of Kung Fu” jabs at him from a distance. Trinaldo catches his man on the way in with a looping shot, and a body kick surprises Salikhov. The two are not committing on strikes of note, preferring to find their range and fake the other out. Salikhov unleashes a nasty body kick that slaps on the midsection of his opponent, and the sound echoes throughout the empty UFC Apex. The Brazilian tries to chase Salikhov down to make him pay, but Salikhov keeps his man at bay with kicks. “Massaranduba” rushes through strikes to land a left hand of his own, and Salikhov laughs it off to tag Trinaldo with a huge right hand. Trinaldo chases after him with a swarm of inaccurate punches, but he does bully the Dagestani fighter into the cage to knee him in the chest. Salikhov swipes at him with a left hand, and he chops the lead leg of the Brazilian on the way out. Trinaldo scores a right hand and just narrowly avoids a head kick and a subsequent spinning heel kick. “Massaranduba” bites down on his mouthpiece to throw hands, but Salikhov slips and rips with counters. A quick uppercut from “King of Kung Fu” clips Trinaldo on the chin, and the Brazilian falls to his back in serious danger. Salikhov chases him down and slams his fists on the side of his head, but Trinaldo survives by throwing his legs up for a desperation heel hook to occupy Salikhov’s time until the bell sounds.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Salikhov
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Salikhov
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Salikhov
Round 2
The welterweights meet in the center of the cage, and Trinaldo is ready to go back to battle as he presses forward to land a left hand on the backpedaling Dagestan native. Salikhov sits on an uppercut, but he comes up just short of the mark. Trinaldo comes forward confidently and knees the body a few times, but Salikhov tags him with fierce punches on the way out. “King of Kung Fu” gets off a crisp uppercut and a follow-up punch, and a low kick to the calf nearly puts Trinaldo down. Trinaldo times a big left hand as Salikhov advances, and Salikhov does not even register the strike as he puts his own combination together. A nasty right hand shocks Trinaldo, who is on wobbled legs but not going down this time, and Salikhov leaps in the air with a knee that glances off the target. The Brazilian only appears enraged, as he takes a punch on the chin and lashes out with a huge strike that Salikhov can barely dodge. The two are loading up on their strikes with everything they have, until they come together in a clinch. Salikhov does not way to stay here for long, as he backs off and pins a one-two on the chin. A few jabs from Salikhov find their home, and a high kick blazes up and just gets blocked in time. Salikhov ducks a looping shot to tag his foe with an uppercut, and he escapes as Trinaldo bears down on him with reaching shots. Trinaldo throws so hard he nearly falls over, and Salikhov lands a few quick strikes on the way out. A heavy body kick from Salikhov finds its mark on the midsection, and he steps forward to throw the Brazilian down to his back. “Massaranduba” slowly climbs to a knee and back up, and the tense round ends.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Salikhov
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Salikhov
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Salikhov
Round 3
The two men are amped up to get after it, and Smith needs them to back off before he calls time. Seconds into the round, as Salikhov is readying a strike, Trinaldo lunges his fingers out and one goes deep into the eyeball. Salikhov falls to the ground in pain, clutching his eye, and Smith rushes over to attend to him while calling in the doctor. Salikhov’s eye appears bloodied and his eyelid is not opening all the way, but he tells the doctor that his vision is blurry but returning. The doctor wipes Salikhov’s eye clear, and Smith issues Trinaldo a hard warning. The action resumes after about two minutes in the break, and the two offer a glove touch before getting back down to business. Trinaldo winds up a bomb of a left hand that clacks off Salikhov’s chin, and Salikhov wobbles but backs off. Trinaldo knows the vision is compromised, and his left hand finds its home on that eye repeatedly, doing some serious damage. Trinaldo pushes in for a clinch to land a few knees, and Salikhov backs out of the clinch and catches a charging Trinaldo with an uppercut. The Brazilian swings with reckless abandon, with looping shots nowhere near the mark. The Dagestani fighter blocks a big head kick, and he lances Trinaldo with a straight right hand. Trinaldo falls over throwing so hard, and Salikhov backs off and kicks his leg a few times before Smith stands him up. Salikhov gets off a one-two when they start up, and he dances out of the way as Trinaldo bears down on him. Salikhov sits down on a left hand, and a spinning heel kick glances off the shoulder. Trinaldo is not afraid, taking strikes on the jaw and marching forward to throw haymakers. Salikhov absorbs a stern body kick that makes him drop his right hand, and Trinaldo follows the kick with a big right hand. Salikhov stings him with a few punches, and the Brazilian maintains his composure and takes another one-two on the chin. Ever the Terminator, Trinaldo plods forward through a few strikes to land his own, but Salikhov is much faster, putting a few punches together in rapid succession. Salikhov ends a combination by lifting Trinaldo in the air and slamming him down. From on top, Salikhov delivers a wild barrage of ground-and-pound to end the round in style.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Salikhov (30-27 Salikhov)
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Salikhov (30-27 Salikhov)
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Salikhov (30-27 Salikhov)
The Official Result
Muslim Salikhov def. Francisco Trinaldo via Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Big Brady expects a low-volume, boring fight likely going to decision. He notes Trinaldo is 42 with a great chin but poor cardio, while Salikhov has flashier strikes and slightly more volume. He acknowledges Salikhov has struggled with grapplers in the past but thinks Trinaldo lacks the cardio to implement a ground game. He predicts Salikhov wins a boring decision, with a possible late finish if Trinaldo gasses.
Cody picks Trinaldo, agreeing with Paul. He notes Salikhov's takedown defense issues and Trinaldo's grappling advantage. Cody thinks Trinaldo's cardio is overblown and that he can win via takedowns and top control. He sees great value at +210.
Daniel picks Salikhov via second-round knockout, citing his sharp counter-striking, accuracy, and improving takedown defense. He notes that Trinaldo is 42 and only has one round of wrestling in him, as seen in his last fight. Daniel believes Trinaldo will slow down and get countered by Salikhov's spinning attacks and straight punches. He respects Trinaldo but thinks father time is undefeated, and that Salikhov's distance management and power will be too much.
Trinaldo is durable, never knocked out, and can mix in takedowns. Salikhov is low-output and overvalued due to the 'Russian tax'. This fight will be close and go to decision, with Trinaldo having the edge.
Paul picks Trinaldo as a dog, citing his experience and well-rounded skills. He notes Salikhov's takedown defense issues and that Trinaldo has a path via grappling. Paul thinks the odds are too high for a fighter of Trinaldo's caliber. He already bet Trinaldo at +210.
The Guru picks Muslim Salikhov, expecting a striking stalemate but believing Salikhov will be too strong in grappling and more technical on the feet. He thinks Salikhov will give Trinaldo a rude awakening to welterweight, being bigger and faster. He predicts a 30-27 unanimous decision in a somewhat boring fight.
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Francisco Trinaldo | 1 | 30 of 58 | 51% | 37 of 66 | 2 of 3 | 66% | 2 | 1 | 3:18 |
| Jai Herbert | 1 | 21 of 70 | 30% | 37 of 90 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 3:20 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Francisco Trinaldo | 0 | 9 of 20 | 45% | 13 of 24 | 2 of 3 | 66% | 2 | 0 | 3:15 |
| Jai Herbert | 0 | 4 of 14 | 28% | 13 of 25 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:43 | |
| 2 | Francisco Trinaldo | 0 | 9 of 22 | 40% | 12 of 26 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 1 | 0:00 |
| Jai Herbert | 1 | 14 of 32 | 43% | 21 of 41 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 2:37 | |
| 3 | Francisco Trinaldo | 1 | 12 of 16 | 75% | 12 of 16 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:03 |
| Jai Herbert | 0 | 3 of 24 | 12% | 3 of 24 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Francisco Trinaldo | 30 of 58 | 51% | 15 of 35 | 7 of 14 | 8 of 9 | 19 of 45 | 3 of 4 | 8 of 9 |
| Jai Herbert | 21 of 70 | 30% | 15 of 63 | 4 of 5 | 2 of 2 | 16 of 61 | 5 of 6 | 0 of 3 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Francisco Trinaldo | 9 of 20 | 45% | 4 of 13 | 4 of 6 | 1 of 1 | 3 of 12 | 3 of 4 | 3 of 4 |
| Jai Herbert | 4 of 14 | 28% | 4 of 14 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | 2 of 11 | 2 of 2 | 0 of 1 | |
| 2 | Francisco Trinaldo | 9 of 22 | 40% | 4 of 12 | 2 of 6 | 3 of 4 | 8 of 21 | 0 of 0 | 1 of 1 |
| Jai Herbert | 14 of 32 | 43% | 9 of 27 | 4 of 4 | 1 of 1 | 11 of 26 | 3 of 4 | 0 of 2 | |
| 3 | Francisco Trinaldo | 12 of 16 | 75% | 7 of 10 | 1 of 2 | 4 of 4 | 8 of 12 | 0 of 0 | 4 of 4 |
| Jai Herbert | 3 of 24 | 12% | 2 of 22 | 0 of 1 | 1 of 1 | 3 of 24 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
Play-by-Play
View on SherdogRound 1
Headlining the prelims that might have felt like an eternity to some is a catchweight fight between longtime UFC vet Trinaldo (25-7, 15-6 UFC) and hard-charging British striker Herbert (10-1, 0-0 UFC), with the latter making his UFC debut while Trinaldo has already fought in the Octagon 21 times. As Trinaldo missed weight by four pounds, this is a 160-pound affair, and it will be overseen by referee Herb Dean. There is no glove touch, and Herbert starts out with a wide stance as he paws out his left. Trinaldo winds up with a left hook that comes up well short, and Herbert is dancing around the cage while avoiding strikes. Herbert stings him with a right hand, and lands another, forcing the Brazilian to bite down on his mouthpiece and land a left hook and a body kick. “Massaranduba” mashes him against the fence, where it leads to a simple takedown as he hops into half guard. Trinaldo drops down a hard elbow, and fishes for an arm-triangle choke that leads him to fall off. Herbert springs back up, but Trinaldo snags his neck on the way up and clamps on a guillotine choke. The Brit stays calm, and he pulls his head free and returns to his feet as Trinaldo squeezes him on the fence. When Herbert tries to gain separation, Trinaldo redoubles his effort to get the fight down, and he tosses his man to the canvas. Herbert tries to get to his knees and stand up, but he gives up his neck as Trinaldo steps over to hunt for a rear-naked choke. Herbert falls to his back to defend the choke, so Trinaldo lashes at him with vicious elbows. Herbert manages to kick off, but Trinaldo comes back forward to bully Herbert on the fence. Herbert turns out and lifts up a few knees that ring Trinaldo’s bell, but the Brazilian winds up with a right hand that does some damage as well. When they are still holding tight, Herbert hits his own takedown, and he wings a big elbow at his opponent from on top. Herbert rides out the rest of the round with a few punches from half guard.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Trinaldo
Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-9 Trinaldo
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Trinaldo
Round 2
Herbert opens the round with a few jabs, and he follows one with a piston-like right straight that sets Trinaldo down on the ground. The Brit dives on top and drills him with an elbow, so Trinaldo scrambles but inadvertently gives up his back. Herbert gets both his hooks in, and he secures a body triangle as he fishes for a neck. Herbert tries to set up a rear-naked choke, and the Brazilian defends it well, so Herbert softens him up with a few punches. Trinaldo bucks like a bronco, but Herbert has him locked down from turning. Trinaldo gets two-on-one wrist control to force a sweep, and after they jockey for position, Trinaldo gets him off and gets to his knees. The Brazilian takes a moment to get up, so Herbert blasts him on the chin again. Trinaldo looks tired as he tries to get back up, and he swings wildly and inaccurately but zings one off the chin. Herbert stuffs a takedown attempt, and he sticks Trinaldo with another right hand. Trinaldo is wobbling around like he is on an ice-covered canvas, and Herbert nearly drops him again with a right hand. Trinaldo gets his knees back beneath him but his punches are labored and not finding their mark in time. Herbert is loose, and when they clinch, Herbert knees him in the face before breaking position. Herbert sneaks in another right hand, and Trinaldo greets him with a thumping low kick. Trinaldo tries another one of those kicks, but Herbert checks it and sticks him with a right. The round ends with both men swinging to the horn.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-8 Herbert
Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-9 Herbert
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Herbert
Round 3
Trinaldo opens the last round up with some hard leg kicks, and Herbert replies in kind with long left hands. Trinaldo kicks to the body, and Herbert can do nothing but take it and aim right hands down the pipe. They trade kicks, and Herbert doubles up on a jab while blocking the counter left coming at him. Trinaldo sends a body kick skimming off the midsection of the debuting Brit.
