UFC on Fox: VanZant vs. Waterson · Dec 17, 2016 · Welterweight · Completed
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Age 38
Height 5' 11"
Reach 72.0"
Weight 170 lbs.
Stance Orthodox
Age 37
Height 6' 0"
Reach 72.0"
Weight 185 lbs.
Stance Southpaw
Career Averages - Colby Covington
3.81 SLpM
38.0% Str. Acc.
3.09 SApM
54.0% Str. Def.
3.64 TD Avg
42.0% TD Acc.
68.0% TD Def.
0.2 Sub. Avg
Career Averages - Bryan Barberena
5.35 SLpM
48.0% Str. Acc.
4.59 SApM
44.0% Str. Def.
0.13 TD Avg
22.0% TD Acc.
50.0% TD Def.
0.3 Sub. Avg
Colby Covington - Fight History
LOSS vs Joaquin Buckley
TKO (doctor stoppage) R3 4:42 · UFC on ESPN: Covington vs. Buckley · Dec 14, 2024
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Joaquin Buckley 0 37 of 124 29% 71 of 161 1 of 8 12% 0 0 3:40
Colby Covington 0 75 of 151 49% 81 of 160 0 of 1 0% 1 0 1:18
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Joaquin Buckley 0 10 of 51 19% 10 of 51 0 of 2 0% 0 0 0:22
Colby Covington 0 23 of 55 41% 23 of 55 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:09
2 Joaquin Buckley 0 19 of 50 38% 25 of 56 1 of 3 33% 0 0 1:28
Colby Covington 0 28 of 55 50% 29 of 56 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:01
3 Joaquin Buckley 0 8 of 23 34% 36 of 54 0 of 3 0% 0 0 1:50
Colby Covington 0 24 of 41 58% 29 of 49 0 of 0 --- 1 0 1:08
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Joaquin Buckley 37 of 124 29% 26 of 108 8 of 11 3 of 5 33 of 120 0 of 0 4 of 4
Colby Covington 75 of 151 49% 59 of 131 13 of 17 3 of 3 65 of 135 6 of 8 4 of 8
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Joaquin Buckley 10 of 51 19% 5 of 42 4 of 6 1 of 3 10 of 51 0 of 0 0 of 0
Colby Covington 23 of 55 41% 18 of 47 4 of 7 1 of 1 20 of 49 1 of 2 2 of 4
2 Joaquin Buckley 19 of 50 38% 13 of 43 4 of 5 2 of 2 17 of 48 0 of 0 2 of 2
Colby Covington 28 of 55 50% 20 of 46 6 of 7 2 of 2 24 of 50 4 of 5 0 of 0
3 Joaquin Buckley 8 of 23 34% 8 of 23 0 of 0 0 of 0 6 of 21 0 of 0 2 of 2
Colby Covington 24 of 41 58% 21 of 38 3 of 3 0 of 0 21 of 36 1 of 1 2 of 4
Play-by-Play
View on Sherdog
Colby Covington vs. Joaquin Buckley
BETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Buckley (-285), Covington (+230)

Round 1
Refereeing the final UFC fight of 2024 is Dan Miragliotta. Covington lands a body kick to start. Buckley takes the center and starts to walk down "Chaos." Covington throwing out his jab, which Buckley walks into. "New Mansa" is struggling against the jab and coming up short as he throws hard-hitting hooks. Covington's first takedown attempt is stuffed easily by Buckley. "Chaos" is cut over his right eye. Head kick thrown by Buckley, who then comes over the top with a left hook. Covington lands an uppercut and follows it up with a series of left hooks. The jab of Covington continues to keep Buckley at bay. Covington goes for another takedown with a minute left. Buckley controls the head and stays upright. Buckley is looking good as he lands a right hand with five seconds to go that floors Covington. "Chaos" was potentially saved by the bell, but on second look it appears to be more of a slip.

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

Round 2
Buckley defends another takedown attempt and punishes Covington with a series of right hooks to the body. Buckley has really found his stride and looks monstrous. Big uppercut to the body for Buckley. Covington finally gets a successful takedown and gets into side control. Buckley is able to recover half-guard and then uses the cage to get back to his feet with two minutes left. Covington eats a kick, and Buckley is staying very composed. Nice jab and straight from Covington. Big leg kick from Buckley, who has controlled the action on the feet. Buckley uses a hard jab and is targeting the right eye of Covington that is already damaged.

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

Round 3
Covington is told he has to protect his eye by the doctor. Buckley stuffs a takedown. Buckley is working his jab. Covington does a spinning jump kick. Buckley fires back with hooks and then stuffs a bad takedown attempt. Buckley gets into full mount but Covington is able to get up. Buckley lands a big uppercut that hurts "Chaos." Covington's eye is further damaged, and he has a crimson mask. Big left hook for Buckley. "New Mansa" is in total control. Covington has another takedown attempt stuffed. Buckley is punishing Covington on the ground with heavy punches and elbows. Covington is showing heart and scrambles. Buckley locks in a triangle choke in an attempt to get his first submission win. Covington escapes and is now in full guard. Covington is landing some small punches on top. Buckley is attempting to wall walk with a minute left. Covington is back on his feet and has been clearly outstruck so far. The fight is paused for the doctor to look at Covington's eye. She has concerns about Covington's eye, and the one-sided fight is waved off.

The Official Result
Joaquin Buckley def. Colby Covington via TKO (Doctor's Stoppage); R3, 4:42.
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Confident picked Dec 8, 2024 (6 days before fight)
Joaquin Buckley

Angelo picks Buckley because it is a 'what have you done for me lately' sport and Covington looked like a shell of himself in his last fight. He notes Buckley's power, movement, and doggedness, while Covington's pressure and wrestling were absent. He believes if the old Covington shows up he wins, but the recent version gets smoked. He is not sure if he will bet on it.

Not sure if betting.
"I'm gonna pick wae Buckley because it is a what have you done for me lately Sport and that last fight did not seem like a fluke... it seemed like uhoh."
BI
Big Brady Expert Lean picked Dec 12, 2024 (2 days before fight)
Colby Covington

Big Brady picks Colby Covington to win by decision, going against the grain. He thinks the line is too wide and that Covington can take Buckley down easily, especially as the fight goes on. He notes Buckley has never been past three rounds and has struggled against wrestlers like Abdul Razak Alhassan. He acknowledges Covington's last performance was terrible but attributes it to a broken foot.

"I'll go kobby coming kobby Covington to win by decision maybe he gets knocked out and I look silly but uh that's kind of just how I'm seeing it"
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Confident picked Dec 11, 2024 (3 days before fight)
Colby Covington

Cody picks Colby Covington as a live underdog, citing his elite wrestling, cardio, durability, and experience against top competition. He believes Buckley's path to victory relies on a knockout or takedowns, but Covington's takedown defense and pressure will neutralize that. Cody also notes Covington's motivation in a potential retirement fight and the hometown crowd advantage in Florida.

Colby Covington by decision, Colby Covington late finish (round 4 at 60-1, round 4 at 45-1)
"I'm going to go with the underdog here and it's like favoritism towards Kobe Covington but at the number I think I'm going to take a shot at the underdog."
CO
Connor Ruebusch Expert Confident picked Dec 12, 2024 (2 days before fight)
Joaquin Buckley

Connor agrees with Zane, emphasizing that Covington's confidence is shattered and his style requires constant pressure, which he no longer provides. He notes that Buckley is a powerful puncher who will keep coming forward, and that Covington's wrestling is ineffective off the back foot. Connor sees a high chance of a finish.

Buckley likely finishes Covington; Buckley opened at -207, now -288; Covington opened at +180, now +242
"I got to take Joaquin Buckley. And obviously there's a pretty good chance that he finishes Colby too."
DA
Daniel Vreeland Expert Confident picked Dec 12, 2024 (2 days before fight)
Joaquin Buckley

Daniel Vreeland picks Joaquin Buckley to win, citing Buckley's paid dues, knockout power, takedown defense, and get-up game. He notes Buckley's wins over Stephen Thompson and Vicente Luque as proof he's ready for this step up. Vreeland is not concerned about Buckley's cardio, believing the move to welterweight has improved his conditioning. He acknowledges Colby Covington's relentless pace and takedown attempts but thinks Buckley's athleticism and power will be the difference. Vreeland mentions the odds (-265) are a bit steep for a bet but stands by the pick.

"I think Buckley's speed athleticism take down defense get up game and uh punching power are going to be the difference here so for that reason give miwaukee and Buckley to win his first UFC Main Event"
LU
Lucrative James Expert Confident picked Dec 11, 2024 (3 days before fight)
Joaquin Buckley

Lucrative James picks Joaquin Buckley to win, citing Buckley's momentum, athleticism, and power versus Colby Covington's decline due to age, inactivity, and poor striking defense. He notes Buckley's recent knockouts over Stephen Thompson and Vicente Luque, and emphasizes that Covington has been rocked in past fights and is no longer the same fighter. He believes Buckley's volume and dynamic striking will overwhelm Covington, likely leading to a knockout.

"I think that Buckley's going to land heavy shots in this fight and I think that he's got a very good chance of koing Colby Kos Covington."
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Hesitant picked Dec 12, 2024 (2 days before fight)
Joaquin Buckley

Covington is tough to predict at this stage, especially after his flat performance against Leon Edwards. Buckley is expected to showcase some of those issues, but it's hard to have confidence in Buckley at chalk odds. If Covington shows up at 70% of his former self, he could overwhelm Buckley. The official prediction is Buckley by knockout, but Covington could be the value spot odds-wise.

Buckley wins by KO; Covington could be the spot odds-wise
"I do expect him to Showcase some of those issues once again here with Buckley but it's hard to build too much confidence on B at chalk especially if comington shows up 70% of the fighter that he used to …"
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Confident picked Dec 11, 2024 (3 days before fight)
Colby Covington

Paul also picks Colby Covington, agreeing with Cody's assessment. He highlights Covington's durability, pressure, and ability to push a pace that Buckley hasn't faced in five rounds. Paul mentions he took late Colby finish props at long odds, seeing a path where Covington weathers early storms and takes over in championship rounds.

