Career Averages - Kevin Lee
Career Averages - Edson Barboza
Kevin Lee - Fight History
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rinat Fakhretdinov | 0 | 3 of 8 | 37% | 3 of 8 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Kevin Lee | 1 | 11 of 17 | 64% | 11 of 17 | 0 of 0 | --- | 1 | 0 | 0:20 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rinat Fakhretdinov | 0 | 3 of 8 | 37% | 3 of 8 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Kevin Lee | 1 | 11 of 17 | 64% | 11 of 17 | 0 of 0 | --- | 1 | 0 | 0:20 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rinat Fakhretdinov | 3 of 8 | 37% | 3 of 8 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | 3 of 8 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Kevin Lee | 11 of 17 | 64% | 6 of 12 | 2 of 2 | 3 of 3 | 11 of 17 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rinat Fakhretdinov | 3 of 8 | 37% | 3 of 8 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | 3 of 8 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Kevin Lee | 11 of 17 | 64% | 6 of 12 | 2 of 2 | 3 of 3 | 11 of 17 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
Angelo picks Rinat Fakhretdinov, citing his offensive wrestling, heavy hands, and insane cardio. He believes Kevin Lee's only chance is to come forward and initiate takedowns, but he doubts Lee can take down Fakhretdinov. He notes the line has moved from -260 to -190, indicating money on Lee, but he is shocked the odds are close.
Big Brady picks Rinat Fakhretdinov to win by decision, but is not confident. He notes Fakhretdinov has a size and cardio advantage, and is in his prime, while Kevin Lee has been battling injuries and is small for welterweight. However, he acknowledges if prime Kevin Lee shows up, the price would be a steal. He thinks Fakhretdinov's wrestling and pace will be too much for the current version of Lee.
Cody reluctantly picks Kevin Lee as a plus-money underdog. He notes Lee's past success against top competition, his never losing a first round in the UFC, and his improved knees after surgery. He thinks Fakhretdinov's wins over Andreas Michailidis and Brian Battle are unimpressive and that Lee's striking and wrestling are superior. However, he acknowledges Lee's poor performance against Diego Sanchez and the size disadvantage.
Daniel confidently picks Fakhretdinov, citing his dominant grappling and striking stats (7 takedowns, 102-25 strikes against Battle; 5 takedowns, 106-48 strikes against Michailidis). He criticizes Kevin Lee as a front-runner who fades when pressured, and notes Lee's 1-4 skid before being cut. He expects Fakhretdinov to impose his will and finish Lee, possibly by submission or TKO. He dismisses the 'crotch sniffer' label, emphasizing that Fakhretdinov outstrikes opponents as well.
Paul picks Fakhretdinov, citing his size advantage (natural welterweight vs Lee moving up), dominant performance against Brian Battle, and Lee's poor showing against Diego Sanchez. He notes Lee's knee surgeries and layoff, and believes Fakhretdinov's grappling will be too much. Paul thinks Lee may have peaked and is now declining.
The Guru picks Rinat Fakhretdinov, citing Kevin Lee's decline, especially his poor performance against Diego Sanchez. He notes Fakhretdinov's dominance over Brian Battle, who is a solid prospect. He predicts Fakhretdinov will dominate in later rounds, getting a third-round TKO or rear-naked choke, as Lee's cardio and chin are questionable.
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Daniel Rodriguez | 0 | 56 of 160 | 35% | 74 of 181 | 3 of 7 | 42% | 0 | 0 | 3:34 |
| Kevin Lee | 0 | 120 of 210 | 57% | 137 of 229 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 1 | 0:45 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Daniel Rodriguez | 0 | 13 of 44 | 29% | 31 of 65 | 1 of 1 | 100% | 0 | 0 | 1:59 |
| Kevin Lee | 0 | 16 of 40 | 40% | 21 of 45 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 | |
| 2 | Daniel Rodriguez | 0 | 23 of 51 | 45% | 23 of 51 | 1 of 2 | 50% | 0 | 0 | 0:33 |
| Kevin Lee | 0 | 51 of 84 | 60% | 60 of 95 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 1 | 0:41 | |
| 3 | Daniel Rodriguez | 0 | 20 of 65 | 30% | 20 of 65 | 1 of 4 | 25% | 0 | 0 | 1:02 |
| Kevin Lee | 0 | 53 of 86 | 61% | 56 of 89 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:04 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Daniel Rodriguez | 56 of 160 | 35% | 39 of 134 | 12 of 21 | 5 of 5 | 55 of 157 | 0 of 0 | 1 of 3 |
| Kevin Lee | 120 of 210 | 57% | 87 of 175 | 7 of 8 | 26 of 27 | 113 of 202 | 0 of 0 | 7 of 8 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Daniel Rodriguez | 13 of 44 | 29% | 7 of 36 | 5 of 7 | 1 of 1 | 12 of 41 | 0 of 0 | 1 of 3 |
| Kevin Lee | 16 of 40 | 40% | 8 of 31 | 1 of 2 | 7 of 7 | 16 of 40 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | |
| 2 | Daniel Rodriguez | 23 of 51 | 45% | 20 of 45 | 2 of 5 | 1 of 1 | 23 of 51 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Kevin Lee | 51 of 84 | 60% | 36 of 69 | 4 of 4 | 11 of 11 | 45 of 77 | 0 of 0 | 6 of 7 | |
| 3 | Daniel Rodriguez | 20 of 65 | 30% | 12 of 53 | 5 of 9 | 3 of 3 | 20 of 65 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Kevin Lee | 53 of 86 | 61% | 43 of 75 | 2 of 2 | 8 of 9 | 52 of 85 | 0 of 0 | 1 of 1 |
Play-by-Play
View on SherdogRound 1
Returning to the welterweight division after a one-off appearance in 2019, Lee (18-6, 11-6 UFC) will try to right the ship at the expense of power-puncher Rodriguez (15-2, 5-1 UFC). Referee Herb Dean takes charge of the cage for this intriguing bout, and they do not touch gloves before bringing the ruckus. They reach alternating punches at the other, and Lee opens up with a body kick suddenly. Rodriguez swats at him with a right hand, and he evades the counter. A double jab from Lee forces his foe to back off, and Rodriguez catches a kick and grazes Lee’s chin with a straight right hand. Rodriguez goes after the lead leg with a kick, and Lee slings a head kick right back at him. “D-Rod” targets the body and head with kicks, and he just misses with a heavy right hand. Another Lee head kick gets blocked, and Rodriguez does not commit to his hands and instead gets off a leg kick. Rodriguez continues to work the lead leg with chopping kicks, and he goes up high with a kick as Lee fires off a right hand his way. Lee connects with a head kick, and he turns the forward motion into a takedown attempt that is stuffed like he crashed into a brick wall. Both welterweights trade right hands, and Rodriguez follows it up and hops out of the way before Lee can reach him. Lee turns a punch into a single leg attempt, and he scoops Rodriguez off the ground and puts him on his back. Lee advances to half guard, and he grinds his shoulder on his opponent’s face and tries to isolate Rodriguez’ left arm. Rodriguez frees it and takes some punches, as Lee squeezes his elbow on his face. Lee sits up and slashes down with an elbow, and he maintains this top position until the round ends. A little bit of shenanigans go on after the bell, as Rodriguez tries to get Lee off of him while Dean separates them.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Lee
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Lee
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Lee
Round 2