The Brazilian winds up with a crazy left hand that bounces off the forehead, and there is a delayed reaction as Herbert loses his equilibrium and falls back with his arms outstretched and could be out cold! Unfortunately for Herbert, Dean stands there and urges Trinaldo to pound on him, but Herbert is already done. Trinaldo does not want to finish the job, and waits a moment before reluctantly slamming down four more jackhammering left hands to officially seal the deal.
That was not a good display of refereeing, and not the first potentially late stoppage from Dean tonight; more than anything, what a surprising win for the Brazilian.
The Official Result
Francisco Trinaldo def. Jai Herbert R3 1:30 via TKO (Punches)
Big Brady picks Herbert as his first underdog of the card, citing Herbert's speed, volume, and youth. He thinks Trinaldo is on the decline and doesn't throw enough. He is concerned about Trinaldo's takedowns but notes Trinaldo rarely uses them. He predicts Herbert wins a decision by outworking Trinaldo.
Daniel leans Trinaldo but acknowledges Herbert's knockout power. He thinks Trinaldo will mix in takedowns and have success on the mat if Herbert can't knock him out. He notes Trinaldo's experience and toughness but also that Herbert's right hand is a real threat. He sees Trinaldo winning a decision.
Herbert is a good striker with movement and kicks, and Trinaldo is 41 and may start to slow down. Herbert can manage distance and avoid Trinaldo's power shots. However, Trinaldo has power and experience, making this a tough fight to cap. Herbert likely wins by decision if he stays safe.
The MMA Guru picks Jai Herbert, citing his good wins, training with Leon Edwards, and his amateur career showing seriousness. He notes Herbert has quick KOs and a gas tank for later rounds. He predicts Herbert will have big moments and win a decision, as Trinaldo has never been TKO'd and has a good chin.
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Francisco Trinaldo | 0 | 55 of 126 | 43% | 55 of 126 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| John Makdessi | 0 | 67 of 123 | 54% | 68 of 124 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Francisco Trinaldo | 0 | 12 of 30 | 40% | 12 of 30 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| John Makdessi | 0 | 25 of 35 | 71% | 25 of 35 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 | |
| 2 | Francisco Trinaldo | 0 | 19 of 44 | 43% | 19 of 44 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| John Makdessi | 0 | 19 of 38 | 50% | 19 of 38 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 | |
| 3 | Francisco Trinaldo | 0 | 24 of 52 | 46% | 24 of 52 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| John Makdessi | 0 | 23 of 50 | 46% | 24 of 51 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Francisco Trinaldo | 55 of 126 | 43% | 34 of 100 | 17 of 22 | 4 of 4 | 53 of 124 | 2 of 2 | 0 of 0 |
| John Makdessi | 67 of 123 | 54% | 15 of 54 | 16 of 26 | 36 of 43 | 65 of 121 | 2 of 2 | 0 of 0 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Francisco Trinaldo | 12 of 30 | 40% | 5 of 22 | 6 of 7 | 1 of 1 | 12 of 30 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| John Makdessi | 25 of 35 | 71% | 5 of 9 | 7 of 10 | 13 of 16 | 25 of 35 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | |
| 2 | Francisco Trinaldo | 19 of 44 | 43% | 12 of 33 | 6 of 10 | 1 of 1 | 19 of 44 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| John Makdessi | 19 of 38 | 50% | 4 of 18 | 5 of 8 | 10 of 12 | 19 of 38 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | |
| 3 | Francisco Trinaldo | 24 of 52 | 46% | 17 of 45 | 5 of 5 | 2 of 2 | 22 of 50 | 2 of 2 | 0 of 0 |
| John Makdessi | 23 of 50 | 46% | 6 of 27 | 4 of 8 | 13 of 15 | 21 of 48 | 2 of 2 | 0 of 0 |
Daniel picks Trinaldo, citing his power and aggression. He thinks Trinaldo's left hand will find Makdessi's chin, which has been broken before. He predicts a decision win for Trinaldo by landing harder shots, even without the crowd.
The host picks John Makdessi over Francisco Trinaldo. He notes that Makdessi has been on a three-fight win streak since a KO loss, while Trinaldo is older and coming off a win over Bobby Green but couldn't beat a one-armed Alexander Hernandez. He expects Makdessi to out-strike Trinaldo for a boring decision win.
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Francisco Trinaldo | 0 | 31 of 122 | 25% | 36 of 127 | 1 of 2 | 50% | 1 | 0 | 1:04 |
| King Green | 0 | 50 of 115 | 43% | 67 of 135 | 2 of 2 | 100% | 0 | 0 | 3:45 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Francisco Trinaldo | 0 | 4 of 13 | 30% | 8 of 17 | 1 of 2 | 50% | 1 | 0 | 0:19 |
| King Green | 0 | 9 of 18 | 50% | 25 of 37 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 3:15 | |
| 2 | Francisco Trinaldo | 0 | 15 of 58 | 25% | 15 of 58 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| King Green | 0 | 24 of 50 | 48% | 24 of 50 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 | |
| 3 | Francisco Trinaldo | 0 | 12 of 51 | 23% | 13 of 52 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:45 |
| King Green | 0 | 17 of 47 | 36% | 18 of 48 | 2 of 2 | 100% | 0 | 0 | 0:30 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Francisco Trinaldo | 31 of 122 | 25% | 20 of 100 | 5 of 14 | 6 of 8 | 26 of 109 | 5 of 13 | 0 of 0 |
| King Green | 50 of 115 | 43% | 27 of 77 | 13 of 24 | 10 of 14 | 43 of 106 | 1 of 2 | 6 of 7 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Francisco Trinaldo | 4 of 13 | 30% | 4 of 12 | 0 of 1 | 0 of 0 | 2 of 10 | 2 of 3 | 0 of 0 |
| King Green | 9 of 18 | 50% | 3 of 10 | 4 of 5 | 2 of 3 | 4 of 12 | 0 of 0 | 5 of 6 | |
| 2 | Francisco Trinaldo | 15 of 58 | 25% | 4 of 41 | 5 of 10 | 6 of 7 | 13 of 54 | 2 of 4 | 0 of 0 |
| King Green | 24 of 50 | 48% | 14 of 32 | 5 of 12 | 5 of 6 | 24 of 49 | 0 of 1 | 0 of 0 | |
| 3 | Francisco Trinaldo | 12 of 51 | 23% | 12 of 47 | 0 of 3 | 0 of 1 | 11 of 45 | 1 of 6 | 0 of 0 |
| King Green | 17 of 47 | 36% | 10 of 35 | 4 of 7 | 3 of 5 | 15 of 45 | 1 of 1 | 1 of 1 |
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alexander Hernandez | 0 | 25 of 91 | 27% | 26 of 92 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:20 |
| Francisco Trinaldo | 0 | 25 of 52 | 48% | 28 of 55 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alexander Hernandez | 0 | 8 of 30 | 26% | 8 of 30 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Francisco Trinaldo | 0 | 8 of 14 | 57% | 8 of 14 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 | |
| 2 | Alexander Hernandez | 0 | 6 of 23 | 26% | 6 of 23 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:02 |
| Francisco Trinaldo | 0 | 5 of 17 | 29% | 5 of 17 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 | |
| 3 | Alexander Hernandez | 0 | 11 of 38 | 28% | 12 of 39 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:18 |
| Francisco Trinaldo | 0 | 12 of 21 | 57% | 15 of 24 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alexander Hernandez | 25 of 91 | 27% | 9 of 53 | 13 of 33 | 3 of 5 | 25 of 90 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 1 |
| Francisco Trinaldo | 25 of 52 | 48% | 13 of 33 | 11 of 18 | 1 of 1 | 24 of 51 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 0 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alexander Hernandez | 8 of 30 | 26% | 1 of 17 | 5 of 10 | 2 of 3 | 8 of 30 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Francisco Trinaldo | 8 of 14 | 57% | 5 of 9 | 3 of 5 | 0 of 0 | 8 of 14 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | |
| 2 | Alexander Hernandez | 6 of 23 | 26% | 4 of 13 | 2 of 10 | 0 of 0 | 6 of 23 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Francisco Trinaldo | 5 of 17 | 29% | 2 of 11 | 3 of 6 | 0 of 0 | 5 of 17 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | |
| 3 | Alexander Hernandez | 11 of 38 | 28% | 4 of 23 | 6 of 13 | 1 of 2 | 11 of 37 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 1 |
| Francisco Trinaldo | 12 of 21 | 57% | 6 of 13 | 5 of 7 | 1 of 1 | 11 of 20 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 0 |
Play-by-Play
View on SherdogRound 1
It’s time for a lightweight bout between Alexander Hernandez and Francisco Trinaldo. The referee is Frank Collazo. Hernandez comes out flying with a side kick. Trinaldo connects on a long straight right. Hernandez explodes forward with a straight right of his own. Hernandez is circling around Trinaldo, who has posted up in the center of the Octagon. Trinaldo lands a counter straight right after connecting on a kick by Hernandez. Trinaldo lands a low blow that hurts Hernandez and the referee calls time. Time is back in. The round is soon over, but not before Trinaldo lands a flying knee just before the round ends.