Colby Covington late finish (round 4 at 60-1, round 4 at 45-1)
"I took some late late Colby finish props um one of them I got at like 60 to1 it's 33 to1 at cool bet."
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Dec 11, 2024 (3 days before fight)
Joaquin Buckley

The MMA Guru picks Joaquin Buckley, despite being a Colby Covington fan. He cites Buckley's physicality, lateral movement, and body work as key advantages. He notes that Covington is 36, coming off a long layoff, and took the fight on short notice. He believes Buckley's takedown defense and cardio are underrated, and predicts a body shot TKO in round two. He also mentions that Covington's linear style struggles against fighters who move laterally.

body shot TKO in round two
"I'm going to say round two KO For Walkin Buckley over Co over Kobe kington"
ZA
Zane Simon Expert Confident picked Dec 12, 2024 (2 days before fight)
Joaquin Buckley

Zane picks Buckley because Covington is mentally broken after his knockout loss to Usman and subsequent decline. He notes that Buckley has the same high-volume pressure style but with more power and durability, and that Covington's apprehension makes him unable to impose his wrestling or striking. Zane believes Buckley will overwhelm Covington and likely finish him.

Buckley likely finishes Covington; Buckley opened at -207, now -288; Covington opened at +180, now +242
"So walk-in Buckley's going to beat him. Yeah, that's what I'm saying."
LOSS vs Leon Edwards
Decision (unanimous) (49–46, 49–46, 49–46) R5 5:00 · UFC 296: Edwards vs. Covington · Dec 16, 2023
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Leon Edwards 0 57 of 108 52% 65 of 116 2 of 3 66% 2 1 1:27
Colby Covington 0 44 of 126 34% 109 of 194 2 of 10 20% 0 0 5:04
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Leon Edwards 0 13 of 31 41% 13 of 31 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Colby Covington 0 10 of 28 35% 10 of 28 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:00
2 Leon Edwards 0 18 of 27 66% 18 of 27 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Colby Covington 0 13 of 36 36% 13 of 36 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
3 Leon Edwards 0 12 of 23 52% 13 of 24 1 of 2 50% 0 0 0:18
Colby Covington 0 7 of 32 21% 13 of 38 1 of 3 33% 0 0 0:34
4 Leon Edwards 0 11 of 22 50% 11 of 22 0 of 0 --- 1 1 0:11
Colby Covington 0 13 of 26 50% 19 of 32 0 of 5 0% 0 0 1:27
5 Leon Edwards 0 3 of 5 60% 10 of 12 1 of 1 100% 1 0 0:58
Colby Covington 0 1 of 4 25% 54 of 60 1 of 1 100% 0 0 3:03
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Leon Edwards 57 of 108 52% 21 of 62 14 of 21 22 of 25 56 of 107 0 of 0 1 of 1
Colby Covington 44 of 126 34% 20 of 86 7 of 12 17 of 28 44 of 125 0 of 1 0 of 0
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Leon Edwards 13 of 31 41% 5 of 20 3 of 5 5 of 6 13 of 31 0 of 0 0 of 0
Colby Covington 10 of 28 35% 5 of 20 2 of 2 3 of 6 10 of 28 0 of 0 0 of 0
2 Leon Edwards 18 of 27 66% 7 of 13 4 of 7 7 of 7 18 of 27 0 of 0 0 of 0
Colby Covington 13 of 36 36% 4 of 22 2 of 4 7 of 10 13 of 36 0 of 0 0 of 0
3 Leon Edwards 12 of 23 52% 3 of 12 2 of 4 7 of 7 12 of 23 0 of 0 0 of 0
Colby Covington 7 of 32 21% 1 of 21 2 of 4 4 of 7 7 of 31 0 of 1 0 of 0
4 Leon Edwards 11 of 22 50% 3 of 12 5 of 5 3 of 5 11 of 22 0 of 0 0 of 0
Colby Covington 13 of 26 50% 10 of 22 0 of 1 3 of 3 13 of 26 0 of 0 0 of 0
5 Leon Edwards 3 of 5 60% 3 of 5 0 of 0 0 of 0 2 of 4 0 of 0 1 of 1
Colby Covington 1 of 4 25% 0 of 1 1 of 1 0 of 2 1 of 4 0 of 0 0 of 0
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Lean picked Dec 10, 2023 (6 days before fight)
Leon Edwards

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Edwards by TKO in round 2
"I'm going with Leon Edwards over Colby Covington... I think he drops Covington with like a check hook... Edwards drops him again... I'm going to go Leon Edwards by a second round TKO"
Decision (unanimous) (49–46, 50–44, 50–45) R5 5:00 · UFC 272: Covington vs. Masvidal · Mar 05, 2022
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Colby Covington 0 94 of 201 46% 218 of 338 6 of 15 40% 1 1 16:14
Jorge Masvidal 0 67 of 140 47% 90 of 166 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:21
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Colby Covington 0 7 of 18 38% 29 of 45 3 of 5 60% 0 0 3:32
Jorge Masvidal 0 6 of 17 35% 12 of 24 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
2 Colby Covington 0 20 of 58 34% 25 of 63 0 of 2 0% 0 1 1:21
Jorge Masvidal 0 31 of 63 49% 36 of 69 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:21
3 Colby Covington 0 21 of 40 52% 62 of 86 1 of 2 50% 1 0 4:34
Jorge Masvidal 0 8 of 12 66% 19 of 24 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
4 Colby Covington 0 33 of 66 50% 37 of 70 0 of 4 0% 0 0 2:13
Jorge Masvidal 0 21 of 46 45% 21 of 46 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
5 Colby Covington 0 13 of 19 68% 65 of 74 2 of 2 100% 0 0 4:34
Jorge Masvidal 0 1 of 2 50% 2 of 3 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Colby Covington 94 of 201 46% 84 of 190 9 of 10 1 of 1 63 of 160 6 of 8 25 of 33
Jorge Masvidal 67 of 140 47% 38 of 94 10 of 19 19 of 27 55 of 125 12 of 15 0 of 0
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Colby Covington 7 of 18 38% 5 of 16 2 of 2 0 of 0 4 of 15 3 of 3 0 of 0
Jorge Masvidal 6 of 17 35% 2 of 8 0 of 3 4 of 6 5 of 15 1 of 2 0 of 0
2 Colby Covington 20 of 58 34% 16 of 53 3 of 4 1 of 1 19 of 55 1 of 3 0 of 0
Jorge Masvidal 31 of 63 49% 18 of 42 5 of 8 8 of 13 24 of 54 7 of 9 0 of 0
3 Colby Covington 21 of 40 52% 18 of 37 3 of 3 0 of 0 6 of 21 0 of 0 15 of 19
Jorge Masvidal 8 of 12 66% 5 of 7 0 of 2 3 of 3 7 of 11 1 of 1 0 of 0
4 Colby Covington 33 of 66 50% 32 of 65 1 of 1 0 of 0 31 of 64 2 of 2 0 of 0
Jorge Masvidal 21 of 46 45% 12 of 35 5 of 6 4 of 5 19 of 44 2 of 2 0 of 0
5 Colby Covington 13 of 19 68% 13 of 19 0 of 0 0 of 0 3 of 5 0 of 0 10 of 14
Jorge Masvidal 1 of 2 50% 1 of 2 0 of 0 0 of 0 0 of 1 1 of 1 0 of 0
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Confident picked Feb 25, 2022 (8 days before fight)
Colby Covington

Angelo picks Colby Covington due to his relentless wrestling and high pace. He notes that Covington's non-stop takedowns and pressure will be a problem for Masvidal, similar to the first Usman fight. He mentions that Masvidal has success on the feet but Covington cuts distance quickly. He also references a source from American Top Team saying Covington dominated Masvidal in training but Masvidal would touch him up on the feet.

"the pick here is definitely kobe because i think his non-stop wrestling will be a problem for george"
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked Feb 28, 2022 (5 days before fight)
Colby Covington

Big Brady picks Colby Covington to win by decision, citing Covington's relentless wrestling pace and volume striking. He notes that Covington will likely take Masvidal down repeatedly, especially early, and that Masvidal's path to victory is only by knockout. Brady believes Covington's cardio and pressure will be too much for the 37-year-old Masvidal, who has slowed down. He mentions that Covington has successfully implemented this game plan against other top welterweights like Robbie Lawler and Rafael dos Anjos.

Covington by decision
"I like colby to win here probably by i'll say decision for colby covington"
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Confident picked Mar 2, 2022 (3 days before fight)
Colby Covington

Cody sees Colby as an elite welterweight who pushed Usman to the limit, with superior pace, wrestling, and durability. He believes Colby's chain wrestling and cardio will overwhelm Masvidal, who has poor takedown defense and fades late. Cody has already parlayed Colby with Kevin Holland and also bet Colby by round 5 at +3000, expecting a late finish or decision.

Parlayed with Kevin Holland; Colby Covington round 5 at +3000
"i think he pays off this price in fold i've already parlayed him up with uh with kevin holland a little bit further down the card um and i have colby covington round five at plus three thousand"
DA
Daniel Levi Expert Confident picked Mar 3, 2022 (2 days before fight)
Colby Covington

Daniel Levi picks Colby Covington to win by unanimous decision. He emphasizes Covington's relentless pace and takedown attempts, noting that even if the first few takedowns are stuffed, Covington will keep shooting and eventually grind down Masvidal. He acknowledges Masvidal's underrated takedown defense and dangerous striking, especially early, but believes Covington's pressure and cardio will be decisive in the later rounds. He also mentions that Covington's recent war with Usman might be a concern but still favors him.

"i'm still going with colby to come out here push the pace on him might be kind of close early but down the stretch i do see just the relentless pace the takedown attempt that's her takedown attempt like like …"
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Mar 2, 2022 (3 days before fight)
Colby Covington

Colby Covington is neck and neck with Kamaru Usman, one of the best in the world, and his wrestling threat will force Masvidal to think too much. Covington's cardio, improved striking, and volume will overwhelm Masvidal over five rounds. Masvidal is the better technical striker but lacks the wrestling and cardio to keep up. Covington via decision is the likely outcome.

