UFC on ESPN: dos Anjos vs. Edwards · Jul 20, 2019 · Welterweight · Completed
UFC on ESPN: dos Anjos vs. Edwards Next Fight
Age 34
Height 6' 2"
Reach 74.0"
Weight 170 lbs.
Stance Southpaw
Age 41
Height 5' 8"
Reach 70.0"
Weight 170 lbs.
Stance Southpaw
Career Averages - Leon Edwards
2.6 SLpM
54.0% Str. Acc.
2.44 SApM
52.0% Str. Def.
1.25 TD Avg
37.0% TD Acc.
63.0% TD Def.
0.4 Sub. Avg
Career Averages - Rafael dos Anjos
3.48 SLpM
47.0% Str. Acc.
3.23 SApM
60.0% Str. Def.
1.95 TD Avg
35.0% TD Acc.
54.0% TD Def.
0.6 Sub. Avg
Leon Edwards - Fight History
LOSS vs Carlos Prates
KO R2 1:28 · UFC 322 · Nov 15, 2025
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Leon Edwards 0 12 of 17 70% 25 of 30 2 of 3 66% 0 0 3:00
Carlos Prates 1 21 of 32 65% 24 of 35 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:01
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Leon Edwards 0 7 of 10 70% 20 of 23 2 of 3 66% 0 0 3:00
Carlos Prates 0 9 of 17 52% 12 of 20 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
2 Leon Edwards 0 5 of 7 71% 5 of 7 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Carlos Prates 1 12 of 15 80% 12 of 15 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:01
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Leon Edwards 12 of 17 70% 4 of 8 0 of 0 8 of 9 11 of 16 1 of 1 0 of 0
Carlos Prates 21 of 32 65% 8 of 16 2 of 3 11 of 13 19 of 30 1 of 1 1 of 1
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Leon Edwards 7 of 10 70% 2 of 4 0 of 0 5 of 6 6 of 9 1 of 1 0 of 0
Carlos Prates 9 of 17 52% 2 of 8 1 of 2 6 of 7 8 of 16 1 of 1 0 of 0
2 Leon Edwards 5 of 7 71% 2 of 4 0 of 0 3 of 3 5 of 7 0 of 0 0 of 0
Carlos Prates 12 of 15 80% 6 of 8 1 of 1 5 of 6 11 of 14 0 of 0 1 of 1
Play-by-Play
View on Sherdog
Leon Edwards vs. Carlos Prates
BETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Prates (-198), Edwards (+164)

Round 1
Keith Peterson is the referee. They start in matching southpaw stances and trade low kicks. They both land more leg kicks and then Prates moves foreward with a jab. Prates defends a takedown from Edwards. Prates lands a knee on the inside. Both welterweights continue to land low kicks. Edwards shoots and shoves Prates into the fence. Prates defends and stays upright. Edwards brings a knee. Prates is talking to Edwards as they remain in the clinch. Peterson has seen enough and they separate. Back at range, Prates steps in with a knee. Edwards times a level change nicely and takes Prates down. Edwards looks to take the back and makes Prates carry him like a backpack as the Brazilian stands. Prates fights off the hands to prevent a choke. A few short shots to the side of the head for Edwards. Edwards jumps off the back and takes Prates down. Edwards threatens with a rear-naked choke late in the round but Prates survives.

Sherdog Scores
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Edwards
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Edwards
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Edwards

Round 2
Edwards fires off a front kick. Prates with a low kick. Edwards counters a low kick with a left hand. Prates sticks a crisp jab. A leg kick spins Edwards around. The welterweights trade lefts as Prates keeps talking to his foe. The Brazilian pumps his jab while chattering away. A nice counter lands for Edwards following a Prates knee during an exchange. Moments later, Prates lands a long left hand through Edwards’ guard, taking the Englishman clean off his feet. “Rocky” crashes to the canvas and his eyes roll back in his head. Prates dives in and adds one follow-up missile for good measure. “The Nightmare” is the first man to knock out Leon Edwards in his professional MMA career.

The Official Result
Carlos Prates def. Leon Edwards via KO (Punches) R2 1:28
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Confident picked Nov 9, 2025 (6 days before fight)
Carlos Prates

Angelo picks Carlos Prates, noting that Leon Edwards' recent losses were to wrestlers, while Prates is a dangerous striker. He believes Edwards has shown lack of heart recently and Prates' power and accuracy will be too much. He is excited for the fight and confident in Prates.

"I think Carlos is going to win here. I'm very excited for this fight. I'm going to pick Carlos Protest."
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked Nov 12, 2025 (3 days before fight)
Carlos Prates

Big Brady picks Carlos Prates, believing he is getting Leon Edwards at the right time. He criticizes Edwards for having boring fights and not facing dangerous knockout artists, noting Edwards has never been knocked out but hasn't fought many power punchers. Brady thinks Prates has the 'death touch' and will knock out Edwards if he lets his hands go, predicting a second-round knockout. He acknowledges the risk of a slow start but expects Prates to show urgency.

second round knockout
"I'm gonna take Prochess to win this fight by second round knockout."
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Hesitant picked Nov 12, 2025 (3 days before fight)
Carlos Prates

Cody also picks Prates but calls it a trap line due to recency bias. He notes that Leon has been taken down frequently but that Prates won't wrestle, which could make Leon more comfortable. However, Cody believes Prates is younger, more aggressive, and will land bigger shots. He is concerned about Leon's past performances but ultimately sides with Prates.

"I still feel like he's just at a point of his career where he's going to be a little more aggressive, a little more active, and that's all it's going to take."
CO
Connor Ruebusch Expert Hesitant picked Nov 13, 2025 (2 days before fight)
Carlos Prates

Connor picks Prates hesitantly, citing Edwards' recent decline in motivation and tendency to fade in fights. He notes that Prates is a dangerous striker who can capitalize on Edwards' lapses, especially if Edwards backs to the fence. However, he acknowledges Prates' wrestling is unproven and Edwards could out-grapple him.

Odds: Edwards opened -160, now +160; Prates opened +140, now -185. Line has flipped.
"I will take, I will pick the guy I want to see win this fight, Carlos projects, but in three rounds... I have a lot of doubts."
DA
Daniel Vreeland Expert Confident picked Nov 13, 2025 (2 days before fight)
Carlos Prates

Daniel believes Prates is catching Edwards at the right time, as Edwards has looked uninspired and has been rocked multiple times. He praises Prates' knockout power and variety of strikes, and notes that Edwards' measured pace plays into Prates' style of downloading data and finding openings. He predicts a knockout win for Prates.

by KO
"I'm going to go with Carlos Bratis to come out here and knock out Leon Edwards."
LU
Lucrative James Expert Confident picked Nov 9, 2025 (6 days before fight)
Carlos Prates

Lucrative James picks Carlos Prates to win by KO. He highlights Prates' diverse striking arsenal, especially his devastating knee strikes, and believes Edwards will struggle to stay safe on the feet. He notes Edwards has been hurt by lesser strikers and doubts his ability to grapple effectively against Prates. He predicts Prates will land a knockout in round two or three, continuing his streak of walk-off KOs in the UFC.

by KO
"Carlos Prates, in my opinion, is going to go out there and get a KO over Leon Edwards."
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Hesitant picked Nov 13, 2025 (2 days before fight)
Carlos Prates

Prates stops Edwards' takedowns and boxes him up on the feet, landing better shots to win on the scorecards. However, the odds are a little wide for my liking, indicating some hesitation.

odds are a little wide for my liking
"I do like some prochess here as I think that he can stop the takedowns that Edwards will inevitably be looking for here and then box him up on the feet landing better shots and then win this fight on …"
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Confident picked Nov 12, 2025 (3 days before fight)
Carlos Prates

Paul picks Prates, citing that Leon Edwards is on the decline and has shown low volume and a tendency to quit. He notes that Prates is on the rise and has power, and that Leon's wrestling won't be a factor since Prates doesn't rely on takedowns. Paul thinks Prates will land bigger shots and either finish or win a decision.

"Aprates is a guy who's, you know, obviously exposed by Gary to a degree, but is, you know, still kind of on the rise, whereas I think we've seen the best of uh of Leon Edwards, too."
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Nov 12, 2025 (3 days before fight)
Carlos Prates

The Guru picks Carlos Prates to KO Leon Edwards in round one or two. He cites Edwards' suspect chin, having been wobbled by Nate Diaz and Belal Muhammad, and believes Prates' power and timing will be too much. He notes that Edwards' movement and range management may not be enough to avoid Prates' left hand. The Guru expects a dramatic finish.

KO in round 1 or 2
"I'm going to go with Carlos Pratess, man. I think Protes is going to chin him."
ZA
Zane Simon Expert Hesitant picked Nov 13, 2025 (2 days before fight)
Carlos Prates

Zane also picks Prates, influenced by Edwards' apparent loss of enjoyment and tendency to become passive. He notes that Prates' pressure and power could catch Edwards, but Edwards' wrestling is a threat. He mentions the closed stance matchup favors Prates' comfort.

Same odds commentary.
"I'm making the same pick. It's definitely informed by Leon, seeming like he will continue to stubbornly continue to do this, but doesn't really enjoy it anymore."
LOSS vs Sean Brady
Submission R4 1:39 · UFC Fight Night: Edwards vs. Brady · Mar 22, 2025
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Leon Edwards 0 23 of 35 65% 23 of 35 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:15
Sean Brady 0 57 of 93 61% 221 of 295 5 of 7 71% 1 0 11:10
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Leon Edwards 0 20 of 29 68% 20 of 29 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:15
Sean Brady 0 19 of 39 48% 47 of 69 1 of 1 100% 0 0 0:54
2 Leon Edwards 0 0 of 0 --- 0 of 0 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Sean Brady 0 19 of 22 86% 76 of 95 2 of 2 100% 0 0 4:57
3 Leon Edwards 0 3 of 4 75% 3 of 4 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:00
Sean Brady 0 14 of 21 66% 86 of 113 1 of 2 50% 0 0 4:09
4 Leon Edwards 0 0 of 2 0% 0 of 2 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Sean Brady 0 5 of 11 45% 12 of 18 1 of 2 50% 1 0 1:10
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Leon Edwards 23 of 35 65% 10 of 21 11 of 12 2 of 2 11 of 23 12 of 12 0 of 0
Sean Brady 57 of 93 61% 44 of 76 8 of 9 5 of 8 19 of 53 7 of 7 31 of 33
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Leon Edwards 20 of 29 68% 8 of 16 11 of 12 1 of 1 8 of 17 12 of 12 0 of 0
Sean Brady 19 of 39 48% 10 of 27 6 of 6 3 of 6 13 of 33 6 of 6 0 of 0
2 Leon Edwards 0 of 0 --- 0 of 0 0 of 0 0 of 0 0 of 0 0 of 0 0 of 0
Sean Brady 19 of 22 86% 18 of 21 1 of 1 0 of 0 0 of 1 0 of 0 19 of 21
3 Leon Edwards 3 of 4 75% 2 of 3 0 of 0 1 of 1 3 of 4 0 of 0 0 of 0
Sean Brady 14 of 21 66% 13 of 19 1 of 2 0 of 0 1 of 8 1 of 1 12 of 12
4 Leon Edwards 0 of 2 0% 0 of 2 0 of 0 0 of 0 0 of 2 0 of 0 0 of 0
Sean Brady 5 of 11 45% 3 of 9 0 of 0 2 of 2 5 of 11 0 of 0 0 of 0
Play-by-Play
View on Sherdog
Leon Edwards vs. Sean Brady
BETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Brady (-162), Edwards (+136)

Round 1
Jason Herzog gets the nod for the evening’s main event. Brady comes out swinging. Edwards with a swif left hand. Brady lands a right hand. Edwards tests the rear high kick. Brady forces the clinch in the middle of the cage. They break and Brady lands a low kick. They crash into the clinch again. Brady can’t do anything with it, but he lands a nice combination at range. Brady lands a left and forces another tie-up. Edwards punches the body in close. They’re back at range and Edwards counters a kick with a right hook. Edwards with a knee in close as Brady clinches. They separate and Brady wades back in with punches. Brady tries a high kick and then closes distance, pushing Edwards into the fence. The fans don’t love it. Brady knees the thighs. Edwards turns Brady into the fence and digs a short shot to the body. They stay in the clinch, with both men landing short shots. Late in the round, Brady is able to dump Edwards on the mat, and he ends the period in half guard.

Sherdog Scores
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Brady
Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-9 Brady
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Brady

Round 2
Edwards is warned before the round regarding eye pokes. Brady explodes out of his corner for a double leg. He was in deep, but Edwards is able to get to his feet. Brady drags him down from the back, then sweeps into top position. Brady takes the back as Edwards tries to initiate a scramble. Brady has both hooks in, and he peppers Edwards with lefts to the head. Brady continues to stay busy landing left hands. He switches to the body triangle. Edwards does a good job protecting his neck, but Brady is finding openings to land offense. Brady mixes in an elbow with his punches. Brady wants to scramble into mount, but Edwards gets half guard. Brady is hunting for a kimura now as he elbows his opponent’s thigh. Edwards is able to free his arm but Brady goes from full mount to back control. Brady continues to maintain dominant positions while Edwards tries to initiate scrambles. It’s complete one-way traffic that round for Brady.

Sherdog Scores
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-8 Brady
Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-8 Brady
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-8 Brady

Round 3
Brady with a kick to the body to open the frame. Brady pressures and lands an uppercut. Edwards catches Brady with a nice counter elbow. Brady is able to initiate the clinch moments later. Edwards frees himself and shoots for a takedown of his own. Brady sprawls and snaps Edwards down with a front headlock. Brady thinks about a guillotine but lets it go. He steps into full mount at the 3:30 mark. Edwards is doing his best to hold the American close. Edwards looks to scramble, but Brady unloads some heavy shots. Edwards gets to all fours and then stands. Brady powers him back down and moves into half guard. Brady is heavy on top and he might be trying to set up an arm triangle. Edwards is still moving, but he can’t shake Brady. Edwards crawls toward the fence and Brady jumps on his back. Brady has the hooks in and he peppers Edwards with short shots. Edwards is having a miserable time here, but these strikes likely won’t finish the fight. Brady pulls Edwards back, but the Brit is able to control the hands of his opponent until time expires.

