UFC Fight Night: Royval vs. Taira · Oct 12, 2024 · Flyweight · Completed
Prev Fight UFC Fight Night: Royval vs. Taira
Age 29
Height 5' 6"
Reach 66.0"
Weight 125 lbs.
Stance Orthodox
Age 25
Height 5' 3"
Reach 64.0"
Weight 125 lbs.
Stance Orthodox
Career Averages - Clayton Carpenter
3.66 SLpM
53.0% Str. Acc.
2.57 SApM
55.0% Str. Def.
1.99 TD Avg
46.0% TD Acc.
37.0% TD Def.
1.3 Sub. Avg
Career Averages - Lucas Rocha
5.09 SLpM
49.0% Str. Acc.
3.67 SApM
56.0% Str. Def.
1.64 TD Avg
75.0% TD Acc.
76.0% TD Def.
0.0 Sub. Avg
Clayton Carpenter
Moneyline
FanDuel -220
KO/TKO
BetRivers +550
Submission
FanDuel +550
Decision
FanDuel +130
Lucas Rocha
Moneyline
Caesars +205
KO/TKO
FanDuel +400
Submission
BetRivers +1500
Decision
FanDuel +700
Clayton Carpenter - Fight History
LOSS vs Jose Ochoa
Decision R3 5:00 · UFC 328 · May 09, 2026
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Clayton Carpenter 0 68 of 153 44% 70 of 155 1 of 7 14% 0 0 1:07
Jose Ochoa 1 153 of 269 56% 180 of 296 0 of 2 0% 0 0 1:09
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Clayton Carpenter 0 23 of 49 46% 25 of 51 0 of 3 0% 0 0 0:07
Jose Ochoa 1 54 of 98 55% 60 of 104 0 of 2 0% 0 0 0:44
2 Clayton Carpenter 0 25 of 54 46% 25 of 54 0 of 2 0% 0 0 0:00
Jose Ochoa 0 51 of 94 54% 51 of 94 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:25
3 Clayton Carpenter 0 20 of 50 40% 20 of 50 1 of 2 50% 0 0 1:00
Jose Ochoa 0 48 of 77 62% 69 of 98 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Clayton Carpenter 68 of 153 44% 24 of 82 25 of 49 19 of 22 61 of 143 6 of 8 1 of 2
Jose Ochoa 153 of 269 56% 79 of 174 45 of 64 29 of 31 140 of 248 8 of 11 5 of 10
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Clayton Carpenter 23 of 49 46% 8 of 27 10 of 17 5 of 5 19 of 44 4 of 5 0 of 0
Jose Ochoa 54 of 98 55% 28 of 67 14 of 18 12 of 13 49 of 88 1 of 1 4 of 9
2 Clayton Carpenter 25 of 54 46% 12 of 33 4 of 12 9 of 9 25 of 53 0 of 1 0 of 0
Jose Ochoa 51 of 94 54% 23 of 56 19 of 29 9 of 9 44 of 84 6 of 9 1 of 1
3 Clayton Carpenter 20 of 50 40% 4 of 22 11 of 20 5 of 8 17 of 46 2 of 2 1 of 2
Jose Ochoa 48 of 77 62% 28 of 51 12 of 17 8 of 9 47 of 76 1 of 1 0 of 0
Play-by-Play
View on Sherdog
Clayton Carpenter vs. Jose Ochoa
BETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Ochoa (-180), Carpenter (+150)

Round 1
Fans and media alike have lamented UFC shows as of late, and for good reason. This is not one of those cards. Based on the metrics seen so far, UFC 328 tonight is slated to be a big one. A rousing 12 or 13 fights (we shall see) will drive excitement to a fever pitch inside of the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey. We start things off with a fun one at flyweight between two athletes with nearly identical records. Carpenter (8-2, 2-2 UFC) and Ochoa (8-2, 1 NC; 1-2 UFC) will be aiming to make tonight their launch point, and referee Giovanna Scano will join them in the Octagon to get going. Without interest in touching gloves, the two race towards one another, and away we go.
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Ochoa is a man on a mission right out of the gate, as he walks the American down and busts him in the chops with a heavy flurry. He catches a high kick and slings Carpenter to the mat, and Carpenter springs back up and backs off. Ochoa pressures him, leading with his jab to set up power strikes. Ochoa rips a body shot and gets Carpenter’s attention, and Carpenter responds with a surging takedown attempt that crashes into a Peruvian wall. Carpenter bails on the attempt and keeps his guard up to defend the expected attack that comes at him, but he still gets tagged in the ribs a few times. Carpenter hurls back big offense, but Ochoa is elusive and does not just stand in the pocket to bang it out. Ochoa digs a left to the liver, and he sets up a few more and doubles Carpenter over. Carpenter tries to respond with a takedown, but he gets shut down before it comes close. Ochoa parries a front kick as he continues plodding forward, and he scores a low kick right before Carpenter is about to check it.
Carpenter tries to slow down the Peruvian with low kicks, but Ochoa’s volume, pace and power are all giving him fits early. Ochoa’s offense results in a clinch between the two, where he is met with a stern knee to the midsection. Carpenter lines up a few more knees on the inside before separating, and they bang heads into one another. Ochoa appears no worse for wear and keeps racing forward, slugging his fists into Carpenter’s face and stomach. Carpenter crumbles to the mat, and he hits his back and fishes for a low-percentage leglock. Ochoa drops down several elbows including a few 12-to-6 to the calf to break up the submission, and he turns and nails Carpenter with heavy ground-and-pound that has completely busted Carpenter’s nose open. Ochoa gets out of the danger, and Carpenter jumps back to his feet. Carpenter plods forward face-first into a jab, and he takes a front kick on the jaw as the horn sounds.

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

Round 2
Carpenter’s nose is a bit crooked coming out of his corner, but the bleeding has largely been slowed for now. It takes no time at all for Ochoa to bust it open again, as he drives forward with punches and front kicks. The variety of offense from “Kalzifer” is shutting down Carpenter, as are his body shots. Ochoa backs Carpenter to the wall and unloads a steady stream of fists to the face and sides, and Carpenter reels and tries to counter but is not able to land nearly as solidly. Ochoa picks his targets effectively, railing the sternum with several jabs and dancing away from counters. Ochoa leaves a body kick out too long, and Carpenter sprints around manages to circle around to take the back standing. Ochoa shimmies him off, so Carpenter slides off and fishes for a leglock. Ochoa wrenches his leg out, and the crowd roars. Ochoa walks Carpenter down to land cleanly, and he gets stood up by one single overhand right.
Ochoa slips and rips with his boxing, leaning back as Carpenter’s swings find nothing but air. Ochoa probes out with his jab, and he leaves himself open to get caught with a left hand upstairs. Carpenter lets go with a low kick and has his head snapped back with a power jab. The jabs from Ochoa have transformed Carpenter into practically a different person, and he sets up a kick that smacks the Arizona native square in the face. Carpenter shoots for a takedown, and he gets nowhere close to even changing levels before he is shut down. Ochoa mixes up head shots with those to the body, constantly giving Carpenter a puzzle to solve. Carpenter rushes out behind a few combinations, and Ochoa ducks one and beans Carpenter with a spinning elbow. Carpenter is tough as the third house from the “Three Little Pigs,” as no amount of heaving or blowing or swinging will put him down. They trade it out to the bell.

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

Round 3
Ochoa the aggressor rushes forward to attack, giving Carpenter little room to breathe early. Carpenter stands his ground and hurls fists back, keeping Ochoa from trampling him. Carpenter attacks the body with his shin, and he takes two low kicks that force him to change stances. Ochoa goes to the body and head, head and body, body body head or head head body—it all differs. As Ochoa is plodding forward with fast hands, Carpenter tackles him to the mat and plants the Peruvian flat on his back. Blood splatters from Carpenter’s nose as he frantically looks to advance position and get off some strikes from above. Ochoa turns to his side to give his back up, and he slides Carpenter off of him. Ochoa stands, and Carpenter follows and takes a left hand square to the face. Carpenter swings back and drops down in pursuit of a single-leg takedown, and Ochoa hops to put his back to the fence to defend it.
Ochoa stands Carpenter up and knees him in the solar plexus, and he strikes the face a few more times with blood painted on the face of the MMA Lab athlete. They trade low kicks, with Carpenter still in the fight even if he might be quite down on the scorecards. Carpenter tries to time a step-in knee, but Ochoa is away in time. Ochoa prods and probes with his jab, and he is met with a pair of head kicks. Ochoa keeps his guard low when not expecting the high kicks, preparing to defend a possible level change as he keeps lighting Carpenter up on the feet. Ochoa goes to the body, slips back to dodge a counter, rips an uppercut and fires off a left to the ribs. Carpenter tosses out a body kick, and Ochoa catches it and returns fire with one of his own. Ochoa jabs the body several more times, pushing a head kick and body kick aside so he can put hands on the American. Carpenter advances with kicks, and he just misses getting caught with a back elbow. Ochoa raises his hands, and Carpenter attacks with seconds to spare. This nearly draws Carpenter into a jump knee, but he dodges it right as the bell sounds.

Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Ochoa (30-27 Ochoa)
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Ochoa (30-27 Ochoa)
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Ochoa (30-27 Ochoa)

The Official Result
Jose Ochoa def. Clayton Carpenter via Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Lean picked May 6, 2026 (3 days before fight)
Clayton Carpenter

Angelo picks Clayton Carpenter as a dog, citing that Jose Ochoa can be taken down and that Carpenter's aggressive grappling and submission hunting will be effective. He notes that Carpenter is eager to find submissions but sometimes loses position, expecting a back-and-forth fight similar to Ochoa's last fight. He is not confident enough to bet actual money on Carpenter due to concerns about jiu-jitsu control.

DraftKings $7,400
"I'm picking Clayton Carpenter in this matchup as a dog here."
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Confident picked May 3, 2026 (6 days before fight)
Clayton Carpenter

Angelo picks Clayton Carpenter, citing his slick grappling, fast pace, and submission hunting. He notes Carpenter's takedowns and scrambling ability. He thinks Carpenter can grind out a win by constantly taking Ochoa down. He dismisses MMA math and says Carpenter has a great chin and cardio. He likes Carpenter if he is a dog.

Angelo says if you get Carpenter at dog money, it's not the worst pick on the card.
"Clayton Carpenter is going to be the pick. If you get him at dog money, cuz I don't know how long he'll be a dog for. If you get him at dog money, then I don't think that's the worst …"
BI
Big Brady Expert Lean picked May 6, 2026 (3 days before fight)
Jose Ochoa

Big Brady leans Jose Ochoa despite Clayton Carpenter's wrestling advantage. He notes Ochoa's 'shoot to box' style and dangerous striking, expecting him to land bigger shots and do more damage. However, he acknowledges Carpenter could win a decision if he gets multiple takedowns. Brady predicts Ochoa wins by decision, citing his damage output and bigger moments.

"I'm leaning Ochoa here. I'm going to take him to win this fight by decision just by doing more, landing more damage, and having the bigger moments."
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Lean picked May 6, 2026 (3 days before fight)
Clayton Carpenter

Cody picks Carpenter as an underdog, citing his wrestling and grappling skills. He notes Ochoa's takedown defense issues and thinks Carpenter can control the fight on the ground. Cody is not fully confident but likes the plus money.

"Carpenter is the one that I still, you know, could change. I'm not fully sold on it, but uh, it's a 13 fight card. I need at least three underdogs, and Carpenter just happened to fill the void for me."
CO
Connor Ruebusch Expert Hesitant picked May 8, 2026 (1 day before fight)
Jose Ochoa

Connor also picks Ochoa, agreeing that Carpenter's wild style plays into Ochoa's hands. He notes that Ochoa has a real singular skill in striking and has shown maturity in fights, like against Azu Amabayev. Connor thinks Ochoa's problems are about decision-making, which can improve, while Carpenter needs to learn whole new skill sets.

Ochoa opened at -185, now -175; Carpenter opened at +160, now +150.
"Ochoa may honestly be a little better equipped if having the same problem."
DA
Daniel Vreeland Expert Confident picked May 8, 2026 (1 day before fight)
Jose Ochoa

Daniel picks Ochoa, noting that Ochoa is fighting for his contract and has always stood out more than Carpenter. He agrees with Cody that Ochoa's power and striking will be too much for Carpenter's ground game.

"Oo is fighting for his contract and he's always stood out to me more than Carpenter. No disrespect cuz I think Carpenter is very talented, but I'm going Jose OA as well."
DI
Diary of a Pro Gambler Expert Confident picked May 8, 2026 (1 day before fight)
Jose Ochoa

Ochoa has advantages everywhere: better striking, better grappling, better submission defense, and durability. Carpenter is flat-footed defensively and not a technical striker; Ochoa's takedown defense is solid (defended 9 of 16 against Almev, 2 of 4 against Duran). Ochoa fights at a high pace and is tough to hold down. Carpenter is a jack of all trades, master of none, and was held down easily by Ulanbekov. Ochoa should outstrike Carpenter and control him on the ground if needed.

Bet 3 units at 1.55 odds. No other props mentioned.
"I've already locked in a bet on Jose AOA. Odds are around 1.55 and a pretty decent size bet as well. Three units. I'm pretty damn confident going to win this."
FI
FightingPost AI Expert Lean picked May 9, 2026 (fight day)
Jose Ochoa

Predicted method: KO/TKO Round 2. Ochoa has shown KO power (recent win over Cody Durden) and solid striking defense (60%), while Carpenter has lost two straight and has poor takedown defense (37%). Carpenter's best chance is to grapple, but Ochoa's 59% takedown defense should keep the fight standing. Ochoa's southpaw stance and reach advantage (67" vs 66") could trouble Carpenter. Expect Ochoa to land a knockout or win a competitive decision.

Ochoa by KO/TKO +320
JA
Jacob Lines Expert Confident picked May 6, 2026 (3 days before fight)
Jose Ochoa

Jacob compares Clayton Carpenter to a 'Temu Cody Steel' and thinks Carpenter is way behind in striking. He believes Ochoa is much better on the feet and that Carpenter's takedowns will stop working as he gets hit. Jacob is confident that Ochoa's striking and takedown defense will lead to a win, possibly similar to the Cody Duran fight.

"I actually like the takedown offense of Jose. When he wants to sprawl, when he wants to defend, he can do it."
LU
Lucrative James Expert Confident picked May 3, 2026 (6 days before fight)
Jose Ochoa

Lucrative James picks Jose Ochoa because he believes Ochoa's striking is too dynamic and powerful for Clayton Carpenter to handle on the feet. He notes that Carpenter's fight IQ is questionable and he may not grapple enough. He predicts Ochoa wins by knockout, as he expects Carpenter to get taken down but Ochoa to get back up and land big shots.

"I got Jose a Choa to win this fight via knockout."
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked May 5, 2026 (4 days before fight)
Clayton Carpenter

The host believes Carpenter's wrestling and ability to get to dominant positions will be the difference. He notes that Carpenter has a solid wrestling base and is aggressive in getting takedowns, unlike Ochoa's previous opponent Almeida who was more passive. He expects Carpenter to grind out a decision win, despite Ochoa's submission threats off his back. The host acknowledges Carpenter is on a two-fight losing streak but sees value at plus money.

"I believe we start this card off with an upset win for Clayton Carpenter."
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert picked May 6, 2026 (3 days before fight)

Paul does not make a clear pick, saying he is not sure about this fight. He does not express a strong opinion.

"I don't really have much to add there."
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked May 7, 2026 (2 days before fight)
Jose Ochoa

The MMA Guru picks Jose Ochoa, citing his superior finishing potential and 'savage rating'. He notes Ochoa's impressive win over Cody Yuden and competitive performance against Lona Kavana. He believes Carpenter's grappling won't be enough to control Ochoa, who has good submissions and elbows off his back. On the feet, Ochoa has a massive striking advantage. He predicts a round two or three TKO for Ochoa.

round two or three TKO
"I'm going with Jose Acho here. He's a slight favorite. I understand why. I think he's got a much better finishing potential and savage rating than Clayton Carpenter."
ZA
Zane Simon Expert Hesitant picked May 8, 2026 (1 day before fight)
Jose Ochoa

Zane picks Ochoa, noting that Carpenter is a one-dimensional pressure fighter who relies on athleticism. Ochoa is the more technical striker and has shown some wrestling instincts. Zane believes Ochoa's decision-making issues are more solvable than Carpenter's lack of skills, and Ochoa's ability to fight off takedowns and counter could earn him a decision.

Ochoa opened at -185, now -175; Carpenter opened at +160, now +150.
"I think I'm gonna pick Ochoa just because Carpenter is not a capable control fighter."
LOSS vs Jafel Filho
Submission R1 4:42 · UFC Fight Night: Oliveira vs. Gamrot · Oct 11, 2025
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Jafel Filho 0 5 of 13 38% 28 of 38 1 of 1 100% 1 1 2:23
Clayton Carpenter 0 7 of 21 33% 12 of 27 0 of 0 --- 0 1 1:04
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Jafel Filho 0 5 of 13 38% 28 of 38 1 of 1 100% 1 1 2:23
Clayton Carpenter 0 7 of 21 33% 12 of 27 0 of 0 --- 0 1 1:04
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Jafel Filho 5 of 13 38% 1 of 6 0 of 1 4 of 6 4 of 11 1 of 2 0 of 0
Clayton Carpenter 7 of 21 33% 2 of 9 3 of 8 2 of 4 5 of 18 2 of 3 0 of 0
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Jafel Filho 5 of 13 38% 1 of 6 0 of 1 4 of 6 4 of 11 1 of 2 0 of 0
Clayton Carpenter 7 of 21 33% 2 of 9 3 of 8 2 of 4 5 of 18 2 of 3 0 of 0
Play-by-Play
View on Sherdog
Clayton Carpenter vs. Jafel Filho
BETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Carpenter (-115); Filho (+100)