Covington via decision at -105
"i like covington here the spot that i'm looking to take advantage of though i know jorge got finished in his last fight i think that was just kamar usman and his striking skills uh and power everything just culminating …"
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Confident picked Mar 2, 2022 (3 days before fight)
Colby Covington

Paul argues that Colby is a premier talent while Masvidal is a journeyman with 15 losses and poor takedown defense. He highlights Colby's wrestling pressure and cardio as decisive, noting Masvidal's wins are early finishes and his losses come when opponents survive the first two rounds. Paul plans to bet Colby live if Masvidal is competitive early, expecting Colby to take over in rounds 3-5.

Live betting strategy: bet Colby after round 2 if Masvidal is competitive early
"i am definitely team colby covington on this one"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Feb 28, 2022 (5 days before fight)
Colby Covington

The MMA Guru picks Colby Covington over Jorge Masvidal, despite acknowledging Masvidal's KO power and the odds being too wide. He praises Covington's chin, referencing his ability to take clean shots from Kamaru Usman. He predicts Covington will use cage pressure, takedowns, and grinding to wear Masvidal down, eventually securing a rear-naked choke in the fourth round. He notes Masvidal's age, inactivity, and potential rib injury as factors, and believes Covington's active style and improved striking will be key.

method: submission (rear-naked choke), round: 4, odds comment: 'odds are so wrong... should be two to one favorite'
"i'm going to call a colby covington re-naked choke finish in round four"
LOSS vs Kamaru Usman
Decision (unanimous) (48–47, 48–47, 49–46) R5 5:00 · UFC 268: Usman vs. Covington 2 · Nov 06, 2021
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Kamaru Usman 2 123 of 293 41% 158 of 336 1 of 1 100% 0 0 1:16
Colby Covington 0 107 of 281 38% 119 of 298 0 of 11 0% 0 0 1:54
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Kamaru Usman 0 17 of 43 39% 22 of 48 1 of 1 100% 0 0 0:22
Colby Covington 0 13 of 47 27% 13 of 47 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:00
2 Kamaru Usman 2 36 of 71 50% 50 of 86 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:15
Colby Covington 0 19 of 47 40% 19 of 48 0 of 2 0% 0 0 0:41
3 Kamaru Usman 0 23 of 58 39% 30 of 71 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:16
Colby Covington 0 21 of 56 37% 23 of 59 0 of 4 0% 0 0 0:05
4 Kamaru Usman 0 23 of 70 32% 24 of 71 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Colby Covington 0 33 of 77 42% 38 of 83 0 of 2 0% 0 0 0:25
5 Kamaru Usman 0 24 of 51 47% 32 of 60 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:23
Colby Covington 0 21 of 54 38% 26 of 61 0 of 2 0% 0 0 0:43
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Kamaru Usman 123 of 293 41% 80 of 241 41 of 50 2 of 2 107 of 274 6 of 7 10 of 12
Colby Covington 107 of 281 38% 79 of 242 23 of 33 5 of 6 101 of 274 6 of 7 0 of 0
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Kamaru Usman 17 of 43 39% 12 of 34 4 of 8 1 of 1 15 of 41 0 of 0 2 of 2
Colby Covington 13 of 47 27% 8 of 37 3 of 7 2 of 3 13 of 47 0 of 0 0 of 0
2 Kamaru Usman 36 of 71 50% 19 of 51 16 of 19 1 of 1 26 of 58 2 of 3 8 of 10
Colby Covington 19 of 47 40% 10 of 37 6 of 7 3 of 3 17 of 44 2 of 3 0 of 0
3 Kamaru Usman 23 of 58 39% 18 of 52 5 of 6 0 of 0 22 of 57 1 of 1 0 of 0
Colby Covington 21 of 56 37% 15 of 48 6 of 8 0 of 0 20 of 55 1 of 1 0 of 0
4 Kamaru Usman 23 of 70 32% 17 of 64 6 of 6 0 of 0 22 of 69 1 of 1 0 of 0
Colby Covington 33 of 77 42% 28 of 71 5 of 6 0 of 0 31 of 75 2 of 2 0 of 0
5 Kamaru Usman 24 of 51 47% 14 of 40 10 of 11 0 of 0 22 of 49 2 of 2 0 of 0
Colby Covington 21 of 54 38% 18 of 49 3 of 5 0 of 0 20 of 53 1 of 1 0 of 0
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Confident picked Nov 3, 2021 (3 days before fight)
Kamaru Usman

Angelo picks Kamaru Usman, citing his development of knockout power, improved striking, and proven ability to win wars. He notes that the first fight was competitive and that Usman has since shown he can come back from being dropped. He believes Covington cannot win by stoppage and that Usman's power is a constant threat. He thinks the odds are too wide but still picks Usman.

More more on monkey knife fight (strikes)
"i gotta go with uzmon here oozman's the pick to win the rematch but these odds are far too wide"
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked Nov 1, 2021 (5 days before fight)
Kamaru Usman

Big Brady picks Kamaru Usman to win by fourth-round knockout. He notes Usman's improved striking power, as seen in his knockouts of Burns and Masvidal, while Covington is a decision fighter without power. Brady thinks Covington's volume will be competitive early, but Usman's power and technical striking will take over as the fight goes on. He expects a similar fight to the first, but with Usman finishing Covington late.

fourth round knockout
"i'm going to say a fourth round knockout for kamaru's"
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Confident picked Nov 3, 2021 (3 days before fight)
Kamaru Usman

Cody thinks the line is wrong but agrees Usman should win. He notes Covington's pace and durability but believes Usman's cardio and confidence grow as the fight goes on, pulling away late. He expects a close fight and suggests live betting Covington if the line moves.

"i think the line is wrong but i agree uzman should win"
DA
Daniel Levi Expert Confident picked Nov 4, 2021 (2 days before fight)
Kamaru Usman

Daniel Levi picks Kamaru Usman to defend his belt, citing that Usman is slightly better everywhere and that the first fight was a classic war. He notes that Usman has improved his striking and has knockout power, but acknowledges Covington's cardio and heart. Levi is not laying -350 but believes Usman will be slightly ahead and win a close decision. He also mentions that Covington has been training at MMA Masters and may have improved, but still favors Usman.

close decision
"give me uh uzman to just be slightly ahead of covington and defend his belt"
JA
Jacob Lines Expert Confident picked Nov 3, 2021 (3 days before fight)
Colby Covington

Jacob picks Colby Covington, believing he will make adjustments and use his wrestling and volume to win a razor-thin decision. He thinks Covington needs to trust his cardio, stay in Usman's face, and avoid loading up on power shots. He notes that Covington was winning the first fight on his scorecard. He has a parlay with Covington and Chandler.

Parlay with Michael Chandler
"i'm going kobe i i just i just feel like colby's going to come in he's going to make the adjustments i think there's more wrestling"
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Nov 5, 2021 (1 day before fight)
Kamaru Usman

The host picks Usman by fourth-round TKO, citing his power and improvements. He thinks the fight will be close but Usman's power is the difference. He considers the over 3.5 rounds and Usman by KO at +180.

Usman by KO (+180), Over 3.5 rounds (-150)
"my official prediction is going to be oozman via ko round four"
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Confident picked Nov 3, 2021 (3 days before fight)
Kamaru Usman

Paul believes Usman wins about 70-75% of the time, citing Usman's improvements with Whitman, knockout of Masvidal, and durability. He thinks the line is close to accurate but sees value on Covington at plus money. He bet over 3.5 rounds at -135, expecting a competitive fight that goes late.

over 3.5 rounds (-135)
"i pick him to win i think he does win 70ish percent of the time 75 percent of the time"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Oct 31, 2021 (6 days before fight)
Kamaru Usman

The Guru picks Kamaru Usman by fourth-round KO, predicting he will target Covington's body early, exploiting a weakness found in their first fight. He notes Usman's activity and mental edge from the previous win, while Covington has been inactive. The Guru expects Covington to win the first round but Usman to take over with body shots and eventually finish with a big right hand and ground strikes.

fourth round ko, body shots
"I'm going with kamaru usman here by a fourth round ko victory."
WIN vs Tyron Woodley
TKO (rib injury) R5 1:19 · UFC Fight Night: Covington vs. Woodley · Sep 19, 2020
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Colby Covington 0 78 of 143 54% 232 of 311 3 of 8 37% 0 0 12:01
Tyron Woodley 0 34 of 83 40% 67 of 116 1 of 1 100% 0 0 0:14
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Colby Covington 0 13 of 32 40% 36 of 59 1 of 1 100% 0 0 2:18
Tyron Woodley 0 5 of 22 22% 14 of 31 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
2 Colby Covington 0 20 of 43 46% 32 of 55 0 of 2 0% 0 0 1:19
Tyron Woodley 0 13 of 26 50% 24 of 37 1 of 1 100% 0 0 0:11
3 Colby Covington 0 23 of 31 74% 51 of 60 0 of 1 0% 0 0 3:23
Tyron Woodley 0 12 of 26 46% 23 of 37 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:03
4 Colby Covington 0 18 of 28 64% 104 of 123 1 of 2 50% 0 0 4:25
Tyron Woodley 0 3 of 4 75% 5 of 6 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
5 Colby Covington 0 4 of 9 44% 9 of 14 1 of 2 50% 0 0 0:36
Tyron Woodley 0 1 of 5 20% 1 of 5 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Colby Covington 78 of 143 54% 47 of 106 22 of 28 9 of 9 43 of 101 19 of 20 16 of 22
Tyron Woodley 34 of 83 40% 14 of 58 15 of 20 5 of 5 26 of 74 8 of 9 0 of 0
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Colby Covington 13 of 32 40% 8 of 25 3 of 5 2 of 2 6 of 24 7 of 8 0 of 0
Tyron Woodley 5 of 22 22% 1 of 15 3 of 6 1 of 1 4 of 20 1 of 2 0 of 0
2 Colby Covington 20 of 43 46% 11 of 32 6 of 8 3 of 3 16 of 39 4 of 4 0 of 0
Tyron Woodley 13 of 26 50% 7 of 18 4 of 6 2 of 2 11 of 24 2 of 2 0 of 0
3 Colby Covington 23 of 31 74% 11 of 19 10 of 10 2 of 2 15 of 23 8 of 8 0 of 0
Tyron Woodley 12 of 26 46% 6 of 20 6 of 6 0 of 0 7 of 21 5 of 5 0 of 0
4 Colby Covington 18 of 28 64% 17 of 26 1 of 2 0 of 0 2 of 6 0 of 0 16 of 22
Tyron Woodley 3 of 4 75% 0 of 1 2 of 2 1 of 1 3 of 4 0 of 0 0 of 0
5 Colby Covington 4 of 9 44% 0 of 4 2 of 3 2 of 2 4 of 9 0 of 0 0 of 0
Tyron Woodley 1 of 5 20% 0 of 4 0 of 0 1 of 1 1 of 5 0 of 0 0 of 0
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked Sep 17, 2020 (2 days before fight)
Colby Covington

Big Brady picks Colby Covington by decision, believing Woodley is on the decline and Covington will use his wrestling and cardio to grind him out. He notes Covington averages nearly five takedowns per 15 minutes and Woodley's takedown defense may not hold up. He expects Covington to survive Woodley's early power and take over in later rounds.

