UFC 231: Holloway vs. Ortega · Dec 08, 2018 · Light Heavyweight · Completed
Prev Fight UFC 231: Holloway vs. Ortega
Age 34
Height 6' 4"
Reach 78"
Weight 205 lbs.
Stance Orthodox
Age 36
Height 6' 0"
Reach 75.0"
Weight 205 lbs.
Stance Orthodox
Career Averages - Aleksandar Rakić
4.13 SLpM
50.0% Str. Acc.
2.86 SApM
51.0% Str. Def.
0.64 TD Avg
21.0% TD Acc.
85.0% TD Def.
0.1 Sub. Avg
Career Averages - Devin Clark
3.03 SLpM
54.0% Str. Acc.
3.24 SApM
44.0% Str. Def.
2.17 TD Avg
32.0% TD Acc.
58.0% TD Def.
0.1 Sub. Avg
Aleksandar Rakić - Fight History
KO R1 3:11 · UFC 321 · Oct 25, 2025
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Aleksandar Rakić 0 9 of 14 64% 13 of 18 0 of 2 0% 0 0 0:36
Azamat Murzakanov 1 3 of 8 37% 4 of 9 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:02
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Aleksandar Rakić 0 9 of 14 64% 13 of 18 0 of 2 0% 0 0 0:36
Azamat Murzakanov 1 3 of 8 37% 4 of 9 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:02
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Aleksandar Rakić 9 of 14 64% 0 of 3 3 of 4 6 of 7 8 of 13 1 of 1 0 of 0
Azamat Murzakanov 3 of 8 37% 1 of 6 2 of 2 0 of 0 2 of 7 0 of 0 1 of 1
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Aleksandar Rakić 9 of 14 64% 0 of 3 3 of 4 6 of 7 8 of 13 1 of 1 0 of 0
Azamat Murzakanov 3 of 8 37% 1 of 6 2 of 2 0 of 0 2 of 7 0 of 0 1 of 1
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Lean picked Oct 19, 2025 (6 days before fight)
Azamat Murzakanov

Angelo leans toward Azamat Murzakanov despite acknowledging Rakic's reach and technical striking. He notes Murzakanov has knockdowns in all six UFC fights and is powerful, but also small for the division. Angelo thinks Rakic is too low-volume and used to losing, and he might sprinkle a small bet on Murzakanov if the odds widen.

I might sprinkle sprinkle a little bit on him.
"I am still going to lean Murzakanov. I think Rakic is too safe, too low-volume, and honestly, too used to losing at this point. ... Azamat Murzakanov's the pick. We'll see if these odds widen or tighten, and I might …"
BI
Big Brady Expert Lean picked Oct 22, 2025 (3 days before fight)
Aleksandar Rakić

Big Brady leans toward Aleksandar Rakić, despite Murzakanov's undefeated record. He notes Rakić has faced elite competition (former champions) and has a significant size advantage (4-inch height, 7.5-inch reach). Brady expects Rakić's superior cardio and leg kicks to be decisive as Murzakanov slows down in fights. He predicts a close decision win for Rakić, though he hates picking against Murzakanov.

Rakić by decision
"I'm leaning Rakić's way. It's very tough to pick against Murzakanov cuz Murzakanov just kind of looks like he's just kind of he's going to keep winning. But I feel like I got to go Rakić here. I'm going to …"
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Hesitant picked Oct 22, 2025 (3 days before fight)
Azamat Murzakanov

Cody picks Azamat Murzakanov despite the size disadvantage, citing his undefeated record and knockout power. He notes that Rakić is on a three-fight losing streak and may have confidence issues, while Murzakanov finds a way to win. Cody acknowledges that Rakić is world-class and will have moments, but believes Murzakanov's power and finishing ability will prevail, though he expects a close fight.

"Murzakanov at some point finds the kill shot for me."
CO
Connor Ruebusch Expert Lean picked Oct 23, 2025 (2 days before fight)
Aleksandar Rakić

Connor picks Rakić, arguing that Murzakanov's level of competition has been low and his size disadvantage will be too much. He believes Rakić's reach and kicking game will keep Murzakanov at bay, and that Murzakanov's low output will cost him rounds. Connor thinks this is a step too far for Murzakanov.

"I'm going to pick Rockach here. I think that this is really just the point where Mirza Kannav's small, small, small guy who takes huge chances game just can't overcome."
DA
Daniel Vreeland Expert Confident picked Oct 23, 2025 (2 days before fight)
Azamat Murzakanov

Daniel Vreeland questions Rakić's confidence and durability, noting his tendency to fade and his recent losses. He believes Murzakanov's pressure, southpaw power, and ability to close distance will overwhelm Rakić. He predicts Murzakanov will walk Rakić down, get into punching range, and knock him out. He acknowledges Murzakanov's cardio issues but thinks he can finish early.

wins by KO
"I'm going to pick Mzakanov to extend his win streak and to come out here and knock out Alexander Rockic."
LU
Lucrative James Expert Hesitant picked Oct 20, 2025 (5 days before fight)
Aleksandar Rakić

Lucrative James picks Aleksandar Rakić, but hesitantly. He cites Rakić's experience against top competition (Jan Błachowicz, Jiri Prochazka, Magomed Ankalaev) and his size advantage, which could make his head kicks effective. He notes Murzakanov's power and explosiveness but questions his cardio and level of competition. He believes Rakić can win the minutes and land kicks from the outside, but acknowledges Murzakanov's danger.

"I am going to pick Rakage here, boys. I've decided I'm going to pick Rakage because I think he might be a little bit underrated coming off three losses to three of the best in the division."
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Oct 22, 2025 (3 days before fight)
Aleksandar Rakić

The host believes Rakić can stay away from Murzakanov's power, chip away with calf kicks, and mix in grappling. He thinks Rakić's size and strength will lead to a knockout.

knockout
"I think that Rakage is going to be too big and too strong for Mzrizzakonov, which should lead to Rakage finding that knockout."
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Hesitant picked Oct 22, 2025 (3 days before fight)
Azamat Murzakanov

Paul also picks Murzakanov but is hesitant, noting the size difference and Rakić's speed. He plans to wait for weigh-ins to get a better price, as Murzakanov may drift to plus money. Paul acknowledges that Murzakanov's cardio is a concern, but believes his power and the Abu Dhabi crowd support give him an edge.

"Murzakanov is the side for me. I'm going to wait until weigh-ins cuz I feel like you may get a better price."
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Hesitant picked Oct 21, 2025 (4 days before fight)
Aleksandar Rakić

The MMA Guru picks Aleksandar Rakić by decision, but admits he is hesitant. He notes that Azamat Murzakanov is undefeated and has KO power, but Rakić has a significant reach advantage and has trained with Jon Jones. He believes Rakić's low kicks and range management will be key, and that Murzakanov's shorter frame may struggle to land. He references Rakić's close fight with Magomed Ankalaev and his performance against Jiri Prochazka before getting injured. He expects a 29-28 decision, possibly with a scare in the third round.

"I'm going with Aleksandar Rakic. Sad, I know. I don't know why I keep doing it, but I can't [ __ ] help myself."
ZA
Zane Simon Expert Lean picked Oct 23, 2025 (2 days before fight)
Azamat Murzakanov

Zane picks Murzakanov, comparing him to a wolverine who will not accept losing. He believes Murzakanov will absorb early damage from Rakić's kicks but then storm forward and steal rounds with crushing offense. Zane notes Rakić's tendency to fall apart under pressure and thinks Murzakanov's aggression will be the difference.

"I'm still going to pick Mirza Kannav here. I think, um, he's going to soak up a lot of damage, but I think there's enough of what we saw from Uncle I have against Rockach and Mirza Kannav that at …"
Decision (unanimous) (29–28, 29–28, 29–28) R3 5:00 · UFC 308: Topuria vs. Holloway · Oct 26, 2024
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Magomed Ankalaev 0 55 of 114 48% 75 of 142 0 of 0 --- 0 0 1:31
Aleksandar Rakić 0 53 of 117 45% 59 of 123 0 of 1 0% 0 0 1:00
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Magomed Ankalaev 0 19 of 34 55% 19 of 34 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Aleksandar Rakić 0 22 of 45 48% 22 of 45 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
2 Magomed Ankalaev 0 23 of 50 46% 24 of 52 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:13
Aleksandar Rakić 0 19 of 43 44% 20 of 44 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:06
3 Magomed Ankalaev 0 13 of 30 43% 32 of 56 0 of 0 --- 0 0 1:18
Aleksandar Rakić 0 12 of 29 41% 17 of 34 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:54
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Magomed Ankalaev 55 of 114 48% 20 of 72 22 of 29 13 of 13 50 of 105 5 of 9 0 of 0
Aleksandar Rakić 53 of 117 45% 10 of 65 9 of 12 34 of 40 50 of 111 3 of 6 0 of 0
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Magomed Ankalaev 19 of 34 55% 7 of 19 8 of 11 4 of 4 19 of 34 0 of 0 0 of 0
Aleksandar Rakić 22 of 45 48% 4 of 24 3 of 4 15 of 17 22 of 45 0 of 0 0 of 0
2 Magomed Ankalaev 23 of 50 46% 8 of 33 7 of 9 8 of 8 23 of 49 0 of 1 0 of 0
Aleksandar Rakić 19 of 43 44% 3 of 24 3 of 5 13 of 14 18 of 41 1 of 2 0 of 0
3 Magomed Ankalaev 13 of 30 43% 5 of 20 7 of 9 1 of 1 8 of 22 5 of 8 0 of 0
Aleksandar Rakić 12 of 29 41% 3 of 17 3 of 3 6 of 9 10 of 25 2 of 4 0 of 0
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Confident picked Oct 20, 2024 (6 days before fight)
Magomed Ankalaev

Angelo picks Magomed Ankalaev as the first leg of his 'villain parlay' with a full unit bet. He acknowledges Ankalaev is a good kickboxer with wrestling, but he dislikes him and hopes the parlay loses. He thinks Ankalaev should win because Rakić is coming off two losses and hasn't won since 2021, and Ankalaev has the technical striking and wrestling advantage.

