UFC 173: Barao vs. Dillashaw · May 24, 2014 · Lightweight · Completed
Prev Fight UFC 173: Barao vs. Dillashaw Next Fight
Age 38
Height 6' 1"
Reach 75.0"
Weight 170 lbs.
Stance Southpaw
Age 47
Height 5' 9"
Reach 70.0"
Weight 170 lbs.
Stance Southpaw
Career Averages - Michael Chiesa
2.02 SLpM
40.0% Str. Acc.
1.73 SApM
57.0% Str. Def.
3.11 TD Avg
47.0% TD Acc.
65.0% TD Def.
1.0 Sub. Avg
Career Averages - Francisco Trinaldo
3.13 SLpM
45.0% Str. Acc.
2.67 SApM
60.0% Str. Def.
0.98 TD Avg
42.0% TD Acc.
60.0% TD Def.
0.5 Sub. Avg
Michael Chiesa - Fight History
WIN vs Niko Price
Submission R1 1:03 · UFC Fight Night: Adesanya vs. Pyfer · Mar 28, 2026
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Michael Chiesa 0 0 of 1 0% 0 of 1 1 of 2 50% 1 0 0:23
Niko Price 0 1 of 3 33% 1 of 3 1 of 1 100% 0 0 0:08
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Michael Chiesa 0 0 of 1 0% 0 of 1 1 of 2 50% 1 0 0:23
Niko Price 0 1 of 3 33% 1 of 3 1 of 1 100% 0 0 0:08
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Michael Chiesa 0 of 1 0% 0 of 1 0 of 0 0 of 0 0 of 1 0 of 0 0 of 0
Niko Price 1 of 3 33% 0 of 2 1 of 1 0 of 0 0 of 2 1 of 1 0 of 0
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Michael Chiesa 0 of 1 0% 0 of 1 0 of 0 0 of 0 0 of 1 0 of 0 0 of 0
Niko Price 1 of 3 33% 0 of 2 1 of 1 0 of 0 0 of 2 1 of 1 0 of 0
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident pick date unknown
Michael Chiesa

Big Brady picks Michael Chiesa to win by first-round submission. He is very confident, noting Niko Price's recent brutal knockout losses and decline. He believes Price has taken too much damage and Chiesa's grappling will be overwhelming. He expects Chiesa to take Price down and submit him easily, comparing it to a hot knife through butter.

Chiesa by submission round 1
"I think Michael Chiesa goes out there. I think he takes down Niko Price, and I think he runs through him like a hot knife through butter."
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Confident pick date unknown
Michael Chiesa

Cody believes Chiesa will win via submission, citing Price's poor grappling and Chiesa's rear-naked choke. He sees this as a perfect retirement fight for Chiesa in front of his home crowd.

"Michael Chiesa is going to get the takedowns. And when he takes him down, he's going to sub him."
CO
Connor Ruebusch Expert Confident pick date unknown
Michael Chiesa

Connor states that at any point in their careers, Michael Chiesa would have beaten Niko Price. He notes that Price is a booty call fighter who hasn't been training, has been brutally finished in his last two fights, and is slower than ever. Chiesa has a great chin, has never been knocked out, and can control the fight and take it to a realm where Price is not dangerous.

Odds: Chiesa opened -500, now -600; Price opened +375, now +425.
"I think Michael Kiesa would have beaten Nico Price at every single point."
DA
Daniel Vreeland Expert Confident pick date unknown
Michael Chiesa

Daniel sees Chiesa as a level above Price historically, and expects him to use his physicality to secure a submission win in his retirement fight. He notes Price's decline and Chiesa's ability to drop opponents.

"I think that Chiesa's going to be able to use that physicality, backpack Niko Price, come out here and probably get a rear naked choke."
DI
Diary of a Pro Gambler Expert Confident pick date unknown
Michael Chiesa

The host is extremely confident Chiesa will win, calling it a great stylistic matchup. Price has poor takedown defense and ground game, while Chiesa is a high-level grappler. Even with Chiesa's cardio issues, he should easily take Price down and submit him. However, the host does not bet the moneyline due to the steep price (-834) and instead prefers the under 2.5 rounds prop.

Bets under 2.5 rounds as a better alternative to moneyline.
"I think it's quite likely Chiesa will take Price down and submit him pretty quickly."
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident pick date unknown
Michael Chiesa

The host sees this as a favorable matchup for Chiesa, who should be able to take Price down and submit him. He notes Price's recent durability issues and Chiesa's grappling prowess. He expects a submission win, likely by rear-naked choke, and doesn't mind parlaying Chiesa at the heavy odds.

submission, parlay piece
"I don't mind parlaying Kiesta at this number. Uh I know he's at the end of his career, this is his retirement fight, but Nico Price at this point in time is a layup fight for him to get a …"
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Confident pick date unknown
Michael Chiesa

Paul agrees, noting Chiesa's wrestling advantage and Price's recent knockout loss. He expects Chiesa to win easily, likely by submission.

"Chiesa wins this fight pretty... He's a parlay piece this week."
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident pick date unknown
Michael Chiesa

The MMA Guru picks Michael Chiesa, citing his grappling and size advantage. He believes Chiesa's experience and strength will allow him to control the fight, though he notes Chiesa's chin is suspect. He thinks Nico Price's best days are behind him and that Price has been taking damage recently. He even suggests a possible Chiesa KO on the feet.

"I think Kasa wins this with his grappling, dude."
ZA
Zane Simon Expert Confident pick date unknown
Michael Chiesa

Zane agrees that Chiesa is a clear favorite, noting that Price is a booty call fighter who hasn't been training and has been brutally finished recently. He mentions that Chiesa's retirement helped him recollect himself, and he's been looking composed and collected. He also notes that Price's power is less present and his wild grappling won't serve him here.

Odds: Chiesa opened -500, now -600; Price opened +375, now +425.
"Not a close booking at this point price is looking slower than ever."
WIN vs Court McGee
Decision R3 5:00 · UFC on ESPN: Usman vs. Buckley · Jun 14, 2025
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Michael Chiesa 0 72 of 160 45% 81 of 169 0 of 2 0% 0 0 1:32
Court McGee 0 39 of 145 26% 51 of 158 0 of 6 0% 0 0 0:45
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Michael Chiesa 0 15 of 45 33% 15 of 45 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Court McGee 0 10 of 41 24% 11 of 42 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:00
2 Michael Chiesa 0 24 of 57 42% 25 of 58 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:21
Court McGee 0 17 of 58 29% 20 of 62 0 of 3 0% 0 0 0:00
3 Michael Chiesa 0 33 of 58 56% 41 of 66 0 of 2 0% 0 0 1:11
Court McGee 0 12 of 46 26% 20 of 54 0 of 2 0% 0 0 0:45
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Michael Chiesa 72 of 160 45% 47 of 128 25 of 32 0 of 0 52 of 132 20 of 28 0 of 0
Court McGee 39 of 145 26% 9 of 95 16 of 29 14 of 21 36 of 140 3 of 5 0 of 0
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Michael Chiesa 15 of 45 33% 15 of 41 0 of 4 0 of 0 15 of 43 0 of 2 0 of 0
Court McGee 10 of 41 24% 2 of 27 6 of 9 2 of 5 9 of 39 1 of 2 0 of 0
2 Michael Chiesa 24 of 57 42% 20 of 53 4 of 4 0 of 0 21 of 53 3 of 4 0 of 0
Court McGee 17 of 58 29% 4 of 39 4 of 9 9 of 10 16 of 56 1 of 2 0 of 0
3 Michael Chiesa 33 of 58 56% 12 of 34 21 of 24 0 of 0 16 of 36 17 of 22 0 of 0
Court McGee 12 of 46 26% 3 of 29 6 of 11 3 of 6 11 of 45 1 of 1 0 of 0
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Lean pick date unknown
Court McGee

Angelo leans Court McGee because he is all-in on fighting while Chiesa has outside distractions. He notes that McGee looked great in his last fight and is durable. He believes whoever gets the first takedown wins, and McGee is strong enough to avoid submissions.

plus three and a half
"I'm going to go out on a limb and I'm going to pick him here."
BI
Big Brady Expert Hesitant pick date unknown
Michael Chiesa

Big Brady picks Michael Chiesa by decision but is hesitant, noting that Court McGee has great takedown defense and has fought tough grapplers. He believes Chiesa has a little left in the tank while McGee is older and has been knocked out recently. He expects a competitive fight despite the wide line.

"I'm going to go Kesa here to win by decision but I just feel like it could be a little bit more competitive than the massive favorite line does indicate."
CO
Connor Ruebusch Expert Confident pick date unknown
Michael Chiesa

Connor believes Chiesa is a much higher-level fighter than McGee, with more dynamic offense and a variety of ways to finish. He expects Chiesa to use his speed and size advantage to outscramble McGee, despite Chiesa's susceptibility to submissions. Connor notes that McGee's submission threat is low, as he hasn't submitted anyone since 2010.

"I expect that he will just be physically overpowering and obviously faster and bigger than court McGee."
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Lean pick date unknown
Michael Chiesa

Chiesa's superior grappling will keep McGee in bad spots, likely snatching the back and grinding out a decision win.

"I have to lean with Kiesta here as I think his grappling will be superior..."
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident pick date unknown
Michael Chiesa

The Guru picks Michael Chiesa by submission, noting Chiesa has been given favorable matchups recently (Tony Ferguson, Max Griffin). He expects Chiesa to take McGee down and get a submission in the first or second round, citing McGee's age (mid-40s) and Chiesa's back-take game.

Michael Chiesa by submission, round 1 or 2
"I'm going to take Michael Kasa to win this fight by submission. Um, I don't know who Michael Kasa has been nice to behind the scenes in the UFC to be getting all of these types of matchups when it …"
ZA
Zane Simon Expert Confident pick date unknown
Michael Chiesa

Zane agrees that Chiesa should win, citing that Chiesa has beaten a much higher level of opponent throughout his career. He notes that McGee is a slow, loopy striker who can be outwrestled by a faster, more dynamic fighter like Chiesa. Zane thinks Chiesa's wrestling and scrambling will be key.