Covington by decision
"give me colby covington by decision here"
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Lock picked Sep 18, 2020 (1 day before fight)
Colby Covington

The host is extremely confident in Colby Covington's pace, cardio, and pressure, believing Tyron Woodley's only path to victory is an early knockout. He notes Woodley's poor gas tank and tendency to fade, while Covington's relentless wrestling and volume will overwhelm him. He predicts a fifth-round stoppage due to accumulated damage, and recommends betting Covington straight up or on round 5 props.

Colby Covington wins by TKO in round 5 +2300; Colby Covington wins by decision (alternative)
"I am super [ __ ] confident in kobe comington here."
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Sep 11, 2020 (8 days before fight)
Colby Covington

The host picks Colby Covington over Tyron Woodley, citing Covington's volume, pressure, pace, and offensive wrestling as the keys to beating Woodley. He notes that Woodley has been beaten by these attributes before (by Usman, Burns, Rory MacDonald, Jake Shields) and that Woodley is 38 and fading. He predicts a fourth-round TKO via unanswered shots as Woodley tires and fails to defend intelligently.

fourth round TKO via unanswered shots
"I think we're gonna see a fourth round tko finish not by concussive damage just by unanswered shots and woodley not really intelligently defending himself."
LOSS vs Kamaru Usman
TKO (punches) R5 4:10 · UFC 245: Usman vs. Covington · Dec 14, 2019
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Kamaru Usman 2 175 of 360 48% 175 of 360 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:11
Colby Covington 0 143 of 395 36% 143 of 395 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Kamaru Usman 0 34 of 91 37% 34 of 91 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Colby Covington 0 39 of 111 35% 39 of 111 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
2 Kamaru Usman 0 40 of 79 50% 40 of 79 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Colby Covington 0 41 of 97 42% 41 of 97 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
3 Kamaru Usman 0 29 of 50 58% 29 of 50 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Colby Covington 0 8 of 51 15% 8 of 51 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
4 Kamaru Usman 0 35 of 68 51% 35 of 68 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Colby Covington 0 36 of 76 47% 36 of 76 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
5 Kamaru Usman 2 37 of 72 51% 37 of 72 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:11
Colby Covington 0 19 of 60 31% 19 of 60 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Kamaru Usman 175 of 360 48% 116 of 279 53 of 74 6 of 7 156 of 340 5 of 5 14 of 15
Colby Covington 143 of 395 36% 103 of 341 28 of 39 12 of 15 143 of 395 0 of 0 0 of 0
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Kamaru Usman 34 of 91 37% 20 of 72 11 of 16 3 of 3 30 of 87 4 of 4 0 of 0
Colby Covington 39 of 111 35% 27 of 95 7 of 11 5 of 5 39 of 111 0 of 0 0 of 0
2 Kamaru Usman 40 of 79 50% 27 of 59 11 of 17 2 of 3 40 of 79 0 of 0 0 of 0
Colby Covington 41 of 97 42% 32 of 88 8 of 8 1 of 1 41 of 97 0 of 0 0 of 0
3 Kamaru Usman 29 of 50 58% 19 of 37 10 of 13 0 of 0 28 of 49 1 of 1 0 of 0
Colby Covington 8 of 51 15% 5 of 46 3 of 5 0 of 0 8 of 51 0 of 0 0 of 0
4 Kamaru Usman 35 of 68 51% 20 of 50 14 of 17 1 of 1 35 of 68 0 of 0 0 of 0
Colby Covington 36 of 76 47% 25 of 59 7 of 12 4 of 5 36 of 76 0 of 0 0 of 0
5 Kamaru Usman 37 of 72 51% 30 of 61 7 of 11 0 of 0 23 of 57 0 of 0 14 of 15
Colby Covington 19 of 60 31% 14 of 53 3 of 3 2 of 4 19 of 60 0 of 0 0 of 0
WIN vs Robbie Lawler
Decision (unanimous) (50–44, 50–45, 50–45) R5 5:00 · UFC on ESPN: Covington vs. Lawler · Aug 03, 2019
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Colby Covington 0 179 of 515 34% 201 of 541 10 of 18 55% 0 0 8:42
Robbie Lawler 0 78 of 167 46% 82 of 171 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Colby Covington 0 13 of 29 44% 24 of 41 4 of 7 57% 0 0 3:57
Robbie Lawler 0 4 of 18 22% 5 of 19 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
2 Colby Covington 0 33 of 105 31% 36 of 108 3 of 3 100% 0 0 2:18
Robbie Lawler 0 6 of 7 85% 6 of 7 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
3 Colby Covington 0 41 of 117 35% 43 of 122 2 of 5 40% 0 0 0:51
Robbie Lawler 0 23 of 48 47% 25 of 50 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
4 Colby Covington 0 51 of 130 39% 56 of 135 1 of 2 50% 0 0 1:27
Robbie Lawler 0 22 of 42 52% 23 of 43 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
5 Colby Covington 0 41 of 134 30% 42 of 135 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:09
Robbie Lawler 0 23 of 52 44% 23 of 52 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Colby Covington 179 of 515 34% 128 of 454 20 of 28 31 of 33 154 of 477 25 of 38 0 of 0
Robbie Lawler 78 of 167 46% 61 of 144 10 of 16 7 of 7 66 of 152 12 of 15 0 of 0
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Colby Covington 13 of 29 44% 10 of 26 2 of 2 1 of 1 8 of 21 5 of 8 0 of 0
Robbie Lawler 4 of 18 22% 2 of 12 1 of 5 1 of 1 3 of 16 1 of 2 0 of 0
2 Colby Covington 33 of 105 31% 26 of 96 2 of 3 5 of 6 28 of 98 5 of 7 0 of 0
Robbie Lawler 6 of 7 85% 4 of 5 1 of 1 1 of 1 6 of 6 0 of 1 0 of 0
3 Colby Covington 41 of 117 35% 24 of 96 5 of 8 12 of 13 36 of 108 5 of 9 0 of 0
Robbie Lawler 23 of 48 47% 17 of 42 2 of 2 4 of 4 19 of 44 4 of 4 0 of 0
4 Colby Covington 51 of 130 39% 38 of 115 4 of 6 9 of 9 44 of 121 7 of 9 0 of 0
Robbie Lawler 22 of 42 52% 19 of 39 2 of 2 1 of 1 15 of 35 7 of 7 0 of 0
5 Colby Covington 41 of 134 30% 30 of 121 7 of 9 4 of 4 38 of 129 3 of 5 0 of 0
Robbie Lawler 23 of 52 44% 19 of 46 4 of 6 0 of 0 23 of 51 0 of 1 0 of 0
Decision (unanimous) (49–46, 48–47, 48–47) R5 5:00 · UFC 225: Whittaker vs. Romero 2 · Jun 09, 2018
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Colby Covington 0 105 of 198 53% 130 of 223 3 of 6 50% 0 0 2:14
Rafael dos Anjos 0 99 of 296 33% 142 of 346 7 of 18 38% 0 0 12:36
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Colby Covington 0 27 of 42 64% 36 of 51 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Rafael dos Anjos 0 17 of 57 29% 27 of 69 2 of 4 50% 0 0 2:43
2 Colby Covington 0 20 of 40 50% 25 of 45 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Rafael dos Anjos 0 21 of 62 33% 32 of 77 2 of 3 66% 0 0 3:09
3 Colby Covington 0 22 of 44 50% 23 of 45 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Rafael dos Anjos 0 29 of 72 40% 39 of 82 0 of 3 0% 0 0 3:02
4 Colby Covington 0 19 of 34 55% 22 of 37 3 of 4 75% 0 0 2:14
Rafael dos Anjos 0 12 of 49 24% 18 of 55 1 of 2 50% 0 0 0:53
5 Colby Covington 0 17 of 38 44% 24 of 45 0 of 2 0% 0 0 0:00
Rafael dos Anjos 0 20 of 56 35% 26 of 63 2 of 6 33% 0 0 2:49
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Colby Covington 105 of 198 53% 54 of 139 37 of 45 14 of 14 70 of 163 32 of 32 3 of 3
Rafael dos Anjos 99 of 296 33% 54 of 229 14 of 33 31 of 34 90 of 278 8 of 16 1 of 2
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Colby Covington 27 of 42 64% 12 of 23 12 of 16 3 of 3 15 of 30 12 of 12 0 of 0
Rafael dos Anjos 17 of 57 29% 9 of 44 1 of 6 7 of 7 14 of 51 3 of 6 0 of 0
2 Colby Covington 20 of 40 50% 8 of 26 9 of 11 3 of 3 15 of 35 5 of 5 0 of 0
Rafael dos Anjos 21 of 62 33% 14 of 50 0 of 4 7 of 8 20 of 60 1 of 2 0 of 0
3 Colby Covington 22 of 44 50% 12 of 32 7 of 9 3 of 3 15 of 37 7 of 7 0 of 0
Rafael dos Anjos 29 of 72 40% 12 of 50 7 of 11 10 of 11 25 of 66 3 of 5 1 of 1
4 Colby Covington 19 of 34 55% 10 of 25 5 of 5 4 of 4 11 of 26 5 of 5 3 of 3
Rafael dos Anjos 12 of 49 24% 6 of 39 3 of 6 3 of 4 12 of 48 0 of 0 0 of 1
5 Colby Covington 17 of 38 44% 12 of 33 4 of 4 1 of 1 14 of 35 3 of 3 0 of 0
Rafael dos Anjos 20 of 56 35% 13 of 46 3 of 6 4 of 4 19 of 53 1 of 3 0 of 0
Bryan Barberena - Fight History
Submission R2 4:23 · UFC Fight Night: Tuivasa vs. Tybura · Mar 16, 2024
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Gerald Meerschaert 0 11 of 17 64% 30 of 36 3 of 7 42% 2 0 5:03
Bryan Barberena 0 12 of 37 32% 25 of 50 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:03
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Gerald Meerschaert 0 7 of 13 53% 12 of 18 2 of 4 50% 0 0 2:15
Bryan Barberena 0 10 of 25 40% 13 of 28 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:03
2 Gerald Meerschaert 0 4 of 4 100% 18 of 18 1 of 3 33% 2 0 2:48
Bryan Barberena 0 2 of 12 16% 12 of 22 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Gerald Meerschaert 11 of 17 64% 7 of 12 2 of 3 2 of 2 11 of 17 0 of 0 0 of 0
Bryan Barberena 12 of 37 32% 9 of 29 0 of 0 3 of 8 10 of 34 0 of 0 2 of 3
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Gerald Meerschaert 7 of 13 53% 4 of 9 1 of 2 2 of 2 7 of 13 0 of 0 0 of 0
Bryan Barberena 10 of 25 40% 7 of 18 0 of 0 3 of 7 8 of 22 0 of 0 2 of 3
2 Gerald Meerschaert 4 of 4 100% 3 of 3 1 of 1 0 of 0 4 of 4 0 of 0 0 of 0
Bryan Barberena 2 of 12 16% 2 of 11 0 of 0 0 of 1 2 of 12 0 of 0 0 of 0
Play-by-Play
View on Sherdog
Bryan Barberena vs. Gerald Meerschaert
BETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Meerschaert (-245), Barberena (+200)