Sherdog Scores
Adam Martin scores the round: 10-9 Hernandez
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Trinaldo
Cole Shelton scores the round: 10-9 Trinaldo
Round 2
Round two begins. Trinaldo pushes forward and lands a high kick. Hernandez pushes forward and grabs a hold of Trinaldo, but shakes him off. Hernandez is unable to land anything on Trinaldo right now, but Trinaldo isn’t doing much either. Hernandez lands an overhand right. Trinaldo walks forward and lands a high kick. Neither guy really landed much that round and it’s soon over.
Sherdog Scores
Adam Martin scores the round: 10-9 Trinaldo
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Trinaldo
Cole Shelton scores the round: 10-9 Hernandez
Round 3
The third round begins and right now it could be in either guy’s favor. Hernandez shoves Trinaldo against the fence. They break. Trinaldo throws a kick but slips and Hernandez is unable to take advantage of the slip. There just really isn’t much happening in this fight. Trinaldo has been planted in the center of the Octagon while Hernandez has danced around him. Hernandez finally starts to pick it up near the end of the round but he just hasn’t landed much of anything. Weird fight, and who knows how the judges will score it.
Sherdog Scores
Adam Martin scores the round: 10-9 Hernandez (29-28 Hernandez)
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Hernandez (29-28 Trinaldo)
Cole Shelton scores the round: 10-9 Hernandez (29-28 Hernandez)
The Official Result
Alexander Hernandez def. Francisco Trinaldo via Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)
Jai Herbert - Fight History
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mandel Nallo | 1 | 16 of 31 | 51% | 16 of 31 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:10 |
| Jai Herbert | 2 | 19 of 28 | 67% | 30 of 43 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:27 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mandel Nallo | 1 | 16 of 31 | 51% | 16 of 31 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:10 |
| Jai Herbert | 2 | 19 of 28 | 67% | 30 of 43 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:27 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mandel Nallo | 16 of 31 | 51% | 13 of 28 | 1 of 1 | 2 of 2 | 15 of 30 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 0 |
| Jai Herbert | 19 of 28 | 67% | 18 of 27 | 0 of 0 | 1 of 1 | 7 of 14 | 0 of 1 | 12 of 13 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mandel Nallo | 16 of 31 | 51% | 13 of 28 | 1 of 1 | 2 of 2 | 15 of 30 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 0 |
| Jai Herbert | 19 of 28 | 67% | 18 of 27 | 0 of 0 | 1 of 1 | 7 of 14 | 0 of 1 | 12 of 13 |
Play-by-Play
View on SherdogBETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Nallo (-180); Herbert (+150)
Round 1
A youthful 36 years of age, lightweight finisher Nallo (19-5, 1 NC; 0-0 UFC) finally reached the top echelon of the sport after wallowing in the ranks of Bellator with seemingly little to show for it. To succeed in his UFC debut, he will have to get through “The Black Country Banger” Herbert (13-6-1, 3-5-1 UFC) and his iron fists. Before those fists meet faces, they are bumped together ceremoniously to kick off the bout.
Jason Herzog will be the referee for the promotional debut of “Rat Garbage.” That is his nickname, no matter if he calls himself “Mango” now. It does not take long for Nallo to get Herbert’s attention, kicking him in the face. Herbert stumbles and tries to fire back, but the high kick is finding the dome of the Brit cleanly. Nallo blasts Herbert with another and knocks him back to the wall, nearly dropping him with a clean right hand behind the ear. Herbert takes the punches on the chin and somehow steels himself to swing back with everything he has. He catches Nallo with a thunderous right hand, and shockingly puts Nallo on his seat. Herbert beats down his opponent with hammerfists as Herzog is about to step in, but Nallo rolls for a leglock to show he is still with it and manages to fight his way back to his feet. When Herbert separates and lands again, Nallo’s legs are still not beneath him. Herbert walks Nallo down and drills him with a right hand, resulting in Nallo raising his eyebrow at him.
Nallo goes after a body kick, and three crisp punches from Herbert knock him back down again. Nallo turns to his side in hopes of defending himself, but this time as an onslaught of fists relentlessly rain down, Herzog has no choice but to wave things off while Nallo’s mouth sprays blood from the oncoming fire.
Nallo lays on his back and screams a disappointed profanity, but he is fine with the stoppage and nods to Herzog that he is ultimately ok—or will be soon enough. The Canadian crowd, seeing their athlete getting smoked, does not appear upset as the few minutes of their battle was that thrilling and engaging.
The Official Result
Jai Herbert def. Mandel Nallo R1 2:05 via TKO (Punches)
Angelo picks Mandel Nallo, citing his diverse striking, kicks, and finishing ability. He criticizes Jai Herbert for hesitating and not throwing enough, noting his only notable moment was almost knocking out Ilia Topuria. He believes Mandel's counter-striking and grappling will secure the win.
Big Brady confidently picks Mandel Nallo, criticizing Jai Herbert's boring, point-fighting style and lack of chin. He notes Nallo has 14 wins, all under 1.5 rounds, and expects a first-round knockout. Brady expresses hope that Herbert gets cut after the fight.
Cody picks Mandel Nallo, citing his higher volume and better ground game compared to Jai Herbert's low output. He notes that Herbert tends to fade and that Nallo has been training with high-level fighters. He also likes the under 2.5 rounds prop.
Daniel is impressed by Nallo's striking and believes Herbert's chin is questionable. He thinks Nallo's power will be too much for Herbert, despite Nallo's history of fading in longer fights. He predicts a devastating knockout win for Nallo.
Nallo is a complete unknown after three years away; his last fights were low-level. Herbert is more experienced but chinny. No strong opinion; if forced, lean Herbert due to value. Not betting this fight.
James picks Mandel Nallo to win via knockout in round one. He believes Nallo's funky striking and early power will be too much for Jai Herbert, who has chin issues. If the fight goes past round one, he leans Herbert, but he expects an early finish.
The host mentions Mandel Nallo getting a big stage but does not make a pick for the fight.
The host is surprised by the love on Nallo but thinks he has more paths to victory, including power striking and a BJJ black belt. He expects Nallo to land a big shot and put Herbert away, but thinks the fight will be closer than the odds indicate. He would stay off the fight unless Nallo's line drops to around -125.
Paul leans towards Mandel Nallo but prefers the under 2.5 rounds prop. He notes that Nallo is a finisher and that Herbert's fights often go to decision, but this matchup might end inside the distance.
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jai Herbert | 0 | 38 of 122 | 31% | 59 of 143 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:01 |
| Chris Padilla | 0 | 39 of 98 | 39% | 88 of 147 | 0 of 6 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 3:41 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jai Herbert | 0 | 3 of 16 | 18% | 17 of 30 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Chris Padilla | 0 | 9 of 24 | 37% | 29 of 44 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:51 | |
| 2 | Jai Herbert | 0 | 7 of 42 | 16% | 12 of 47 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:01 |
| Chris Padilla | 0 | 13 of 32 | 40% | 32 of 51 | 0 of 3 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 1:34 | |
| 3 | Jai Herbert | 0 | 28 of 64 | 43% | 30 of 66 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Chris Padilla | 0 | 17 of 42 | 40% | 27 of 52 | 0 of 2 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 1:16 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jai Herbert | 38 of 122 | 31% | 19 of 92 | 10 of 19 | 9 of 11 | 37 of 120 | 1 of 2 | 0 of 0 |
| Chris Padilla | 39 of 98 | 39% | 20 of 60 | 6 of 9 | 13 of 29 | 35 of 94 | 4 of 4 | 0 of 0 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jai Herbert | 3 of 16 | 18% | 0 of 9 | 1 of 5 | 2 of 2 | 3 of 16 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Chris Padilla | 9 of 24 | 37% | 3 of 11 | 1 of 2 | 5 of 11 | 9 of 24 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | |
| 2 | Jai Herbert | 7 of 42 | 16% | 4 of 33 | 0 of 5 | 3 of 4 | 7 of 41 | 0 of 1 | 0 of 0 |
| Chris Padilla | 13 of 32 | 40% | 6 of 17 | 3 of 4 | 4 of 11 | 11 of 30 | 2 of 2 | 0 of 0 | |
| 3 | Jai Herbert | 28 of 64 | 43% | 15 of 50 | 9 of 9 | 4 of 5 | 27 of 63 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 0 |
| Chris Padilla | 17 of 42 | 40% | 11 of 32 | 2 of 3 | 4 of 7 | 15 of 40 | 2 of 2 | 0 of 0 |
Play-by-Play
View on SherdogBETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Herbert (-125), Padilla (+105)
Round 1
Lukasz Bosacki will ref this featured preliminary bout at lightweight. It’s a very deliberate opening minute. Padilla lands a right over the top during an initial exchange. Halfway through the round and not much in the way of offense has landed. A Herbert kick hits Padilla’s forearm. A kick from Herbert lands below the belt, but Padilla doesn’t need a pause. A front kick finds the range for Herbert. Padilla shoots for a takedown and pushes Herbet into the fence. Padilla with some knees to the thighs late in the round. Padilla keeps the position, landing periodic knees until the end of the round.