Cooler heads prevail between rounds, and the second frame begins without issue. Rodriguez starts the round with several kicks high and low, and a one-two shakes Lee up briefly. Lee backs off to gather himself, and he fires off a head kick that collides with Rodriguez’ forearm. Rodriguez aims a single left hand to the body, and then strings a pair of punches into a leg kick. Rodriguez goes over the top with a right hand, leading to Lee ducking down to pursue a takedown. Lee trips Rodriguez’ leg out in a subsequent attempt, and he latches on to the neck with a one-arm guillotine choke to press his adversary flat on his back. Rodriguez rolls to his knees and surrenders his back, and Lee is quick to set up the body triangle. Before “The Motown Phenom” can set it up, Rodriguez shocks him by turning around and taking top position. Rodriguez cannot capitalize on this sudden position change, as Lee walks his way back up the cage to his feet without taking damage. Both welterweights land with successful strikes, and Lee whiffs on a kick that makes him smile. Lee triples up with a jab as Rodriguez walks forward, with “D-Rod” kicking his leg and stopping his momentum. Lee throws caution to the wind with a few wide shots, and Rodriguez is more accurate as he rings Lee’s bell with a right hand. Lee tries to say it did not land cleanly, but Rodriguez does not notice as he instead throws hands. Lee retreats, jumps forward with a big punch, and has his front leg kicked hard on the way in. “D-Rod” clips Lee with a left hand, and once more Lee tries to play it off as if it did not mean much. Rodriguez connects with a slapping kick, and he rocks Lee with a left hand flush on the temple that puts Lee on ice skates. Lee wobbles forward and drops to a knee, allowing Rodriguez to slam his fists in the side of his head, and he holds on tight and rides out the onslaught for a few more seconds until the round timer rescues him.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Rodriguez
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Rodriguez
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Rodriguez
Round 3
Rodriguez knows that Lee is not totally recovered after getting rocked at the end of the last round, and he takes advantage of this by sticking Lee with several punches. Kicks from alternating legs from Rodriguez find their home on Lee’s body and forearms. The two slug it out briefly, and the volume of Rodriguez has increased significantly as he works with combinations as Lee largely throws single big strikes. Lee shoots in from a wide distance, and Rodriguez sees it coming and makes him pay with a huge right hand. “The Motown Phenom” is stung by this as he slides back, and Rodriguez keeps his foot on the gas as he throws punches and kicks to great effect. Lee fires back with a single kick that makes Rodriguez fall to the ground, and Rodriguez makes his way back to his feet just in time for lee to shoot on him. Lee lifts Rodriguez in the air and slams him down, but Rodriguez will not forfeit this position as he slashes at his foe with a sharp elbow. Rodriguez pulls his leg free, allowing him to get to his knees and feet as Lee leans on him. Rodriguez pushes him away, and he sticks out a few jabs to back Lee off. Rodriguez cracks his man with a few booming hooks, and Lee may be busted up and bleeding, but he throws right back with bad intentions. Lee leaps in the air with a counter flying knee, and Rodriguez sees it coming from a mile away and pushes him back down to the ground. Lee pumps out a few right hands, and Rodriguez tattoos his fists on Lee’s face in response. Rodriguez continues to mark Lee up with crisp punches, stringing several together as Lee gathers his thoughts and throws heavy single blows. One such body kick from Lee catches Rodriguez unaware, but Rodriguez plays through the pain and zings a head kick off the dome. Lee marches forward and lands a single kick, but a strike from Rodriguez forces Lee to topple to the canvas. Rodriguez appears surprised by this, and he lets Lee back up so that he can punch him more. Rodriguez blocks a head kick, leaps forward with a superman punch, and the fun fight ends with a few winging punches from both men.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Rodriguez (29-28 Rodriguez)
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Rodriguez (29-28 Rodriguez)
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Rodriguez (29-28 Rodriguez)
The Official Result
Daniel Rodriguez def. Kevin Lee via Unanimous Decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Angelo picks Rodriguez but is cautious, citing his crisp boxing, takedown defense, and cardio. He notes Lee has two bad knees and is moving up in weight. He thinks a healthy Lee would win, but the matchup favors Rodriguez. He has Rodriguez in his DraftKings lineup at 7700.
Cody picks Lee, believing that at 170 pounds Lee will have better cardio and can use his wrestling. He notes Lee's talent and that this is a step down in competition. Cody thinks Lee's wrestling will be effective against Rodriguez, who fishes for submissions off his back. He is slightly worried about the size disparity but overall likes Lee as a favorite.
Jacob picks Lee, citing his talent and the move to welterweight helping his cut. He believes Lee will get the fight to the ground and submit or TKO Rodriguez. He is surprised Lee is a +150 favorite and thinks he finds a way to win.
Lock picks Kevin Lee by decision at +215, believing Lee's grappling advantage will be decisive. He thinks Lee can secure takedowns in the first two rounds and at least one in the third, controlling the fight. Lock is concerned about Lee's cardio but notes it's a three-round fight and Rodriguez doesn't push a high pace. He sees Rodriguez as competent off his back but not a submission threat.
Paul picks Lee, citing his wrestling and the fact that Rodriguez is taking the fight on short notice. He thinks Lee's best path is wrestling, and that Rodriguez's 10th Planet jiu-jitsu is mostly off his back. Paul is concerned about Lee's weight cuts but believes at 170 he'll perform better. He says he'll watch weigh-ins before betting.
The Guru picks Kevin Lee after flipping back and forth, ultimately trusting Lee's wrestling and reach advantage. He notes that Rodriguez took the fight on short notice while eating hot dogs at Disneyland, which affects his preparation. The Guru predicts a rear-naked choke in the first or second round, but acknowledges Rodriguez could win by TKO in the later rounds if it goes that far.
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Charles Oliveira | 0 | 41 of 80 | 51% | 61 of 100 | 2 of 3 | 66% | 0 | 1 | 6:30 |
| Kevin Lee | 0 | 43 of 65 | 66% | 51 of 73 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 2 | 1 | 0:11 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Charles Oliveira | 0 | 15 of 29 | 51% | 15 of 29 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 1 | 3:30 |
| Kevin Lee | 0 | 13 of 18 | 72% | 16 of 21 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 0 | 1 | 0:11 | |
| 2 | Charles Oliveira | 0 | 16 of 37 | 43% | 36 of 57 | 2 of 2 | 100% | 0 | 0 | 2:56 |
| Kevin Lee | 0 | 28 of 42 | 66% | 33 of 47 | 0 of 0 | --- | 1 | 0 | 0:00 | |
| 3 | Charles Oliveira | 0 | 10 of 14 | 71% | 10 of 14 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:04 |
| Kevin Lee | 0 | 2 of 5 | 40% | 2 of 5 | 0 of 0 | --- | 1 | 0 | 0:00 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Charles Oliveira | 41 of 80 | 51% | 35 of 74 | 6 of 6 | 0 of 0 | 31 of 65 | 0 of 0 | 10 of 15 |
| Kevin Lee | 43 of 65 | 66% | 28 of 49 | 9 of 10 | 6 of 6 | 35 of 56 | 2 of 2 | 6 of 7 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Charles Oliveira | 15 of 29 | 51% | 13 of 27 | 2 of 2 | 0 of 0 | 8 of 22 | 0 of 0 | 7 of 7 |
| Kevin Lee | 13 of 18 | 72% | 8 of 12 | 1 of 2 | 4 of 4 | 10 of 15 | 0 of 0 | 3 of 3 | |
| 2 | Charles Oliveira | 16 of 37 | 43% | 13 of 34 | 3 of 3 | 0 of 0 | 13 of 29 | 0 of 0 | 3 of 8 |
| Kevin Lee | 28 of 42 | 66% | 19 of 33 | 7 of 7 | 2 of 2 | 23 of 36 | 2 of 2 | 3 of 4 | |
| 3 | Charles Oliveira | 10 of 14 | 71% | 9 of 13 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 0 | 10 of 14 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Kevin Lee | 2 of 5 | 40% | 1 of 4 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 0 | 2 of 5 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
Daniel leans towards Oliveira as a dog, citing his submission threat and undefeated record in Brazil. He thinks Oliveira can finish Lee somewhere along the way. He notes Lee's chin and submission loss to dos Anjos as concerns.
The host picks Kevin Lee over Charles Oliveira. He argues that Oliveira's recent wins are against lower-level competition (Nik Lentz, Jim Miller, Clay Guida, etc.) and that historically Oliveira loses when stepping up in competition. Lee has a reach advantage (three inches) and improved striking at Tristar. He expects Lee to piece Oliveira up on the feet, take him down, and finish by ground-and-pound in the late second round. He also notes Lee's good jiu-jitsu defense.