Round 1
The prelims kick off with a stylistically opposite middleweight matchup pitting a submission magician against a burly brawler. Meerschaert (35-17, 10-9 UFC) will be the rare betting favorite in a match, because it comes against former welterweight Barberena (18-11, 9-9 UFC). This fight may not need the judges at its conclusion, but referee Herb Dean is on call for what comes next. The grizzled veterans touch gloves, and Meerschaert crowds forward and paws out a low kick. Barberena replies with one as he hops from side to side, not letting himself get cornered or stay too long in one spot. Barberena misses with another leg kick, and he reaches out with a swatting right hook. Meerschaert loads up on a right hand that skims the bears, and he digs a left to the body before backing away to dodge a counter. Barberena chips at the lead leg with a kick, and Meerschaert ducks a punch to tie him up. Barberena frantically escapes the clinch, not allowing the grappler to get hold of him for more than a second or two. Barberena keeps sliding to the side until Meerschaert shoots in on a double, and he takes “Bam Bam” off his feet. Barberena posts off his arm to remain upright, and Meerschaert jumps on top of him to secure the position. Meerschaert clings to the side of his opponent, with one hook in, as Barberena fights to maintain wrist control and keep Meerschaert from establishing a dominant position. Barberena climbs back to his feet, and he threatens with an overhand right but misses the mark. Meerschaert walks straight into a one-two, and Barberena charges into him and bowls him over. Meerschaert absorbs a few low kicks from on his back before popping back up, and he reaches out with a right hand when upright again. Meerschaert slips a few punches and shoot for a double, and he lands in the guard before quickly advancing to half guard. “GM3” slides into side control, and he isolates Barberena’s left arm to pursue a kimura. Meerschaert steps over and wrenches on the kimura behind his foe’s back, but Barberena leans up against the wall to defend it. Meerschaert drops down to snatch up a guillotine choke, but the leverage is not there from his angle to get it set. Meerschaert lets Barberena up and lands a few punches before backing up, and Barberena lumbers towards him throwing inaccurate hands until the horn sounds.

Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Meerschaert
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Meerschaert
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Meerschaert

Round 2
Meerschaert accepts a fist bump to get started, but he is on a mission as he crowds Barberena and chases him around the cage. Barberena keeps moving, and he swings a right hand that is ducked by a shooting “GM3.” Barberena defends the single and pushes off with a left hook, and he reaches out with a pair of punches to back Meerschaert off for a moment. Barberena just misses with a windmilling left hand, and Meerschaert shoots for a single that is stuffed. Meerschaert kicks the ribs and parries a one-two, and he sticks out a jab. Meerschaert prods out another jab, and Barberena answers with his own. Meerschaert shoots, turns the corner and succeeds in putting Barberena on his back. Barberena maintains butterfly hooks to defend from anything, until Meerschaert steps over to half guard. Meerschaert grabs hold of an arm-triangle choke and presses down while his body is draped on the alternate side, and Barberena grits his teeth and scoots his way to the fencing. Meerschaert hangs on from the side and hunts for a rear-naked choke, and Barberena hand-fights to stop it. When Barberena attempts to stand back up, Meerschaert gets the hook in on the other side and acts as a mean-spirted backpack. “GM3” locks up a rear-naked choke while standing, but Barberena is tough as a two-dollar steak and fights it out as he drops to his knee.
Meerschaert grips the rear-naked choke grip on the chin, squeezing with all power on the face crank. Meerschaert does not adjust his grip, and Barberena searches for options and suddenly loses consciousness—from a face crank. The forearm never slid under the chin, and yet Barberena is out cold!
When Dean gets between them, the sportsman Meerschaert rushes over the lift Barberena’s legs up to force the blood to flow back to the head, while Dean tends to the groggy, defeated fighter. The victorious Meerschaert now ties Anderson Silva for the most finishes in the UFC’s middleweight division, and when asked what he wants next, he calls for a beer and a nap.

The Official Result
Gerald Meerschaert def. Bryan Barberena R2 4:23 via Technical Submission (Face Crank)
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Confident picked Mar 11, 2024 (5 days before fight)
Gerald Meerschaert

Angelo notes that Meerschaert is a very good grappler always live for a submission, though he has a questionable chin and poor takedown accuracy. Barberena is a fun brawler who doesn't use his wrestling and has been taken down 18 times in his last three fights. Angelo thinks the more likely outcome is Meerschaert gets a takedown and snatches a submission, but warns he cannot be trusted as a 2-to-1 favorite.

"mir's going to be the pick but you cannot trust this guy let alone as a two to one favorite but I do like meard here just because his skills play into barbar's skill Gap"
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked Mar 12, 2024 (4 days before fight)
Gerald Meerschaert

Big Brady picks Gerald Meerschaert to win by second-round submission. He notes Barberena's poor takedown defense and submission losses, and expects Meerschaert to get the fight to the mat and submit him. He is wary of Meerschaert's chin but thinks Barberena's recent form is too poor.

by second round submission
"I'm going to take mirart here I'm going to take him to win this fight by second round submission"
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Confident picked Mar 13, 2024 (3 days before fight)
Gerald Meerschaert

Cody picks Gerald Meerschaert, emphasizing the size advantage. He notes Barberena is undersized at middleweight, having ballooned to 240 lbs and struggled to make 170. He points out Barberena was taken down 13 times in his last fight and lacks the power to hurt Meerschaert. He sees Meerschaert's size and grappling as decisive.

"Size matters man and Brian Barberena is giving up so much that it's got to be Gerald for me."
LU
Lucrative James Expert Confident picked Mar 12, 2024 (4 days before fight)
Gerald Meerschaert

Lucrative James picks Gerald Meerschaert to win by submission, likely in round two or three. He believes Barberena is on a downward trajectory and lacks the power to knock out Meerschaert. He notes that Barberena has a significant grappling disadvantage and that Meerschaert is opportunistic with submissions. He mentions that he won't play the moneyline but might bet on a round prop.

Meerschaert by submission in round 2 or 3
"I'm going to pick Gerald M up to get the submission win here."
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Mar 15, 2024 (1 day before fight)
Bryan Barberena

The host is surprised Meerschaert is a big favorite, as he believes Barberena has good enough defensive grappling to deal with Meerschaert's less-than-average wrestling. He notes Barberena has shown improvements in getting back to his feet and letting his hands go, and expects Barberena to have the striking advantage, leading to a knockout in the third round as Meerschaert fails on his grappling attempts.

knockout in round 3
"I believe that we see barbarena get his hand raised in the third round by knockout"
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Hesitant picked Mar 13, 2024 (3 days before fight)
Gerald Meerschaert

Paul also picks Meerschaert but with hesitation. He acknowledges Barberena's toughness and grit, but notes Meerschaert's inconsistency and tendency to lose rounds before pulling off a finish. He warns that this could be a 'pie in the sky' situation where Meerschaert's flaws are overlooked. Still, he expects Meerschaert to win due to size.