Sherdog Scores
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Brady
Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-9 Brady
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Brady

Round 4
Brady moves forward behind a couple low kicks, then pressures with power punches. Edwards is on his heels, and Brady changes levels against the fence. He gets the former champ down with relative ease, and this is with more than four minutes to go in the frame. Brady is working from half guard, applying heavy pressure from top position. Brady is hunting a guillotine.
He has it locked in this time, and the squeeze tightens. Edwards has no choice but to tap
and the crowd at the O2 Arena is stunned. It’s a major feather in the cap for Brady, and he did it in dominant fashion.

The Official Result
Sean Brady def. Leon Edwards via Submission (Guillotine Choke) R4 1:39
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Confident picked Mar 16, 2025 (6 days before fight)
Sean Brady

Angelo picks Sean Brady, reasoning that Leon Edwards often fights passively and freezes when threatened with takedowns. He believes if Brady fights like Belal Muhammad—moving forward, throwing strikes, and shooting takedowns—he will win. He acknowledges Leon is the better fighter skill-wise but doubts he will pull the trigger. He is not betting the fight because Leon is too good to bet against.

"Johan Brady is going to be the pick for that reason I'm not betting on this fight"
BI
Big Brady Expert Hesitant picked Mar 18, 2025 (4 days before fight)
Leon Edwards

Brady is torn but picks Edwards, citing that Brady is not Belal Muhammad and lacks his cardio and wrestling. He thinks Edwards is the better striker and may get hometown cooking in a close fight. He predicts a very close decision win for Edwards, but says he won't bet it.

Edwards by decision; not betting
"I'll go with Leon Edwards here to win the fight in a very very very close fight"
CO
Connor Ruebusch Expert Hesitant picked Mar 20, 2025 (2 days before fight)
Sean Brady

Connor picks Brady, emphasizing that if Brady sticks to the Belal Muhammad blueprint—constant pressure and wrestling—he can neutralize Edwards. He acknowledges Edwards' danger but believes Brady's physicality and simple game plan can overcome Edwards' tendency to fade. However, he worries Brady might get psyched out and crumble.

Edwards opened at +125, currently +132; Brady opened at -163, currently -167. Connor notes the odds and seems to find value in Brady.
"I'm still going to pick sean brady ... he has been improving ... if he watches that balal muhammad fight and he if that is all he watches ... then he can win."
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Mar 20, 2025 (2 days before fight)
Leon Edwards

The host believes Edwards has shown good takedown defense in the past and, given Brady's wrestling style compared to Belal Muhammad, Edwards should survive the early takedown onslaught. He expects Edwards to start stopping takedowns in the later rounds and showcase his striking advantage, leading to a late knockout or decision win.

late knockout or decision
"I think Edwards should be able to survive the early onslaught of the takedowns from Brady and stop start stopping them in the second, third, and fourth rounds."
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Mar 19, 2025 (3 days before fight)
Leon Edwards

The Guru confidently picks Leon Edwards, questioning why he is an underdog. He believes Edwards is a better striker and will control the distance, while Brady's takedowns will be stuffed or reversed. He notes that Brady struggled against Belal Muhammad and Michael Chiesa, and that Edwards has good reversals and butterfly guard. He expects a dull 49-46 or 48-47 decision win for Edwards.

decision 49-46 or 48-47
"I'm going to go Leon Edward here I think he's a better Striker than Shawn Brady"
ZA
Zane Simon Expert Hesitant picked Mar 20, 2025 (2 days before fight)
Leon Edwards

Zane picks Edwards despite acknowledging Brady's path to victory via pressure and wrestling. He believes Edwards' psychological resilience and ability to find moments of danger will be decisive, while Brady tends to crumble when his game plan fails. Zane notes Edwards' fatal flaws but trusts his championship experience over Brady's tendency to implode.

Edwards opened at +125, currently +132; Brady opened at -163, currently -167. Zane expected Edwards to be the favorite.
"I think sean brady ... I don't think i'm gonna pick sean brady ... I think he will [find it in himself] frankly."
LOSS vs Belal Muhammad
Decision (unanimous) (48–47, 48–47, 49–46) R5 5:00 · UFC 304: Edwards vs. Muhammad 2 · Jul 27, 2024
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Belal Muhammad 0 47 of 71 66% 89 of 114 2 of 2 100% 0 2 7:11
Leon Edwards 0 68 of 121 56% 192 of 281 9 of 13 69% 0 0 12:02
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Belal Muhammad 0 15 of 21 71% 25 of 31 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:50
Leon Edwards 0 17 of 34 50% 51 of 75 2 of 2 100% 0 0 1:45
2 Belal Muhammad 0 11 of 16 68% 17 of 22 1 of 1 100% 0 0 0:49
Leon Edwards 0 13 of 22 59% 27 of 39 4 of 5 80% 0 0 3:25
3 Belal Muhammad 0 2 of 4 50% 19 of 22 1 of 1 100% 0 0 4:18
Leon Edwards 0 4 of 9 44% 9 of 15 1 of 1 100% 0 0 0:15
4 Belal Muhammad 0 6 of 10 60% 10 of 14 0 of 0 --- 0 1 0:30
Leon Edwards 0 21 of 30 70% 62 of 82 1 of 2 50% 0 0 3:17
5 Belal Muhammad 0 13 of 20 65% 18 of 25 0 of 0 --- 0 1 0:44
Leon Edwards 0 13 of 26 50% 43 of 70 1 of 3 33% 0 0 3:20
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Belal Muhammad 47 of 71 66% 32 of 53 12 of 15 3 of 3 35 of 58 6 of 7 6 of 6
Leon Edwards 68 of 121 56% 59 of 110 9 of 11 0 of 0 62 of 111 0 of 4 6 of 6
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Belal Muhammad 15 of 21 71% 7 of 12 7 of 8 1 of 1 10 of 16 5 of 5 0 of 0
Leon Edwards 17 of 34 50% 14 of 31 3 of 3 0 of 0 16 of 30 0 of 3 1 of 1
2 Belal Muhammad 11 of 16 68% 8 of 12 2 of 3 1 of 1 10 of 14 1 of 2 0 of 0
Leon Edwards 13 of 22 59% 13 of 22 0 of 0 0 of 0 10 of 18 0 of 1 3 of 3
3 Belal Muhammad 2 of 4 50% 1 of 3 0 of 0 1 of 1 2 of 4 0 of 0 0 of 0
Leon Edwards 4 of 9 44% 3 of 7 1 of 2 0 of 0 4 of 9 0 of 0 0 of 0
4 Belal Muhammad 6 of 10 60% 5 of 9 1 of 1 0 of 0 6 of 10 0 of 0 0 of 0
Leon Edwards 21 of 30 70% 18 of 26 3 of 4 0 of 0 19 of 28 0 of 0 2 of 2
5 Belal Muhammad 13 of 20 65% 11 of 17 2 of 3 0 of 0 7 of 14 0 of 0 6 of 6
Leon Edwards 13 of 26 50% 11 of 24 2 of 2 0 of 0 13 of 26 0 of 0 0 of 0
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Confident picked Jul 21, 2024 (6 days before fight)
Leon Edwards

Angelo picks Leon Edwards to win, citing Edwards' sharper striking and takedown defense. He notes that Belal Muhammad's wrestling pressure could be a factor, but expects Edwards to defend takedowns and frustrate Belal as the fight goes on. Angelo admits he will be rooting for Belal but believes Edwards is the more proven champion. He also mentions that Belal has been training with the Dagestani wrestlers and could maul Edwards, but still leans Edwards.

"I think Leon Edwards is going to be sharper on the feet defend a few takedowns I think balam Muhammad as the fight goes on is going to get more and more frustrated and I think Leon Edwards wins this …"
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Confident picked Jul 24, 2024 (3 days before fight)
Belal Muhammad

Cody believes Belal Muhammad is a talented generalist who can adapt his game plan to any opponent. He points out that Belal has shown different wrinkles, such as out-striking Gilbert Burns and Shawn Brady, and that his wrestling and pressure will be key. Cody notes that Leon Edwards has a history of dropping later rounds, as seen against Colby Covington and Rafael dos Anjos, and that Belal's volume and pace could overwhelm Leon in the championship rounds. He also mentions that Belal is at his best now, while Leon's previous opponents were past their prime.

Belal Muhammad by decision
"I think he can just crash the pocket and constantly come forward and constantly pressure try to use the volume game... second third fourth and fifth he needs just to make this absolute grind."
DA
Daniel Vreeland Expert Confident picked Jul 24, 2024 (3 days before fight)
Belal Muhammad

Daniel argues that the first fight was not a domination, citing no knockdowns, no 10-8 round, and a close strike count. He believes Belal's relentless pace, high output, and ability to pressure will overwhelm Leon, who has shown fatigue in later rounds. He also notes that Belal is undervalued by the market and has consistently been a profitable underdog. He acknowledges Leon's kicking threat but thinks Belal can close distance and make it a dirty fight.

"I'm going an new balal Muhammad um and I'm riding this uh train till the to till the wheels fall off"
DA
Daniel Vreeland Expert Confident picked Jul 25, 2024 (2 days before fight)
Belal Muhammad

Daniel argues that Belal Muhammad has improved significantly since the first fight, citing dominant wins over Shawn Brady and Gilbert Burns. He believes Leon Edwards has not looked better since winning the title, coasting against Colby Covington and a diminished Kamaru Usman. He emphasizes Belal's newfound wrestling focus and improved striking reads, predicting he will overwhelm Edwards. He also advises waiting on Belal's line as it may drift further due to public sentiment against Belal's trash talk.

Wait on Belal Muhammad line; expects line to move further in his favor
"I'm going B Muhammad because since their last fight I don't know that that Leon Edwards has looked better"
JE
Jeff Fox Expert Confident picked Jul 25, 2024 (2 days before fight)
Leon Edwards

Jeff picks Leon Edwards, noting he looked good in the brief first fight and has been improving since winning the belt. He acknowledges Edwards' recent opponents (Covington, Usman, Diaz) are not elite, but still trusts the champion's development. He believes Edwards' reads and feints were working before the eye poke and expects him to handle Belal's pressure.

"going with the champ he looked good in their first fight even how brief it was he was you know getting his work done getting his reads in getting his faints in"
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Confident picked Jul 24, 2024 (3 days before fight)
Leon Edwards

Paul favors Leon Edwards, citing his speed, slickness, and striking advantage. He argues that Leon was winning the first fight before the eye poke and has improved his takedown defense, as seen against Colby Covington. Paul believes Belal's power doesn't scare him and that Leon will win most exchanges on the feet. He also notes that Belal's path to victory relies on takedowns and control, but Leon has made strides in those areas.

"I think Leon at you know it's minus 230 minus 250 it's kind of moved to in some spots like I think he's a rightful favorite here."
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Jul 22, 2024 (5 days before fight)
Leon Edwards

The MMA Guru picks Leon Edwards by TKO in round two. He believes Edwards is a level above Belal Muhammad, as shown in their first fight where Edwards had success before the head kick. The Guru notes Edwards' reach advantage, distance management, and improved takedown defense from training with wrestlers like Kamaru Usman and Colby Covington. He thinks Muhammad will be hesitant and that Edwards will land a punch for the finish. He also mentions Muhammad's PED use as a concern but still favors Edwards.

TKO in round 2
"I'm going to go with Leon Edwards getting this one done he's got a bit of reach advantage to work with here and we know if Edwards has reach over an opponent even if he doesn't against usan he still …"
Decision (unanimous) (49–46, 49–46, 49–46) R5 5:00 · UFC 296: Edwards vs. Covington · Dec 16, 2023
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Leon Edwards 0 57 of 108 52% 65 of 116 2 of 3 66% 2 1 1:27
Colby Covington 0 44 of 126 34% 109 of 194 2 of 10 20% 0 0 5:04
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Leon Edwards 0 13 of 31 41% 13 of 31 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Colby Covington 0 10 of 28 35% 10 of 28 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:00
2 Leon Edwards 0 18 of 27 66% 18 of 27 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Colby Covington 0 13 of 36 36% 13 of 36 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
3 Leon Edwards 0 12 of 23 52% 13 of 24 1 of 2 50% 0 0 0:18
Colby Covington 0 7 of 32 21% 13 of 38 1 of 3 33% 0 0 0:34
4 Leon Edwards 0 11 of 22 50% 11 of 22 0 of 0 --- 1 1 0:11
Colby Covington 0 13 of 26 50% 19 of 32 0 of 5 0% 0 0 1:27
5 Leon Edwards 0 3 of 5 60% 10 of 12 1 of 1 100% 1 0 0:58
Colby Covington 0 1 of 4 25% 54 of 60 1 of 1 100% 0 0 3:03
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Leon Edwards 57 of 108 52% 21 of 62 14 of 21 22 of 25 56 of 107 0 of 0 1 of 1
Colby Covington 44 of 126 34% 20 of 86 7 of 12 17 of 28 44 of 125 0 of 1 0 of 0
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Leon Edwards 13 of 31 41% 5 of 20 3 of 5 5 of 6 13 of 31 0 of 0 0 of 0
Colby Covington 10 of 28 35% 5 of 20 2 of 2 3 of 6 10 of 28 0 of 0 0 of 0
2 Leon Edwards 18 of 27 66% 7 of 13 4 of 7 7 of 7 18 of 27 0 of 0 0 of 0
Colby Covington 13 of 36 36% 4 of 22 2 of 4 7 of 10 13 of 36 0 of 0 0 of 0
3 Leon Edwards 12 of 23 52% 3 of 12 2 of 4 7 of 7 12 of 23 0 of 0 0 of 0
Colby Covington 7 of 32 21% 1 of 21 2 of 4 4 of 7 7 of 31 0 of 1 0 of 0
4 Leon Edwards 11 of 22 50% 3 of 12 5 of 5 3 of 5 11 of 22 0 of 0 0 of 0
Colby Covington 13 of 26 50% 10 of 22 0 of 1 3 of 3 13 of 26 0 of 0 0 of 0
5 Leon Edwards 3 of 5 60% 3 of 5 0 of 0 0 of 0 2 of 4 0 of 0 1 of 1
Colby Covington 1 of 4 25% 0 of 1 1 of 1 0 of 2 1 of 4 0 of 0 0 of 0
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Lean picked Dec 10, 2023 (6 days before fight)
Leon Edwards

Angelo leans Leon Edwards due to his striking and mental fortitude, noting Leon's ability to come back from being dominated against Usman. He acknowledges Colby's wrestling pressure but is concerned about Colby's ring rust and the brain damage claim. He ultimately picks Leon but does not bet, preferring to watch without pressure.