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kevin Lee | 1 | 21 of 59 | 35% | 21 of 59 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:01 |
| Gregor Gillespie | 0 | 9 of 46 | 19% | 9 of 46 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kevin Lee | 1 | 21 of 59 | 35% | 21 of 59 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:01 |
| Gregor Gillespie | 0 | 9 of 46 | 19% | 9 of 46 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kevin Lee | 21 of 59 | 35% | 19 of 55 | 2 of 4 | 0 of 0 | 20 of 56 | 0 of 2 | 1 of 1 |
| Gregor Gillespie | 9 of 46 | 19% | 8 of 45 | 0 of 0 | 1 of 1 | 9 of 46 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kevin Lee | 21 of 59 | 35% | 19 of 55 | 2 of 4 | 0 of 0 | 20 of 56 | 0 of 2 | 1 of 1 |
| Gregor Gillespie | 9 of 46 | 19% | 8 of 45 | 0 of 0 | 1 of 1 | 9 of 46 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rafael dos Anjos | 0 | 60 of 111 | 54% | 75 of 126 | 4 of 7 | 57% | 1 | 1 | 3:53 |
| Kevin Lee | 0 | 35 of 97 | 36% | 40 of 102 | 6 of 16 | 37% | 0 | 0 | 8:41 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rafael dos Anjos | 0 | 15 of 34 | 44% | 18 of 37 | 1 of 2 | 50% | 0 | 0 | 0:28 |
| Kevin Lee | 0 | 12 of 32 | 37% | 14 of 34 | 1 of 4 | 25% | 0 | 0 | 2:58 | |
| 2 | Rafael dos Anjos | 0 | 14 of 24 | 58% | 20 of 30 | 1 of 1 | 100% | 0 | 0 | 0:35 |
| Kevin Lee | 0 | 12 of 30 | 40% | 15 of 33 | 2 of 5 | 40% | 0 | 0 | 2:56 | |
| 3 | Rafael dos Anjos | 0 | 14 of 19 | 73% | 16 of 21 | 2 of 3 | 66% | 0 | 1 | 2:20 |
| Kevin Lee | 0 | 2 of 11 | 18% | 2 of 11 | 3 of 3 | 100% | 0 | 0 | 1:44 | |
| 4 | Rafael dos Anjos | 0 | 17 of 34 | 50% | 21 of 38 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 1 | 0 | 0:30 |
| Kevin Lee | 0 | 9 of 24 | 37% | 9 of 24 | 0 of 4 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 1:03 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rafael dos Anjos | 60 of 111 | 54% | 36 of 83 | 17 of 21 | 7 of 7 | 33 of 80 | 18 of 20 | 9 of 11 |
| Kevin Lee | 35 of 97 | 36% | 23 of 79 | 10 of 16 | 2 of 2 | 27 of 86 | 7 of 10 | 1 of 1 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rafael dos Anjos | 15 of 34 | 44% | 5 of 23 | 9 of 10 | 1 of 1 | 8 of 26 | 7 of 8 | 0 of 0 |
| Kevin Lee | 12 of 32 | 37% | 10 of 28 | 2 of 4 | 0 of 0 | 7 of 26 | 5 of 6 | 0 of 0 | |
| 2 | Rafael dos Anjos | 14 of 24 | 58% | 9 of 18 | 4 of 5 | 1 of 1 | 8 of 17 | 5 of 6 | 1 of 1 |
| Kevin Lee | 12 of 30 | 40% | 9 of 25 | 3 of 5 | 0 of 0 | 10 of 26 | 2 of 4 | 0 of 0 | |
| 3 | Rafael dos Anjos | 14 of 19 | 73% | 8 of 12 | 4 of 5 | 2 of 2 | 4 of 9 | 6 of 6 | 4 of 4 |
| Kevin Lee | 2 of 11 | 18% | 1 of 9 | 1 of 2 | 0 of 0 | 1 of 10 | 0 of 0 | 1 of 1 | |
| 4 | Rafael dos Anjos | 17 of 34 | 50% | 14 of 30 | 0 of 1 | 3 of 3 | 13 of 28 | 0 of 0 | 4 of 6 |
| Kevin Lee | 9 of 24 | 37% | 3 of 17 | 4 of 5 | 2 of 2 | 9 of 24 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Al Iaquinta | 0 | 102 of 296 | 34% | 121 of 319 | 3 of 5 | 60% | 0 | 0 | 5:27 |
| Kevin Lee | 0 | 111 of 228 | 48% | 113 of 230 | 0 of 7 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:13 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Al Iaquinta | 0 | 23 of 86 | 26% | 23 of 86 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Kevin Lee | 0 | 20 of 51 | 39% | 20 of 51 | 0 of 6 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:00 | |
| 2 | Al Iaquinta | 0 | 34 of 69 | 49% | 43 of 81 | 1 of 2 | 50% | 0 | 0 | 1:44 |
| Kevin Lee | 0 | 18 of 35 | 51% | 18 of 35 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 | |
| 3 | Al Iaquinta | 0 | 10 of 35 | 28% | 20 of 46 | 2 of 2 | 100% | 0 | 0 | 2:29 |
| Kevin Lee | 0 | 16 of 29 | 55% | 18 of 31 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:00 | |
| 4 | Al Iaquinta | 0 | 17 of 61 | 27% | 17 of 61 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Kevin Lee | 0 | 24 of 60 | 40% | 24 of 60 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 | |
| 5 | Al Iaquinta | 0 | 18 of 45 | 40% | 18 of 45 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 1:14 |
| Kevin Lee | 0 | 33 of 53 | 62% | 33 of 53 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:13 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Al Iaquinta | 102 of 296 | 34% | 80 of 267 | 14 of 21 | 8 of 8 | 81 of 273 | 1 of 1 | 20 of 22 |
| Kevin Lee | 111 of 228 | 48% | 82 of 189 | 19 of 28 | 10 of 11 | 110 of 226 | 0 of 0 | 1 of 2 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Al Iaquinta | 23 of 86 | 26% | 17 of 77 | 4 of 7 | 2 of 2 | 23 of 86 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Kevin Lee | 20 of 51 | 39% | 12 of 38 | 5 of 9 | 3 of 4 | 20 of 51 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | |
| 2 | Al Iaquinta | 34 of 69 | 49% | 29 of 62 | 3 of 5 | 2 of 2 | 15 of 48 | 0 of 0 | 19 of 21 |
| Kevin Lee | 18 of 35 | 51% | 12 of 29 | 4 of 4 | 2 of 2 | 17 of 34 | 0 of 0 | 1 of 1 | |
| 3 | Al Iaquinta | 10 of 35 | 28% | 5 of 29 | 3 of 4 | 2 of 2 | 8 of 33 | 1 of 1 | 1 of 1 |
| Kevin Lee | 16 of 29 | 55% | 12 of 23 | 3 of 5 | 1 of 1 | 16 of 28 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 1 | |
| 4 | Al Iaquinta | 17 of 61 | 27% | 13 of 57 | 3 of 3 | 1 of 1 | 17 of 61 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Kevin Lee | 24 of 60 | 40% | 16 of 50 | 4 of 6 | 4 of 4 | 24 of 60 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | |
| 5 | Al Iaquinta | 18 of 45 | 40% | 16 of 42 | 1 of 2 | 1 of 1 | 18 of 45 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Kevin Lee | 33 of 53 | 62% | 30 of 49 | 3 of 4 | 0 of 0 | 33 of 53 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kevin Lee | 0 | 51 of 106 | 48% | 64 of 119 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:10 |
| Edson Barboza | 0 | 142 of 241 | 58% | 233 of 344 | 4 of 9 | 44% | 0 | 0 | 15:00 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kevin Lee | 0 | 4 of 12 | 33% | 4 of 12 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Edson Barboza | 0 | 40 of 64 | 62% | 60 of 89 | 1 of 1 | 100% | 0 | 0 | 4:18 | |
| 2 | Kevin Lee | 0 | 7 of 15 | 46% | 9 of 17 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Edson Barboza | 0 | 34 of 46 | 73% | 76 of 91 | 1 of 2 | 50% | 0 | 0 | 4:12 | |
| 3 | Kevin Lee | 0 | 19 of 34 | 55% | 30 of 45 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:10 |
| Edson Barboza | 0 | 16 of 48 | 33% | 19 of 51 | 1 of 3 | 33% | 0 | 0 | 1:11 | |
| 4 | Kevin Lee | 0 | 5 of 15 | 33% | 5 of 15 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Edson Barboza | 0 | 38 of 56 | 67% | 64 of 86 | 1 of 1 | 100% | 0 | 0 | 4:33 | |
| 5 | Kevin Lee | 0 | 16 of 30 | 53% | 16 of 30 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Edson Barboza | 0 | 14 of 27 | 51% | 14 of 27 | 0 of 2 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:46 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kevin Lee | 51 of 106 | 48% | 26 of 73 | 20 of 26 | 5 of 7 | 47 of 102 | 2 of 2 | 2 of 2 |
| Edson Barboza | 142 of 241 | 58% | 138 of 236 | 3 of 4 | 1 of 1 | 46 of 122 | 0 of 0 | 96 of 119 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kevin Lee | 4 of 12 | 33% | 2 of 9 | 0 of 1 | 2 of 2 | 4 of 12 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Edson Barboza | 40 of 64 | 62% | 40 of 64 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | 3 of 15 | 0 of 0 | 37 of 49 | |
| 2 | Kevin Lee | 7 of 15 | 46% | 5 of 12 | 2 of 3 | 0 of 0 | 3 of 11 | 2 of 2 | 2 of 2 |
| Edson Barboza | 34 of 46 | 73% | 32 of 44 | 2 of 2 | 0 of 0 | 7 of 15 | 0 of 0 | 27 of 31 | |
| 3 | Kevin Lee | 19 of 34 | 55% | 8 of 20 | 9 of 11 | 2 of 3 | 19 of 34 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Edson Barboza | 16 of 48 | 33% | 14 of 45 | 1 of 2 | 1 of 1 | 16 of 48 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | |
| 4 | Kevin Lee | 5 of 15 | 33% | 3 of 13 | 2 of 2 | 0 of 0 | 5 of 15 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Edson Barboza | 38 of 56 | 67% | 38 of 56 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | 6 of 17 | 0 of 0 | 32 of 39 | |