"Part of me wants to take that dog shot on Brian Barberena... but his body is not responding."
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Mar 12, 2024 (4 days before fight)
Gerald Meerschaert

The Guru picks Gerald Meerschaert by submission in round three. He notes Barberena was outgrappled by Makhmud Muradov, whom Meerschaert submitted. He expects Meerschaert to get dominant position and submit the 'melting vanilla ice cream' Barberena. He mentions Meerschaert's typical third-round finishes.

submission in the third round
"I'm going to go with Gerald mirot High test Alpha version of Jake Gyllenhaal he gets it done by submission in the third round."
LOSS vs Makhmud Muradov
Decision (unanimous) (30–27, 30–27, 30–27) R3 5:00 · UFC Fight Night: Aspinall vs. Tybura · Jul 22, 2023
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Makhmud Muradov 2 54 of 97 55% 68 of 114 13 of 16 81% 0 0 5:10
Bryan Barberena 0 28 of 81 34% 81 of 138 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:02
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Makhmud Muradov 0 9 of 22 40% 16 of 30 3 of 4 75% 0 0 2:34
Bryan Barberena 0 6 of 22 27% 28 of 46 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
2 Makhmud Muradov 1 16 of 28 57% 21 of 34 6 of 6 100% 0 0 1:53
Bryan Barberena 0 8 of 22 36% 30 of 45 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
3 Makhmud Muradov 1 29 of 47 61% 31 of 50 4 of 6 66% 0 0 0:43
Bryan Barberena 0 14 of 37 37% 23 of 47 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:02
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Makhmud Muradov 54 of 97 55% 39 of 77 15 of 20 0 of 0 46 of 79 5 of 11 3 of 7
Bryan Barberena 28 of 81 34% 13 of 56 2 of 4 13 of 21 27 of 79 1 of 2 0 of 0
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Makhmud Muradov 9 of 22 40% 4 of 14 5 of 8 0 of 0 7 of 17 1 of 4 1 of 1
Bryan Barberena 6 of 22 27% 1 of 13 1 of 1 4 of 8 6 of 21 0 of 1 0 of 0
2 Makhmud Muradov 16 of 28 57% 15 of 26 1 of 2 0 of 0 15 of 25 0 of 0 1 of 3
Bryan Barberena 8 of 22 36% 4 of 15 0 of 0 4 of 7 7 of 21 1 of 1 0 of 0
3 Makhmud Muradov 29 of 47 61% 20 of 37 9 of 10 0 of 0 24 of 37 4 of 7 1 of 3
Bryan Barberena 14 of 37 37% 8 of 28 1 of 3 5 of 6 14 of 37 0 of 0 0 of 0
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Confident picked Jul 16, 2023 (6 days before fight)
Makhmud Muradov

Angelo thinks Muradov is the better fighter with cleaner technique and should win by decision, but he is hesitant to lay -275 due to Barberena's toughness and never-say-die attitude. He picks Muradov but will likely leave the bet out.

"muradov is going to be the pick I'll probably leave the BET out of here because Prime Bar Arena again he's the type of guy you can't just say oh his opponent is better than him and that's it"
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked Jul 18, 2023 (4 days before fight)
Makhmud Muradov

Big Brady picks Makhmud Muradov to knock out Bryan Barberena in the second round. He questions Barberena's move up to middleweight, noting he was small for welterweight and is now massively undersized. He thinks Barberena's durability has declined and Muradov is the better striker. He calls the matchup 'weird' and thinks Barberena is on a three-fight skid.

by knockout, second round
"I'm going to take Murdo to win this fight I'll say he knocks out barbarina in the second round here"
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Confident picked Jul 19, 2023 (3 days before fight)
Makhmud Muradov

Cody picks Muradov, noting Barberena moving up to 185 is a big disadvantage. He thinks Muradov's size and power will be too much, and he can mix in wrestling. He mentions Barberena's takedown defense is poor and he takes a lot of damage.

Barberena round 3 prop as a longshot
"muranov is the straight pick for me"
DA
Daniel Levi Expert Confident picked Jul 20, 2023 (2 days before fight)
Makhmud Muradov

Daniel bet Muradov at -250 to win 2 units (risking 5 units). He believes Muradov is a real middleweight in the best shape of his life, while Barberena is moving up from welterweight and will be slower and more hittable. He notes Barberena's takedown defense is poor and Muradov has good footwork and power. He expects Muradov to win by knockout or decision, and thinks the line should be closer to -350 to -400. He is confident Muradov bounces back after a tough loss.

Daniel bet Muradov at -250 to win 2 units. He says he beat the line by a dollar and expects a knockout or decision.
"I hit uh Maki moradov a couple days ago minus 250. so I already beat the line by a dollar"
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Jul 17, 2023 (5 days before fight)
Makhmud Muradov

The host picks Makhmud Muradov, citing his technical striking, speed, and discipline as keys. He notes Barberena is moving up in weight and Muradov will be much bigger. He thinks Muradov should be closer to -200/-230 but still expects a win by decision, unless Barberena lands a Hail Mary.

odds comment: should be closer to -200 to -230
"I'm still a little bit you know put off in terms of the minus 270 on his number I think he should be closer to the minus 200 to minus 230 range but I still think he gets that a …"
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Confident picked Jul 19, 2023 (3 days before fight)
Makhmud Muradov

Paul picks Muradov, citing Barberena's age, fight style, and inability to grapple. He thinks Muradov can win by KO or decision using his jab and takedowns. He notes Barberena's chin may be fading.

"I gotta go murder off as well"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Jul 17, 2023 (5 days before fight)
Makhmud Muradov

The MMA Guru picks Makhmud Muradov by TKO, criticizing Bryan Barberena's decision to move up to middleweight. He calls Barberena a 'fat unathletic welterweight' with no grappling or knockout power, and questions his career move. The Guru notes Muradov's improved takedown defense against Caio Borralho and believes his explosiveness, reach, and striking advantage will lead to a finish.

TKO
"I have to pick muridov buy TKO I've got married of winning by finish"
LOSS vs Gunnar Nelson
Submission (armbar) R1 4:51 · UFC 286: Edwards vs. Usman 3 · Mar 18, 2023
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Gunnar Nelson 0 10 of 11 90% 20 of 21 1 of 2 50% 1 0 3:13
Bryan Barberena 0 7 of 12 58% 18 of 23 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Gunnar Nelson 0 10 of 11 90% 20 of 21 1 of 2 50% 1 0 3:13
Bryan Barberena 0 7 of 12 58% 18 of 23 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Gunnar Nelson 10 of 11 90% 8 of 9 2 of 2 0 of 0 1 of 2 2 of 2 7 of 7
Bryan Barberena 7 of 12 58% 3 of 7 0 of 0 4 of 5 6 of 11 0 of 0 1 of 1
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Gunnar Nelson 10 of 11 90% 8 of 9 2 of 2 0 of 0 1 of 2 2 of 2 7 of 7
Bryan Barberena 7 of 12 58% 3 of 7 0 of 0 4 of 5 6 of 11 0 of 0 1 of 1
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Confident picked Mar 15, 2023 (3 days before fight)
Gunnar Nelson

Angelo picks Nelson but is not betting. He thinks Nelson's ground game is far superior and Barberena is tough but not technical. He notes Nelson's takedowns are telegraphed but Barberena will close distance and get clinched. He worries Nelson might not be motivated and could be a parlay buster.

"I do think Gunner Nelson wins because there's a bigger gap on the ground than there is anywhere else in this fight."
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked Mar 14, 2023 (4 days before fight)
Gunnar Nelson

Big Brady picks Nelson confidently, citing Barberena's atrocious takedown defense (taken down multiple times by lower-level fighters). He believes Nelson will take him down and submit him early. He predicts a first-round submission, noting Barberena was just submitted by RDA.

"I'm going to take Gunner Nelson first round sub"
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Confident picked Mar 15, 2023 (3 days before fight)
Gunnar Nelson

Cody picks Nelson, emphasizing Barberena's poor takedown defense and tendency to give up his back. He notes Nelson's elite back-taking and body triangle control. He thinks Nelson wins by decision or submission, but after Nelson's last fight where he didn't chase submissions, he's less sure about a finish. He says the line is reflective of what should happen but feels trappy due to Nelson's inactivity and age.

"Gunner Nelson for me but minus 355... I think it's probably close to about right... the path is very clearly there"
CO
Connor Ruebusch Expert Confident picked Apr 30, 2023 (fight day)
Gunnar Nelson

Connor picks Nelson based on his wrestling and grappling advantage. He notes that Barberena is slow-footed and vulnerable to takedowns, as shown by RDA easily taking him down. Nelson has a quick shot and good clinch trips. Connor acknowledges that Nelson's striking defense is poor and he can be shocked standing, but believes Nelson's path to victory is clear via takedowns and control. He also mentions that Barberena's scrambling is solid but Nelson's control grappling is superior.

Nelson opened -300, currently -391; Barberena opened +250, currently +297
"It comes down to Gunnar Nelson's speed and the wrestling and his grappling that is going to... that's like the ace of his sleeve."
JA
Jacob Lines Expert Confident picked Mar 15, 2023 (3 days before fight)
Gunnar Nelson

Jacob calls Nelson his most confident play on the card. He thinks Barberena is not a powerful puncher and will struggle with Nelson's range. He expects Barberena to close distance and get taken down via body clinch. He notes everyone takes Barberena down and Nelson should dominate on the ground.

"the gunar is my most confident play on this card because I think it is a perfect match of form."
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Mar 13, 2023 (5 days before fight)
Gunnar Nelson

Nelson is a high-level grappler with a karate-style striking base, but has struggled against top competition. Barberena is a durable brawler who has been finished by technically better fighters. Nelson should be able to take the fight to the ground and submit Barberena, though the submission prop may not offer value at the expected line.

submission (if plus money)
"I think that Gunner should win this fight... I think he does it via submission"
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert picked Mar 15, 2023 (3 days before fight)

Paul does not make a clear pick. He discusses the trap potential: Nelson has had one fight in four years, is a small welterweight, and may not be the same fighter. He notes Barberena's ability to get back to his feet and that Nelson could get outstruck if he doesn't get a submission. He says he doesn't have the cojones to pick Barberena but has zero confidence in Nelson at the price.

"I don't know if I got the colonies to find barbarina I really don't... for this price point I have zero confidence in them"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Mar 13, 2023 (5 days before fight)
Gunnar Nelson

The MMA Guru picks Gunnar Nelson to win by rear-naked choke, citing Barberena's short notice and defensive flaws exposed by Rafael dos Anjos. He notes Barberena repeatedly made the same mistake of lowering his stance, allowing inside trips. Nelson is a technical grappler who will exploit that and find a finish. He does not see Barberena having success on the feet either.