No bet; ring rust concern; brain damage claim mentioned
"I'm going to lean Leon here but if Kobe shows up without any ring rust... the pick is going to be Leon absolutely no bet here"
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked Dec 13, 2023 (3 days before fight)
Colby Covington

Big Brady picks Colby Covington as an underdog, citing Covington's high volume striking (4.10 significant strikes per minute vs Edwards' 2.8) and relentless wrestling pressure. He notes Covington's takedown ability (4 per 15 minutes) and believes he can take Edwards down consistently, unlike Kamaru Usman who stuffed 11 takedowns. Brady acknowledges concerns about Covington's chin (dropped 5 times in last 3 fights) and layoff, but thinks his style gives Edwards problems. He predicts a competitive decision win for Covington.

"I got to go with the dog here and Colby Covington I think he has a a clear path to victory in this one so give me Colby Covington for the win I'll take him to win this fight by …"
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Confident picked Dec 14, 2023 (2 days before fight)
Leon Edwards

Cody picks Leon Edwards, arguing that Edwards is entering his prime while Covington is on a long layoff and has health issues. He highlights Edwards' improved takedown defense and get-up game against Kamaru Usman in their trilogy, where he gave up only 5 minutes of control time. Cody also notes Covington's last win is over a retired Jorge Masvidal and that Edwards is trending upward with better cardio and striking volume.

"I gotta go with Leon Edwards"
DA
Daniel Vreeland Expert Confident picked Dec 14, 2023 (2 days before fight)
Leon Edwards

Daniel Vreeland picks Leon Edwards, citing Edwards' superior timing and counter-striking. He notes that Colby Covington's long layoff will affect his timing, and that Edwards hits harder than Kamaru Usman, who has already stunned Covington. Vreeland believes Covington's wrestling-heavy approach won't win rounds if he gets cracked on the feet, as judges are not rewarding takedowns without damage. He also mentions that Edwards could put Covington away early.

"I'm gonna go Leon Edwards here"
JE
Jeff Fox Expert Confident picked Dec 14, 2023 (2 days before fight)
Leon Edwards

Jeff Fox picks Leon Edwards, reasoning that Covington is inactive and past his peak, while Edwards is improving. He notes that Covington's pressure and volume could be countered by Edwards' dangerous striking. Fox also points out that Covington's wrestling may not be enough to win rounds if he gets hit. He expects Edwards to retain the title.

"give me the champion Edwards here"
LU
Lucrative James Expert picked Dec 12, 2023 (4 days before fight)

Lucrative James does not have a strong read on this fight. He notes that two respected colleagues are heavy on Leon Edwards, which gives him pause, but he is not confident in either side. He considers Colby Covington at underdog odds if the line moves to +170 or so, but he is not passionate about the fight. He sees it as a dog-or-pass spot and will not lay the money on Edwards at current lines.

If line moves to +170 on Colby, may bet him; otherwise pass.
"I don't really have a strong read on this one... it's a dog or pass in my opinion."
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Dec 12, 2023 (4 days before fight)
Colby Covington

The host believes Covington's volume-based approach, activity level, cardio, and consistent movement will frustrate Edwards. He notes that Edwards has let rounds slip away in the past and that Covington doesn't need takedowns to win—he can outwork Edwards on the feet. The host also mentions that Covington has been out for over a year but has stayed in shape, and that this is a good stylistic matchup for him. He predicts Covington wins by decision.

Covington by decision
"getting Covington at a underdog line is a no-brainer shot especially with how these guys match up with one another so I'm GNA Take Kobe cson here I'm going to take him to pull off the upset"
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Lean picked Dec 14, 2023 (2 days before fight)
Colby Covington

Paul acknowledges Leon Edwards is a deserved favorite but sees value in Colby Covington's decision prop at +250. He notes Covington's relentless pace and ability to land 200+ significant strikes over 25 minutes, which makes his moneyline essentially a decision prop. However, he admits it's a close fight and only took a small poke on Covington by decision, not fully confident.

Colby Covington by decision +250
"I took a small little little poke at Colby Covington plus 250 by decision"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Dec 12, 2023 (4 days before fight)
Leon Edwards

The Guru picks Leon Edwards over Colby Covington, citing Edwards' superior striking, especially low kicks and body knees in the clinch. He notes Covington's inactivity (last fought March 2022), age (nearly 36), and tendency to not push pace against strong wrestlers. He believes Edwards' takedown defense and underhooks will lead to damaging knees, and that Covington's scar tissue will be targeted by elbows. He predicts a second-round TKO for Edwards.

Edwards by TKO in round 2
"I'm going with Leon Edwards over Colby Covington... I think he drops Covington with like a check hook... Edwards drops him again... I'm going to go Leon Edwards by a second round TKO"
WIN vs Kamaru Usman
Decision (majority) (48–46, 48–46, 47–47) R5 5:00 · UFC 286: Edwards vs. Usman 3 · Mar 18, 2023
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Leon Edwards 0 120 of 161 74% 123 of 164 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:00
Kamaru Usman 0 87 of 205 42% 113 of 232 4 of 15 26% 0 0 5:03
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Leon Edwards 0 20 of 26 76% 20 of 26 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Kamaru Usman 0 12 of 42 28% 13 of 43 0 of 2 0% 0 0 0:19
2 Leon Edwards 0 23 of 26 88% 23 of 26 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:00
Kamaru Usman 0 24 of 50 48% 32 of 58 1 of 1 100% 0 0 0:45
3 Leon Edwards 0 24 of 32 75% 25 of 33 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Kamaru Usman 0 17 of 32 53% 22 of 37 1 of 2 50% 0 0 1:06
4 Leon Edwards 0 25 of 41 60% 26 of 42 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Kamaru Usman 0 14 of 37 37% 15 of 38 1 of 4 25% 0 0 0:51
5 Leon Edwards 0 28 of 36 77% 29 of 37 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Kamaru Usman 0 20 of 44 45% 31 of 56 1 of 6 16% 0 0 2:02
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Leon Edwards 120 of 161 74% 34 of 69 36 of 39 50 of 53 111 of 150 9 of 11 0 of 0
Kamaru Usman 87 of 205 42% 57 of 163 24 of 34 6 of 8 65 of 177 21 of 27 1 of 1
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Leon Edwards 20 of 26 76% 5 of 11 6 of 6 9 of 9 20 of 26 0 of 0 0 of 0
Kamaru Usman 12 of 42 28% 5 of 32 6 of 8 1 of 2 12 of 42 0 of 0 0 of 0
2 Leon Edwards 23 of 26 88% 9 of 11 6 of 6 8 of 9 22 of 25 1 of 1 0 of 0
Kamaru Usman 24 of 50 48% 19 of 42 4 of 7 1 of 1 12 of 34 11 of 15 1 of 1
3 Leon Edwards 24 of 32 75% 2 of 9 8 of 8 14 of 15 24 of 31 0 of 1 0 of 0
Kamaru Usman 17 of 32 53% 9 of 21 4 of 7 4 of 4 14 of 28 3 of 4 0 of 0
4 Leon Edwards 25 of 41 60% 9 of 22 4 of 6 12 of 13 25 of 40 0 of 1 0 of 0
Kamaru Usman 14 of 37 37% 7 of 28 7 of 8 0 of 1 14 of 37 0 of 0 0 of 0
5 Leon Edwards 28 of 36 77% 9 of 16 12 of 13 7 of 7 20 of 28 8 of 8 0 of 0
Kamaru Usman 20 of 44 45% 17 of 40 3 of 4 0 of 0 13 of 36 7 of 8 0 of 0
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Confident picked Mar 15, 2023 (3 days before fight)
Kamaru Usman

Angelo picks Usman because he dominated the vast majority of the previous fight and has not lost since 2013. He thinks the first round was a fluke and Usman will wrestle and control the fight. He is not betting because of the knockout loss but believes Usman wins.

"I think Kamara Usman wins this fight minus 250 seems like a fair price for a guy that hasn't lost since 2013."
BI
Big Brady Expert Hesitant picked Mar 14, 2023 (4 days before fight)
Kamaru Usman

Big Brady picks Usman but with hesitation, noting he was clearly winning the second fight before the head kick. He lists concerns: Usman's age (35), injuries, travel to London, and the knockout loss. He thinks Edwards' path is a finish, while Usman can win rounds via wrestling and pressure. He predicts a decision win but will not bet this fight due to a bad feeling.

will not bet this fight
"I gotta go Usman by decision"
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Confident picked Mar 15, 2023 (3 days before fight)
Kamaru Usman

Cody picks Usman based on the belief that Usman was the better fighter in the first two fights and can make corrections after the knockout loss. He compares it to GSP after the Serra loss and Cain after the JDS loss, arguing that great champions bounce back. He notes Edwards is dangerous but thinks Usman will wrestle heavily and win by decision, as he doesn't see a finish. He acknowledges the moneyline is unappealing and prefers Usman by decision prop.

Usman by decision
"I think you got to go with Kamara Usman on the basis of... it seems like Kamara Usman was the better fighter... I just believe that he's one of those great Champions that should be able to make the corrections …"
CO
Connor Ruebusch Expert Confident picked Apr 30, 2023 (fight day)
Kamaru Usman

Connor believes Usman's pressure is the key to winning. He notes that Edwards is pathologically pressureable and retreats in straight lines, putting himself against the cage. While Usman has become less aggressive under Whitman, Connor thinks he can revert to pressuring Edwards, who has never shown the ability to hold the center of the cage consistently. Connor also points out that Edwards' evasive footwork is poor and his clinch game is neutralized by Usman's strength. He concludes that if Usman commits to pressure, Edwards has no escape.

Usman opened at -350, currently -246; Edwards opened +285, currently +199
"If Usman comes in and just commits to pressuring, I don't see how Edwards escapes that fight."
JA
Jacob Lines Expert Confident picked Mar 15, 2023 (3 days before fight)
Leon Edwards

Jacob is extremely confident in Edwards, having placed a $1,000 bet on him at +205. He believes Edwards was hampered by altitude in the first fight and still found the knockout. He thinks Usman's confidence is shattered after being knocked out cold and that Edwards will dominate in front of the home crowd.

$1,000 bet at +205
"I have a thousand dollar bet only on Edwards I got him plus 205 and I feel absolutely good about it."
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Mar 13, 2023 (5 days before fight)
Kamaru Usman

Usman is a former champion with elite wrestling and cardio, and he was winning the second fight before getting caught. Edwards is a great striker but has defensive grappling issues. Usman should lean on his wrestling and avoid striking exchanges, grinding out a decision. The line is seen as a gift given Usman's proven ability.

Usman by decision
"I think that's going to be look like a gift of a line once this fight is all said and done"
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Confident picked Mar 15, 2023 (3 days before fight)
Leon Edwards

Paul picks Edwards, citing the UK home advantage and potential hometown scoring. He notes Edwards had success in round one of the last fight (takedown, mount, back control) and is four years younger. He thinks this could be the end of Usman's elite run. He likes the plus money value and says he hasn't bet it yet but is a buyer at north of +200.

"I'm gonna go the opposite side I'm gonna pick Leon Edwards... the fights in the UK we've seen really really shabby scoring... at north of plus 200 I'm gonna be a buyer on Leon Rocky Edwards to retain his title"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Mar 13, 2023 (5 days before fight)
Leon Edwards

The MMA Guru picks Leon Edwards to win by decision, despite a history of picking main events wrong. He argues that altitude affected Edwards in the first fight, while Usman trains at elevation. Edwards dominated round one when both were fresh, and Usman's glove grab saved him from a choke. Usman is coming off a brutal KO loss, is older, and had a short camp with a hand injury. Edwards is entering his prime and has confidence. He predicts a 48-47 decision for Edwards.

Edwards wins by decision 48-47
"I'm going with Leon Edwards decision 48-47"
ZA
Zane Simon Expert Confident picked Apr 30, 2023 (fight day)
Kamaru Usman

Zane agrees with Connor that Usman should pressure Edwards. He notes that Edwards has never broken 100 significant strikes in a five-round fight and tends to fight down to his competition. Zane highlights that Usman has a history of high output even with wrestling, while Edwards fights in bursts. He thinks the psychological adjustment for Edwards to stand his ground is huge and possibly impossible. Zane also mentions that Usman's wrestling and clinch work will be decisive, as Edwards cannot match him there.