| 5 | Kevin Lee | 16 of 30 | 53% | 8 of 19 | 7 of 9 | 1 of 2 | 16 of 30 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Edson Barboza | 14 of 27 | 51% | 14 of 27 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | 14 of 27 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tony Ferguson | 0 | 54 of 103 | 52% | 57 of 106 | 0 of 0 | --- | 2 | 0 | 0:02 |
| Kevin Lee | 0 | 55 of 119 | 46% | 71 of 137 | 3 of 6 | 50% | 0 | 0 | 4:49 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tony Ferguson | 0 | 13 of 23 | 56% | 14 of 24 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:02 |
| Kevin Lee | 0 | 27 of 58 | 46% | 38 of 69 | 1 of 1 | 100% | 0 | 0 | 2:16 | |
| 2 | Tony Ferguson | 0 | 27 of 54 | 50% | 27 of 54 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Kevin Lee | 0 | 22 of 49 | 44% | 22 of 49 | 0 of 2 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:00 | |
| 3 | Tony Ferguson | 0 | 14 of 26 | 53% | 16 of 28 | 0 of 0 | --- | 2 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Kevin Lee | 0 | 6 of 12 | 50% | 11 of 19 | 2 of 3 | 66% | 0 | 0 | 2:33 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tony Ferguson | 54 of 103 | 52% | 40 of 81 | 6 of 13 | 8 of 9 | 40 of 85 | 1 of 1 | 13 of 17 |
| Kevin Lee | 55 of 119 | 46% | 41 of 101 | 14 of 18 | 0 of 0 | 35 of 90 | 0 of 1 | 20 of 28 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tony Ferguson | 13 of 23 | 56% | 7 of 16 | 2 of 3 | 4 of 4 | 10 of 19 | 0 of 0 | 3 of 4 |
| Kevin Lee | 27 of 58 | 46% | 22 of 52 | 5 of 6 | 0 of 0 | 9 of 32 | 0 of 0 | 18 of 26 | |
| 2 | Tony Ferguson | 27 of 54 | 50% | 21 of 42 | 3 of 8 | 3 of 4 | 27 of 54 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Kevin Lee | 22 of 49 | 44% | 15 of 40 | 7 of 9 | 0 of 0 | 22 of 48 | 0 of 1 | 0 of 0 | |
| 3 | Tony Ferguson | 14 of 26 | 53% | 12 of 23 | 1 of 2 | 1 of 1 | 3 of 12 | 1 of 1 | 10 of 13 |
| Kevin Lee | 6 of 12 | 50% | 4 of 9 | 2 of 3 | 0 of 0 | 4 of 10 | 0 of 0 | 2 of 2 |
Edson Barboza - Fight History
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Edson Barboza | 0 | 10 of 20 | 50% | 10 of 20 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 1 | 0:07 |
| Jalin Turner | 2 | 39 of 66 | 59% | 43 of 73 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:38 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Edson Barboza | 0 | 10 of 20 | 50% | 10 of 20 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 1 | 0:07 |
| Jalin Turner | 2 | 39 of 66 | 59% | 43 of 73 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:38 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Edson Barboza | 10 of 20 | 50% | 4 of 14 | 4 of 4 | 2 of 2 | 10 of 19 | 0 of 1 | 0 of 0 |
| Jalin Turner | 39 of 66 | 59% | 29 of 55 | 8 of 9 | 2 of 2 | 33 of 53 | 5 of 10 | 1 of 3 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Edson Barboza | 10 of 20 | 50% | 4 of 14 | 4 of 4 | 2 of 2 | 10 of 19 | 0 of 1 | 0 of 0 |
| Jalin Turner | 39 of 66 | 59% | 29 of 55 | 8 of 9 | 2 of 2 | 33 of 53 | 5 of 10 | 1 of 3 |
Angelo picks Jalin Turner despite concerns about his mental state after retiring following a couple of losses. He acknowledges Turner's advantages in height, range, and striking, and believes he is the better fighter at this stage. However, he questions whether Turner returned for the right reasons or just for a paycheck. Angelo ultimately trusts that Turner is focused and will win, but expresses hesitation.
Big Brady picks Jalin Turner, citing his dangerous striking and 100% finish rate. He believes Barboza is washed and lacks durability, and that Turner will keep the fight standing. He expects Turner to win by first-round knockout, though he questions Turner's mentality.
Cody picks Turner, citing his size, power, and youth. He notes that Turner has knocked down top lightweights and has a significant reach advantage. He believes Barboza is past his prime and that Turner will finish him early. He is confident despite Turner's recent loss and retirement talk.
Connor picks Jalin Turner hesitantly, citing Turner's fight-ending power and Barboza's age and recent decline. He notes that Barboza has looked hesitant and unable to pull the trigger, while Turner has more instantaneous power. However, Connor is concerned about Turner's mental state after his last performance and retirement talk.
Daniel is undecided, calling it a 'dog or pass' situation. He sees Turner's physical advantages and power but questions his heart and recent losses. Barboza's toughness and experience are assets, but his age (39) is a concern. He plans to make a pick on fight week.
Lucrative James thinks Jalin Turner will finish Edson Barboza early. He notes Barboza has looked washed and vulnerable in recent fights, often getting wobbled. He believes Turner's length, power, and viciousness will overwhelm Barboza. He acknowledges concerns about Turner's mental state after retirement but sees this as a favorable stylistic matchup.
The host believes Turner, returning from a short retirement, will be dialed in and take advantage of Barboza's deteriorating durability. He expects Turner to finish the fight within a round and a half.
Paul picks Turner, noting his size and power advantage. He believes Barboza is done and that Turner will overwhelm him. He mentions that Turner's only losses are to top competition and that he has the ability to finish early. He thinks Turner wins by TKO.
The Guru picks Jalin Turner to beat Edson Barboza, noting Barboza's decline and damage accumulation. He believes Turner's range and grappling will be key, and that Barboza cannot pull the trigger like before. The Guru predicts a first-round TKO finish.
Zane picks Jalin Turner hesitantly, noting that Turner has more instantaneous fight-ending power than Barboza. He acknowledges Barboza's age and recent performances where he couldn't pull the trigger. Zane is concerned about Turner's mental state but believes his power gives him the edge.
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Edson Barboza | 0 | 71 of 120 | 59% | 73 of 122 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 3:50 |
| Drakkar Klose | 0 | 53 of 102 | 51% | 147 of 209 | 0 of 2 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 2:33 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Edson Barboza | 0 | 24 of 36 | 66% | 26 of 38 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 1:26 |
| Drakkar Klose | 0 | 15 of 29 | 51% | 68 of 89 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:33 | |
| 2 | Edson Barboza | 0 | 18 of 38 | 47% | 18 of 38 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 1:02 |
| Drakkar Klose | 0 | 25 of 44 | 56% | 50 of 75 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 1:40 | |
| 3 | Edson Barboza | 0 | 29 of 46 | 63% | 29 of 46 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 1:22 |
| Drakkar Klose | 0 | 13 of 29 | 44% | 29 of 45 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:20 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Edson Barboza | 71 of 120 | 59% | 26 of 64 | 32 of 38 | 13 of 18 | 57 of 105 | 14 of 15 | 0 of 0 |
| Drakkar Klose | 53 of 102 | 51% | 35 of 78 | 6 of 9 | 12 of 15 | 43 of 89 | 10 of 13 | 0 of 0 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Edson Barboza | 24 of 36 | 66% | 4 of 11 | 13 of 17 | 7 of 8 | 18 of 30 | 6 of 6 | 0 of 0 |
| Drakkar Klose | 15 of 29 | 51% | 8 of 18 | 1 of 3 | 6 of 8 | 13 of 27 | 2 of 2 | 0 of 0 | |
| 2 | Edson Barboza | 18 of 38 | 47% | 7 of 22 | 10 of 12 | 1 of 4 | 14 of 33 | 4 of 5 | 0 of 0 |
| Drakkar Klose | 25 of 44 | 56% | 19 of 37 | 3 of 3 | 3 of 4 | 19 of 36 | 6 of 8 | 0 of 0 | |
| 3 | Edson Barboza | 29 of 46 | 63% | 15 of 31 | 9 of 9 | 5 of 6 | 25 of 42 | 4 of 4 | 0 of 0 |
| Drakkar Klose | 13 of 29 | 44% | 8 of 23 | 2 of 3 | 3 of 3 | 11 of 26 | 2 of 3 | 0 of 0 |
Angelo acknowledges both fighters are older but notes Barboza's striking, speed, and experience against top competition. He thinks Klose could wrestle but hasn't seen enough to suggest Barboza is washed. He leans Barboza but is not confident enough to bet on him.