Nelson wins by submission (rear-naked choke)
"I'm gonna go with Gunner Nelson getting himself a real naked choke win"
ZA
Zane Simon Expert Confident picked Apr 30, 2023 (fight day)
Gunnar Nelson

Zane agrees with Connor, emphasizing that Barberena's takedown defense is poor and Nelson's wrestling is a major threat. He notes that Barberena has been taken down multiple times by lesser wrestlers. Zane also points out that Nelson's striking is vulnerable but his grappling is elite. He thinks Nelson will likely get the fight to the ground and control it. Zane adds that Barberena's best chance is to keep it standing and land a big shot, but Nelson's speed and shot selection should prevail.

Nelson opened -300, currently -391; Barberena opened +250, currently +297
"It's just not a problem that's going to be solved against Gunnar Nelson."
Submission (neck crank) R2 3:20 · UFC on ESPN: Thompson vs. Holland · Dec 03, 2022
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Rafael dos Anjos 0 14 of 29 48% 61 of 79 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:35
Bryan Barberena 0 20 of 25 80% 36 of 41 4 of 6 66% 2 0 6:36
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Rafael dos Anjos 0 9 of 19 47% 25 of 35 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Bryan Barberena 0 16 of 20 80% 30 of 34 1 of 2 50% 1 0 4:06
2 Rafael dos Anjos 0 5 of 10 50% 36 of 44 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:35
Bryan Barberena 0 4 of 5 80% 6 of 7 3 of 4 75% 1 0 2:30
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Rafael dos Anjos 14 of 29 48% 6 of 18 4 of 6 4 of 5 10 of 25 2 of 2 2 of 2
Bryan Barberena 20 of 25 80% 3 of 8 17 of 17 0 of 0 3 of 8 3 of 3 14 of 14
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Rafael dos Anjos 9 of 19 47% 1 of 9 4 of 5 4 of 5 8 of 18 1 of 1 0 of 0
Bryan Barberena 16 of 20 80% 2 of 6 14 of 14 0 of 0 2 of 6 2 of 2 12 of 12
2 Rafael dos Anjos 5 of 10 50% 5 of 9 0 of 1 0 of 0 2 of 7 1 of 1 2 of 2
Bryan Barberena 4 of 5 80% 1 of 2 3 of 3 0 of 0 1 of 2 1 of 1 2 of 2
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Confident picked Nov 27, 2022 (6 days before fight)
Rafael dos Anjos

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

dos Anjos by decision (30-27)
"I'm gonna go with Rafael dos anjos here over Brian barbarina"
WIN vs Robbie Lawler
TKO (punches) R2 4:47 · UFC 276: Adesanya vs. Cannonier · Jul 02, 2022
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Bryan Barberena 0 81 of 141 57% 81 of 141 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Robbie Lawler 0 147 of 316 46% 148 of 317 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Bryan Barberena 0 39 of 65 60% 39 of 65 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Robbie Lawler 0 67 of 171 39% 68 of 172 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
2 Bryan Barberena 0 42 of 76 55% 42 of 76 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Robbie Lawler 0 80 of 145 55% 80 of 145 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Bryan Barberena 81 of 141 57% 65 of 124 15 of 16 1 of 1 78 of 137 3 of 4 0 of 0
Robbie Lawler 147 of 316 46% 116 of 280 18 of 20 13 of 16 138 of 304 9 of 12 0 of 0
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Bryan Barberena 39 of 65 60% 27 of 53 12 of 12 0 of 0 38 of 63 1 of 2 0 of 0
Robbie Lawler 67 of 171 39% 46 of 148 12 of 13 9 of 10 64 of 166 3 of 5 0 of 0
2 Bryan Barberena 42 of 76 55% 38 of 71 3 of 4 1 of 1 40 of 74 2 of 2 0 of 0
Robbie Lawler 80 of 145 55% 70 of 132 6 of 7 4 of 6 74 of 138 6 of 7 0 of 0
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Confident picked Jun 26, 2022 (6 days before fight)
Bryan Barberena

Angelo picks Barberena, emphasizing his forward pressure, volume, and durability. He notes that Lawler is declining and didn't look great against Nick Diaz. Barberena's high strike output (186 vs Matt Brown, 195 vs Vicente Luque) is seen as the difference-maker.

"I think brian barbarena's forward pressure constant volume i think that's going to be the difference here"
BI
Big Brady Expert Hesitant picked Jun 28, 2022 (4 days before fight)
Bryan Barberena

Big Brady hesitantly picks Bryan Barberena, citing his youth and volume, but admits neither fighter looks great. He notes Lawler's recent win over Nick Diaz was his first in years, and Barberena has taken damage. He expects a close decision and advises against betting.

Barberena by decision; no bet
"give me brian barbarena as a dog but i just feel like nobody should be confident in this fight"
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Confident picked Jun 29, 2022 (3 days before fight)
Robbie Lawler

Cody thinks Lawler's power and experience will be too much for Barberena, who has shown poor wrestling defense and bad decision-making. He expects Lawler to mix in takedowns and win a gritty fight.

"gotta go with Robbie Lawler my boy"
DA
Daniel Levi Expert Lean picked Jun 30, 2022 (2 days before fight)
Bryan Barberena

Daniel Levi slightly leans toward Bryan Barberena as the underdog, citing that Lawler is 40 years old and may not have the same ferocity. He notes that Barberena can still dig deep and throw high output, while Lawler has recently resorted to old habits like shadowboxing. Levi acknowledges that Lawler could win if the old 'Ruthless' version shows up, but he sees it as a dog-or-pass situation and prefers the underdog price.

Dog-or-pass; underdog price attractive.
"i'm gonna slightly lean with brian barbarena just for the underdog price here"
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Jul 1, 2022 (1 day before fight)
Robbie Lawler

This is a great stylistic matchup for Lawler; Barberena will stand and trade. Lawler's power and experience should prevail. The only concern is Lawler's age (40), but his power is the last thing to go. Lawler by decision or KO is likely.

"i'm leaning robbie lawler here again the only thing scaring me off is uh the 40 year old number"
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Confident picked Jun 29, 2022 (3 days before fight)
Robbie Lawler

Paul agrees with Cody, noting Lawler's significant strikes over 73.5 on PrizePicks is a good play. He expects a brawl and thinks Lawler will get the job done.

Lawler over 73.5 significant strikes on PrizePicks
"I agree on with uh I like ruthless Robbie to get the job done in this spot"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Jun 27, 2022 (5 days before fight)
Bryan Barberena

The MMA Guru picks Bryan Barberena, arguing that Robbie Lawler has declined significantly, losing power and explosiveness due to age and accumulated damage. He believes Barberena will outwork Lawler with body shots and volume, predicting a 30-27 or 30-26 decision with a possible 10-8 round. He notes Lawler's recent performances have been weak and that Barberena has momentum.

"i'm going to go with brian barbarena breaking robbie lawler as the fight goes on"
WIN vs Matt Brown
Decision (split) (29–28, 28–29, 29–28) R3 5:00 · UFC on ESPN: Blaydes vs. Daukaus · Mar 26, 2022
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Bryan Barberena 0 81 of 129 62% 95 of 145 5 of 7 71% 0 0 5:01
Matt Brown 0 111 of 211 52% 186 of 289 0 of 0 --- 0 1 0:57
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Bryan Barberena 0 23 of 37 62% 25 of 39 1 of 3 33% 0 0 1:39
Matt Brown 0 23 of 51 45% 62 of 91 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:16
2 Bryan Barberena 0 23 of 36 63% 29 of 43 2 of 2 100% 0 0 1:45
Matt Brown 0 35 of 60 58% 59 of 85 0 of 0 --- 0 1 0:30
3 Bryan Barberena 0 35 of 56 62% 41 of 63 2 of 2 100% 0 0 1:37
Matt Brown 0 53 of 100 53% 65 of 113 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:11
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Bryan Barberena 81 of 129 62% 36 of 75 38 of 44 7 of 10 51 of 95 24 of 28 6 of 6
Matt Brown 111 of 211 52% 82 of 170 12 of 18 17 of 23 78 of 164 28 of 42 5 of 5
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Bryan Barberena 23 of 37 62% 8 of 21 12 of 12 3 of 4 9 of 22 11 of 12 3 of 3
Matt Brown 23 of 51 45% 13 of 36 2 of 4 8 of 11 19 of 46 4 of 5 0 of 0
2 Bryan Barberena 23 of 36 63% 9 of 20 12 of 14 2 of 2 17 of 29 6 of 7 0 of 0
Matt Brown 35 of 60 58% 26 of 47 2 of 3 7 of 10 23 of 45 7 of 10 5 of 5
3 Bryan Barberena 35 of 56 62% 19 of 34 14 of 18 2 of 4 25 of 44 7 of 9 3 of 3
Matt Brown 53 of 100 53% 43 of 87 8 of 11 2 of 2 36 of 73 17 of 27 0 of 0
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Confident picked Mar 20, 2022 (6 days before fight)
Bryan Barberena

Angelo picks Bryan Barberena, citing his durability, impressive volume, and forward pressure. He notes Barberena landed 108 strikes in his last fight and 169 against Vicente Luque. He thinks Barberena's constant volume will be the difference and expects a decision win. He says he probably won't bet on this fight.

"i need to go with brian barnard here he's incredibly durable his volume is impressive"
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked Mar 21, 2022 (5 days before fight)
Matt Brown

Big Brady picks Matt Brown to knock out Bryan Barberena in the first or second round. He believes Barberena is washed after the Luke fight, citing poor takedown defense and being dropped twice by Jason Witt. He notes that Brown still has power, as shown in his last fight against Lima, and that Barberena's chin is no longer reliable. Brady also mentions that Barberena has health issues and has been taken down frequently in recent fights.