First leg of a villain parlay with a full unit bet; hopes it loses.
"mag anv has the wrestling he's got the technical striking he's just as long anv should win he is the first leg of the villain parlay a parlay that I put a full unit on and I hope it breaks."
BI
Big Brady Expert Lean picked Oct 23, 2024 (3 days before fight)
Magomed Ankalaev

Big Brady slightly favors Ankalaev but thinks the fight will be close and competitive. He expects the striking to be competitive and the fight to go to decision. He notes that Ankalaev has a path to victory via wrestling, as Rakić hasn't faced many wrestlers in the UFC. He calls the line 'kind of dumb' but picks Ankalaev to win a close decision.

"I'll take ank live to win a close decision"
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Confident picked Oct 23, 2024 (3 days before fight)
Magomed Ankalaev

Cody picks Magomed Ankalaev, stating he is the uncrowned champion of the division and should roll over Rakić. He notes that Rakić hasn't looked good since 2019, has been knocked out in his last two fights, and lacks durability and volume. Cody believes Ankalaev's wrestling and striking will be too much, and that he will be motivated to make a statement to earn a title shot.

"ankle should in theory absolutely roll here"
CO
Connor Ruebusch Expert Lean picked Oct 24, 2024 (2 days before fight)
Aleksandar Rakić

Connor picks Rakić, mainly because he wants Ankalaev to suffer and because Rakić is a more powerful striker with better fundamentals. He notes that Ankalaev tends to fight at a slow pace and rely on his wrestling, but often doesn't use it. Connor believes Rakić's jab and counter-punching could give him an edge in a kickboxing match.

Ankalaev opened at -350, currently -361; Rakić opened at +288, currently +296
"I'm going to pick Rocketch mostly because though I don't think he deserves it in any philosophical sense, I do want Magomed Uncle Liev to suffer."
DA
Daniel Vreeland Expert Confident picked Oct 23, 2024 (3 days before fight)
Magomed Ankalaev

Daniel Vreeland picks Magomed Ankalaev to win, citing his superior hands and ability to capitalize on Rakić's tendency to exit the pocket with his chin up. He expects Rakić to have early leg kick success but believes Ankalaev will make adjustments and either win by knockout or a 29-28 decision. Vreeland notes that Ankalaev is on a 12-fight unbeaten streak and that Rakić has been underwhelming despite his physique.

"I see ankle live winning this fight"
LU
Lucrative James Expert Hesitant picked Oct 23, 2024 (3 days before fight)
Magomed Ankalaev

Lucrative James picks Magomed Ankalaev to win but is hesitant due to Ankalaev's poor fight IQ and tendency to make fights close. He notes that Ankalaev is the better all-around fighter with grappling upside, but his low volume and lack of power could lead to a close decision. He sees value on Rakić as an underdog and expects a split decision type fight. He is not confident enough to bet on Ankalaev at -360 odds.

"I am going to pick anive to win... but his fight IQ is worse"
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Oct 25, 2024 (1 day before fight)
Magomed Ankalaev

Ankalaev's overall game is too much for Rakić. Many expect a grapple-heavy approach, but Ankalaev may unleash his striking to catch Rakić off guard, leading to a knockout victory. This would help him overcome the 'boring' label and earn a title shot.

Ankalaev wins by knockout
"give me anive by knockout"
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Confident picked Oct 23, 2024 (3 days before fight)
Magomed Ankalaev

Paul picks Ankalaev, agreeing that he is the best in the division and that Rakić is not a top-five fighter. He points out that Rakić has been outworked and knocked out in his recent fights, and that Ankalaev's wrestling and striking will be decisive. Paul also mentions that Ankalaev needs to put his foot on the gas to impress the UFC.

"he's the uncrowned champ he's the best guy in the division"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Oct 22, 2024 (4 days before fight)
Magomed Ankalaev

The Guru picks Ankalaev by decision, despite acknowledging Rakić's technical skills. He believes Ankalaev's pressure and clinch work will wear on Rakić, and that Ankalaev will mix in takedowns to secure rounds. He notes that Rakić has struggled to finish opponents and that Ankalaev's boxing will become more effective as the fight goes on. The Guru also mentions that the odds are too wide in Ankalaev's favor, suggesting Rakić offers value as an underdog, but ultimately sticks with Ankalaev via 29-28 decision.

Odds comment: Ankalaev nearly 4-to-1 favorite, should be 2-to-1 at most; suggests Rakić underdog value
"I'm going with Ankalaev 29-28 decision very eerily similar to the Nikita Krylov performance."
ZA
Zane Simon Expert picked Oct 26, 2024 (fight day)

Zane did not make a pick for this fight. He criticized the matchup as boring, noting both fighters are consistent, risk-averse range strikers who favor high-percentage low-power strikes. He expressed disappointment that the UFC booked this fight knowing their styles, and predicted Ankalaev will likely get a title shot anyway due to lack of other options.

"booking fights like uncle ayah versus below which and uncle ayah versus rackage you're just asking for lame you're asking for boring fights that nobody gets thrilled by"
ZA
Zane Simon Expert Lean picked Oct 24, 2024 (2 days before fight)
Magomed Ankalaev

Zane picks Ankalaev, expecting a slow-paced kickboxing match where Ankalaev edges out a decision. He acknowledges Rakić's power and technique but thinks Ankalaev will control the tempo and win a close fight, as he has done before. Zane is not confident but sees Ankalaev as the likely winner.

Ankalaev opened at -350, currently -361; Rakić opened at +288, currently +296
"And Uncle Liev will win 55 strikes to 51. That's really it."
TKO (punches) R2 3:17 · UFC 300: Pereira vs. Hill · Apr 13, 2024
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Jiří Procházka 0 69 of 118 58% 69 of 118 1 of 1 100% 0 0 0:38
Aleksandar Rakić 0 58 of 109 53% 58 of 109 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Jiří Procházka 0 16 of 38 42% 16 of 38 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:03
Aleksandar Rakić 0 36 of 69 52% 36 of 69 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
2 Jiří Procházka 0 53 of 80 66% 53 of 80 1 of 1 100% 0 0 0:35
Aleksandar Rakić 0 22 of 40 55% 22 of 40 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Jiří Procházka 69 of 118 58% 56 of 101 5 of 9 8 of 8 45 of 87 7 of 7 17 of 24
Aleksandar Rakić 58 of 109 53% 34 of 77 1 of 2 23 of 30 56 of 107 2 of 2 0 of 0
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Jiří Procházka 16 of 38 42% 10 of 29 2 of 5 4 of 4 15 of 37 1 of 1 0 of 0
Aleksandar Rakić 36 of 69 52% 19 of 45 0 of 1 17 of 23 35 of 68 1 of 1 0 of 0
2 Jiří Procházka 53 of 80 66% 46 of 72 3 of 4 4 of 4 30 of 50 6 of 6 17 of 24
Aleksandar Rakić 22 of 40 55% 15 of 32 1 of 1 6 of 7 21 of 39 1 of 1 0 of 0
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Confident picked Apr 7, 2024 (6 days before fight)
Jiří Procházka

Angelo picks Jiri Prochazka as the underdog, citing his relentless pressure and chaos. He notes Rakic is the more technical striker but has been out for two years and doesn't like brawls. He likes the +110 odds as juicy but may not bet due to conservatism.

Odds comment: +110 is juicy
"plus 110 Jerry is the underdog those odds seem juicy"
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Confident picked Apr 11, 2024 (2 days before fight)
Jiří Procházka

Cody is confused why Rakić is a slight favorite. He lists many red flags for Rakić: a near 2-year layoff, coming off a leg injury, low volume, and unimpressive performances even before the injury. In contrast, Procházka is a former champion with dynamic striking, power, and a samurai mentality. Cody notes Procházka has a fifth-round submission win over Glover Teixeira and can wrestle if needed. He believes Procházka's pressure and power will overwhelm Rakić, who tends to avoid fighting. Cody picks Procházka as the underdog.

"I'm actually confused on this one I don't know why it's even money... got to go with yri."
CO
Connor Ruebusch Expert Confident picked Apr 12, 2024 (1 day before fight)
Jiří Procházka

Connor picks Procházka because his willingness to create chaos and take risks is valuable at light heavyweight. He contrasts Procházka's creative, reckless style with Rakić's neurotically technical, restrained approach. Connor argues that Procházka's ability to scramble and make fights uncontrollable will overcome Rakić's grinding, as Rakić has not faced someone with Procházka's level of unpredictability.

Odds: Procházka opened -100, now -103; Rakić opened -128, now -107. Connor notes the odds are dead even.
"I am going to pick Jiri Prashaska because I think despite the immense risk inherent to his game, that is a very valuable thing to have in MMA in general at light heavyweight."
DA
Daniel Vreeland Expert Lean picked Apr 10, 2024 (3 days before fight)
Jiří Procházka

Daniel Vreeland picks Jiří Procházka as a slight underdog, citing his chaotic, unpredictable style and ability to force opponents into brawls. He acknowledges Rakić's athleticism and leg kicks but believes Procházka's offensive juggernaut approach and durability will lead to a finish. Vreeland notes that Procházka has been knocked out but expects him to make it wild and catch Rakić.

"I'm gonna go with the former champ Jiří Procházka"
LU
Lucrative James Expert picked Apr 10, 2024 (3 days before fight)

Lucrative James does not make a pick for this fight. He says he is excited to see how Jiří Procházka bounces back from his loss. He does not provide a prediction.

"Jiří versus Rakić I'm excited to see how Jiří bounces back"
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Apr 12, 2024 (1 day before fight)
Aleksandar Rakić

Rakić will drag the fight to the ground where he can have success from top position. Procházka has struggled with opponents on top. Rakić will chain wrestling attempts and keep Procházka on his back, grinding out a decision win.

decision
"I think we'll see rage utilize that wrestling chain those wrestling attempts and then eventually keep rasa muzzled on his back and grind this fight out over 15 minutes winning this fight on the scorecards"
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Confident picked Apr 11, 2024 (2 days before fight)
Jiří Procházka

Paul agrees with Cody, favoring Procházka. He notes that if it turns into an absolute fight, Procházka's pace and volume will be too much for Rakić, as seen in Procházka's fight with Dominick Reyes where he landed 77 significant strikes before a early third-round finish. Paul acknowledges both fighters have red flags (layoffs, injuries), but Rakić has been on the shelf longer and has bigger question marks. He emphasizes Procházka's samurai mentality and believes he will bring the fight to Rakić.

