UFC on ESPN: Poirier vs. Hooker · Jun 27, 2020 · Welterweight · Completed
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Age 35
Height 5' 10"
Reach 73.0"
Weight 170 lbs.
Stance Southpaw
Age 39
Height 5' 10"
Reach 70.0"
Weight 170 lbs.
Stance Orthodox
Career Averages - Takashi Sato
2.21 SLpM
41.0% Str. Acc.
3.73 SApM
44.0% Str. Def.
0.76 TD Avg
37.0% TD Acc.
60.0% TD Def.
0.0 Sub. Avg
Career Averages - Jason Witt
2.15 SLpM
44.0% Str. Acc.
2.54 SApM
52.0% Str. Def.
6.9 TD Avg
48.0% TD Acc.
100.0% TD Def.
0.9 Sub. Avg
Takashi Sato - Fight History
LOSS vs Themba Gorimbo
Decision (unanimous) (30–27, 30–27, 30–27) R3 5:00 · UFC Fight Night: Dern vs. Hill · May 20, 2023
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Themba Gorimbo 0 30 of 47 63% 56 of 76 2 of 6 33% 0 1 2:21
Takashi Sato 1 33 of 56 58% 110 of 158 3 of 8 37% 0 2 11:15
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Themba Gorimbo 0 3 of 8 37% 15 of 21 1 of 2 50% 0 0 0:32
Takashi Sato 0 7 of 16 43% 39 of 57 1 of 3 33% 0 1 3:58
2 Themba Gorimbo 0 14 of 17 82% 21 of 25 1 of 4 25% 0 0 1:14
Takashi Sato 1 18 of 30 60% 40 of 57 1 of 2 50% 0 1 3:20
3 Themba Gorimbo 0 13 of 22 59% 20 of 30 0 of 0 --- 0 1 0:35
Takashi Sato 0 8 of 10 80% 31 of 44 1 of 3 33% 0 0 3:57
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Themba Gorimbo 30 of 47 63% 21 of 37 9 of 10 0 of 0 5 of 16 15 of 16 10 of 15
Takashi Sato 33 of 56 58% 21 of 41 12 of 15 0 of 0 12 of 25 9 of 12 12 of 19
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Themba Gorimbo 3 of 8 37% 2 of 7 1 of 1 0 of 0 0 of 4 3 of 4 0 of 0
Takashi Sato 7 of 16 43% 1 of 9 6 of 7 0 of 0 1 of 9 6 of 7 0 of 0
2 Themba Gorimbo 14 of 17 82% 9 of 12 5 of 5 0 of 0 1 of 4 11 of 11 2 of 2
Takashi Sato 18 of 30 60% 15 of 25 3 of 5 0 of 0 5 of 8 2 of 4 11 of 18
3 Themba Gorimbo 13 of 22 59% 10 of 18 3 of 4 0 of 0 4 of 8 1 of 1 8 of 13
Takashi Sato 8 of 10 80% 5 of 7 3 of 3 0 of 0 6 of 8 1 of 1 1 of 1
Play-by-Play
View on Sherdog
Themba Gorimbo vs. Takashi Sato
BETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Sato (-110), Gorimbo (-110)

Round 1
The last UFC card before a much-needed weekend off is upon us, and it will be in the form of a dozen-fight showcase at the UFC Apex. There are two ranked fighters on the entire billing, both coming in the main attraction, but with any luck, those numbers will not matter when the cage doors close and the competitors all get after it. The first match of the evening comes in the welterweight division between two men who would very much like a win. With three losses in his last three appearances, Sato (15-6, 2-4 UFC) may need to get his hand raised to stay on the roster. Meanwhile, South Africa’s Gorimbo (10-4, 0-1 UFC) is hoping to have a second chance to make a first impression. This classic Japan vs. South Africa (or Zimbabwe, if you prefer birth nation) battle will be overseen by referee Chris Tognoni and his sweet mustache, and the combatants do not touch gloves before getting started. Gorimbo leads the dance with a head kick early, and follows it with a few punches while Sato bears down on him. Sato blocks another high kick before it can reach his head, and Gorimbo mashes forward to attempt a takedown. Sato stonewalls him and nearly shoves Gorimbo to his back, but he decides instead to stand back up and Gorimbo follows him to the clinch. Gorimbo looks to muscle his man down, and Sato turns the corner and dumps him to his back for a moment. Gorimbo explodes right back up, and he manages to suck Sato’s legs out beneath him and drag him to his seat. Sato moves to his knees while Gorimbo hooks his foe’s legs between one of his own, and he wall-walks to stand back up as Gorimbo continues to jam him up. Gorimbo looks for a trip that does not succeed, and he lifts up a knee to the chest to get a strike off in this position. This allows Sato to turn him around for a second, but Gorimbo powers him back around. “The Answer” answers a potential ref request for more action with another solid knee, and Sato replies with a half-hearted throw that he abandons when he realizes he will need to use much more energy than he is willing to succeed. Gorimbo drills another knee to the solar plexus, and Sato uses a sweep and a body lock to toss his foe to the floor. Gorimbo scrambles wildly, doing enough to get Sato down and circling around to take the back. The South African fighter hooks up a body triangle and starts fishing for a rear-naked choke, and Sato is wise to the attempt and tries to turn to a side to escape. Gorimbo softens him up with short strikes to the side of the head, and he hands on with back control until the horn blares.
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Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Gorimbo
Edwin Ayala scores the round: 10-9 Gorimbo
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Gorimbo

Round 2
Sato initiates the second round aggressively, pressuring forward and hoping to turn the tables on Gorimbo after giving up the last round. Gorimbo cocks back a right hand and releases it, blasting the charging Sato in the face and knocking him down to the floor. Sato hits his back and tries to clear out the cobwebs, and Gorimbo leaps down on top of him and tries to jack him up with hammerfists. Sato gathers his thoughts enough to consider a takedown, perhaps in a desperation effort, and the two end up standing up in the clinch. Sato starts driving several knees to the body, and Gorimbo works for another takedown as he turns the Japanese fighter around. Gorimbo looks to hook up a single-leg takedown, and Sato reverses him brilliantly with a head-and-arm throw that deposits Gorimbo to the floor. “Ten” starts fishing for a scarf hold in the advantageous position, and when there is no submission to be found, he sits up. Gorimbo threatens off his back with a leglock, but it does not come anywhere near close before Sato starts smacking him in the face with ground strikes. Gorimbo tugs his toes on the fence to get enough leverage to work his way to his knees and then upright, where he stays bent over to go for a takedown. Sato defends with a series of elbows to the side of the head, and even when he is pulled down to his knees, he continues doing some work with elbows. Gorimbo keeps grinding on him and defends a throw from Sato to stay in this grueling position. Sato breaks away from the clinch and gains some space, but Gorimbo gives chase and wings punches at him until changing levels. The round ends with Gorimbo trying to take the fight down again.

Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Gorimbo
Edwin Ayala scores the round: 10-9 Gorimbo
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Gorimbo

Round 3
With Sato advancing as per usual to start off the round, Gorimbo is prepared and goes after another huge right hand. This time, Sato does not walk face-first into it, and he ducks it to tie the African fighter up. Gorimbo is glad to get back into the close range, where he turns Sato around and drags him down to a knee for a moment. When Sato springs back up, Gorimbo redoubles his effort and hits the takedown he is seeking. Sato falls to his back, with a cut around his right eye starting to bleed. Sato does not remain on his back for long before shifting enough to get to a knee, and Gorimbo again works his way around to take the back. “The Answer” locks his legs around the waist, and Sato grimaces in pain as the position must be causing him no small amount of discomfort. Sato attempts to turn and spin around, but Gorimbo has him locked down. Gorimbo lands occasional punches to both sides of the head to keep Sato guessing, with the strikes more frustrating than damaging. Gorimbo uses one moment to snake his right forearm around the chin, but he cannot sink it under it to lock down the rear-naked choke before Sato defends it. Sato cannot get out of this miserable position, and Gorimbo turns to the side and looks for a side choke. Sato takes advantage of this momentary lapse of judgment and flips Gorimbo to his back, and he starts shelling the African fighter with punches and elbows. Sato unloads a final barrage of blows, with few actually getting through the guard, and time expires before a stoppage is even close. It may have been too little, too late for the Japanese fighter, as the fight is over.

Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Gorimbo (30-27 Gorimbo)
Edwin Ayala scores the round: 10-9 Gorimbo (30-27 Gorimbo)
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Gorimbo (30-27 Gorimbo)

The Official Result
Themba Gorimbo def. Takashi Sato via Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Confident picked May 14, 2023 (6 days before fight)
Themba Gorimbo

Angelo picks Themba Gorimbo based on his solid grappling and takedown defense shown in the loss to AJ Fletcher. He notes that Gorimbo never looked panicked and can make adjustments on the fly. While Sato is better than his recent record, Angelo believes his best years are behind him.

"I'm gonna have to go with themba here right and a lot of it has to do with how good he looked in the loss to AJ Fletcher"
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked May 12, 2023 (8 days before fight)
Themba Gorimbo

Big Brady picks Themba Gorimbo to submit Takashi Sato in the second round. He notes that Sato has a massive hole in his takedown defense and ground game, and Gorimbo is the grappler who will exploit that. However, he has concerns about Gorimbo's cardio after his debut against AJ Fletcher, but gives him a pass for short notice. He expects Gorimbo to get takedowns early and submit Sato, though he advises against going all-in on this fight.

submission in round 2
"I'm gonna take them to go out there and submit Takashi Sato in the second round"
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Lean picked May 18, 2023 (2 days before fight)
Takashi Sato

Cody gives Sato a slight edge due to his power and experience. He notes Gorimbo's durability issues and thinks Sato's kickboxing could be decisive. He is not confident and calls it a 50-50 fight.

"I'm gonna take Takashi Sato."
CO
Connor Ruebusch Expert Lean picked May 19, 2023 (1 day before fight)
Themba Gorimbo

Connor also picks Gorimbo, agreeing that his pace and aggression will be key. He notes that Sato is a solid defensive wrestler but will be tested immediately and repeatedly because he doesn't do anything. Connor expects an ugly fight but sees Gorimbo's pace winning out.

"I'll pick the pace with you, but ugly fight."
DA
Daniel Levi Expert Lean picked May 18, 2023 (2 days before fight)
Themba Gorimbo

Daniel Levi picks Themba Gorimbo, citing confidence and mental state. He questions Takashi Sato's ability to rebound from a brutal knockout loss (head kick, back of head to canvas) and thinks Sato may be hesitant. He notes Sato has low volume but heavy hands, while Gorimbo is not the most athletic but may be hungrier. He admits Gorimbo could be faded but thinks Sato's demons will be a factor.

"I'll go with themba garimba uh to get it done"
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Hesitant picked May 15, 2023 (5 days before fight)
Themba Gorimbo

The host picks Themba Gorimbo despite feeling slightly sketchy about him. He believes Gorimbo's grappling advantage will be the key, as he should be able to drag the fight to the ground and control Sato for the majority. He notes Gorimbo's striking is wild and erratic, but his kicks can keep Sato at range. He expects a decision win for Gorimbo.

"I think he is going to be the side here still feels slightly sketchy about him but I feel like he'll be able to use his grappling Advantage correctly here and get the W by decision"
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert picked May 18, 2023 (2 days before fight)

Paul does not make a clear pick, stating he has no strong opinion and that the fight is a toss-up. He does not commit to either fighter.

"I'm not very sold maybe you can sell me on a side."
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked May 16, 2023 (4 days before fight)
Themba Gorimbo

The MMA Guru expects a striking matchup, noting that neither fighter is strong on the ground. He believes Takashi Sato has become gun-shy on the feet since his KO over Jason Witt, while Themba Gorimbo is a big athlete with a reach advantage and trains at MMA Masters. He predicts Gorimbo will hurt Sato on the feet and then secure a submission, likely a rear-naked choke or armbar, finishing in the first round.

finish in the first round, submission (rear naked choke or armbar)
"I'm actually gonna go with themba gorimbo by finish in the first round"
ZA
Zane Simon Expert Lean picked May 19, 2023 (1 day before fight)
Themba Gorimbo

Zane picks Gorimbo, citing his pace and aggressive wrestling as the modern way to win. He notes that Sato is a low-output counter puncher who will be overwhelmed by Gorimbo's constant pressure and awkward tie-ups. Zane acknowledges Gorimbo is not a good fighter but believes his pace will be too much for Sato.

"I'm going to pick pace to win. Yeah. It is the modern. It is the modern way to win an MMA."
LOSS vs Bryan Battle
KO (head kick) R1 0:44 · UFC on ESPN: Santos vs. Hill · Aug 06, 2022
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Bryan Battle 1 7 of 10 70% 7 of 10 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:02
Takashi Sato 0 2 of 8 25% 2 of 8 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Bryan Battle 1 7 of 10 70% 7 of 10 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:02
Takashi Sato 0 2 of 8 25% 2 of 8 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Bryan Battle 7 of 10 70% 4 of 6 2 of 3 1 of 1 6 of 8 0 of 0 1 of 2
Takashi Sato 2 of 8 25% 0 of 5 2 of 2 0 of 1 2 of 8 0 of 0 0 of 0
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Bryan Battle 7 of 10 70% 4 of 6 2 of 3 1 of 1 6 of 8 0 of 0 1 of 2
Takashi Sato 2 of 8 25% 0 of 5 2 of 2 0 of 1 2 of 8 0 of 0 0 of 0
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Confident picked Jul 31, 2022 (6 days before fight)
Bryan Battle

Angelo picks Bryan Battle, describing him as a very busy striker with solid volume and head kicks. He notes Battle's grinding style and takedown attempts should earn him a decision win over Sato, who is hittable and lacks head movement. He references his own notes from Battle's previous fight, calling him 'very tough not amazing anywhere but very busy striker.'