Round 1
Speed will almost certainly be the name of the game in this clash of whirling dervishes as the prelims keep right on rolling. Across his 16 pro victories, Brazil’s Filho (16-4, 2-2 UFC) has only needed the judges once. That 95% finish rate dwarfs Carpenter’s (8-1, 2-1 UFC) of 75%, which is still quite respectable for flyweights. Both fighters dropped decisions in their last time out, and before then, recorded back-to-back submissions in the Octagon. Referee Osiris Maia will keep things in order for as long as it lasts, and he steps back as the speedsters bump fists.
Carpenter, circling around the Brazilian, peppers him early with jabs and low kicks. Filho flashes his own jab, and he barely misses the mark with a sweeping head kick. Filho jabs the body with the ball of his foot, and a whiffing left hand follows. Carpenter checks a low kick, but he gets blasted in the face with a right hand that makes him turn about. The American gathers his thoughts and fires back, punching his way into a body kick. Carpenter whips a head kick that opens up a left hand to catch Filho, who backs up to the fence to defend himself. The two trade knees while tied up, and Carpenter looks for an outside trip. Filho stops it, eats an elbow and hits an inside trip to drag Carpenter to the mat. Filho gets both hooks in from behind and sits up to start hunting for a rear-naked choke with over half a round to go. Filho remains seated with his back to the wall, so the leverage is not right and Carpenter can defend it properly.
Filho softens his man up with body shots until grabbing the chin and yanking it up to expose the neck. Carpenter wriggles out and hooks his toes in the fence, and Maia tugs them out so Carpenter goes back to it again. Filho’s body triangle is squeezing the air out of Carpenter’s lungs, and he further frustrates his foe by covering his mouth as well. Carpenter bucks like a madman, and he even drills Filho with a no-look back elbow, but Filho is firmly controlling him. Carpenter deftly breaks the body lock and spins around to claim top position with 50 seconds to go.
As soon as he hits his back, “Pastor” isolates Carpenter’s right arm and grips hold of a kimura. Filho flips his foe over with the wrenching submission, and he cranks it all the way behind Carpenter’s back and up to dangerous territory. During the transition, Carpenter taps out, but Maia does not recognize it so they keep at it. It does not take more than a few seconds for Filho to elicit several surrendering pats on the backside.
Keeping to his tradition, “Pastor” releases the submission and goes to his team to get his bible, holding it in the air as the audience explodes with love and support for yet another Brazilian beating a foreign adversary tonight.

The Official Result
Jafel Filho def. Clayton Carpenter R1 4:42 via Submission (Kimura)
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Confident picked Oct 5, 2025 (6 days before fight)
Clayton Carpenter

Angelo picks Clayton Carpenter as an underdog, stating he is a little bit better everywhere than Jafel Filho. He highlights Carpenter's wrestling, aggression, and chin, and notes that he expects Carpenter to be the favorite by fight night. He placed a half-unit bet on Carpenter at +103 odds.

bet 0.5 units at +103 odds
"I like Clayton here, especially as an underdog. I threw a half a unit on him at these plus 103 odds."
BI
Big Brady Expert Lean picked Oct 9, 2025 (2 days before fight)
Clayton Carpenter

Big Brady leans slightly toward Clayton Carpenter, favoring his striking and wrestling, and believes his cardio will hold up better. He notes Jafel Filho is a high-level grappler but worries about his cardio and striking. Brady expects a competitive fight with both having moments, but sees Carpenter winning a close decision. He says he would have liked Carpenter at plus money but is staying away at current odds.

"I'm leaning the Carpenter side ever so slightly... I'm going to take Carpenter win a decision."
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Confident picked Oct 8, 2025 (3 days before fight)
Clayton Carpenter

Cody picks Carpenter confidently, citing his athleticism, footwork, and takedown defense. He notes Filho's low output and cardio issues, and believes Carpenter can win by outworking him in later rounds. He expects a decision or late finish.

"I'm going take Carpenter, but I understand taking the Americans in Brazil is probably not a great strategy."
LU
Lucrative James Expert Hesitant picked Oct 8, 2025 (3 days before fight)
Clayton Carpenter

Lucrative James flips his pick to Clayton Carpenter after initially considering Jafel Filho. He notes that Filho has early-round upside but fades, while Carpenter has better cardio and late-round finishing ability. He expects Carpenter to weather an early storm and win by decision or late finish. He is unconfident due to the fight being a pick'em.

Clayton Carpenter round 3 finish
"I'm going to flip my pick, man. I'm going to say Clayton Carpenter dogs out a tough first round and then gets it done in round two and round three."
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Oct 9, 2025 (2 days before fight)
Clayton Carpenter

Manpreet is confident in Carpenter, calling minus 125 a steal. He expects Carpenter's wrestling to take over after a competitive first round, leading to a decision win or late finish. He notes Carpenter's high ceiling and favorable matchup against Filho, who gassed against Nascimento.

Carpenter by decision
"The fact that we're getting minus 125 here, I think, is a bit of a steal."
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Hesitant picked Oct 8, 2025 (3 days before fight)
Clayton Carpenter

Paul picks Carpenter but is concerned about fighting in Brazil. He notes Carpenter's superior striking and wrestling, but expects Filho to be dangerous early. He suggests live betting Carpenter after the first round.

"Carpenter is also the pick for me, but I'm going to heed your advice and probably stick to this one in the live betting windows."
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Hesitant picked Oct 7, 2025 (4 days before fight)
Jafel Filho

The MMA Guru picks Jafel Filho over Clayton Carpenter, despite Carpenter being a prospect. He notes Filho nearly submitted Muhammad Mokaev and has slick grappling. He expects a low-output fight with Filho getting submission attempts and winning a close decision or by submission.

"I'm going to go with Jfelle Philho getting this one done. I think they're near evens here, but I think a lot of people are going with Carpenter."
LOSS vs Tagir Ulanbekov
Decision (unanimous) (30–27, 30–27, 29–28) R3 5:00 · UFC 311: Makhachev vs. Moicano · Jan 18, 2025
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Tagir Ulanbekov 0 42 of 75 56% 100 of 138 3 of 6 50% 0 0 6:49
Clayton Carpenter 0 42 of 69 60% 86 of 117 1 of 4 25% 0 0 3:01
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Tagir Ulanbekov 0 19 of 32 59% 26 of 42 1 of 2 50% 0 0 2:30
Clayton Carpenter 0 18 of 29 62% 30 of 43 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:25
2 Tagir Ulanbekov 0 10 of 19 52% 30 of 41 1 of 3 33% 0 0 2:20
Clayton Carpenter 0 15 of 20 75% 24 of 30 1 of 1 100% 0 0 1:32
3 Tagir Ulanbekov 0 13 of 24 54% 44 of 55 1 of 1 100% 0 0 1:59
Clayton Carpenter 0 9 of 20 45% 32 of 44 0 of 2 0% 0 0 1:04
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Tagir Ulanbekov 42 of 75 56% 35 of 68 5 of 5 2 of 2 27 of 55 2 of 2 13 of 18
Clayton Carpenter 42 of 69 60% 20 of 40 9 of 14 13 of 15 25 of 50 5 of 6 12 of 13
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Tagir Ulanbekov 19 of 32 59% 15 of 28 2 of 2 2 of 2 13 of 23 0 of 0 6 of 9
Clayton Carpenter 18 of 29 62% 8 of 17 3 of 5 7 of 7 13 of 22 1 of 2 4 of 5
2 Tagir Ulanbekov 10 of 19 52% 9 of 18 1 of 1 0 of 0 5 of 13 0 of 0 5 of 6
Clayton Carpenter 15 of 20 75% 11 of 13 2 of 4 2 of 3 6 of 11 1 of 1 8 of 8
3 Tagir Ulanbekov 13 of 24 54% 11 of 22 2 of 2 0 of 0 9 of 19 2 of 2 2 of 3
Clayton Carpenter 9 of 20 45% 1 of 10 4 of 5 4 of 5 6 of 17 3 of 3 0 of 0
Play-by-Play
View on Sherdog
Clayton Carpenter vs. Tagir Ulanbekov
BETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Ulanbekov (-325), Carpenter (+260)