Sherdog Scores
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Padilla
Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-9 Padilla
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Padilla
Round 2
Herbert probes with a front kick. A Herbert head kick partially lands as Padilla throws a body kick at the same time. Padilla steps in with a body kick. Once again, offense is coming at a premium. Padilla sticks a jab. Padilla grabs a body lock after an ill-advised spinning kick by Herbert. Padilla has underhooks against the fence and he’s content to grind away her. Herbert tries for a hip toss, and while it doesn’t work, it gets the fight to the center of the cage. Herbert pumps out his jab and Padilla claims his eyes are poked, but there’s no stop in the fight. Herbert steps in with a right. An inside leg kick lans for the Brit, but Padilla shoves his foe into the cage. Padilla with some short punches and knees in close. Herbert lands a knee as they separate, but he can’t find the range on anything else before the horn.
Sherdog Scores
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Padilla
Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-9 Padilla
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Padilla
Round 3
Herbert opens with a pair of inside low kicks. A right over the top gets through for Padilla. Herbert threatens with a leaping knee but Padilla sidesteps without issue. Padilla shoots after a Herbert low kick and pushes his adversary into the fence. Padilla lands a short elbow on the break. Herbert lands a 1-2 as he stalks his foe. Herbert has picked up his volume this round, which isn’t saying much. Herbert pressures and is putting some straight punches together. Padilla lands a body kick. Padilla changes levels and secures a body lock. Herbert defends the takedown against the fence, briefly threatening with a guillotine. Herbert lands a knee in the clinch as Padilla drops low for a takedown. Herbert revreses and sperarates. Herbert follows a jab with a knee. The Englishman is doing better mixing in punches and knees, but Padilla, who was busted open at some point during the round, stumbles his foe with an overhand right on the temple during an exchange. Herbert doesn’t seem any worse for wear, though, as he keeps the pressure on. They trade leg kicks as time expires.
Sherdog Scores
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Herbert (29-28 Padilla)
Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-9 Herbert (29-28 Padilla)
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Herbert (29-28 Padilla)
The Official Result
Chris Padilla def. Jai Herbert via Split Decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28) R3 5:00
Angelo picks Chris Padilla, calling Jai Herbert overrated and noting his mediocre takedown defense. He believes Padilla's pressure, durability, and explosiveness will be key. He hopes Padilla wrestles more in this fight. He mentions the line is moving and he's picking Padilla while he's still a slight underdog.
Brady sees Padilla as a live dog who has improved a lot. He notes Herbert is hesitant and low-volume now, and Padilla has finishing upside with grappling and durability. Brady predicts a close decision win for Padilla, possibly with big moments and takedowns.
The host disagrees with the betting public moving towards Padilla. He believes Herbert is a cleaner striker with improved striking defense and durability, allowing him to operate at distance and win on the scorecards.
The Guru leans towards Chris Padilla as a slight underdog, citing his finishing streak and ability to get to dominant positions. He notes that Jai Herbert often has close decisions and may be nearing the end of his career at 36. He believes Padilla's dynamism and finishing potential will be the difference, and that Herbert's tendency to let fights get away will cost him.
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jai Herbert | 1 | 82 of 178 | 46% | 89 of 185 | 2 of 3 | 66% | 0 | 0 | 0:33 |
| Rolando Bedoya | 0 | 67 of 199 | 33% | 71 of 206 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 1:11 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jai Herbert | 1 | 16 of 34 | 47% | 17 of 35 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:06 |
| Rolando Bedoya | 0 | 21 of 58 | 36% | 22 of 60 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:23 | |
| 2 | Jai Herbert | 0 | 29 of 60 | 48% | 29 of 60 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Rolando Bedoya | 0 | 30 of 78 | 38% | 30 of 78 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:03 | |
| 3 | Jai Herbert | 0 | 37 of 84 | 44% | 43 of 90 | 2 of 3 | 66% | 0 | 0 | 0:27 |
| Rolando Bedoya | 0 | 16 of 63 | 25% | 19 of 68 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:45 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jai Herbert | 82 of 178 | 46% | 47 of 132 | 27 of 36 | 8 of 10 | 79 of 173 | 3 of 4 | 0 of 1 |
| Rolando Bedoya | 67 of 199 | 33% | 29 of 134 | 10 of 23 | 28 of 42 | 64 of 192 | 3 of 7 | 0 of 0 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jai Herbert | 16 of 34 | 47% | 7 of 24 | 8 of 9 | 1 of 1 | 14 of 31 | 2 of 2 | 0 of 1 |
| Rolando Bedoya | 21 of 58 | 36% | 4 of 27 | 3 of 10 | 14 of 21 | 21 of 55 | 0 of 3 | 0 of 0 | |
| 2 | Jai Herbert | 29 of 60 | 48% | 16 of 38 | 11 of 18 | 2 of 4 | 28 of 58 | 1 of 2 | 0 of 0 |
| Rolando Bedoya | 30 of 78 | 38% | 12 of 51 | 7 of 11 | 11 of 16 | 27 of 74 | 3 of 4 | 0 of 0 | |
| 3 | Jai Herbert | 37 of 84 | 44% | 24 of 70 | 8 of 9 | 5 of 5 | 37 of 84 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Rolando Bedoya | 16 of 63 | 25% | 13 of 56 | 0 of 2 | 3 of 5 | 16 of 63 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
Play-by-Play
View on SherdogBETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Herbert (-155), Bedoya (+130)
Round 1
Like the last pairing, these two combatants have their backs against the wall here. Winner of just two of his seven UFC outings, Herbert (12-5-1, 2-4-1 UFC) needs to get his hand raised today, but the same can be said for Chute Boxe’s Bedoya (14-3, 0-2 UFC), who wants the third time to be a charm. Something’s gotta give between these lightweights, and referee Lukasz Bosacki will be the first to know. There is a quick glove touch between the two, and Bedoya takes to the center of the cage pushing out a front kick and a body kick to find his range. Bedoya lands with a low kick as he bounces from stance to stance, keeping Herbert guessing early. Herbert paws out a jab that is at least two feet away, and Bedoya pitches a few kicks his way. Herbert gets one leg kick back, and he counters a leg kick with a jab to the body as the kick bounces into his cup. Herbert adjusts his athletic supporter and does not need a pause, and Bedoya takes a moment before drilling him in the face with an overhand right. Bedoya remains busy with low kicks, and Herbert looks for overhand right counters. One lands perfectly, briefly short-circuiting “The Machine,” who drops to a knee. Bedoya is able to get his bearings before Herbert can finish the job, and he works his way upright but is still not totally clear. Herbert pins a one-two on the jaw, forcing the Peruvian to tie him up against the fencing. Herbert gets off a pair of knees and escapes from the clinch, and he puts out a front kick that slaps off the chest of his opponent. Herbert slips from side to side, a cut suddenly developed under his right eye, and Bedoya walks him down throwing hands. Herbert replies with a big knee that is caught, and Bedoya slugs him backwards. Bedoya leaps in with a right hand that misses, and a leg kick does connect. Bedoya goes for another low kick that is not accurate, and he has a winging right hand ricochet off the shoulder. Herbert just misses on a counter right, and he takes two low kicks from the Chute Boxe Diego Lima fighter. Bedoya jams more kicks on the front leg, and Herbert replies with a combination ending with a stiff body kick. Bedoya does not slow kicking the front leg of the Brit, with it glowing red, but he eats another power right hand before the bell.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Herbert
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Herbert
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Herbert
Round 2
Any bleeding beneath Herbert’s right eye is ceased between rounds, but some serious swelling has developed. Bedoya is quick to target that damage, going after straight left hands and following them with leg kicks. Bedoya gets off a right hook and a left on the eye socket, and he parries a body kick and skirts away. Bedoya loads up on power punches as Herbert tries to keep him at bay with a push kick, resulting in some damage on the Brit’s nose. Bedoya gives chase with a few lunging kicks, and he snaps the head back with a right hand when Bedoya gets careless. Bedoya gets excited and wants to brawl, and Herbert clips him two more times when Bedoya comes at him. Herbert gets caught with a right hand as Bedoya corners him, but he manages to pay him back. As Bedoya rushes at him, they tie up, and he knees Herbert square in the groin. Bosacki calls time and warns Bedoya for the foul, and gives Herbert 30 seconds to recover before Herbert is good to go. Herbert is active at the restart with jabs and front kicks, and Bedoya responds with similar strikes and some to the front leg. Herbert uses a number of jabs to catch Bedoya coming at him with his hands down, and he kicks the ribs and just misses with a high kick. Bedoya strides towards him, belts him with an elbow and escapes. Bedoya kicks at the same time as his opponent, but Herbert doubles up on the body kick. Herbert quadruples his jab and dances away from a looping punch, although he does absorb a low kick. Herbert gets a sneaky left hook in when Bedoya is bearing down on him, and Bedoya tanks it and swings back with reckless abandon. Bedoya assaults the front leg and kicks the body, and they trade heavy punches. Herbert backs him off with a thudding knee, and he ducks the swarming punches when Bedoya approaches him again. Herbert zings a right hand that catches Bedoya flush, and a second stuns Bedoya for a moment. Herbert drills the front leg and rips a left to the ribs, and Bedoya replies with a heavy low kick. They clash together, and the horn sounds.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Herbert
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Bedoya
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Herbert
Round 3
The fighters pick up right where they left off, trading strikes from kickboxing range. Bedoya is a bit more reckless than before, swinging just a little harder and slower. Herbert is accurate and quick, beating Bedoya to the punch and mixing things up to throw Bedoya to the mat. The Peruvian springs back up without issue and looks for a trip and throw, only for Herbert to thwart it in part due to a fence grab. Herbert counters with a throw, and Bedoya pulls himself back to his feet by grabbing the fence too—offsetting fouls, but a not particularly thrilled Bosacki. They resume striking, with Herbert jabbing his way into twos, and Bedoya gets his chin checked a few times but is able to take them cleanly. Herbert’s boxing remains crisp, and he mixes in body kicks and slides away from counters. Bedoya reaches him with a low kick, and Herbert doubles up on it and backs off with a right hand. Herbert stumbles, but that might be more due to an awkward step on the edge of the cage, and he recovers. Bedoya closes in on him and tries to take advantage of the moment, but Herbert gets out of danger. Bedoya slips several punches but walks into jabs, and Herbert scoots away from him and again takes a funny step. Bedoya clips Herbert with a right hand, and he lands it again after absorbing a jab. Herbert steps in with a knee, and he chops at the front leg. Bedoya walks him down consistently, keeping his guard up to block a pair of punches. Bedoya connects with a low kick, eats a knee and comes back with a right hand. Bedoya attempts to check a kick and eats a few punches for his effort. Herbert gets in a few punches, and Bedoya goes wide with responsive strikes. Bedoya loads up on a right hand that is easily dodged, and he gets blasted with a right hand but wears it shockingly well. Bedoya misses with a lumbering hook and runs into the wall, and when he recovers, he catches Herbert with a left. Bedoya attempts a spinning back fist, and Herbert boxes him up to the horn.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Herbert (30-27 Herbert)
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Herbert (29-28 Herbert)
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Herbert (30-27 Herbert)
The Official Result
Jai Herbert def. Rolando Bedoya via Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)
Angelo picks Bedoya because of his high output and pressure, noting Herbert is a low-volume technical striker who often stares at opponents. He expects Bedoya to land over 100 significant strikes and win a decision. He placed a half-unit bet on Bedoya at +145, expecting the line to tighten.