"I'm with I'm on Yuri as well... if it turns into an absolute fight you want Yuri."
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Apr 8, 2024 (5 days before fight)
Aleksandar Rakić

The MMA Guru picks Aleksandar Rakić to defeat Jiří Procházka by targeting his lead leg with low kicks. He notes Procházka's weakness against leg kicks and that Rakić is comfortable backpedaling. He also mentions Rakić may mix in takedowns and predicts a finish or decision.

"Alexander rakic is going to chew up that lead leg of Yuri prasa."
ZA
Zane Simon Expert Hesitant picked Apr 12, 2024 (1 day before fight)
Aleksandar Rakić

Zane picks Rakić despite hating his fighting style. He believes Rakić will land leg kicks, take Procházka down, and grind out a win over three rounds. He notes Procházka's wildness could turn the fight, but Rakić's durability and grinding approach should prevail. Zane is hedging because he wants Procházka to win but feels Rakić is the safer bet.

Odds: Rakić opened -128, now -107; Procházka opened -100, now -103. Zane mentions the fight is dead even in odds.
"My feel bad vibe is that I'm going to take Alexander Rocketch. I think he's going to land a lot of leg kicks. I think Proshaska is going to start lunging in and getting really aggressive. And Rocketch is going …"
LOSS vs Jan Błachowicz
TKO (knee injury) R3 1:11 · UFC on ESPN: Blachowicz vs. Rakic · May 14, 2022
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Jan Błachowicz 0 31 of 71 43% 53 of 94 0 of 0 --- 1 0 0:01
Aleksandar Rakić 0 27 of 85 31% 61 of 125 1 of 4 25% 0 0 4:33
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Jan Błachowicz 0 25 of 53 47% 25 of 53 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Aleksandar Rakić 0 12 of 52 23% 12 of 52 0 of 2 0% 0 0 0:00
2 Jan Błachowicz 0 1 of 3 33% 23 of 26 0 of 0 --- 1 0 0:00
Aleksandar Rakić 0 10 of 19 52% 44 of 59 1 of 2 50% 0 0 4:33
3 Jan Błachowicz 0 5 of 15 33% 5 of 15 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:01
Aleksandar Rakić 0 5 of 14 35% 5 of 14 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Jan Błachowicz 31 of 71 43% 8 of 31 9 of 21 14 of 19 31 of 69 0 of 2 0 of 0
Aleksandar Rakić 27 of 85 31% 14 of 60 2 of 9 11 of 16 17 of 70 0 of 0 10 of 15
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Jan Błachowicz 25 of 53 47% 7 of 24 6 of 14 12 of 15 25 of 51 0 of 2 0 of 0
Aleksandar Rakić 12 of 52 23% 1 of 32 1 of 8 10 of 12 12 of 52 0 of 0 0 of 0
2 Jan Błachowicz 1 of 3 33% 0 of 1 1 of 1 0 of 1 1 of 3 0 of 0 0 of 0
Aleksandar Rakić 10 of 19 52% 10 of 17 0 of 0 0 of 2 0 of 4 0 of 0 10 of 15
3 Jan Błachowicz 5 of 15 33% 1 of 6 2 of 6 2 of 3 5 of 15 0 of 0 0 of 0
Aleksandar Rakić 5 of 14 35% 3 of 11 1 of 1 1 of 2 5 of 14 0 of 0 0 of 0
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Hesitant picked May 11, 2022 (3 days before fight)
Aleksandar Rakić

Cody leans toward Rakić but is hesitant due to the price. He notes that Jan Błachowicz has a good body of work, striking, and takedown ability, but is concerned about a potential neck injury from the Glover fight. He thinks Rakić is young and hungry, but the value isn't there at -195, and he can't pull the trigger on the dog because he believes Jan is damaged goods.

"I think I would have to go wreckage but uh I'd like to put main events on my top ticket right and his wreckage a top ticket guy I just explained that I think that the value is not really …"
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert picked May 11, 2022 (3 days before fight)

Paul is undecided, calling it a dogger pass. He acknowledges a case for Rakić's wrestling not being tested and Jan's fantastic chin and cardio. He wants to wait for weigh-ins and interviews before making a pick. He leans toward Jan as a live dog if he drags Rakić into deep waters and takes him down multiple times.

"there could be a case to be made that rakic's wrestling hasn't been tested and yawn historically fantastic chin good cardio volume is okay volume is better than what we've seen from rackets i mean if he drags this kid …"
WIN vs Thiago Santos
Decision (unanimous) (29–28, 29–28, 30–27) R3 5:00 · UFC 259: Blachowicz vs. Adesanya · Mar 06, 2021
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Aleksandar Rakić 0 49 of 97 50% 61 of 109 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:00
Thiago Santos 0 36 of 89 40% 50 of 103 0 of 2 0% 0 0 2:32
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Aleksandar Rakić 0 15 of 27 55% 15 of 27 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Thiago Santos 0 14 of 30 46% 14 of 30 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
2 Aleksandar Rakić 0 11 of 31 35% 18 of 38 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Thiago Santos 0 15 of 35 42% 24 of 44 0 of 0 --- 0 0 1:11
3 Aleksandar Rakić 0 23 of 39 58% 28 of 44 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:00
Thiago Santos 0 7 of 24 29% 12 of 29 0 of 2 0% 0 0 1:21
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Aleksandar Rakić 49 of 97 50% 10 of 41 23 of 33 16 of 23 35 of 82 14 of 15 0 of 0
Thiago Santos 36 of 89 40% 8 of 47 13 of 16 15 of 26 29 of 82 7 of 7 0 of 0
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Aleksandar Rakić 15 of 27 55% 1 of 8 8 of 11 6 of 8 15 of 27 0 of 0 0 of 0
Thiago Santos 14 of 30 46% 3 of 16 3 of 4 8 of 10 14 of 30 0 of 0 0 of 0
2 Aleksandar Rakić 11 of 31 35% 3 of 16 6 of 10 2 of 5 5 of 25 6 of 6 0 of 0
Thiago Santos 15 of 35 42% 3 of 17 8 of 9 4 of 9 8 of 28 7 of 7 0 of 0
3 Aleksandar Rakić 23 of 39 58% 6 of 17 9 of 12 8 of 10 15 of 30 8 of 9 0 of 0
Thiago Santos 7 of 24 29% 2 of 14 2 of 3 3 of 7 7 of 24 0 of 0 0 of 0
BI
Big Brady Expert Hesitant picked Mar 3, 2021 (3 days before fight)
Aleksandar Rakić

Big Brady picks Aleksandar Rakić, favoring him on the feet and heavily on the ground. He notes Rakić has been dropped before (by Devin Clark) and is hittable, while Santos has one-shot power. He recommends a ground game plan and predicts a TKO ground-and-pound finish in the second round, but passes on betting.

"i'm going to take rakash to win i'm going to say he wins by a tikiyo ground and pound finish in the second round"
DA
Daniel Levi Expert Confident picked Mar 5, 2021 (1 day before fight)
Aleksandar Rakić

Daniel picks Aleksandar Rakić to win, citing his well-rounded game, wrestling, and smart game planning. He notes Santos' submission defense issues and believes Rakić can mix in takedowns and possibly finish on the mat or win a decision.

"i'm gonna go with rockets here uh to edge this one out man"
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Mar 4, 2021 (2 days before fight)
Aleksandar Rakić

Rakić is younger, stronger, and has a wrestling advantage. Santos is 37 with knee injuries and poor jiu-jitsu off his back. The host expects Rakić to use his kicks and takedowns to control the fight and win by decision.

"i'm going to take rockets to when this fight via decision"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Feb 26, 2021 (8 days before fight)
Aleksandar Rakić

The MMA Guru picks Aleksandar Rakić over Thiago Santos. He highlights Rakić's dangerous leg kicks and improved grappling, and notes Santos has no ligaments in his legs. He believes Rakić will chop at Santos's legs, inhibit his movement, and win by 30-27 unanimous decision, possibly mixing in takedowns.

"i'm gonna go with alexander wreckage i like thiago santos you've got no ligaments in your legs and wreckage has the best leg kicks i've ever seen"
WIN vs Anthony Smith
Decision (unanimous) (30–26, 30–27, 30–27) R3 5:00 · UFC Fight Night: Smith vs. Rakic · Aug 29, 2020
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Aleksandar Rakić 0 9 of 21 42% 40 of 53 0 of 2 0% 0 0 0:36
Anthony Smith 1 44 of 57 77% 141 of 159 0 of 0 --- 0 0 12:14
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Aleksandar Rakić 0 5 of 11 45% 13 of 19 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:12
Anthony Smith 1 17 of 21 80% 39 of 45 0 of 0 --- 0 0 3:22
2 Aleksandar Rakić 0 4 of 8 50% 18 of 22 0 of 2 0% 0 0 0:10
Anthony Smith 0 9 of 12 75% 61 of 65 0 of 0 --- 0 0 4:31
3 Aleksandar Rakić 0 0 of 2 0% 9 of 12 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:14
Anthony Smith 0 18 of 24 75% 41 of 49 0 of 0 --- 0 0 4:21
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Aleksandar Rakić 9 of 21 42% 5 of 16 0 of 1 4 of 4 6 of 14 1 of 2 2 of 5
Anthony Smith 44 of 57 77% 16 of 28 7 of 8 21 of 21 25 of 34 2 of 2 17 of 21
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Aleksandar Rakić 5 of 11 45% 1 of 6 0 of 1 4 of 4 5 of 10 0 of 1 0 of 0
Anthony Smith 17 of 21 80% 5 of 8 1 of 2 11 of 11 14 of 18 0 of 0 3 of 3
2 Aleksandar Rakić 4 of 8 50% 4 of 8 0 of 0 0 of 0 1 of 2 1 of 1 2 of 5
Anthony Smith 9 of 12 75% 5 of 8 3 of 3 1 of 1 6 of 8 1 of 1 2 of 3
3 Aleksandar Rakić 0 of 2 0% 0 of 2 0 of 0 0 of 0 0 of 2 0 of 0 0 of 0
Anthony Smith 18 of 24 75% 6 of 12 3 of 3 9 of 9 5 of 8 1 of 1 12 of 15
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked Aug 27, 2020 (2 days before fight)
Aleksandar Rakić

Big Brady picks Rakić but thinks the line should be closer. He notes Rakić's superior striking volume and takedown defense, and expects him to win the first round strongly. He is concerned about Smith coming back too soon after a brutal beating, but acknowledges Smith's toughness and ability to take a shot. He predicts a decision win for Rakić.

