UFC Fight Night: Holloway vs. Oliveira · Aug 23, 2015 · Light Heavyweight · Completed
Prev Fight UFC Fight Night: Holloway vs. Oliveira Next Fight
Age 34
Height 6' 3"
Reach 77.0"
Weight 205 lbs.
Stance Orthodox
Age 40
Height 6' 1"
Reach 75"
Weight 253 lbs.
Stance Orthodox
Career Averages - Nikita Krylov
4.36 SLpM
54.0% Str. Acc.
2.59 SApM
47.0% Str. Def.
2.05 TD Avg
37.0% TD Acc.
53.0% TD Def.
1.2 Sub. Avg
Career Averages - Marcos Rogério de Lima
3.7 SLpM
57.0% Str. Acc.
2.9 SApM
51.0% Str. Def.
1.4 TD Avg
45.0% TD Acc.
59.0% TD Def.
0.5 Sub. Avg
Nikita Krylov - Fight History
SCHED vs Robert Whittaker
UFC 329 · Jul 11, 2026
KO R3 4:57 · UFC 324 · Jan 24, 2026
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Nikita Krylov 1 72 of 137 52% 94 of 164 1 of 4 25% 0 0 2:37
Modestas Bukauskas 0 40 of 108 37% 43 of 111 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:56
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Nikita Krylov 0 10 of 28 35% 25 of 48 1 of 4 25% 0 0 1:58
Modestas Bukauskas 0 11 of 21 52% 13 of 23 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
2 Nikita Krylov 0 23 of 40 57% 30 of 47 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:36
Modestas Bukauskas 0 11 of 32 34% 12 of 33 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:56
3 Nikita Krylov 1 39 of 69 56% 39 of 69 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:03
Modestas Bukauskas 0 18 of 55 32% 18 of 55 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Nikita Krylov 72 of 137 52% 25 of 76 22 of 34 25 of 27 64 of 128 5 of 6 3 of 3
Modestas Bukauskas 40 of 108 37% 35 of 101 2 of 4 3 of 3 40 of 108 0 of 0 0 of 0
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Nikita Krylov 10 of 28 35% 3 of 17 1 of 5 6 of 6 10 of 27 0 of 1 0 of 0
Modestas Bukauskas 11 of 21 52% 11 of 21 0 of 0 0 of 0 11 of 21 0 of 0 0 of 0
2 Nikita Krylov 23 of 40 57% 8 of 20 8 of 13 7 of 7 19 of 36 4 of 4 0 of 0
Modestas Bukauskas 11 of 32 34% 8 of 28 2 of 3 1 of 1 11 of 32 0 of 0 0 of 0
3 Nikita Krylov 39 of 69 56% 14 of 39 13 of 16 12 of 14 35 of 65 1 of 1 3 of 3
Modestas Bukauskas 18 of 55 32% 16 of 52 0 of 1 2 of 2 18 of 55 0 of 0 0 of 0
Play-by-Play
View on Sherdog
Modestas Bukauskas vs. Nikita Krylov
BETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Bukauskas (-165), Krylov (+130)

Round 1
A 205-pound smash-‘em-up derby keeps the action going, as the two men about to set foot in the cage are eying that new $25K finish bonus on top of the raised $100K for Fight of the Night and Performance of the Night. Krylov (30-11, 11-9 UFC) may be gunning for the latter of those two bonus checks, given his 93% stoppage rate with 23 of his 28 finishes coming in Round 1. “The Baltic Gladiator” Bukauskas (19-6, 7-4 UFC) will need to be on his best behavior when taking on the offensive force of the Ukrainian by way of Russia, and referee Marc Goddard will see to that. They touch gloves.
Krylov bounces back and forth on his heels, and he times a high kick that careens off the guard and a low kick that slaps off the front leg. When Krylov tosses out another naked leg kick, Bukauskas belts him with a pair of punches. Krylov gets away with another calf kick, and his subsequent offering to the midsection comes up short. Bukauskas winds up and hurls punches at his opponent, who backs straight up and is just out of range. Krylov attempts a single-leg entry, and he proceeds to press Bukauskas against the cage wall. Bukauskas looks to use a body lock when the first effort fails, and he works his foe’s knees while grinding on him. Krylov aims to slip his leg around Bukauskas’ to disrupt his balance, and he tackles the Lithuanian to the floor for a moment. Bukauskas bounces back up and gets pushed to the wall, and the crowd is not having it.
Krylov transitions from one takedown attempt to another, but Bukauskas is able to defend them and stay upright. Goddard claps for them to do more, and Krylov grabs hold of a single and lifts the leg up high. Bukauskas springs away and barely evades a head kick on the way out, and when he tries to engage, he gets caught with a right hand on the temple. Krylov peppers with kicks on the outside, and one of his low kicks is met with a blistering right hand that makes him take a quick count of his teeth. Bukauskas swats with a left and then a right hand, and Krylov springs into action with a kick and swinging fists that miss by a wide margin. Another Krylov blitz is met with counters, but he steels himself and shakes up “The Baltic Gladiator” with a right hand. Bukauskas retreats to gather his thoughts, and Krylov lets him off the hook as the two reach the round horn for the first time of any fight tonight.

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

Round 2
The 205ers touch gloves to get started, and it takes a couple seconds before Krylov unveils his first offensive tactic of a body kick. Bukauskas replies with a one-two, and they both toss out kicks at the same time to different targets. Bukauskas clips Krylov with a left hand on the way out, and fists quickly fly in an exchange at the center of the cage. Krylov works the body with a kick, and this draws out some hard swings from Bukauskas that drive him back. The Ukrainian ducks a huge haymaker and engages in a clinch with hopes of scoring a takedown, but Bukauskas is able to stifle them and spin him around against the wire. They jockey for position and trade knees up the middle, with neither man gaining the upper hand as they stay at it.
Krylov gets off a solid knee to the breadbasket and shoots, but the takedown hits a wall. Goddard asks for them to do more, and they answer by shoving one another away. Krylov’s mouthpiece falls out, and he quickly puts it back in as Bukauskas lets him do so. Krylov lumbers forward and smacks Bukauskas in the temple with a lead-leg head kick, and he skims his man on the temple with a looping left. Bukauskas sits down on a chopping kick, and he slides away from the trio of punches aimed at his mug. Krylov narrowly evades bombs chucked at his chin, although Bukauskas is able to get him a few times. Krylov strikes back, with his blows having an impact as Bukauskas’ left cheek is swelling up fast. Krylov ducks down for a looping right, and he dodges a big right hand and manages to kick the body on the way out. Bukauskas overswings his right hand and is blocked, with “The Baltic Gladiator” hunting for that home run blow. He manages to get off a spinning back kick to the body, and they trade hands until the bell.

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

Round 3
The two reach the final round and share a fist bump before throwing caution to the wind. Both men lob huge hooks at one another, and they largely escape the damage from them thanks to just enough head movement. Krylov goes low to high with two kicks, and he steps in and blasts Bukauskas with a left hand. Krylov gets off another booming punch, and Bukauskas sits down on counters but largely comes up short. “The Miner” digs a kick to the midsection and is countered, but the damage is done as his kick connected. Bukauskas waits for the one big opening, and Krylov is dancing around the edges of range hitting him with anything he offers. Bukauskas snaps the head back with a solid left, but it is one-and-done before Krylov rushes at him to trade leather. Bukauskas clips him again, and Krylov pays no attention to the blow and plods ever forward. He works the body with a kick, and sways back from the looping counters.
Bukauskas lands a calf kick, and Krylov nods at him and doubles up on kicks from his rear leg. Bukauskas keeps his guard up to defend himself from the blows, and he winds up on a right hand that misses the mark. Krylov tanks two punches on the jaw and frustrates his foe with push kicks to the body. Krylov sneaks in a left hand while hurling heavy shots, and Bukauskas is left playing catch-up. They trade punches after Bukauskas absorbs a calf kick, and Bukauskas tries to take advantage of the strike by loading up on more. They miss, and the crowd boos. Krylov leads with a low kick into a jab, and he gets caught by a right hand and waves Bukauskas on for more. Bukauskas gives him more with a crisp left, and Krylov dances around and switches stances a few times. Krylov dodges a wheel kick and gets blazed with a right hand, and he is on a mission. Hearing the 10-second clapper, “The Miner” digs deep and unloads with a fire and fury while Bukauskas is overloading on his own strikes.
Krylov catches his man cleanly with a ferocious right hand that sets “The Baltic Gladiator” down and forces his eyes to roll around in his head. Bukauskas turns to try to recover, crawling to his knees to the fence, and Krylov races after him and batters him with destructive right hands. One particularly effective fist shuts Bukauskas’ lights out and his post arms give way, leading to Bukauskas collapsing on his face like a failed push-up.
Goddard sees that Bukauskas went out and rushes in to stop the fight, keeping the finish streak—and buzzer-beater pattern—alive today. It may have taken just about 15 minutes to get there, but Krylov registered a huge knockout after a close battle, his first since 2022 when he smoked Alexander Gustafsson.

The Official Result
Nikita Krylov def. Modestas Bukauskas R3 4:57 via KO (Punches)
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Confident picked Jan 18, 2026 (6 days before fight)
Modestas Bukauskas

Angelo picks Modestas Bukauskas, trusting his takedown defense and power. He thinks Nikita Krylov is the better overall fighter but has a weak chin, and Bukauskas only needs one clean shot. He warns Bukauskas not to engage in grappling like he did against Paul Craig.

This is just a fun fight. You don't need to bet on everything. Just sit back, relax, enjoy.
"I'm going to take the more powerful striker over the guy with the failing chin. So Modesus is going to be the pick."
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked Jan 15, 2026 (9 days before fight)
Modestas Bukauskas

Big Brady thinks Krylov is washed, citing his age (33 but 41 fights), long layoff, and two recent KO losses where he looked old and hesitant. He notes Krylov has stopped grappling, which was his best attribute. Bukauskas has been improving, and Brady expects him to knock out Krylov in the second round.

Bukauskas by KO/TKO in round 2
"I'm taking the guy who's not completely washed and that's Modest Bukowskis. I'm going to take Bukowskis to knock out Krill."
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Confident picked Jan 21, 2026 (3 days before fight)
Modestas Bukauskas

Cody confidently picks Bukauskas, arguing that Krylov is washed after a two-year layoff and two first-round KO losses. He notes Bukauskas's defensive wrestling and cardio should allow him to survive the first round and take over. Cody believes Bukauskas's ring generalship and durability will be enough to edge out a win.

"I'm going to edge him out with Krylov. It's very much a question of is he done? And he's 33 years old. It's not really done by the numbers, but you know, Paul mentioned it two-year layoff and he's come …"
CO
Connor Ruebusch Expert Confident picked Jan 23, 2026 (1 day before fight)
Modestas Bukauskas

Connor is sad about Krylov's decline, noting his chin is gone after two consecutive knockouts. He observes that Krylov looks panicked and flailing in recent fights, while Bukauskas has been improving, becoming more composed and taking opportunities. Connor believes Bukauskas's accuracy and incidental power could lead to a knockout, especially given Krylov's compromised durability.