Round 1
The UFC emerges through the flames of Los Angeles County like an action movie to stage its first pay-per-view of the year, and it should still be a good one. While the main event has shuffled at the last minute, it may be the best of a bad situation and there should still be some fun to be had. The action kicks off with a ranked fight at 125 pounds, as talented contender Ulanbekov (15-2, 4-1 UFC) returns after over a year away against unbeaten phenom Carpenter (8-0, 2-0 UFC). Referee Blake Grice will draw the first assignment of the night, and it kicks off as the flyweights bump fists. The taller Ulanbekov takes to the center of the cage almost immediately, measuring his jab and flicking out a heavy leg kick. Booming chants for “USA” rain down in support of Carpenter, who channels their support with a solid left hand, a follow-up right and a chopping kick. Ulanbekov misses a dangerous front kick by a matter of inches, and he snipes the advancing Carpenter coming forward. Carpenter goes to the lead leg again and is forced to defend a takedown, where he not only stuffs it but turns Ulanbekov about and jams him against the fence. Ulanbekov uses his leverage to turn to the side, hit a body lock and wrench the unbeaten fighter down to the mat. Carpenter hacks from his back with elbows, but not at Ulanbekov’s head, and instead his shoulders. Ulanbekov sits up in the guard, looking for punches and elbows when he can find them. Carpenter maintains an active guard but it is not a good idea to get into a slugfest off your back, as Ulanbekov lands far cleaner and heavier. Carpenter looks to threaten with a high guard, and it gets shut down in a hurry by ground-and-pound. Again, Carpenter shifts his leg up to give Ulanbekov something extra to think about, and his rubber guard is thwarted and his eyebrow is cut open from an elbow. The two fighters explode to their feet at the same time with a minute to go in the round, and Ulanbekov advances only to walk into two low kicks. Ulanbekov parries a front kick and absorbs an inside leg kick when trying to start off some offense, but he has his best success from counters. Carpenter lets his foot fly a few times, and he shoots for a takedown that is stifled to conclude the round.
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Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Ulanbekov
Scottie Smith scores the round: 10-9 Ulanbekov
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Ulanbekov

Round 2
To start the round, Ulanbekov rubs at some swelling that has developed under his left eye, and he offers a glove touch that is accepted. Both men aim and miss with swinging kicks early, and Carpenter steps in to close the distance and deposit a pair of left hooks on the chin. Carpenter then follows the left with a swiping right, and it buzzes past the target. Ulanbekov sets up a number of jabs to work a front kick down the middle, and Carpenter slips it and connects with a leg kick. When Ulanbekov responds with a high kick, Carpenter catches it and bowls him over to the mat. Carpenter leaps down to establish himself on top, and he shifts to half guard to stop Ulanbekov from sweeping or reversing him. Carpenter gets dragged back to the guard, and he opens it up with a pair of slashing elbows from above. Carpenter scrambles madly springing his hips up and around in hopes of getting through to a better position. Ulanbekov times one of these hops, grabs hold of Carpenter’s shorts and tugs himself illegally to his feet. Carpenter complains, but Grice tells them to fight on. Ulanbekov wishes to take the fight to the ground, only this time with him on top, and he meanders forward to get hold of body lock and trip Carpenter to his back. Both fighters are active when the fight gets to the ground once more, with Carpenter more than willing to hack and slash with elbows. Meanwhile, Ulanbekov pummels him with his fists and the occasional elbow to stay more than busy and remain in top position. When Ulanbekov slows down for a bit, Grice calls for more activity, spurring Ulanbekov into some ground-and-pound action. A second call for action comes from Grice as the crowd starts to shower them with boos. When Carpenter attempts to explode and get back up to his feet, the horn sounds.

Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Ulanbekov
Scottie Smith scores the round: 10-9 Ulanbekov
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Ulanbekov

Round 3
Ulanbekov starts off the round as the aggressor, fighting behind his jab to get into grappling range. When Carpenter springs at him, Ulanbekov stays elusive enough to dodge, weave and counter with two punches down the middle. Carpenter responds with three low kicks, the third turning Ulanbekov and making him a bit tentative to absorb more. Carpenter attempts a fourth, and he changes his mind as Ulanbekov blasts him with a one-two. As Carpenter steps in without striking, another one-two from Ulanbekov catches him cleanly. Carpenter rips another low kick, and he times a left hand on the way in. Carpenter’s leg kicks have a visible effect, but he elects to push forward and grapple the Dagestan native against the fencing. While trapping him against the wire, Carpenter pounds Ulanbekov’s thigh with several knees. Carpenter leverages Ulanbekov down to a post arm, but Ulanbekov pushes off the floor and back upright. The boo birds start singing as the clinch continues, even as the fighters bring it to the middle of the cage all tied up. Ulanbekov turns the American around and starts talking to commentator Daniel Cormier, telling the former champ, “This is for you” as he hurls Carpenter down to the floor. Ulanbekov lands in full guard, and Carpenter goes all-out spamming elbows to any target, including the back of the head—which draws a warning. Carpenter hooks up rubber guard with his left leg behind the Dagestani fighter’s head, but that has no effect as Ulanbekov easily wriggles out of that setup and winds up relocating himself to side control. Carpenter turns in effort to escape, but it is too little, too late, as his spotless record is almost certainly about to dissipate. The fighters manage to work to their feet at the bell.

Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Ulanbekov (30-27 Ulanbekov)
Scottie Smith scores the round: 10-9 Ulanbekov (30-27 Ulanbekov)
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Ulanbekov (30-27 Ulanbekov)

The Official Result
Tagir Ulanbekov def. Clayton Carpenter via Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Confident picked Jan 12, 2025 (6 days before fight)
Tagir Ulanbekov

Angelo picks Tagir Ulanbekov due to his significant experience advantage (17 fights vs 8) and strong wrestling. He notes that Ulanbekov can be taken down but believes Clayton Carpenter may hesitate, allowing Ulanbekov to impose his game. He warns against betting Ulanbekov at -300, suggesting instead to look for prop bets like Carpenter winning a round.

Don't bet Ulanbekov at -300; consider Clayton Carpenter to win a round (plus 3.5 spread).
"tar is going to be the pick bet wise we're going to wait for some prop bets because Clayton Carpenter might be able to win round"
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Confident picked Jan 16, 2025 (2 days before fight)
Clayton Carpenter

Cody picks Clayton Carpenter as an underdog, citing Ulanbekov's age (33), inactivity, and injury history. He notes that Ulanbekov has pulled out of seven fights in the UFC and has shown cardio issues. Carpenter is a young, well-rounded prospect with good wrestling and cardio. Cody believes Carpenter can scramble, take Ulanbekov down, and push the pace. He sees value in fading Ulanbekov at flyweight, where the line is too high.

No specific prop bet mentioned.
"I got Carpenter as an underdog pick here Paul"
DA
Daniel Levi Expert Hesitant picked Jan 14, 2025 (4 days before fight)
Tagir Ulanbekov

Daniel picks Ulanbekov but is hesitant due to his inactivity and potential weight issues. He notes that Ulanbekov has top-five potential and had a career-best performance against Cody Durden. However, he is concerned that Ulanbekov hasn't fought since 2023 and may have trouble making weight. Daniel thinks Carpenter is a talented young fighter but Ulanbekov is ahead at this point.

Daniel says he is not investing in this fight. He mentions Ulanbekov's inactivity and potential weight cut issues.
"I'm gonna pick him for that reason"
LU
Lucrative James Expert picked Jan 15, 2025 (3 days before fight)

Lucrative James does not make a clear winner pick but discusses the over 2.5 rounds prop favorably. He notes both fighters are high-level and unlikely to be finished, though he acknowledges submission upside for Tagir Ulanbekov if he gets the back, and the possibility of a striking exchange leading to a knockout. He leans toward the fight going to decision but does not commit to a side.

Over 2.5 rounds is a good play, might play it himself
"I like over two and a half rounds and you know I'm not going to break down the whole fight but basically both these guys are so [ __ ] good that they probably shouldn't get finished"
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Lean picked Jan 17, 2025 (1 day before fight)
Tagir Ulanbekov

The host leans with Ulanbekov because Carpenter is a hot prospect with unknowns in defensive grappling. Ulanbekov may challenge him as no fighter has before. The host expects Ulanbekov to win on the scorecards.

"I have to lean with beckov here and for him to win this fight on the scorecards"
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Lean picked Jan 16, 2025 (2 days before fight)
Clayton Carpenter

Paul leans Carpenter as a value play. He notes that Ulanbekov's wrestling has not been dominant at flyweight, and he was taken down by Tim Elliott. Carpenter is undefeated and has shown good grappling and cardio. Paul believes if wrestling is negated, the fight is close, and at plus money, Carpenter is worth a shot. He plans to make a play on Carpenter.

No specific prop bet mentioned.
"Clayton Carpenter is a dog I plan on uh making a play on this week Cody what about you"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Jan 14, 2025 (4 days before fight)
Tagir Ulanbekov

The MMA Guru picks Tagir Ulanbekov over Clayton Carpenter. He notes that Carpenter's path to victory relies on grappling against short, stocky flyweights, but Ulanbekov is rangier and has good takedown defense. He believes Ulanbekov is better at range on the feet and has equally good grappling, so he expects Ulanbekov to do more damage at range and win a close fight.