"i think racket wins this i think he wins by i'm gonna go by decision"
DA
Daniel Levi Expert Lean picked Aug 29, 2020 (fight day)
Aleksandar Rakić

Daniel Levi leans with Rakić, citing that Rakić is fresher, has more room for improvement, and will likely hit Smith with hard shots to the body and chin. He acknowledges Smith's experience and ability to come back late if Rakić fades, but believes the timing is right for Rakić. He also notes that Rakić was dropped by Devin Clark twice, which raises durability concerns, but still favors him.

"i lean with rockets man i feel like you know he's a little bit fresher right now he's got more room to make improvements he's probably going to hit anthony with some hard [ __ ] to the body into …"
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Aug 28, 2020 (1 day before fight)
Aleksandar Rakić

Rakić is a strong wrestler with a top game that can crush Smith. Smith is good but not great at anything; Rakić should mix striking and grappling to control the fight. I expect a cautious approach leading to a decision win for Rakić, though the -275 line is a bit steep.

over 1.5 rounds -160
"i like rockets to win this fight i do think he gets it done via decision"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Aug 23, 2020 (6 days before fight)
Aleksandar Rakić

The host picks Aleksandar Rakić because the fight is only three rounds. He believes Rakić will outrange Smith with kicks and win the first two rounds comfortably, then survive the third. He notes Smith's wide stance leaves him open to leg kicks and body kicks, and that Smith has taken recent damage. He thinks if it were five rounds, Smith would win, but in three rounds Rakić's striking advantage prevails.

29-28 decision
"i'm gonna go with alexander rakich going out there winning the first two rounds comfortably on the feet... i think rakic goes out there outranges smith outlands him"
LOSS vs Volkan Oezdemir
Decision (split) (29–28, 28–29, 29–28) R3 5:00 · UFC Fight Night: Edgar vs. The Korean Zombie · Dec 21, 2019
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Volkan Oezdemir 0 63 of 144 43% 118 of 199 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:32
Aleksandar Rakić 0 75 of 147 51% 87 of 162 1 of 9 11% 1 0 2:38
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Volkan Oezdemir 0 12 of 39 30% 19 of 46 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:29
Aleksandar Rakić 0 23 of 47 48% 24 of 49 1 of 4 25% 1 0 0:47
2 Volkan Oezdemir 0 21 of 40 52% 42 of 61 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Aleksandar Rakić 0 22 of 39 56% 28 of 45 0 of 2 0% 0 0 0:31
3 Volkan Oezdemir 0 30 of 65 46% 57 of 92 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:03
Aleksandar Rakić 0 30 of 61 49% 35 of 68 0 of 3 0% 0 0 1:20
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Volkan Oezdemir 63 of 144 43% 28 of 105 14 of 18 21 of 21 47 of 122 16 of 22 0 of 0
Aleksandar Rakić 75 of 147 51% 49 of 116 16 of 18 10 of 13 57 of 126 18 of 21 0 of 0
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Volkan Oezdemir 12 of 39 30% 4 of 30 2 of 3 6 of 6 8 of 32 4 of 7 0 of 0
Aleksandar Rakić 23 of 47 48% 12 of 35 9 of 9 2 of 3 17 of 40 6 of 7 0 of 0
2 Volkan Oezdemir 21 of 40 52% 6 of 23 4 of 6 11 of 11 17 of 35 4 of 5 0 of 0
Aleksandar Rakić 22 of 39 56% 12 of 27 4 of 5 6 of 7 18 of 34 4 of 5 0 of 0
3 Volkan Oezdemir 30 of 65 46% 18 of 52 8 of 9 4 of 4 22 of 55 8 of 10 0 of 0
Aleksandar Rakić 30 of 61 49% 25 of 54 3 of 4 2 of 3 22 of 52 8 of 9 0 of 0
WIN vs Jimi Manuwa
KO (head kick) R1 0:47 · UFC Fight Night: Gustafsson vs. Smith · Jun 01, 2019
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Aleksandar Rakić 0 2 of 3 66% 2 of 3 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Jimi Manuwa 1 2 of 7 28% 2 of 7 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:01
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Aleksandar Rakić 0 2 of 3 66% 2 of 3 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Jimi Manuwa 1 2 of 7 28% 2 of 7 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:01
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Aleksandar Rakić 2 of 3 66% 1 of 2 0 of 0 1 of 1 2 of 3 0 of 0 0 of 0
Jimi Manuwa 2 of 7 28% 1 of 5 0 of 0 1 of 2 2 of 7 0 of 0 0 of 0
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Aleksandar Rakić 2 of 3 66% 1 of 2 0 of 0 1 of 1 2 of 3 0 of 0 0 of 0
Jimi Manuwa 2 of 7 28% 1 of 5 0 of 0 1 of 2 2 of 7 0 of 0 0 of 0
Devin Clark - Fight History
LOSS vs Marcin Prachnio
Decision (unanimous) (30–27, 30–27, 30–27) R3 5:00 · UFC Fight Night: Hermansson vs. Pyfer · Feb 10, 2024
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Marcin Prachnio 0 53 of 127 41% 53 of 127 0 of 2 0% 0 0 0:14
Devin Clark 0 101 of 189 53% 112 of 204 1 of 1 100% 0 0 0:44
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Marcin Prachnio 0 11 of 29 37% 11 of 29 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:14
Devin Clark 0 23 of 47 48% 27 of 53 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:04
2 Marcin Prachnio 0 19 of 36 52% 19 of 36 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:00
Devin Clark 0 30 of 60 50% 32 of 62 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:08
3 Marcin Prachnio 0 23 of 62 37% 23 of 62 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Devin Clark 0 48 of 82 58% 53 of 89 1 of 1 100% 0 0 0:32
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Marcin Prachnio 53 of 127 41% 36 of 106 13 of 16 4 of 5 49 of 120 4 of 7 0 of 0
Devin Clark 101 of 189 53% 42 of 113 37 of 51 22 of 25 78 of 156 23 of 33 0 of 0
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Marcin Prachnio 11 of 29 37% 7 of 24 2 of 3 2 of 2 11 of 28 0 of 1 0 of 0
Devin Clark 23 of 47 48% 8 of 28 7 of 9 8 of 10 21 of 42 2 of 5 0 of 0
2 Marcin Prachnio 19 of 36 52% 13 of 29 5 of 6 1 of 1 17 of 34 2 of 2 0 of 0
Devin Clark 30 of 60 50% 9 of 33 9 of 15 12 of 12 26 of 52 4 of 8 0 of 0
3 Marcin Prachnio 23 of 62 37% 16 of 53 6 of 7 1 of 2 21 of 58 2 of 4 0 of 0
Devin Clark 48 of 82 58% 25 of 52 21 of 27 2 of 3 31 of 62 17 of 20 0 of 0
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Confident picked Feb 4, 2024 (6 days before fight)
Devin Clark

Angelo believes Devin Clark can pressure forward, avoid Prachnio's power, get takedowns, and grind out a win. He notes Clark's solid grappling and footwork, and that Prachnio has a questionable chin. He thinks Clark should win, but the -190 odds are a bit rich; he would prefer Clark at -150. He will monitor the line movement.

"Devin Clark should win this fight pretty confident in him."
BI
Big Brady Expert Hesitant picked Feb 5, 2024 (5 days before fight)
Devin Clark

Big Brady hesitantly picks Devin Clark to win by decision. He notes that Clark has a clear path to victory through wrestling, as Prachnio has terrible takedown defense and ground game. However, he is not confident because Clark has poor cardio and has been finished often, and Prachnio's fights have had weird results.

"I'm going to pick him here just because I feel like he has such a clear path to Victory with the wrestling"
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Hesitant picked Feb 7, 2024 (3 days before fight)
Marcin Prachnio

Cody picks Prachnio as a dog, noting Clark's cardio issues and tendency to fade. Prachnio has power and has shown he can survive early takedowns and come back. Cody thinks if Clark doesn't finish early, Prachnio can knock him out in the later rounds. He suggests a prop on Prachnio by KO in round 3 at long odds.

Prachnio by KO round 3 (+2400)
"prne round three 20 to one I mean he's probably gonna I don't think he has any submission skills whatsoever so what's him by KO round three 24 24 that would be that would be the move"
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Hesitant picked Feb 5, 2024 (5 days before fight)
Devin Clark

Clark should be able to use his clinch and grappling to push Prachnio against the cage and drag him to the mat. Prachnio has questionable takedown defense and durability. However, Clark is inconsistent and has a history of fumbling fights he's winning. The line at -210 is too wide for someone as flimsy as Clark, but he should still win by decision.

"I'll still take him to win this fight I still think he wins by decision but it is a closer fight in my opinion than the odds indicate"
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Hesitant picked Feb 7, 2024 (3 days before fight)
Marcin Prachnio

Paul also picks Prachnio, agreeing with Cody's assessment. He notes Clark's wrestling advantage but thinks Prachnio can survive and find a knockout. Paul mentions that Clark has been knocked out before and that Prachnio has power. He is tempted by the dog price and the prop.

Prachnio by KO round 3
"I'm with you pretty clear dogger pass and I mean if you're telling me to to be sprinkling plus 2400s I mean yeah let's go baby"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Hesitant picked Feb 7, 2024 (3 days before fight)
Marcin Prachnio

The MMA Guru picks Marcin Prachnio as an underdog after initially leaning toward Devin Clark. He notes that Clark has taken a lot of damage and lacks one-punch KO power or submission threat. He believes Prachnio can out-damage Clark on the feet with better striking skill. He acknowledges the pick is risky but thinks Prachnio is a lot better than Clark in terms of before a finish.