"I got to take bakaskis. I hate to see it because when he was in his prime he was out there with like a high volume kicking game."
DA
Daniel Vreeland Expert Confident picked Jan 8, 2026 (16 days before fight)
Modestas Bukauskas

Daniel Vreeland picks Modestas Bukauskas to win by knockout. He notes that Krylov has lost two straight by first-round KO and appears washed, while Bukauskas is on a hot streak and brimming with confidence. Vreeland believes Bukauskas is catching Krylov at the perfect time and will get the biggest win of his career.

"I think Bukasquez comes out here, gets the biggest win of his career, and for the first time becomes a ranked UFC light heavyweight."
LU
Lucrative James Expert Lean picked Jan 14, 2026 (10 days before fight)
Nikita Krylov

James picks Krylov as an underdog, believing the line is too wide due to recency bias. He notes Krylov's superior skill set and grappling, and that Bukauskas has struggled with grappling. He also mentions inside info that Bukauskas's training camp has been disrupted. However, he acknowledges Krylov's chin might be shot.

"I kind of feel like Kryle wins skill set for skill set here. And if he comes in with a good game plan with his chin not being completely paper or dust, then he has a good shot of winning …"
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Jan 20, 2026 (4 days before fight)
Modestas Bukauskas

The host picks Bukauskas by knockout, believing his improved striking and defensive grappling will nullify Krylov's takedowns. He notes Krylov is on a two-fight losing streak and may be desperate, but Bukauskas's recent form and training with top heavyweights give him the edge. He loves the -140 line but has slight pause due to Bukauskas's past bonehead mistakes.

Bukauskas by knockout
"I love this line on Bukowskis. You know, he's made some bonehead mistakes in the past to make fights a little bit closer than they should be. So that kind of gives me a little bit of pause in terms …"
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Lean picked Jan 21, 2026 (3 days before fight)
Modestas Bukauskas

Paul leans toward Modestas Bukauskas, citing Krylov's recent durability issues and poor form. He notes Bukauskas is a generalist who can outwork Krylov, especially if the fight goes past the first round. Paul is hesitant due to Bukauskas's wrestling vulnerability but believes Krylov's decline is real.

"I do tend to to lean towards Picowskis, but I'm a little bit hesitant because I think his wrestling is still there to be exploited."
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Jan 23, 2026 (1 day before fight)
Modestas Bukauskas

The MMA Guru picks Modestas Bukauskas, criticizing Nikita Krylov's charging style and chin. He notes Bukauskas's growing confidence and counter-striking ability, predicting a KO in round two after an initial scrap.

KO in round two
"I'm going to go with Modi by KO in round two."
ZA
Zane Simon Expert Confident picked Jan 23, 2026 (1 day before fight)
Modestas Bukauskas

Zane agrees with Connor, emphasizing that Krylov's chin is gone and he looks like he's swimming out there. He notes that Bukauskas is peaking at 31 and has become more accurate and composed. Zane also comments on Krylov's lack of confidence and panicked starts, which Bukauskas can exploit.

"He seems like he's starting the fight panicked. Which is bad. And just imagine how he's going to feel when he looks into medestus bakowskis's empty eyes."
LOSS vs Bogdan Guskov
KO R1 4:18 · UFC on ABC: Whittaker vs. de Ridder · Jul 26, 2025
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Nikita Krylov 0 16 of 34 47% 16 of 34 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Bogdan Guskov 1 23 of 43 53% 28 of 48 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:17
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Nikita Krylov 0 16 of 34 47% 16 of 34 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Bogdan Guskov 1 23 of 43 53% 28 of 48 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:17
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Nikita Krylov 16 of 34 47% 6 of 20 3 of 5 7 of 9 16 of 34 0 of 0 0 of 0
Bogdan Guskov 23 of 43 53% 20 of 40 1 of 1 2 of 2 11 of 26 0 of 0 12 of 17
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Nikita Krylov 16 of 34 47% 6 of 20 3 of 5 7 of 9 16 of 34 0 of 0 0 of 0
Bogdan Guskov 23 of 43 53% 20 of 40 1 of 1 2 of 2 11 of 26 0 of 0 12 of 17
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Confident picked Jul 20, 2025 (6 days before fight)
Nikita Krylov

Angelo picks Nikita Krylov, citing his well-rounded skills, high fight IQ, and clear path to victory via takedowns. He notes Bogdan Guskov has power but showed wrestling holes in his last fight. He uses MMA math (Krylov beat Volkan, Volkan beat Guskov) and expects Krylov to wrestle. He will not bet on this fight.

No bet
"Nikita's going to be the pick because it's an obvious path forward and he is a very high fight IQ fighter. I'm not betting on this fight."
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked Jul 22, 2025 (4 days before fight)
Nikita Krylov

Big Brady picks Nikita Krylov, citing a significant grappling advantage. He notes Guskov has been outgrappled by lesser fighters like Billy Elekana and Volkan Oezdemir, and believes Krylov will take him down and submit him easily. He worries about Krylov's durability and fight IQ but thinks if he wrestles, he wins. He predicts a first-round submission.

first round submission
"I got to go Krillof here. ... if he goes out there and gets takedowns, he should make this look quite easy."
CO
Connor Ruebusch Expert Confident picked Jul 24, 2025 (2 days before fight)
Nikita Krylov

Connor acknowledges Krylov's shaky confidence after the Reyes KO but believes Guskov's style is more manageable. He notes Guskov's poor takedown defense and Krylov's clear path to win via wrestling. He thinks Krylov will test his grappling early and avoid striking exchanges.

"I'll take Krylov, but I'm going to take Krylov too."
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Jul 23, 2025 (3 days before fight)
Nikita Krylov

This is a perfect matchup for Krylov to utilize his grapple-heavy approach, keep Guskov on his back, grind him out, and clearly win on the scorecards or even lock up a late submission.

decision or late submission
"I think this is a perfect match up for Krillof to go out there and utilize his grapple heavy approach and keep Guskov on his back, grind him out and clearly win this fight on the scorecards or even locking …"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Jul 24, 2025 (2 days before fight)
Bogdan Guskov

The MMA Guru picks Bogdan Guskov, citing his patience, calmness, and ability to eat shots and break opponents. He criticizes Nikita Krylov for returning too soon after a KO loss and being too wild. He predicts an early TKO, possibly in round one or two, with multiple knockdowns.

TKO, round 1 or 2
"I'm going to go with Bogdan Guskov getting this one done against Nikita Krylov by TKO early."
ZA
Zane Simon Expert Confident picked Jul 24, 2025 (2 days before fight)
Nikita Krylov

Zane picks Krylov, noting that Guskov is vulnerable to wrestling and Krylov has the skills to exploit that. He sees the potential for disaster if Krylov hesitates, but believes the path to victory is clear via takedowns and ground control.

"Yeah, I mean, I'll take Krylov."
LOSS vs Dominick Reyes
KO R1 2:24 · UFC 314: Volkanovski vs. Lopes · Apr 12, 2025
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Nikita Krylov 0 4 of 22 18% 4 of 22 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Dominick Reyes 1 8 of 17 47% 8 of 17 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:02
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Nikita Krylov 0 4 of 22 18% 4 of 22 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Dominick Reyes 1 8 of 17 47% 8 of 17 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:02
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Nikita Krylov 4 of 22 18% 3 of 16 1 of 6 0 of 0 4 of 22 0 of 0 0 of 0
Dominick Reyes 8 of 17 47% 5 of 14 1 of 1 2 of 2 6 of 15 0 of 0 2 of 2
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Nikita Krylov 4 of 22 18% 3 of 16 1 of 6 0 of 0 4 of 22 0 of 0 0 of 0
Dominick Reyes 8 of 17 47% 5 of 14 1 of 1 2 of 2 6 of 15 0 of 0 2 of 2
CO
Connor Ruebusch Expert Confident picked Apr 10, 2025 (2 days before fight)
Nikita Krylov

Connor picks Krylov, agreeing with Zane that Krylov's chain wrestling and durability are key. He notes that Reyes has shown good basic takedown defense but has not faced a wrestler who chains attacks like Krylov. Connor also points out that Krylov's approach of putting opponents on one leg and making them hop is effective against bigger fighters. He acknowledges that if Reyes can stuff the first few takedowns, he could hurt Krylov, but believes Krylov's pressure will eventually pay off.

"I think I have to pick Nikita Crowe. Because two, the other thing that I'm looking at then too is not only has Krylov not been knocked out, but how many takedowns does Krylov go for? Really? And dozens? The …"
DA
Daniel Levi Expert Confident picked Apr 16, 2025 (fight day)
Dominick Reyes

Daniel Levi notes that Dominick Reyes got back on track with a knockout 2 minutes and 24 seconds into round one. He describes Nikita Krylov as a wild man with a karate style that runs forward, which allowed Reyes to counter him. He is happy for Reyes' comeback story.

"Dominic Ray has got back on track in an emphatic fashion. You know, knockout 2 minutes and 24 seconds into round one."
LU
Lucrative James Expert Lean picked Apr 9, 2025 (3 days before fight)
Nikita Krylov

Lucrative James leans towards Nikita Krylov, citing his durability, pace, and ability to break opponents. He thinks Krylov's hurricane style and wrestling pressure will wear down Reyes. He acknowledges Reyes' power and step-back left hand but believes Krylov's chin and volume will be too much. He notes that Reyes has been knocked out multiple times, while Krylov has shown better durability. He says it's a close fight and he wouldn't lay juice on Krylov, but if forced to pick, he sides with Krylov inside the distance.

He predicts Krylov wins inside the distance.
"I'm going to side with Kryov here. I'll say he gets it done inside the distance."
ZA
Zane Simon Expert Confident picked Apr 10, 2025 (2 days before fight)
Nikita Krylov

Zane picks Krylov, citing his relentless chain wrestling and ability to overwhelm opponents with volume. He notes that Reyes has good first-layer takedown defense but has rarely faced a wrestler who chains attacks like Krylov. Zane also points out that Krylov has never been knocked out, only submitted, and that Reyes lacks the submission threat to finish him on the ground. He believes Krylov's wrestling pressure will be too much for Reyes to handle over three rounds.