Usman opened at -350, currently -246; Edwards opened +285, currently +199
"I just cannot trust Leon Edwards to hold on to an initiative at all."
WIN vs Kamaru Usman
KO (head kick) R5 4:04 · UFC 278: Usman vs. Edwards 2 · Aug 20, 2022
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Leon Edwards 0 83 of 135 61% 189 of 247 5 of 12 41% 0 0 10:36
Kamaru Usman 1 55 of 75 73% 64 of 85 1 of 5 20% 1 0 2:56
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Leon Edwards 0 6 of 7 85% 36 of 39 1 of 4 25% 0 0 1:21
Kamaru Usman 0 13 of 13 100% 17 of 17 1 of 2 50% 1 0 2:01
2 Leon Edwards 0 36 of 65 55% 47 of 76 1 of 1 100% 0 0 1:42
Kamaru Usman 0 20 of 28 71% 21 of 29 0 of 2 0% 0 0 0:00
3 Leon Edwards 0 10 of 17 58% 38 of 49 2 of 3 66% 0 0 3:23
Kamaru Usman 0 7 of 10 70% 7 of 10 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
4 Leon Edwards 0 22 of 30 73% 54 of 62 1 of 2 50% 0 0 2:51
Kamaru Usman 0 6 of 10 60% 9 of 13 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:54
5 Leon Edwards 0 9 of 16 56% 14 of 21 0 of 2 0% 0 0 1:19
Kamaru Usman 1 9 of 14 64% 10 of 16 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:01
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Leon Edwards 83 of 135 61% 61 of 109 17 of 21 5 of 5 46 of 85 15 of 22 22 of 28
Kamaru Usman 55 of 75 73% 20 of 38 22 of 24 13 of 13 42 of 62 7 of 7 6 of 6
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Leon Edwards 6 of 7 85% 5 of 6 0 of 0 1 of 1 2 of 3 0 of 0 4 of 4
Kamaru Usman 13 of 13 100% 6 of 6 4 of 4 3 of 3 5 of 5 2 of 2 6 of 6
2 Leon Edwards 36 of 65 55% 25 of 52 8 of 10 3 of 3 27 of 49 3 of 6 6 of 10
Kamaru Usman 20 of 28 71% 7 of 15 9 of 9 4 of 4 17 of 25 3 of 3 0 of 0
3 Leon Edwards 10 of 17 58% 9 of 16 1 of 1 0 of 0 3 of 6 4 of 6 3 of 5
Kamaru Usman 7 of 10 70% 3 of 5 3 of 4 1 of 1 5 of 8 2 of 2 0 of 0
4 Leon Edwards 22 of 30 73% 18 of 25 3 of 4 1 of 1 5 of 12 8 of 9 9 of 9
Kamaru Usman 6 of 10 60% 2 of 5 2 of 3 2 of 2 6 of 10 0 of 0 0 of 0
5 Leon Edwards 9 of 16 56% 4 of 10 5 of 6 0 of 0 9 of 15 0 of 1 0 of 0
Kamaru Usman 9 of 14 64% 2 of 7 4 of 4 3 of 3 9 of 14 0 of 0 0 of 0
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Confident picked Aug 14, 2022 (6 days before fight)
Kamaru Usman

Angelo picks Kamaru Usman to defeat Leon Edwards in their rematch. He notes that Usman is on track to become the greatest welterweight of all time, with technical striking and power, as seen in his knockout over Masvidal. Angelo points out that Usman already beat Edwards in 2015 with six takedowns and 11 minutes of control time, and believes Usman can win anywhere. He also mentions that Edwards struggled against Nate Diaz, getting outstruck and needing takedowns to secure the win. Angelo placed a moneyline bet on Usman at -335 and expects the line to move further.

Placed moneyline bet on Kamaru Usman at -335, expects line to move past -500.
"camaro is the very clear pick for me and again premium members get access to our bets early and you will see that i placed a bet on camaro usman moneyline at minus 335"
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked Aug 15, 2022 (5 days before fight)
Kamaru Usman

Big Brady picks Kamaru Usman. He acknowledges that Leon Edwards is the better striker at range, but Usman has improved his striking with power and a great jab. Usman is a smart fighter who will use his wrestling and pressure, taking Edwards down and grinding on him for 25 minutes. Brady expects Usman to win by decision, though he notes a finish is possible given Usman's recent power. He respects Edwards but believes Usman's game plan and skills will prevail.

Usman by decision
"i do like kamara usman here i do like him to win by decision"
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Confident picked Aug 17, 2022 (3 days before fight)
Kamaru Usman

Cody picks Usman, emphasizing his stand-up improvement under Trevor Whitman, his wrestling, and the pressure he brings. He questions Edwards' resume and his ability to handle pressure, noting that Edwards has struggled in later rounds against lesser competition. He thinks Usman could knock him out but expects a decision.

"i got to go with uzman i don't know if i'd take it by tko or by decision simple fact is i think he could knock him out but you know logic would dictate he's probably going to grind him …"
DA
Daniel Levi Expert Confident picked Aug 17, 2022 (3 days before fight)
Kamaru Usman

Daniel Levi picks Kamaru Usman to win the rematch. He emphasizes Usman's superior pace and output, noting that Usman's output is almost double Edwards'. He believes Usman's top control will allow him to bank rounds by holding Edwards down. Levi acknowledges Edwards' paths to victory—slowing the pace and sniping Usman as he closes distance—but ultimately thinks this is a bad time to bet against Usman. He mentions that long-reigning champions sometimes lose when least expected, but he still favors Usman.

Mentions that the first fight was a decision but notes that no two fights are equal; Usman has been scoring knockdowns in recent fights (2,4,6,7 knockdowns in last 5 fights).
"my pick is Camaro here um I just simply think that right now I don't really see him like slowing down too much"
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Aug 18, 2022 (2 days before fight)
Kamaru Usman

Usman's wrestling, cardio, and improving striking should overwhelm Edwards, who was nearly finished by Nate Diaz. The host expects Usman to grapple heavily and possibly finish late. He likes Usman round 4-5 or decision at -155 as a better bet than the moneyline. He includes Usman in a four-leg parlay.

Usman round 4-5 or decision (-155) is the preferred bet. Included in a four-leg parlay with Maverick, Albazi, and under 1.5 in Pedro/Hunsucker.
"I think gusman goes out there and does work i think that will see him go to his grappling more than he has over his last couple fights."
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Confident picked Aug 17, 2022 (3 days before fight)
Kamaru Usman

Paul picks Usman to win, citing his cardio advantage from training in Denver, his pressure and wrestling, and the ability to slow down Edwards. He notes the -400 line is too steep but still sees Usman as the winner. He mentions he might look for underdog value elsewhere but officially picks Usman.

"i think guzman you know puts the pace on them probably a lot of like at least in the early rounds like holding him up the cage foot stomps slowing down the mobility of leon edwards kind of grinding him …"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Aug 20, 2022 (fight day)
Leon Edwards

The Guru predicts Leon Edwards wins via 49-46 unanimous decision, with two judges scoring it 49-46 and one judge giving it 48-47 to Usman. He envisions Edwards landing effective leg kicks, body kicks, and jabs, cutting Usman with an elbow in round one. He sees Edwards rocking Usman with a head kick in round two and an uppercut-left hook combo in round three. However, he acknowledges Edwards slows down in rounds four and five, with Usman taking him down and landing punches, but believes Edwards clearly won rounds one, two, and three.

Edwards wins by unanimous decision 49-46; one judge gives it 48-47 Usman
"leon edwards via 4946 unanimous decision victory against kamaru usman one judge will give it 48 47 usman two judges will give it i said i guess split decision two judges will give it 49-46 edwards"
WIN vs Nate Diaz
Decision (unanimous) (49–46, 49–46, 49–46) R5 5:00 · UFC 263: Adesanya vs. Vettori 2 · Jun 12, 2021
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Leon Edwards 0 77 of 132 58% 83 of 139 4 of 5 80% 0 0 4:59
Nate Diaz 0 76 of 162 46% 130 of 223 0 of 0 --- 0 0 1:53
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Leon Edwards 0 13 of 19 68% 14 of 20 1 of 2 50% 0 0 1:32
Nate Diaz 0 10 of 23 43% 19 of 35 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:03
2 Leon Edwards 0 17 of 30 56% 18 of 32 1 of 1 100% 0 0 1:09
Nate Diaz 0 13 of 30 43% 29 of 49 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:16
3 Leon Edwards 0 13 of 15 86% 17 of 19 2 of 2 100% 0 0 2:18
Nate Diaz 0 3 of 12 25% 20 of 29 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:26
4 Leon Edwards 0 18 of 36 50% 18 of 36 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Nate Diaz 0 19 of 45 42% 20 of 46 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:14
5 Leon Edwards 0 16 of 32 50% 16 of 32 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Nate Diaz 0 31 of 52 59% 42 of 64 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:54
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Leon Edwards 77 of 132 58% 48 of 97 6 of 12 23 of 23 68 of 118 4 of 6 5 of 8
Nate Diaz 76 of 162 46% 52 of 129 16 of 21 8 of 12 66 of 152 10 of 10 0 of 0
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Leon Edwards 13 of 19 68% 8 of 13 0 of 1 5 of 5 11 of 15 0 of 0 2 of 4
Nate Diaz 10 of 23 43% 4 of 15 4 of 4 2 of 4 9 of 22 1 of 1 0 of 0
2 Leon Edwards 17 of 30 56% 10 of 21 1 of 3 6 of 6 16 of 28 1 of 1 0 of 1
Nate Diaz 13 of 30 43% 6 of 20 5 of 7 2 of 3 12 of 29 1 of 1 0 of 0
3 Leon Edwards 13 of 15 86% 9 of 11 1 of 1 3 of 3 8 of 9 2 of 3 3 of 3
Nate Diaz 3 of 12 25% 1 of 10 2 of 2 0 of 0 2 of 11 1 of 1 0 of 0
4 Leon Edwards 18 of 36 50% 10 of 26 2 of 4 6 of 6 17 of 34 1 of 2 0 of 0
Nate Diaz 19 of 45 42% 13 of 36 2 of 5 4 of 4 18 of 44 1 of 1 0 of 0
5 Leon Edwards 16 of 32 50% 11 of 26 2 of 3 3 of 3 16 of 32 0 of 0 0 of 0
Nate Diaz 31 of 52 59% 28 of 48 3 of 3 0 of 1 25 of 46 6 of 6 0 of 0
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked Jun 8, 2021 (4 days before fight)
Leon Edwards

Big Brady picks Leon Edwards to win by TKO or cut stoppage, citing Edwards' youth, striking advantage, and well-rounded game. He notes Diaz is past his prime and has taken significant damage. He expects Edwards to mix in takedowns and potentially finish Diaz, possibly due to a cut.

Edwards inside the distance, TKO/cut stoppage
"i'll take leon edwards i'm actually taking the win by by some type of finish whether it's a cut stoppage or something like that"
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Confident picked Jun 9, 2021 (3 days before fight)
Leon Edwards

Cody is confident Edwards wins, likely by decision, as he is a decision machine and Diaz is durable. He likes the decision prop at +135 and notes Edwards' clinch work and ring IQ. He also mentions the possibility of a cut stoppage but thinks Edwards will systematically pick Diaz apart.

Leon Edwards by decision (+135)
"leon edwards wins this fight by decision correct"
DA
Daniel Levi Expert Confident picked Jun 10, 2021 (2 days before fight)
Leon Edwards

Daniel Levi picks Leon Edwards to win by decision, possibly via cut stoppage. He notes Edwards' technical striking and takedowns, and Diaz's tendency to cut easily. He warns that Edwards must not get into a brawl and should manage his cardio. He respects Diaz's toughness but thinks Edwards is too well-rounded.

by decision or cut stoppage
"i'm gonna go with leon to just kind of win a decision here"
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Jun 12, 2021 (fight day)
Leon Edwards

Edwards is superior everywhere: striking, wrestling, and clinch work. He can take Diaz down and control him, or outstrike him at range. Diaz's only path is cumulative damage in later rounds, but Edwards' cardio is solid. Edwards likely wins a decision, as Diaz is durable and hard to finish. The line is wide for a reason.

Edwards by decision
"I think Leon Edwards is just on another level right now... I'll go with Leon Edwards and I'll take him to win this fight via decision."
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Confident picked Jun 9, 2021 (3 days before fight)
Leon Edwards

Paul is also confident in Edwards, calling him the anchor of parlays. He thinks Edwards wins by decision and likes the decision prop. He notes Edwards' excellent clinch work and high ring IQ, and believes he will systematically pick apart Diaz.

Leon Edwards by decision (+135)
"leon edwards is the anchor of the parlays this week"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Lock picked Jun 4, 2021 (8 days before fight)
Leon Edwards

The MMA Guru is extremely confident in Leon Edwards, calling it the fight he'd pick with his life on the line. He cites Edwards' superior striking, cardio, and grappling, and notes Diaz's lack of power at 170 and decline in cardio since going vegan. He predicts a third-round TKO via body kick, as Edwards will want a finish to secure a title shot.

TKO in the third round via body kick
"i've never been more confident about something in my life"
LOSS vs Belal Muhammad
No Contest (accidental eye poke) R2 0:18 · UFC Fight Night: Edwards vs. Muhammad · Mar 13, 2021
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Leon Edwards 0 19 of 39 48% 20 of 40 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:19
Belal Muhammad 0 8 of 26 30% 14 of 32 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:33
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Leon Edwards 0 17 of 35 48% 18 of 36 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:19
Belal Muhammad 0 8 of 24 33% 14 of 30 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:33
2 Leon Edwards 0 2 of 4 50% 2 of 4 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Belal Muhammad 0 0 of 2 0% 0 of 2 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Leon Edwards 19 of 39 48% 10 of 29 5 of 6 4 of 4 19 of 38 0 of 1 0 of 0
Belal Muhammad 8 of 26 30% 7 of 23 1 of 3 0 of 0 6 of 23 2 of 3 0 of 0
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Leon Edwards 17 of 35 48% 9 of 26 4 of 5 4 of 4 17 of 34 0 of 1 0 of 0
Belal Muhammad 8 of 24 33% 7 of 21 1 of 3 0 of 0 6 of 21 2 of 3 0 of 0
2 Leon Edwards 2 of 4 50% 1 of 3 1 of 1 0 of 0 2 of 4 0 of 0 0 of 0
Belal Muhammad 0 of 2 0% 0 of 2 0 of 0 0 of 0 0 of 2 0 of 0 0 of 0
Play-by-Play
View on Sherdog
UFC Welterweight Title Fight: Leon Edwards vs. Belal Muhammad
BETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Edwards (-205), Muhammad (+170)

Round 1
After a very long night of combat, the main event is here. Running back a fight from UFC Fight Night 187, when Edwards (22-3, 1 NC; 14-2, 1 NC UFC) poked Muhammad (23-3, 1 NC; 14-3, 1 NC UFC) in the eye to force a no contest, the two will now vie for the undisputed welterweight crown. The unbeaten streaks of these two men are gargantuan, with “Rocky” not having lost in his last 13 appearances while the challenger has not tasted defeat in 10 straight encounters on his own ledger. Something’s gotta give, and referee Mike Beltran will be sure to keep things as clean as they can be. The two are not fans of one another, and there is no touch of gloves. Beltran clocks in the main attraction, and away we go. Muhammad moves right to the center of the cage, and Edwards prods out a few jabs while Muhammad pressures forward. Muhammad shoots in for a double, lifting the champion in the air and slamming him down with relative ease. Edwards keeps an open guard when he hits his back, staying tight to Muhammad to prevent him from doing much. Muhammad opens up with a number of short left hands, landing without much impact. Edwards fights his way back to his feet, and Muhammad jams him against the wall and knees him once before getting spin around. Muhammad drives a few knees to the solar plexus, and Edwards drops to his knees for a takedown before abandoning it. Edwards scores an elbow on the break, and Muhammad tosses out a body kick on the way out. Muhammad adjusts and lands a body kick in response, and although he reaches his opponent, Edwards slams his knee in the breadbasket so hard he lifts Muhammad off the ground. They both trade shots, and Edwards catches the challenger with a solid uppercut and a body kick. Muhammad gives him a right hand back to think about, and he presses forward reaching a left over the guard. Edwards rifles a left down the middle and lands a knee, and Edwards slides to the side and eats a heavy left hand that stings him. Edwards tries to get away, and Muhammad attacks a double and dumps the champion on the ground. “Remember the Name” makes Edwards remember his ground-and-pound, punctuating the round with one crisp elbow.

Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Muhammad
Devin Tejada scores the round: 10-9 Muhammad
Scottie Smith scores the round: 10-9 Muhammad

Round 2
Muhammad immediately puts the pressure on the champ when the round begins, walking Edwards down and landing a few punches. Edwards retaliates with a body kick, and Muhammad beats him to the punch with a short swarm of punches. Muhammad scores a pair of jabs to back Edwards up, and Edwards gives him a single one back. Edwards gets an uppercut in, but Muhammad punches his way into a takedown effort. Muhammad fails to secure a takedown, even when clasping his hands together around the waist, as Edwards keeps his balance. Muhammad doggedly pursues the takedown, tripping Edwards up by the knee and dropping him down to his knees. Muhammad jumps on his back, hanging on without hooks in and imposing his weight and will. Edwards is warned for a fence grab, and Muhammad scoops him up and dumps him on his head. Edwards appears no worse for wear, and Muhammad takes his back and gets hooks in. Edwards fights the hands and legs, managing to turn out and get back to his feet, but not before eating a heavy knee on the chin. Muhammad wrenches the champ back to a knee, and Edwards powers back upright only to get chucked on his face. Muhammad ragdolls the betting favorite, clinging to his back and making his life miserable. When Edwards stands, Muhammad drags him down, and he completely shuts down any offense from the champ. Edwards manages to get upright and turn Muhammad towards the fencing, and he knees Muhammad in the gut and drags him to the mat in a surprising turn of events. Muhammad works his way to his seat against the fencing, and he knees Muhammad in the chest from this advantageous position. Edwards hangs on from behind until the bell.

Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Muhammad
Devin Tejada scores the round: 10-9 Muhammad
Scottie Smith scores the round: 10-9 Muhammad

Round 3
Muhammad walks out of his corner to start the fight even before Beltran says go, and he pushes the pace like before. Edwards swats at him with punches, and Muhammad catches him with a right hand and a head kick from up close. Muhammad lifts Edwards in the air and deposits him ever-so-gingerly to the canvas, but Edwards scrambles quickly to take Muhammad’s back and get a hook in as they lean against the cage. Edwards rips Muhammad’s feet out from beneath him, and both hooks are in as he squeezes his left arm around the mouth. Muhammad hand-fights to defend any submission from getting anywhere close, but Edwards is firmly in control while he sets up the body triangle. Edwards adjusts the body lock to his other leg when Muhammad twists, and Muhammad protests about glove grabs. Edwards slips an arm around the jaw again, but there is no second arm to lock it down. Muhammad grabs the fence to try to turn, and Beltran admonishes him for it. As Muhammad sits up, Edwards follows him and smothers his mouth before briefly gripping a face crank. Muhammad breaks the grip but is otherwise totally nullified, wide-eyed and perhaps surprised that Edwards has bullied the bully this round. Edwards loops a punch or two around the guard, and Muhammad no-look elbows back at him until the round ends.

Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Edwards
Devin Tejada scores the round: 10-9 Edwards
Scottie Smith scores the round: 10-9 Edwards

Round 4
The championship rounds have arrived, and Muhammad is almost to the middle of the cage as Beltran claps in the round. The pressure from Muhammad is constant, and Edwards jabs him back and sneaks a head kick up that crashes into the shoulder. Muhammad throws a few punches back, and he eats a big left hand that wobbles him for a second. Muhammad slips a left over the top, and he jabs behind it. Edwards keeps his guard up to block jabs, and Muhammad sees this and delivers an uppercut to fluster him. Muhammad reaches his man with a one-two, and a few right hands find their home shortly thereafter. Muhammad sells out for a double, and Edwards gets ripped to a knee while Muhammad slips around to take his back with one hook in. Edwards stays on both knees, and as Muhammad gets the other hook around the back, he elbows the champ on the side of the head. Muhammad hacks down with an elbow or two until Edwards leans and lowers himself to his back, and now Muhammad has the body triangle in place. Muhammad softens Edwards up with short, irritating punches on the side of the head while maintaining complete control, and no matter how hard Edwards fights, Muhammad has him on lock. Edwards sits up and breaks the triangle around his waist, but Muhammad drags him back down and resets the leg grip. Beltran tells Muhammad to work as the two lay there in this position, and Muhammad stays busy enough to land punches to the side of the head. With 30 seconds left, Edwards bursts into action and spins Muhammad over. As Muhammad, Edwards follows him to a knee, and the horn sounds.

Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Muhammad
Devin Tejada scores the round: 10-9 Muhammad
Scottie Smith scores the round: 10-9 Muhammad

Round 5
Muhammad does not alter his game plan, and Edwards does as the round begins. Edwards starts throwing heavy punches, and Muhammad answers him right back and quickly blocks a high kick. Edwards loads up on his shots, and he stuffs a takedown and pushes Muhammad to the side. As Muhammad stands, he greets Edwards with a few stern punches, and he jabs Edwards back to the fencing. Muhammad lines a right hand down Broadway before chasing a takedown, and Edwards leans himself against the cage and stops the attempt from completing. Edwards grabs the fence to stop the takedown from succeeding, and Beltran yells at him. Muhammad does what he did in the previous round, getting back control and dragging Edwards down while completing the body triangle. The crowd is cooked, booing the challenger heartily and even leaving the building, expecting the champ will lose his crown. Muhammad tries to get hold of a neck crank, and Edwards fights it out but it is a moral victory as he is still down on the scorecards with little way of coming back. Time is the worst enemy of “Rocky,” and Muhammad has successfully embraced the grind for coming up on 20 minutes. It might not be the most thrilling performance, as the fans in the building are borderline silent, but it is effective. With 45 seconds to spare, Edwards does everything he can to spin around and attack. Edwards lashes out with two blistering elbows, slashing Muhammad all the way open on the nose as blood sprays on the canvas. Edwards lands one more vicious elbow, and blood pools on Muhammad’s cheek. Edwards unleashes one final flurry of elbows, but it is likely too little, too late. The audience does not like it, but Muhammad did it, putting a performance on Edwards that few others have done. Vengeance is sweet for “Remember the Name,” and he ignores the jeers of the disappointed crowd because he has successfully climbed the mountain. The welterweight title now goes through Muhammad. If the UFC decides to run that one back, if Muhammad faces a hungry challenger like Shavkat Rakhmonov or something else happens, we will be here for it. We hope you are too.

Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Edwards (48-47 Muhammad)
Devin Tejada scores the round: 10-9 Edwards (48-47 Muhammad)
Scottie Smith scores the round: 10-9 Edwards (48-47 Muhammad)

The Official Result
Belal Muhammad def. Leon Edwards via Unanimous Decision (48-47, 48-47, 49-46)
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked Mar 11, 2021 (2 days before fight)
Leon Edwards

Big Brady picks Leon Edwards, citing his superior striking defense and takedown defense. He notes that Edwards is extremely hard to hit (absorbs 2.05 significant strikes per minute) and has a phenomenal get-up game. He expects Edwards to win a decision, possibly with a late stoppage. He acknowledges Muhammad's durability but believes Edwards' style will be too much. He is slightly concerned about cage rust but expects Edwards to continue his win streak.

"I'm gonna take Leon Edwards to win by decision."
DA
Daniel Levi Expert Confident picked Mar 12, 2021 (1 day before fight)
Belal Muhammad

Daniel Levi picks Belal Muhammad for the upset, citing his pace, cardio, and pressure. He believes Leon Edwards' two-year layoff and ring rust will be a factor, and that Muhammad's style of getting in his face and clinching will be difficult for Edwards. He notes Edwards has been taken down and dropped before, and thinks Muhammad's output and takedown attempts can win three rounds. He acknowledges the risk of Edwards' reach and straight punches but thinks Muhammad's durability and cardio will carry him.

"I think he actually controls enough of this fight to win three rounds i think he can come out here get a decision and get the biggest win of his career"
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Mar 2, 2021 (11 days before fight)
Leon Edwards

Lock likes Leon Edwards here, citing his crisp striking and takedown defense as key advantages. He compares the matchup to Belal's fight with Jeff Neal, where Belal's pressure was nullified by a sharper striker. Lock believes Edwards' layoff won't be a major issue and that Belal's short-notice turnaround and calf kick damage from his last fight are concerns. He expects Edwards to be too technical and sharp on the feet, and thinks Belal will struggle to get takedowns. Lock acknowledges Belal's activity but sees Edwards as a step up in competition.

Belal took fight on short notice, calf kicks from last fight, Edwards' layoff since July 2019
"I like leon edwards there i feel like it could play out similar to jeff neal... i think leon edwards's takedown defense is good enough"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Mar 7, 2021 (6 days before fight)
Leon Edwards

The Guru initially leans towards Muhammad but settles on Leon Edwards. He believes Edwards' improved clinch work and elbows will be key against Muhammad's pressure. He notes Edwards' reach advantage and ability to stuff takedowns, referencing Edwards' performance against Kamaru Usman. He also highlights Muhammad's compromised calf from his previous fight, which Edwards can target with leg kicks. He predicts Edwards will lose the first round due to ring rust but win the next four, resulting in a 4-1 decision.

4-1 on rounds to Edwards
"i think edwards might lose the first round but he'll start securing it as the rounds go on and i'll see a 4-1 on rounds to leon edwards"
Rafael dos Anjos - Fight History
LOSS vs Geoff Neal
TKO (knee injury) R1 1:30 · UFC 308: Topuria vs. Holloway · Oct 26, 2024
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Geoff Neal 1 18 of 30 60% 21 of 34 1 of 1 100% 0 0 0:27
Rafael dos Anjos 0 4 of 13 30% 4 of 13 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Geoff Neal 1 18 of 30 60% 21 of 34 1 of 1 100% 0 0 0:27
Rafael dos Anjos 0 4 of 13 30% 4 of 13 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Geoff Neal 18 of 30 60% 12 of 24 3 of 3 3 of 3 13 of 24 0 of 0 5 of 6
Rafael dos Anjos 4 of 13 30% 2 of 10 1 of 1 1 of 2 4 of 13 0 of 0 0 of 0
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Geoff Neal 18 of 30 60% 12 of 24 3 of 3 3 of 3 13 of 24 0 of 0 5 of 6
Rafael dos Anjos 4 of 13 30% 2 of 10 1 of 1 1 of 2 4 of 13 0 of 0 0 of 0
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Lean picked Oct 20, 2024 (6 days before fight)
Geoff Neal

Angelo picks Geoff Neal but is not confident enough to bet. He notes Neal is younger, has good takedown defense and hands, and should win if the fight stays standing. However, he acknowledges RDA could get takedowns and grind out a decision. He will leave this fight alone due to the risk.

Will leave this fight alone; no bet.
"I think Jeff Neil wins... but I just don't have the nuts to bet on him."
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked Oct 23, 2024 (3 days before fight)
Geoff Neal

Big Brady strongly favors Neal, calling it a bad matchup for RDA. He notes that RDA struggles at welterweight against bigger guys and that Neal has elite takedown defense (87%). He believes Neal is the much better striker with more power and that RDA won't be able to take him down. He predicts Neal wins by decision, stuffing takedowns and doing better work on the feet.

"give me Jeff Neil here I think he wins this fight by decision"
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Hesitant picked Oct 23, 2024 (3 days before fight)
Rafael dos Anjos

Cody leans toward Rafael dos Anjos as an underdog, noting that RDA's wrestling and cardio could neutralize Neal's striking. He points out that Neal has struggled against wrestlers like Neil Magny, and that RDA's takedown-heavy approach could frustrate Neal. However, Cody is hesitant because RDA is 40 and has lost to superior grapplers. He suggests a small play or pass.

"I feel like I'm leaning Rd but I feel like that's also a bad pick"
CO
Connor Ruebusch Expert Confident picked Oct 25, 2024 (1 day before fight)
Geoff Neal

Connor picks Neal, agreeing that RDA at welterweight is not the same bully. He notes that RDA's game relies on being a physical bully, which he can't do at welterweight, and that Neal is capable of putting together moments of offense that win rounds. Connor also mentions that RDA is almost 40 and has a lot of mileage.

"And that is kind of my core read here against Jeff Neil is that RDA might have a lot of success running his kind of game against Jeff Neil. But if I have to think who is capable of putting …"
DA
Daniel Vreeland Expert Confident picked Oct 23, 2024 (3 days before fight)
Geoff Neal

Daniel Vreeland picks Geoff Neal to win, citing significant advantages in size, speed, and youth. He notes that Neal has faced much larger opponents recently and that RDA is a smaller fighter who may struggle with Neal's reach and takedown defense. Vreeland acknowledges Neal's inconsistency but believes this is a favorable matchup.