"I'm going to go marching Prat as an underdog... I think prano can outdamage him on the feet with a better striking skill."
Technical Submission (guillotine choke) R2 2:28 · UFC 288: Sterling vs. Cejudo · May 06, 2023
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Kennedy Nzechukwu 0 62 of 81 76% 79 of 98 0 of 1 0% 1 0 3:42
Devin Clark 0 36 of 58 62% 61 of 90 1 of 4 25% 0 0 1:04
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Kennedy Nzechukwu 0 41 of 53 77% 54 of 66 0 of 1 0% 0 0 2:35
Devin Clark 0 25 of 37 67% 47 of 65 1 of 3 33% 0 0 0:44
2 Kennedy Nzechukwu 0 21 of 28 75% 25 of 32 0 of 0 --- 1 0 1:07
Devin Clark 0 11 of 21 52% 14 of 25 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:20
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Kennedy Nzechukwu 62 of 81 76% 44 of 63 18 of 18 0 of 0 9 of 17 53 of 64 0 of 0
Devin Clark 36 of 58 62% 25 of 46 7 of 8 4 of 4 13 of 28 23 of 30 0 of 0
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Kennedy Nzechukwu 41 of 53 77% 34 of 46 7 of 7 0 of 0 2 of 3 39 of 50 0 of 0
Devin Clark 25 of 37 67% 18 of 29 3 of 4 4 of 4 5 of 10 20 of 27 0 of 0
2 Kennedy Nzechukwu 21 of 28 75% 10 of 17 11 of 11 0 of 0 7 of 14 14 of 14 0 of 0
Devin Clark 11 of 21 52% 7 of 17 4 of 4 0 of 0 8 of 18 3 of 3 0 of 0
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Confident picked Apr 30, 2023 (6 days before fight)
Kennedy Nzechukwu

Angelo picks Kennedy Nzechukwu, noting his length, power, and ability to come back from behind. He compares this fight to Kennedy's last win where he lost the first round before knocking out Jan Kutulaba. Angelo is hesitant because Kennedy can be a slow starter and gun-shy, which could allow Devin Clark to grind out early rounds. However, he believes Kennedy hits too hard and is never out of a fight, expecting a finish similar to his last performance.

"I've got to go Kennedy and chuckle here right well Devin could have some early success wrestling... Kennedy Just Hits too hard"
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked May 1, 2023 (5 days before fight)
Kennedy Nzechukwu

Big Brady picks Nzechukwu, citing his massive size and reach advantages. He notes Nzechukwu is finally putting it together, showing improved grappling and takedown defense. He believes Clark will struggle with the reach and power, and Nzechukwu's get-up game is excellent. He predicts a second-round knockout, as Nzechukwu starts slow but finishes strong.

Second round knockout prediction
"I like Kennedy here I like Kennedy to start slow... I think he finishes Devin Clark in that second or third round by knockout"
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Confident picked May 3, 2023 (3 days before fight)
Devin Clark

Cody sees value in Clark at plus money, noting his cardio and cage control are his best weapons. He believes Clark can press Nzechukwu against the fence, use outside trips to take him down, and grind out a win. He points out that Nzechukwu has been taken down by lesser wrestlers and Clark's style is perfectly suited to exploit that.

Live betting on Clark after first round
"I'm gonna go with the first option which is uh he holds on to him against the cage and wins two of the three rounds"
CO
Connor Ruebusch Expert Confident picked May 4, 2023 (2 days before fight)
Kennedy Nzechukwu

Connor picks Nzechukwu more confidently, arguing that Nzechukwu has a plan and can use pressure striking and reach, not just clinching. He notes Devin Clark has no technical foundation and relies on physicality, but Nzechukwu can adapt and find moments. Connor acknowledges Clark is tough and strong, but Nzechukwu should be able to outwork him.

Nzechukwu opened at -217, now -180; Clark opened +182, now +163.
"I do have to pick the Chukwu. He's a fighter with a plan and Devin Clark isn't."
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked May 1, 2023 (5 days before fight)
Kennedy Nzechukwu

The host picks Kennedy Nzechukwu by late first round stoppage. He believes Nzechukwu's improved striking and power will overcome Devin Clark's grappling. He notes Clark's durability issues and expects Nzechukwu to land big shots after a potentially sticky early grappling exchange.

Nzechukwu by stoppage, round 1
"I'm going to go in zatsuku here by late first round stoppage"
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Confident picked May 3, 2023 (3 days before fight)
Devin Clark

Paul also picks Clark, having bet him at +180. He notes Clark's chin concerns are overblown, as he's shown durability in recent fights. He expects Clark to use his wrestling and pressure to control the fight, similar to his win over Jung. He thinks the line is too wide.

"I took a shot at plus 180 on Devin Clark not exactly my favorite fighter historically I just thought the line is a little bit wide"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked May 1, 2023 (5 days before fight)
Kennedy Nzechukwu

The Guru picks Nzechukwu, citing his size and range advantage over Clark. He believes Nzechukwu will pick at Clark on the feet and land knees as Clark closes distance. He acknowledges Nzechukwu's questionable chin (KO by Dalton Young) but thinks Clark's wrestling won't be effective due to Nzechukwu's size. He predicts a TKO in the later rounds.

TKO in later rounds
"I'm gonna side with nazochukwu over Devon Clark ... I'm going with him by TKO in the later rounds"
ZA
Zane Simon Expert Hesitant picked May 4, 2023 (2 days before fight)
Kennedy Nzechukwu

Zane picks Nzechukwu but is hesitant because Nzechukwu is not a range fighter and may struggle to avoid Clark's physicality. He notes Clark is beatable if you don't fight his fight, but Nzechukwu tends to clinch and pressure, which could play into Clark's strengths. However, Nzechukwu gets stronger as fights go on and Clark is not a finisher, giving Nzechukwu time to grow into the fight.

Nzechukwu opened at -217, now -180; Clark opened +182, now +163; odds tightening.
"I'm going to pick the Chukwu because he does get stronger as fights go on and Clark is not a finisher."
WIN vs Da Woon Jung
Decision (unanimous) (30–27, 30–27, 30–27) R3 5:00 · UFC Fight Night: Lewis vs. Spivac · Feb 04, 2023
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Devin Clark 0 18 of 52 34% 43 of 78 1 of 5 20% 0 0 5:48
Da Woon Jung 0 39 of 70 55% 96 of 136 3 of 11 27% 0 0 5:02
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Devin Clark 0 5 of 15 33% 9 of 20 0 of 4 0% 0 0 2:06
Da Woon Jung 0 10 of 15 66% 42 of 52 1 of 2 50% 0 0 2:09
2 Devin Clark 0 6 of 12 50% 23 of 29 0 of 0 --- 0 0 2:16
Da Woon Jung 0 10 of 18 55% 24 of 35 1 of 3 33% 0 0 1:25
3 Devin Clark 0 7 of 25 28% 11 of 29 1 of 1 100% 0 0 1:26
Da Woon Jung 0 19 of 37 51% 30 of 49 1 of 6 16% 0 0 1:28
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Devin Clark 18 of 52 34% 11 of 42 6 of 9 1 of 1 7 of 36 11 of 16 0 of 0
Da Woon Jung 39 of 70 55% 22 of 51 5 of 6 12 of 13 26 of 52 11 of 14 2 of 4
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Devin Clark 5 of 15 33% 5 of 15 0 of 0 0 of 0 2 of 10 3 of 5 0 of 0
Da Woon Jung 10 of 15 66% 4 of 9 1 of 1 5 of 5 6 of 9 3 of 3 1 of 3
2 Devin Clark 6 of 12 50% 2 of 8 3 of 3 1 of 1 3 of 7 3 of 5 0 of 0
Da Woon Jung 10 of 18 55% 4 of 12 1 of 1 5 of 5 6 of 13 4 of 5 0 of 0
3 Devin Clark 7 of 25 28% 4 of 19 3 of 6 0 of 0 2 of 19 5 of 6 0 of 0
Da Woon Jung 19 of 37 51% 14 of 30 3 of 4 2 of 3 14 of 30 4 of 6 1 of 1
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked Jan 29, 2023 (6 days before fight)
Da Woon Jung

Big Brady sees Jung as the bigger, more powerful striker with solid takedown defense. He criticizes Devin Clark's recent performance and lack of wrestling. He expects Jung to knock out Clark early, likely in the first round.

first round knockout
"I like Dao and junk to win by knockout and I think it probably comes you know pretty early"
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Lean picked Feb 1, 2023 (3 days before fight)
Da Woon Jung

Cody leans toward Jung but is not confident. He notes Jung's power and elbows in the clinch, but worries about his cardio and size. He thinks Devin Clark could grind out a decision by pressing Jung against the cage. He considers the line too big and prefers to pass or bet the over 2.5 rounds at +130.

Over 2.5 rounds (+130)
"part of me is actually worried that this was this would be the big Underdog that comes through... largely this fight's a pass I guess got into my head if I had to pick I would probably take dong Jung"
CO
Connor Ruebusch Expert Confident picked Feb 2, 2023 (2 days before fight)
Da Woon Jung

Connor picks Da Woon Jung, citing his reach advantage and consistent pressure striking. He notes that Devin Clark lacks a process in his striking, with no jab, feints, or defense, and that his father's coaching has stunted his development. Connor expects Jung to win a three-round decision, as Clark is durable but unable to handle Jung's range and output.

"Down Jung is gonna win. Yeah, I mean this one's pretty simple... Devin Clark is an utter lack of process."
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Lean picked Feb 1, 2023 (3 days before fight)
Da Woon Jung

Paul also leans toward Jung but is not betting. He notes Jung's size advantage (6'4" vs 6'0") and power, but acknowledges Clark's durability and grinding style. He points out that Clark often fights to a decision and lacks killer instinct. He prefers to avoid the fight entirely.

"I'm actually siding with you with daang Jung but yeah minus 250 it just doesn't doesn't get me too excited on this car"
ZA
Zane Simon Expert Confident picked Feb 2, 2023 (2 days before fight)
Da Woon Jung

Zane agrees with Connor, picking Da Woon Jung. He highlights Jung's size and durability, and Clark's inability to put together combinations or defend effectively. Zane notes that Clark's only chance is a surprise head kick, but Jung's consistent pressure and reach will lead to a clear decision win.