"I think I have to pick Nikita Crowe. Because two, the other thing that I'm looking at then too is not only has Krylov not been knocked out, but how many takedowns does Krylov go for? Really? And dozens? The …"
WIN vs Ryan Spann
Submission (triangle choke) R1 3:38 · UFC Fight Night: Yan vs. Dvalishvili · Mar 11, 2023
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Nikita Krylov 0 7 of 12 58% 24 of 31 2 of 2 100% 2 2 2:39
Ryan Spann 0 5 of 11 45% 5 of 11 1 of 2 50% 1 2 0:32
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Nikita Krylov 0 7 of 12 58% 24 of 31 2 of 2 100% 2 2 2:39
Ryan Spann 0 5 of 11 45% 5 of 11 1 of 2 50% 1 2 0:32
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Nikita Krylov 7 of 12 58% 2 of 7 2 of 2 3 of 3 3 of 7 3 of 4 1 of 1
Ryan Spann 5 of 11 45% 4 of 10 1 of 1 0 of 0 4 of 9 1 of 1 0 of 1
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Nikita Krylov 7 of 12 58% 2 of 7 2 of 2 3 of 3 3 of 7 3 of 4 1 of 1
Ryan Spann 5 of 11 45% 4 of 10 1 of 1 0 of 0 4 of 9 1 of 1 0 of 1
Play-by-Play
View on Sherdog
Nikita Krylov vs. Ryan Spann
BETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Krylov (-170), Spann (+145)

Round 1
Two weeks later than expected, fans in the building should soon be treated to an all-action slugfest in what was supposed to be the UFC Vegas 70 headliner. A combined 38 first-round finishes have come between Krylov (29-9, 10-7 UFC) and Spann (21-7, 7-2 UFC), with stellar stoppage rates of 93% for the former and 86% for the Texan. Referee Herb Dean better buckle up for this one, although he is able to take solace knowing it is still a matchup without any bad blood. With the cancelation a few weeks ago, this is no longer taking place at light heavyweight, and instead at 215 pounds. Fists are bumped before they throw down, and when they do, it should be one heck of a show. Spann reaches out with an early jab as Krylov kicks, and Spann follows it with a few punches that knock Krylov around. Krylov gains space after bouncing off the fence, and he pops Spann with a right hand to wobble the Texan’s legs. Krylov advances to try to keep swinging, and he ends up clinched up with his opponent. Spann throws Krylov down to the mat, and he lands on top and starts fishing for a submission. Krylov sits up and finds his neck in submission danger, but he shucks off the first guillotine choke try as Spann switches to a brabo choke. Krylov stays patient, and Spann adjusts his head and settles down with another guillotine. “The Miner” digs through the pain and discomfort to yank his neck free, and the two fighters work their way back upright. Krylov holds Spann from behind and kicks him in the side of the face awkwardly, and he drags Spann down to the ground. Spann turns the tables to take Krylov down, and Spann winds up in a guillotine choke threat on the other side. Spann slides out the back door and frees himself, and he grabs a two-on-one wrist lock in an attempt to scramble out. Krylov stays tightly pressed to him and lands a few punches that might have hit the back of the head. Spann stands up and Krylov falls over, and Spann jumps on top of him to drop hammers down.
When Spann lands on top, Krylov wraps his legs up around his opponent's head to tighten up a triangle choke. Spann knows this time, there is no way out, as he fell right into a trap. “Superman” is forced to surrender to the choke, as the crowd is silenced at the sudden conclusion of the mighty grappling battle.
This gives the victor, who is not representing a country given the Russian invasion of his home country of Ukraine, his 30th pro win and 28th by stoppage.

The Official Result
Nikita Krylov def. Ryan Spann R1 3:38 via Submission (Triangle Choke)
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Hesitant picked Mar 5, 2023 (6 days before fight)
Nikita Krylov

Angelo originally picked Nikita Krylov due to his wrestling and grinding ability, but the illness has significantly reduced his confidence. He still thinks Krylov will win if he is 100%, but he is no longer betting on him. He suggests a prop bet on Ryan Spann inside the distance (decision no action) because Spann is dangerous and the fight is now three rounds instead of five.

Ryan Spann inside the distance (decision no action) bet suggestion
"I'm no longer gonna bet on the key to cry love I've lost that much confidence him I think he probably still wins this... but the bet is definitely going to be Ryan span inside the distance decision no action"
BI
Big Brady Expert Hesitant picked Mar 8, 2023 (3 days before fight)
Ryan Spann

Big Brady picks Ryan Spann for the slight upset, noting both fighters have durability issues. He questions Krylov's submission defense (submitted six times) and Spann's chin. Brady expects a first-round finish, predicting Spann locks up a guillotine when Krylov shoots for takedowns. He has low confidence but thinks someone gets finished early.

win by submission in round 1
"I'm gonna say span locks up locks up a submission here in the very first round hard to be confident in picking a winner in this fight but I'll take span for the slight upset"
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Lean picked Mar 8, 2023 (3 days before fight)
Ryan Spann

Cody flips to Ryan Spann, citing Krylov's recent illness and the change from five rounds to three rounds. He thinks Spann's cardio is less of a concern in a three-round fight and notes Spann's submission threat. He believes the narrative of Krylov pulling out is enough to take the underdog.

"I think I'm flip-flopping over to Ryan span and again it's for like nothing other than just bad juju narrative by Nikita Karlov pulls out of a fight two weeks ago"
CO
Connor Ruebusch Expert Confident picked Mar 9, 2023 (2 days before fight)
Nikita Krylov

Connor picks Krylov, emphasizing his durability and relentless wrestling. He notes that Spann has poor takedown defense (83% takedown defense when excluding the Enrique fight) and that Krylov will keep shooting takedowns. Connor also points out that Krylov has never been knocked out and is crafty in finding ways to win. He expects Krylov to survive Spann's early power and take over with grappling.

Odds mentioned: Krylov opened -170, now -172; Spann opened +145, now +143.
"I think the only reason I would ever pick Ryan Spann in this fight is on the idea that he would knock Nikita Krylov out and that has never happened. ... Krylov, he wrestles everyone. That is really truly how …"
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Hesitant picked Mar 6, 2023 (5 days before fight)
Nikita Krylov

I think Krylov's improved grappling and takedown game will be key. He should drag Spann to the ground and work from top position, but he must be careful of Spann's guillotine. Spann's early power is a threat, but if Krylov survives the first round, he can take over. I expect a submission or TKO in the latter rounds. However, the early threat from Spann makes me hesitant to bet this fight.

Krylov inside the distance, by submission
"give me krilloff inside the distance let's say by submission but that early threat from Ryan span is going to be it's going to be a lot which will likely keep me off of this fight completely"
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Hesitant picked Mar 8, 2023 (3 days before fight)
Nikita Krylov

Paul picks Krylov but with less confidence than two weeks ago due to Krylov pulling out of the previous fight. He notes Krylov's improvements and path to victory via takedowns, but questions why Krylov pulled out. He thinks the -170 price is about right and calls it a stay-away.

"crylove is still the pick but I'm even less confident in it this week than I was last week or two weeks ago"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Mar 7, 2023 (4 days before fight)
Nikita Krylov

The MMA Guru picks Nikita Krylov, citing Ryan Spann's weight cut issues and the fact that Spann missed weight in his last fight. He believes Krylov's illness may help him keep weight down, while Spann will struggle with two weight cuts back-to-back. He predicts Krylov will push the pace, take Spann down, and get a TKO or submission in the later rounds.

by TKO or submission, second or third round
"I'm gonna trust in Nikita krylov even though he was Ill been two weeks he's definitely recovered since then I think the illness will help him keep his weight down"
ZA
Zane Simon Expert Confident picked Mar 9, 2023 (2 days before fight)
Nikita Krylov

Zane picks Krylov, agreeing with Connor's assessment. He highlights Spann's terrible takedown defense and Krylov's durability. Zane notes that Krylov is not a clean technician but makes good decisions and is flexible. He expects Krylov to take Spann down and grind out a win, as Spann is chinny and tense.

Odds mentioned: Krylov opened -170, now -172; Spann opened +145, now +143.
"I got a numbers like that. I mean, even with the 50%, how do you not pick Krylov? You know, he's going to keep trying."
Decision (unanimous) (30–27, 29–28, 29–28) R3 5:00 · UFC 280: Oliveira vs. Makhachev · Oct 22, 2022
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Nikita Krylov 0 42 of 81 51% 108 of 157 1 of 1 100% 0 0 0:47
Volkan Oezdemir 0 57 of 121 47% 171 of 251 7 of 20 35% 1 0 9:17
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Nikita Krylov 0 27 of 50 54% 46 of 72 1 of 1 100% 0 0 0:46
Volkan Oezdemir 0 26 of 58 44% 31 of 64 2 of 7 28% 1 0 2:02
2 Nikita Krylov 0 11 of 18 61% 42 of 55 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:01
Volkan Oezdemir 0 11 of 27 40% 54 of 78 3 of 8 37% 0 0 3:28
3 Nikita Krylov 0 4 of 13 30% 20 of 30 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Volkan Oezdemir 0 20 of 36 55% 86 of 109 2 of 5 40% 0 0 3:47
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Nikita Krylov 42 of 81 51% 35 of 72 3 of 3 4 of 6 34 of 68 5 of 9 3 of 4
Volkan Oezdemir 57 of 121 47% 42 of 100 12 of 18 3 of 3 38 of 93 12 of 17 7 of 11
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Nikita Krylov 27 of 50 54% 24 of 47 0 of 0 3 of 3 20 of 39 4 of 7 3 of 4
Volkan Oezdemir 26 of 58 44% 17 of 46 7 of 10 2 of 2 17 of 45 8 of 10 1 of 3
2 Nikita Krylov 11 of 18 61% 8 of 14 2 of 2 1 of 2 10 of 16 1 of 2 0 of 0
Volkan Oezdemir 11 of 27 40% 10 of 24 0 of 2 1 of 1 9 of 23 0 of 2 2 of 2
3 Nikita Krylov 4 of 13 30% 3 of 11 1 of 1 0 of 1 4 of 13 0 of 0 0 of 0
Volkan Oezdemir 20 of 36 55% 15 of 30 5 of 6 0 of 0 12 of 25 4 of 5 4 of 6
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked Oct 17, 2022 (5 days before fight)
Nikita Krylov

Big Brady picks Krylov to win by first-round knockout. He notes Oezdemir looked off in his last fight against Paul Craig and is getting older. Krylov has multiple paths to victory: knockout on the feet or submission on the ground, with 27 of 28 wins inside the distance. He believes Krylov's pressure and finishing ability will be too much for Oezdemir.

first round knockout
"I think krilloff to win by I'll say first round knockout"
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Lean picked Oct 19, 2022 (3 days before fight)
Nikita Krylov

Cody picks Krylov, noting his fast starts and power. He thinks Krylov can catch Oezdemir early and finish him. Cody acknowledges Krylov's poor decisions and gas tank but believes Oezdemir's best days are behind him. He sees Krylov as the better fighter at this point.

"I will go with Nikki to cry"
DA
Daniel Levi Expert Confident picked Oct 17, 2022 (5 days before fight)
Nikita Krylov

Daniel Levi picks Nikita Krylov to win, believing Krylov is showing the best version of himself while Volkan Oezdemir is fizzling out. He notes Krylov's improved submission defense and well-rounded game, and that he performed well against top competition like Magomed Ankalaev. Levi thinks Oezdemir is a traditional kickboxer who has declined, while Krylov blends punches, kicks, and takedowns. He does not see much value in the line but picks Krylov.

"I just see uh Nikita Krill out coming out here winning this fight"
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Lean picked Oct 19, 2022 (3 days before fight)
Volkan Oezdemir

Paul leans Oezdemir as an underdog, citing his takedown defense and experience. He notes that only Daniel Cormier has taken Oezdemir down more than once. Paul thinks Krylov's wrestling is overrated and that Oezdemir will make it a slow fight. He is not confident enough to bet but picks Oezdemir.

"I'm leaning towards Vulcan as an underdog in this spot"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Oct 17, 2022 (5 days before fight)
Nikita Krylov

The MMA Guru picks Nikita Krylov over Volkan Oezdemir, despite Oezdemir's win over Paul Craig. He notes Krylov was dominating Craig before getting caught, while Oezdemir looked slow and tired. He highlights Krylov's reach advantage, head kicks, and momentum from a KO win, predicting a 30-27 unanimous decision.