"give me Jeff me"
DA
Daniel Vreeland Expert Confident picked Oct 23, 2024 (3 days before fight)
Geoff Neal

Daniel Vreeland picks Neal, citing his size, youth, and recent competition against top welterweights. He notes that RDA's wrestling has dropped off significantly, giving up 19 takedowns in his last two fights. Vreeland believes Neal's speed and game plan will be too much for the aging RDA.

"give me the much bigger much younger hands of Steel Jeff Neil"
JE
Jeff Fox Expert Confident picked Oct 23, 2024 (3 days before fight)
Geoff Neal

Jeff Fox also picks Neal, emphasizing RDA's declining wrestling. He notes that Neal has sneaky good wrestling and that RDA's takedown defense has worsened. Fox expects Neal to be faster on the feet and implement a better game plan.

higher than 64.5 significant strikes for Neal (Underdog fantasy pick)
"Jeff Neil gonna be faster on the feet going to put together a better game plan here uh I'll take him in this one"
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Lean picked Oct 25, 2024 (1 day before fight)
Geoff Neal

Welterweight is not the best weight class for dos Anjos, and Neal should stop his takedowns and utilize his striking advantage. It wouldn't surprise me if Neal knocks dos Anjos out, but I lean with Neal winning on the scorecards.

Neal wins by decision (lean); possible knockout
"ultimately lean with Neil winning this fight on the scorecards"
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Lean picked Oct 23, 2024 (3 days before fight)
Geoff Neal

Paul picks Geoff Neal, believing his reach and boxing will keep the fight standing. He notes that RDA's wrestling has not been as effective at welterweight against bigger opponents. Paul thinks Neal can stuff takedowns and use his length to outpoint RDA. He is not highly confident but leans Neal.

"I will not be getting to RDA"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Oct 22, 2024 (4 days before fight)
Geoff Neal

The Guru picks Geoff Neal by TKO in the second round, arguing that Rafael dos Anjos at 39 is outmatched physically. He notes Neal's size, power, and takedown defense (citing the Belal Muhammad fight) will be too much for RDA. He believes RDA's only path is to brawl in the pocket, which favors Neal. The Guru predicts a vicious finish, possibly ending RDA's career.

TKO second round
"I'll say second round TKO for Geoff Neal potentially in the first though I can see a real nasty finish."
ZA
Zane Simon Expert Confident picked Oct 25, 2024 (1 day before fight)
Geoff Neal

Zane picks Neal because RDA at welterweight is not the same relentless pressure fighter he was at lightweight; he's more reluctant to apply pressure and gets hit harder. Neal is a puncher who can keep his output up and win rounds, even if he gets stalled for one. Zane notes that RDA's wrestling is deteriorating and he's almost 40.

"So yeah, take it, Neil. Same. But, uh, it's a good fight. Like it is, it is a fight where if RDA can get Neil down, he might just be able to like, to sub him out, you know, he's …"
ZA
Zane Simon Expert Confident picked Oct 26, 2024 (fight day)
Geoff Neal

Zane clearly favored Neal, describing the fight as a 'sad days fight' for RDA. He noted that RDA's game of physical bullying and pressure doesn't work at welterweight because guys are too big and hit too hard. Zane pointed out that RDA got crushed by the first shot and blew out his knee, calling it an old man way to lose. He praised Neal's performance but remains skeptical about Neal's title prospects.

"jeff neil hafel dos angeles another real sad days fight um i don't i've never liked rda at welter weight"
LOSS vs Mateusz Gamrot
Decision (unanimous) (29–28, 29–28, 30–27) R3 5:00 · UFC 299: O'Malley vs. Vera 2 · Mar 09, 2024
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Mateusz Gamrot 0 57 of 102 55% 111 of 163 11 of 19 57% 0 0 7:01
Rafael dos Anjos 1 36 of 78 46% 39 of 82 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:11
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Mateusz Gamrot 0 19 of 34 55% 40 of 61 2 of 4 50% 0 0 2:35
Rafael dos Anjos 1 11 of 19 57% 14 of 23 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:05
2 Mateusz Gamrot 0 10 of 18 55% 28 of 36 5 of 9 55% 0 0 2:40
Rafael dos Anjos 0 12 of 25 48% 12 of 25 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:06
3 Mateusz Gamrot 0 28 of 50 56% 43 of 66 4 of 6 66% 0 0 1:46
Rafael dos Anjos 0 13 of 34 38% 13 of 34 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Mateusz Gamrot 57 of 102 55% 48 of 90 9 of 12 0 of 0 46 of 88 6 of 8 5 of 6
Rafael dos Anjos 36 of 78 46% 24 of 61 5 of 9 7 of 8 26 of 67 7 of 8 3 of 3
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Mateusz Gamrot 19 of 34 55% 17 of 31 2 of 3 0 of 0 12 of 25 4 of 5 3 of 4
Rafael dos Anjos 11 of 19 57% 9 of 14 1 of 4 1 of 1 8 of 16 2 of 2 1 of 1
2 Mateusz Gamrot 10 of 18 55% 6 of 14 4 of 4 0 of 0 8 of 15 1 of 2 1 of 1
Rafael dos Anjos 12 of 25 48% 9 of 21 2 of 3 1 of 1 8 of 20 3 of 4 1 of 1
3 Mateusz Gamrot 28 of 50 56% 25 of 45 3 of 5 0 of 0 26 of 48 1 of 1 1 of 1
Rafael dos Anjos 13 of 34 38% 6 of 26 2 of 2 5 of 6 10 of 31 2 of 2 1 of 1
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Confident picked Mar 3, 2024 (6 days before fight)
Mateusz Gamrot

Angelo is very confident in Mateusz Gamrot, citing his relentless wrestling and pace. He believes RDA has no wrestling defense and will spend much of the fight on his back. He thinks Gamrot will shoot takedowns, grind, and win. He also mentions over 2.5 rounds as a good bet.

Over 2.5 rounds should be good.
"I'm very confident in gamrat here I think he is worth the price tag and uh we're going to see an age and evolution of the sport here"
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked Mar 5, 2024 (4 days before fight)
Mateusz Gamrot

Big Brady picks Mateusz Gamrot to win by decision. He notes that RDA is 39 and has struggled with wrestling, and that Gamrot has the cardio to shoot many takedowns. He expects the striking to be competitive, but Gamrot's takedowns will seal each round.

win by decision
"I'm going gam Rod here gamr to win this fight by decision"
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Lean picked Mar 6, 2024 (3 days before fight)
Rafael dos Anjos

Cody thinks RDA is being priced as if he's completely washed, but he believes RDA is better at 155 and that the Luque loss was due to size. He thinks RDA's striking and jiu-jitsu make him competitive, and at plus money, he's worth a look.

"I think it's RDA is a dogger pass spot for me"
DA
Daniel Vreeland Expert Confident picked Mar 6, 2024 (3 days before fight)
Mateusz Gamrot

Daniel is confident Gamrot will win, citing his wrestling and low single takedowns. He notes RDA was outwrestled by Vicente Luque, who is not known for offensive wrestling, and expects Gamrot to dominate on the ground. However, he dislikes the minus 450 price and says he would only bet if the price improves.

"I got gamr here it's just this price is terrible if this price goes down a little bit I mean gamr should be I say should be a safe parlay"
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Mar 4, 2024 (5 days before fight)
Mateusz Gamrot

Gamrot is a high-level wrestler who should be too strong, fast, and young for the aging dos Anjos. Dos Anjos has shown declining takedown defense, as seen in his loss to Vicente Luque where he was controlled for 11 minutes. Gamrot will likely get the fight to the ground and grind on dos Anjos, wearing him down. I expect Gamrot to win a decision, as finishing a durable veteran like dos Anjos is tough. The prop 'Gamrot by decision' is the best way to attack this fight without taking too much chalk.

Gamrot by decision, over 2.5 rounds
"gamrat more than worthy at minus 400 here I think he's going to be too strong too fast uh obviously younger uh and the better overall wrestler here which will allow him to get this fight to the ground and …"
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Confident picked Mar 6, 2024 (3 days before fight)
Mateusz Gamrot

Paul disagrees, pointing out that RDA has historically struggled against wrestlers and has been taken down repeatedly. He thinks Gamrot's chain wrestling, cardio, and durability will overwhelm RDA, who will likely lose the first two rounds and be unable to come back.

"I got to go with matus gamron"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Mar 5, 2024 (4 days before fight)
Mateusz Gamrot

The MMA Guru picks Mateusz Gamrot, citing his superior technical wrestling, strength, and versatility compared to RDA. He notes the three-round format benefits Gamrot's pace, and that RDA is 39 and has talked about retirement. He also highlights that Gamrot trains with Dustin Poirier, which should help his preparation. He predicts Gamrot will ragdoll RDA and win a decision or late finish.

"I'm going to go with Matas gam over rapael Doos"
LOSS vs Vicente Luque
Decision (unanimous) (49–46, 48–47, 48–47) R5 5:00 · UFC on ESPN: Luque vs. dos Anjos · Aug 12, 2023
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Vicente Luque 0 72 of 141 51% 138 of 221 8 of 11 72% 0 0 12:01
Rafael dos Anjos 0 66 of 136 48% 94 of 170 2 of 7 28% 1 0 3:54
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Vicente Luque 0 16 of 32 50% 20 of 37 1 of 1 100% 0 0 1:30
Rafael dos Anjos 0 17 of 37 45% 20 of 41 0 of 3 0% 1 0 1:20
2 Vicente Luque 0 11 of 26 42% 32 of 48 2 of 2 100% 0 0 2:23
Rafael dos Anjos 0 10 of 22 45% 14 of 26 1 of 2 50% 0 0 0:35
3 Vicente Luque 0 18 of 39 46% 27 of 49 1 of 2 50% 0 0 1:51
Rafael dos Anjos 0 11 of 27 40% 12 of 29 1 of 1 100% 0 0 0:53
4 Vicente Luque 0 10 of 18 55% 26 of 42 2 of 2 100% 0 0 3:40
Rafael dos Anjos 0 9 of 15 60% 20 of 27 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:24
5 Vicente Luque 0 17 of 26 65% 33 of 45 2 of 4 50% 0 0 2:37
Rafael dos Anjos 0 19 of 35 54% 28 of 47 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:42
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Vicente Luque 72 of 141 51% 48 of 115 17 of 19 7 of 7 60 of 127 8 of 8 4 of 6
Rafael dos Anjos 66 of 136 48% 42 of 108 19 of 23 5 of 5 38 of 105 26 of 27 2 of 4
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Vicente Luque 16 of 32 50% 9 of 24 4 of 5 3 of 3 11 of 25 1 of 1 4 of 6
Rafael dos Anjos 17 of 37 45% 8 of 26 6 of 8 3 of 3 9 of 28 8 of 9 0 of 0
2 Vicente Luque 11 of 26 42% 7 of 22 3 of 3 1 of 1 10 of 25 1 of 1 0 of 0
Rafael dos Anjos 10 of 22 45% 4 of 16 5 of 5 1 of 1 3 of 15 7 of 7 0 of 0
3 Vicente Luque 18 of 39 46% 12 of 32 4 of 5 2 of 2 16 of 37 2 of 2 0 of 0
Rafael dos Anjos 11 of 27 40% 8 of 23 3 of 4 0 of 0 10 of 26 1 of 1 0 of 0
4 Vicente Luque 10 of 18 55% 6 of 14 4 of 4 0 of 0 7 of 15 3 of 3 0 of 0
Rafael dos Anjos 9 of 15 60% 5 of 10 4 of 5 0 of 0 4 of 10 5 of 5 0 of 0
5 Vicente Luque 17 of 26 65% 14 of 23 2 of 2 1 of 1 16 of 25 1 of 1 0 of 0
Rafael dos Anjos 19 of 35 54% 17 of 33 1 of 1 1 of 1 12 of 26 5 of 5 2 of 4
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Confident picked Aug 6, 2023 (6 days before fight)
Rafael dos Anjos

Angelo picks dos Anjos, citing his grappling and takedowns as the key. He notes Luque has poor takedown defense (except against Belal) and dos Anjos is a high-level grappler. He already has a moneyline bet at -125.

Already bet moneyline at -125
"I have a money line on Rafael dos anos at minus 125"
BI
Big Brady Expert Lean picked Aug 7, 2023 (5 days before fight)
Vicente Luque

Big Brady picks Vicente Luque to win by third-round knockout, but calls it the sketchiest fight on the card. He notes RDA's age (38) and size disadvantage at welterweight, but also Luque's recent knockout loss and brain hemorrhage concerns. He believes Luque's constant pressure and power will eventually catch RDA, but admits there are red flags on both sides. He says he wants nothing to do with the fight.

third round knockout
"I'll say Vicente Luce uh touches the chin of RDA at some point I'll say third round knockout for Vicente Luce but again a very very sketchy fight overall"
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Confident picked Aug 9, 2023 (3 days before fight)
Vicente Luque

Cody picks Luque at plus money, arguing that dos Anjos is a former lightweight who has struggled at welterweight (2-5 in last 7). He notes Luque's strong get-up game against Belal Muhammad and believes dos Anjos won't be able to take him down consistently. He also mentions Luque's camp at Kill Cliff FC with Gilbert Burns preparing him for the wrestling. However, he acknowledges Luque's damage accumulation and brain hemorrhage history but still sees him edging out a five-round decision.

"I gotta go with Vincente Luca and the plus money and again I think that kill Cliff FC will have him ready and he'll be working with Gilbert Burns"
LU
Lucrative James Expert Hesitant picked Aug 9, 2023 (3 days before fight)
Rafael dos Anjos

James picks RDA over Luque, citing Luque's brutal knockout loss to Neal and subsequent brain issues as major negatives. He sees the striking as fairly even but gives RDA a grappling advantage, noting RDA can lean on takedowns and jiu-jitsu. James acknowledges Luque's size and age advantage but feels the unknowns around Luque's recovery tilt the fight toward RDA. He is not yet committed to betting, saying he will discuss with his team.