Big Brady is taking another underdog here, citing Jai Herbert's low volume and poor durability. He notes Herbert has become tentative and lacks the chin for brawls, while Bedoya is cutting to lightweight for the first time and has volume and durability advantages. He predicts Bedoya wins by decision.
Cody picks Rolando Bedoya, citing his high volume and pressure. He notes that Bedoya lands over 100 significant strikes per fight, while Herbert has low output and tends to fade under pressure. Cody thinks Bedoya's durability and pace will overwhelm Herbert, who has been knocked out in three of four losses. He also mentions that Bedoya arguably beat Chas Skelly and should have won.
Daniel picks Bedoya, viewing him as a high-volume brawler who can close the distance and overwhelm Herbert. He criticizes Herbert's low output and compares him to a poor man's Leon Edwards. He believes Bedoya's pace and pressure will be too much, especially now that he's at his natural weight class.
Herbert is the technically better fighter. If his durability holds up, he should out-volume and outpace Bedoya to win on the scorecards.
Paul picks Rolando Bedoya, noting that Herbert has low volume and has been knocked out multiple times. He thinks Bedoya's volume and pressure will be too much for Herbert. Paul also mentions that Herbert was not booked for the UK card, which suggests the UFC doesn't value him highly. He believes Bedoya can win a decision or even stop Herbert.
The MMA Guru picks Jai Herbert over Rolando Bedoya, noting Bedoya's lack of power and that he is moving down in weight. He believes Herbert's record is forged within the UFC and that Herbert will hurt Bedoya, possibly getting a TKO. He criticizes Bedoya's body and power, suggesting Herbert could land a front kick or knee to the body.
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Farès Ziam | 0 | 49 of 134 | 36% | 58 of 150 | 0 of 6 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 4:12 |
| Jai Herbert | 0 | 61 of 113 | 53% | 96 of 153 | 1 of 5 | 20% | 0 | 0 | 1:30 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Farès Ziam | 0 | 14 of 42 | 33% | 15 of 46 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 1:08 |
| Jai Herbert | 0 | 20 of 32 | 62% | 34 of 47 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:34 | |
| 2 | Farès Ziam | 0 | 15 of 44 | 34% | 22 of 53 | 0 of 3 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 2:04 |
| Jai Herbert | 0 | 20 of 38 | 52% | 34 of 54 | 1 of 1 | 100% | 0 | 0 | 0:16 | |
| 3 | Farès Ziam | 0 | 20 of 48 | 41% | 21 of 51 | 0 of 3 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 1:00 |
| Jai Herbert | 0 | 21 of 43 | 48% | 28 of 52 | 0 of 3 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:40 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Farès Ziam | 49 of 134 | 36% | 7 of 79 | 23 of 31 | 19 of 24 | 38 of 119 | 11 of 15 | 0 of 0 |
| Jai Herbert | 61 of 113 | 53% | 29 of 74 | 19 of 23 | 13 of 16 | 45 of 93 | 16 of 20 | 0 of 0 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Farès Ziam | 14 of 42 | 33% | 1 of 24 | 6 of 9 | 7 of 9 | 12 of 38 | 2 of 4 | 0 of 0 |
| Jai Herbert | 20 of 32 | 62% | 8 of 17 | 8 of 9 | 4 of 6 | 13 of 24 | 7 of 8 | 0 of 0 | |
| 2 | Farès Ziam | 15 of 44 | 34% | 2 of 28 | 11 of 14 | 2 of 2 | 9 of 36 | 6 of 8 | 0 of 0 |
| Jai Herbert | 20 of 38 | 52% | 12 of 28 | 6 of 8 | 2 of 2 | 14 of 30 | 6 of 8 | 0 of 0 | |
| 3 | Farès Ziam | 20 of 48 | 41% | 4 of 27 | 6 of 8 | 10 of 13 | 17 of 45 | 3 of 3 | 0 of 0 |
| Jai Herbert | 21 of 43 | 48% | 9 of 29 | 5 of 6 | 7 of 8 | 18 of 39 | 3 of 4 | 0 of 0 |
Play-by-Play
View on SherdogBETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Ziam (-155), Herbert (+135)
Round 1
Moving right along on this main card, two lightweights hovering around the .500 threshold in the UFC will come to blows. Looking to lift his record to that even mark, Herbert (12-4-1, 2-3-1 UFC) almost certainly wishes to turn this fight into a brawl. Kill Cliff FC rep Ziam (13-4, 3-2 UFC) should mind his P’s and Q’s in this one, as should referee Jason Herzog. Before the melee commences, the fighters touch gloves. Ziam claims the center of the cage, and he measures jabs only to get jabbed in response. Ziam plants a heavy leg kick down low early, and he sneaks out a body kick while getting countered. Herbert swipes out with a left hook, and he splits the guard with a jab. Ziam reaches his man with a body kick, and he skirts away when Herbert kicks him in the calf. Herbert chambers and fires another leg kick, and Ziam reacts poorly from it. Ziam steels himself and lunges with straight punches, and his straight left finds the target a few times. Herbert comes up short by a matter of inches with two looping hooks, but his leg kicks do hit the mark much to the dismay of the Frenchman. As they both try to swing hard at one another, their chests clap together and this results in a clinch. The corner of Herbert continues to shout “head position” like Tito Ortiz shouting for his fighter on “The Ultimate Fighter” to get up. As they jockey for position against the wall, they break off and end up clinched on the other side of the cage wall. Both men think about a potential level change, and this results in a positional stalemate of failed attempts. Herbert gets cracked with a short elbow as he tries to separate, and he walks Ziam down and puts a jab in his face. The French fighter responds in kind, and they proceed to let go with single strikes one after the other. Herbert lands a body kick, and Ziam clips him with a left hook. A front kick from Ziam punctuates the close round.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Herbert
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Herbert
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Herbert
Round 2
There is a brief fist bump to start off the round, and the two lightweights ply their trade with jabs. Herbert fires off a left hook in a series of punches, driving Ziam back to the fence. Herbert ups his output, laying into Ziam with strikes to the head and body. Herbert mixes things up with a leg kick, and he dodges a counter and plants his fist on Ziam’s forehead. The momentum from Herbert results in a clinch, but they break out of it and trade fists. Ziam lands the heavier of a strike with a right hand, but “The Black Country Banger” relishes this and wings a right hook back. Herbert again pushes into a clinch, and after a lull, Herbert pushes off and elbows Ziam in the face. Ziam pokes out several jabs, and he blocks a head kick as Herbert comes at him. Again, Herbert ties Ziam up, considering a takedown but unable to get it. Herbert knees the body several times, and Ziam decides to do the same. Ziam gains a full head of steam, and he is able to turn the tables on Herbert by taking him down with ease. Herbert hits a sweep, briefly puts Ziam on his back, and the two scramble back to their feet. Herbert returns to pressing his full weight on his opponent, and Ziam manages to eventually get out of the grip. Ziam knocks the advancing Herbert back with two punches, only to get popped by counters from the Brit. They trade punches, and Herbert jabs his way in and follows it with a head kick. When Herbert charges him, Ziam sneaks up an uppercut, and the grueling round ends in the clinch.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Herbert
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Ziam
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Herbert
Round 3
Coming into the last round, scores could be all over the map. They greet in the center of the cage spamming kicks, trading them one after the other fearlessly. Ziam throws the first punch, and Herbert leans back and kicks at him. Ziam sticks out a jab and takes one back on the chin, and he swipes out with a short hook. Ziam comes up shy of the mark with two big punches, and Herbert sits back and smacks him with a kick on either side of his calf. “Smile Killer” jabs and whips a left hook over the top, and the crowd is growing restless by the relative sparring match after a fairly lackluster event thus far. The fighters proceed to take turns striking at one another, and Ziam connects with a big leg kick that makes Herbert hobble back and shake his leg out. Ziam ends another combination with a thudding kick, and Herbert rushes towards him and ties him up before looking for a body lock takedown. The Frenchman keeps his balance and leans himself against the chain-link fencing, and he manages to turn himself around and stop Herbert from taking his back. Ziam counters with an inside trip, and they both topple to the ground for a second before jumping back up, locked together in a mean-spirited embrace. Ziam secures another trip, and once more Herbert falls over and gets back up. The two split up with 90 seconds to go in the fight, and neither man engages with anything of note. After the lull in activity, they trade leg kicks and jabs, and Ziam wipes his eye as if he was reacting from an eye poke. Herbert does not let him have a moment to take care of it, as he turns his hips into a heavy leg kick. Ziam drops to a knee in a takedown shot, and Herbert easily stands him up and bullies him towards the fence. Ziam spins him around, and he hangs on until this disappointing affair comes to a close after 15 slogging minutes pass. It’s anyone’s guess who will get the nod after this one.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Ziam (29-28 Herbert)
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Ziam (29-28 Ziam)
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Ziam (29-28 Herbert)
The Official Result
Fares Ziam def. Jai Herbert via Unanimous Decision (29-28, 29-28, 30-27)
Angelo thinks Jai Herbert will win by out-pointing in a boring striking match, citing Herbert's power and danger. However, he is concerned about Herbert's poor takedown defense and will not bet on him because of that vulnerability.
Big Brady picks Farès Ziam by decision, but says it's his least favorite fight on the card. He notes Ziam is a point fighter with no power but good defense, while Herbert has power but has become tentative after being knocked out multiple times. He thinks Ziam's youth and improvements give him the edge, but expects a boring fight.