"I'm going to go of to giral and beckov the odds suggest this as well um he should be the favorite he is likely to beat Clayton Carpenter"
WIN vs Lucas Rocha
Technical Submission (rear-naked choke) R2 2:12 · UFC Fight Night: Royval vs. Taira · Oct 12, 2024
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Clayton Carpenter 0 34 of 60 56% 36 of 62 2 of 3 66% 1 0 4:38
Lucas Rocha 0 17 of 41 41% 21 of 45 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Clayton Carpenter 0 23 of 40 57% 25 of 42 1 of 1 100% 0 0 3:38
Lucas Rocha 0 9 of 24 37% 12 of 27 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
2 Clayton Carpenter 0 11 of 20 55% 11 of 20 1 of 2 50% 1 0 1:00
Lucas Rocha 0 8 of 17 47% 9 of 18 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Clayton Carpenter 34 of 60 56% 22 of 45 7 of 8 5 of 7 20 of 43 1 of 1 13 of 16
Lucas Rocha 17 of 41 41% 10 of 32 6 of 8 1 of 1 16 of 39 1 of 2 0 of 0
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Clayton Carpenter 23 of 40 57% 19 of 33 2 of 3 2 of 4 10 of 24 0 of 0 13 of 16
Lucas Rocha 9 of 24 37% 5 of 19 4 of 5 0 of 0 9 of 24 0 of 0 0 of 0
2 Clayton Carpenter 11 of 20 55% 3 of 12 5 of 5 3 of 3 10 of 19 1 of 1 0 of 0
Lucas Rocha 8 of 17 47% 5 of 13 2 of 3 1 of 1 7 of 15 1 of 2 0 of 0
Play-by-Play
View on Sherdog
Clayton Carpenter vs. Lucas Rocha
BETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Carpenter (-192), Rocha (+160)

Round 1
It’s fight time again. The Apex plays host to a dozen matchups of varied intrigue, with little in the way of immediate title stakes outside of the main attraction. That does not preclude plenty of frenzied violence and thrilling action, as anything is possible tonight. Combat commences in the flyweight division, as unbeaten Carpenter (7-0, 1-0 UFC) looks to stave off surging newcomer Rocha (17-1, 0-0 UFC) in what should be a wild one. Referee Mark Smith is prepped and ready to handle the speedy combatants, who come together to bump fists. Rocha moves straight to the driver’s seat, pressuring forward only to dodge a pair of jabs flying at his face. Rocha jabs out with a foot, and he wings a right hand over the top. When Carpenter kicks low, Rocha rails the body with a kick. Smith calls time to warn Rocha for his outstretched fingers, and they get back to quick one-after-another striking. Carpenter rushes into a brawl, and the Brazilian obliges him as the two trade hands, absorbing clean strikes and giving them back in volume. Rocha slows things down by hunting for a jump knee, and Carpenter backs off and suddenly blitzes forward to tackle Rocha to the mat. Carpenter lands in half guard, and Rocha scrambles madly but cannot get the American off of him. Carpenter lashes out with an elbow that rips Rocha’s left eyebrow wide open, and he gets pulled back to the guard briefly. Blood leaks down Rocha’s face and into his eye, and he remains nullified with Carpenter’s effective heavy shoulder pressure. Carpenter postures up again to bean Rocha again with another powerful elbow, and the mat around the fighters is quickly gaining stains that will never be cleaned. “Fenomeno” fights off an arm-triangle setup and bucks his hips at the right time to sit up, and Carpenter meets him every step of the way and keeps him stuck thanks to a front choke. Carpenter bowls Rocha to his back again, where he claims full mount briefly. Rocha shifts his hips to pull Carpenter to half guard, but he absorbs another elbow or two in the process. Rocha thinks about a leglock off his back, and Carpenter sees it coming and rains down offense to break it up. The unbeaten fighter keeps jackhammering elbows down, causing additional damage on Rocha’s nose, and the horn sounds.
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Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-8 Carpenter
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Carpenter
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Carpenter

Round 2
The doctors are able to temporarily stifle the bleeding of Rocha’s eyebrow between rounds, but a few strikes may restart the flow. Rocha, knowing a trigger-happy doctor might wave things off, starts out even more aggressively than the last round. Rocha walks through several jabs that open him up further, rushing after Carpenter to throw wild strikes and tag the unbeaten man with a knee. Carpenter sweeps the leg with a kick, and he catches Rocha coming in with a few body kicks. Carpenter mixes in a takedown, crashing through the hips with a double-leg takedown to plant Rocha on his seat. As Rocha tries to recover, Carpenter spins around to take the Brazilian’s back and hook in a body triangle. Rocha pushes off the fence with his foot, but Carpenter is more occupied with hunting down a rear-naked choke.
The forearm slides beneath the chin and is immediately tight, but Rocha is insanely tough and grits it out. Rocha fights the hands, even landing a few strikes from behind his own head, but the choke is not going anywhere. As Carpenter sits up slightly to squeeze with all his might, Rocha’s hands go limp and he loses consciousness.
Smith recognizes this instantly and breaks them up, with Carpenter standing up triumphantly to check his hair. This is a solid win for the still-unbeaten Carpenter, who becomes the first man to submit his opponent.

The Official Result
Clayton Carpenter def. Lucas Rocha R2 2:12 via Technical Submission (Rear-Naked Choke)
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Confident picked Oct 6, 2024 (6 days before fight)
Clayton Carpenter

Angelo picks Clayton Carpenter, citing his slick grappling and aggressive submission hunting. He notes Carpenter's fast pace and ability to set the tone early, while Lucas Rocha's upright stance makes him vulnerable to takedowns. Angelo believes Carpenter's offensive wrestling will be the deciding factor, as Rocha has shown poor defensive wrestling. He expects Carpenter to win via takedowns and control, calling it a straightforward pick.

"Clayton Carpenter is a slick Grappler... takedowns will be there and then he'll win and that minus 170 is not going to last long so hop on it now."
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked Oct 10, 2024 (2 days before fight)
Clayton Carpenter

Big Brady picks Clayton Carpenter to win by second-round knockout. He likes Carpenter's striking, wrestling, and grappling, and notes he is a high-level black belt. He criticizes Rocha's takedown defense, durability, and tendency to get dropped in fights. Rocha was taken down easily by Bittencourt on the Contender Series before landing a comeback KO. Brady expects Carpenter to dominate and potentially finish, though he acknowledges ring rust could be a factor after a 19-month layoff.

Carpenter by second-round knockout
"I like Carpenter to win this fight and I'll take him to win this fight by second round knockout"
CO
Connor Ruebusch Expert Confident picked Oct 11, 2024 (1 day before fight)
Clayton Carpenter

Connor agrees with Zane, noting that Rocha's record is built on beating can crushers and that he got knocked cold by some dude. He points out Rocha is only 5'3" and lacks athleticism, making him ripe to be run over by better athletes like Carpenter.

"I think I'll side with you at least carpenter looks like he's got I mean what is what is even holding up Hocha's record"
CO
Connor Ruebusch Expert picked Oct 10, 2024 (2 days before fight)

This fight was not discussed in the transcript. No picks were made.

DA
Daniel Vreeland Expert Confident picked Oct 8, 2024 (4 days before fight)
Clayton Carpenter

Daniel highlights Carpenter's size, durability, and grappling advantage over the smaller Rocha, who is a former strawweight. He notes that Rocha is a slow starter who often gets beaten up early but comes back. Daniel believes Carpenter's physicality will allow him to dominate the first two rounds and win a decision, though a finish wouldn't surprise him.

wins by decision
"I'm gonna lean towards Carpenter by decision... strongly grind out the first two survive the last and win this decision."
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Oct 11, 2024 (1 day before fight)
Clayton Carpenter

Carpenter is expected to showcase his grappling dominance against Rocha, who has shown issues dealing with opponents that take his back and control him from that position. Despite Rocha's impressive 17-1 record, Carpenter should grind out the fight and pick up his eighth win in as many fights.

"I believe this is a great fight for Carpenter to go out there and showcase his grappling dominance where Rocha has shown issues in the past"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Oct 8, 2024 (4 days before fight)
Lucas Rocha

The MMA Guru picks Lucas Rocha over Clayton Carpenter, citing Rocha's higher activity, finishing ability, and experience. He notes that Carpenter has been out for a while, which may indicate injury issues, and that Rocha is a 'dog' with more savagery and switch-hitting ability. He also mentions that shorter flyweights are hard to hold down, which could neutralize Carpenter's technical grappling.

"I am going to pick him to beat Clayton Carpenter... I think this guy's got more dog in him he's got more Savage in him he's got more switch on land a big shot ability in him"
ZA
Zane Simon Expert Confident picked Oct 11, 2024 (1 day before fight)
Clayton Carpenter

Zane thinks Carpenter will whip Rocha, comparing him to Francis Marshall as a wild, all-offense fighter with no breaks. He notes Rocha got lucky against a glass cannon on the Contender Series and lacks athleticism. Zane believes Carpenter's strength and athleticism will overwhelm Rocha, who seems untrained and self-taught.

"I think Clayton carpenter is gonna whip his ass"
ZA
Zane Simon Expert picked Oct 10, 2024 (2 days before fight)

This fight was not discussed in the transcript. No picks were made.