James mentions Luque's brain surgery as a concern, but no specific prop bets or odds are stated.
"I'm on RDA here... I think that on the feet it's fairly close... RDA has the grappling to lean on when things get tough."
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Aug 10, 2023 (2 days before fight)
Rafael dos Anjos

Dos Anjos is durable and blends striking and grappling well. Luque is on a two-fight losing streak and had brain bleeding after his last KO. Dos Anjos should be able to mix in takedowns and combinations to outwork Luque over 25 minutes. Luque may have success striking, but dos Anjos's versatility will be too much.

dos Anjos by decision
"I like those sanyos throughout this fight I think he does good enough work over 25 minutes to get his hand raised by decision"
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Lean picked Aug 9, 2023 (3 days before fight)
Rafael dos Anjos

Paul leans toward dos Anjos, citing his better cardio over five rounds and ability to mix in wrestling. He expresses concern about Luque's brain hemorrhage in 2022 and doesn't want to put money behind someone with that history. He acknowledges the fight is close and understands Cody's points about dos Anjos' wrestling not being as effective against bigger welterweights, but slightly favors RDA.

"ever so slightly I'm gonna lean to Javier De Los Angeles who I think has the better cardio over the course of five rounds"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Aug 8, 2023 (4 days before fight)
Vicente Luque

The MMA Guru picks Vicente Luque over Rafael dos Anjos, despite Luque's brain hemorrhage, assuming it was mild and he had a year off. He argues Luque is bigger, more powerful, has a better chin, and is hard to finish on the ground. He doubts RDA's ability to control Luque for five rounds and predicts Luque will finish RDA in round three by D'Arce choke.

Finish in round three by D'Arce choke
"I'm gonna go with Vicente UK getting a finish maybe drops RDA in round three and dash choke finishes him"
Submission (neck crank) R2 3:20 · UFC on ESPN: Thompson vs. Holland · Dec 03, 2022
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Rafael dos Anjos 0 14 of 29 48% 61 of 79 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:35
Bryan Barberena 0 20 of 25 80% 36 of 41 4 of 6 66% 2 0 6:36
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Rafael dos Anjos 0 9 of 19 47% 25 of 35 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Bryan Barberena 0 16 of 20 80% 30 of 34 1 of 2 50% 1 0 4:06
2 Rafael dos Anjos 0 5 of 10 50% 36 of 44 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:35
Bryan Barberena 0 4 of 5 80% 6 of 7 3 of 4 75% 1 0 2:30
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Rafael dos Anjos 14 of 29 48% 6 of 18 4 of 6 4 of 5 10 of 25 2 of 2 2 of 2
Bryan Barberena 20 of 25 80% 3 of 8 17 of 17 0 of 0 3 of 8 3 of 3 14 of 14
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Rafael dos Anjos 9 of 19 47% 1 of 9 4 of 5 4 of 5 8 of 18 1 of 1 0 of 0
Bryan Barberena 16 of 20 80% 2 of 6 14 of 14 0 of 0 2 of 6 2 of 2 12 of 12
2 Rafael dos Anjos 5 of 10 50% 5 of 9 0 of 1 0 of 0 2 of 7 1 of 1 2 of 2
Bryan Barberena 4 of 5 80% 1 of 2 3 of 3 0 of 0 1 of 2 1 of 1 2 of 2
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Confident picked Nov 27, 2022 (6 days before fight)
Rafael dos Anjos

Angelo picks Rafael dos Anjos, calling him the better fighter everywhere: more technical striking, much better grappling, higher fight IQ, and higher level of competition. He notes RDA is 38 and coming off a KO loss, but trusts him to grapple early and often. He thinks Barberena's 44% takedown defense and lack of one-punch KO power (except against Lawler) make RDA the pick.

"RDA is going to be the pick I trust him to Grapple early I trust him to Grapple often and I think he's just gonna grind out another RDA style win"
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked Nov 28, 2022 (5 days before fight)
Rafael dos Anjos

Big Brady is extremely confident in RDA, citing a massive step down in competition and a favorable stylistic matchup. He notes Barberena's poor takedown defense (55%) and defensive irresponsibility, and RDA's advantage everywhere. He expects RDA to win however he wants, predicting a decision but noting a finish is possible.

RDA wins by decision
"this is RDA all day... horrible horrible terrible magic for barbarian... RDA should win this fight really however he wants"
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Confident picked Dec 1, 2022 (2 days before fight)
Rafael dos Anjos

Cody agrees RDA wins handily, citing his elite wrestling and Barberena's poor takedown defense. He notes RDA hasn't finished anyone recently but expects multiple takedowns and control. He prefers the over 2.5 takedowns prop over significant strikes.

over 2.5 takedowns for RDA on PrizePicks
"Rafael dosano's top taken material I agree with you and your assessment of it I think he wins this pretty handily"
DA
Daniel Levi Expert Confident picked Nov 30, 2022 (3 days before fight)
Rafael dos Anjos

Daniel Levi picks RDA to win by decision, mixing in takedowns. He acknowledges Barberena's durability and power (dropped Leon Edwards) but believes RDA's wrestling and blending of attacks will be too much. He is not interested in betting at the heavy price (-550) and calls it a pass.

RDA by decision; pass on betting due to price
"I'll pick our DIA to come out here and you know land some takedowns and win this decision but you know because of the price I'm out"
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Nov 29, 2022 (4 days before fight)
Rafael dos Anjos

The host is very confident in dos Anjos, calling him a 'lock of the night' essentially. He believes dos Anjos is far superior and will mix his striking and takedowns to control Barberena. He notes Barberena's struggles against grapplers like Jason Witt. He expects dos Anjos to win by decision but says he wouldn't bat an eye at parlaying him at the price.

dos Anjos by decision; parlay piece
"I think dos Anjos you know I'd call him a lock of the night essentially but you would never want to bet a minus 540 straight up like that"
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Confident picked Dec 1, 2022 (2 days before fight)
Rafael dos Anjos

Paul sees RDA as dominant everywhere and expects a straightforward win. He notes Barberena's durability but thinks RDA can finish him, especially inside the distance. He mentions RDA's takedown-heavy style and Barberena's poor takedown defense.

RDA inside the distance at +175; over 2.5 takedowns for RDA on PrizePicks
"I feel like this is a should be pretty dominant uh on the side of RDA who is still fighting some of the best fights of his career currently and uh Bam Bam gets hit a ton rarely ever finished …"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Nov 28, 2022 (5 days before fight)
Rafael dos Anjos

The MMA Guru picks Rafael dos Anjos, noting Barberena struggles when opponents mix up attacks. He believes RDA's body work and leg kicks will be effective, and that Barberena's losses to Jason Witt and Randy Brown show vulnerability. He predicts RDA will win a clear decision.

dos Anjos by decision (30-27)
"I'm gonna go with Rafael dos anjos here over Brian barbarina"
LOSS vs Rafael Fiziev
KO (punches) R5 0:18 · UFC on ESPN: dos Anjos vs. Fiziev · Jul 09, 2022
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Rafael Fiziev 0 54 of 110 49% 90 of 162 2 of 16 12% 0 0 6:13
Rafael dos Anjos 1 64 of 159 40% 92 of 192 0 of 1 0% 0 0 2:59
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Rafael Fiziev 0 9 of 26 34% 22 of 40 0 of 2 0% 0 0 2:08
Rafael dos Anjos 0 14 of 41 34% 17 of 44 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
2 Rafael Fiziev 0 19 of 36 52% 25 of 46 0 of 2 0% 0 0 0:31
Rafael dos Anjos 0 17 of 44 38% 20 of 48 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:46
3 Rafael Fiziev 0 9 of 22 40% 13 of 32 1 of 6 16% 0 0 1:46
Rafael dos Anjos 0 17 of 38 44% 24 of 45 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:43
4 Rafael Fiziev 0 15 of 23 65% 28 of 41 1 of 6 16% 0 0 1:48
Rafael dos Anjos 0 12 of 27 44% 27 of 46 0 of 0 --- 0 0 1:27
5 Rafael Fiziev 0 2 of 3 66% 2 of 3 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Rafael dos Anjos 1 4 of 9 44% 4 of 9 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:03
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Rafael Fiziev 54 of 110 49% 31 of 80 12 of 14 11 of 16 50 of 106 4 of 4 0 of 0
Rafael dos Anjos 64 of 159 40% 32 of 102 27 of 52 5 of 5 62 of 155 1 of 2 1 of 2
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Rafael Fiziev 9 of 26 34% 5 of 19 2 of 3 2 of 4 8 of 25 1 of 1 0 of 0
Rafael dos Anjos 14 of 41 34% 8 of 26 6 of 15 0 of 0 14 of 41 0 of 0 0 of 0
2 Rafael Fiziev 19 of 36 52% 10 of 26 7 of 7 2 of 3 18 of 35 1 of 1 0 of 0
Rafael dos Anjos 17 of 44 38% 6 of 27 9 of 15 2 of 2 17 of 43 0 of 1 0 of 0
3 Rafael Fiziev 9 of 22 40% 6 of 16 2 of 3 1 of 3 9 of 22 0 of 0 0 of 0
Rafael dos Anjos 17 of 38 44% 7 of 26 8 of 10 2 of 2 17 of 38 0 of 0 0 of 0
4 Rafael Fiziev 15 of 23 65% 9 of 17 1 of 1 5 of 5 13 of 21 2 of 2 0 of 0
Rafael dos Anjos 12 of 27 44% 7 of 17 4 of 9 1 of 1 11 of 26 1 of 1 0 of 0
5 Rafael Fiziev 2 of 3 66% 1 of 2 0 of 0 1 of 1 2 of 3 0 of 0 0 of 0
Rafael dos Anjos 4 of 9 44% 4 of 6 0 of 3 0 of 0 3 of 7 0 of 0 1 of 2
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Confident picked Jul 3, 2022 (6 days before fight)
Rafael dos Anjos

Angelo picks Rafael dos Anjos as a +170 underdog, citing his grappling, size advantage, cardio, and durability. He notes Fiziev is the better striker but has questionable cardio, especially in a 5-round fight. He points out that RDA has not lost in 6 years without being taken down, and Fiziev is unlikely to initiate takedowns. He already has a moneyline bet on RDA at +170.

Already has a moneyline bet on Rafael dos Anjos at +170.
"I like rafael dosanos I already got a money line bet on him at plus 170."
BI
Big Brady Expert Lean picked Jul 5, 2022 (4 days before fight)
Rafael dos Anjos

Big Brady picks Rafael dos Anjos, citing the five-round distance as a key factor. He notes that Fiziev has never seen the fourth or fifth round and has slowed down in third rounds of past fights, while RDA has proven cardio and experience in championship rounds. He expects RDA to mix in takedowns to test Fiziev's 95% takedown defense and cardio, potentially taking over in later rounds. He predicts a close decision win for RDA, acknowledging Fiziev could knock him out early.

"i'm gonna pick rda here to win this fight and win it by decision"
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Confident picked Jul 6, 2022 (3 days before fight)
Rafael Fiziev

Cody believes Fiziev has the advantage in striking with better hands and kicks, and his takedown defense is strong. He thinks Fiziev's cardio is sufficient to secure early rounds and then survive if needed. He sees RDA as a gatekeeper and Fiziev as a rising contender, calling it a passing of the torch.

Mentions RDA over 2.5 takedowns on PrizePicks as a play.
"gotta go with raphael physique so when you're looking at the odds of course it doesn't look you know great like uh you got minus 225 and raphael's eve versus more of a proven commodity in rafael sanyos"
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert picked Jul 9, 2022 (fight day)

The host discusses the Fiziev vs RDA fight but does not place a bet on it. He acknowledges the value on RDA as an underdog and respects those who pick him, but he personally keeps the fight out of his betting card. He mentions having Fiziev in a parlay but does not elaborate on a clear pick. He notes that Fiziev is younger, faster, and stronger, but RDA is durable and could win by decision. Ultimately, he does not commit to a side.

"I have a bet on Johnson and I understand the value on our day like if you're seeing perceived value on RDA I'd absolutely agree with you which is why I'm not touching that fight but I still do think …"
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Lean picked Jul 6, 2022 (3 days before fight)
Rafael dos Anjos

Paul thinks the price on Fiziev is too wide and expects to get RDA at a better price closer to fight time. He notes RDA's wrestling could be a factor, especially in a five-round fight, and that Fiziev's takedown defense hasn't been fully tested. He calls it a dogger pass situation but leans RDA.

Mentions RDA over 2.5 takedowns on PrizePicks as a play.
"i just think it's uh the price is a little bit too wide and it's continuing to grow so it's like i feel like by the time we get to fight time i'm gonna probably end up with an rda …"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Jul 4, 2022 (5 days before fight)
Rafael Fiziev

The Guru picks Rafael Fiziev, believing RDA's style is tailor-made to lose to Fiziev. He notes Fiziev's body work, takedown defense, and youth advantage. He predicts Fiziev will win the first three rounds decisively, possibly a 4-1 decision, with RDA making a late resurgence but ultimately losing.