"I think brian can win this fight with his noises and his jabs sato is a solid striker but i think the grinding style the takedown attempts from battle i think all of those are likely going to earn him …"
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Confident picked Aug 3, 2022 (3 days before fight)
Bryan Battle

Cody also picks Battle, highlighting his long-range kickboxing and ability to avoid takedowns. He notes that Sato's losses come against grapplers, and Battle is not an offensive wrestler. Cody believes Battle will stay at range and outpoint Sato, possibly by decision. He agrees that Battle's takedown total is likely under 2.

Battle under 2 takedowns on PrizePicks
"Battle is more of a striker... I think he's just gonna chop away ever so slightly towards a decision victory."
DA
Daniel Levi Expert Lean picked Aug 3, 2022 (3 days before fight)
Bryan Battle

Daniel Levi leans Battle but calls it a 'dog or pass' situation, noting Battle's cardio and durability should allow him to break Sato down over time. He warns that Sato has power and could catch Battle, and that laying -270 on an unproven fighter like Battle is not advisable. He prefers Sato as a dog if forced to pick.

"I'll lean Battle to maybe break him down the stretch... you can't be laying on minus 270 on Brian Battle"
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Confident picked Aug 3, 2022 (3 days before fight)
Bryan Battle

Paul picks Battle, noting that Battle is a striker with good range and output. He mentions that Sato is a power puncher who has been taken down by grapplers. Paul thinks Battle will use the threat of takedowns to open up his striking and win a decision. He is concerned about Battle's weight cut to 170.

Battle under 2 takedowns on PrizePicks
"Battle will be the pick... I think he's just gonna chop away ever so slightly towards a decision victory."
LOSS vs Gunnar Nelson
Decision (unanimous) (30–26, 30–26, 30–26) R3 5:00 · UFC Fight Night: Volkov vs. Aspinall · Mar 19, 2022
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Gunnar Nelson 0 44 of 55 80% 140 of 166 3 of 3 100% 1 0 8:09
Takashi Sato 0 9 of 23 39% 16 of 34 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Gunnar Nelson 0 24 of 29 82% 46 of 52 1 of 1 100% 0 0 2:05
Takashi Sato 0 4 of 12 33% 4 of 12 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
2 Gunnar Nelson 0 12 of 16 75% 25 of 32 1 of 1 100% 0 0 2:36
Takashi Sato 0 3 of 4 75% 3 of 4 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
3 Gunnar Nelson 0 8 of 10 80% 69 of 82 1 of 1 100% 1 0 3:28
Takashi Sato 0 2 of 7 28% 9 of 18 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Gunnar Nelson 44 of 55 80% 36 of 47 7 of 7 1 of 1 10 of 20 1 of 2 33 of 33
Takashi Sato 9 of 23 39% 4 of 16 2 of 4 3 of 3 9 of 23 0 of 0 0 of 0
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Gunnar Nelson 24 of 29 82% 21 of 26 2 of 2 1 of 1 4 of 8 0 of 1 20 of 20
Takashi Sato 4 of 12 33% 2 of 8 0 of 2 2 of 2 4 of 12 0 of 0 0 of 0
2 Gunnar Nelson 12 of 16 75% 9 of 13 3 of 3 0 of 0 5 of 9 0 of 0 7 of 7
Takashi Sato 3 of 4 75% 1 of 2 1 of 1 1 of 1 3 of 4 0 of 0 0 of 0
3 Gunnar Nelson 8 of 10 80% 6 of 8 2 of 2 0 of 0 1 of 3 1 of 1 6 of 6
Takashi Sato 2 of 7 28% 1 of 6 1 of 1 0 of 0 2 of 7 0 of 0 0 of 0
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Confident picked Mar 12, 2022 (7 days before fight)
Gunnar Nelson

Angelo picks Gunnar Nelson, predicting a submission win. He notes that Nelson has been away for two years due to rib injuries but has a short-notice opponent with grappling holes. He worries about Nelson's takedown entries leaving him hittable but thinks the UFC set him up for a win. He says Nelson probably wins by submission but acknowledges the layoff makes it uncertain.

prediction: wins by submission
"i think the stars have a line for him here but i would not be surprised if we see a pretty unmotivated gunner nelson who's kind of just doing this because he wants to fight in europe one last time"
BI
Big Brady Expert Hesitant picked Mar 14, 2022 (5 days before fight)
Gunnar Nelson

Big Brady picks Gunnar Nelson to win by first-round submission, but expresses concern about Nelson's two-year layoff. He believes if Nelson is anywhere near his best, he should submit Sato early, as Sato has been submitted three times and has poor ground game. Brady notes Nelson has fought elite competition like Gilbert Burns and Leon Edwards, while Sato's level is lower.

first round submission
"gunner nelson first round submission"
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Confident picked Mar 16, 2022 (3 days before fight)
Gunnar Nelson

Cody picks Nelson by submission, noting Nelson's superior grappling and Sato's submission liability. He thinks Nelson will get the fight to the mat and find a submission. He mentions the prop is minus 110 and he took it.

nelson by submission minus 110
"nelson by submission probably makes it look easy"
DA
Daniel Levi Expert Confident picked Mar 17, 2022 (2 days before fight)
Gunnar Nelson

Daniel Levi picks Gunnar Nelson by submission, noting that Sato has lost 75% of his fights by submission and that Nelson has 12 submission wins. He acknowledges Nelson's low striking volume and questions his motivation, but believes Nelson only needs one takedown to finish. Levi also mentions the hometown advantage for British fighters at the O2, suggesting a decision win is possible if it goes the distance. He calls it a 'dog or pass' situation due to the high price on Nelson.

Nelson by submission at -120; if goes to decision, Nelson wins
"most likely if gunny is anything like gunny used to be probably finds an opportunistic submission along the way"
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Mar 16, 2022 (3 days before fight)
Gunnar Nelson

Nelson is a jiu-jitsu wizard who should get the fight to the ground and find a submission. Sato has been finished by submission in three of his last four losses, a huge red flag. However, ring rust and past injuries are concerns for Nelson. Sato has power and a karate style, but Nelson's grappling should be too much. I'd rather play Nelson inside the distance than the -450 line. I'm picking Nelson via second-round submission.

Nelson inside the distance; Nelson via submission round 2
"I do think that this is a tailor-made matchup for him to go out there and do what we all know he can do and that's use that jiu jitsu."
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Confident picked Mar 16, 2022 (3 days before fight)
Gunnar Nelson

Paul picks Nelson, emphasizing his world-class skills and Sato's tendency to fade. He believes Nelson's cardio and grappling will be too much, and that Sato's power is only a threat early. He thinks Nelson will win handily, possibly by submission.