Submission (rear-naked choke) R1 3:13 · UFC Fight Night: Andrade vs. Blanchfield · Feb 18, 2023
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Clayton Carpenter 0 3 of 5 60% 3 of 5 0 of 0 --- 3 1 1:19
Juancamilo Ronderos 0 1 of 7 14% 46 of 56 1 of 1 100% 0 0 1:22
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Clayton Carpenter 0 3 of 5 60% 3 of 5 0 of 0 --- 3 1 1:19
Juancamilo Ronderos 0 1 of 7 14% 46 of 56 1 of 1 100% 0 0 1:22
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Clayton Carpenter 3 of 5 60% 2 of 4 1 of 1 0 of 0 3 of 5 0 of 0 0 of 0
Juancamilo Ronderos 1 of 7 14% 0 of 6 0 of 0 1 of 1 1 of 4 0 of 0 0 of 3
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Clayton Carpenter 3 of 5 60% 2 of 4 1 of 1 0 of 0 3 of 5 0 of 0 0 of 0
Juancamilo Ronderos 1 of 7 14% 0 of 6 0 of 0 1 of 1 1 of 4 0 of 0 0 of 3
Play-by-Play
View on Sherdog
Clayton Carpenter vs. Juancamilo Ronderos
BETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Carpenter (-280), Ronderos (+235)

Round 1
Much has been said about the quality or lack thereof regarding this Fight Night card, but no matter what people think, it will roll on at the UFC Apex with hopes of defying expectations and putting on a show. This relatively low-stakes evening of combat – where only four of the 22 competitors have numbers next to their names – will commence in the flyweight division. Making his debut after getting picked up on the 2022 season of Dana White’s Contender Series, Carpenter (6-0, 0-0 UFC) will put his spotless record on the line against Ronderos (4-1, 0-1 UFC). The Colombian will be making his return after nearly 21 months away, due in part to a positive post-fight test for cocaine, and the jokes practically write themselves. The first assignment of the evening will go to referee Chris Tognoni, who clocks in the event as the two competitors touch gloves. Ronderos advances immediately, but he eats a left hand on the way in. Ronderos fires back, and Carpenter boots him upside the head. Ronderos crashes forward swinging, and he bowls Carpenter over and falls right into a guillotine choke. Ronderos calmly lifts his neck out of danger and fights off a subsequent kimura. As Ronderos tries to open up with punches to the side and occasionally the head, the unbeaten fighter sits back to attempt an armbar. Ronderos shucks it off and continues to pelt Carpenter with fists. Carpenter slaps his legs up in a hurry as Ronderos sits up, and Ronderos is in a bad spot with a triangle choke and an armbar along the way. “100” keeps it 100 by staying calm in the line of fire, and he rolls through the whole submission to wrest his neck and then arm free from harm. Ronderos manages to escape both subs, but Carpenter is a man possessed and turns the corner to wind up on top. After sitting on bottom for a bit, Ronderos looks to spin out and ends up giving his back up. Carpenter slips both hooks in with ease, and he sets up a rear-naked choke and tries to sneak the forearm under his foe’s chin. Ronderos deftly fights off the hands, making Carpenter readjust the grip as Carpenter also cinches up a body triangle.
Ronderos makes the decision to elbow the thigh to break up the leg grip around his waist instead of fighting the hands, and Carpenter welcomes this and wraps up the rear-naked choke. At this point, it is academic, as Ronderos wriggles but ultimately taps out before he is put to sleep.
This is a solid way to start the card, as Carpenter remains undefeated while notching a slick submission after several legitimate attempts.
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The Official Result
Clayton Carpenter def. Juancamilo Ronderos R1 3:13 via Submission (Rear-Naked Choke)
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Confident picked Feb 14, 2023 (4 days before fight)
Clayton Carpenter

Angelo likes Clayton Carpenter's extensive international experience from a young age, his slick grappling, and aggressive submission hunting. He notes that Ronderos has a layoff and shoulder injury, and while Ronderos is a fast-paced striker with solid takedown defense, Carpenter's wrestling and technical striking should be superior. Angelo is surprised the line tightened but remains confident in Carpenter.

"I like Clayton Carpenter... I'm on the Clayton Carpenter side for sure and I am surprised at this new affordable line."
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked Feb 13, 2023 (5 days before fight)
Clayton Carpenter

Big Brady thinks Carpenter is the better wrestler and grappler, and will get the fight to the mat where he is dangerous. He notes Ronderos has poor takedown defense and has been submitted before. He predicts a second-round submission for Carpenter, but warns against the -275 price.

Carpenter by submission, round 2
"I'm gonna say Clayton Carpenter wins this one I'm gonna say he wins it by second round submission"
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Hesitant picked Feb 15, 2023 (3 days before fight)
Clayton Carpenter

Cody picks Carpenter but says the line is too big. He notes Ronderos has been off for two years and could have improved, training at a good gym in Las Vegas. He says Carpenter is a fine prospect with wrestling and cardio, but he hasn't been tested and has only faced lower-level competition. He warns that Ronderos is big for flyweight and might miss weight. He says there are enough question marks to cause uncertainty at -300.

Cody mentions Ronderos missed weight in his UFC debut (128.5). He says Carpenter is out of MMA Lab and has good wrestling. He says he'll pick Carpenter but won't lay -300.
"The line the line is just it's too big it's out of control right and uh so those are my themes for this card way cut UFC debuts and the money lies."
CO
Connor Ruebusch Expert Lean picked Feb 16, 2023 (2 days before fight)
Clayton Carpenter

Connor agrees with Zane, noting that Carpenter has more physicality and is willing to fight hard in scrambles. He points out that Ronderos' wrestling was easily shut down by David Dvorak, and that his win over Eric Shelton was more due to Shelton's passivity. Connor sees Carpenter as the better athlete and believes he can put together strikes and find openings, while Ronderos lacks dexterity. However, he acknowledges the possibility of Ronderos holding Carpenter down.

"Yeah, but it also looks like Carpenter has more physicality than Ronderos."
JA
Jacob Lines Expert Lean picked Feb 14, 2023 (4 days before fight)
Clayton Carpenter

Jacob agrees Carpenter should be the better fighter but is cautious due to Carpenter's limited pro experience (6-0) and Ronderos' layoff. He notes Ronderos' fight IQ may have improved from coaching, but technique issues remain. Jacob thinks Carpenter has the wrestling and grappling edge and is the more technical striker, but he's not fully confident at -275 and might look for a Monday night play if odds drop.

"Clayton Carpenter should be the better fight of this matchup... it's just gonna be hard to pick against Clayton Carpenter."
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Feb 14, 2023 (4 days before fight)
Clayton Carpenter

Carpenter is the better striker and grappler, with superior discipline and scrambling ability. Ronderos is aggressive but reckless, and Carpenter's takedown defense and top control should neutralize him. Expect Carpenter to win a decision after controlling the grappling exchanges.

over 2.5 rounds at plus money
"I like the over at plus money as well I think that's a good spot..."
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Hesitant picked Feb 15, 2023 (3 days before fight)
Clayton Carpenter

Paul picks Carpenter but is not confident. He notes Ronderos had a tough UFC debut on short notice against David Dvorak and got choked out. He says he doesn't know what Ronderos is good at. He says Carpenter looked half-decent on Contender Series but he doesn't know what to make of this fight. He says he's picking Carpenter but is more interested in hearing Cody's take.

Paul mentions Ronderos hasn't fought since 2019 and was 4-0. He says Carpenter is 26 and looked okay on Contender Series.
"I guess I'm picking Carpenter but uh more interested to hear what you have to say on this one."
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Feb 14, 2023 (4 days before fight)
Clayton Carpenter

The MMA Guru picks Clayton Carpenter, citing his superior skill, dangerousness, and technical ability compared to Juancamilo Ronderos. He notes that Ronderos lost badly to David Dvorak and only fought to a split decision with an aging Eric Shelton. He believes Carpenter's stand-up will be the key factor and that Ronderos is not good enough to be in the UFC.

"I'm going to be going with Clayton Carpenter he's way better than Ronda Ross he's way more skilled he's way more dangerous"
ZA
Zane Simon Expert Lean picked Feb 16, 2023 (2 days before fight)
Clayton Carpenter

Zane thinks Carpenter should be a favorite but not as heavy as the odds suggest. He notes that Carpenter is aggressive, tries a lot of things on the feet, and has more physicality than Ronderos. However, he acknowledges that Ronderos has a clear game plan of taking Carpenter down and holding him there, which could work. Zane is not shocked if Ronderos wins, but he leans toward Carpenter due to his athleticism and ability to find openings.