"It's just, he's beat a higher level of opponent his whole career."
WIN vs Max Griffin
Submission (rear-naked choke) R3 1:56 · UFC 310: Pantoja vs. Asakura · Dec 07, 2024
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Michael Chiesa 0 13 of 39 33% 54 of 87 2 of 8 25% 1 0 3:48
Max Griffin 0 10 of 34 29% 18 of 43 0 of 1 0% 0 0 1:19
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Michael Chiesa 0 6 of 17 35% 12 of 25 1 of 4 25% 0 0 1:35
Max Griffin 0 3 of 15 20% 5 of 17 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:00
2 Michael Chiesa 0 5 of 16 31% 38 of 54 0 of 3 0% 0 0 1:20
Max Griffin 0 5 of 11 45% 11 of 18 0 of 0 --- 0 0 1:19
3 Michael Chiesa 0 2 of 6 33% 4 of 8 1 of 1 100% 1 0 0:53
Max Griffin 0 2 of 8 25% 2 of 8 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Michael Chiesa 13 of 39 33% 11 of 33 2 of 6 0 of 0 9 of 29 4 of 10 0 of 0
Max Griffin 10 of 34 29% 9 of 33 1 of 1 0 of 0 10 of 30 0 of 4 0 of 0
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Michael Chiesa 6 of 17 35% 4 of 13 2 of 4 0 of 0 4 of 15 2 of 2 0 of 0
Max Griffin 3 of 15 20% 3 of 15 0 of 0 0 of 0 3 of 14 0 of 1 0 of 0
2 Michael Chiesa 5 of 16 31% 5 of 14 0 of 2 0 of 0 3 of 11 2 of 5 0 of 0
Max Griffin 5 of 11 45% 4 of 10 1 of 1 0 of 0 5 of 10 0 of 1 0 of 0
3 Michael Chiesa 2 of 6 33% 2 of 6 0 of 0 0 of 0 2 of 3 0 of 3 0 of 0
Max Griffin 2 of 8 25% 2 of 8 0 of 0 0 of 0 2 of 6 0 of 2 0 of 0
Play-by-Play
View on Sherdog
Michael Chiesa vs. Max Griffin
BETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Griffin (-125), Chiesa (+105)

Round 1
It’s a quintessential grappler vs. striker matchup to hold serve in the welterweight division, as two aging vets look to show the matchmakers they still have plenty to offer even as losses have piled up of late. Birthday boy Chiesa (17-7, 12-7 UFC) snapped a career-long skid by tapping Tony Ferguson in August, while Griffin (20-10, 8-8 UFC) has alternated wins and losses in his last five. Referee Marc Goddard will take charge of the Octagon for the next three rounds or fewer, and he kicks the fight off as the 170ers opt not to bump fists. Chiesa strafes around the cage, not letting himself slow down so that Griffin can cut him off. Griffin walks him down, but he is unable to corner him early. Chiesa keeps his front hand open to engage with grappling instead of throwing it, and he hand-fights Griffin’s lead hand in the other stance. Chiesa punches his way into a takedown attempt, clipping Griffin with a left before dragging him to a knee. Griffin leans himself against the cage, and “Maverick” glides behind him. Chiesa slithers a hook in to tangle Griffin up, and Griffin stands up. Chiesa gets the other hook in from behind and he wraps his legs together to hang on as a mean-spirited backpack. Griffin wriggles his foe off of him and separates, resetting at striking range. Chiesa bounces and keeps moving, whipping a high kick that slaps off the raised guard. Griffin catches Chiesa in the midst of an exchange, and Chiesa’s counter is so wild he nearly swings himself down to the ground. Griffin lets him recover so he can stick him with a right hand, and Chiesa’s reaction is uncomfortable as he is momentarily stunned. Griffin loads up on power strikes, drawing some swelling beneath Chiesa’s left eye. Chiesa connects with a big left, takes a takedown and drives a knee into the chest. Griffin shakes it off and tags his foe with a right hand, and Chiesa nods at the blow and shoots for a takedown. Griffin hits the ground and scrambles wildly to explode to his feet. Chiesa wrenches him back down to the mat, and he wraps a body triangle around the waist and smacks Griffin in the back and sides of the head until the horn sounds.

Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Chiesa
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Chiesa
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Chiesa

Round 2
Chiesa starts off the round fresh as a daisy, springing back and forth and picking his shots from the outside. Griffin’s counters hit nothing but air, and Chiesa punches his way into a takedown that is stonewalled. Griffin darts in with a right hand, and on the way out, Chiesa lands his own punch. Griffin whiffs when Chiesa ducks down on a takedown, and two more failed shots from Chiesa lead to a tie-up against the fence. Griffin wants nothing to do with this, exploding out of the clinch so he can continue stalking Chiesa down. Griffin comes up short on power strikes, with Chiesa escaping out the back door and surprising “Pain” with a head kick. Griffin ties him up and pushes the TUF champ against the wall. Griffin grinds his foe against the fencing, getting a knee in as he imposes his weight. Goddard asks for more activity, and Chiesa is the one who answers, changing levels for a takedown shot. Before it goes anywhere, Griffin twists him around, and he eventually works his way out. Chiesa ducks a left hand to try to take the fight down, and he surprises the older fighter with a sudden flurry of uppercuts and short punches that get Griffin’s attention. Chiesa’s momentum drives him into a clinch, and he wraps his left leg around Griffin’s so he can try to wrench him down. Chiesa partially takes the back while the two remain standing, and he works on Griffin with stay-busy strikes until Griffin turns around. The round ends with a Chiesa knee to the body.

Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Chiesa
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Chiesa
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Chiesa

Round 3
Griffin comes out of his corner ready to throw hands, and he marches Chiesa down and tries to cut him off. Chiesa keeps moving, constantly going from side to side. As he swipes out a left hand, he shrugs after landing it. Griffin catches him with a right hand, and Chiesa retaliates and pursues a takedown. Griffin stonewalls him and pushes him aside, and he eats a right hand on the way out. As Griffin loads up, Chiesa trips him out with a single-leg takedown and takes his back. One hook in leads to two, and Chiesa hangs onto the back of “Pain” and fishes for an opening. Chiesa wraps up the rear-naked choke, and Griffin pushes off the fence to get just enough space in the grip to keep himself in the fight.
Chiesa refastens his choke and is primarily using his right arm to get it done, and as Griffin turns to his stomach, he enters the Danger Zone. Chiesa wrenches on the rear-naked choke with his other arm with sheer power and determination, and Griffin has no choice but to tap out before going out.
As Chiesa releases the sub, he walks off to celebrate. His legion of fans in the building start singing him “Happy Birthday,” and he dedicates his victory to recently deceased UFC staff member Derek Thompson.

The Official Result
Michael Chiesa def. Max Griffin R3 1:56 via Submission (Rear-Naked Choke)
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Hesitant pick date unknown
Michael Chiesa

Angelo picks Michael Chiesa as an underdog, believing Chiesa can use his grappling to neutralize Max Griffin's power. He notes Chiesa's improved fight IQ from coaching and analysis work. However, he acknowledges the fight is tricky and expects it to go the distance. He suggests possibly betting the spread (Chiesa +3.5) when props drop.

Maybe bet the spread (Chiesa +3.5), fight goes a little bit
"I'm going to pick Michael Kessa to win this fight"
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Confident pick date unknown
Michael Chiesa

Cody picks Chiesa, citing his wrestling and submission threat. He notes Griffin's takedown defense issues and close decision losses. He thinks Chiesa can grind out a win, though he acknowledges Chiesa's inconsistency.

"I'll side with Chiesa... it's Chiesa for me."
CO
Connor Ruebusch Expert Hesitant pick date unknown
Michael Chiesa

Connor picks Chiesa, arguing that Griffin lacks a defined game plan and often wanders out of fights. He notes that Chiesa is aggressive with his reach and clinch work, and that Griffin is not a submission threat, which is important because Chiesa has been submitted in most of his losses. Connor believes that if Chiesa pressures and forces clinches, Griffin will not have an answer.

"I think i'm gonna take michael kiesa."
DA
Daniel Vreeland Expert Confident pick date unknown
Michael Chiesa

Daniel picks Chiesa as an underdog, citing Griffin's recent decline and takedown defense issues. He believes Chiesa's grappling and strength will be decisive once he gets the fight to the mat. He notes Griffin's lack of submission threat.

"Give me a KSA for the upset, actually."
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Lean pick date unknown
Max Griffin

This is a fight between two flaky fighters, but I lean with Griffin's activity as of late. His ability to keep the fight standing and out-strike Chiesa on the feet will allow him to win on the scorecards.

"I do have to to lean with Griffin's activity as of late as I do think his ability to keep this fight standing and badrick K on the feet will allow him to win this fight on the scor cards"
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Confident pick date unknown
Michael Chiesa

Paul picks Chiesa, emphasizing his wrestling advantage and Griffin's struggles with grapplers. He notes Griffin's age and lack of finishing ability. He thinks Chiesa can control the fight and win a decision or submission.

"I like Michael Chiesa... he's going to be part of the PRP."
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Hesitant pick date unknown
Michael Chiesa

The MMA Guru picks Michael Chiesa, though he calls it tricky. He believes Chiesa's grappling will be the difference, as Griffin has historically struggled with grapplers (citing Colby Covington fight). He thinks Griffin lacks the dynamic striking to finish Chiesa early, and trusts Chiesa to grind out a 29-28 decision.

"I'm gonna go with Michael ker I'm gonna go with Michael ker getting this one done I think his grappling is going to be the difference"
ZA
Zane Simon Expert Hesitant pick date unknown
Max Griffin

Zane picks Griffin, noting that Griffin is a good athlete who has shown he can mimic game plans, as he did against Mike Perry. He points out that Chiesa has been submitted in almost every loss, and while Griffin is not a submission specialist, he might catch Chiesa in a guillotine. Zane also mentions that Griffin has been competitive with tough opponents and that Chiesa's recent losses have been to high-level grapplers.

"I think i'll take max griffin."
WIN vs Tony Ferguson
Submission (rear-naked choke) R1 3:44 · UFC on ABC: Sandhagen vs. Nurmagomedov · Aug 03, 2024
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Michael Chiesa 0 10 of 18 55% 10 of 18 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Tony Ferguson 0 4 of 25 16% 4 of 25 1 of 1 100% 1 0 0:34
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Michael Chiesa 0 10 of 18 55% 10 of 18 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Tony Ferguson 0 4 of 25 16% 4 of 25 1 of 1 100% 1 0 0:34
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Michael Chiesa 10 of 18 55% 4 of 9 1 of 3 5 of 6 10 of 18 0 of 0 0 of 0
Tony Ferguson 4 of 25 16% 3 of 23 1 of 2 0 of 0 4 of 25 0 of 0 0 of 0
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Michael Chiesa 10 of 18 55% 4 of 9 1 of 3 5 of 6 10 of 18 0 of 0 0 of 0
Tony Ferguson 4 of 25 16% 3 of 23 1 of 2 0 of 0 4 of 25 0 of 0 0 of 0
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Confident pick date unknown
Michael Chiesa

Angelo is very confident in Chiesa, calling Ferguson's seven-fight losing streak and CTE concerns. He thinks Chiesa's takedowns and top pressure will be too much for the faded Ferguson, who hasn't looked good in years. He says Chiesa at -400 should be -1500.

"Michael Kessa is going to be the pick"
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident pick date unknown
Michael Chiesa

Big Brady thinks this fight should not be sanctioned due to Ferguson's seven-fight skid and brutal losses. He notes Ferguson has been submitted by Bobby Green and Nate Diaz, and Chiesa has been submitted five times but has three d'arce choke losses. He predicts Chiesa will take Ferguson down and finish him by first-round submission, but also mentions a sprinkle on Ferguson by submission at +1400 as a prop.

Tony Ferguson by submission +1400; fight ends by submission
"I'm going Cas a first round sub don't mind the sprinkle on the Tony Ferguson sub don't mind the fight ends by sub"
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Hesitant pick date unknown
Tony Ferguson

Cody picks Tony Ferguson as a wild underdog, citing Chiesa's poor cardio, tendency to get submitted, and mental lapses. He notes that Ferguson has incredible durability and confidence, and that Chiesa has been submitted by lesser grapplers. Cody thinks Ferguson can win by volume or submission if Chiesa tires. He acknowledges it's a risky bet but feels the line is too wide.