Cody sees the fighters as similar but notes Ziam showed improved wrestling against Figlak. However, he thinks Herbert's reach advantage and home crowd could sway a close decision. He likes Herbert at +140 as a dog or pass.
Daniel picks Farès Ziam, citing his durability advantage over Jai Herbert, who has been dropped multiple times. He notes both are long, low-output strikers but Ziam has better defense and more impact. He has been waiting for a highlight-reel KO from Ziam and thinks this could be the fight. He also mentions Ziam's improved grappling and training in jiu-jitsu. He acknowledges Herbert's power but believes Ziam's durability and defense will be the difference.
The host picks Farès Ziam, citing his youth, improvements, and ability to mix striking with takedowns. He believes Herbert is slowing down and that Ziam will put the hurting on him. He predicts a decision win for Ziam.
Paul picks Ziam, citing his youth (26 vs 34), improvement, and cardio advantage. He thinks Ziam's volume and durability will overcome Herbert's power. He notes Ziam's similar reach negates Herbert's length advantage.
The MMA Guru picks Jai Herbert as an underdog, citing his talent and training at Team Renegades with Leon Edwards. He criticizes Farès Ziam for not impressing and notes Herbert's head kick knockdown of Ilia Topuria. The Guru believes Herbert's finishing potential and momentum will lead to a TKO win on the feet, despite his chinny reputation.
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jai Herbert | 0 | 43 of 90 | 47% | 96 of 168 | 1 of 3 | 33% | 0 | 0 | 2:54 |
| Ľudovít Klein | 0 | 47 of 97 | 48% | 78 of 132 | 2 of 3 | 66% | 0 | 0 | 3:14 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jai Herbert | 0 | 11 of 30 | 36% | 32 of 58 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:05 |
| Ľudovít Klein | 0 | 11 of 24 | 45% | 23 of 38 | 1 of 1 | 100% | 0 | 0 | 1:53 | |
| 2 | Jai Herbert | 0 | 15 of 28 | 53% | 20 of 33 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:23 |
| Ľudovít Klein | 0 | 11 of 29 | 37% | 17 of 35 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:49 | |
| 3 | Jai Herbert | 0 | 17 of 32 | 53% | 44 of 77 | 1 of 2 | 50% | 0 | 0 | 2:26 |
| Ľudovít Klein | 0 | 25 of 44 | 56% | 38 of 59 | 1 of 1 | 100% | 0 | 0 | 0:32 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jai Herbert | 43 of 90 | 47% | 15 of 59 | 17 of 19 | 11 of 12 | 24 of 68 | 12 of 13 | 7 of 9 |
| Ľudovít Klein | 47 of 97 | 48% | 30 of 75 | 11 of 15 | 6 of 7 | 30 of 76 | 15 of 19 | 2 of 2 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jai Herbert | 11 of 30 | 36% | 5 of 23 | 5 of 6 | 1 of 1 | 3 of 20 | 5 of 5 | 3 of 5 |
| Ľudovít Klein | 11 of 24 | 45% | 7 of 19 | 3 of 4 | 1 of 1 | 4 of 16 | 5 of 6 | 2 of 2 | |
| 2 | Jai Herbert | 15 of 28 | 53% | 2 of 14 | 7 of 7 | 6 of 7 | 12 of 25 | 3 of 3 | 0 of 0 |
| Ľudovít Klein | 11 of 29 | 37% | 7 of 23 | 1 of 2 | 3 of 4 | 7 of 24 | 4 of 5 | 0 of 0 | |
| 3 | Jai Herbert | 17 of 32 | 53% | 8 of 22 | 5 of 6 | 4 of 4 | 9 of 23 | 4 of 5 | 4 of 4 |
| Ľudovít Klein | 25 of 44 | 56% | 16 of 33 | 7 of 9 | 2 of 2 | 19 of 36 | 6 of 8 | 0 of 0 |
Play-by-Play
View on SherdogBETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Klein (-190), Herbert (+160)
Round 1
The two men set to hit the cage next combine for just five decision wins across their 31 victories. Referee Rich Mitchell is going to need to be ready to jump in at a moment’s notice once “The Black Country Banger” Herbert (12-4, 2-3 UFC) and “Mr. Highlight” Klein (19-4, 3-2 UFC) start throwing down. The all-action lightweights elect to touch gloves before swinging for the bleachers, and Herbert immediately slings a head kick. Klein blocks it and fires right back, causing him to tumble to the mat. The Slovakian fighter gets back up without issue, and he faces long jabs coming from Herbert when he resets. Herbert quickly reaches him with a head kick, only for the kick to bounce off the guard. Herbert lets loose a kick to the body, and he leaves it out too long to allow Klein to grab it. Klein trips “The Black Country Banger” down to the canvas, and he lands in the guard and looks to get some ground offense going. The Brit stays active, using a butterfly sweep to keep Klein honest until he rolls for a quick armbar. Klein slides out of it and jumps back into the guard, but he finds himself struggling to get low as Herbert’s butterfly looks keep him elevated. Herbert chew up his man with punches from below, and he stings Klein with an upkick and rips open a huge cut on Klein’s left eyebrow. Klein backs off after getting rocked, and he stands back up to stop the unexpected assault. Herbert aims a head kick to that busted eye, and Klein advances to clinch up and trade knees. Herbert wings an elbow on the inside, and a knee from the Brit skims off the cup but is not called. Herbert hurts Klein again with a knee up the middle, and he lets go of the tie-up to admire his work. Herbert waits, and slips a head kick to hope to disrupt the timing, but the guard is there is time. Klein tries to reply in kind, but he misses the target by a wide margin. Klein threads the needle with his fists, breaking through Herbert’s guard, but they are few and far between. The round ends.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Herbert
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Herbert
Shane Clifford scores the round: 10-9 Herbert
Round 2
A quick touch of gloves is followed by Klein trying to throw a strike, but Herbert is well out of harm’s way. Klein misses with a swinging head kick, and Herbert does the same as they still look for their range. A body kick from Herbert is up too close, so Klein can counter him over the top with a short left. Herbert moves forward to clinch up, where he pats Klein’s thighs with light knees until Klein turns him about. Klein escapes, and he keeps a close range with Herbert to not allow the Brit to get off his rangy kicks. A body kick from Herbert is countered with a left, and Klein pushes up tightly again to trade knees. Klein aims an elbow during the break, and he slides it off the top of the forehead. The two trade leg kicks, and Herbert mixes up with a head kick before skirting away when Klein bears down on him. Klein blocks two successive head kicks and tries to pay him back with one, but Herbert is far busier with low kicks and distance strikes. A right hand from the Brit opens up an additional cut around Klein’s right eye, and Klein pays it no mind as he continues to advance cautiously. Klein crashes the pocket and manages to get off an elbow, leading Herbert to push off and circle away. Klein continues to push forward, and he wobbles Herbert momentarily with a standing elbow. Herbert separates and kicks the side a few times before the bell.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Herbert
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Herbert
Shane Clifford scores the round: 10-9 Herbert
Round 3
Klein walks out of his corner a man on a mission, launching an immediate head kick and chasing his man around the cage. Herbert circles to aim a high kick back at him, and Klein keeps his guard up safely. Klein punches his way into a clinch, and he rips the body with a knee. “The Black Country Banger” spins him around and drills a knee square in the cup, and Klein lets out a yelp and crouches down as Mitchell steps in to pause the fight. After 40 seconds of recovery time, the fight is reset in the middle of the cage, and Klein is fired up. Klein charges out, blasting the body with a knee that lifts Herbert off the ground. They tie up, and Herbert gets one back on the dome as they are putting big power into their strikes. Klein blitzes in, leading to a clinch, and knees are spammed. Herbert belts Klein in the groin again, and Klein doubles over in pain as Mitchell stops the action. Due to the second foul in rapid succession, Mitchell deducts a point from Herbert, and they restart after a minute. Herbert swings a head kick at his man when they resume, and when that misses, he advances to hit a picturesque sweep to dump Klein to the mat. Klein sits up close on the ground to protect his mug from strikes, and Herbert asks Mitchell if he can throw elbows from his particular position without it being another foul. Herbert lands a few before Klein rolls to his back, and Herbert welcomes this so that he can continue mounting offense and controlling his opponent. Klein bursts back to his feet, and he turns the tables and tackles Klein to the canvas. Herbert hits his back and utilizes his butterfly hooks to keep Klein from settling on top, but he eats a few elbows. Herbert stands back up and attempts a hip toss, but they both land on their knees and climb back up. Herbert looks to try to take the back standing, and he lowers Klein back to his knees and works him over with left hands. Herbert fights off one last takedown, and the horn sounds to end this close fight.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 9-9 (29-27 Herbert)
Brian Knapp scores the round: 9-9 (29-27 Herbert)
Shane Clifford scores the round: 9-9 (29-27 Herbert)
The Official Result
Jai Herbert vs. Ludovit Klein is Ruled a Majority Draw (29-27, 28-28, 28-28)
Angelo believes Klein is the more technical striker and can lean on grappling if needed. He notes Klein has a nice kick behind his jab and is never out of position. He thinks Jai Herbert has a size and power advantage but finds ways to lose. He likes Klein to win but thinks -190 is a bit wide given Klein's vulnerability.
Big Brady picks Klein, citing his power in hands and head kicks, and Herbert's poor striking defense (42%) and questionable chin. He notes Klein has more ways to win, including takedowns if needed, as Herbert's takedown defense is 55%. He predicts a second-round knockout, but acknowledges Herbert's size and reach advantage.
Cody picks Klein by knockout, citing his power and athleticism. He notes Klein is a finisher on the regional scene and has improved his wrestling and cardio. He thinks Herbert's durability is suspect and Klein will land a straight shot up the middle. He says Klein likes fighting taller opponents and can find gaps in Herbert's guard.
Connor picks Klein, noting that Herbert is fragile and lacks assertiveness in the clinch. He points out that Klein is durable, hits hard, and is comfortable at the same range Herbert wants to fight. Connor believes Klein's power and durability will overwhelm Herbert, who tends to fall apart when pressured.
Jacob thinks Klein is the play but is not putting money on it because he sees better value elsewhere. He notes Jai Herbert is a very good striker when confident, but his confidence has been shaken since the Ilia fight. He thinks Klein has wrestling as an ace in the hole and should withstand Herbert's striking, but Herbert could land a sniper shot.