Big Brady picks Edson Barboza to win by second-round knockout. He notes Barboza is moving back up to lightweight, which should help his durability. He worries about Barboza's chin but thinks Klose doesn't have much power, with only two knockdowns in the UFC. He believes Barboza is the better striker and will knock out Klose, as Klose's path to victory is to sell out for grappling. He also mentions Klose's questionable durability and poor performance against Silva.
Connor also picks Barboza, agreeing with Zane. He notes that Klose has the right idea to pressure Barboza but lacks the tools to finish. He thinks Barboza's experience and ability to stand his ground will be key. He also mentions that Barboza has been working to counter pressure his entire career and sometimes wins without solving it.
The host considers Klose one of the most underrated lightweights. He expects Klose to avoid Barboza's early finishing attempts, clinch him against the cage, wear him down, and grind out a decision win on the mat.
The Guru picks Drakkar Klose to win by decision, 29-28. He cannot trust Edson Barboza at this point in his career, citing Barboza's long layoff, injuries, and move back up to lightweight. The Guru notes that Barboza took a lot of damage in his last fight against Lerone Murphy and that Klose will grapple and use his physicality. He believes Klose can execute a 'tepid version' of the recipe to beat Barboza and win a decision, though Barboza may have moments of hurting Klose.
Zane picks Barboza, noting that Klose is a pure pressure fighter but lacks the follow-through to beat Barboza. He thinks Barboza can meet Klose in the middle and outstrike him, or even if pressured, Barboza still has chances. He references Barboza's fight with Dariush as an example of Barboza winning despite being pushed around. He also notes that Klose is not a high-output pressure fighter and needs to clinch to be effective.
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lerone Murphy | 0 | 79 of 242 | 32% | 79 of 242 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:17 |
| Edson Barboza | 0 | 220 of 364 | 60% | 259 of 410 | 4 of 6 | 66% | 0 | 0 | 5:19 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lerone Murphy | 0 | 25 of 53 | 47% | 25 of 53 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Edson Barboza | 0 | 34 of 62 | 54% | 38 of 66 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:14 | |
| 2 | Lerone Murphy | 0 | 17 of 44 | 38% | 17 of 44 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Edson Barboza | 0 | 41 of 75 | 54% | 56 of 93 | 1 of 1 | 100% | 0 | 0 | 1:26 | |
| 3 | Lerone Murphy | 0 | 11 of 42 | 26% | 11 of 42 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:17 |
| Edson Barboza | 0 | 48 of 79 | 60% | 52 of 86 | 1 of 3 | 33% | 0 | 0 | 1:25 | |
| 4 | Lerone Murphy | 0 | 15 of 56 | 26% | 15 of 56 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Edson Barboza | 0 | 59 of 93 | 63% | 65 of 99 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:25 | |
| 5 | Lerone Murphy | 0 | 11 of 47 | 23% | 11 of 47 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Edson Barboza | 0 | 38 of 55 | 69% | 48 of 66 | 2 of 2 | 100% | 0 | 0 | 1:49 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lerone Murphy | 79 of 242 | 32% | 38 of 189 | 15 of 21 | 26 of 32 | 77 of 239 | 2 of 3 | 0 of 0 |
| Edson Barboza | 220 of 364 | 60% | 172 of 308 | 27 of 34 | 21 of 22 | 205 of 344 | 13 of 17 | 2 of 3 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lerone Murphy | 25 of 53 | 47% | 14 of 39 | 2 of 2 | 9 of 12 | 24 of 51 | 1 of 2 | 0 of 0 |
| Edson Barboza | 34 of 62 | 54% | 26 of 52 | 6 of 8 | 2 of 2 | 32 of 59 | 0 of 0 | 2 of 3 | |
| 2 | Lerone Murphy | 17 of 44 | 38% | 5 of 31 | 5 of 5 | 7 of 8 | 17 of 44 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Edson Barboza | 41 of 75 | 54% | 36 of 69 | 4 of 5 | 1 of 1 | 37 of 70 | 4 of 5 | 0 of 0 | |
| 3 | Lerone Murphy | 11 of 42 | 26% | 5 of 32 | 2 of 5 | 4 of 5 | 10 of 41 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 0 |
| Edson Barboza | 48 of 79 | 60% | 40 of 70 | 6 of 7 | 2 of 2 | 43 of 73 | 5 of 6 | 0 of 0 | |
| 4 | Lerone Murphy | 15 of 56 | 26% | 7 of 46 | 4 of 5 | 4 of 5 | 15 of 56 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Edson Barboza | 59 of 93 | 63% | 42 of 75 | 7 of 8 | 10 of 10 | 58 of 91 | 1 of 2 | 0 of 0 | |
| 5 | Lerone Murphy | 11 of 47 | 23% | 7 of 41 | 2 of 4 | 2 of 2 | 11 of 47 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Edson Barboza | 38 of 55 | 69% | 28 of 42 | 4 of 6 | 6 of 7 | 35 of 51 | 3 of 4 | 0 of 0 |
Angelo leans Edson Barboza due to his veteran savvy, well-rounded skills, and recent win over a similar young striker in Sodiq Yusuff. He compares Barboza to Charles Oliveira in terms of danger everywhere. However, he worries about Barboza's age (38) and chin. Lerone Murphy is undefeated with good footwork and power, but Barboza's experience and ability to mix in takedowns could be the difference.
Cody acknowledges the similarities to the Yusuff fight but notes Murphy doesn't gas like Yusuff; Murphy conserves energy and improves in later rounds. He points out Barboza is 38 and has taken a lot of damage, and speed declines with age. Cody is concerned about Murphy's close split decision over Gabriel Santos, but ultimately picks Murphy, citing Father Time as an ally.
Murphy has potential and mixes his game well, with solid cardio and grappling. Barboza is 38 and cutting to 145, which may affect his durability. Murphy can use clinch and takedowns to put Barboza in uncomfortable positions. However, this is Murphy's first five-round fight, and Barboza's experience is a factor. Expects Murphy to grind out a decision.
Paul sees this matchup similar to Barboza's win over Sodiq Yusuff, where Barboza's veteran savvy and cardio allowed him to take over late. He notes Murphy hasn't been tested in five rounds and lacks the volume that Yusuff had. Paul believes Barboza is a tough out for prospects without stout wrestling, and Murphy's wrestling isn't elite enough to neutralize Barboza's striking.
The MMA Guru picks Edson Barboza to win by body kick TKO in round three or four over Lerone Murphy. He argues that Murphy is less powerful and less dangerous than Sadik Yusuf, who Barboza beat. He notes Murphy's tendency to edge by wins and lack of a finishing move, while Barboza has experience in main events and the cardio to break Murphy down. He expects Barboza's speed and technique to prevail.
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Edson Barboza | 1 | 178 of 351 | 50% | 206 of 397 | 1 of 2 | 50% | 0 | 0 | 3:56 |
| Sodiq Yusuff | 1 | 164 of 324 | 50% | 178 of 347 | 3 of 4 | 75% | 0 | 0 | 3:04 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Edson Barboza | 1 | 42 of 80 | 52% | 55 of 103 | 1 of 1 | 100% | 0 | 0 | 3:15 |
| Sodiq Yusuff | 0 | 13 of 25 | 52% | 14 of 26 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 | |
| 2 | Edson Barboza | 0 | 42 of 79 | 53% | 43 of 80 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:29 |
| Sodiq Yusuff | 0 | 31 of 65 | 47% | 33 of 67 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 | |
| 3 | Edson Barboza | 0 | 29 of 58 | 50% | 29 of 59 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Sodiq Yusuff | 1 | 32 of 68 | 47% | 42 of 86 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 1:04 | |
| 4 | Edson Barboza | 0 | 35 of 79 | 44% | 39 of 84 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:12 |
| Sodiq Yusuff | 0 | 47 of 90 | 52% | 48 of 91 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:22 | |
| 5 | Edson Barboza | 0 | 30 of 55 | 54% | 40 of 71 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Sodiq Yusuff | 0 | 41 of 76 | 53% | 41 of 77 | 3 of 4 | 75% | 0 | 0 | 1:38 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Edson Barboza | 178 of 351 | 50% | 126 of 284 | 14 of 20 | 38 of 47 | 148 of 311 | 15 of 18 | 15 of 22 |
| Sodiq Yusuff | 164 of 324 | 50% | 71 of 204 | 89 of 112 | 4 of 8 | 134 of 290 | 25 of 27 | 5 of 7 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Edson Barboza | 42 of 80 | 52% | 39 of 77 | 3 of 3 | 0 of 0 | 23 of 54 | 4 of 4 | 15 of 22 |
| Sodiq Yusuff | 13 of 25 | 52% | 8 of 19 | 5 of 6 | 0 of 0 | 12 of 24 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 0 | |
| 2 | Edson Barboza | 42 of 79 | 53% | 24 of 56 | 3 of 6 | 15 of 17 | 34 of 69 | 8 of 10 | 0 of 0 |
| Sodiq Yusuff | 31 of 65 | 47% | 7 of 31 | 23 of 31 | 1 of 3 | 25 of 57 | 6 of 8 | 0 of 0 | |
| 3 | Edson Barboza | 29 of 58 | 50% | 17 of 42 | 5 of 7 | 7 of 9 | 29 of 58 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Sodiq Yusuff | 32 of 68 | 47% | 14 of 44 | 16 of 20 | 2 of 4 | 27 of 61 | 0 of 0 | 5 of 7 | |
| 4 | Edson Barboza | 35 of 79 | 44% | 24 of 64 | 1 of 2 | 10 of 13 | 35 of 78 | 0 of 1 | 0 of 0 |
| Sodiq Yusuff | 47 of 90 | 52% | 24 of 63 | 22 of 26 | 1 of 1 | 42 of 85 | 5 of 5 | 0 of 0 | |
| 5 | Edson Barboza | 30 of 55 | 54% | 22 of 45 | 2 of 2 | 6 of 8 | 27 of 52 | 3 of 3 | 0 of 0 |
| Sodiq Yusuff | 41 of 76 | 53% | 18 of 47 | 23 of 29 | 0 of 0 | 28 of 63 | 13 of 13 | 0 of 0 |
Angelo sees this as a razor-thin striking match where youth vs experience is the key factor. He believes Sodiq's speed and youth will give him a slight edge over the 37-year-old Barboza, who is still technical but may have slowed. He notes that if it were a well-rounded MMA fight he'd lean experience, but as a striking match he favors the younger fighter. He plans to just watch rather than bet, calling it even money.