"I honestly do feel my heart like it's it's closer than that and for that reason wild Underdog pick I think I'm gonna go with Tony Ferguson as well."
DA
Daniel Vreeland Expert pick date unknown

Daniel refuses to pick a winner in this fight. He considers Chiesa a bully who can't take adversity and is overpriced at -750, while Ferguson is a shell of his former self on a seven-fight losing streak. He calls it a pass and says he won't pick either fighter.

"I refuse to give a pick on this one I you will not catch me dead saying the pick is minus 750 Michael Kessa in a UFC fight"
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Lean pick date unknown
Michael Chiesa

Chiesa has the grappling to keep Ferguson on his back, but he has been submitted in five of seven losses. I lean Chiesa by decision, but would not tie -610 to any parlays. The value is on Ferguson by submission at +1200.

Ferguson by submission +1200; would not tie -610 to parlays
"I'm still going to lean on Kessa to win this matchup by decision but no way would I tie minus 600 to any parlays the value is clearly on the Ferguson side"
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Hesitant pick date unknown
Tony Ferguson

Paul picks Tony Ferguson, noting that Chiesa is a -700 favorite but has lost three straight and has cardio issues. He thinks Ferguson can win a volume-based decision or even submit Chiesa, who leaves his neck out. Paul acknowledges it's a 'plug your nose' bet but feels the plus money is worth a small play. He also mentions that Ferguson's confidence is unshaken despite the losing streak.

"I bet Tony Ferguson plus 500 and I'm expecting the worst but uh hoping for the best."
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident pick date unknown
Michael Chiesa

The MMA Guru picks Michael Chiesa over Tony Ferguson, citing Ferguson's age (40) and inability to wrestle. He expects Chiesa to use his size and strength to take Ferguson down and submit him, possibly by arm triangle. He notes Ferguson's training at Knuckleheads Boxing is not improving his game. He predicts a first or second round submission.

submission, arm triangle, round 1-2
"I'm going with Michael ker I think he's too big too strong and he'll out wrestle Tony Ferguson"
LOSS vs Kevin Holland
Submission (brabo choke) R1 2:39 · UFC 291: Poirier vs. Gaethje 2 · Jul 29, 2023
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Kevin Holland 0 4 of 11 36% 6 of 13 0 of 5 0% 0 0 0:15
Michael Chiesa 0 9 of 16 56% 12 of 19 0 of 0 --- 1 0 0:40
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Kevin Holland 0 4 of 11 36% 6 of 13 0 of 5 0% 0 0 0:15
Michael Chiesa 0 9 of 16 56% 12 of 19 0 of 0 --- 1 0 0:40
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Kevin Holland 4 of 11 36% 4 of 11 0 of 0 0 of 0 3 of 7 1 of 4 0 of 0
Michael Chiesa 9 of 16 56% 7 of 14 2 of 2 0 of 0 4 of 9 4 of 5 1 of 2
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Kevin Holland 4 of 11 36% 4 of 11 0 of 0 0 of 0 3 of 7 1 of 4 0 of 0
Michael Chiesa 9 of 16 56% 7 of 14 2 of 2 0 of 0 4 of 9 4 of 5 1 of 2
Play-by-Play
View on Sherdog
Michael Chiesa vs. Kevin Holland
BETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Holland (-145), Chiesa (+125)

Round 1
It has been over 22 months since “The Ultimate Fighter” Season 15 victor Chiesa (16-6, 11-6 UFC) has graced the cage, due to injuries. In the same span of time, his foe Holland (24-9, 1 NC; 11-6, 1 NC UFC) has fought five times. Both 170ers celebrate 11 UFC wins, but Chiesa joined the UFC in 2012 while Holland picked up his first victory with the promotion in late 2018. This quintessential striker vs. grappler affair will be overseen by referee Marc Goddard, and it opens up as the athletes touch gloves. Holland takes to the center of the cage immediately, and he keeps a low stance perhaps to stave off an early takedown effort. Holland works his way towards his opponent, using his long arm to reach out. He catches Chiesa early with multiple right hands and uppercuts, and Chiesa bounces off the cage wall and defends himself. Holland presses forward, and they clash together chest to chest. Holland hurls Chiesa to the mat on his back with emphasis, and he climbs on top before realizing he would be better suited on the feet. Chiesa tags him with a pair of uppercuts on the way up, and Holland walks him down, unconcerned by the power coming back at him. Holland smiles as Chiesa tries to close the distance, and he fights off a single-leg entry from “Maverick.” Holland defends it and puts his leg down on the floor, and he turns Chiesa around on the fence and starts talking to him. Holland miraculously defends from a body lock takedown, backs off and drills Chiesa with a jump knee. Holland pushes Chiesa back and belts him with a knee and a right hand. Chiesa leans over, and he eats a solid knee right on the chin. Chiesa drops to his knees, and he shoots for a double. Holland sees this coming from a mile away, and he instantly slides one arm beneath the armpit and another around the neck to secure a brabo choke. Holland uses the maneuver to turn Chiesa to his back, and the choke is still locked in tight. Chiesa tries to buck and shift his weight to get out of the submission, but “Trailblazer” is pressed tightly to him and not about to let go. With nowhere left to go, Chiesa taps out, and has now been submitted by these types of chokes three times in his UFC tenure. Holland leaps out of the cage and high-fives anyone that is willing to engage him, including the entire commentary booth as well as Chief Business Officer Hunter Campbell. Holland declares that he plans on relocating back to the middleweight division, but he looked sensational at 170 pounds against a very tough opponent.

The Official Result
Kevin Holland def. Michael Chiesa R1 2:39 via Submission (Brabo Choke)
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Confident pick date unknown
Kevin Holland

Angelo picks Kevin Holland, citing his accurate and powerful striking, and the fact that Chiesa has been away from fighting and focused on commentary. He acknowledges Holland's poor takedown defense but thinks Chiesa's takedowns are not elite and that Holland's length and BJJ will be a problem. He has a half-unit bet on Holland at -145.

half a unit at -145
"Kevin's the pick I do have a half a unit on him at minus 145 but obviously the freaking takedown defense is gonna stress me out but I still think Kevin Hollins gonna get it done."
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident pick date unknown
Kevin Holland

Big Brady picks Kevin Holland to win by second-round submission (club and sub). He argues that Holland's takedown defense issues were at middleweight, and at welterweight he should be more comfortable. He questions Chiesa's activity and focus, and notes Chiesa makes mistakes on the mat, having been submitted four times. He expects Holland to land a big shot or snatch a submission.

second round submission
"I'm going to say heaven Holland second round club and sub matchup"
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Lean pick date unknown
Michael Chiesa

Cody picks Chiesa by decision, noting Chiesa's style is kryptonite for Holland if he can get takedowns. He acknowledges Chiesa's layoff and injury concerns but believes at his best he can grind out a decision. He took the prop at +340, which he considered off-market. He is not fully convinced but sees value.

Chiesa by decision +340
"I took yeso by decision one of my books was hanging plus 3.99"
LU
Lucrative James Expert Lean pick date unknown
Michael Chiesa

James sees value on Chiesa as a dog, citing his clear grappling advantage over Holland, who struggles with takedown defense. He notes Chiesa will likely shoot multiple takedowns and control the fight on the ground. However, he also acknowledges Holland's knockout power and submission threat, making him hesitant to bet heavily.

"I do think there is some value on him I do think there's some value on him"
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident pick date unknown
Michael Chiesa

Chiesa is a talented grappler who can close the distance and get the fight to the ground. Holland still has grappling issues and Chiesa will control him from top position. Holland's takedown defense improvements will be tested but I think Chiesa grinds out a decision. I'm going with Chiesa by decision.

"I'm going to go with kiesa here again this will be the fight where we see whether Kevin Holland has made the necessary improvements in his grappling defense to determine if he can break through to the next level I …"
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Lean pick date unknown
Kevin Holland

Paul leans Holland, questioning whether Chiesa is still the same fighter after two years off and injuries. He notes Holland's BJJ black belt and improved wrestling with Johnny Hendricks. He thinks Holland can survive takedowns and win on the feet. However, he admits Chiesa's style is a threat and calls it a live betting situation.

"part of me wants to take the shot plus money Michael Kiesza Styles make fights"
LOSS vs Sean Brady
Decision (unanimous) (29–28, 29–28, 29–28) R3 5:00 · UFC Fight Night: Vieira vs. Tate · Nov 20, 2021
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Sean Brady 0 29 of 57 50% 71 of 107 1 of 1 100% 0 0 0:53
Michael Chiesa 0 18 of 42 42% 51 of 80 5 of 8 62% 0 0 7:45
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Sean Brady 0 4 of 14 28% 4 of 15 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Michael Chiesa 0 10 of 19 52% 19 of 30 2 of 3 66% 0 0 1:43
2 Sean Brady 0 8 of 18 44% 29 of 43 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:14
Michael Chiesa 0 5 of 18 27% 18 of 32 1 of 3 33% 0 0 2:41
3 Sean Brady 0 17 of 25 68% 38 of 49 1 of 1 100% 0 0 0:39
Michael Chiesa 0 3 of 5 60% 14 of 18 2 of 2 100% 0 0 3:21
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Sean Brady 29 of 57 50% 19 of 44 10 of 13 0 of 0 18 of 42 5 of 6 6 of 9
Michael Chiesa 18 of 42 42% 8 of 31 2 of 2 8 of 9 18 of 42 0 of 0 0 of 0
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Sean Brady 4 of 14 28% 2 of 12 2 of 2 0 of 0 4 of 14 0 of 0 0 of 0
Michael Chiesa 10 of 19 52% 3 of 11 0 of 0 7 of 8 10 of 19 0 of 0 0 of 0
2 Sean Brady 8 of 18 44% 7 of 17 1 of 1 0 of 0 7 of 17 1 of 1 0 of 0
Michael Chiesa 5 of 18 27% 2 of 15 2 of 2 1 of 1 5 of 18 0 of 0 0 of 0
3 Sean Brady 17 of 25 68% 10 of 15 7 of 10 0 of 0 7 of 11 4 of 5 6 of 9
Michael Chiesa 3 of 5 60% 3 of 5 0 of 0 0 of 0 3 of 5 0 of 0 0 of 0
Play-by-Play
View on Sherdog
Sean Brady vs. Michael Chiesa

Round 1
An important welterweight contest is now on deck, as TUF 15 winner Chiesa (18-5, 11-5 UFC) will look to hold the line and keep his spot in the top 10 against undefeated Philadelphia native Brady (14-0, 4-0 UFC). When the dust settles, a new contender at the logjammed 170-pound division could emerge. Referee Herb Dean’s got this one, and the fighters have nothing but respect for one another as they clap hands to start off. Brady leads the dance with a low calf kick, and Chiesa keeps his range as he leans forward with jabs. Both men shadowbox in front of the other, and Brady lets go with a right hand only to get swiped in the eye with a finger. Dean lets him recover and even brings in the doctor, and Brady clears it out enough to continue. They trade punches, with Chiesa keeping himself at a safe firing distance with his hands outstretched. Chiesa grabs Brady’s left hand with his own right, and lunges a left hand to smack Brady in the face. In another exchange, Chiesa’s left hand opens and his finger jabs into Brady’s eye. The swipe of the finger opens a cut on Brady’s face as well, and once more the doctor is invited into the proceedings. Chiesa gets sternly warned by Dean, and after a minute elapses, they get back to it again. Less than 90 seconds into the match, and two fight-impacting fouls have occurred. Brady powers forward, and Chiesa tries to back him off with jabs. Chiesa stays on his bike until he lets loose a body kick, and Brady catches it and tries to take Chiesa down. In the redoubled effort, Brady successfully grounds Chiesa, although “Maverick” jets back up to his feet as they start to have a conversation. They both share a laugh, and then Brady takes him down. Blood from Brady’s nose is leaking all over Chiesa’s back, but he does not notice as he instead looks to take Chiesa’s back. Chiesa powers his way back upright again, and he breaks the grip so that he can free himself and take the center of the cage. Chiesa walks through a body kick to lance Brady with a one-two, and Brady gathers himself to punch up top and kick down low. Chiesa looks to wing a right hand around the guard, and Brady’s glove is up in time. This close round ends as the two welterweights try to measure one another some more.

Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Brady
Lev Pisarsky scores the round: 10-9 Brady
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Brady

Round 2
They again touch gloves to commence the frame, and Chiesa begins the round with a few jabs. Brady looks to close in on him, and he tries to get past Chiesa’s reaching arms so that he can land flush. Chiesa pays him back for a heavy punch with a combination of his own. Brady comes back with a single strike, and then scores a slapping leg kick. They crash together to land flush on one another, and Chiesa needs to rest and circle away as he appears to have gotten the worse of the exchange. When he stands firm, he nails Brady with a left hand, and then catches an advancing Brady with a clean right hand. Brady runs forward into a single-leg takedown try, and Chiesa uses the wall to keep his footing about him. Chiesa puts a hand on the canvas to push off, and he tilts his shoulders to use his height as an advantage to frame Brady off of him and stop the attempt. Chiesa knees his foe in the chest a few times, but Brady is relentless as he latches on to a takedown and puts Chiesa on his seat. As Chiesa gets to a knee, Brady takes his back and snakes a hook around his waist. Chiesa appears irritated that he let this happen, and Brady gets the other hook in as he follows a twisting Chiesa wherever he travels. Although he cannot set up a choke, Brady secures the body triangle and locks it up tight. Brady sneaks an arm under the chin, but Chiesa sees it coming and stops it from succeeding. From this precarious position, Chiesa explodes out only to get dragged back down. Chiesa groans as he cannot get free before the round ends, upset with himself for getting outgrappled in this fashion.

Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Brady
Lev Pisarsky scores the round: 10-9 Brady
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Brady

Round 3
They hug it out to start off the last round, and Chiesa paws out jab after jab to start things off. The jabs turn into open-handed reaches, and he suddenly jumps in the air to pound his knee in Brady’s chin. Brady grabs him after he lands to turn him into the wall, but he does not hold him there for long. Chiesa is fired up, and he starts laying into Brady with powerful punches. Brady gets rocked and is wobbled after taking a long salvo of punches from “Maverick,” and he saves himself with a desperation takedown. Although the first attempt does not succeed, try, try again he does, and he manages to put Chiesa down. Like the last round, Brady easily circles around to take Chiesa’s back, and he gets the hooks in to secure the controlling posture. Chiesa frantically tries high-risk maneuvers like kicking himself high off the fence to get free, but there is nothing doing. Chiesa again grunts when Brady sets up and tightens the body triangle, wearing his emotions on his sleeve as Brady holds on to him. There is no choke to be found as Chiesa comfortably fights the hands, but the control time is firmly on the side of the unbeaten Pennsylvanian. Chiesa turns to break the body lock, and he succeeds in doing so to stand up. Chiesa hammers Brady with punches, but as soon as he drills Brady in the chest with a knee, Brady grabs it and slows him down. When Brady tries to take him down, Chiesa reverses him and puts Brady on the ground hard. Doing everything he can to finish the fight, Chiesa unleashes a storm of ground-and-pound, furiously pursuing a stoppage while Brady holds on for dear life. The final bell comes before the finish can materialize, and a disappointed Chiesa lets go and limps away when the fight ends.

Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Brady (30-27 Brady)
Lev Pisarsky scores the round: 10-9 Brady (30-27 Brady)
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Brady (30-27 Brady)

The Official Result
Sean Brady def. Michael Chiesa via Unanimous Decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Confident pick date unknown
Sean Brady

Angelo picks Sean Brady, citing his athleticism, power, and 100% takedown defense. He notes Chiesa is one-dimensional and has cardio issues, while Brady is more willing to strike and has clean doubles. He does not bet the moneyline but likes a prop: Michael Chiesa +3.5 rounds (win at least one round) at -150, as he expects Chiesa to win the third round due to Brady's potential fatigue.

Considering Michael Chiesa +3.5 rounds at -150; DraftKings prices: Brady 8900, Chiesa 7300; monkey knife fight less/less (not touching)
"sean brady is the pick"
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident pick date unknown
Michael Chiesa

Big Brady picks Michael Chiesa as an underdog at +140. He cites Chiesa's experience against top competition and his wrestling advantage. He notes that Sean Brady has not faced a wrestler of Chiesa's caliber and that Chiesa has controlled elite fighters like RDA and Neil Magny. He believes the striking is close but gives the wrestling edge to Chiesa, and predicts a decision win. He also mentions Brady is coming off an injury.

win by decision
"I'm actually gonna take the dog here um a very unpopular pick this week i'm gonna take michael chiesa for the experience here"
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Hesitant pick date unknown
Sean Brady

Cody is picking Brady but with low confidence due to the price tag. He notes that Brady is undefeated but has faced lower-level competition, while Chiesa is a step up. He highlights Brady's well-rounded skills: good striking, BJJ black belt, and excellent top game. He believes Brady can sprawl and out-strike Chiesa, and may even catch a guillotine if Chiesa gets reckless. However, he acknowledges Chiesa's size and durability, and that Chiesa has only lost to top grapplers like Kevin Lee, Anthony Pettis, and Vicente Luque.

"i'm picking brady but not with too much confidence and minus 160 and not loving it"
DA
Daniel Levi Expert Confident pick date unknown
Sean Brady

Daniel Levi confidently picks Sean Brady to submit Michael Chiesa. He argues that Brady is extremely skilled, physically strong, and a black belt in jiu-jitsu with 100% takedown defense in the UFC. He criticizes Chiesa for having only a Plan A and mentally checking out when his grappling fails. Levi believes that if Chiesa gets his takedowns stuffed, he will panic, and Brady will capitalize with a submission.

submission
"i think that kiesa is gonna maybe get a takedown early but if that doesn't happen... brady never loses his cool and then when brady gets on top i think he actually comes out here and submits michael kiesa so …"
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident pick date unknown
Sean Brady

Lock likes Brady but has concerns about his lack of footage off his back. He thinks Brady's wrestling is strong enough to counteract Chiesa's, and that Brady has a striking advantage with leg kicks. He notes Chiesa has mental lapses and a desk job that might distract him. Lock predicts Brady by decision at +275.

Sean Brady by submission +300, Sean Brady by decision +275
"I'm going brady decision plus 275 but yes michael kiesa is live in my opinion."
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Hesitant pick date unknown
Sean Brady

Paul is also picking Brady but is nervous about laying -160. He points out that Chiesa was a favorite just one fight ago against Vicente Luque, and that loss was a first-round submission that doesn't fully reflect the competitiveness. He notes Chiesa's size and ruggedness, but also his low striking output and lack of ground-and-pound. Paul thinks Brady's superior striking and grappling will eventually figure Chiesa out, but he's not confident enough to recommend a bet at the current price.

"i'm just nervous about laying laying a minus on uh on brady this is a massively you know massive step up"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident pick date unknown
Michael Chiesa

The MMA Guru picks Michael Chiesa as an underdog over Sean Brady. He argues that Brady has had close fights with Court McGee and Jake Matthews, and lacks KO power. He highlights Chiesa's size, reach advantage, and improvements on the feet. He expects a slow first round, then Chiesa to grind Brady against the cage, take him down, and finish with a rear-naked choke in the second round.

late second round rear-naked choke
"i'm going with another underdog michael kiecer is going to beat sean brady"
LOSS vs Vicente Luque
Submission (D’Arce choke) R1 3:25 · UFC 265: Lewis vs. Gane · Aug 07, 2021
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Vicente Luque 0 4 of 12 33% 6 of 16 1 of 1 100% 2 0 1:01
Michael Chiesa 0 7 of 12 58% 8 of 13 0 of 0 --- 1 0 0:10
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Vicente Luque 0 4 of 12 33% 6 of 16 1 of 1 100% 2 0 1:01
Michael Chiesa 0 7 of 12 58% 8 of 13 0 of 0 --- 1 0 0:10
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Vicente Luque 4 of 12 33% 4 of 12 0 of 0 0 of 0 4 of 12 0 of 0 0 of 0
Michael Chiesa 7 of 12 58% 2 of 7 1 of 1 4 of 4 7 of 12 0 of 0 0 of 0
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Vicente Luque 4 of 12 33% 4 of 12 0 of 0 0 of 0 4 of 12 0 of 0 0 of 0
Michael Chiesa 7 of 12 58% 2 of 7 1 of 1 4 of 4 7 of 12 0 of 0 0 of 0
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Hesitant pick date unknown
Michael Chiesa

Angelo is hesitant but leans Chiesa, noting that Chiesa is one-dimensional with wrestling but can dictate where the fight goes. He acknowledges Luque's power and improved wrestling camp with Kami Barzini, but thinks Chiesa's relentless grappling may be too much. He calls it a close fight and says he would avoid betting the moneyline.

"I think Kiesa will probably win the fight because he doesn't care how stupid he looks... he will just come forward, try to grab something and hold it there."
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident pick date unknown
Michael Chiesa

Big Brady believes Chiesa's wrestling and top control will be the key. He notes Luque is hittable and has been taken down before, while Chiesa shoots for takedowns immediately and limits opponents' striking opportunities. He thinks Luque is finish-or-bust and will likely lose a decision. He picks Chiesa as a dog by decision.

Chiesa by decision; Luque inside distance if he wins
"I will take the guy that I think is going to win minutes in Michael Chiesa and I'll take him as a dog and I'll take him by decision."
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Confident pick date unknown
Michael Chiesa

Cody picks Chiesa, citing his wrestling and ability to neutralize Luque's striking. He notes that Luque has struggled against wrestlers in the past and that Chiesa's top control and pressure will be effective. Cody expects a decision win for Chiesa.

Chiesa by decision
"i am going to take michael kiesa it is probably going to be by decision and again at plus 110 it's an underdog play so uh sign me up for some kies a plus one tip"
DA
Daniel Levi Expert Confident pick date unknown
Vicente Luque

Daniel Levi picks Vicente Luque to finish Michael Chiesa, citing Luque's striking advantage, calf kicks, left hook, and opportunistic submission ability. He believes Chiesa is outgunned on the feet and will have to shoot from distance, which could lead to a guillotine or other finish for Luque. He also notes that Chiesa hasn't been truly tested at 170 and that Luque is a clear step up in competition. He thinks the line should be closer to -160.