"Down Jung is gonna win. Yeah, I mean this one's pretty simple... Devin Clark is an utter lack of process."
TKO (punches) R3 1:18 · UFC on ESPN: Vera vs. Cruz · Aug 13, 2022
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Azamat Murzakanov 0 14 of 52 26% 39 of 83 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:26
Devin Clark 1 79 of 106 74% 95 of 127 0 of 1 0% 0 0 3:40
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Azamat Murzakanov 0 6 of 23 26% 17 of 35 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Devin Clark 0 7 of 15 46% 12 of 23 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:52
2 Azamat Murzakanov 0 5 of 19 26% 19 of 38 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:26
Devin Clark 0 41 of 52 78% 52 of 64 0 of 0 --- 0 0 2:24
3 Azamat Murzakanov 0 3 of 10 30% 3 of 10 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Devin Clark 1 31 of 39 79% 31 of 40 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:24
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Azamat Murzakanov 14 of 52 26% 4 of 29 3 of 7 7 of 16 13 of 50 1 of 2 0 of 0
Devin Clark 79 of 106 74% 41 of 65 31 of 34 7 of 7 24 of 42 9 of 9 46 of 55
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Azamat Murzakanov 6 of 23 26% 2 of 11 0 of 2 4 of 10 6 of 23 0 of 0 0 of 0
Devin Clark 7 of 15 46% 4 of 12 3 of 3 0 of 0 7 of 15 0 of 0 0 of 0
2 Azamat Murzakanov 5 of 19 26% 2 of 12 1 of 3 2 of 4 4 of 17 1 of 2 0 of 0
Devin Clark 41 of 52 78% 12 of 21 22 of 24 7 of 7 10 of 18 9 of 9 22 of 25
3 Azamat Murzakanov 3 of 10 30% 0 of 6 2 of 2 1 of 2 3 of 10 0 of 0 0 of 0
Devin Clark 31 of 39 79% 25 of 32 6 of 7 0 of 0 7 of 9 0 of 0 24 of 30
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Confident picked Aug 7, 2022 (6 days before fight)
Azamat Murzakanov

Angelo picks Azamat Murzakanov, citing his power and wrestling credentials. He notes Devin Clark has chin issues and Murzakanov is the more dangerous fighter. He likes the value at -170, believing the line should be closer to -200.

Value bet at -170
"i like the value here as well at -170 the line should probably be closer to minus 200. so at minus 170 i think azmat murzakanov is a solid bet"
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked Aug 9, 2022 (4 days before fight)
Azamat Murzakanov

Big Brady picks Azamat Murzakanov to knock out Devin Clark early, likely in the first round. He notes that Murzakanov has power that carries into later rounds, as shown in his last fight. Clark has poor striking defense (46%) and has been finished in six of seven losses. Murzakanov is a much better striker and has dangerous ground and pound. Brady expects a quick finish.

first round knockout
"i think marzicano does finish devin clark here um early on"
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Confident picked Aug 10, 2022 (3 days before fight)
Azamat Murzakanov

Cody picks Murzakanov by knockout, noting he liked him coming into the TUF fight and cashed his flying knee finish. He thinks the line is moving toward Clark, so he may wait for a better price. Cody believes Murzakanov has enough grappling to keep the fight standing and will land a knockout.

Murzakanov by knockout
"i'm gonna you know hold my breath wait and uh maybe snatch an even better price than the minus 145 that we see right now"
DA
Daniel Levi Expert Confident picked Aug 10, 2022 (3 days before fight)
Azamat Murzakanov

Daniel Levi picks Azamat Murzakanov, dismissing the narrative that his last win was a fluke. He explains that Murzakanov was winning on two scorecards before the finish and that his speed and power will be too much for Devin Clark. Levi notes that Clark tends to blitz with his chin up and that Murzakanov has knockout power, predicting a KO win.

"Give me Murzakanov for the win."
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Aug 13, 2022 (fight day)
Azamat Murzakanov

The host expects an early finish from Murzakanov, noting his big power but not much volume. He includes Murzakanov in his totals parlay under 1.5 rounds, expecting a first-round KO.

Under 1.5 rounds (in parlay).
"clark merzokandoff under one and a half obviously expecting a merchant of early finish there"
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Confident picked Aug 10, 2022 (3 days before fight)
Azamat Murzakanov

Paul picks Murzakanov by knockout in round two. He criticizes Clark's durability and low volume, noting Clark has been knocked out before and relies on pressing opponents against the cage. Paul believes Murzakanov has heavier hands and will clip Clark with something like a flying knee.

Murzakanov by knockout round two
"i got mercy on knockout round two"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Aug 8, 2022 (5 days before fight)
Azamat Murzakanov

The host picks Azamat Murzakanov, recalling his previous knockout of Devin Clark in a regional tournament. He trusts Murzakanov's stand-up and grappling, and believes Clark has taken too much damage over his career. He expects a first-round TKO in a firefight, though he acknowledges Clark's power makes it risky.

first round TKO
"i'm going to go with azamat masakanov getting a tko in the first round in a firefight"
TKO (punches) R3 3:21 · UFC on ESPN: Luque vs. Muhammad 2 · Apr 16, 2022
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Devin Clark 1 34 of 47 72% 125 of 140 2 of 5 40% 0 0 5:46
William Knight 0 21 of 41 51% 39 of 59 1 of 1 100% 2 0 2:09
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Devin Clark 0 3 of 9 33% 33 of 39 0 of 3 0% 0 0 1:14
William Knight 0 10 of 18 55% 19 of 27 0 of 0 --- 2 0 2:03
2 Devin Clark 0 12 of 15 80% 63 of 68 1 of 1 100% 0 0 3:13
William Knight 0 6 of 9 66% 8 of 11 1 of 1 100% 0 0 0:06
3 Devin Clark 1 19 of 23 82% 29 of 33 1 of 1 100% 0 0 1:19
William Knight 0 5 of 14 35% 12 of 21 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Devin Clark 34 of 47 72% 19 of 30 5 of 6 10 of 11 25 of 37 4 of 5 5 of 5
William Knight 21 of 41 51% 11 of 29 3 of 3 7 of 9 16 of 35 5 of 6 0 of 0
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Devin Clark 3 of 9 33% 2 of 8 1 of 1 0 of 0 3 of 8 0 of 1 0 of 0
William Knight 10 of 18 55% 9 of 16 0 of 0 1 of 2 6 of 13 4 of 5 0 of 0
2 Devin Clark 12 of 15 80% 5 of 8 2 of 2 5 of 5 10 of 13 0 of 0 2 of 2
William Knight 6 of 9 66% 2 of 5 0 of 0 4 of 4 6 of 9 0 of 0 0 of 0
3 Devin Clark 19 of 23 82% 12 of 14 2 of 3 5 of 6 12 of 16 4 of 4 3 of 3
William Knight 5 of 14 35% 0 of 8 3 of 3 2 of 3 4 of 13 1 of 1 0 of 0
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Confident picked Apr 10, 2022 (6 days before fight)
William Knight

Angelo picks William Knight, believing he hits too hard and has his own wrestling. He notes that both are moving up to heavyweight, but Knight will be the bigger, faster, and harder-hitting fighter. He expresses concern about Knight's cardio with added muscle and his wrestling defense, but still thinks Knight gets the win and redeems himself from the weight miss.

"i still think william knight gets this done i think he just hits too hard his cardio should be good enough"
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked Apr 12, 2022 (4 days before fight)
Devin Clark

Big Brady picks Devin Clark to win by decision. He notes Clark has fought much better competition, has cardio, and can take the fight to the ground. He criticizes William Knight's 33% striking defense, low volume, poor takedown defense, and cardio issues. However, he is cautious because the fight is at heavyweight, which could favor Knight. He expects Clark to grind out a decision.

win by decision
"you got to go devin clark here and i got to go devin clark by decision"
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Confident picked Apr 12, 2022 (4 days before fight)
Devin Clark

Cody picks Clark, emphasizing his wrestling and clinch work. He thinks Clark can grind Knight against the cage and win a decision. He notes Knight's lack of output and Clark's edge in wrestling.

"i'll take devin clark devin clark my decision"
DA
Daniel Levi Expert picked Apr 14, 2022 (2 days before fight)

Daniel Levi has no clear pick for this fight. He acknowledges Devin Clark is much more skilled with good wrestling and experience, but notes he has been finished multiple times and can break mentally. William Knight is unskilled with poor defense but has tremendous toughness, power, and explosiveness, similar to Derrick Lewis. Levi says the fight could go either way depending on which version shows up, and he has no conviction on a pick.

"I don't know man I don't [ __ ] know."
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Hesitant picked Apr 12, 2022 (4 days before fight)
Devin Clark

Paul picks Clark but is hesitant, noting the weigh-ins will be important. He thinks Clark's wrestling and pace will be key, but worries about Clark's chin and Knight's power. He expects a decision win for Clark.

"i like clark i think in this spot as long as he doesn't get clipped"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Apr 11, 2022 (5 days before fight)
William Knight

The MMA Guru picks William Knight by first-round KO. He notes the fight is at heavyweight, benefiting Knight who doesn't have to cut weight, and that Devin Clark is coming off a horrific jaw injury from Krzysztof Jotko. He believes Clark will be hesitant and Knight's power will prevail.

first round KO
"william knight gets it done by first round ko"
LOSS vs Ion Cuțelaba
Decision (unanimous) (30–26, 29–26, 29–27) R3 5:00 · UFC Fight Night: Smith vs. Spann · Sep 18, 2021
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Ion Cuțelaba 1 64 of 101 63% 92 of 138 8 of 12 66% 0 0 8:48
Devin Clark 0 23 of 52 44% 84 of 130 1 of 6 16% 0 0 1:58
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Ion Cuțelaba 1 47 of 73 64% 53 of 79 3 of 4 75% 0 0 2:08
Devin Clark 0 11 of 19 57% 18 of 29 1 of 2 50% 0 0 0:53
2 Ion Cuțelaba 0 11 of 19 57% 24 of 38 2 of 3 66% 0 0 3:24
Devin Clark 0 3 of 13 23% 23 of 39 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:01
3 Ion Cuțelaba 0 6 of 9 66% 15 of 21 3 of 5 60% 0 0 3:16
Devin Clark 0 9 of 20 45% 43 of 62 0 of 4 0% 0 0 1:04
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Ion Cuțelaba 64 of 101 63% 59 of 95 4 of 5 1 of 1 7 of 21 11 of 16 46 of 64
Devin Clark 23 of 52 44% 10 of 32 3 of 7 10 of 13 12 of 32 8 of 13 3 of 7
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Ion Cuțelaba 47 of 73 64% 42 of 67 4 of 5 1 of 1 5 of 13 9 of 12 33 of 48
Devin Clark 11 of 19 57% 4 of 9 0 of 1 7 of 9 8 of 14 3 of 5 0 of 0
2 Ion Cuțelaba 11 of 19 57% 11 of 19 0 of 0 0 of 0 2 of 6 2 of 3 7 of 10
Devin Clark 3 of 13 23% 0 of 9 2 of 3 1 of 1 3 of 12 0 of 1 0 of 0
3 Ion Cuțelaba 6 of 9 66% 6 of 9 0 of 0 0 of 0 0 of 2 0 of 1 6 of 6
Devin Clark 9 of 20 45% 6 of 14 1 of 3 2 of 3 1 of 6 5 of 7 3 of 7
Play-by-Play
View on Sherdog
Devin Clark vs. Ion Cutelaba