Big Brady picks Sodiq Yusuff to win by KO in the third round. He notes that Edson Barboza is 37 years old and cutting to featherweight, which is taxing. He worries about Barboza's durability and cardio in a five-round fight, while Yusuff is younger and has power. He expects Yusuff to finish late as Barboza fades.
Cody picks Barboza, emphasizing his consistent high-level competition and ability to still perform at an elite level. He highlights Barboza's leg kicks, left hook, and durability, noting that he has never slowed down despite many wars. Cody questions Yusuff's durability and wrestling ability to get Barboza down, and believes Barboza's experience and power will prevail.
The host picks Sodiq Yusuff but is hesitant due to the long layoff and herniated disc issues. He notes Yusuff's power and patience, expecting him to land a big shot as Barboza slows down with age. However, he dislikes the minus 170-180 price and prefers to pass on betting. He predicts Yusuff by knockout.
Paul picks Barboza as the underdog, citing his elite striking, durability, and experience against top competition. He notes Barboza's ability to land big shots and his consistent performance despite age. Paul is concerned about Yusuff's durability and lack of high-level wins, and believes Barboza's volume and power will be too much.
The MMA Guru leans towards Edson Barboza over Sodiq Yusuff, calling it a close 50/50 fight. He cites Barboza's momentum, size advantage (4-inch reach, taller), and experience in main events. He questions Yusuff's chin, noting he got wobbled by Arnold Allen, and his long layoff due to spinal surgery. He also thinks Yusuff's win over Alex Caceres was mostly low kicks, which won't work against Barboza. However, he expresses frustration that underdogs often win in nonsensical ways, showing low confidence.
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Edson Barboza | 1 | 21 of 33 | 63% | 21 of 33 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:02 |
| Billy Quarantillo | 0 | 19 of 42 | 45% | 20 of 43 | 0 of 2 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:39 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Edson Barboza | 1 | 21 of 33 | 63% | 21 of 33 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:02 |
| Billy Quarantillo | 0 | 19 of 42 | 45% | 20 of 43 | 0 of 2 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:39 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Edson Barboza | 21 of 33 | 63% | 13 of 25 | 5 of 5 | 3 of 3 | 19 of 31 | 1 of 1 | 1 of 1 |
| Billy Quarantillo | 19 of 42 | 45% | 16 of 38 | 1 of 2 | 2 of 2 | 18 of 41 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 0 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Edson Barboza | 21 of 33 | 63% | 13 of 25 | 5 of 5 | 3 of 3 | 19 of 31 | 1 of 1 | 1 of 1 |
| Billy Quarantillo | 19 of 42 | 45% | 16 of 38 | 1 of 2 | 2 of 2 | 18 of 41 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 0 |
Angelo picks Billy Quarantillo, but emphasizes he needs to wrestle to win. He notes Barboza is the more technical striker and that Quarantillo cannot let Barboza settle into a striking pace. He references Barboza's win over Shane Burgos as a cautionary tale. He is not betting yet, calling Barboza 'super live'.
Big Brady picks Billy Quarantillo to win by late second-round knockout. He notes Barboza's age (37) and recent decline, while Quarantillo is durable and has high volume and pressure. He expects Barboza to look good early but fade, allowing Quarantillo to drown him with pace and power. He is not worried about Barboza's early knockout power.
Cody sees this as a classic case of Barboza starting hot and Quarantillo wearing him down. He notes Quarantillo's takedown accuracy is low (24%) but he shoots multiple times, and his superior cardio and ground game should take over in rounds 2 and 3. However, he's not confident pre-fight and prefers to bet Quarantillo live after round 1.
Connor picks Barboza, arguing that Quarantillo is too slow and too much of a slow starter to implement the pressure needed to beat Barboza. He notes that Barboza's early damage accumulation (body kicks, leg kicks) will prevent Quarantillo from building into the fight. Connor compares Quarantillo unfavorably to Shane Burgos, whom Barboza destroyed, and believes Barboza's thudding shots will land on Quarantillo's entire body in the first round.
Quarantillo's cardio and forward pressure will be the difference. Barboza has takedown defense issues and fades late. Quarantillo can survive early striking onslaughts and take over in later rounds with takedowns and ground-and-pound. Expect a finish in round 3 as Quarantillo's pace breaks Barboza.
Paul agrees with Cody, noting Quarantillo is hittable early but wears opponents down. He highlights Barboza's layoff and age (37) but acknowledges Barboza's first-round explosiveness. He thinks Quarantillo's wrestling may not be as good as previous Barboza opponents, but his volume and durability should carry him.
The MMA Guru picks Billy Quarantillo, emphasizing his well-rounded game, volume striking (7.88 strikes per minute), and grappling. He believes Quarantillo will close the distance, make it a war, and potentially finish Barboza, who is 37 and cutting to featherweight. He notes Barboza's power and experience but thinks Quarantillo's freshness and pressure will be key.
Zane picks Quarantillo, believing his relentless pressure and willingness to walk through fire will overwhelm Barboza. He notes that Barboza has historically struggled against pressure fighters who stay on him, and Quarantillo's madman mentality and one-size-fits-all aggression should be effective. Zane acknowledges Quarantillo is slower and less technical than previous Barboza opponents but thinks his psychological edge and constant forward movement will carry the day.