Herbert is a good distance striker with height and reach advantages, but has durability issues and has been knocked out before. Klein has a two-fight winning streak but his grappling success came against opponents who gave up positions. If Herbert stays safe at distance and avoids getting flatlined, he should outpoint Klein over 15 minutes. The comparison is made to Jonathan Martinez's recent upset win.
Paul picks Klein, noting he can utilize wrestling and top control to win a decision. He says Klein's takedowns and top game are effective, and Herbert's takedown defense is a question. He thinks Klein by decision is a likely outcome, but also acknowledges Klein's power. He says the prop prices for Klein by KO and by decision are both plus 225.
The MMA Guru picks Ľudovít Klein over Jai Herbert, praising Klein's toughness and explosiveness on the feet. He notes Herbert is underrated but has a suspect chin and ground game, while Klein has better durability and can win in multiple areas including striking and grappling. He believes Herbert cannot pressure Klein over the distance like others have, and Klein's regional submission wins give him an edge.
Zane also picks Klein, emphasizing that Herbert's style is not tuned to beat Klein. He notes that Klein is a specialist at middle-distance striking and has never been knocked out. Zane believes Herbert's lack of control and fragility will be exploited, and Klein's power will be the difference.
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jai Herbert | 0 | 36 of 64 | 56% | 84 of 116 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 5:57 |
| Kyle Nelson | 0 | 41 of 62 | 66% | 55 of 77 | 0 of 4 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 3:06 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jai Herbert | 0 | 7 of 19 | 36% | 17 of 29 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 1:18 |
| Kyle Nelson | 0 | 19 of 27 | 70% | 21 of 30 | 0 of 2 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 1:18 | |
| 2 | Jai Herbert | 0 | 24 of 36 | 66% | 35 of 47 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 1:11 |
| Kyle Nelson | 0 | 17 of 29 | 58% | 21 of 33 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:59 | |
| 3 | Jai Herbert | 0 | 5 of 9 | 55% | 32 of 40 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 3:28 |
| Kyle Nelson | 0 | 5 of 6 | 83% | 13 of 14 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:49 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jai Herbert | 36 of 64 | 56% | 16 of 43 | 17 of 18 | 3 of 3 | 22 of 50 | 13 of 13 | 1 of 1 |
| Kyle Nelson | 41 of 62 | 66% | 15 of 34 | 11 of 13 | 15 of 15 | 28 of 47 | 13 of 15 | 0 of 0 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jai Herbert | 7 of 19 | 36% | 1 of 13 | 6 of 6 | 0 of 0 | 3 of 15 | 4 of 4 | 0 of 0 |
| Kyle Nelson | 19 of 27 | 70% | 8 of 14 | 4 of 6 | 7 of 7 | 12 of 20 | 7 of 7 | 0 of 0 | |
| 2 | Jai Herbert | 24 of 36 | 66% | 11 of 22 | 11 of 12 | 2 of 2 | 15 of 27 | 9 of 9 | 0 of 0 |
| Kyle Nelson | 17 of 29 | 58% | 5 of 17 | 6 of 6 | 6 of 6 | 11 of 21 | 6 of 8 | 0 of 0 | |
| 3 | Jai Herbert | 5 of 9 | 55% | 4 of 8 | 0 of 0 | 1 of 1 | 4 of 8 | 0 of 0 | 1 of 1 |
| Kyle Nelson | 5 of 6 | 83% | 2 of 3 | 1 of 1 | 2 of 2 | 5 of 6 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
Play-by-Play
View on SherdogBETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Herbert (-265), Nelson (+225)
Round 1
Both Herbert and Nelson have lost three of their last four promotional appearances, so jobs could be at stake in this lightweight affair, which will be governed by veteran official Herb Dean. They touch gloves and we’re underway, with Nelson moving up from featherweight. Nelson lands a hard body kick to start out. Herbert extends a long jab. Nelson with a body kick followed by a calf kick. Nelson lands another low kick. Nelson grabs a leg as Herbert lands a knee to the midsection. The Canadian is in on a takedown and he shoves Herbert into the fence. Herbert is defending well so far, but Nelson is persistent in his approach. Nelson lands a knee before Herbert reverses position. Nelson creates space and lands a big elbow with his back to the fence. They continue to battle in the clinch, with Herbert currently controlling position. Another elbow for Nelson, but not as powerful as the first. Nelson with a short elbow before breaking free. Nelson throws a high kick but it’s blocked. A calf kick from the Canadian finds its mark, though. Nelson ends the period with another low kick. 10-9 Nelson.
Round 2
Herbert opens up with a kick to the body as he circles on the outside of the cage. Nelson stalks his man and lands a body kick. Herbert answers with a jab. Nelson dodges a pair of high kicks and then attacks with the calf kick again. The action picks up as both men trade low kicks and Herbert opens up a little bit more. Herbert jab the body and then lands a left hook to the body. They clinch and Nelson drives a knee into the midsection before shoving his foe into the cage. Herbert circles off the fence, but Nelson reverses and goes high with a knee. Nelson defends a trip attempt by Herbert as the clinch battle wages on. Herbert connects with an elbow in close quarters, and he defends a hip toss and continues to control position. Herbert with a nice right hand on the break. Nelson appears to be slowing down somewhat. Herbert pressures and absorbs a low kick. Herbert tags Nelson with a right before clinching with Nelson. After a spirited exchange in close quarters, Herbert sprawls nicely on a Nelson shot, and the lightweights end the round in the clinch. 10-9 Herbert.
Round 3
They trade leg kicks early, but Herbert appeared to be more affected by the blow. Nelson with a body kick and Herbert answers with a combination. Herbert defends a takedown and powers his way into top position, where he sets up in Nelson’s half guard and drops a shoulder strike. Nelson holds Herbert close to neutralize his offense from above. Herbert seems content to remain in half guard rather than looking to advance to mount. A few short right hands land for the Englishman. Nelson recovers full guard. Nelson is able to work his way to a knee as Herbert attempts to circle his way to the Canadian’s back. Nelson is now up with a minute left. He turns off the fence and shoves Herbert into the cage. Nelson works for a takedown but Herbert defends all the way until the horn. A late shot from Nelson at the horn draws a displeased reaction from “The Black Country Banger.” 10-9 Herbert (29-28 Herbert).
The Official Result
Jai Herbert def. Kyle Nelson via Unanimous Decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28) R3 5:00
Angelo picks Jai Herbert but expresses concern about Kyle Nelson's two-year layoff, noting it's hard to know what version of Nelson will show up. He highlights Herbert's technical striking and movement, and that he looked sharp before being knocked out by Ilia Topuria. He advises leaving Herbert out of parlays due to the uncertainty.
Big Brady picks Jai Herbert to win by first-round knockout. He loves Herbert's striking and power but notes his poor striking defense and chin. He thinks Kyle Nelson has power but a bad gas tank, and if the fight goes past the first round, Herbert takes over. He expects a knockout in the first round.
Cody picks Jai Herbert, citing his length, reach advantage, and excellent jab. He notes Nelson has been inactive for two years, moving up in weight, and has poor cardio and takedown defense. Cody thinks Herbert will dictate the outside and jab Nelson's face off. He predicts a first or second round knockout for Herbert.
Daniel Levi picks Jai Herbert, noting that this is a massive step down in competition for Herbert, who has been fighting tough opponents. He believes Herbert has better technique, length, and shot selection. Levi points out that Kyle Nelson is essentially knockout or bust, having only one KO since 2018, and questions Nelson's toughness relative to other UFC fighters.
Herbert is technically better, has a six-inch reach advantage, and should touch Nelson up. However, Herbert has a glass chin and Nelson has power. I think Herbert finishes him in the second or third round. The fight doesn't go to decision is a good parlay piece.
Paul picks Kyle Nelson at +235, calling it a dogger pass. He notes Nelson throws absolute hammers and Herbert's chin is questionable. Paul thinks the fight is high variance and Herbert has been rocked many times. He likes Nelson inside the distance at +350 or by KO at +600.
The MMA Guru confidently picks Jai Herbert to win by first-round TKO. He believes Herbert is a much better fighter than Kyle Nelson, who has been out since September 2020. Herbert has been active and will start fast. Nelson has power in the first round but fades, and Herbert can weather the storm and finish him.
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ilia Topuria | 1 | 22 of 63 | 34% | 50 of 94 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:07 |
| Jai Herbert | 1 | 20 of 41 | 48% | 31 of 55 | 1 of 4 | 25% | 0 | 0 | 2:41 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ilia Topuria | 1 | 19 of 47 | 40% | 47 of 78 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:07 |
| Jai Herbert | 0 | 12 of 27 | 44% | 23 of 41 | 1 of 4 | 25% | 0 | 0 | 2:38 | |
| 2 | Ilia Topuria | 0 | 3 of 16 | 18% | 3 of 16 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Jai Herbert | 1 | 8 of 14 | 57% | 8 of 14 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:03 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ilia Topuria | 22 of 63 | 34% | 20 of 60 | 1 of 2 | 1 of 1 | 19 of 59 | 1 of 1 | 2 of 3 |
| Jai Herbert | 20 of 41 | 48% | 17 of 37 | 3 of 4 | 0 of 0 | 14 of 35 | 2 of 2 | 4 of 4 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ilia Topuria | 19 of 47 | 40% | 18 of 45 | 0 of 1 | 1 of 1 | 16 of 43 | 1 of 1 | 2 of 3 |
| Jai Herbert | 12 of 27 | 44% | 11 of 25 | 1 of 2 | 0 of 0 | 6 of 21 | 2 of 2 | 4 of 4 | |
| 2 | Ilia Topuria | 3 of 16 | 18% | 2 of 15 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 0 | 3 of 16 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Jai Herbert | 8 of 14 | 57% | 6 of 12 | 2 of 2 | 0 of 0 | 8 of 14 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
Play-by-Play
View on SherdogRound 1
Kicking off the main card is a classic stylistic battle when the appropriately titled “Black Country Banger” Herbert (11-3, 1-2 UFC) faces off against Spanish submission threat Topuria (11-0, 3-0 UFC) in the lightweight division. Trying to keep a lid on what is sure to be a fast-paced tilt will be referee Marc Goddard, although he does not need to worry about disrespect as the two touch gloves first. Herbert bounces up and down before snapping out a jab, and he steps in with a knee when Topuria advances towards him. Herbert keeps his opponent at bay with long, rangy strikes, getting the smaller Topuria’s attention quickly. Herbert lets his hands go and follows it with a head kick, dropping Topuria in the opening minute, and the audience bursts into cheers for their local man. “El Matador” springs back to his feet and crashes forward to go after a takedown, pushing Herbert all the way back to the cage but not getting him down. After multiple fence grabs from Herbert, Topuria is finally able to lift him up off the ground and slam him to the mat with emphasis. Topuria lands in side control, where he starts to isolate Herbert’s right arm and set up a crucifix. The scrambling Brit is able to recover his position, and he drags Topuria all the way back to his guard. Topuria madly dashes to try to pass guard, smashing Herbert in the face a few times, and he gets kicked off briefly but dives back on top. Herbert ties Topuria up, defending himself from much offense and keeping Topuria in his guard, but Topuria slowly works his way to open up on punches. Herbert scrambles, and he forces his way back to his feet and blasts Topuria with a back-elbow. Topuria is wobbled, and Herbert drills him with a long combination that knocks Topuria back. Goddard stops the fight for a second to replace Topuria’s mouthpiece, as it had been knocked out from the heavy punches from the Brit. Topuria gathers himself, as Herbert lets him off the hook and allows the Georgian to attack with winging punches. Herbert intercepts his man with a knee as Topuria comes in, and the mouthpiece goes flying again in a cinematic fashion. Topuria’s chin holds up, and the two lightweights furiously slug it out to the bell. What a round.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Herbert
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Herbert
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Herbert
Round 2
The second round begins with Topuria aggressive, stalking Herbert down and trying to take the Brit’s reach advantage away from him. Topuria wings a right hand that just misses as Herbert kicks the body, and Herbert ducks back by an inch to avoid the massive blow. Herbert aims an uppercut that comes up short, and he strafes back and forth while Topuria comes after him.