"I'm going with Nikki to kryl off over volcano's DeMent"
KO (punches) R1 1:07 · UFC Fight Night: Blaydes vs. Aspinall · Jul 23, 2022
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Nikita Krylov 2 26 of 44 59% 26 of 45 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:09
Alexander Gustafsson 0 5 of 8 62% 5 of 9 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:07
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Nikita Krylov 2 26 of 44 59% 26 of 45 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:09
Alexander Gustafsson 0 5 of 8 62% 5 of 9 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:07
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Nikita Krylov 26 of 44 59% 24 of 41 1 of 1 1 of 2 15 of 29 4 of 5 7 of 10
Alexander Gustafsson 5 of 8 62% 4 of 7 1 of 1 0 of 0 5 of 7 0 of 0 0 of 1
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Nikita Krylov 26 of 44 59% 24 of 41 1 of 1 1 of 2 15 of 29 4 of 5 7 of 10
Alexander Gustafsson 5 of 8 62% 4 of 7 1 of 1 0 of 0 5 of 7 0 of 0 0 of 1
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Hesitant picked Jul 17, 2022 (6 days before fight)
Nikita Krylov

Angelo picks Nikita Krylov but is hesitant due to Gustafsson's two-year layoff and three-fight losing streak. He notes Krylov is well-rounded and has a good chin, but questions his fight IQ after the Paul Craig loss. He says the odds favoring Krylov are surprising and calls it a no-bet situation, expecting Gustafsson to look older and slower.

no bet
"nikita is the pick i would love if alexander augustine looked great though but i just don't see that happening"
BI
Big Brady Expert Hesitant picked Jul 18, 2022 (5 days before fight)
Nikita Krylov

Big Brady picks Nikita Krylov to win by finish (ground and pound or submission in round 2). He is hesitant due to question marks about Gustafsson's layoff and motivation. He notes Gustafsson hasn't won in five years and hasn't fought in two years. Krylov is more active and dangerous, but if Gustafsson shows up motivated, it's a different fight.

Krylov by finish in round 2
"give me krill off for those reasons give me krill off to win i will say like second round uh grounded pound or second round submission"
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Lean picked Jul 20, 2022 (3 days before fight)
Alexander Gustafsson

Cody leans towards Alexander Gustafsson, citing that his losses are to top competition and he may have recaptured motivation after a two-year layoff. He notes Krylov has durability issues and tends to fade in later rounds. Cody thinks Gustafsson can use his mobility and grappling to neutralize Krylov and win a decision. He acknowledges there are many red flags but sees value in the underdog.

under 90.5 fantasy score for Krylov on PrizePicks
"i would classify it as a dogger pass so ever so slightly i'm i'm just going to jump into the unknown and go with gustafsson"
DA
Daniel Levi Expert Confident picked Jul 20, 2022 (3 days before fight)
Nikita Krylov

Daniel Levi confidently picks Nikita Krylov, arguing that Gustafsson is past his prime and has already retired once, saying he didn't have what it takes anymore. He notes that Krylov is only 30 and entering his prime, with a well-rounded game and a Kyokushin karate background. Levi acknowledges Krylov's occasional bonehead mistakes but believes he will outwork Gustafsson. He also mentions that he likes fading washed-up fighters and that Krylov is a motivated underdog in this spot.

Mentions he is looking to bet Krylov, implying a betting interest.
"i think nikita krillov is the guy who's been watching alexander gustafson his entire career and this is like a big motivating fight for him"
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Hesitant picked Jul 20, 2022 (3 days before fight)
Alexander Gustafsson

Gustafsson looks in phenomenal shape and has a big skill advantage over Krylov. His takedown defense is 83%. Krylov's wins are over lesser competition. If Gustafsson is even 70% of his peak, he wins handily. However, motivation is a question mark, so I'm passing on betting but predicting Gustafsson.

"I am going to make that switch I am going to go on the Customs inside"
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Lean picked Jul 20, 2022 (3 days before fight)
Alexander Gustafsson

Paul picks Alexander Gustafsson at plus money, calling minus 200 on Krylov ridiculous. He notes Gustafsson has looked horrible recently but his losses are to elite fighters. Paul admits he doesn't have the courage to bet Gustafsson confidently and will wait for weigh-ins. He says he won't bet money on it.

"i'll pick gustafson for the purposes of the show because it's plus money and i think minus 200 on krylov is is kind of ridiculous"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Jul 18, 2022 (5 days before fight)
Nikita Krylov

The MMA Guru picks Nikita Krylov to win by submission in the first or second round. He questions Gustafsson's reasons for returning and notes Krylov is underrated. Krylov put a pace on Ankalaev and has great stand-up. Gustafsson has poor ground game and has been submitted when taken down. Krylov will take him down and secure a submission.

first or second round submission
"i'm gonna swipe with nikita krylov getting this one done against alexander gustafsson second round first round rooney choke submission"
LOSS vs Paul Craig
Submission (triangle choke) R1 3:57 · UFC Fight Night: Volkov vs. Aspinall · Mar 19, 2022
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Paul Craig 0 19 of 25 76% 30 of 39 1 of 1 100% 0 0 3:49
Nikita Krylov 0 2 of 3 66% 11 of 12 1 of 1 100% 1 0 0:02
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Paul Craig 0 19 of 25 76% 30 of 39 1 of 1 100% 0 0 3:49
Nikita Krylov 0 2 of 3 66% 11 of 12 1 of 1 100% 1 0 0:02
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Paul Craig 19 of 25 76% 18 of 24 1 of 1 0 of 0 3 of 3 0 of 0 16 of 22
Nikita Krylov 2 of 3 66% 2 of 3 0 of 0 0 of 0 0 of 0 0 of 0 2 of 3
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Paul Craig 19 of 25 76% 18 of 24 1 of 1 0 of 0 3 of 3 0 of 0 16 of 22
Nikita Krylov 2 of 3 66% 2 of 3 0 of 0 0 of 0 0 of 0 0 of 0 2 of 3
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Confident picked Mar 12, 2022 (7 days before fight)
Paul Craig

Angelo picks Paul Craig as an underdog, noting his incredible toughness and submission threat. He thinks Krylov is more well-rounded but less dangerous, and will likely win a decision if he fights perfectly. He expects Craig to withstand a beating and find a finish on the ground. He plans to bet on Paul Craig wins inside the distance (decision no action) at plus money.

bet: Paul Craig wins inside the distance (decision no action) at +200
"i like paul craig in the underdog spot and i think he can win this fight he is my underdog pick here but betting wise i will likely do a paul craig wins inside the distance decision no action bet"
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked Mar 14, 2022 (5 days before fight)
Nikita Krylov

Big Brady picks Nikita Krylov to win by first-round knockout. He likes Krylov's knockout power and believes Paul Craig's chin is suspect. Brady notes that if the fight goes to the mat, Craig is dangerous with submissions, but he thinks Krylov can avoid the grappling and finish early. He also mentions Craig's talk of retirement as a potential factor.

first round knockout
"give me kriloff to win by first round knockout"
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Hesitant picked Mar 16, 2022 (3 days before fight)
Nikita Krylov

Cody picks Krylov but is hesitant, noting Krylov's tendency to make bad decisions and engage in grappling with submission experts. He thinks Krylov should win if he keeps it standing, but worries he might get caught. He prefers Craig by submission as a prop.

paul craig by submission plus 450
"krylov i guess is the pick but i don't love it i'm staying away from it like the plague"
DA
Daniel Levi Expert Confident picked Mar 17, 2022 (2 days before fight)
Paul Craig

Daniel Levi picks Paul Craig by submission at +450, noting that Nikita Krylov has five career submission losses and a history of making bonehead mistakes on the mat. He believes Craig only needs one opportunity to snatch a submission, as seen against Jamal Hill. Levi acknowledges Krylov may win the minutes and has knockout potential, but at plus money, he's willing to bet on Craig's opportunistic submission game. He also mentions the hometown advantage for Craig in the UK.

Craig by submission +450
"craig by sub at uh plus 450 are you [ __ ] me right now plus 450 that's all that's craig's best value"
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Hesitant picked Mar 16, 2022 (3 days before fight)
Nikita Krylov

Krylov has power striking and good combinations, which should overwhelm Craig on the feet. However, five of Krylov's eight losses are by submission, a huge red flag against a submission specialist like Craig. Craig is dangerous off his back, constantly throwing up submissions. The fight likely ends inside the distance, but Krylov's striking advantage should lead to a knockout. I'm picking Krylov by KO, but the fight doesn't go to decision is my favorite bet.

Fight doesn't go to decision (parlay piece); Krylov by knockout
"Official prediction is Nikita Krylov by knockout but the fight doesn't go to the decision is probably something that I'll be parlaying."
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Confident picked Mar 16, 2022 (3 days before fight)
Nikita Krylov

Paul picks Krylov confidently, arguing that Krylov has fought elite competition and improved his takedown defense. He believes Krylov's striking is far superior and that Craig's wins are overrated. He thinks Krylov will win by KO if he fights smart.

"i just got to go with more probabilities he doesn't get caught and he probably smashes him out of here"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Mar 14, 2022 (5 days before fight)
Nikita Krylov

The Guru picks Nikita Krylov, arguing he is underrated and has better performances than Paul Craig. He notes Krylov held his own against Glover Teixeira and outgrappled Magomed Ankalaev in round one. He criticizes Craig's chin and mentions Craig's retirement talk. He predicts a first-round TKO on the feet, as Craig tends to go down when hit clean.

first round TKO
"i'm gonna go with nikita krylov... i'm gonna call a first round tko for nikita cried off here on the feet"
Marcos Rogério de Lima - Fight History
WIN vs Junior Tafa
TKO (leg kick and punches) R2 1:14 · UFC 298: Volkanovski vs. Topuria · Feb 17, 2024
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Marcos Rogério de Lima 1 33 of 46 71% 63 of 78 1 of 3 33% 0 0 3:26
Junior Tafa 0 11 of 27 40% 17 of 33 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Marcos Rogério de Lima 0 27 of 36 75% 55 of 66 1 of 3 33% 0 0 3:08
Junior Tafa 0 6 of 18 33% 10 of 22 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
2 Marcos Rogério de Lima 1 6 of 10 60% 8 of 12 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:18
Junior Tafa 0 5 of 9 55% 7 of 11 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Marcos Rogério de Lima 33 of 46 71% 19 of 31 2 of 2 12 of 13 22 of 32 1 of 1 10 of 13
Junior Tafa 11 of 27 40% 9 of 24 1 of 2 1 of 1 10 of 26 0 of 0 1 of 1
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Marcos Rogério de Lima 27 of 36 75% 16 of 24 2 of 2 9 of 10 18 of 25 1 of 1 8 of 10
Junior Tafa 6 of 18 33% 5 of 16 1 of 2 0 of 0 5 of 17 0 of 0 1 of 1
2 Marcos Rogério de Lima 6 of 10 60% 3 of 7 0 of 0 3 of 3 4 of 7 0 of 0 2 of 3
Junior Tafa 5 of 9 55% 4 of 8 0 of 0 1 of 1 5 of 9 0 of 0 0 of 0
Play-by-Play
View on Sherdog
Marcos Rogerio de Lima vs. Junior Tafa
BETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: NA