Round 1
In the co-main event, we have reached the age-old question of whether “The Hulk” could take on a bear. Soon, in front of referee Keith Peterson, we will have our answer when “The Hulk” Cutelaba (15-6-1, 1 NC; 4-5-1 UFC) meets “Brown Bear” Clark (12-5, 6-5 UFC) in the center of the Octagon. There is no interest in a glove touch from the light heavyweights and nonsense is left to a minimum, as Cutelaba just wants to smash. Cutelaba starts off with a spinning back fist, and Clark rushes in and hits an early takedown to drag Cutelaba down to the canvas. The Moldovan gets right back to his feet without much effort, and Clark grinds him into the wall to try to get him back down. Cutelaba blocks a takedown try with a high knee, and he uses the other to thump on Clark’s chest a few times. Cutelaba pushes away with a heavy knee, and he rushes after Clark with a body kick. Clark swings and misses with a counter, but he does get a kick off to Cutelaba’s heavy plant leg. Cutelaba paws out with a few jabs as he corks back a right hand, and he tries to block a low kick as he slowly works his way in. Clark just misses landing a hook kick, and he strides ahead to pop Cutelaba in the chops with a head kick. “The Hulk” does not register the blow, and instead stalks Clark down before jumping ahead with a thudding knee. Clark circles away so that he can chop down Cutelaba’s leg, much to the delight of his father. Cutelaba winds up with his thunderous right hand, and Clark falls to the ground lifelessly. As Cutelaba comes after him to hammer the nail, Clark comes to and is able to block the follow-up ground-and-pound. Peterson tells Clark to defend himself, and Clark survives by grabbing on to one of Cutelaba’s arms. Cutelaba slugs him in the face a few times and lands a solid knee on the chin as well with Clark leaning against the cage. Cutelaba tries to strip his foe’s legs out beneath him, and Clark grabs the fence to stay upright. Peterson slaps his hand away and Cutelaba brings him back down. Clark, on his knees, gets smashed repeatedly with heavy punches. Clark stands up, and Cutelaba wrenches him back down to take full mount. “The Hulk” smashes with elbows and thunderous punches, and Clark miraculously makes it to the first buzzer.

Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-8 Cutelaba
Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-8 Cutelaba
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-8 Cutelaba

Round 2
Clark rises from off his back like the Undertaker between rounds, and he recovers enough to make it into the second round. Clark walks forward to pursue a takedown, and Cutelaba sees it coming and wings a right hand that just misses. Clark composes himself with multiple leg kicks, and he just manages to escape a big right hand that soars past his chin. Cutelaba counters Clark coming in with a check left hook, and Clark scores a high leg kick. “The Hulk” charges ahead with a bullying takedown, and he practically lands in full mount. Clark holds on for dear life on Cutelaba’s shoulders, keeping him close so that he cannot get off the brutal blows that he ate at the end of the last round. Cutelaba sits up in a high mount with slashing elbows, and Clark protects his mug from some of them but others get through. Cutelaba opts against spending his gas tank by forcing a finishing sequence, instead sitting up every so often to hack with elbows. Clark tries to kick off, bucking and flailing with his legs, but the Moldovan is a 205-pound cement block with jagged edges sitting on his abdomen. Clark kicks off suddenly, turning around just enough to escape out the back door as Cutelaba looks to tie an arm down for a possible submission. Clark spins with a kick that is telegraphed and several feet away from his intended target. Cutelaba powers his way forward to press Clark into the fencing, and he knees Clark in the face before tripping his leg out again. Clark is able to stay upright this time, but he takes another knee that opens a cut. Cutelaba wrests him down to the ground again, and Clark once more gets to a knee and to his feet. Cutelaba grinds with his full body weight, as if he were trying to mash Clark through the wire like he was made of Play-do. The horn sounds, and Clark shouts a loud expletive.

Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-8 Cutelaba
Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-8 Cutelaba
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-8 Cutelaba

Round 3
The doctors come in to check on Clark between rounds, with parts of his lower jaw smashed and his vision struggling. “Brown Bear” is cleared to continue, and he thanks the doctors and Peterson for allowing him to continue by shooting in for a takedown. He nearly lifts Cutelaba off the ground, but Cutelaba ultimately keeps his balance and breaks free. Instead of laying into Clark with strikes, he takes him back down and puts Clark flat on his back. When Cutelaba tries to advance position and reclaim mount, Clark bucks him off and ambles back to his feet. Cutelaba keeps him pressed into the chain-link fence, and Clark looks for a takedown and almost trips Cutelaba to his back. Instead, the Moldovan reverses the position and puts Clark down to the mat. With Clark stacked up, Cutelaba sits on top of him and pins an arm under his knee. With his right hand free, Cutelaba slams his fist into Clark’s face a few times. Cutelaba uses his knee to hold Clark down on his already hammer-smashed face, and he climbs into full mount while Clark’s father watches with dread from his corner. Cutelaba sits up and elbows Clarks a few times, and Clark bursts back to his feet in a rage to start throwing hands with Cutelaba. The Moldovan tries to take him back down, but Clark turns the tables and takes “The Hulk” down and puts him flat on his back. In full guard, Cutelaba holds on and absorbs sporadic punches. Cutelaba kicks off and gets to a knee, and Clark lands a potentially illegal knee while Cutelaba was grounded. Clark lays into him with a few more punches, but the final bell sounds before anything of merit can come from the final flurry. Clark collapses to the ground with the fight over, while Cutelaba stands and raises his arms triumphantly.

Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Cutelaba (30-25 Cutelaba)
Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-9 Clark (29-26 Cutelaba)
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Cutelaba (30-25 Cutelaba)

The Official Result
Ion Cutelaba def. Devin Clark via Unanimous Decision (30-26, 29-26, 29-27)
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Hesitant picked Sep 15, 2021 (3 days before fight)
Ion Cuțelaba

Angelo is hesitant but leans toward Ion Cuțelaba because of his power and finishing ability. He notes that Devin Clark is a grinder who doesn't finish fights, so if Cuțelaba wins it will be inside the distance, and if he loses it will be a decision. He likes the prop 'Cuțelaba wins inside the distance, decision no action' and the over on rounds.

Ion Cuțelaba wins inside the distance (decision no action); Over 1.5 rounds
"kuta laba wins inside the distance decision no action"
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked Sep 14, 2021 (4 days before fight)
Ion Cuțelaba

Big Brady picks Ion Cuțelaba to win by first-round knockout, noting his 93% finish rate and Devin Clark's history of being finished in all his losses. He acknowledges Cuțelaba's cardio concerns but believes he will finish Clark early. He suggests betting Cuțelaba in the first round if betting.

first round knockout, bet Cuțelaba in the first round
"i like kudalab in this fight quite a bit to be honest and i'll take him to win my first round knockout"
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Confident picked Sep 15, 2021 (3 days before fight)
Ion Cuțelaba

Cody picks Cuțelaba, noting his explosive first round and improved cardio training at Extreme Couture. He believes Cuțelaba's wrestling and power will be too much for Clark, who has lost all five of his pro losses inside the distance. Cody warns that Cuțelaba is a 'greasy' bet and that Clark could take over if the fight goes past the first round.

Cuțelaba by submission round 2 (mentioned in final picks)
"the pick will be on kuda lava but like any time that you get on a kuda lava selection get ready for a sweat my man"
DA
Daniel Levi Expert Confident picked Sep 17, 2021 (1 day before fight)
Ion Cuțelaba

Daniel Levi picks Ion Cuțelaba by first-round knockout. He notes Cuțelaba is a first-round-or-bust fighter and that Clark is a chinny spaz with poor fight IQ. He says if it goes past round one, Clark's better cardio could be a factor, but he expects Cuțelaba to get the knockout early. He advises live bettors to watch the line if it goes past the first round.

first round knockout; live betting advice
"give me ewan kutala first round knockout um but goes past the first round y'all live betters y'all live betters let's see let's see what that live line is looking like"
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Lean picked Sep 17, 2021 (1 day before fight)
Ion Cuțelaba

Preet leans Cuțelaba by KO because of his explosiveness and power early. He thinks Cuțelaba will find Clark's chin within the first 6-7 minutes. However, he acknowledges Clark has better cardio and could take over if he survives. He likes Cuțelaba by KO at +105.

Ion Cuțelaba by KO +105
"I'm going to go with cortala beside by ko"
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Lean picked Sep 15, 2021 (3 days before fight)
Ion Cuțelaba

Paul leans toward Cuțelaba but is cautious due to his history of gassing. He suggests this fight is best watched live, as Clark could take over late if he survives the initial onslaught. Paul compares it to the Menifield fight where Clark came back.

"kutalaba is the pick but i've seen him gas enough times that i i don't really want to touch him right now i'll be watching this one closely live though"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Sep 12, 2021 (6 days before fight)
Ion Cuțelaba

The MMA Guru picks Ion Cuțelaba by first-round TKO, citing his improved cardio and aggressive style. He believes Cuțelaba can replicate his performance against Dustin Jacoby, overwhelming Clark with pressure and elbows. He notes Clark's questionable chin and history of being finished.

first round TKO
"i'm going to go with yon kutila here against kevin clark i think he'll get the job done by first round tko"
LOSS vs Anthony Smith
Submission (triangle choke) R1 2:34 · UFC on ESPN: Smith vs. Clark · Nov 28, 2020
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Anthony Smith 0 1 of 4 25% 4 of 8 1 of 1 100% 1 0 1:18
Devin Clark 0 1 of 3 33% 27 of 30 0 of 0 --- 0 1 1:07
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Anthony Smith 0 1 of 4 25% 4 of 8 1 of 1 100% 1 0 1:18
Devin Clark 0 1 of 3 33% 27 of 30 0 of 0 --- 0 1 1:07
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Anthony Smith 1 of 4 25% 1 of 4 0 of 0 0 of 0 0 of 2 0 of 0 1 of 2
Devin Clark 1 of 3 33% 1 of 3 0 of 0 0 of 0 1 of 3 0 of 0 0 of 0
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Anthony Smith 1 of 4 25% 1 of 4 0 of 0 0 of 0 0 of 2 0 of 0 1 of 2
Devin Clark 1 of 3 33% 1 of 3 0 of 0 0 of 0 1 of 3 0 of 0 0 of 0
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Nov 24, 2020 (4 days before fight)
Devin Clark

The MMA Guru believes Devin Clark has the perfect style to beat Anthony Smith, citing Clark's ability to pressure against the cage, use clinch work, and grind out a decision. He notes Smith has taken too much damage recently and has looked poor since getting new teeth, suggesting Smith may be more focused on his analyst role. He predicts Clark will win by unanimous decision, 30-27, and mentions waiting to bet Clark as an underdog.