With bad intentions in his eyes, Topuria stalks Herbert down and wings a few punches at him. Herbert reaches out with a jab, and “El Matador” unleashes a right behind the ear, a thudding left to the body and an earthshattering right hand flush on the chin that sends Herbert collapsing to the ground in a crumpled heap.
As the crowd goes completely silent, Topuria walks away without bothering to deliver a follow-up blow, with Herbert out cold beneath him. Making the most of his post-fight interview moment, Topuria does not call for bonus money – his work should speak for itself – but instead sets his sights on “that blonde b---ch” Paddy Pimblett. Should Pimblett win later tonight, matchmakers can take the day off as that came together without them having to budge.
The Official Result
Ilia Topuria def. Jai Herbert R2 1:07 via KO (Punches)
Angelo picks Ilia Topuria to win by stoppage, citing his well-rounded game and ability to win on the feet or via wrestling. He notes that Jai Herbert has been taken down multiple times by opponents like Moicano and Trinaldo, and expects Topuria to do the same. He plans to bet on an Ilia Topuria wins inside the distance prop.
Big Brady picks Ilia Topuria to win by first-round submission. He notes Topuria is moving up a weight class on short notice and faces a massive size disadvantage, but he believes Topuria's grappling is elite and Jai Herbert has shown horrendous takedown defense and a weak chin. Brady expects Topuria to take the fight to the mat and submit Herbert quickly, as Herbert has little ground game and poor durability.
Cody picks Topuria as a lock, citing his superior grappling and Herbert's weak chin. He thinks Topuria can win by submission or KO, and notes that Herbert has been knocked out by lesser fighters. He calls Topuria the top ticket.
Daniel Levi picks Ilia Topuria, but with reservations. He notes that Topuria has finished all his UFC fights in the first round except against a short-notice opponent, where he gassed. Levi believes Topuria's ground game is a huge advantage, as Herbert has poor wrestling and chin issues. However, he warns against overhyping Topuria, as Herbert has a puncher's chance with his reach and power. Levi expects a finish inside the distance.
Topuria should replicate what Moicano did to Herbert: get the fight to the ground and use superior jiu-jitsu for a finish. Herbert is a good striker but struggles against grapplers with heavy top pressure. 23 of 25 fights for these two haven't gone to decision, and that trend should continue. The fight doesn't go to decision at -350 is a better bet than Topuria straight. I'm picking Topuria via first-round submission.
Paul picks Topuria as a lock, emphasizing Herbert's defensive liabilities and Topuria's all-around game. He notes that Herbert has been knocked out by lesser punchers and that Topuria's grappling is a major threat. He agrees Topuria is the top ticket.
The Guru picks Ilia Topuria but thinks the odds are too wide; he should be around -200. He notes Jai Herbert's weak chin and lack of physical strength, calling him a 'malnourished lightweight.' He believes Topuria's grappling and power will be too much, predicting a first-round TKO. He acknowledges an upset is possible but favors Topuria's skill set.
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jai Herbert | 0 | 11 of 21 | 52% | 11 of 21 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Khama Worthy | 1 | 24 of 46 | 52% | 25 of 47 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:05 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jai Herbert | 0 | 11 of 21 | 52% | 11 of 21 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Khama Worthy | 1 | 24 of 46 | 52% | 25 of 47 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:05 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jai Herbert | 11 of 21 | 52% | 5 of 13 | 1 of 1 | 5 of 7 | 11 of 21 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Khama Worthy | 24 of 46 | 52% | 21 of 40 | 1 of 1 | 2 of 5 | 19 of 39 | 2 of 2 | 3 of 5 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jai Herbert | 11 of 21 | 52% | 5 of 13 | 1 of 1 | 5 of 7 | 11 of 21 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Khama Worthy | 24 of 46 | 52% | 21 of 40 | 1 of 1 | 2 of 5 | 19 of 39 | 2 of 2 | 3 of 5 |
Play-by-Play
View on SherdogRound 1
Hold on to your hats, because a lightweight banger is on deck when “The Deathstar” Worthy (16-8, 2-2 UFC) seeks to become the ultimate power in the universe at the expense of “The Black Country Banger” Herbert (10-3, 0-2 UFC). Fists and feet are sure to fly, and referee Chris Tognoni may need to keep his head on a swivel from the exchanges that follow the glove touch. Worthy is jittery as he starts off the round, with his hands shaking back and forth as he tries to counter Herbert. With both preparing to counter the other, very little happens the first 30 seconds of the match. Worthy steps in with a punch to the body, and he blocks an overhand right that comes at him. The Brit fires off a body kick, and he steps out of the way from a prodding jab. Herbert slings a high kick that is blocked in time, and he chambers a body kick that collides loudly to the midsection. Worthy walks through a punch to try to land a heavy front kick, but he settles for a slapping leg kick instead. Worthy sneaks a right hand around the guard, and thumps a low calf kick to follow. As Herbert tries to pay him back, a low kick of his own gets checked. “The Deathstar” blasts Herbert with a heavy leg kick that makes Herbert do a little spin, but he gathers himself to start slinging leather. Herbert catches Worthy as he starts to unload with a brutal punching combination and a head kick in the middle. A right hand wobbles Worthy, and the continuous strikes of Herbert appear to have found the thermal exhaust port of his opponent, detonating one by one as Worthy’s legs betray him. The onslaught continues, and a left hook puts Worthy face-down down on the mat. As Worthy rolls to his side, barely grasping on to his consciousness, “The Black Country Banger” continues to bang with ferocious punches from on high. As Tognoni notices that Worthy may be out, he intervenes to stop the fight and award Herbert with his first UFC win in three tries.
The Official Result
Jai Herbert def. Khama Worthy R1 2:47 via TKO (Punches)
Angelo calls this a razor-thin pick. He notes that Khama has power and a good counter-striking game, while Jai is technical but gets hit a lot (1.3 strikes landed vs 2.66 absorbed). He thinks the odds are wide due to recency bias from Khama's knockout losses. He's not confident and won't bet the round line, but he likes Khama by a hair.
Big Brady picks Herbert as the younger, more talented fighter with height and reach advantages. He notes both fighters have poor striking defense and chins, but believes Worthy's chin is shot after seven knockout losses. He predicts a first-round knockout by Herbert, though acknowledges Worthy's power makes him live.
Cody picks Jai Herbert by knockout, citing Herbert's reach advantage and Worthy's notorious inability to take a punch. He notes that Worthy has been knocked out in seven of his eight losses, often in the first minute. Cody believes Herbert will find his range and land a straight right to knock Worthy out. He expects the fight to end inside one and a half rounds.
Lock picks Herbert based on technical striking. He notes Herbert is the better boxer and should be able to outpoint Worthy. He expects Herbert to finish later in the fight as Worthy fades. He likes Herbert inside the distance.
Paul leans towards Jai Herbert, noting his reach advantage and better cardio. He expects a high-variance fight where someone gets knocked out, and he believes it will be Worthy. However, Paul acknowledges that Herbert's chin is questionable and that he could get knocked out as well. He sees this as a firefight.
The MMA Guru picks Jai Herbert, citing Khama Worthy's recent KO losses and questionable chin. He notes Herbert's reach advantage, first-round KO power, and better competition faced. He believes Herbert's cardio and striking will be too much for Worthy, predicting a first-round KO.
Expert Picks (4)
Big Brady picks Herbert as his first underdog of the card, citing Herbert's speed, volume, and youth. He thinks Trinaldo is on the decline and doesn't throw enough. He is concerned about Trinaldo's takedowns but notes Trinaldo rarely uses them. He predicts Herbert wins a decision by outworking Trinaldo.
Daniel leans Trinaldo but acknowledges Herbert's knockout power. He thinks Trinaldo will mix in takedowns and have success on the mat if Herbert can't knock him out. He notes Trinaldo's experience and toughness but also that Herbert's right hand is a real threat. He sees Trinaldo winning a decision.
Herbert is a good striker with movement and kicks, and Trinaldo is 41 and may start to slow down. Herbert can manage distance and avoid Trinaldo's power shots. However, Trinaldo has power and experience, making this a tough fight to cap. Herbert likely wins by decision if he stays safe.
The MMA Guru picks Jai Herbert, citing his good wins, training with Leon Edwards, and his amateur career showing seriousness. He notes Herbert has quick KOs and a gas tank for later rounds. He predicts Herbert will have big moments and win a decision, as Trinaldo has never been TKO'd and has a good chin.
No comments yet. Be the first to share your thoughts!