Round 1
In something never before seen in the Octagon, brother will replace brother in a match. On weigh-in day, Justin Tafa was expected to be facing Rogerio de Lima (21-9-1, 10-7 UFC). Due to an unexpected injury and some speedy negotiations, the Brazilian will now collide with Junior Tafa (5-1, 1-1 UFC) instead. Life finds a way. Referee Frank Trigg is ready for this heavyweight slobberknocker to get underway, and Tafa stretches his arm out to get a glove touch before getting after it. Rogerio de Lima scores first with a low kick as he backs Tafa to the wall, and when Tafa reaches out with a jab, Rogerio de Lima connects with a second and then a third. Tafa switches stances and lands the single jab, and he hops away from a sweeping leg kick. The kicks are already having an effect on his opponent, and Rogerio de Lima recognizes that. Rogerio de Lima backs off, connects with a few punches and assaults the lead wheel with another kick, and Tafa’s leg nearly gives out beneath him. Tafa hops around, and instead of getting away, Rogerio de Lima pushes after him with a clinch. Tafa welcomes this so he can recover, and when they eventually break, Tafa plods forward to throw haymakers with anything he has left. Rogerio de Lima belts him with another pair of leg kicks, and Tafa backs up to the wall and waves him on. The Brazilian swarms him with punches and body shots, and he shoots in for a double that he completes with relative ease. Rogerio de Lima lands on top in half guard, maintaining heavy top pressure and bopping Tafa with his left hand when he finds an opening. Rogerio de Lima smothers his man until Tafa sits up. Rogerio de Lima considers a choke from an unusual position, and Tafa breaks out, relatively speaking, so he can swing a heavy hand at his opponent. Rogerio de Lima does not like this, so he lowers his chest down to squeeze on Tafa. The grind carries out until the horn bleats.

Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Rogerio de Lima
Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-9 Rogerio de Lima
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Rogerio de Lima

Round 2
Tafa struggles to get back to his feet at the end of the last round, but after a minute to recover, he appears fresh enough to continue. Tafa wades forward, and Rogerio de Lima intercepts him with a calf kick and pushes him down with his fists. Tafa switches to southpaw to protect his wrecked leg, and he lunges forward with an inaccurate punch that allows Rogerio de Lima the close proximity to grab him and shove him to the fencing. Tafa turns around and lands a body shot before pushing away, and he lets his hands go with a mighty right hand.
Rogerio de Lima delivers a harsh calf kick that collapses Tafa’s lead leg, and he looks to Trigg to wave the fight off. Trigg watches on without jumping in, so Rogerio de Lima decides to jump on top and pound away with hammerfists until Trigg calls it.
Tafa fought valiantly, but his replacement effort proved unsuccessful.

The Official Result
Marcos Rogerio de Lima def. Junior Tafa R2 1:14 via TKO (Leg Kick and Punches)
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Lean picked Feb 11, 2024 (6 days before fight)
Junior Tafa

Angelo picks Junior Tafa as an underdog, noting his power and durability. He thinks Marcos will struggle to take Tafa down due to Tafa's size and hips. He plans to bet Tafa inside the distance decision no action, as Tafa has finishing upside and Marcos is likely to win a decision if he avoids the knockout.

Junior Tafa wins inside distance (decision no action)
"I think Justin taffa is more than enough durable to not get finished here and all the finishing upside is on his side"
BI
Big Brady Expert Lean picked Feb 13, 2024 (4 days before fight)
Marcos Rogério de Lima

Big Brady picks Marcos Rogério de Lima to win by first-round submission. He notes de Lima has more ways to win with his BJJ black belt and wrestling, and expects him to get the fight to the mat where Tafa is untested. He acknowledges Tafa has power and could land a knockout, but leans de Lima due to his grappling advantage. He says he can't have much confidence in either fighter.

de Lima by submission, round 1
"give me to Lima first round sub I don't think this fight is going is going to last long one way or another but give me the guy that I think has more ways to win"
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Confident picked Feb 14, 2024 (3 days before fight)
Junior Tafa

Cody picks Tafa as a dog, expressing strong dislike for de Lima. He notes de Lima's poor cardio and tendency to gas after one round, as seen in the Stefan Struve fight. He believes Tafa's power will eventually catch de Lima, especially if de Lima tires. He sees Tafa as a live underdog at plus money.

"I will take we got a under dog on McKenzie Daren was the first dog pick of the card I'm going to go follow it up with the second dog pick and take tofa."
DA
Daniel Vreeland Expert Hesitant picked Feb 13, 2024 (4 days before fight)
Junior Tafa

Daniel Vreeland picks Junior Tafa, despite acknowledging de Lima's experience and grappling advantage. He is concerned about de Lima's recent knockout loss to Derrick Lewis, where he suffered severe dental damage, and questions his recovery. He believes Tafa's power gives him a chance, especially if de Lima is compromised. He notes Tafa's improvements and the fact that de Lima has been finished before.

"I'm actually going to go taffa here."
DA
Daniel Vreeland Expert Confident picked Feb 14, 2024 (3 days before fight)
Junior Tafa

Daniel picks Junior Tafa, calling him a 'bad man' who swangs and bangs. He likes Tafa's power and youth compared to de Lima. He hopes Tafa can keep the fight on the feet and thinks he is worth a dabble as a dog.

"dog time TAA is the pick he's a bad he's a bad man he swangs and bangs... hopefully tofa can keep this on the feet but I think tof is worth a dabble as a dog here."
JE
Jeff Fox Expert Confident picked Feb 14, 2024 (3 days before fight)
Junior Tafa

Jeff picks Junior Tafa as a dog. He is less worried about Tafa keeping the fight standing and more convinced that de Lima won't shoot takedowns quickly enough. He compares de Lima to fighters like Devin Clark who don't wrestle when they should. He warns that Tafa has one of the worst resumes of any UFC heavyweight, so he advises against betting heavily. He thinks Tafa's boxing will hold up.

"I think I'm gonna dabble with Justin tofa too uh I think I'm less worried about whether he can keep it on the feet and more kind of just convinced that Marcos Rogério de Lima won't shoot a takedown fast …"
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Feb 15, 2024 (2 days before fight)
Marcos Rogério de Lima

De Lima has solid power, good leg kicks, and a grapple-heavy style to neutralize Tafa's punching power. He has matured enough to take the fight to the ground and keep Tafa from getting off. Expects a decision win.

"give me Delma and Delma by decision"
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Lean picked Feb 14, 2024 (3 days before fight)
Marcos Rogério de Lima

Paul picks de Lima, citing his size and takedown ability. He notes that de Lima has a grappling advantage and can take Tafa down. He expects de Lima to use leg kicks and takedowns to win, though he admits he has no intention of betting this fight early.

"the pick for me right now will be Marcos rogerio Del Lima."
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Lean picked Feb 13, 2024 (4 days before fight)
Junior Tafa

The MMA Guru leans toward Junior Tafa, citing his momentum and improvements, while noting Marcos Rogério de Lima is coming off a KO loss. He calls it a coin flip and admits he doesn't mind de Lima as an underdog. He mentions Tafa's KO power and de Lima's stagnation, but acknowledges Tafa's losses to Jared Vanderaa and Carlos Felipe.

"I'm going to lean towards Tafa... I'll take the momentum of Tafa, the improvements of him over the stagnation of Marcos Rodrigo Del Lima."
LOSS vs Derrick Lewis
TKO (punches) R1 0:33 · UFC 291: Poirier vs. Gaethje 2 · Jul 29, 2023
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Derrick Lewis 1 17 of 33 51% 20 of 36 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:29
Marcos Rogério de Lima 0 1 of 1 100% 2 of 2 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Derrick Lewis 1 17 of 33 51% 20 of 36 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:29
Marcos Rogério de Lima 0 1 of 1 100% 2 of 2 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Derrick Lewis 17 of 33 51% 16 of 32 1 of 1 0 of 0 1 of 1 0 of 0 16 of 32
Marcos Rogério de Lima 1 of 1 100% 1 of 1 0 of 0 0 of 0 0 of 0 0 of 0 1 of 1
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Derrick Lewis 17 of 33 51% 16 of 32 1 of 1 0 of 0 1 of 1 0 of 0 16 of 32
Marcos Rogério de Lima 1 of 1 100% 1 of 1 0 of 0 0 of 0 0 of 0 0 of 0 1 of 1
Play-by-Play
View on Sherdog
Derrick Lewis vs. Marcos Rogerio de Lima
BETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Rogerio de Lima (-215), Lewis (+185)

Round 1
One day ago, this heavyweight slobberknocker that will almost certainly end in either a violent knockout or some serious huffing and puffing – possibly both – is now sitting pretty as the “Featured Fight of the Night” due to the cancelation of the Stephen Thompson-Michel Pereira contest. Hunting for his first win since 2021, Lewis (26-11, 1 NC; 17-9 UFC) still holds the UFC’s all-time knockout record, although Matt Brown tied it with him. He draws fellow knockout artist Rogerio de Lima (21-8-1, 10-6 UFC), and the structural integrity of the cage will be tested when these big men get after it. They lumber towards one another, not offering a glove touch, and referee Dan Miragliotta is ready to step in at a moment’s notice. Lewis shockingly leaps in the air, blasting Rogerio de Lima in the chops with a flying knee. Rogerio de Lima collapses to the ground, and Lewis jumps on top and starts hammering him with vicious ground-and-pound. Rogerio de Lima considers hunting for leglock while trying to survive, but he is in a bad, bad way. Lewis continues slugging him on the face and side of the head, and Rogerio de Lima bails on any possible sub setup and just looks to keep it together. Rogerio de Lima turns to his knees, and the writing may be on the wall here. “The Black Beast” continues swarming Rogerio de Lima with everything he has, and Miragliotta has no choice but to call the fight. Lewis unmounts his defeated opponent, takes his shorts off and starts gleefully running around the cage. He proceeds, in just his underpants, to triumphantly motion the crotch chop several times. Lewis jumps on the cage, happy as can be, celebrating in vintage Derrick Lewis fashion. The UFC’s knockout record now singularly sits in the lap of Lewis, who tells commentator Joe Rogan that his contract is now up and that he hopes to be re-signed by the promotion. If not, as he says, “it is what it is.” The rest of the top-notch post-fight remarks cannot be done justice by a simple play-by-play writeup, and must be heard.

The Official Result
Derrick Lewis def. Marcos Rogerio de Lima R1 0:33 via TKO (Punches)
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Confident picked Jul 23, 2023 (6 days before fight)
Marcos Rogério de Lima

Angelo is very confident in Marcos Rogério de Lima, stating he is better everywhere except power. He notes that Derrick Lewis is always dangerous with his knockout power, but believes Lima's wrestling, BJJ, and leg kicks will be too much. He placed a 1-unit bet at -129 and notes the line has already moved to -190.