He mentions waiting to bet Clark as an underdog, expecting the line to move in Smith's favor due to fan betting.
"i think devin clark's going to get the job done and i think the winner of this fight... i'm going to wait a little bit and get devin clark as an underdog"
Decision (unanimous) (30–27, 29–28, 29–28) R3 5:00 · UFC 250: Nunes vs. Spencer · Jun 06, 2020
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Devin Clark 0 39 of 85 45% 54 of 103 0 of 2 0% 0 0 8:42
Alonzo Menifield 0 79 of 124 63% 150 of 198 1 of 10 10% 0 0 2:38
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Devin Clark 0 14 of 37 37% 19 of 43 0 of 0 --- 0 0 3:10
Alonzo Menifield 0 23 of 37 62% 42 of 56 0 of 5 0% 0 0 0:38
2 Devin Clark 0 16 of 33 48% 21 of 39 0 of 0 --- 0 0 3:31
Alonzo Menifield 0 30 of 49 61% 59 of 79 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:12
3 Devin Clark 0 9 of 15 60% 14 of 21 0 of 2 0% 0 0 2:01
Alonzo Menifield 0 26 of 38 68% 49 of 63 1 of 5 20% 0 0 1:48
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Devin Clark 39 of 85 45% 31 of 75 6 of 8 2 of 2 13 of 45 26 of 40 0 of 0
Alonzo Menifield 79 of 124 63% 23 of 67 56 of 57 0 of 0 21 of 62 57 of 61 1 of 1
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Devin Clark 14 of 37 37% 11 of 32 2 of 4 1 of 1 3 of 15 11 of 22 0 of 0
Alonzo Menifield 23 of 37 62% 8 of 22 15 of 15 0 of 0 6 of 17 17 of 20 0 of 0
2 Devin Clark 16 of 33 48% 13 of 30 3 of 3 0 of 0 7 of 22 9 of 11 0 of 0
Alonzo Menifield 30 of 49 61% 7 of 26 23 of 23 0 of 0 8 of 27 22 of 22 0 of 0
3 Devin Clark 9 of 15 60% 7 of 13 1 of 1 1 of 1 3 of 8 6 of 7 0 of 0
Alonzo Menifield 26 of 38 68% 8 of 19 18 of 19 0 of 0 7 of 18 18 of 19 1 of 1
Play-by-Play
View on Sherdog
Alonzo Menifield vs. Devin Clark

Round 1
Moving up to the light heavyweight division, we will see the heaviest bout of the evening take place between the unbeaten power striker Menifield (9-0, 2-0 UFC) and the durable “Brown Bear” Clark (11-4, 4-4 UFC). Referee Mark Smith will serve as the third man in the cage, and the two men do not touch glove as Clark shoots in immediately for a low takedown. Menifield stuffs it but finds his back against the fence, where he powers Clark around as his corner pleads with him to break away and throw bombs. Clark is throwing knees now with his back to the cage, and he repeatedly kicks out the leg from Menifield in an unusual way. The undefeated fighter does not like them, and tries to set up a Thai clinch of sorts, but Clark protects it and continues the low kicks. Menifield lands a blistering uppercut on the break, and Clark is already hurt. Menifield pours it on and throws heavy punches, and a wincing Clark shoots low for a desperation takedown to survive the barrage. In doing so, he halts the momentum and gives himself a moment to recover until Menifield turns him around and gest free. Both men start slugging it out as soon as they separate, and although he lands flush on the hard-charging Menifield, Clark is already hurt once more as he covers his face. The eye of Clark is closing up already, and by the way he is clearly in pain and swelling, it could be an orbital injury. Clark takes a moment to gather himself as Menifield gets off, and Clark is keeping his left eye closed which will do wonders for his depth perception. Menifield crashes forward to land some strikes, and brings up a big knee that Clark is just barely able to block. Clark starts to rip a few knees to the body until Menifield shoves him away, and Clark clips him with a jab that sends Menifield diving in for some kind of a takedown. Clark keeps throwing with one eye closed and tags Menifield a few more times, forcing Menifield to shake out the cobwebs and fall right into a takedown attempt. Clark cannot quite land it, and Menifield turns him about to the fence as the round ends.

Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Menifield
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Menifield
Mike Sloan scores the round: 10-9 Menifield

Round 2
The cardio could be a factor as we reach the second round -- a rare occasion for Menifield -- and Clark’s eye is mostly closed. As Menifield wades forward, he gets dinged by a wild punch from Clark. Menifield regathers himself and races in to fire off a head kick and land some bombs. They clinch up for a moment, and Menifield takes a breath to unload a salvo of slowing punches. Clark does not see as affected by these strikes as he was the first round, and he fires right back at him and does some damage as well. When they are clinched up, Menifield passes the mark for the longest fight in his ten-bout career. Clark works some of those low kicks and wings a right hand and then a left when they break. Clark gets racked with an uppercut that bloodies his mouth up, and as he falls to the fence Menifield tries to blast him with hooks but Clark protects himself. Clark goes wild with some looping shots but is bullrushed into the fence, where Menifield puts his full body weight on him. When they are clinched, Clark keeps the knees going and sets up a Thai clinch to score some more. Menifield finally decides to throw punches in the clinch, as Clark’s strikes are adding up fast. Even with his back mashed against the fence wall, Clark is the one working and doing damage with knees to the gut and punches around the head. Menifield has no answer for the knees, and as they separate, Clark goes ballistic with a string of heavy punches until the horn sounds.

Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Clark
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Clark
Mike Sloan scores the round: 10-9 Clark

Round 3
Clark starts off the round as aggressively as he ended the second, with a bevy of big punches that hurt Menifield. The unbeaten fighter can do nothing but clinch up, and as they break for a moment, Menifield still manages to sting Clark with a left and a knee up the middle. Clark pushes away only to shoot in low for a single, and Menifield sprawls to defend it and walks his man down. Like the previous frame, Clark works knees to the body and forces Menifield to consider his own takedown. Clark defends it by partially grabbing the fence, and he manages to turn Menifield around and goes to the body with some thudding punches. As they try to mount offense, Clark manages to finally wrestle the other man down. Clark is on top, and Menifield is flatted out and likely exhausted. A rear-naked choke opportunity goes unnoticed for Clark as “The Brown Bear” has full back control, but Clark instead wants to pound him out. Menifield twists and turns to get to his back sitting down against the cage. Clark flirts with a guillotine choke but does not have enough to keep Menifield down, and Menifield stands back to his feet. The two continue to jockey for position against the fence, and Clark keeps throwing punches and knees until he shoves Menifield away. Clark uses the moment to dive in deep for a takedown, but Menifield catches up and stands him up until they walk across the floor to the other side of the wall. Although Clark is still with his back to the fence and Smith is calling for action, Clark keeps short but effective offense going. They separate at the 10-second clapper, and decide to end the fight in style by throwing bombs until the final bell.

Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Clark (29-28 Clark)
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Clark (29-28 Clark)
Mike Sloan scores the round: 10-9 Clark (29-28 Clark)

The Official Result
Devin Clark def. Alonzo Menifield via Unanimous Decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked Jun 3, 2020 (3 days before fight)
Alonzo Menifield

Big Brady confidently picks Alonzo Menifield, citing Clark's poor performance against Ryan Spann and his tendency to get finished. He believes Menifield will impose his physicality and finish Clark early, likely in the first round. He notes Clark's only chance is takedowns, but doubts Clark will execute.

Menifield by first-round knockout; Menifield as a parlay piece at -220
"I think many fields going to impose a lot of problems on Clark especially in that first round if Clark can take Benefield down I do think it's a shot I just don't maybe he takes him down by just …"
DA
Daniel Levi Expert Confident picked Jun 4, 2020 (2 days before fight)
Alonzo Menifield

Daniel dismisses the myth that Menifield can't grapple, praising his underhook instincts and physicality. He notes Menifield has developed submissions and ground-and-pound on the regional scene. He criticizes Clark's mentality and tendency to fold under pressure, predicting Menifield will knock him out in the first round. He mentions the line moved due to public betting on Clark, but he's confident in Menifield.

first round knockout
"I think it's gonna be a first-round knockout for Alonso Minnifield"
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Lean picked Jun 4, 2020 (2 days before fight)
Alonzo Menifield

Alonzo Menifield has huge power and is a top-five power puncher in the division. Devin Clark has a suspect chin and has been finished multiple times. Menifield's path to victory is a knockout, likely in the first round. However, Clark has good wrestling and cardio, and if he can survive the early onslaught, he could take over. The fight is a pass for betting, but the pick is Menifield by first-round KO.

Alonzo Menifield by KO in round 1; pass on betting
"i'm going to side with the lonzo middle field as the pick here um that's kind of a squarish pick because you're just banking on the guy to land that knockout punch"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked May 29, 2020 (8 days before fight)
Alonzo Menifield

The MMA Guru picks Alonzo Menifield over Devin Clark. He believes Menifield is the younger, more rapidly evolving fighter with knockout power, as seen in his wins over Paul Craig and Vinicius Moreira. He notes that Clark is coming off a KO loss and that Menifield has been in training camp, giving him an edge. He is confident in Menifield's potential and expects him to get the job done.

"I'm gonna bet on the knockout power especially seeing as Devin Clark is kind of coming off a KO loss... I'm gonna go the Lonzo many field here"