"Carpenter should not be that heavy of a favorite. No, but he should be a favorite."
Lucas Rocha - Fight History
Decision R3 5:00 · UFC Fight Night: Oliveira vs. Gamrot · Oct 11, 2025
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Lucas Rocha 0 115 of 226 50% 130 of 244 3 of 4 75% 0 0 1:25
Stewart Nicoll 0 45 of 138 32% 46 of 139 2 of 20 10% 0 0 1:30
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Lucas Rocha 0 15 of 40 37% 15 of 40 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:09
Stewart Nicoll 0 14 of 38 36% 14 of 38 2 of 12 16% 0 0 1:30
2 Lucas Rocha 0 40 of 87 45% 49 of 96 1 of 1 100% 0 0 0:58
Stewart Nicoll 0 21 of 54 38% 22 of 55 0 of 4 0% 0 0 0:00
3 Lucas Rocha 0 60 of 99 60% 66 of 108 2 of 3 66% 0 0 0:18
Stewart Nicoll 0 10 of 46 21% 10 of 46 0 of 4 0% 0 0 0:00
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Lucas Rocha 115 of 226 50% 81 of 184 30 of 37 4 of 5 100 of 205 11 of 15 4 of 6
Stewart Nicoll 45 of 138 32% 41 of 133 2 of 3 2 of 2 45 of 135 0 of 3 0 of 0
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Lucas Rocha 15 of 40 37% 9 of 32 5 of 7 1 of 1 14 of 37 0 of 1 1 of 2
Stewart Nicoll 14 of 38 36% 11 of 35 1 of 1 2 of 2 14 of 38 0 of 0 0 of 0
2 Lucas Rocha 40 of 87 45% 28 of 70 11 of 15 1 of 2 31 of 74 6 of 9 3 of 4
Stewart Nicoll 21 of 54 38% 20 of 52 1 of 2 0 of 0 21 of 52 0 of 2 0 of 0
3 Lucas Rocha 60 of 99 60% 44 of 82 14 of 15 2 of 2 55 of 94 5 of 5 0 of 0
Stewart Nicoll 10 of 46 21% 10 of 46 0 of 0 0 of 0 10 of 45 0 of 1 0 of 0
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Lean picked Oct 5, 2025 (6 days before fight)
Lucas Rocha

Angelo picks Lucas Rocha based on his brain over gut feeling. He notes Lucas is the more dangerous fighter and that Stewart doesn't like forward pressure. However, he acknowledges Lucas's poor takedown defense and the risk of being taken down. He does not bet the moneyline but suggests under 2.5 rounds as a play.

under 2.5 rounds
"I'm going to stick with the brain, the big boy brain... But I can't touch the money line. Under two and a half, I actually think it'll be a sneaky good play here."
BI
Big Brady Expert Lean picked Oct 9, 2025 (2 days before fight)
Stewart Nicoll

Big Brady leans slightly toward Stewart Nicoll, expecting takedowns to come easy and Nicoll to find a submission. He notes Nicoll is a talented grappler with nasty ground and pound, but made a mistake in his last fight by getting caught in a guillotine. He acknowledges Lucas Rocha is dangerous on the feet with power and flying knees, but has no striking or takedown defense. Brady sees it as a striker vs grappler matchup and picks Nicoll by second-round submission.

submission
"I do lean ever so slightly to the Steuart Nickel side. I think takedowns, they'll come easy... Steuart Nickel by second round submission."
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Hesitant picked Oct 8, 2025 (3 days before fight)
Stewart Nicoll

Cody picks Nicoll but is hesitant due to his previous loss by guillotine. He notes Rocha's inability to grapple and Nicoll's path to victory, but worries about travel and Brazilian judging. He suggests checking Nicoll's arrival in Brazil.

"Nichols is a pick. Don't He's dead to me. He's dead to me if he loses this fight though."
LU
Lucrative James Expert Hesitant picked Oct 8, 2025 (3 days before fight)
Stewart Nicoll

Lucrative James picks Stewart Nicoll as an underdog, citing Nicoll's tenacious grappling and takedown ability. He acknowledges Lucas Rocha's striking advantage and knockout power, but believes Nicoll's wrestling and cardio will be decisive. He notes that Rocha has been taken down multiple times in past fights and submitted. However, he is hesitant because Nicoll was submitted in his last fight and his jiu-jitsu may not be slick enough to finish Rocha. He sees the fight ending inside the distance.

under 2.5 rounds (-140), Stewart Nicoll by submission (+450)
"I'm actually going to pitch Stuart Nickel cuz I feel like the takedowns are, you know, are going to be free at times."
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Oct 9, 2025 (2 days before fight)
Stewart Nicoll

Manpreet picks Nicoll at plus money, believing his grappling and control will stifle Rocha's Muay Thai. He notes Nicoll's BJJ black belt and ability to take the back, and expects him to win by decision. He considers the plus 100 a value line, as Nicoll would be a favorite if not for his debut loss.

Nicoll by decision
"I want to take advantage of this plus 100. I think he is better than Hocha and I think he is good enough to kind of you know, now that he has a UFC jitters past him."
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Confident picked Oct 8, 2025 (3 days before fight)
Stewart Nicoll

Paul picks Nicoll, citing Rocha's poor grappling and ballooned record. He notes Nicoll's BJJ black belt and physical strength, and expects him to take Rocha down and submit or control him. He warns about travel concerns but sees value.

"I got Steuart Nickel. This Lucas Roas got a ballooned up record, man."
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Oct 7, 2025 (4 days before fight)
Stewart Nicoll

The MMA Guru picks Stewart Nicoll over Lucas Rocha, believing Rocha is too small for flyweight at 5'3". He trusts Nicoll's physicality, grappling, and Australian fighting spirit. He predicts a decision win or late submission/TKO via ground and pound.

"I'm going to go with Stuart Nickel. I'm going to trust in his grappling here. I think he'll be able to out physicality."
Technical Submission (rear-naked choke) R2 2:12 · UFC Fight Night: Royval vs. Taira · Oct 12, 2024
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Clayton Carpenter 0 34 of 60 56% 36 of 62 2 of 3 66% 1 0 4:38
Lucas Rocha 0 17 of 41 41% 21 of 45 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Clayton Carpenter 0 23 of 40 57% 25 of 42 1 of 1 100% 0 0 3:38
Lucas Rocha 0 9 of 24 37% 12 of 27 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
2 Clayton Carpenter 0 11 of 20 55% 11 of 20 1 of 2 50% 1 0 1:00
Lucas Rocha 0 8 of 17 47% 9 of 18 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Clayton Carpenter 34 of 60 56% 22 of 45 7 of 8 5 of 7 20 of 43 1 of 1 13 of 16
Lucas Rocha 17 of 41 41% 10 of 32 6 of 8 1 of 1 16 of 39 1 of 2 0 of 0
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Clayton Carpenter 23 of 40 57% 19 of 33 2 of 3 2 of 4 10 of 24 0 of 0 13 of 16
Lucas Rocha 9 of 24 37% 5 of 19 4 of 5 0 of 0 9 of 24 0 of 0 0 of 0
2 Clayton Carpenter 11 of 20 55% 3 of 12 5 of 5 3 of 3 10 of 19 1 of 1 0 of 0
Lucas Rocha 8 of 17 47% 5 of 13 2 of 3 1 of 1 7 of 15 1 of 2 0 of 0
Play-by-Play
View on Sherdog
Clayton Carpenter vs. Lucas Rocha
BETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Carpenter (-192), Rocha (+160)

Round 1
It’s fight time again. The Apex plays host to a dozen matchups of varied intrigue, with little in the way of immediate title stakes outside of the main attraction. That does not preclude plenty of frenzied violence and thrilling action, as anything is possible tonight. Combat commences in the flyweight division, as unbeaten Carpenter (7-0, 1-0 UFC) looks to stave off surging newcomer Rocha (17-1, 0-0 UFC) in what should be a wild one. Referee Mark Smith is prepped and ready to handle the speedy combatants, who come together to bump fists. Rocha moves straight to the driver’s seat, pressuring forward only to dodge a pair of jabs flying at his face. Rocha jabs out with a foot, and he wings a right hand over the top. When Carpenter kicks low, Rocha rails the body with a kick. Smith calls time to warn Rocha for his outstretched fingers, and they get back to quick one-after-another striking. Carpenter rushes into a brawl, and the Brazilian obliges him as the two trade hands, absorbing clean strikes and giving them back in volume. Rocha slows things down by hunting for a jump knee, and Carpenter backs off and suddenly blitzes forward to tackle Rocha to the mat. Carpenter lands in half guard, and Rocha scrambles madly but cannot get the American off of him. Carpenter lashes out with an elbow that rips Rocha’s left eyebrow wide open, and he gets pulled back to the guard briefly. Blood leaks down Rocha’s face and into his eye, and he remains nullified with Carpenter’s effective heavy shoulder pressure. Carpenter postures up again to bean Rocha again with another powerful elbow, and the mat around the fighters is quickly gaining stains that will never be cleaned. “Fenomeno” fights off an arm-triangle setup and bucks his hips at the right time to sit up, and Carpenter meets him every step of the way and keeps him stuck thanks to a front choke. Carpenter bowls Rocha to his back again, where he claims full mount briefly. Rocha shifts his hips to pull Carpenter to half guard, but he absorbs another elbow or two in the process. Rocha thinks about a leglock off his back, and Carpenter sees it coming and rains down offense to break it up. The unbeaten fighter keeps jackhammering elbows down, causing additional damage on Rocha’s nose, and the horn sounds.
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Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-8 Carpenter
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Carpenter
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Carpenter

Round 2
The doctors are able to temporarily stifle the bleeding of Rocha’s eyebrow between rounds, but a few strikes may restart the flow. Rocha, knowing a trigger-happy doctor might wave things off, starts out even more aggressively than the last round. Rocha walks through several jabs that open him up further, rushing after Carpenter to throw wild strikes and tag the unbeaten man with a knee. Carpenter sweeps the leg with a kick, and he catches Rocha coming in with a few body kicks. Carpenter mixes in a takedown, crashing through the hips with a double-leg takedown to plant Rocha on his seat. As Rocha tries to recover, Carpenter spins around to take the Brazilian’s back and hook in a body triangle. Rocha pushes off the fence with his foot, but Carpenter is more occupied with hunting down a rear-naked choke.
The forearm slides beneath the chin and is immediately tight, but Rocha is insanely tough and grits it out. Rocha fights the hands, even landing a few strikes from behind his own head, but the choke is not going anywhere. As Carpenter sits up slightly to squeeze with all his might, Rocha’s hands go limp and he loses consciousness.
Smith recognizes this instantly and breaks them up, with Carpenter standing up triumphantly to check his hair. This is a solid win for the still-unbeaten Carpenter, who becomes the first man to submit his opponent.