1 unit at -129
"I'm very confident in Marcos to win I have a one unit bed on him at -129 he is already at minus 190."
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked Jul 24, 2023 (5 days before fight)
Marcos Rogério de Lima

Big Brady picks Marcos Rogério de Lima to win by first-round TKO via leg kicks. He argues de Lima has more paths to victory: knockout to the head, leg kick TKO, or submission. He questions Derrick Lewis's durability, cardio, and mentality, noting Lewis has been finished early in recent fights. He expects de Lima's leg kicks to shut down Lewis quickly.

first round TKO via leg kicks
"I'm going to take delima first round TKO via late kicks I think a couple of these leg kicks just shut down Derrick Lewis fights over shortly after"
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Confident picked Jul 26, 2023 (3 days before fight)
Derrick Lewis

Cody picks Lewis by KO, noting Lewis's power and ability to come from behind. He acknowledges Lewis's losing streak but points out the level of competition (Curtis Blaydes, Serghei Spivac, etc.) is much higher than de Lima's wins. He believes de Lima's cardio and chin are suspect, especially at altitude, and Lewis's heart and power will prevail. He took a small bet on Lewis by KO at +270.

Lewis by KO +270
"I took a small small shot on Derek Lewis by knockout at plus 270"
LU
Lucrative James Expert Confident picked Jul 25, 2023 (4 days before fight)
Marcos Rogério de Lima

James believes de Lima should be a sizable favorite, as Lewis is past his prime and has lost four of his last five. He notes de Lima's leg kicks are a key weapon and that Lewis has poor cardio and doesn't like leg kicks. He expects de Lima to land leg kicks early and possibly finish Lewis, though he acknowledges de Lima also gasses.

"I still think that he's gonna win the fight cleanly there are Lewis at this point in his career is done in my opinion"
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Lean picked Jul 24, 2023 (5 days before fight)
Marcos Rogério de Lima

De Lima is on a good run and has power and leg kicks to slow Lewis down. He can also take Lewis down and smash him from top position. Lewis is on a losing streak and seems to have slowed down at 38. De Lima should be aggressive early to avoid Lewis's late power. I'm leaning on de Lima under 2.5 rounds.

under 2.5 rounds
"I'm gonna lean on to Lima in this matchup under two and a half probably my favorite spot but I think it's going to be delima who ends up getting his hand raised by knockout early"
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Confident picked Jul 26, 2023 (3 days before fight)
Derrick Lewis

Paul also picks Lewis, emphasizing the talent gap: de Lima's wins are over lower-tier heavyweights while Lewis has fought top contenders. He notes de Lima's history of quitting under adversity (e.g., tapping to a forearm choke against Romanov). He believes Lewis's ability to get back up from takedowns and his power will be decisive, especially at altitude where de Lima's cardio will falter.

"I'm also going to take Derek Lewis on this one"
Decision (unanimous) (29–28, 29–28, 29–28) R3 5:00 · UFC on ESPN: Song vs. Simon · Apr 29, 2023
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Marcos Rogério de Lima 0 59 of 76 77% 76 of 95 3 of 7 42% 0 0 5:01
Waldo Cortes Acosta 0 82 of 150 54% 88 of 156 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:34
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Marcos Rogério de Lima 0 27 of 34 79% 33 of 40 1 of 2 50% 0 0 1:35
Waldo Cortes Acosta 0 20 of 39 51% 23 of 42 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:34
2 Marcos Rogério de Lima 0 15 of 19 78% 26 of 32 2 of 4 50% 0 0 3:00
Waldo Cortes Acosta 0 19 of 37 51% 22 of 40 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
3 Marcos Rogério de Lima 0 17 of 23 73% 17 of 23 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:26
Waldo Cortes Acosta 0 43 of 74 58% 43 of 74 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Marcos Rogério de Lima 59 of 76 77% 20 of 31 11 of 15 28 of 30 56 of 72 2 of 2 1 of 2
Waldo Cortes Acosta 82 of 150 54% 54 of 116 18 of 23 10 of 11 79 of 146 3 of 3 0 of 1
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Marcos Rogério de Lima 27 of 34 79% 7 of 11 5 of 7 15 of 16 26 of 32 0 of 0 1 of 2
Waldo Cortes Acosta 20 of 39 51% 7 of 24 10 of 11 3 of 4 17 of 36 3 of 3 0 of 0
2 Marcos Rogério de Lima 15 of 19 78% 6 of 10 2 of 2 7 of 7 13 of 17 2 of 2 0 of 0
Waldo Cortes Acosta 19 of 37 51% 13 of 30 4 of 5 2 of 2 19 of 36 0 of 0 0 of 1
3 Marcos Rogério de Lima 17 of 23 73% 7 of 10 4 of 6 6 of 7 17 of 23 0 of 0 0 of 0
Waldo Cortes Acosta 43 of 74 58% 34 of 62 4 of 7 5 of 5 43 of 74 0 of 0 0 of 0
Play-by-Play
View on Sherdog
Waldo Cortes-Acosta vs. Marcos Rogerio de Lima
BETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: De Lima (-180), Cortes-Acosta (+155)

Round 1
De Lima enters this heavyweight fight having won three of his last four UFC appearances. He’ll look to halt the momentum of Cortes-Acosta, whose undefeated record includes a pair of UFC triumphs. Herb Dean gets his first assignment of the card as the third man in the Octagon. De Lima stalks his foe and throws a front kick followed by a pair of calf kicks. A Cortes-Acosta body kick is countered by a de Lima right. A hard leg kick lands for de Lima and Acosta nods in acknowledgement. Another leg kick for de Lima and Acosta with a straight to the body. De Lima is heavily targeting the leg, and Acosta’s calf is swelling up early. De Lima punches his way into the clinch and he drags Acosta to the mat. Acosta gives up his back in an attempt to stand. Dean warns Acosta to keeps his fingers ot of de Lima’s glove. Acosta is able to stand and he throws a body kick. De LIma with another low kick and Acosta jabs the body. A solid right lands for Acosta, who shoots for a takedown. He doesn’t get it but he does shove de Lima into the fence. Acosta knees the thighs in close quarters. De Lima reverses position and the heavyweights separate. A counter left connects for de Lima, who then goes back to attacking the legs. Several more leg kicks land for de Lima, but Acosta answers with a spinning back kick. De Lima shoves Acosta into the fence, and they’ll end the round in the clinch.

Sherdog Scores
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 de Lima
Lev Pisarsky scores the round: 10-9 de Lima
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 de Lima

Round 2
Acosta opens with an inside leg kick and a jab. De Lima answers with a leg kick. Acosta is still moving well despite absorbing those leg kicks. De Lima makes Acosta stumble with a trio of leg kicks. Both heavyweights land body kicks. Acosta with a right hand, and Acosta answers with an uppercut. De Lima lands a right to the body. De Lima shoots for a takedown against the fence, lifts Acosta and plants him on his back. De Lima sets up hin his foe’s half guard. The Brazilian passes to mount and Acosta threatens with a kimura. Acosta gives up his back and scrambles to his feet. De Lima keeps his hands locked and then lands a few left hands before taking his man down near the fence. The Brazilian is back to working from half guard. Acosta gives up his back and scrambles to his feet. They swing heavy punches for a few moments. Acosta eats a leg kick and then makes de Lima stumble backward with a right hand. De Lima shoots for a takedown against the fence with about 30 seconds left. De Lima drops low, but Acosta defends and leans forward. They separate just before the horn.

Sherdog Scores
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 de Lima
Lev Pisarsky scores the round: 10-9 de Lima
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 de Lima

Round 3
Acosta lands a clubbing right hand. Acosta lands a jab and de Lima responds with a low kick. It’s a measured beginning to the final round for both men. Another jab for Acosta and another leg kick for de Lima. Acosta lands a spinning back kick to the midsection. Another nice jab lands for Acosta. De Lima steps in with a left hook, but Acosta answers with a combination. A hard low kick hurts Acosta. Acosta jabs the body, then the head. A right hand lands for Acosta, and de Lima is just standing in front of his foe and eating punches. Another jab lands for Acosta. A three-punch combination lands for Acosta, and de Lima fires off another low kick. More jabs for Acosta, as de Lima’s output has slowed significantly. De Lima’s face is wearing the damage from Acosta’s jab. De Lima shoots for a takedown against the fence. He locks his hands but Acosta nonetheless defends the attempt. Acosta frees himself and touches de Lima with straight punches. De Lima makes his foe buckle briefly with a low kick. but it’s Acosta landing in volume as the round expires.

Sherdog Scores
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Cortes-Acosta (29-28 de Lima)
Lev Pisarsky scores the round: 10-9 Cortes-Acosta (29-28 de Lima)
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Cortes-Acosta (29-28 de Lima)

The Official Result
Marcos Rogerio de Lima def. Waldo Cortes-Acosta via Unanimous Decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28) R3 5:00
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Confident picked Apr 26, 2023 (3 days before fight)
Waldo Cortes Acosta

Cody picks Acosta as an underdog, highlighting de Lima's poor cardio and tendency to fade after the first round. He notes that Acosta has better boxing, volume, and a good gas tank, and can survive the initial onslaught to take over later. He suggests waiting for live betting to get an even better price on Acosta.

"the pre-flop pick is going to be the the underdog here but again I think you can get an even better price if you wait for that live market"
CO
Connor Ruebusch Expert Confident picked Apr 27, 2023 (2 days before fight)
Marcos Rogério de Lima

Connor is unimpressed with Cortes Acosta's limited game and showboating. He thinks de Lima's wrestling and better technique will be decisive. He notes de Lima's tendency to gas but believes Cortes Acosta lacks the technical game to capitalize. He sees de Lima as the clear favorite.

Odds mentioned: de Lima opened -107, currently -175. Cortes Acosta opened -103, currently +155.
"I'm picking de Lima."
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Confident picked Apr 26, 2023 (3 days before fight)
Waldo Cortes Acosta

Paul picks Acosta, agreeing with Cody that de Lima is not a good fighter and has terrible cardio. He notes that Acosta has better boxing, head movement, and a good chin, and can outwork de Lima in later rounds. He also mentions that de Lima is a light heavyweight who moved up and has a history of gassing.

"I'm gonna pick Waldo Cortez Acosta but probably a fight I'm more interested from a betting perspective in the live markets"
ZA
Zane Simon Expert Confident picked Apr 27, 2023 (2 days before fight)
Marcos Rogério de Lima

Zane agrees, citing Cortes Acosta's lack of technical foundation and de Lima's superior wrestling and speed. He notes de Lima's history of losing to more technical fighters after gassing, but Cortes Acosta is not that type. He sees de Lima as the rightful favorite.