"gunner nelson should win this one pretty handily"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Mar 14, 2022 (5 days before fight)
Gunnar Nelson

The Guru picks Gunnar Nelson but expects a first-round scare where Sato drops him. He believes Nelson will recover, get a takedown, and eventually secure a rear-naked choke in round two or three. He notes Nelson's close losses to Leon Edwards and Gilbert Burns, and argues that if Burns couldn't finish him, Sato won't either. He predicts a late submission.

rear-naked choke round 2 or 3
"i'm gonna go gunna nelson... he gets dropped badly in round one and has to really fight back... eventually getting like a re-naked choke"
LOSS vs Miguel Baeza
Submission (arm-triangle choke) R2 4:28 · UFC on ESPN: Smith vs. Clark · Nov 28, 2020
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Miguel Baeza 0 40 of 73 54% 43 of 82 1 of 2 50% 1 0 1:09
Takashi Sato 0 15 of 58 25% 15 of 58 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:02
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Miguel Baeza 0 18 of 37 48% 19 of 38 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:07
Takashi Sato 0 8 of 29 27% 8 of 29 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:02
2 Miguel Baeza 0 22 of 36 61% 24 of 44 1 of 2 50% 1 0 1:02
Takashi Sato 0 7 of 29 24% 7 of 29 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Miguel Baeza 40 of 73 54% 16 of 40 20 of 28 4 of 5 32 of 65 3 of 3 5 of 5
Takashi Sato 15 of 58 25% 10 of 49 4 of 8 1 of 1 15 of 56 0 of 1 0 of 1
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Miguel Baeza 18 of 37 48% 5 of 17 10 of 16 3 of 4 15 of 34 3 of 3 0 of 0
Takashi Sato 8 of 29 27% 5 of 24 2 of 4 1 of 1 8 of 27 0 of 1 0 of 1
2 Miguel Baeza 22 of 36 61% 11 of 23 10 of 12 1 of 1 17 of 31 0 of 0 5 of 5
Takashi Sato 7 of 29 24% 5 of 25 2 of 4 0 of 0 7 of 29 0 of 0 0 of 0
WIN vs Jason Witt
TKO (punches) R1 0:48 · UFC on ESPN: Poirier vs. Hooker · Jun 27, 2020
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Takashi Sato 1 18 of 21 85% 18 of 21 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:11
Jason Witt 0 2 of 5 40% 2 of 5 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:00
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Takashi Sato 1 18 of 21 85% 18 of 21 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:11
Jason Witt 0 2 of 5 40% 2 of 5 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:00
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Takashi Sato 18 of 21 85% 18 of 21 0 of 0 0 of 0 3 of 5 0 of 0 15 of 16
Jason Witt 2 of 5 40% 0 of 2 1 of 2 1 of 1 2 of 5 0 of 0 0 of 0
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Takashi Sato 18 of 21 85% 18 of 21 0 of 0 0 of 0 3 of 5 0 of 0 15 of 16
Jason Witt 2 of 5 40% 0 of 2 1 of 2 1 of 1 2 of 5 0 of 0 0 of 0
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked Jun 24, 2020 (3 days before fight)
Takashi Sato

Big Brady picks Takashi Sato, despite the narrative that Witt (Brahimaj) has a submission-heavy record. He thinks Sato's takedown defense and cardio will be key, and that Witt will gas after the first round. He predicts Sato will weather the early storm and get a knockout in the second round. He notes that Witt's UFC debut and poor cardio are concerns.

Sato by KO in round 2; wouldn't bet it; Witt at +105 is not an awful underdog play
"I think Sato is gonna weather the early storm... give me Sato by knockout in that second round."
DA
Daniel Levi Expert Lean picked Jun 26, 2020 (1 day before fight)
Takashi Sato

Daniel Levi leans with Takashi Sato, citing his full camp preparation and UFC experience. He notes Sato's karate style, judo base for takedown defense, and counter-striking power. However, he acknowledges Sato's questionable chin and that Witt is taking the fight on short notice but has a wrestling background. Levi thinks Sato's discipline and preparation give him the edge, but warns that short-notice fighters have pulled off upsets before.

"I'm allying with Sato just cuz he's had the full camp the UFC experience all those things."
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Jun 22, 2020 (5 days before fight)
Takashi Sato

The MMA Guru picks Takashi Sato, citing his experience and recent UFC wins, while dismissing Jason Witt's resume as not UFC-level. He predicts Sato will dominate and win by submission in the second or third round, as Witt may come out aggressive but fade. He initially considered a decision but changed to submission, noting Sato is not a finisher but expects the experience gap to show.

Sato by submission in second or third round
"I'm definitely gonna be going with Takashi Saito... I'll go with Takashi Saito by submission in the second or third round"
LOSS vs Belal Muhammad
Submission (rear-naked choke) R3 1:55 · UFC 242: Khabib vs. Poirier · Sep 07, 2019
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Belal Muhammad 0 49 of 106 46% 78 of 148 2 of 9 22% 1 0 2:30
Takashi Sato 0 29 of 89 32% 34 of 95 1 of 2 50% 0 0 0:38
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Belal Muhammad 0 20 of 40 50% 43 of 75 1 of 4 25% 0 0 1:41
Takashi Sato 0 9 of 30 30% 9 of 30 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
2 Belal Muhammad 0 20 of 44 45% 25 of 50 0 of 3 0% 0 0 0:20
Takashi Sato 0 12 of 40 30% 17 of 46 1 of 2 50% 0 0 0:38
3 Belal Muhammad 0 9 of 22 40% 10 of 23 1 of 2 50% 1 0 0:29
Takashi Sato 0 8 of 19 42% 8 of 19 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Belal Muhammad 49 of 106 46% 40 of 85 7 of 19 2 of 2 42 of 98 3 of 4 4 of 4
Takashi Sato 29 of 89 32% 23 of 79 4 of 8 2 of 2 29 of 89 0 of 0 0 of 0
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Belal Muhammad 20 of 40 50% 16 of 30 3 of 9 1 of 1 15 of 35 1 of 1 4 of 4
Takashi Sato 9 of 30 30% 7 of 27 1 of 2 1 of 1 9 of 30 0 of 0 0 of 0
2 Belal Muhammad 20 of 44 45% 17 of 37 2 of 6 1 of 1 18 of 41 2 of 3 0 of 0
Takashi Sato 12 of 40 30% 9 of 35 2 of 4 1 of 1 12 of 40 0 of 0 0 of 0
3 Belal Muhammad 9 of 22 40% 7 of 18 2 of 4 0 of 0 9 of 22 0 of 0 0 of 0
Takashi Sato 8 of 19 42% 7 of 17 1 of 2 0 of 0 8 of 19 0 of 0 0 of 0
Play-by-Play
View on Sherdog
Belal Muhammad vs. Takashi Sato