Says Luque by finish; thinks line should be -160
"I'ma go Vicente Luque to finish Michael Chiesa and I think it'll be a tough fight"
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident pick date unknown
Michael Chiesa

Chiesa is a big welterweight with strong wrestling and grappling. Luque is a dangerous striker but has not faced a wrestler of Chiesa's caliber. Chiesa should take the fight to the ground and control Luque, avoiding striking exchanges. Luque's BJJ off his back is not elite, and Chiesa can grind out a decision or find a submission. The decision prop at +240 is good value.

Chiesa by decision +240
"I like kiasa here I'm gonna take him to win this fight by decision."
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Confident pick date unknown
Michael Chiesa

Paul agrees with Cody, calling it a 'dogger pass situation' and taking Chiesa. He notes that Chiesa's wet blanket style may not be pretty but is effective, and that he usually avoids stand-ups by staying busy in half guard. Paul prefers the over 2.5 rounds as a bet.

over 2.5 rounds -140
"i'm on the same side as you i think it's a dogger pass situation give me the wet blanket it may not be pretty"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident pick date unknown
Vicente Luque

The MMA Guru picks Vicente Luque to win by first-round KO. He criticizes Michael Chiesa's poor stand-up and inactivity, and believes Luque's power and takedown defense will be key. He predicts Luque will catch Chiesa coming in for a clinch and finish him with an uppercut-hook combo. He also notes Chiesa's grappling doesn't do enough damage.

first round ko
"i'm going to go vicente lucay here getting a big ko win in the first round against michael chiesa brutally"
WIN vs Neil Magny
Decision (unanimous) (49–46, 49–46, 49–46) R5 5:00 · UFC on ESPN: Chiesa vs. Magny · Jan 20, 2021
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Michael Chiesa 0 24 of 52 46% 93 of 125 4 of 6 66% 0 0 15:21
Neil Magny 0 12 of 50 24% 52 of 96 1 of 3 33% 1 0 2:15
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Michael Chiesa 0 7 of 16 43% 21 of 31 1 of 1 100% 0 0 2:05
Neil Magny 0 3 of 26 11% 4 of 27 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
2 Michael Chiesa 0 6 of 11 54% 20 of 26 1 of 2 50% 0 0 4:11
Neil Magny 0 1 of 3 33% 10 of 12 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:22
3 Michael Chiesa 0 3 of 7 42% 14 of 18 1 of 2 50% 0 0 2:04
Neil Magny 0 4 of 8 50% 15 of 25 1 of 1 100% 0 0 1:47
4 Michael Chiesa 0 5 of 10 50% 17 of 22 1 of 1 100% 0 0 3:32
Neil Magny 0 3 of 5 60% 22 of 24 0 of 0 --- 1 0 0:02
5 Michael Chiesa 0 3 of 8 37% 21 of 28 0 of 0 --- 0 0 3:29
Neil Magny 0 1 of 8 12% 1 of 8 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:04
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Michael Chiesa 24 of 52 46% 19 of 43 3 of 7 2 of 2 10 of 29 1 of 2 13 of 21
Neil Magny 12 of 50 24% 7 of 42 5 of 7 0 of 1 8 of 45 4 of 5 0 of 0
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Michael Chiesa 7 of 16 43% 4 of 11 1 of 3 2 of 2 6 of 15 0 of 0 1 of 1
Neil Magny 3 of 26 11% 2 of 23 1 of 2 0 of 1 1 of 24 2 of 2 0 of 0
2 Michael Chiesa 6 of 11 54% 5 of 10 1 of 1 0 of 0 1 of 3 0 of 0 5 of 8
Neil Magny 1 of 3 33% 1 of 2 0 of 1 0 of 0 1 of 3 0 of 0 0 of 0
3 Michael Chiesa 3 of 7 42% 2 of 5 1 of 2 0 of 0 1 of 4 1 of 1 1 of 2
Neil Magny 4 of 8 50% 3 of 7 1 of 1 0 of 0 4 of 7 0 of 1 0 of 0
4 Michael Chiesa 5 of 10 50% 5 of 9 0 of 1 0 of 0 1 of 2 0 of 1 4 of 7
Neil Magny 3 of 5 60% 1 of 3 2 of 2 0 of 0 1 of 3 2 of 2 0 of 0
5 Michael Chiesa 3 of 8 37% 3 of 8 0 of 0 0 of 0 1 of 5 0 of 0 2 of 3
Neil Magny 1 of 8 12% 0 of 7 1 of 1 0 of 0 1 of 8 0 of 0 0 of 0
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident pick date unknown
Michael Chiesa

Big Brady initially leaned towards Neil Magny but changed his mind after tape study. He believes Michael Chiesa's wrestling and top game will be decisive, noting Magny's 59% takedown defense and that he hasn't faced many wrestlers lately. He praises Chiesa's performances at 170 lbs and predicts he will grind out Magny for a decision win, possibly finding a submission. He says he might bet Chiesa if the line gets wider.

Chiesa by decision; possibly by submission; waiting for better line
"i'm on the chaser side i like this matchup for him i really do"
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident pick date unknown
Neil Magny

The host believes Neil Magny's cardio, pressure, and fight IQ will be too much for Michael Chiesa in a five-round fight. He notes that Chiesa's best chance is a submission in the first two rounds, but if Magny survives, he will take over. He predicts a late TKO for Magny, possibly in the fourth round.

"i'll go in neo-magni i think he wins this fight pretty handily as long as it gets out of that first round and a half mark"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident pick date unknown
Neil Magny

The MMA Guru picks Neil Magny, citing his takedown defense, cardio, and well-roundedness. He believes Chiesa has poor stand-up and will gas out after setting a high pace in the early rounds. He notes Magny's ability to survive submissions (as Sanchez and RDA did against Chiesa) and predicts a fourth-round TKO as Magny takes over in the later rounds.

fourth round TKO
"i'm going to go with neil magne getting the job done against michael kiesa"
Francisco Trinaldo - Fight History
LOSS vs Randy Brown
Decision (unanimous) (29–28, 29–28, 29–28) R3 5:00 · UFC Fight Night: Dern vs. Yan · Oct 01, 2022
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Randy Brown 1 60 of 141 42% 65 of 148 0 of 1 0% 1 1 0:38
Francisco Trinaldo 0 40 of 67 59% 82 of 111 1 of 4 25% 0 0 5:21
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Randy Brown 1 23 of 49 46% 27 of 53 0 of 0 --- 1 1 0:38
Francisco Trinaldo 0 9 of 15 60% 13 of 19 1 of 3 33% 0 0 1:04
2 Randy Brown 0 25 of 69 36% 25 of 69 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:00
Francisco Trinaldo 0 19 of 37 51% 22 of 40 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:50
3 Randy Brown 0 12 of 23 52% 13 of 26 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Francisco Trinaldo 0 12 of 15 80% 47 of 52 0 of 0 --- 0 0 3:27
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Randy Brown 60 of 141 42% 30 of 101 10 of 16 20 of 24 56 of 136 0 of 1 4 of 4
Francisco Trinaldo 40 of 67 59% 20 of 44 9 of 12 11 of 11 33 of 59 0 of 1 7 of 7
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Randy Brown 23 of 49 46% 8 of 28 2 of 5 13 of 16 21 of 46 0 of 1 2 of 2
Francisco Trinaldo 9 of 15 60% 1 of 6 3 of 4 5 of 5 9 of 15 0 of 0 0 of 0
2 Randy Brown 25 of 69 36% 15 of 55 6 of 9 4 of 5 25 of 69 0 of 0 0 of 0
Francisco Trinaldo 19 of 37 51% 8 of 24 6 of 8 5 of 5 19 of 36 0 of 1 0 of 0
3 Randy Brown 12 of 23 52% 7 of 18 2 of 2 3 of 3 10 of 21 0 of 0 2 of 2
Francisco Trinaldo 12 of 15 80% 11 of 14 0 of 0 1 of 1 5 of 8 0 of 0 7 of 7
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Confident pick date unknown
Francisco Trinaldo

Cody picks Trinaldo as a plus money underdog, believing the line should be closer to -170/+150. He argues that Trinaldo is very good at making opponents fight at his pace and that Brown's boxing is not as functional as it seems. He expects a close fight and wants to be holding the plus 270 ticket if it goes to decision. He plans to bet Trinaldo and may wait for a better price at weigh-ins.

Trinaldo moneyline +270; may wait for better price
"I'm picking Grandpa t on the program here I will be betting Grandpa t"
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Confident pick date unknown
Randy Brown

Paul picks Randy Brown by decision, citing Brown's significant reach advantage, improved striking, and ability to use his jab and footwork to outpoint Trinaldo. He acknowledges Trinaldo's durability and winning streak but believes Brown's superior technique and youth will prevail. He notes that Trinaldo has never been knocked down and hasn't been submitted since 2017, so a decision is the most likely outcome.

Brown by decision +125
"Brown by decision plus 125 because trinaldo like you said hasn't been submitted in a really long time and never been knocked down"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident pick date unknown
Randy Brown

The MMA Guru sees this as a complete mismatch, citing Randy Brown's significant advantages in height, reach, and athleticism over the 44-year-old Trinaldo. He expects Brown to use volume striking from distance and possibly mix in wrestling, similar to his win over Cowboy Oliveira. He believes Trinaldo's only path is an early knockout, but Brown's activity and youth should overwhelm him. He calls it a 'free betting boost' and includes Brown in his parlay.

included in parlay with Barcelos and Castaneda
"This is a complete mismatch to me... Randy Brown by whatever you want to pick."
WIN vs Danny Roberts
Decision (unanimous) (29–28, 30–27, 30–26) R3 5:00 · UFC 274: Oliveira vs. Gaethje · May 07, 2022
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Francisco Trinaldo 0 80 of 124 64% 91 of 137 0 of 1 0% 1 0 4:21
Danny Roberts 0 36 of 118 30% 44 of 128 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:39
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Francisco Trinaldo 0 23 of 37 62% 25 of 39 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:21
Danny Roberts 0 16 of 57 28% 16 of 57 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:04
2 Francisco Trinaldo 0 34 of 48 70% 41 of 57 0 of 1 0% 1 0 3:14
Danny Roberts 0 7 of 17 41% 9 of 20 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:03
3 Francisco Trinaldo 0 23 of 39 58% 25 of 41 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:46
Danny Roberts 0 13 of 44 29% 19 of 51 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:32
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Francisco Trinaldo 80 of 124 64% 62 of 102 16 of 20 2 of 2 51 of 86 21 of 26 8 of 12
Danny Roberts 36 of 118 30% 15 of 92 12 of 15 9 of 11 27 of 103 8 of 14 1 of 1
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Francisco Trinaldo 23 of 37 62% 15 of 27 8 of 10 0 of 0 20 of 33 3 of 4 0 of 0
Danny Roberts 16 of 57 28% 6 of 44 4 of 7 6 of 6 15 of 55 1 of 2 0 of 0
2 Francisco Trinaldo 34 of 48 70% 28 of 40 5 of 7 1 of 1 14 of 21 12 of 15 8 of 12
Danny Roberts 7 of 17 41% 5 of 15 1 of 1 1 of 1 3 of 10 3 of 6 1 of 1
3 Francisco Trinaldo 23 of 39 58% 19 of 35 3 of 3 1 of 1 17 of 32 6 of 7 0 of 0
Danny Roberts 13 of 44 29% 4 of 33 7 of 7 2 of 4 9 of 38 4 of 6 0 of 0
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Confident pick date unknown
Francisco Trinaldo

Angelo picks Francisco Trinaldo, continuing to ride the Trinaldo train. He likes the matchup because Danny Roberts won't initiate takedowns and has poor takedown defense. He acknowledges Trinaldo's age but believes his chin is still intact, though he notes Roberts has the power to test it.