The Official Result
Clayton Carpenter def. Lucas Rocha R2 2:12 via Technical Submission (Rear-Naked Choke)
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Confident picked Oct 6, 2024 (6 days before fight)
Clayton Carpenter

Angelo picks Clayton Carpenter, citing his slick grappling and aggressive submission hunting. He notes Carpenter's fast pace and ability to set the tone early, while Lucas Rocha's upright stance makes him vulnerable to takedowns. Angelo believes Carpenter's offensive wrestling will be the deciding factor, as Rocha has shown poor defensive wrestling. He expects Carpenter to win via takedowns and control, calling it a straightforward pick.

"Clayton Carpenter is a slick Grappler... takedowns will be there and then he'll win and that minus 170 is not going to last long so hop on it now."
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked Oct 10, 2024 (2 days before fight)
Clayton Carpenter

Big Brady picks Clayton Carpenter to win by second-round knockout. He likes Carpenter's striking, wrestling, and grappling, and notes he is a high-level black belt. He criticizes Rocha's takedown defense, durability, and tendency to get dropped in fights. Rocha was taken down easily by Bittencourt on the Contender Series before landing a comeback KO. Brady expects Carpenter to dominate and potentially finish, though he acknowledges ring rust could be a factor after a 19-month layoff.

Carpenter by second-round knockout
"I like Carpenter to win this fight and I'll take him to win this fight by second round knockout"
CO
Connor Ruebusch Expert picked Oct 10, 2024 (2 days before fight)

This fight was not discussed in the transcript. No picks were made.

CO
Connor Ruebusch Expert Confident picked Oct 11, 2024 (1 day before fight)
Clayton Carpenter

Connor agrees with Zane, noting that Rocha's record is built on beating can crushers and that he got knocked cold by some dude. He points out Rocha is only 5'3" and lacks athleticism, making him ripe to be run over by better athletes like Carpenter.

"I think I'll side with you at least carpenter looks like he's got I mean what is what is even holding up Hocha's record"
DA
Daniel Vreeland Expert Confident picked Oct 8, 2024 (4 days before fight)
Clayton Carpenter

Daniel highlights Carpenter's size, durability, and grappling advantage over the smaller Rocha, who is a former strawweight. He notes that Rocha is a slow starter who often gets beaten up early but comes back. Daniel believes Carpenter's physicality will allow him to dominate the first two rounds and win a decision, though a finish wouldn't surprise him.

wins by decision
"I'm gonna lean towards Carpenter by decision... strongly grind out the first two survive the last and win this decision."
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Oct 11, 2024 (1 day before fight)
Clayton Carpenter

Carpenter is expected to showcase his grappling dominance against Rocha, who has shown issues dealing with opponents that take his back and control him from that position. Despite Rocha's impressive 17-1 record, Carpenter should grind out the fight and pick up his eighth win in as many fights.

"I believe this is a great fight for Carpenter to go out there and showcase his grappling dominance where Rocha has shown issues in the past"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Oct 8, 2024 (4 days before fight)
Lucas Rocha

The MMA Guru picks Lucas Rocha over Clayton Carpenter, citing Rocha's higher activity, finishing ability, and experience. He notes that Carpenter has been out for a while, which may indicate injury issues, and that Rocha is a 'dog' with more savagery and switch-hitting ability. He also mentions that shorter flyweights are hard to hold down, which could neutralize Carpenter's technical grappling.

"I am going to pick him to beat Clayton Carpenter... I think this guy's got more dog in him he's got more Savage in him he's got more switch on land a big shot ability in him"
ZA
Zane Simon Expert Confident picked Oct 11, 2024 (1 day before fight)
Clayton Carpenter

Zane thinks Carpenter will whip Rocha, comparing him to Francis Marshall as a wild, all-offense fighter with no breaks. He notes Rocha got lucky against a glass cannon on the Contender Series and lacks athleticism. Zane believes Carpenter's strength and athleticism will overwhelm Rocha, who seems untrained and self-taught.

"I think Clayton carpenter is gonna whip his ass"
ZA
Zane Simon Expert picked Oct 10, 2024 (2 days before fight)

This fight was not discussed in the transcript. No picks were made.

Expert Picks (9)
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Confident picked Oct 6, 2024 (6 days before fight)
Clayton Carpenter

Angelo picks Clayton Carpenter, citing his slick grappling and aggressive submission hunting. He notes Carpenter's fast pace and ability to set the tone early, while Lucas Rocha's upright stance makes him vulnerable to takedowns. Angelo believes Carpenter's offensive wrestling will be the deciding factor, as Rocha has shown poor defensive wrestling. He expects Carpenter to win via takedowns and control, calling it a straightforward pick.

"Clayton Carpenter is a slick Grappler... takedowns will be there and then he'll win and that minus 170 is not going to last long so hop on it now."
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked Oct 10, 2024 (2 days before fight)
Clayton Carpenter

Big Brady picks Clayton Carpenter to win by second-round knockout. He likes Carpenter's striking, wrestling, and grappling, and notes he is a high-level black belt. He criticizes Rocha's takedown defense, durability, and tendency to get dropped in fights. Rocha was taken down easily by Bittencourt on the Contender Series before landing a comeback KO. Brady expects Carpenter to dominate and potentially finish, though he acknowledges ring rust could be a factor after a 19-month layoff.

Carpenter by second-round knockout
"I like Carpenter to win this fight and I'll take him to win this fight by second round knockout"
CO
Connor Ruebusch Expert Confident picked Oct 11, 2024 (1 day before fight)
Clayton Carpenter

Connor agrees with Zane, noting that Rocha's record is built on beating can crushers and that he got knocked cold by some dude. He points out Rocha is only 5'3" and lacks athleticism, making him ripe to be run over by better athletes like Carpenter.

"I think I'll side with you at least carpenter looks like he's got I mean what is what is even holding up Hocha's record"
CO
Connor Ruebusch Expert picked Oct 10, 2024 (2 days before fight)
No clear pick

This fight was not discussed in the transcript. No picks were made.

DA
Daniel Vreeland Expert Confident picked Oct 8, 2024 (4 days before fight)
Clayton Carpenter

Daniel highlights Carpenter's size, durability, and grappling advantage over the smaller Rocha, who is a former strawweight. He notes that Rocha is a slow starter who often gets beaten up early but comes back. Daniel believes Carpenter's physicality will allow him to dominate the first two rounds and win a decision, though a finish wouldn't surprise him.

wins by decision
"I'm gonna lean towards Carpenter by decision... strongly grind out the first two survive the last and win this decision."
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Oct 11, 2024 (1 day before fight)
Clayton Carpenter

Carpenter is expected to showcase his grappling dominance against Rocha, who has shown issues dealing with opponents that take his back and control him from that position. Despite Rocha's impressive 17-1 record, Carpenter should grind out the fight and pick up his eighth win in as many fights.

"I believe this is a great fight for Carpenter to go out there and showcase his grappling dominance where Rocha has shown issues in the past"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Oct 8, 2024 (4 days before fight)
Lucas Rocha

The MMA Guru picks Lucas Rocha over Clayton Carpenter, citing Rocha's higher activity, finishing ability, and experience. He notes that Carpenter has been out for a while, which may indicate injury issues, and that Rocha is a 'dog' with more savagery and switch-hitting ability. He also mentions that shorter flyweights are hard to hold down, which could neutralize Carpenter's technical grappling.

"I am going to pick him to beat Clayton Carpenter... I think this guy's got more dog in him he's got more Savage in him he's got more switch on land a big shot ability in him"
ZA
Zane Simon Expert Confident picked Oct 11, 2024 (1 day before fight)
Clayton Carpenter

Zane thinks Carpenter will whip Rocha, comparing him to Francis Marshall as a wild, all-offense fighter with no breaks. He notes Rocha got lucky against a glass cannon on the Contender Series and lacks athleticism. Zane believes Carpenter's strength and athleticism will overwhelm Rocha, who seems untrained and self-taught.

"I think Clayton carpenter is gonna whip his ass"
ZA
Zane Simon Expert picked Oct 10, 2024 (2 days before fight)
No clear pick

This fight was not discussed in the transcript. No picks were made.