Round 1
Headlining the early prelims by staying at welterweight, Muhammad (15-3, 6-3 UFC) looks to spoil Sato's (15-2, 1-0 UFC) sophomore Octagon appearance. Drawing the assignment for this one is referee Viacheslav Kiselev. As the fight begins, the two try to find their distance and jab at one another. Muhammad fires a right to the body and a left to the head, and then tries for a looping right hand that is barely blocked. He does this two-punch combination two more times, working the body and head indiscriminately and effectively. A big left hand cracks Sato, who backs away against the fence, and Muhammad charges in to try for a takedown and takes the back of his Japanese opponent. Muhammad lifts up Sato and drops him down, but Sato bounces back up and keeps the jab flowing. "Remember the Name" goes after a right high kick that does not quite find its mark, but a right hand following up does. Sato scores over the top with a right, and Muhammad uses this brief lull in the action to again wrap his hands around his adversary's waist. Sato circles away, and Muhammad shoots for a double leg takedown and emphatically puts Sato down. In the ensuing scramble, Muhammad takes Sato's back and secures the body lock. Cracking Sato with elbows, the horn sounds and this exciting round is over.

Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Muhammad
Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-9 Muhammad
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Muhammad

Round 2
As the second round begins, Sato scores with a left hand up top and then one more to the body. He ducks away from the combinations of the American, and avoids a high kick as well. Muhammad briefly considers a takedown and Sato defends it well. Muhammad goes back to the combination that served him well in the opening stanza, with a right to the body and left to the head. Muhammad then leans on a few more left hands, scoring on each of them until he shoots at a distance for a takedown and somehow lands it -- albeit briefly. Sato escapes by trying to throw Muhammad, who returns to that right-left combo that scores almost every time he tries it. Sato sticks out a strong left jab, as Muhammad shoots in for another takedown attempt, but Sato is prepared for it. The two separate again, and Muhammad jumps in the air with a knee that is nowhere near his opponent. Sato tags Muhammad with a straight left hand, and Muhammad returns fire with a powerful right hook that backs off Sato. The two clinch, and Sato scores a trip and lands in side control with about 30 seconds left. Sato may not land a great deal while in control, but he does end the round on top.

Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Muhammad
Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-9 Muhammad
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Muhammad

Round 3
As the third and final round commences, the two men stand in the center of the cage and trade. They appear to clash heads, causing a cut to appear on the side of Sato's right eye, but this could have also come from one of Muhammad's left hands. Sato fires off a head kick and Muhammad blocks it, with the American closing the distance to try to drag the fight down. Muhammad fails on one attempt, but does not relent and eventually gets his man to the canvas.
"Remember the Name" takes Sato's back, and quickly tries for a rear-naked choke. Unable to secure it with one arm, he switches to the other and locks it up, forcing Sato to tap.
With the victory, Muhammad picks up the first submission win of his career.

The Official Result
Belal Muhammad def. Takashi Sato R3 1:55 via Submission (Rear-Naked Choke)
WIN vs Ben Saunders
TKO (elbows and punches) R2 1:18 · UFC Fight Night: Jacaré vs. Hermansson · Apr 27, 2019
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Takashi Sato 0 46 of 90 51% 47 of 91 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:25
Ben Saunders 1 28 of 69 40% 33 of 74 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:17
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Takashi Sato 0 39 of 74 52% 39 of 74 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:25
Ben Saunders 0 12 of 41 29% 16 of 45 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
2 Takashi Sato 0 7 of 16 43% 8 of 17 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Ben Saunders 1 16 of 28 57% 17 of 29 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:17
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Takashi Sato 46 of 90 51% 9 of 46 22 of 28 15 of 16 29 of 70 17 of 20 0 of 0
Ben Saunders 28 of 69 40% 25 of 64 2 of 3 1 of 2 13 of 44 2 of 6 13 of 19
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Takashi Sato 39 of 74 52% 8 of 38 21 of 25 10 of 11 22 of 54 17 of 20 0 of 0
Ben Saunders 12 of 41 29% 10 of 37 1 of 2 1 of 2 10 of 35 2 of 6 0 of 0
2 Takashi Sato 7 of 16 43% 1 of 8 1 of 3 5 of 5 7 of 16 0 of 0 0 of 0
Ben Saunders 16 of 28 57% 15 of 27 1 of 1 0 of 0 3 of 9 0 of 0 13 of 19
Jason Witt - Fight History
LOSS vs Josh Quinlan
KO (punch) R1 2:09 · UFC on ESPN: Vera vs. Cruz · Aug 13, 2022
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Josh Quinlan 0 1 of 12 8% 2 of 13 1 of 2 50% 0 0 0:27
Jason Witt 1 3 of 12 25% 3 of 12 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:01
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Josh Quinlan 0 1 of 12 8% 2 of 13 1 of 2 50% 0 0 0:27
Jason Witt 1 3 of 12 25% 3 of 12 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:01
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Josh Quinlan 1 of 12 8% 0 of 11 1 of 1 0 of 0 1 of 12 0 of 0 0 of 0
Jason Witt 3 of 12 25% 2 of 8 0 of 0 1 of 4 3 of 12 0 of 0 0 of 0
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Josh Quinlan 1 of 12 8% 0 of 11 1 of 1 0 of 0 1 of 12 0 of 0 0 of 0
Jason Witt 3 of 12 25% 2 of 8 0 of 0 1 of 4 3 of 12 0 of 0 0 of 0
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Confident picked Aug 7, 2022 (6 days before fight)
Josh Quinlan

Angelo picks Josh Quinlan because of his dangerous striking and power, noting that if Quinlan can defend takedowns he will get a knockout. He acknowledges Jason Witt's wrestling is a threat but questions Witt's chin, which makes him vulnerable. Angelo also mentions he hammered a prop bet on Witt to have more takedowns at -325, but that line has been removed.

Hammered Jason Witt more takedowns prop at -325 (line now removed)
"i still think i'm going with josh quinlan here um you know jason witt's probably one of the more live underdogs because of the wrestling but because of his chin it really just eliminates any of that"
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked Aug 9, 2022 (4 days before fight)
Josh Quinlan

Big Brady picks Josh Quinlan to knock out Jason Witt. He notes that all eight of Witt's losses are inside the distance, with six knockouts, and his cardio is poor. Quinlan is a powerful striker who should land something big as Witt slows down. Brady acknowledges the sketchy PED history but sticks with the knockout prediction.

knockout
"i think josh quinlan does knock out jason witt in this fight"
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Confident picked Aug 10, 2022 (3 days before fight)
Josh Quinlan

Cody picks Quinlan, though he is more nervous due to the catchweight and Quinlan's UFC debut. He notes Witt's wrestling advantage but believes Quinlan's power will eventually land. Cody is not switching his pick from last week.

"i got to stick with my boy josh quinn let me get the job done"
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Lean picked Aug 13, 2022 (fight day)
Jason Witt

The host mentions Witt as a possible underdog with control time and takedowns, but does not explicitly bet him. He lists him among underdogs that could score well if they win, but does not express strong confidence.