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bryce Mitchell | 0 | 16 of 37 | 43% | 23 of 46 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:02 |
| Edson Barboza | 1 | 34 of 47 | 72% | 182 of 209 | 4 of 4 | 100% | 0 | 0 | 11:28 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bryce Mitchell | 0 | 11 of 19 | 57% | 12 of 21 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Edson Barboza | 1 | 14 of 18 | 77% | 47 of 53 | 1 of 1 | 100% | 0 | 0 | 2:48 | |
| 2 | Bryce Mitchell | 0 | 3 of 4 | 75% | 3 of 4 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Edson Barboza | 0 | 7 of 9 | 77% | 78 of 83 | 2 of 2 | 100% | 0 | 0 | 4:41 | |
| 3 | Bryce Mitchell | 0 | 2 of 14 | 14% | 8 of 21 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:02 |
| Edson Barboza | 0 | 13 of 20 | 65% | 57 of 73 | 1 of 1 | 100% | 0 | 0 | 3:59 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bryce Mitchell | 16 of 37 | 43% | 3 of 17 | 6 of 12 | 7 of 8 | 15 of 36 | 0 of 0 | 1 of 1 |
| Edson Barboza | 34 of 47 | 72% | 28 of 40 | 4 of 5 | 2 of 2 | 9 of 18 | 0 of 0 | 25 of 29 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bryce Mitchell | 11 of 19 | 57% | 2 of 5 | 4 of 8 | 5 of 6 | 11 of 19 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Edson Barboza | 14 of 18 | 77% | 10 of 14 | 3 of 3 | 1 of 1 | 7 of 11 | 0 of 0 | 7 of 7 | |
| 2 | Bryce Mitchell | 3 of 4 | 75% | 0 of 1 | 1 of 1 | 2 of 2 | 3 of 4 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Edson Barboza | 7 of 9 | 77% | 6 of 7 | 0 of 1 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 2 | 0 of 0 | 7 of 7 | |
| 3 | Bryce Mitchell | 2 of 14 | 14% | 1 of 11 | 1 of 3 | 0 of 0 | 1 of 13 | 0 of 0 | 1 of 1 |
| Edson Barboza | 13 of 20 | 65% | 12 of 19 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 0 | 2 of 5 | 0 of 0 | 11 of 15 |
Play-by-Play
View on SherdogRound 1
One will rarely ever find a more perfect example of a striker vs. grappler battle, when the highlight-reel aficionado Barboza (22-10, 16-10 UFC) squares off with unbeaten submission artist Mitchell (14-0, 5-0 UFC). Referee Mark Smith is on the call for this intriguing matchup at 145 pounds, and the men do not bothering to touch ‘em up before engaging. Mitchell throws a low kick, and Barboza is right there to return fire with a much heavier kick. Barboza attacks with another leg kick, and he backs away when Mitchell walks him down. Barboza sits down an inside leg kick, and just a few strikes in, Mitchell’s lead leg is already changing color. Mitchell gives chase, walking through another low kick, and he circles away as Mitchell tries to corner him. Mitchell aims a single kick to the body, and Barboza strings together a couple punches and a thudding low kick. Mitchell tries to grab Barboza but is out of range. Barboza scoots out of the way, and as he backs off, he gets cracked by a sudden right hand that sets him down. Barboza shakes off the cobwebs as “Thug Nasty” bears down on him, and he scoops up his foe’s legs and sets him down to the mat. In Barboza’s guard, Mitchell softens up the body with short punches, and he postures up to stack Barboza up when Barboza looks to open his guard and get offensive with it. From very close range, Mitchell thumps down a pair of elbows, and he uses effective top pressure to keep Barboza stuck with his neck on the wall and his back on the mat. Body to head goes Mitchell as he works Barboza over with light but constant strikes. Barboza tightens his guard, only to find an elbow zooming at his face, and he takes it flush and keeps absorbing punishment from below. Mitchell looks to sit up and drop down heavier blows, and as he does, the Brazilian kicks off and explodes back to his feet. Keeping a safe range, and hopping out of the way of a takedown entry from Mitchell, Barboza jumps around and scores a big leg kick. Missing with a spinning back kick, Barboza then chases after his man and gets off a right hand right before the bell.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Mitchell
Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-9 Mitchell
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Mitchell
Round 2
The featherweights are quick to get after it to start the second stanza, and Barboza blasts Mitchell’s inside calf. Although he gets a couple off, he leaves his leg out a little too long and has it snagged mid-air. From there, Mitchell hits a quick double, setting the Brazilian flat on his back on the open mat. Barboza keeps his guard tightly closed, and Mitchell does not mind, as he racks up control time and has his ground strike totals add up. Mitchell sits up every so often to elbow Barboza in the face, and then flattens him back down and punches him in the side. One such elbow slashes Barboza’s left eyebrow open, and it begins to bleed instantly. Barboza scoots his way to the fence, but Mitchell will not let him up. Smith calls for them to work, and Mitchell obliges with a powerful elbow from on top. Barboza tries to push off and scramble, but the smothering top control of the Arkansan has him nullifying Barboza. When Mitchell attempts to pass to mount, Barboza is able to buck him of momentarily. Barboza looks to stand up with the fence behind him, and as he does, Mitchell drags him right back down from behind. Barboza recovers position to get his guard back, but “Thug Nasty” is nasty with his ground-and-pound as he batters Barboza and slides over to three-quarter mount. Mitchell clubs Barboza with several right hands to the bloodied eye, and a small pool of crimson forms beneath Barboza’s head. Mitchell settles for half guard, where he pounds on Barboza until the last five seconds of the round. Barboza manages to kick Mitchell off again, and Mitchell lords over him until the horn blares.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-8 Mitchell
Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-8 Mitchell
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-8 Mitchell
Round 3
The last round begins as Barboza appears to have a fire lit under his backside from his corner. Instead of throwing kicks, Barboza starts swinging heavy hands. Mitchell goes up high with a kick, and his foot bumps into Barboza’s shoulder and Mitchell falls to his back. Barboza does not oblige climbing into his guard, and he lets Mitchell stand up so he can slug it out with him. Barboza ducks a jumping switch kick, and he throws a right hand that Mitchell ducks perfectly. “Thug Nasty” nails a double, putting Barboza down to the canvas far away from the cage wall. Barboza closes up the guard, and Mitchell is happy as a clam in this position as this keeps him safe from any power strikes that come at him. In an effort to change things up, Barboza sets up a triangle choke from his high guard, and Mitchell lifts him in the air and slams him in the mat to break the leg grip. Mitchell comfortably lowers himself back in the guard, with sporadic punches on the bloody eye of his foe, until he stands up and stacks Barboza up. Barboza tries to kick off the hips, but he does not have the power to get Mitchell off of him any longer. Barboza scrambles and turns to set up a leg lock, but when this fails, Mitchell secures three-quarter mount with Barboza on his side. Mitchell begins to let a series of left hands go as Barboza cannot block his face, so the Brazilian twists and yanks his arm free but continues to get pounded by Mitchell. “Thug Nasty” starts to make things nasty again as he moves to half guard and starts raining down elbows. A few more strikes from the undefeated fighter put a stamp in this performance, and he will likely keep that 0 and put himself in line for big opportunities in the near future.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Mitchell (30-26 Mitchell)
Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-9 Mitchell (30-26 Mitchell)
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-8 Mitchell (30-25 Mitchell)
The Official Result
Bryce Mitchell def. Edson Barboza via Unanimous Decision (30-25, 30-26, 30-27)
Angelo picks Bryce Mitchell but admits he doesn't love the pick and will root for Barboza. He notes that Mitchell's only path is takedowns and control, and that Barboza has 78% takedown defense. However, he compares it to Khabib vs Barboza where Khabib had success with relentless takedowns. He thinks Mitchell's grappling is good enough to win a decision.
Big Brady picks Bryce Mitchell to win, likely by submission in the third round. He notes that Mitchell's relentless takedown game and top control will be key, as Barboza has historically struggled against wrestlers like Khabib and Kevin Lee. Brady acknowledges Barboza's striking advantage but believes Mitchell will neutralize it by taking him down repeatedly. He mentions that Barboza is 36 and may not keep up with Mitchell's pace. Brady also notes that Mitchell has shown improvement in his grappling, as seen in his wins over Andre Fili and Charles Rosa.
Cody believes Mitchell has the exact style that causes Barboza problems: relentless pressure, wrestling, and grinding. He references the Amir Albazi fight as a template for how to beat Barboza by taking him down and controlling him. Cody acknowledges the striking disparity but trusts Mitchell's wrestling and strength to get the takedowns and avoid Barboza's power.
Daniel Levi is confident in Bryce Mitchell, citing his relentless takedown style. He argues that Mitchell will shoot takedowns from the opening bell and keep shooting until he gets them down, unlike Makwan Amirkhani who backed up. He references Kevin Lee's blueprint of walking Barboza down and taking him down, and notes that Barboza struggled to get back up. He believes Mitchell's composure in the Felder fight (where he was reversed but stayed calm) bodes well. He predicts Mitchell will dominate via ground and pound and win a decision, possibly a submission.
Barboza's striking, especially his leg kicks and power, is something Mitchell hasn't dealt with. Mitchell's path to victory is grappling, but Barboza has solid takedown defense and submission defense. The bigger cage helps Barboza maintain distance. Barboza can win by decision or even knockout if Mitchell gets reckless. The later the fight goes, the more Mitchell might land takedowns, but Barboza's experience should carry him.
Paul is skeptical of Mitchell's competition, noting he has fought low-level opponents and struggled against the one wrestler he faced (Bobby Moffitt). He argues Barboza has fought elite competition and has underrated takedown defense, citing Khabib going 4-for-13. Paul sees this as a coin flip and prefers the plus money on Barboza, believing Mitchell could get lit up if he can't secure takedowns.
The MMA Guru picks Bryce Mitchell over Edson Barboza, trusting Mitchell's relentless grappling and tough chin. He acknowledges Barboza's KO power and speed, predicting Mitchell may get dropped early but will wear on Barboza with takedowns and pressure. He references Barboza's cardio issues and Mitchell's ability to set up takedowns with strikes. He predicts a third-round arm triangle submission after taking mount.