"I like ronaldo to stay in robert's face and grind out a win"
BI
Big Brady Expert Lean pick date unknown
Danny Roberts

Big Brady picks Danny Roberts to win by decision, but he is leaning and not confident. He notes that Trinaldo is 43 years old and small for welterweight, while Roberts is nine years younger, taller, and has a reach advantage. However, Roberts has shown poor fight IQ and durability issues, being finished in all his losses. Brady thinks the youth and size advantage will be decisive, but it's a close fight and he cannot be confident. He expects a competitive decision.

decision
"I decide with that youth and that length that reach and tornado's gotta fall off a cliff at some point right like 43 years old almost 44. too small for the weight class I I like roberts here"
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Lean pick date unknown
Danny Roberts

Cody picks Danny Roberts as his second underdog. He notes that Roberts is faster, has better footwork, and higher output. Cody believes Roberts can win the first two rounds and survive the third. He acknowledges Roberts' history of bonehead decisions but thinks the big cage and Sanford MMA game plan will help. Cody sees it as a close fight that could go either way.

"i think my official uh goal here is going to be with the underdog danny roberts"
DA
Daniel Levi Expert Lean pick date unknown
Danny Roberts

Daniel Levi leans toward Danny Roberts as a slight underdog, citing Roberts' size, power, and prime age versus the 44-year-old Trinaldo. He acknowledges Trinaldo's durability and experience but thinks age may finally catch up. He plans to bet one unit on Roberts if the line improves to around +105 or +110, but has not placed the bet yet.

Daniel considers a one-unit bet on Roberts moneyline if the line improves. No other props mentioned.
"If you give me dog odds on him, just give me like plus 105, give me a plus 110, I'll take a one unit shot."
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Lean pick date unknown
Danny Roberts

The host picks Danny Roberts but is not betting the fight. He believes Roberts is the better fighter at this stage, younger and faster, and should outpoint Trinaldo. However, he acknowledges Trinaldo's knockout power and Roberts' questionable chin. He mentions a possible Trinaldo KO prop at +450 to +550 as a small shot. He is staying away from betting due to the volatility.

Trinaldo by KO +450 to +550
"i hate myself for picking him but i'm going danny roberts"
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Lean pick date unknown
Francisco Trinaldo

Paul picks Francisco Trinaldo, despite acknowledging that Roberts will likely be winning early. He believes Trinaldo's durability and power will eventually catch Roberts, similar to the Jai Herbert fight. Paul notes that Roberts has a suspect chin and Trinaldo can land a big left hand late. He expects Trinaldo to be losing on the scorecards before getting a finish.

"grandpa t for me i'll never pick against him"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Hesitant pick date unknown
Danny Roberts

The MMA Guru hesitantly picks Danny Roberts as an underdog, acknowledging Roberts' history of being KO'd but noting Trinaldo's age (43) and lack of power at welterweight. He believes Roberts' reach and rangy style will allow him to fight patiently and win a close decision. He mentions Roberts has momentum with a couple of wins and confidence, while Trinaldo hasn't had many finishes recently. He predicts a razor-close 29-28 decision.

"i'm gonna have to take the good underdog here in danny roberts in my opinion so i'm gonna swag with danny roberts"
WIN vs Dwight Grant
Decision (split) (29–27, 27–29, 29–27) R3 5:00 · UFC Fight Night: Costa vs. Vettori · Oct 23, 2021
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Francisco Trinaldo 0 36 of 70 51% 61 of 101 1 of 3 33% 0 0 4:45
Dwight Grant 0 31 of 133 23% 41 of 145 1 of 1 100% 0 0 0:11
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Francisco Trinaldo 0 11 of 20 55% 11 of 20 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Dwight Grant 0 14 of 51 27% 14 of 51 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
2 Francisco Trinaldo 0 15 of 28 53% 16 of 31 0 of 2 0% 0 0 1:08
Dwight Grant 0 8 of 48 16% 13 of 55 1 of 1 100% 0 0 0:11
3 Francisco Trinaldo 0 10 of 22 45% 34 of 50 1 of 1 100% 0 0 3:37
Dwight Grant 0 9 of 34 26% 14 of 39 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Francisco Trinaldo 36 of 70 51% 20 of 50 11 of 14 5 of 6 26 of 57 4 of 5 6 of 8
Dwight Grant 31 of 133 23% 20 of 114 7 of 14 4 of 5 28 of 128 1 of 1 2 of 4
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Francisco Trinaldo 11 of 20 55% 4 of 12 5 of 6 2 of 2 11 of 20 0 of 0 0 of 0
Dwight Grant 14 of 51 27% 6 of 39 4 of 7 4 of 5 14 of 51 0 of 0 0 of 0
2 Francisco Trinaldo 15 of 28 53% 9 of 19 4 of 6 2 of 3 11 of 23 4 of 5 0 of 0
Dwight Grant 8 of 48 16% 8 of 44 0 of 4 0 of 0 5 of 43 1 of 1 2 of 4
3 Francisco Trinaldo 10 of 22 45% 7 of 19 2 of 2 1 of 1 4 of 14 0 of 0 6 of 8
Dwight Grant 9 of 34 26% 6 of 31 3 of 3 0 of 0 9 of 34 0 of 0 0 of 0
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Lean pick date unknown
Francisco Trinaldo

Angelo leans Trinaldo because he thinks the shorter, stockier fighter can get inside Grant's reach, get to the hips, and grind. He notes Grant has questionable cardio and was knocked out in his last fight despite winning early. However, he's worried about Trinaldo's age (43) and when he'll start to decline. He likes the more/more on the monkey knife fight and will have Trinaldo in his DraftKings lineup.

considering a +3.5 bet on Grant or a 'wins inside distance, decision no action' bet on Grant; likes more/more on monkey knife fight; will spend 8400 on Trinaldo in DraftKings
"i'm leaning trinaldo i like ronaldo here styles make fights short stocky guy should be able to get inside the range bully dwight grant to the ground"
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident pick date unknown
Dwight Grant

Big Brady picks Grant to knock out the 43-year-old Trinaldo, citing Trinaldo's age, size disadvantage, and recent knockdowns. He notes Grant's power and Trinaldo's never-been-KO'd record, but believes the chin will crack. He predicts a first-round knockout.

first round knockout
"i think dwight grant knocks him out here he's now 43 years old we've seen him hurt a lot"
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Hesitant pick date unknown
Francisco Trinaldo

Cody picks Francisco Trinaldo, admitting it's a heart-over-mind bet. He notes Trinaldo's durability and veteran savvy, and criticizes Dwight Grant's tendency to run away and his unimpressive UFC performances. Cody points out that Grant has looked abysmal, losing to low-level competition and barely beating Stefan Sekulich. He believes Trinaldo's toughness and forward pressure will be enough to win, though he acknowledges the risk.

Heart over mind bet; legend
"i'm betting grandpa again here bud um if i lose i lose i'll still be up on grandpa trinaldo bets over the course of my life by by a wide margin love the guy legend"
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident pick date unknown
Francisco Trinaldo

Lock picks Trinaldo based on pressure and durability. He notes Trinaldo has never been knocked down and should stalk Grant, who tends to backpedal. He expects Trinaldo to win by decision, citing Grant's lack of volume and Trinaldo's superior kickboxing.

Trinaldo by decision +195
"i like trinaldo minus 135. i think it's a solid spot"
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert pick date unknown

Paul does not make a clear pick. He notes that Trinaldo is now the favorite and he is not interested at that price. He also points out that Dwight Grant could win by staying on the outside and landing chip shots. Paul seems to lean towards passing on the fight.

"now that he's the favorite i'm not interested in taking a shot on francisco tripp"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident pick date unknown
Francisco Trinaldo

The MMA Guru picks Francisco Trinaldo, trusting his chin and durability. He criticizes Dwight Grant for being gun-shy and compares him to Uriah Hall. He believes Trinaldo's pressure and chin will carry him to a decision win, though he notes Grant has KO power.

"i'm gonna trust francisco trinaldo to get this one done"
LOSS vs Muslim Salikhov
Decision (unanimous) (30–27, 30–27, 30–27) R3 5:00 · UFC Fight Night: Rozenstruik vs. Sakai · Jun 05, 2021
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Muslim Salikhov 0 39 of 128 30% 51 of 148 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:40
Francisco Trinaldo 1 62 of 118 52% 71 of 129 2 of 3 66% 0 0 2:07
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Muslim Salikhov 0 13 of 39 33% 13 of 40 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:02
Francisco Trinaldo 1 26 of 49 53% 27 of 50 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:30
2 Muslim Salikhov 0 16 of 48 33% 17 of 52 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:10
Francisco Trinaldo 0 16 of 39 41% 18 of 41 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:16
3 Muslim Salikhov 0 10 of 41 24% 21 of 56 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:28
Francisco Trinaldo 0 20 of 30 66% 26 of 38 2 of 2 100% 0 0 1:21
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Muslim Salikhov 39 of 128 30% 22 of 101 16 of 26 1 of 1 34 of 119 5 of 9 0 of 0
Francisco Trinaldo 62 of 118 52% 29 of 84 26 of 27 7 of 7 48 of 98 1 of 1 13 of 19
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Muslim Salikhov 13 of 39 33% 9 of 31 4 of 8 0 of 0 11 of 34 2 of 5 0 of 0
Francisco Trinaldo 26 of 49 53% 13 of 36 10 of 10 3 of 3 17 of 35 0 of 0 9 of 14
2 Muslim Salikhov 16 of 48 33% 7 of 34 9 of 14 0 of 0 14 of 46 2 of 2 0 of 0
Francisco Trinaldo 16 of 39 41% 6 of 28 9 of 10 1 of 1 16 of 39 0 of 0 0 of 0
3 Muslim Salikhov 10 of 41 24% 6 of 36 3 of 4 1 of 1 9 of 39 1 of 2 0 of 0
Francisco Trinaldo 20 of 30 66% 10 of 20 7 of 7 3 of 3 15 of 24 1 of 1 4 of 5
Play-by-Play
View on Sherdog
Francisco Trinaldo vs. Muslim Salikhov

Round 1
For the first time in many years, Trinaldo (26-7, 16-6 UFC) is fighting outside of the lightweight division. In this return to welterweight – Trinaldo started his UFC career at middleweight but his pro career in this 170-pound category – he will meet “King of Kung Fu” Salikhov (17-2, 4-1 UFC). The Octagon ranger for this interesting style matchup is referee Mark Smith, and the two fighters do not touch gloves to begin their melee. Trinaldo wades forward to pressure Salikhov, and “King of Kung Fu” jabs at him from a distance. Trinaldo catches his man on the way in with a looping shot, and a body kick surprises Salikhov. The two are not committing on strikes of note, preferring to find their range and fake the other out. Salikhov unleashes a nasty body kick that slaps on the midsection of his opponent, and the sound echoes throughout the empty UFC Apex. The Brazilian tries to chase Salikhov down to make him pay, but Salikhov keeps his man at bay with kicks. “Massaranduba” rushes through strikes to land a left hand of his own, and Salikhov laughs it off to tag Trinaldo with a huge right hand. Trinaldo chases after him with a swarm of inaccurate punches, but he does bully the Dagestani fighter into the cage to knee him in the chest. Salikhov swipes at him with a left hand, and he chops the lead leg of the Brazilian on the way out. Trinaldo scores a right hand and just narrowly avoids a head kick and a subsequent spinning heel kick. “Massaranduba” bites down on his mouthpiece to throw hands, but Salikhov slips and rips with counters. A quick uppercut from “King of Kung Fu” clips Trinaldo on the chin, and the Brazilian falls to his back in serious danger. Salikhov chases him down and slams his fists on the side of his head, but Trinaldo survives by throwing his legs up for a desperation heel hook to occupy Salikhov’s time until the bell sounds.