"jason witt control time take downs all that"
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Confident picked Aug 10, 2022 (3 days before fight)
Josh Quinlan

Paul picks Quinlan by first-round knockout, noting Witt's poor chin. He mentions Quinlan's power and that the catchweight of 180 lbs might help Witt, but he still expects Quinlan to win early. Paul also likes Quinlan over 95.5 fantasy points on PrizePicks.

Quinlan over 95.5 fantasy points (PrizePicks)
"quinlan knocks him out round one i don't really trust wit's uh chin whatsoever"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Aug 8, 2022 (5 days before fight)
Josh Quinlan

The host picks Josh Quinlan, noting his steroid use (M3 metabolite) as an advantage and his undefeated prospect status. He expects a first-round KO victory over Jason Witt, who has shown chin issues. The host dismisses USADA's clearance, believing Quinlan still has the substance in his system.

first round KO
"i think he's going to go out there and get a first round ko victory over jason wit"
LOSS vs Philip Rowe
TKO (punches) R2 2:15 · UFC Fight Night: Hermansson vs. Strickland · Feb 05, 2022
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Philip Rowe 0 8 of 22 36% 25 of 43 4 of 7 57% 0 0 5:11
Jason Witt 1 8 of 17 47% 8 of 17 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:01
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Philip Rowe 0 3 of 11 27% 19 of 31 2 of 3 66% 0 0 3:46
Jason Witt 0 2 of 7 28% 2 of 7 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
2 Philip Rowe 0 5 of 11 45% 6 of 12 2 of 4 50% 0 0 1:25
Jason Witt 1 6 of 10 60% 6 of 10 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:01
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Philip Rowe 8 of 22 36% 5 of 15 2 of 6 1 of 1 7 of 20 0 of 1 1 of 1
Jason Witt 8 of 17 47% 8 of 16 0 of 1 0 of 0 5 of 14 1 of 1 2 of 2
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Philip Rowe 3 of 11 27% 2 of 8 0 of 2 1 of 1 3 of 11 0 of 0 0 of 0
Jason Witt 2 of 7 28% 2 of 7 0 of 0 0 of 0 2 of 7 0 of 0 0 of 0
2 Philip Rowe 5 of 11 45% 3 of 7 2 of 4 0 of 0 4 of 9 0 of 1 1 of 1
Jason Witt 6 of 10 60% 6 of 9 0 of 1 0 of 0 3 of 7 1 of 1 2 of 2
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Confident picked Jan 30, 2022 (6 days before fight)
Jason Witt

Angelo picks Jason Witt despite Rowe being the favorite. He notes Rowe's size and striking advantages but believes Witt's wrestling and ground control will be decisive. Witt will relentlessly pursue takedowns and maintain top pressure, likely winning a decision. Angelo acknowledges Rowe's better jiu-jitsu but thinks Witt's grinding style prevails.

"i'm going with jason witt here row is the favorite i totally get why he's the favorite he's the better striker and he's got better jiu jitsu but i think the takedowns and the elbow in ground control will be …"
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Confident picked Feb 2, 2022 (3 days before fight)
Philip Rowe

Cody agrees with Paul, noting that Witt has a history of getting knocked out and that Rowe has good BJJ to neutralize takedowns. He thinks Rowe will win by knockout in the later rounds after Witt tires. He suggests live betting Rowe after the first round.

Rowe by knockout (live bet after round 1)
"i think you're going to get a much better price here if you just take row after that first round"
DA
Daniel Levi Expert Confident picked Feb 3, 2022 (2 days before fight)
Philip Rowe

Daniel Levi picks Philip Rowe, citing his massive reach advantage (10 inches) and knockout power. He notes Witt has been knocked out multiple times and is slow and hittable. Levi believes Rowe will find his range and land a big right hand, potentially a knockout. He also mentions Rowe's grappling improvements and training with Rodolfo Vieira. He considers betting on Rowe at the pick 'em line.

i'm considering a bet on row here i think he comes out here and i think he starches jason witt at some point in this fight
"i think phil rose going to come out here and knock out jason witt"
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Feb 3, 2022 (2 days before fight)
Philip Rowe

Lock of the Night picks Rowe, expecting him to find a knockout after surviving early takedowns. He notes Witt's poor chin and reaction to getting hit. He likes Rowe by KO at +165.

Rowe by KO +165, Rowe inside the distance +110
"philip rowe philippro ko is kind of what i've been leaning on as my prop for this fight"
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Confident picked Feb 2, 2022 (3 days before fight)
Philip Rowe

Paul thinks Rowe will eventually catch Witt on the feet due to his reach advantage and Witt's suspect chin. He notes that Witt has been knocked out multiple times and that Rowe's takedown defense is suspect but his BJJ is good. He is confident Rowe wins by knockout.

Rowe by knockout (round 2 or 3)
"i think eventually phil roe catches him on the feet"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Jan 31, 2022 (5 days before fight)
Philip Rowe

The MMA Guru picks Philip Rowe, citing his 10.5-inch reach advantage and improved grappling from training with Gordon Ryan. He notes Jason Witt has been knocked out cold before and expects Rowe to keep the fight standing and win by first-round TKO with knees. He acknowledges Witt's grappling but believes Rowe's development will neutralize it.

TKO, round 1, knees
"i'm going to trust philip bro... i think he's more explosive on the feet i believe he has something like a 10 inch reach advantage"
Decision (majority) (28–28, 29–27, 29–28) R3 5:00 · UFC on ESPN: Hall vs. Strickland · Jul 31, 2021
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Jason Witt 0 50 of 113 44% 114 of 178 0 of 1 0% 0 1 0:47
Bryan Barberena 1 35 of 83 42% 56 of 105 8 of 18 44% 1 0 5:38
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Jason Witt 0 5 of 18 27% 38 of 52 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Bryan Barberena 0 10 of 15 66% 17 of 23 2 of 3 66% 0 0 2:30
2 Jason Witt 0 12 of 37 32% 32 of 57 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:31
Bryan Barberena 1 11 of 32 34% 21 of 42 2 of 6 33% 1 0 1:19
3 Jason Witt 0 33 of 58 56% 44 of 69 0 of 0 --- 0 1 0:16
Bryan Barberena 0 14 of 36 38% 18 of 40 4 of 9 44% 0 0 1:49
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Jason Witt 50 of 113 44% 50 of 110 0 of 3 0 of 0 40 of 99 4 of 6 6 of 8
Bryan Barberena 35 of 83 42% 27 of 71 8 of 12 0 of 0 25 of 67 6 of 10 4 of 6
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Jason Witt 5 of 18 27% 5 of 17 0 of 1 0 of 0 5 of 18 0 of 0 0 of 0
Bryan Barberena 10 of 15 66% 8 of 13 2 of 2 0 of 0 4 of 8 2 of 2 4 of 5
2 Jason Witt 12 of 37 32% 12 of 36 0 of 1 0 of 0 12 of 37 0 of 0 0 of 0
Bryan Barberena 11 of 32 34% 9 of 29 2 of 3 0 of 0 11 of 31 0 of 0 0 of 1
3 Jason Witt 33 of 58 56% 33 of 57 0 of 1 0 of 0 23 of 44 4 of 6 6 of 8
Bryan Barberena 14 of 36 38% 10 of 29 4 of 7 0 of 0 10 of 28 4 of 8 0 of 0
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked Jul 27, 2021 (4 days before fight)
Bryan Barberena