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Giga Chikadze | 0 | 33 of 95 | 34% | 33 of 95 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Edson Barboza | 2 | 60 of 117 | 51% | 70 of 128 | 0 of 0 | --- | 2 | 0 | 0:41 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Giga Chikadze | 0 | 10 of 26 | 38% | 10 of 26 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Edson Barboza | 0 | 17 of 43 | 39% | 17 of 43 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 | |
| 2 | Giga Chikadze | 0 | 19 of 56 | 33% | 19 of 56 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Edson Barboza | 0 | 22 of 47 | 46% | 22 of 47 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 | |
| 3 | Giga Chikadze | 0 | 4 of 13 | 30% | 4 of 13 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Edson Barboza | 2 | 21 of 27 | 77% | 31 of 38 | 0 of 0 | --- | 2 | 0 | 0:41 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Giga Chikadze | 33 of 95 | 34% | 15 of 70 | 10 of 15 | 8 of 10 | 33 of 95 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Edson Barboza | 60 of 117 | 51% | 31 of 80 | 16 of 22 | 13 of 15 | 56 of 113 | 0 of 0 | 4 of 4 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Giga Chikadze | 10 of 26 | 38% | 4 of 17 | 3 of 4 | 3 of 5 | 10 of 26 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Edson Barboza | 17 of 43 | 39% | 6 of 27 | 5 of 8 | 6 of 8 | 17 of 43 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | |
| 2 | Giga Chikadze | 19 of 56 | 33% | 8 of 41 | 6 of 10 | 5 of 5 | 19 of 56 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Edson Barboza | 22 of 47 | 46% | 10 of 33 | 6 of 8 | 6 of 6 | 22 of 47 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | |
| 3 | Giga Chikadze | 4 of 13 | 30% | 3 of 12 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 0 | 4 of 13 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Edson Barboza | 21 of 27 | 77% | 15 of 20 | 5 of 6 | 1 of 1 | 17 of 23 | 0 of 0 | 4 of 4 |
Play-by-Play
View on SherdogRound 1
The moment we’ve all been waiting for has arrived, with respect to those participating on the 29th season of TUF. Two powerful, flashy strikers with eerily similar striking stats toe the line when Barboza (22-9, 16-9 UFC) faces Chikadze (13-2, 6-0 UFC). For Barboza, he can cement his place as a contender at featherweight; for Chikadze, he can announce himself to the world as a legitimate top-tier 145er. Referee Jason Herzog is holding down the fort for this one, and gloves are not touched before they are traded heavily and in high intensity. The first strike of the match comes from Chikadze, who lands a leg kick. Barboza returns fire with his own kick, and the featherweights are coiled and ready to strike. Barboza starts to walk Chikadze down, backing him up into the fence, and he is forced to try to check a quick leg kick. Barboza checks a body kick with a high knee, but an inside chopping kick lands. When Barboza fires off a leg kick, it gets checked as well. Chikadze goes high with a kick that brushes past Barboza’s head, and the Brazilian looks surprised as it zooms at him. Chikadze leaps in the air with a check flying knee, and Barboza just sees it coming in time to avoid it. When Barboza has a calf kick checked, he fires off another that does not get blocked. Barboza looks to feint his way in and he blocks a high kick and checks a body kick with his quick reflexes. Barboza wings an overhand left, and Chikadze is barely able to get out of the way lest it lop his head off. Chikadze spins with a kick to the body, and Barboza marches through it and lands a few punches. Barboza trips Chikadze on the way when Chikadze tries to press the action, and he stands back defiantly as Chikadze aims a flying knee. When Barboza connects with a leg kick, Chikadze points at his leg and then fires off two high kicks. Chikadze drills the body with a kick, and he might have Barboza smarting as Barboza chomps down on his mouthpiece and throws winging punches. Chikadze strides after him confidently, landing a few and evading the counters. Chikadze rips the body with a kick, and he targets the liver and points at Barboza. A high kick and an axe kick attempt from the Georgian conclude the kick-heavy round.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Chikadze
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Chikadze
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Chikadze
Round 2
The featherweights trade calf kicks initially, and Barboza is the one to try to throw hands as he swings a right hand. He times a Chikadze flying knee to kick him up the body, and he stands tall to score when Chikadze lands. Chikadze circles around the outer edge of the fence to chop at the Brazilian with kicks, and Barboza comes up short when trying to give chase. Chikadze connects with a left hand and a liver kick, and Barboza gives chase as he absorbs a stunning right hand. Barboza shakes it off and keeps pressuring Chikadze, where he lands a trio of punches on the way in. Chikadze lets loose a high kick and a liver kick in rapid succession, and the kick to the side keeps finding its home. Barboza scores a calf kick that makes the Georgian changes stances, and Chikadze whips up a high kick with his lead leg. Barboza rips the body with a right hand, and he checks the vaunted “Giga kick” with a high knee block. The Brazilian continues his assault on the body with big hooks and kicks, and Chikadze backs off right into an overhand right. Barboza plods forward as Chikadze appears to be slowing to a degree, allowing him to cut Chikadze off and set up strikes. Barboza nails the lead leg with a heavy kick, and Chikadze tries to return fire with an axe kick but he gets jabbed for his effort. Chikadze gets off a pair of punches as Barboza walks him down like a Brazilian Terminator, and Barboza keeps on drilling punches to the body. Chikadze spams a few axe kicks that hit nothing but his foe’s guard, and Barboza stabs his toes to the midsection. Barboza sweeps the leg, and Chikadze comes back at him with a single leg kick before the round ends.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Barboza
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Barboza
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Barboza
Round 3
Barboza takes the center of the cage and doubles up on a jab, and Chikadze is ready to fire back but misses the mark when Barboza ducks. Barboza sticks out a few more jabs as Chikadze backs away, and the Georgian scores a kick to the knee when Barboza tries to come at him. Chikadze blasts Barboza with a huge right hand, and Barboza is suddenly on the ropes as Chikadze walks him down to try to do damage. Barboza’s eye is busted up, and Chikadze charges with a barrage of punches. A few right hands knock Barboza back, and Barboza is in trouble and falls over to the ground. Chikadze looks to finish the job as he lands a few punches from on top, and Barboza holds on tight to clear the cobwebs. Barboza looks for a heel hook from his back as he is hurt badly, and when he sits up in it, the Georgian latches on to an anaconda choke out of nowhere. Barboza walks off the cage to break the grip of the choke, and he powers his way to his knees and then back to his feet.
Barboza is still on baby deer legs when he gets back up, and Chikadze takes note this and drops the hammer with a trio of punches that sends Barboza crashing back down to the canvas. Herzog has seen enough, sensing that Barboza may be out even if he is able to amble back to his feet.
“Ninja” successfully puts himself on the map with a wild performance over a perennial contender, and he thanks his opponent for the opportunity and the tough challenge. In his post-fight interview, Chikadze says he would be glad to fill in if a competitor in the featherweight title fight falls through, but if not, that there is a certain Hawaiian in his sights – Max Holloway. Should that striker’s delight come to fruition, we will be here for it, and we hope you are too.
The Official Result
Giga Chikadze def. Edson Barboza R3 1:44 via TKO (Punches)
Angelo picks Barboza, citing his leg kicks as the difference, veteran savvy, and more tools (jiu-jitsu, experience). He notes Chikadze is the future but hasn't faced leg kicks. He has Barboza in his DraftKings lineup at 8200 and calls the fight razor thin.
Cody picks Barboza but is hesitant, noting Barboza's age (35) and the risk that Giga could have a breakout performance. He values Barboza's experience and durability, having faced top competition, while Giga's resume is softer. Cody is worried about Giga's cardio after seeing him slow in round three against Jamall Emmers, and thinks Barboza's volume and wrestling advantage could be key if he survives the early danger. He already bet Barboza at -110 and says he won't have high investment.
Jacob picks Chikadze, calling him an assassin who is on another level. He notes Chikadze is never in trouble and controls distance. He got Chikadze at +100 and has him in his lineup for five rounds, expecting a war. He also placed a half-unit bet on Chikadze in the third round.
Lock leans slightly to Barboza, citing his volume and pace advantage over Giga. He believes Barboza's durability at 145 has held up and that Giga's cardio issues will be exposed in a five-round fight. Lock expects Barboza to get a finish in the later rounds, specifically liking the under 4.5 rounds and Barboza by KO at +270. He notes Giga's power is dangerous early but thinks Barboza's experience and activity will be the difference.
Paul picks Barboza, citing Barboza's higher striking volume and Giga's cardio issues seen in the Emmers fight. He notes Barboza's wrestling advantage and thinks if Barboza gets through the first two rounds, he'll be even stronger. Paul is scared away from Giga by his third-round fade against Emmers. He also mentions the line moving toward Barboza but remains confident.
The Guru picks Edson Barboza over Giga Chikadze, citing Barboza's superior striking, experience in main events, and proven cardio at featherweight. He notes that Chikadze has close split decisions against Jamall Emmers and Brandon Davis, which are red flags. The Guru expects Barboza to chop Chikadze's legs with calf kicks and win a decision, possibly 4 rounds to 1. He also mentions Barboza's takedown option as a potential factor.
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