Same odds commentary as Connor.
"I'm picking de Lima."
Submission (rear-naked choke) R1 1:50 · UFC Fight Night: Kattar vs. Allen · Oct 29, 2022
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Marcos Rogério de Lima 0 2 of 5 40% 3 of 6 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Andrei Arlovski 1 6 of 11 54% 25 of 33 0 of 0 --- 1 0 1:30
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Marcos Rogério de Lima 0 2 of 5 40% 3 of 6 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Andrei Arlovski 1 6 of 11 54% 25 of 33 0 of 0 --- 1 0 1:30
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Marcos Rogério de Lima 2 of 5 40% 1 of 3 0 of 1 1 of 1 2 of 5 0 of 0 0 of 0
Andrei Arlovski 6 of 11 54% 3 of 8 1 of 1 2 of 2 5 of 9 0 of 0 1 of 2
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Marcos Rogério de Lima 2 of 5 40% 1 of 3 0 of 1 1 of 1 2 of 5 0 of 0 0 of 0
Andrei Arlovski 6 of 11 54% 3 of 8 1 of 1 2 of 2 5 of 9 0 of 0 1 of 2
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked Oct 25, 2022 (4 days before fight)
Marcos Rogério de Lima

Big Brady picks Marcos Rogério de Lima to win by first-round knockout. He notes that Arlovski has been knocked out by power punchers and that de Lima has heavy hands, as seen in his knockout of Ben Rothwell. He mentions that Arlovski's recent wins have come against non-power punchers, and that de Lima's power and early finishing ability will be too much for the 43-year-old Arlovski.

de Lima wins by first-round knockout
"give me uh delima first round KO here"
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Confident picked Oct 26, 2022 (3 days before fight)
Andrei Arlovski

Cody picks Andrei Arlovski as a dog, citing his four-fight winning streak and ability to win close decisions. He notes that Arlovski has been knocked out only by elite power punchers and that Marcos Rogério de Lima is a one-round fighter with poor cardio. Cody expects Arlovski to survive the first round and take over in rounds two and three, winning a decision. He is betting Arlovski.

"I'm gonna be betting on Andre arlovsky this week Cody"
CO
Connor Ruebusch Expert Confident picked Oct 27, 2022 (2 days before fight)
Marcos Rogério de Lima

Connor agrees with Zane, picking de Lima based on his speed and power advantage. He notes that Arlovski has been beating low-technique, slow heavyweights, but de Lima is a significant step up in athleticism. Connor also points out that de Lima can wrestle if needed, and Arlovski's lack of finishing ability means he likely can't come back if he loses the first round.

Same odds commentary as Zane.
"I'm kind of with you. Yeah."
DA
Daniel Levi Expert Lean picked Oct 26, 2022 (3 days before fight)
Marcos Rogério de Lima

Daniel Levi picks de Lima, citing youth, power, and grappling advantage. He admits his poor track record picking Arlovski fights. He notes Arlovski's veteran savvy and speed but thinks de Lima's power and youth will be too much. He has no interest in laying -225.

"I'm gonna go with de Lima but you know minus 225 on a guy I can't trust I just don't really have much conviction or interest in laying that price."
JA
Jacob Lines Expert Lean picked Oct 25, 2022 (4 days before fight)
Marcos Rogério de Lima

Jacob picks de Lima but warns against betting heavyweight fights due to inconsistency. He notes Arlovski's recent win streak but says he was getting hit by Jake Collier, and de Lima has more power. He advises not to put money on either side.

do not bet this fight
"my official pick if I have to pick is delima"
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Oct 27, 2022 (2 days before fight)
Andrei Arlovski

Arlovski is on a 6-1 run over his last seven fights and has shown durability and veteran savvy. De Lima is first-round-or-bust and tends to fade in later rounds. Arlovski should survive the initial onslaught and take over in the second and third rounds, winning a decision. The plus 200 price is a no-brainer for an underdog bet.

Arlovski by decision +275
"plus 200 onlovsky is a completely no-brainer uh bet you know he likely he should be able to get uh off on better shots in the second and third round"
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Confident picked Oct 26, 2022 (3 days before fight)
Andrei Arlovski

Paul also picks Arlovski, calling him dog number two on the card. He highlights Arlovski's six wins in his last seven fights and his ability to grind out decisions. Paul criticizes de Lima's poor cardio, submission losses, and tendency to fade after the first round. He believes Arlovski's stick-and-move style will tire de Lima and lead to a decision win.

"I will as well I feel like I'm forcing an underdog play but again this is dog number two on the card that I'm zoning in on Andre Lassie these are the types of spots that he absolutely thrives in"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Oct 25, 2022 (4 days before fight)
Marcos Rogério de Lima

The MMA Guru picks Marcos Rogério de Lima over Andrei Arlovski, noting that Arlovski's recent fights have been close and he still gets caught on the chin. He highlights de Lima's hands, reach, and grappling threat, which Arlovski hasn't faced recently. He predicts de Lima will mix in takedowns, push Arlovski against the cage, and eventually clip him for a KO win.

"I'm going against the old man himself Andre arlovsky... I feel as though Marcos rodrio de Lima mixing a takedown early... get clipped by Marcos Rodrigo De Lima"
ZA
Zane Simon Expert Confident picked Oct 27, 2022 (2 days before fight)
Marcos Rogério de Lima

Zane picks de Lima confidently, citing his significant speed and power advantage over Arlovski's recent opponents. He notes that de Lima is a fast, powerful striker who can put Arlovski away early, similar to how Ben Rothwell or Tom Aspinall did. Zane also mentions de Lima's improved conditioning and potential wrestling as an out if needed, while Arlovski is slow and not a finisher anymore.

Surprised odds are getting that wide; de Lima opened -131 now -237, Arlovski +111 to +191. Zane says 'I don't hate it' and thinks the matchup works well for de Lima.
"I'm going to pick Dilema here. I think that the speed and the power is enough that he can just kind of... go out and Ben Rothwell Arlofsky."
LOSS vs Blagoy Ivanov
Decision (unanimous) (29–28, 29–28, 29–28) R3 5:00 · UFC 274: Oliveira vs. Gaethje · May 07, 2022
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Blagoy Ivanov 0 62 of 128 48% 75 of 142 0 of 4 0% 0 0 3:52
Marcos Rogério de Lima 0 68 of 133 51% 81 of 147 1 of 5 20% 0 0 2:04
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Blagoy Ivanov 0 12 of 29 41% 15 of 32 0 of 2 0% 0 0 0:32
Marcos Rogério de Lima 0 25 of 45 55% 25 of 45 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
2 Blagoy Ivanov 0 30 of 54 55% 33 of 58 0 of 2 0% 0 0 2:09
Marcos Rogério de Lima 0 26 of 56 46% 35 of 65 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:17
3 Blagoy Ivanov 0 20 of 45 44% 27 of 52 0 of 0 --- 0 0 1:11
Marcos Rogério de Lima 0 17 of 32 53% 21 of 37 1 of 4 25% 0 0 1:47
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Blagoy Ivanov 62 of 128 48% 53 of 118 9 of 10 0 of 0 54 of 118 8 of 10 0 of 0
Marcos Rogério de Lima 68 of 133 51% 46 of 107 18 of 20 4 of 6 58 of 115 10 of 18 0 of 0
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Blagoy Ivanov 12 of 29 41% 9 of 26 3 of 3 0 of 0 11 of 27 1 of 2 0 of 0
Marcos Rogério de Lima 25 of 45 55% 10 of 27 12 of 13 3 of 5 23 of 42 2 of 3 0 of 0
2 Blagoy Ivanov 30 of 54 55% 24 of 48 6 of 6 0 of 0 27 of 51 3 of 3 0 of 0
Marcos Rogério de Lima 26 of 56 46% 22 of 51 3 of 4 1 of 1 19 of 44 7 of 12 0 of 0
3 Blagoy Ivanov 20 of 45 44% 20 of 44 0 of 1 0 of 0 16 of 40 4 of 5 0 of 0
Marcos Rogério de Lima 17 of 32 53% 14 of 29 3 of 3 0 of 0 16 of 29 1 of 3 0 of 0
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Confident picked Apr 30, 2022 (7 days before fight)
Blagoy Ivanov

Angelo picks Blagoy Ivanov, citing his iron chin and combat sambo background. He believes Ivanov's chin will frustrate de Lima and that if Ivanov gets a takedown, he will have a clear advantage on top. He notes that six of de Lima's seven losses are by submission, providing a clear path.

"I do like ivanov or ivanov to get the win here i think his chin will frustrate de lima"
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked May 2, 2022 (5 days before fight)
Blagoy Ivanov

Big Brady picks Blagoy Ivanov to win by second-round submission. He notes that de Lima is dangerous early with power and leg kicks, but he fades and has poor takedown defense (47%) and submission defense. Ivanov is extremely durable, having eaten shots from heavy hitters and survived a stabbing. Brady thinks de Lima will win the first round but Ivanov will take over in the second, taking de Lima down and submitting him. He compares it to the Struve fight where Struve submitted de Lima after nearly being finished.

second round submission
"I think ivanov takes down to lima de lima's takedown defense is not good it's sitting at like 50 it's actually sitting at 47 percent and then on top of that his gas tank's not good his submission defense is …"
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Confident picked May 4, 2022 (3 days before fight)
Blagoy Ivanov

Cody picks Blagoy Ivanov, emphasizing his incredible durability (survived stabbing, fought Fedor, Derrick Lewis). He notes that de Lima has poor cardio, weak submission defense, and relies on early power. Cody believes Ivanov can take de Lima's best shots and then take over as de Lima fades. He sees Ivanov's takedown defense and chin as decisive factors.

"i completely agree i think blagoy ivanov uh he just the way he matches up against roger de lima can give him a whole lot of problems"
DA
Daniel Levi Expert Confident picked May 5, 2022 (2 days before fight)
Blagoy Ivanov

Daniel Levi picks Blagoy Ivanov by decision, citing his durability and never being finished. He notes de Lima is powerful early but fades and has low volume. He worries about Ivanov's own low output but thinks he can grind out a win. He does not bet the fight.

Daniel does not bet this fight. He mentions Ivanov by decision but no bet.
"The pick is for me is going to be Ivanov by decision but I don't have a bet on either fighter in this matchup."
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked May 6, 2022 (1 day before fight)
Blagoy Ivanov

The host picks Blagoy Ivanov, citing his durability and ability to survive de Lima's early power. He notes Ivanov's chin held up against heavy hitters like Derrick Lewis. He expects Ivanov to weather the first round, then wear on de Lima and finish him later. He likes the round 3 prop at +1000 and decision prop at +185. He plans to bet 1.4-1.5 units on Ivanov moneyline, acknowledging the layoff risk but believing Ivanov is rightly favored and could be even shorter.

Ivanov round 3 +1000; Ivanov by decision +185; de Lima round 1 KO +800 as hedge
"i'm gonna likely take a shot on it maybe a like a 1.4 or 1.5 unit play on blagoy even off"
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Confident picked May 4, 2022 (3 days before fight)
Blagoy Ivanov

Paul picks Blagoy Ivanov, surprised the line is so close. He notes that Ivanov is durable and has never been finished, while de Lima gasses and has poor takedown defense. Paul believes Ivanov's takedown defense and chin will be key, and that de Lima's only path is an early knockout. He expects Ivanov to win by decision or late stoppage.

"i feel like blagoy is the side here and it's not particularly close i'm surprised that the line is this close"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked May 2, 2022 (5 days before fight)
Blagoy Ivanov

The MMA Guru picks Blagoy Ivanov, trusting his granite chin and consistency against a higher level of competition. He notes Ivanov went five rounds with JDS and arguably beat Derrick Lewis. He criticizes de Lima's inconsistency and believes Ivanov will grind out a close 29-28 decision by pressuring and winning stand-up exchanges. He dismisses the height difference as not significant.