Big Brady picks Bryan Barberena, citing his much higher level of competition and Witt's poor chin. He notes Barberena's high volume and power, and that Witt has been knocked out in all his losses. Brady expects Barberena to find the chin or possibly get a submission, predicting a first-round knockout.

first round knockout
"give me ryan barbara and i'll say first round knockout"
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Hesitant picked Jul 28, 2021 (3 days before fight)
Bryan Barberena

Cody hesitantly picks Bryan Barberena, acknowledging his experience and toughness but expressing major concerns about his recent form, injuries, and layoffs. He notes that Barberena has looked slow and out of shape, and his takedown defense has declined. Cody believes Witt could win by grinding out takedowns, but he still thinks Barberena's grit might pull through. He calls it a 'bad gut feeling' and does not have confidence commensurate with the -265 price.

"i still want to take brian barbara and it just seems like this is a walk in the park for him and the fact that semelsberger the very first"
DA
Daniel Levi Expert Confident picked Jul 31, 2021 (fight day)
Bryan Barberena

Levi is confident Barberena will win by knockout. He praises Barberena's iron jaw, farm strength, and punching power, noting he has gone the distance with top welterweights like Leon Edwards, Colby Covington, and Vicente Luque. Levi criticizes Jason Witt's chin, implying it is weak, and believes Barberena will land a fight-ending shot. He acknowledges Witt's path to victory via takedowns but thinks Barberena's power will be too much.

Knockout prediction.
"Brian barbarena is going to knock him out at some point in this fight"
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Jul 30, 2021 (1 day before fight)
Bryan Barberena

Barberena has the power to knock out Witt, who is chinny. However, Barberena is coming off a long layoff and multiple surgeries, and he's not a one-punch KO artist. If he doesn't finish early, Witt's wrestling and top control could be problematic. The value is on Barberena by KO rather than the moneyline. He should get the job done early.

Barberena by KO +160; Barberena round 1 +250; Under 2.5 rounds (in parlay)
"I do think Barbarena wins here I do think that he uh stiffs him pretty quickly"
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Lean picked Jul 28, 2021 (3 days before fight)
Jason Witt

Paul leans towards Jason Witt as a live underdog, citing Barberena's decline and Witt's wrestling advantage. He notes that Witt has a better coach and game plan, and that Barberena's recent performances have been poor. Paul believes Witt can take Barberena down and control him, especially if Barberena's cardio is lacking. He is not fully confident but sees value in the plus money.

"i would not be shocked in the very least if jason went just went out there and took him down and held on to him"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Jul 26, 2021 (5 days before fight)
Bryan Barberena

The MMA Guru picks Bryan Barberena over Jason Witt, citing Barberena's takedown defense and well-rounded skills. He notes that Witt is coming off a brutal KO loss and is turning around too quickly. He expects Barberena to push a pace and win a 30-27 decision by landing more significant strikes per round.

Barberena by unanimous decision 30-27
"i'm gonna go with brian barbarina i actually think he's decently okay"
KO (punch) R1 0:16 · UFC Fight Night: Edwards vs. Muhammad · Mar 13, 2021
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Matthew Semelsberger 1 3 of 5 60% 3 of 5 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:02
Jason Witt 0 4 of 4 100% 4 of 4 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Matthew Semelsberger 1 3 of 5 60% 3 of 5 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:02
Jason Witt 0 4 of 4 100% 4 of 4 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Matthew Semelsberger 3 of 5 60% 2 of 4 0 of 0 1 of 1 2 of 2 0 of 0 1 of 3
Jason Witt 4 of 4 100% 2 of 2 0 of 0 2 of 2 4 of 4 0 of 0 0 of 0
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Matthew Semelsberger 3 of 5 60% 2 of 4 0 of 0 1 of 1 2 of 2 0 of 0 1 of 3
Jason Witt 4 of 4 100% 2 of 2 0 of 0 2 of 2 4 of 4 0 of 0 0 of 0
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked Mar 11, 2021 (2 days before fight)
Jason Witt

Big Brady picks Jason Witt, citing Witt's superior wrestling and grappling. He notes that Witt trains at Glory MMA with James Krause and expects a game plan focused on takedowns. He acknowledges Witt's poor chin but believes he can avoid getting knocked out by taking the fight to the mat. He predicts a submission win in the second round, similar to Witt's last fight against Cole Williams.

Witt by submission, round 2; under 2.5 rounds
"I'm gonna take Jason Witt, I'm gonna take him to win by second round submission."
DA
Daniel Levi Expert Confident picked Mar 12, 2021 (1 day before fight)
Matthew Semelsberger

Daniel Levi picks Matthew Semelsberger because Jason Witt has a questionable chin and has been wobbled several times on the regional scene. He believes Semelsberger is strong enough to stuff takedowns and will eventually clip Witt. However, he notes Semelsberger's defensive wrestling is a concern, but Witt's chin is an even bigger liability. He expects the fight to go three rounds due to Semelsberger's greenness.

"I think simonesburger's strong enough good enough takedown defense to stuff these takedowns and make him pay I think at some point simonesburger will clip him"
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Lean picked Mar 2, 2021 (11 days before fight)
Jason Witt

Lock favors Witt, citing his solid takedowns, good top control, and crushing top game. He downplays Semelsberger's win over Carlton Minus, calling Minus a low-tier fighter. Lock notes he hasn't seen much of Semelsberger's grappling and thinks Witt's wrestling could be the difference. He's cautious but leans Witt.