Matt Brown wins by KO in round 1 or 2
"I'm gonna take the the 41 year old here to actually knock out brian barbarino we see that matt brown still has that power in his hands with his knockout in his last fight against lima."
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Confident picked Mar 21, 2022 (5 days before fight)
Matt Brown

Cody strongly favors Matt Brown, highlighting Barberena's declining durability and poor takedown defense. He notes Barberena's recent wars and losses, while Brown still has power and timing. He thinks Brown can win by KO or decision. He calls it his first bet of the week.

first bet of the week
"i'm actually gonna go towards the brown side of this one"
DA
Daniel Levi Expert Hesitant picked Mar 24, 2022 (2 days before fight)
Matt Brown

Daniel Levi picks Matt Brown, admitting he is biased as a fan. He believes Brown is the better fighter with more finishing ability and can mix in takedowns. He notes both fighters are on the decline but thinks Brown's power and hometown crowd will carry him. He is hesitant because of Brown's age and chin, and Barberena's durability. He also points out Barberena hasn't looked the same since the Luque fight.

"I'm still gonna go with matt brown here guys... I think he's going to be buoyed by this crowd"
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Mar 23, 2022 (3 days before fight)
Bryan Barberena

The host picks Barberena, noting his youth, body punching (30% of strikes to body), and Matt Brown's known body vulnerability. He expects a striking battle and believes Barberena will get a knockout, possibly in round 3 as Brown slows down. He also likes the prop 'fight doesn't go to decision'.

Barberena inside the distance at +315; fight doesn't go to decision at -130 to -140; Barberena round 3 at +1050
"i'm gonna go brian barber arena as the pick but rather than picking a side here again the odds are great on either side"
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Confident picked Mar 21, 2022 (5 days before fight)
Matt Brown

Paul picks Matt Brown, citing his wrestling advantage and Barberena's inability to stop takedowns. He notes Brown's hometown crowd and experience. He thinks Brown can grind out a win or land a big shot. He expects the line to move and hopes for plus money.

"i'm gonna pick matt brown but i'm very interested to hear what you got"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Mar 21, 2022 (5 days before fight)
Matt Brown

The MMA Guru picks Matt Brown by second-round TKO over Bryan Barberena. He envisions Barberena slightly edging the first round before getting caught with a big overhand. The Guru trusts Brown's power and recent resurgence, noting his second-round finish of Diego Lima, while Barberena's wars may leave him vulnerable.

second round tko
"i'm gonna go with matt the immortal brown my boy"
WIN vs Darian Weeks
Decision (unanimous) (29–28, 29–28, 29–28) R3 5:00 · UFC on ESPN: Font vs. Aldo · Dec 04, 2021
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Bryan Barberena 0 108 of 217 49% 134 of 243 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:21
Darian Weeks 0 118 of 209 56% 125 of 217 4 of 8 50% 0 0 3:18
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Bryan Barberena 0 21 of 40 52% 24 of 43 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:21
Darian Weeks 0 26 of 45 57% 29 of 49 1 of 3 33% 0 0 1:20
2 Bryan Barberena 0 32 of 75 42% 38 of 81 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Darian Weeks 0 49 of 85 57% 52 of 88 2 of 2 100% 0 0 1:00
3 Bryan Barberena 0 55 of 102 53% 72 of 119 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Darian Weeks 0 43 of 79 54% 44 of 80 1 of 3 33% 0 0 0:58
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Bryan Barberena 108 of 217 49% 55 of 152 30 of 36 23 of 29 97 of 205 11 of 12 0 of 0
Darian Weeks 118 of 209 56% 62 of 136 37 of 51 19 of 22 101 of 187 14 of 18 3 of 4
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Bryan Barberena 21 of 40 52% 4 of 17 4 of 5 13 of 18 17 of 36 4 of 4 0 of 0
Darian Weeks 26 of 45 57% 5 of 19 12 of 16 9 of 10 19 of 38 7 of 7 0 of 0
2 Bryan Barberena 32 of 75 42% 20 of 60 6 of 8 6 of 7 30 of 73 2 of 2 0 of 0
Darian Weeks 49 of 85 57% 28 of 56 14 of 21 7 of 8 42 of 77 4 of 4 3 of 4
3 Bryan Barberena 55 of 102 53% 31 of 75 20 of 23 4 of 4 50 of 96 5 of 6 0 of 0
Darian Weeks 43 of 79 54% 29 of 61 11 of 14 3 of 4 40 of 72 3 of 7 0 of 0
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Confident picked Dec 1, 2021 (3 days before fight)

Angelo picks Jeremiah Wells via inside the distance/decision no action at +120. He notes Wells has power and BJJ, while Matthews has poor fight IQ. Angelo likes the safety net: if Wells wins by finish he gets paid, if Matthews wins by decision he gets a refund.

Inside the distance/decision no action at +120
"i did not go moneyline for jeremiah wells but what i did do was inside the digi inside the distance decision no action on jeremiah wells"
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked Nov 30, 2021 (4 days before fight)

Big Brady picks Jeremiah Wells as a dog, noting that the line doesn't make sense to him. He highlights Wells' impressive debut win over Warlley Alves, his training at Renzo Gracie Philly with top guys, and his solid wrestling and takedown defense. He contrasts Wells' explosiveness and power with Jake Matthews' inconsistent performances and lower level of competition. Brady believes Wells can win a decision or even finish, and gives Wells the cardio advantage.

by decision
"i'm gonna go with the dog here in jeremiah wells... win by decision"
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Hesitant picked Dec 1, 2021 (3 days before fight)
Bryan Barberena

Cody picks Barberena but with low confidence, noting that Barberena's best days are behind him and he takes a lot of damage. He thinks Barberena could grind out a win but is not reliable as a favorite. Cody mentions that Weeks is inexperienced and that Barberena's toughness might carry him.

"i will take brian barbarina i will but god i really don't love it"
DA
Daniel Levi Expert Confident picked Dec 2, 2021 (2 days before fight)
Bryan Barberena

Daniel Levi picks Bryan Barberena to win, citing his veteran savvy and experience. He notes that Barberena has seen a different level than Weeks, who is a newcomer with only five pro fights. He acknowledges that Barberena may be in decline but thinks he still has enough in the tank to hand Weeks his first loss. He warns about the risk of a declining fighter taking on a young athletic kid with finishing power.

"I think brian still got enough in the tank to come out here and and hand this kid his first l"
JA
Jacob Lines Expert Lock picked Dec 1, 2021 (3 days before fight)

Jacob makes Jeremiah Wells the lock of the week, putting 4 units on him. He cites Wells' power, BJJ black belt, and Matthews' lack of KO power since 2013. Jacob notes if Wells gets tired or lunges, it's not his fault, but he loves Wells all the way.

Lock of the week, 4 units
"jeremiah wells i absolutely love him love him for a lot of the week"
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Dec 3, 2021 (1 day before fight)
Bryan Barberena

I like Barberena. He is a veteran who has fought top competition and should be too much for Weeks, who is green and on short notice. Barberena has good durability and cardio, while Weeks tends to slow down. I expect Barberena to take over as the fight goes on and possibly finish in round three. The decision prop at plus 285 and round three finish at plus 1000 are both appealing.

Barberena by decision +285, Barberena round 3 +1000
"i like barbarina by decision or barbarina round three are the two spots i'm looking at"
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Lean picked Dec 1, 2021 (3 days before fight)
Darian Weeks

Paul picks Weeks as an underdog, noting that Barberena is shot and takes too much damage. He thinks Weeks has power and could catch Barberena, but admits he doesn't know much about Weeks. Paul is not confident but sees value in the plus money.

"screw it i'll for the purposes of the show no bet but i'll take darian weeks to uh pull the upset here"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Dec 4, 2021 (fight day)
Darian Weeks

The MMA Guru picks Darian Weeks to win by second-round TKO. He sees Weeks as a solid prospect with a good amateur career. He predicts Barberena will be dropped in the first round but survive, then Weeks will finish him with a big right hand in the second round.

second round tko
"i'm going to go of darion weeks by first round ko ... i'll say second round tko for darium weeks"
LOSS vs Jason Witt
Decision (majority) (28–28, 29–27, 29–28) R3 5:00 · UFC on ESPN: Hall vs. Strickland · Jul 31, 2021
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Jason Witt 0 50 of 113 44% 114 of 178 0 of 1 0% 0 1 0:47
Bryan Barberena 1 35 of 83 42% 56 of 105 8 of 18 44% 1 0 5:38
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Jason Witt 0 5 of 18 27% 38 of 52 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Bryan Barberena 0 10 of 15 66% 17 of 23 2 of 3 66% 0 0 2:30
2 Jason Witt 0 12 of 37 32% 32 of 57 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:31
Bryan Barberena 1 11 of 32 34% 21 of 42 2 of 6 33% 1 0 1:19
3 Jason Witt 0 33 of 58 56% 44 of 69 0 of 0 --- 0 1 0:16
Bryan Barberena 0 14 of 36 38% 18 of 40 4 of 9 44% 0 0 1:49
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Jason Witt 50 of 113 44% 50 of 110 0 of 3 0 of 0 40 of 99 4 of 6 6 of 8
Bryan Barberena 35 of 83 42% 27 of 71 8 of 12 0 of 0 25 of 67 6 of 10 4 of 6
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Jason Witt 5 of 18 27% 5 of 17 0 of 1 0 of 0 5 of 18 0 of 0 0 of 0
Bryan Barberena 10 of 15 66% 8 of 13 2 of 2 0 of 0 4 of 8 2 of 2 4 of 5
2 Jason Witt 12 of 37 32% 12 of 36 0 of 1 0 of 0 12 of 37 0 of 0 0 of 0
Bryan Barberena 11 of 32 34% 9 of 29 2 of 3 0 of 0 11 of 31 0 of 0 0 of 1
3 Jason Witt 33 of 58 56% 33 of 57 0 of 1 0 of 0 23 of 44 4 of 6 6 of 8
Bryan Barberena 14 of 36 38% 10 of 29 4 of 7 0 of 0 10 of 28 4 of 8 0 of 0
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked Jul 27, 2021 (4 days before fight)
Bryan Barberena

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Barberena by unanimous decision 30-27
"i'm gonna go with brian barbarina i actually think he's decently okay"