"i'm going to trust him blagojev enough getting this one done um they say there's a massive height difference i don't think there's going to be too much of a height difference"
WIN vs Ben Rothwell
TKO (punches) R1 0:32 · UFC Fight Night: Holloway vs. Rodriguez · Nov 13, 2021
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Marcos Rogério de Lima 0 2 of 8 25% 2 of 8 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:00
Ben Rothwell 0 14 of 24 58% 14 of 24 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Marcos Rogério de Lima 0 2 of 8 25% 2 of 8 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:00
Ben Rothwell 0 14 of 24 58% 14 of 24 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Marcos Rogério de Lima 2 of 8 25% 2 of 8 0 of 0 0 of 0 2 of 8 0 of 0 0 of 0
Ben Rothwell 14 of 24 58% 11 of 20 0 of 1 3 of 3 14 of 24 0 of 0 0 of 0
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Marcos Rogério de Lima 2 of 8 25% 2 of 8 0 of 0 0 of 0 2 of 8 0 of 0 0 of 0
Ben Rothwell 14 of 24 58% 11 of 20 0 of 1 3 of 3 14 of 24 0 of 0 0 of 0
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Lean picked Nov 10, 2021 (3 days before fight)
Ben Rothwell

Angelo leans toward Ben Rothwell, reasoning that he only needs one takedown to finish, while de Lima needs 15 minutes of a clean game plan. He acknowledges de Lima's path to victory through stick-and-move but thinks Rothwell's size and durability are key.

"i'm ever so slightly razor thin ever so slightly leaning with big ben he only needs one single takedown to get this fight done"
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked Nov 9, 2021 (4 days before fight)
Ben Rothwell

Big Brady is confident in Ben Rothwell, citing de Lima's atrocious cardio and tendency to fade after one round. He notes Rothwell has a legendary chin (not knocked out since 2009) and superior takedown defense. Brady expects Rothwell to take over as the fight progresses and predicts a second-round submission, as de Lima has been submitted five times.

Rothwell by submission in round 2
"give me ben roethlit a win and give me ben rothwell to win by second round submission"
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Confident picked Nov 10, 2021 (3 days before fight)
Ben Rothwell

Cody emphasizes Rothwell's durability (not finished since 2009) and de Lima's tendency to fade. He points out de Lima's poor takedown defense and submission vulnerability. He expects Rothwell to pressure, take de Lima down, and eventually submit him. He also notes Rothwell's 70% takedown defense and that de Lima gasses quickly.

Ben Rothwell wins by submission
"ben rothwell also he shows a 70 takedown rate or something uh he's given up one takedown since 2013"
DA
Daniel Levi Expert Confident picked Nov 11, 2021 (2 days before fight)
Ben Rothwell

Daniel Levi picks Ben Rothwell by submission, predicting that de Lima will be faster and more athletic early but will eventually make a mistake and tap to a choke. He references Rothwell's history of opportunistic finishes, including the comeback against Brandon Vera and the gogoplata against Josh Barnett. Levi notes de Lima's tendency to quit when put in a choke, making Rothwell's submission threat a key factor.

submission, third round gogoplata
"it's gonna be big ben via third round go go choke"
JA
Jacob Lines Expert Confident picked Nov 10, 2021 (3 days before fight)
Ben Rothwell

Jacob picks Ben Rothwell, believing he will plod forward, make it dirty, and grind out a win. He notes that Rothwell has a granite chin and hasn't been TKO'd since 2009. Jacob thinks de Lima has no way to win except maybe a weird decision.

"i think ben just wins one of those fights that he wins he just plots for it boom boom boom boom a little bit of volume makes it dirty against the cage"
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Confident picked Nov 10, 2021 (3 days before fight)
Ben Rothwell

Paul notes that de Lima is a quitter when things go south and has a pattern of alternating wins and losses. He thinks Rothwell is durable, has better submission skills, and will wear de Lima down. He predicts Rothwell wins by submission in round 2, and mentions a prop at 13-1.

Ben Rothwell wins by submission (round 2) at +1300
"ben rothwell's the pick for me"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Nov 13, 2021 (fight day)
Ben Rothwell

The Guru picks Ben Rothwell by unanimous decision (29-28). He expects a close first round with de Lima landing big shots, but Rothwell's pressure and physicality will take over in later rounds. Rothwell will break de Lima down with clinch work and strikes, winning the last two rounds clearly.

unanimous decision 29-28
"i'm going to go with ben rothwell via unanimous decision"
Decision (unanimous) (30–26, 30–26, 30–27) R3 5:00 · UFC on ESPN: Rodriguez vs. Waterson · May 08, 2021
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Marcos Rogério de Lima 0 5 of 8 62% 60 of 72 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Maurice Greene 0 14 of 26 53% 166 of 228 3 of 4 75% 0 0 14:06
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Marcos Rogério de Lima 0 4 of 5 80% 23 of 25 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Maurice Greene 0 6 of 13 46% 58 of 88 1 of 1 100% 0 0 4:29
2 Marcos Rogério de Lima 0 0 of 1 0% 16 of 19 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Maurice Greene 0 8 of 13 61% 45 of 66 1 of 1 100% 0 0 4:50
3 Marcos Rogério de Lima 0 1 of 2 50% 21 of 28 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Maurice Greene 0 0 of 0 --- 63 of 74 1 of 2 50% 0 0 4:47
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Marcos Rogério de Lima 5 of 8 62% 3 of 6 1 of 1 1 of 1 5 of 8 0 of 0 0 of 0
Maurice Greene 14 of 26 53% 11 of 23 2 of 2 1 of 1 3 of 10 1 of 1 10 of 15
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Marcos Rogério de Lima 4 of 5 80% 3 of 4 0 of 0 1 of 1 4 of 5 0 of 0 0 of 0
Maurice Greene 6 of 13 46% 3 of 10 2 of 2 1 of 1 3 of 10 1 of 1 2 of 2
2 Marcos Rogério de Lima 0 of 1 0% 0 of 1 0 of 0 0 of 0 0 of 1 0 of 0 0 of 0
Maurice Greene 8 of 13 61% 8 of 13 0 of 0 0 of 0 0 of 0 0 of 0 8 of 13
3 Marcos Rogério de Lima 1 of 2 50% 0 of 1 1 of 1 0 of 0 1 of 2 0 of 0 0 of 0
Maurice Greene 0 of 0 --- 0 of 0 0 of 0 0 of 0 0 of 0 0 of 0 0 of 0
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked May 6, 2021 (2 days before fight)
Marcos Rogério de Lima

Big Brady likes de Lima's power and leg kicks, and thinks Greene's poor striking defense (45%) and chin issues will be exploited. He notes Greene has zero takedowns in the UFC, so he won't exploit de Lima's weak takedown defense. Brady predicts de Lima will win by first-round knockout, as de Lima is dangerous early but fades after the first round. He says the under and de Lima in round 1 are good looks, but he wouldn't lay -190 on the moneyline.

De Lima by first round knockout; under 1.5 rounds
"I'm gonna take delima to win by first round knockout i think the under could be a very good look."
DA
Daniel Levi Expert Lean picked May 6, 2021 (2 days before fight)
Maurice Greene

Daniel Levi picks Maurice Greene as a dog, citing de Lima's tendency to get submitted or panic on the ground. He notes Greene's length, volume, and opportunistic submission ability. He acknowledges de Lima's power and early-round threat but thinks Greene can survive and find a finish, possibly via submission. He calls de Lima a 'stunt machine' and expects a volatile fight.

"i'm gonna go with uh maurice green here to submit uh marcos"
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked May 7, 2021 (1 day before fight)
Marcos Rogério de Lima

The host picks de Lima to win by TKO, expecting his power to be too much for Greene. He notes de Lima's poor cardio and jiu-jitsu but believes his power will get the job done early. He suggests live betting Greene if he survives the first round.

de Lima by TKO +120, fight won't start round 2 -150
"i think i would go with de lima by tko plus 120."
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked May 3, 2021 (5 days before fight)
Maurice Greene

The MMA Guru picks Maurice Greene over Marcos Rogério de Lima, expressing surprise that Greene is a nearly 2-to-1 underdog. He believes Greene's range management with oblique kicks and jabs will neutralize de Lima's counter-punching style. He predicts a unanimous decision win, possibly 30-27, and notes de Lima's only chance is a KO, which he doesn't see happening.

unanimous decision, 30-27
"i am 100 picking maurice green here ... i think people are really underrating him because he lost to greg hardy but greg hardy is not a bad heavyweight"
Technical Submission (forearm choke) R1 4:48 · UFC on ESPN: Santos vs. Teixeira · Nov 07, 2020
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Alexandr Romanov 0 6 of 7 85% 10 of 12 2 of 5 40% 1 0 3:51
Marcos Rogério de Lima 0 18 of 29 62% 27 of 39 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Alexandr Romanov 0 6 of 7 85% 10 of 12 2 of 5 40% 1 0 3:51
Marcos Rogério de Lima 0 18 of 29 62% 27 of 39 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Alexandr Romanov 6 of 7 85% 3 of 3 1 of 2 2 of 2 0 of 0 3 of 4 3 of 3
Marcos Rogério de Lima 18 of 29 62% 7 of 17 5 of 5 6 of 7 12 of 22 5 of 6 1 of 1
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Alexandr Romanov 6 of 7 85% 3 of 3 1 of 2 2 of 2 0 of 0 3 of 4 3 of 3
Marcos Rogério de Lima 18 of 29 62% 7 of 17 5 of 5 6 of 7 12 of 22 5 of 6 1 of 1
BI
Big Brady Expert Lock picked Nov 3, 2020 (4 days before fight)
Alexandr Romanov

Big Brady is extremely confident in Romanov, calling him an absolute beast. He highlights Romanov's undefeated record, his ability to slam opponents, and de Lima's poor takedown defense (36%). He predicts a first-round submission, noting Romanov has finished 67% of his wins by submission.

first round submission, fight doesn't go to decision (-500)
"probably my most confident pick on the card outside of like a minus five hundred chica chicatsu so give me rowan off here to get it done first round submission"
DA
Daniel Levi Expert Confident picked Nov 6, 2020 (1 day before fight)
Alexandr Romanov

Daniel Levi picks Alexandr Romanov to win via first-round submission. He notes Romanov's 100% takedown rate in his UFC debut and his ability to hold top control and attack with submissions. He believes Romanov will take de Lima down, apply a schoolyard headlock, and finish the fight, as de Lima has been submitted four times in the UFC and tends to quit when pressured.

first round submission
"i'm going with alexander romano via first round submission"
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Lock picked Nov 2, 2020 (5 days before fight)
Alexandr Romanov

The host is extremely confident in Romanov, calling him as close to a lock as possible. He expects a first-round finish via ground and pound or submission, noting Romanov's relentless pressure, takedowns, and finishing ability. He believes de Lima is completely outmatched and that the line should be -500. He plans to wait for the inside the distance prop.

He is waiting for the inside the distance line, expecting it to be around -150 to -200, and plans to hammer it. He also mentions Romanov as a potential lock of the night play.
"He's as close to a lock of the night as you're gonna get in my opinion... i'm really looking for especially him inside the distance"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Nov 1, 2020 (6 days before fight)
Alexandr Romanov

The MMA Guru picks Alexandr Romanov to win by first-round submission via arm triangle choke. He believes Romanov is too fast and powerful for Marcos Rogério de Lima, and will soften him up with kicks before taking him down and securing the choke. He notes de Lima's history of being submitted.

first round submission, arm triangle choke
"romanov gets it done by first round submission"