"jason witt man solid takedowns from what i remember good top control good crushing top game"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Mar 7, 2021 (6 days before fight)
Jason Witt

The Guru believes Jason Witt is being undervalued by oddsmakers and will end up as a favorite by fight night. He criticizes Matthew Semelsberger's best win over Colton Minus, calling Minus a 'can crusher' and noting that another fighter stepped in on one day's notice and outgrinded Minus. The Guru expects Witt's grappling to be the difference, taking Semelsberger down each round and controlling him with ground and pound. He predicts a unanimous decision win for Witt, 30-27, with Witt securing rounds via ground control.

underdog value, oddsmakers made a mistake
"i am taking that underdog in jason whit because i'll tell you this right now a word of advice from the guru jason whit will not end this week as an underdog"
WIN vs Cole Williams
Submission (arm-triangle choke) R2 2:09 · UFC Fight Night: Hall vs. Silva · Oct 31, 2020
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Jason Witt 0 1 of 5 20% 23 of 27 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Cole Williams 0 20 of 31 64% 50 of 70 2 of 3 66% 1 0 6:19
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Jason Witt 0 0 of 0 --- 22 of 22 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Cole Williams 0 12 of 19 63% 36 of 52 1 of 2 50% 0 0 4:49
2 Jason Witt 0 1 of 5 20% 1 of 5 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Cole Williams 0 8 of 12 66% 14 of 18 1 of 1 100% 1 0 1:30
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Jason Witt 1 of 5 20% 1 of 4 0 of 1 0 of 0 1 of 5 0 of 0 0 of 0
Cole Williams 20 of 31 64% 17 of 28 1 of 1 2 of 2 5 of 9 0 of 0 15 of 22
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Jason Witt 0 of 0 --- 0 of 0 0 of 0 0 of 0 0 of 0 0 of 0 0 of 0
Cole Williams 12 of 19 63% 12 of 19 0 of 0 0 of 0 0 of 0 0 of 0 12 of 19
2 Jason Witt 1 of 5 20% 1 of 4 0 of 1 0 of 0 1 of 5 0 of 0 0 of 0
Cole Williams 8 of 12 66% 5 of 9 1 of 1 2 of 2 5 of 9 0 of 0 3 of 3
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked Oct 28, 2020 (3 days before fight)
Jason Witt

Big Brady likes Witt's wrestling and submission game, noting Williams' poor takedown defense and suspect chin. He is concerned about Witt's durability but believes Witt can grind out a submission. He predicts a second-round submission win.

fight doesn't go to decision prop plus 150
"give me jason wood here i'm going to take jason witt to win by a second round of submission"
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Hesitant picked Oct 26, 2020 (5 days before fight)
Jason Witt

Witt has better wrestling and grappling, and should be able to take Williams down. However, Witt was knocked out in his last fight, so there are durability concerns. Williams is a brawler who could land a bomb, making this a risky bet.

"I do like jason witt here i do think he gets it done via decision... but i'd be a little bit skeptical about actually risking my money on this fight"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Oct 25, 2020 (6 days before fight)
Jason Witt

The MMA Guru picks Jason Witt by unanimous decision, noting that Witt looks in much better shape than usual. He considered an underdog pick on Cole Williams but decided against it, believing Witt's improved conditioning will carry him to a decision win.

"i'm definitely gonna be probably going with jason witt to get the job done i don't think he's gonna get a finish i reckon we'll see another unanimous decision here"
LOSS vs Takashi Sato
TKO (punches) R1 0:48 · UFC on ESPN: Poirier vs. Hooker · Jun 27, 2020
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Takashi Sato 1 18 of 21 85% 18 of 21 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:11
Jason Witt 0 2 of 5 40% 2 of 5 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:00
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Takashi Sato 1 18 of 21 85% 18 of 21 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:11
Jason Witt 0 2 of 5 40% 2 of 5 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:00
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Takashi Sato 18 of 21 85% 18 of 21 0 of 0 0 of 0 3 of 5 0 of 0 15 of 16
Jason Witt 2 of 5 40% 0 of 2 1 of 2 1 of 1 2 of 5 0 of 0 0 of 0
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Takashi Sato 18 of 21 85% 18 of 21 0 of 0 0 of 0 3 of 5 0 of 0 15 of 16
Jason Witt 2 of 5 40% 0 of 2 1 of 2 1 of 1 2 of 5 0 of 0 0 of 0
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked Jun 24, 2020 (3 days before fight)
Takashi Sato

Big Brady picks Takashi Sato, despite the narrative that Witt (Brahimaj) has a submission-heavy record. He thinks Sato's takedown defense and cardio will be key, and that Witt will gas after the first round. He predicts Sato will weather the early storm and get a knockout in the second round. He notes that Witt's UFC debut and poor cardio are concerns.

Sato by KO in round 2; wouldn't bet it; Witt at +105 is not an awful underdog play
"I think Sato is gonna weather the early storm... give me Sato by knockout in that second round."
DA
Daniel Levi Expert Lean picked Jun 26, 2020 (1 day before fight)
Takashi Sato

Daniel Levi leans with Takashi Sato, citing his full camp preparation and UFC experience. He notes Sato's karate style, judo base for takedown defense, and counter-striking power. However, he acknowledges Sato's questionable chin and that Witt is taking the fight on short notice but has a wrestling background. Levi thinks Sato's discipline and preparation give him the edge, but warns that short-notice fighters have pulled off upsets before.

"I'm allying with Sato just cuz he's had the full camp the UFC experience all those things."
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Jun 22, 2020 (5 days before fight)
Takashi Sato

The MMA Guru picks Takashi Sato, citing his experience and recent UFC wins, while dismissing Jason Witt's resume as not UFC-level. He predicts Sato will dominate and win by submission in the second or third round, as Witt may come out aggressive but fade. He initially considered a decision but changed to submission, noting Sato is not a finisher but expects the experience gap to show.

Sato by submission in second or third round
"I'm definitely gonna be going with Takashi Saito... I'll go with Takashi Saito by submission in the second or third round"
Expert Picks (3)
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked Jun 24, 2020 (3 days before fight)
Takashi Sato

Big Brady picks Takashi Sato, despite the narrative that Witt (Brahimaj) has a submission-heavy record. He thinks Sato's takedown defense and cardio will be key, and that Witt will gas after the first round. He predicts Sato will weather the early storm and get a knockout in the second round. He notes that Witt's UFC debut and poor cardio are concerns.

Sato by KO in round 2; wouldn't bet it; Witt at +105 is not an awful underdog play
"I think Sato is gonna weather the early storm... give me Sato by knockout in that second round."
DA
Daniel Levi Expert Lean picked Jun 26, 2020 (1 day before fight)
Takashi Sato

Daniel Levi leans with Takashi Sato, citing his full camp preparation and UFC experience. He notes Sato's karate style, judo base for takedown defense, and counter-striking power. However, he acknowledges Sato's questionable chin and that Witt is taking the fight on short notice but has a wrestling background. Levi thinks Sato's discipline and preparation give him the edge, but warns that short-notice fighters have pulled off upsets before.

"I'm allying with Sato just cuz he's had the full camp the UFC experience all those things."
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Jun 22, 2020 (5 days before fight)
Takashi Sato

The MMA Guru picks Takashi Sato, citing his experience and recent UFC wins, while dismissing Jason Witt's resume as not UFC-level. He predicts Sato will dominate and win by submission in the second or third round, as Witt may come out aggressive but fade. He initially considered a decision but changed to submission, noting Sato is not a finisher but expects the experience gap to show.

Sato by submission in second or third round
"I'm definitely gonna be going with Takashi Saito... I'll go with Takashi Saito by submission in the second or third round"