4-1 decision
"I've got to side with Rafael Fiziev here."
Decision (unanimous) (49–45, 49–44, 50–44) R5 5:00 · UFC 272: Covington vs. Masvidal · Mar 05, 2022
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Rafael dos Anjos 1 149 of 286 52% 179 of 318 5 of 15 33% 0 0 13:22
Renato Moicano 0 88 of 172 51% 99 of 185 0 of 3 0% 0 0 0:30
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Rafael dos Anjos 0 22 of 34 64% 30 of 43 2 of 2 100% 0 0 3:12
Renato Moicano 0 10 of 23 43% 12 of 25 0 of 2 0% 0 0 0:30
2 Rafael dos Anjos 0 27 of 47 57% 32 of 52 1 of 6 16% 0 0 2:44
Renato Moicano 0 15 of 29 51% 15 of 29 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
3 Rafael dos Anjos 1 40 of 84 47% 52 of 97 0 of 2 0% 0 0 3:05
Renato Moicano 0 15 of 25 60% 16 of 26 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:00
4 Rafael dos Anjos 0 22 of 42 52% 27 of 47 1 of 1 100% 0 0 3:53
Renato Moicano 0 12 of 22 54% 20 of 32 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
5 Rafael dos Anjos 0 38 of 79 48% 38 of 79 1 of 4 25% 0 0 0:28
Renato Moicano 0 36 of 73 49% 36 of 73 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Rafael dos Anjos 149 of 286 52% 119 of 255 23 of 24 7 of 7 84 of 198 7 of 8 58 of 80
Renato Moicano 88 of 172 51% 77 of 158 8 of 11 3 of 3 81 of 164 7 of 7 0 of 1
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Rafael dos Anjos 22 of 34 64% 17 of 29 5 of 5 0 of 0 6 of 17 3 of 3 13 of 14
Renato Moicano 10 of 23 43% 6 of 19 3 of 3 1 of 1 6 of 19 4 of 4 0 of 0
2 Rafael dos Anjos 27 of 47 57% 19 of 39 7 of 7 1 of 1 17 of 37 3 of 3 7 of 7
Renato Moicano 15 of 29 51% 12 of 26 1 of 1 2 of 2 14 of 28 1 of 1 0 of 0
3 Rafael dos Anjos 40 of 84 47% 34 of 77 4 of 5 2 of 2 17 of 45 0 of 1 23 of 38
Renato Moicano 15 of 25 60% 14 of 24 1 of 1 0 of 0 15 of 25 0 of 0 0 of 0
4 Rafael dos Anjos 22 of 42 52% 17 of 37 4 of 4 1 of 1 7 of 21 0 of 0 15 of 21
Renato Moicano 12 of 22 54% 12 of 22 0 of 0 0 of 0 12 of 21 0 of 0 0 of 1
5 Rafael dos Anjos 38 of 79 48% 32 of 73 3 of 3 3 of 3 37 of 78 1 of 1 0 of 0
Renato Moicano 36 of 73 49% 33 of 67 3 of 6 0 of 0 34 of 71 2 of 2 0 of 0
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Hesitant picked Feb 25, 2022 (8 days before fight)

Angelo picks Fiziev but is hesitant, noting his brain says Fiziev but his heart says RDA. He highlights Fiziev's phenomenal striking and takedown defense, but questions his cardio over five rounds. He points out that RDA hasn't been finished in six years and only loses to wrestlers who take him down. He considers a plus 5.5 round bet on RDA.

considering over on rounds, plus 5.5 bet on RDA
"my brain is saying i need to go with fiz i have but my heart is saying my gut is saying that rda is going to win i've got to follow the brain"
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Hesitant picked Mar 2, 2022 (3 days before fight)
Rafael dos Anjos

Cody is torn because Moicano looked good on short notice against Hernandez, but the five-round nature favors RDA's experience and cardio. He notes RDA has fought 25 minutes many times and is a big lightweight who fought at welterweight, while Moicano has never gone five rounds and gassed in the Ortega fight. The catchweight of 160 also helps RDA. Cody ultimately flips to RDA but is hesitant due to the short-notice variable.

"i think uh i think rafael de san jose is the side"
DA
Daniel Levi Expert Hesitant picked Mar 3, 2022 (2 days before fight)
Renato Moicano

Daniel Levi picks Renato Moicano for the upset, but with hesitation. He notes that Moicano is the much bigger man with a size and reach advantage, and has good volume and a solid black belt. He points out that RDA has been taken down frequently in recent fights (by Usman, Colby, Chiesa, Leon) and that Moicano could have success in grappling exchanges. However, he conditions his pick on Moicano looking in shape at the weigh-in; if Moicano appears fat or out of shape, he would switch to RDA. He views this as a dog-or-pass situation and believes Moicano is on an upward trajectory.

"i actually will take henato mykano to come out here and get this upset"
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Mar 2, 2022 (3 days before fight)
Rafael dos Anjos

RDA is a tough veteran with excellent cardio and durability, while Moicano is taking the fight on four days' notice with travel and weight cut issues. Moicano will likely come out strong early but fade as the fight goes on. RDA's grappling and pressure will wear on Moicano, leading to a finish in the later rounds. The short notice and travel are huge red flags for Moicano.

RDA wins in round 4 (TKO), live betting opportunity on RDA if Moicano has early success
"i'm gonna call a finish for dos anos here i do think that he gets muy kano out of there let's call it round four"
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Confident picked Mar 2, 2022 (3 days before fight)
Rafael dos Anjos

Paul initially considered Moicano as a live underdog but after tape study flipped to RDA. He emphasizes RDA's five-round experience, size advantage (fought at 170), and clean camp versus Moicano's short notice and history of gassing. Paul points out Moicano's takedowns zap his cardio and he struggles striking backwards, while RDA mixes grappling and pace well. He calls it dog or pass but leans RDA.

"i think i am going to go with rda in this one"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Lock picked Feb 28, 2022 (5 days before fight)
Renato Moicano

The MMA Guru picks Renato Moicano (referred to as 'fizzyev') over Rafael dos Anjos, calling it a lock. He notes Moicano's speed advantage and RDA's decline at 155, especially his chin. He predicts Moicano will chew up RDA's legs with kicks in the first round, and when RDA pressures in the second, Moicano will catch him with a straight right for a TKO. He mentions RDA's only chance was in a five-rounder, but Moicano's patience and striking will prevail.

method: TKO, round: 2
"i'm going to go with raphael fizzyev second round ko early on in the second"
WIN vs Paul Felder
Decision (split) (47–48, 50–45, 50–45) R5 5:00 · UFC Fight Night: Felder vs. dos Anjos · Nov 14, 2020
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Rafael dos Anjos 0 98 of 190 51% 134 of 226 1 of 2 50% 0 0 1:40
Paul Felder 0 92 of 162 56% 155 of 231 6 of 22 27% 0 0 14:15
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Rafael dos Anjos 0 17 of 45 37% 17 of 45 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:13
Paul Felder 0 22 of 34 64% 27 of 41 1 of 4 25% 0 0 2:06
2 Rafael dos Anjos 0 29 of 46 63% 35 of 52 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Paul Felder 0 27 of 47 57% 31 of 51 1 of 4 25% 0 0 2:43
3 Rafael dos Anjos 0 12 of 21 57% 21 of 30 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:38
Paul Felder 0 13 of 18 72% 28 of 35 2 of 4 50% 0 0 3:17
4 Rafael dos Anjos 0 26 of 55 47% 39 of 68 1 of 1 100% 0 0 0:49
Paul Felder 0 19 of 41 46% 34 of 57 0 of 3 0% 0 0 1:54
5 Rafael dos Anjos 0 14 of 23 60% 22 of 31 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Paul Felder 0 11 of 22 50% 35 of 47 2 of 7 28% 0 0 4:15
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Rafael dos Anjos 98 of 190 51% 64 of 147 20 of 29 14 of 14 76 of 161 21 of 28 1 of 1
Paul Felder 92 of 162 56% 53 of 113 35 of 45 4 of 4 61 of 125 26 of 29 5 of 8
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Rafael dos Anjos 17 of 45 37% 8 of 33 5 of 8 4 of 4 16 of 43 1 of 2 0 of 0
Paul Felder 22 of 34 64% 13 of 24 9 of 10 0 of 0 17 of 28 5 of 6 0 of 0
2 Rafael dos Anjos 29 of 46 63% 23 of 38 3 of 5 3 of 3 22 of 38 7 of 8 0 of 0
Paul Felder 27 of 47 57% 19 of 36 7 of 10 1 of 1 21 of 40 6 of 7 0 of 0
3 Rafael dos Anjos 12 of 21 57% 5 of 11 3 of 6 4 of 4 8 of 13 4 of 8 0 of 0
Paul Felder 13 of 18 72% 7 of 10 5 of 7 1 of 1 8 of 13 5 of 5 0 of 0
4 Rafael dos Anjos 26 of 55 47% 20 of 48 5 of 6 1 of 1 20 of 48 6 of 7 0 of 0
Paul Felder 19 of 41 46% 7 of 26 11 of 14 1 of 1 10 of 30 8 of 9 1 of 2
5 Rafael dos Anjos 14 of 23 60% 8 of 17 4 of 4 2 of 2 10 of 19 3 of 3 1 of 1
Paul Felder 11 of 22 50% 7 of 17 3 of 4 1 of 1 5 of 14 2 of 2 4 of 6
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked Nov 12, 2020 (2 days before fight)
Rafael dos Anjos

Big Brady picks RDA because he had a full camp training for Islam Makhachev, which should help his wrestling and grappling against Felder, who took the fight on five days' notice. He notes RDA is the more technical striker with higher output, and Felder is dangerous but RDA has a solid chin. He expects RDA to mix in takedowns and grind out a decision, possibly a late finish.

RDA decision prop mentioned as a potential look; RDA as a parlay piece considered
"i'm gonna take rda to get it done um you know grind out paul felder to a decision i wouldn't be surprised if there's a late finish"
DA
Daniel Levi Expert Confident picked Nov 13, 2020 (1 day before fight)
Rafael dos Anjos

Daniel picks dos Anjos because he believes Felder's timing will be off due to lack of sparring and wrestling preparation on short notice. He notes dos Anjos has been training for a five-round fight against Islam Makhachev and is motivated dropping back to 155. He also points out that Felder historically struggles with volume and that dos Anjos can mix in takedowns, referencing Edson Barboza taking Felder down. He acknowledges Felder's durability and power but thinks dos Anjos will outwork him.

"i'm gonna roll with rafael dos anos as well"
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Nov 10, 2020 (4 days before fight)
Rafael dos Anjos

The host favors Rafael dos Anjos due to his experience in five-round fights, having gone to the fourth round or later in seven of his last nine five-round bouts. He believes dos Anjos's aggressive striking, leg kicks, and superior jiu-jitsu will overwhelm Paul Felder, who is taking the fight on six days' notice and has only one five-round fight experience. The host notes Felder's durability but expects dos Anjos to win via decision, possibly mixing in takedowns and ground control.

Host mentions dos Anjos via submission as a possibility but leans toward decision; also notes odds around -150 and says he might take a play on dos Anjos if the line sticks.
"i love dosanus here i think he gets ... i'm going to go with the safe side and i'll say dosan used to win this fight via decision"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Nov 10, 2020 (4 days before fight)
Rafael dos Anjos

The MMA Guru picks Rafael dos Anjos, citing Felder's short notice and difficult weight cut as major disadvantages. He believes dos Anjos will invest in body and leg kicks early, then finish Felder by exhaustion in the later rounds. He notes that dos Anjos has been training for this fight and is not a big lightweight, while Felder's reach advantage is neutralized by dos Anjos' similar reach. He also mentions that dos Anjos will be more confident on the feet without facing a wrestler.

Finish by exhaustion TKO in round 4 or 5; mentions dos Anjos has similar reach to Felder; notes Felder's terrible weight cuts even on full camp
"I'm gonna go with Rafael dos Anjos chewing up his legs, chewing up his body for three rounds, eventually getting himself a finish in the fourth or fifth or running away with an easy decision."
LOSS vs Michael Chiesa
Decision (unanimous) (30–27, 29–28, 29–28) R3 5:00 · UFC Fight Night: Blaydes vs. dos Santos · Jan 25, 2020
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Michael Chiesa 0 14 of 36 38% 23 of 52 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:42
Rafael dos Anjos 0 9 of 51 17% 54 of 107 6 of 8 75% 0 0 10:13
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Michael Chiesa 0 4 of 9 44% 5 of 12 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:11
Rafael dos Anjos 0 1 of 12 8% 2 of 16 2 of 3 66% 0 0 3:14
2 Michael Chiesa 0 8 of 24 33% 11 of 29 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:31
Rafael dos Anjos 0 7 of 34 20% 12 of 39 3 of 4 75% 0 0 2:14
3 Michael Chiesa 0 2 of 3 66% 7 of 11 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Rafael dos Anjos 0 1 of 5 20% 40 of 52 1 of 1 100% 0 0 4:45
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Michael Chiesa 14 of 36 38% 2 of 23 4 of 4 8 of 9 14 of 36 0 of 0 0 of 0
Rafael dos Anjos 9 of 51 17% 6 of 45 2 of 5 1 of 1 9 of 49 0 of 1 0 of 1
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Michael Chiesa 4 of 9 44% 1 of 6 2 of 2 1 of 1 4 of 9 0 of 0 0 of 0
Rafael dos Anjos 1 of 12 8% 0 of 11 1 of 1 0 of 0 1 of 12 0 of 0 0 of 0
2 Michael Chiesa 8 of 24 33% 0 of 15 2 of 2 6 of 7 8 of 24 0 of 0 0 of 0
Rafael dos Anjos 7 of 34 20% 5 of 29 1 of 4 1 of 1 7 of 33 0 of 1 0 of 0
3 Michael Chiesa 2 of 3 66% 1 of 2 0 of 0 1 of 1 2 of 3 0 of 0 0 of 0
Rafael dos Anjos 1 of 5 20% 1 of 5 0 of 0 0 of 0 1 of 4 0 of 0 0 of 1
DA
Daniel Levi Expert Confident picked Jan 24, 2020 (1 day before fight)
Rafael dos Anjos

Daniel picks RDA to win by decision, acknowledging that Chiesa might give him some trouble early with his grappling and size. He notes that RDA has been taken down 28 times in his last four fights but believes RDA's superior striking and jiu-jitsu will prevail. He mentions that RDA is on the tail end of his career but still the better fighter.

by decision
"I'll take RDA by my decision"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Jan 20, 2020 (5 days before fight)
Michael Chiesa

The MMA Guru picks Michael Chiesa, emphasizing that the fight is three rounds, which favors Chiesa's ability to hold dos Anjos down for two rounds. He notes Chiesa is a large welterweight with a significant reach advantage, and that dos Anjos may come back in the third but it will be too late. He predicts Chiesa wins the first two rounds and loses the third, winning by decision.

decision
"I'm going with michael Chiesa here especially because it's a free round fight I think he's gonna hold Rafael dos Anjos down for two rounds... michael Chiesa gets the job done"