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

Round 2
The welterweights meet in the center of the cage, and Trinaldo is ready to go back to battle as he presses forward to land a left hand on the backpedaling Dagestan native. Salikhov sits on an uppercut, but he comes up just short of the mark. Trinaldo comes forward confidently and knees the body a few times, but Salikhov tags him with fierce punches on the way out. “King of Kung Fu” gets off a crisp uppercut and a follow-up punch, and a low kick to the calf nearly puts Trinaldo down. Trinaldo times a big left hand as Salikhov advances, and Salikhov does not even register the strike as he puts his own combination together. A nasty right hand shocks Trinaldo, who is on wobbled legs but not going down this time, and Salikhov leaps in the air with a knee that glances off the target. The Brazilian only appears enraged, as he takes a punch on the chin and lashes out with a huge strike that Salikhov can barely dodge. The two are loading up on their strikes with everything they have, until they come together in a clinch. Salikhov does not way to stay here for long, as he backs off and pins a one-two on the chin. A few jabs from Salikhov find their home, and a high kick blazes up and just gets blocked in time. Salikhov ducks a looping shot to tag his foe with an uppercut, and he escapes as Trinaldo bears down on him with reaching shots. Trinaldo throws so hard he nearly falls over, and Salikhov lands a few quick strikes on the way out. A heavy body kick from Salikhov finds its mark on the midsection, and he steps forward to throw the Brazilian down to his back. “Massaranduba” slowly climbs to a knee and back up, and the tense round ends.

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

Round 3
The two men are amped up to get after it, and Smith needs them to back off before he calls time. Seconds into the round, as Salikhov is readying a strike, Trinaldo lunges his fingers out and one goes deep into the eyeball. Salikhov falls to the ground in pain, clutching his eye, and Smith rushes over to attend to him while calling in the doctor. Salikhov’s eye appears bloodied and his eyelid is not opening all the way, but he tells the doctor that his vision is blurry but returning. The doctor wipes Salikhov’s eye clear, and Smith issues Trinaldo a hard warning. The action resumes after about two minutes in the break, and the two offer a glove touch before getting back down to business. Trinaldo winds up a bomb of a left hand that clacks off Salikhov’s chin, and Salikhov wobbles but backs off. Trinaldo knows the vision is compromised, and his left hand finds its home on that eye repeatedly, doing some serious damage. Trinaldo pushes in for a clinch to land a few knees, and Salikhov backs out of the clinch and catches a charging Trinaldo with an uppercut. The Brazilian swings with reckless abandon, with looping shots nowhere near the mark. The Dagestani fighter blocks a big head kick, and he lances Trinaldo with a straight right hand. Trinaldo falls over throwing so hard, and Salikhov backs off and kicks his leg a few times before Smith stands him up. Salikhov gets off a one-two when they start up, and he dances out of the way as Trinaldo bears down on him. Salikhov sits down on a left hand, and a spinning heel kick glances off the shoulder. Trinaldo is not afraid, taking strikes on the jaw and marching forward to throw haymakers. Salikhov absorbs a stern body kick that makes him drop his right hand, and Trinaldo follows the kick with a big right hand. Salikhov stings him with a few punches, and the Brazilian maintains his composure and takes another one-two on the chin. Ever the Terminator, Trinaldo plods forward through a few strikes to land his own, but Salikhov is much faster, putting a few punches together in rapid succession. Salikhov ends a combination by lifting Trinaldo in the air and slamming him down. From on top, Salikhov delivers a wild barrage of ground-and-pound to end the round in style.

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

The Official Result
Muslim Salikhov def. Francisco Trinaldo via Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident pick date unknown
Muslim Salikhov

Big Brady expects a low-volume, boring fight likely going to decision. He notes Trinaldo is 42 with a great chin but poor cardio, while Salikhov has flashier strikes and slightly more volume. He acknowledges Salikhov has struggled with grapplers in the past but thinks Trinaldo lacks the cardio to implement a ground game. He predicts Salikhov wins a boring decision, with a possible late finish if Trinaldo gasses.

"i'm gonna take uh salakov to win a boring decision"
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Confident pick date unknown
Francisco Trinaldo

Cody picks Trinaldo, agreeing with Paul. He notes Salikhov's takedown defense issues and Trinaldo's grappling advantage. Cody thinks Trinaldo's cardio is overblown and that he can win via takedowns and top control. He sees great value at +210.

"great value on ronaldo just took him plus 210"
DA
Daniel Levi Expert Confident pick date unknown
Muslim Salikhov

Daniel picks Salikhov via second-round knockout, citing his sharp counter-striking, accuracy, and improving takedown defense. He notes that Trinaldo is 42 and only has one round of wrestling in him, as seen in his last fight. Daniel believes Trinaldo will slow down and get countered by Salikhov's spinning attacks and straight punches. He respects Trinaldo but thinks father time is undefeated, and that Salikhov's distance management and power will be too much.

"i gotta go with salakov here probably via second round knockout man"
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident pick date unknown
Francisco Trinaldo

Trinaldo is durable, never knocked out, and can mix in takedowns. Salikhov is low-output and overvalued due to the 'Russian tax'. This fight will be close and go to decision, with Trinaldo having the edge.

Trinaldo by decision +385, over 2.5 rounds -160
"I like me some francisco trinado at plus 385 via decision"
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Confident pick date unknown
Francisco Trinaldo

Paul picks Trinaldo as a dog, citing his experience and well-rounded skills. He notes Salikhov's takedown defense issues and that Trinaldo has a path via grappling. Paul thinks the odds are too high for a fighter of Trinaldo's caliber. He already bet Trinaldo at +210.

"great value on ronaldo just took him plus 210 at one of the books that i have access to"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident pick date unknown
Muslim Salikhov

The Guru picks Muslim Salikhov, expecting a striking stalemate but believing Salikhov will be too strong in grappling and more technical on the feet. He thinks Salikhov will give Trinaldo a rude awakening to welterweight, being bigger and faster. He predicts a 30-27 unanimous decision in a somewhat boring fight.

unanimous decision, 30-27
"i think muslim salakov is going to be a little bit too strong in the grappling situations"
WIN vs Jai Herbert
TKO (punch) R3 1:30 · UFC on ESPN: Whittaker vs. Till · Jul 26, 2020
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Francisco Trinaldo 1 30 of 58 51% 37 of 66 2 of 3 66% 2 1 3:18
Jai Herbert 1 21 of 70 30% 37 of 90 0 of 0 --- 0 0 3:20
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Francisco Trinaldo 0 9 of 20 45% 13 of 24 2 of 3 66% 2 0 3:15
Jai Herbert 0 4 of 14 28% 13 of 25 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:43
2 Francisco Trinaldo 0 9 of 22 40% 12 of 26 0 of 0 --- 0 1 0:00
Jai Herbert 1 14 of 32 43% 21 of 41 0 of 0 --- 0 0 2:37
3 Francisco Trinaldo 1 12 of 16 75% 12 of 16 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:03
Jai Herbert 0 3 of 24 12% 3 of 24 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Francisco Trinaldo 30 of 58 51% 15 of 35 7 of 14 8 of 9 19 of 45 3 of 4 8 of 9
Jai Herbert 21 of 70 30% 15 of 63 4 of 5 2 of 2 16 of 61 5 of 6 0 of 3
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Francisco Trinaldo 9 of 20 45% 4 of 13 4 of 6 1 of 1 3 of 12 3 of 4 3 of 4
Jai Herbert 4 of 14 28% 4 of 14 0 of 0 0 of 0 2 of 11 2 of 2 0 of 1
2 Francisco Trinaldo 9 of 22 40% 4 of 12 2 of 6 3 of 4 8 of 21 0 of 0 1 of 1
Jai Herbert 14 of 32 43% 9 of 27 4 of 4 1 of 1 11 of 26 3 of 4 0 of 2
3 Francisco Trinaldo 12 of 16 75% 7 of 10 1 of 2 4 of 4 8 of 12 0 of 0 4 of 4
Jai Herbert 3 of 24 12% 2 of 22 0 of 1 1 of 1 3 of 24 0 of 0 0 of 0
Play-by-Play
View on Sherdog
Francisco Trinaldo (160: Missed Weight) vs. Jai Herbert

Round 1
Headlining the prelims that might have felt like an eternity to some is a catchweight fight between longtime UFC vet Trinaldo (25-7, 15-6 UFC) and hard-charging British striker Herbert (10-1, 0-0 UFC), with the latter making his UFC debut while Trinaldo has already fought in the Octagon 21 times. As Trinaldo missed weight by four pounds, this is a 160-pound affair, and it will be overseen by referee Herb Dean. There is no glove touch, and Herbert starts out with a wide stance as he paws out his left. Trinaldo winds up with a left hook that comes up well short, and Herbert is dancing around the cage while avoiding strikes. Herbert stings him with a right hand, and lands another, forcing the Brazilian to bite down on his mouthpiece and land a left hook and a body kick. “Massaranduba” mashes him against the fence, where it leads to a simple takedown as he hops into half guard. Trinaldo drops down a hard elbow, and fishes for an arm-triangle choke that leads him to fall off. Herbert springs back up, but Trinaldo snags his neck on the way up and clamps on a guillotine choke. The Brit stays calm, and he pulls his head free and returns to his feet as Trinaldo squeezes him on the fence. When Herbert tries to gain separation, Trinaldo redoubles his effort to get the fight down, and he tosses his man to the canvas. Herbert tries to get to his knees and stand up, but he gives up his neck as Trinaldo steps over to hunt for a rear-naked choke. Herbert falls to his back to defend the choke, so Trinaldo lashes at him with vicious elbows. Herbert manages to kick off, but Trinaldo comes back forward to bully Herbert on the fence. Herbert turns out and lifts up a few knees that ring Trinaldo’s bell, but the Brazilian winds up with a right hand that does some damage as well. When they are still holding tight, Herbert hits his own takedown, and he wings a big elbow at his opponent from on top. Herbert rides out the rest of the round with a few punches from half guard.

Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Trinaldo
Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-9 Trinaldo
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Trinaldo

Round 2
Herbert opens the round with a few jabs, and he follows one with a piston-like right straight that sets Trinaldo down on the ground. The Brit dives on top and drills him with an elbow, so Trinaldo scrambles but inadvertently gives up his back. Herbert gets both his hooks in, and he secures a body triangle as he fishes for a neck. Herbert tries to set up a rear-naked choke, and the Brazilian defends it well, so Herbert softens him up with a few punches. Trinaldo bucks like a bronco, but Herbert has him locked down from turning. Trinaldo gets two-on-one wrist control to force a sweep, and after they jockey for position, Trinaldo gets him off and gets to his knees. The Brazilian takes a moment to get up, so Herbert blasts him on the chin again. Trinaldo looks tired as he tries to get back up, and he swings wildly and inaccurately but zings one off the chin. Herbert stuffs a takedown attempt, and he sticks Trinaldo with another right hand. Trinaldo is wobbling around like he is on an ice-covered canvas, and Herbert nearly drops him again with a right hand. Trinaldo gets his knees back beneath him but his punches are labored and not finding their mark in time. Herbert is loose, and when they clinch, Herbert knees him in the face before breaking position. Herbert sneaks in another right hand, and Trinaldo greets him with a thumping low kick. Trinaldo tries another one of those kicks, but Herbert checks it and sticks him with a right. The round ends with both men swinging to the horn.

Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-8 Herbert
Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-9 Herbert
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Herbert

Round 3
Trinaldo opens the last round up with some hard leg kicks, and Herbert replies in kind with long left hands. Trinaldo kicks to the body, and Herbert can do nothing but take it and aim right hands down the pipe. They trade kicks, and Herbert doubles up on a jab while blocking the counter left coming at him. Trinaldo sends a body kick skimming off the midsection of the debuting Brit.
The Brazilian winds up with a crazy left hand that bounces off the forehead, and there is a delayed reaction as Herbert loses his equilibrium and falls back with his arms outstretched and could be out cold! Unfortunately for Herbert, Dean stands there and urges Trinaldo to pound on him, but Herbert is already done. Trinaldo does not want to finish the job, and waits a moment before reluctantly slamming down four more jackhammering left hands to officially seal the deal.
That was not a good display of refereeing, and not the first potentially late stoppage from Dean tonight; more than anything, what a surprising win for the Brazilian.

The Official Result
Francisco Trinaldo def. Jai Herbert R3 1:30 via TKO (Punches)
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident pick date unknown
Jai Herbert

Big Brady picks Herbert as his first underdog of the card, citing Herbert's speed, volume, and youth. He thinks Trinaldo is on the decline and doesn't throw enough. He is concerned about Trinaldo's takedowns but notes Trinaldo rarely uses them. He predicts Herbert wins a decision by outworking Trinaldo.

Herbert by decision
"I like herbert to win this fight based off of volume alone this kid's fast this kid's pretty good"
DA
Daniel Levi Expert Lean pick date unknown
Francisco Trinaldo

Daniel leans Trinaldo but acknowledges Herbert's knockout power. He thinks Trinaldo will mix in takedowns and have success on the mat if Herbert can't knock him out. He notes Trinaldo's experience and toughness but also that Herbert's right hand is a real threat. He sees Trinaldo winning a decision.

"i'm gonna go with trinaldo to to win another decision and uh show why he's one of the the most badass guys in the lightweight division"
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Hesitant pick date unknown
Jai Herbert

Herbert is a good striker with movement and kicks, and Trinaldo is 41 and may start to slow down. Herbert can manage distance and avoid Trinaldo's power shots. However, Trinaldo has power and experience, making this a tough fight to cap. Herbert likely wins by decision if he stays safe.

Under 2.5 rounds (+155) considered
"i'm gonna go with jay herbert i think he plays a super safe fight"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident pick date unknown
Jai Herbert

The MMA Guru picks Jai Herbert, citing his good wins, training with Leon Edwards, and his amateur career showing seriousness. He notes Herbert has quick KOs and a gas tank for later rounds. He predicts Herbert will have big moments and win a decision, as Trinaldo has never been TKO'd and has a good chin.

"I'm going to go with Jai Herbert getting big moments, winning the fight based on those moments, but Ronaldo is going to be in there for the distance."
WIN vs John Makdessi
Decision (unanimous) (30–27, 30–27, 29–28) R3 5:00 · UFC Fight Night: Lee vs. Oliveira · Mar 14, 2020
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Francisco Trinaldo 0 55 of 126 43% 55 of 126 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:00
John Makdessi 0 67 of 123 54% 68 of 124 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Francisco Trinaldo 0 12 of 30 40% 12 of 30 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
John Makdessi 0 25 of 35 71% 25 of 35 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
2 Francisco Trinaldo 0 19 of 44 43% 19 of 44 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
John Makdessi 0 19 of 38 50% 19 of 38 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
3 Francisco Trinaldo 0 24 of 52 46% 24 of 52 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:00
John Makdessi 0 23 of 50 46% 24 of 51 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Francisco Trinaldo 55 of 126 43% 34 of 100 17 of 22 4 of 4 53 of 124 2 of 2 0 of 0
John Makdessi 67 of 123 54% 15 of 54 16 of 26 36 of 43 65 of 121 2 of 2 0 of 0
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Francisco Trinaldo 12 of 30 40% 5 of 22 6 of 7 1 of 1 12 of 30 0 of 0 0 of 0
John Makdessi 25 of 35 71% 5 of 9 7 of 10 13 of 16 25 of 35 0 of 0 0 of 0
2 Francisco Trinaldo 19 of 44 43% 12 of 33 6 of 10 1 of 1 19 of 44 0 of 0 0 of 0
John Makdessi 19 of 38 50% 4 of 18 5 of 8 10 of 12 19 of 38 0 of 0 0 of 0
3 Francisco Trinaldo 24 of 52 46% 17 of 45 5 of 5 2 of 2 22 of 50 2 of 2 0 of 0
John Makdessi 23 of 50 46% 6 of 27 4 of 8 13 of 15 21 of 48 2 of 2 0 of 0
DA
Daniel Levi Expert Confident pick date unknown
Francisco Trinaldo

Daniel picks Trinaldo, citing his power and aggression. He thinks Trinaldo's left hand will find Makdessi's chin, which has been broken before. He predicts a decision win for Trinaldo by landing harder shots, even without the crowd.

"I think that he'll drop him along the way and and win this decision"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident pick date unknown
John Makdessi

The host picks John Makdessi over Francisco Trinaldo. He notes that Makdessi has been on a three-fight win streak since a KO loss, while Trinaldo is older and coming off a win over Bobby Green but couldn't beat a one-armed Alexander Hernandez. He expects Makdessi to out-strike Trinaldo for a boring decision win.

"I feel as though John Makdessi is gonna get the jump on Francisco turn our dough and be able to keep him at bay on the feet and slowly out strike him for a free round boring decision fest"
WIN vs King Green
Decision (unanimous) (30–27, 29–28, 29–28) R3 5:00 · UFC Fight Night: Blachowicz vs. Jacare · Nov 16, 2019
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Francisco Trinaldo 0 31 of 122 25% 36 of 127 1 of 2 50% 1 0 1:04
King Green 0 50 of 115 43% 67 of 135 2 of 2 100% 0 0 3:45
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Francisco Trinaldo 0 4 of 13 30% 8 of 17 1 of 2 50% 1 0 0:19
King Green 0 9 of 18 50% 25 of 37 0 of 0 --- 0 0 3:15
2 Francisco Trinaldo 0 15 of 58 25% 15 of 58 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
King Green 0 24 of 50 48% 24 of 50 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
3 Francisco Trinaldo 0 12 of 51 23% 13 of 52 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:45
King Green 0 17 of 47 36% 18 of 48 2 of 2 100% 0 0 0:30
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Francisco Trinaldo 31 of 122 25% 20 of 100 5 of 14 6 of 8 26 of 109 5 of 13 0 of 0
King Green 50 of 115 43% 27 of 77 13 of 24 10 of 14 43 of 106 1 of 2 6 of 7
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Francisco Trinaldo 4 of 13 30% 4 of 12 0 of 1 0 of 0 2 of 10 2 of 3 0 of 0
King Green 9 of 18 50% 3 of 10 4 of 5 2 of 3 4 of 12 0 of 0 5 of 6
2 Francisco Trinaldo 15 of 58 25% 4 of 41 5 of 10 6 of 7 13 of 54 2 of 4 0 of 0
King Green 24 of 50 48% 14 of 32 5 of 12 5 of 6 24 of 49 0 of 1 0 of 0
3 Francisco Trinaldo 12 of 51 23% 12 of 47 0 of 3 0 of 1 11 of 45 1 of 6 0 of 0
King Green 17 of 47 36% 10 of 35 4 of 7 3 of 5 15 of 45 1 of 1 1 of 1
Decision (unanimous) (30–27, 30–27, 29–28) R3 5:00 · UFC on ESPN: dos Anjos vs. Edwards · Jul 20, 2019
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Alexander Hernandez 0 25 of 91 27% 26 of 92 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:20
Francisco Trinaldo 0 25 of 52 48% 28 of 55 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Alexander Hernandez 0 8 of 30 26% 8 of 30 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Francisco Trinaldo 0 8 of 14 57% 8 of 14 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
2 Alexander Hernandez 0 6 of 23 26% 6 of 23 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:02
Francisco Trinaldo 0 5 of 17 29% 5 of 17 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
3 Alexander Hernandez 0 11 of 38 28% 12 of 39 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:18
Francisco Trinaldo 0 12 of 21 57% 15 of 24 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Alexander Hernandez 25 of 91 27% 9 of 53 13 of 33 3 of 5 25 of 90 0 of 0 0 of 1
Francisco Trinaldo 25 of 52 48% 13 of 33 11 of 18 1 of 1 24 of 51 1 of 1 0 of 0
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Alexander Hernandez 8 of 30 26% 1 of 17 5 of 10 2 of 3 8 of 30 0 of 0 0 of 0
Francisco Trinaldo 8 of 14 57% 5 of 9 3 of 5 0 of 0 8 of 14 0 of 0 0 of 0
2 Alexander Hernandez 6 of 23 26% 4 of 13 2 of 10 0 of 0 6 of 23 0 of 0 0 of 0
Francisco Trinaldo 5 of 17 29% 2 of 11 3 of 6 0 of 0 5 of 17 0 of 0 0 of 0
3 Alexander Hernandez 11 of 38 28% 4 of 23 6 of 13 1 of 2 11 of 37 0 of 0 0 of 1
Francisco Trinaldo 12 of 21 57% 6 of 13 5 of 7 1 of 1 11 of 20 1 of 1 0 of 0
Play-by-Play
View on Sherdog
Alexander Hernandez vs. Francisco Trinaldo

Round 1
It’s time for a lightweight bout between Alexander Hernandez and Francisco Trinaldo. The referee is Frank Collazo. Hernandez comes out flying with a side kick. Trinaldo connects on a long straight right. Hernandez explodes forward with a straight right of his own. Hernandez is circling around Trinaldo, who has posted up in the center of the Octagon. Trinaldo lands a counter straight right after connecting on a kick by Hernandez. Trinaldo lands a low blow that hurts Hernandez and the referee calls time. Time is back in. The round is soon over, but not before Trinaldo lands a flying knee just before the round ends.

Sherdog Scores
Adam Martin scores the round: 10-9 Hernandez
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Trinaldo
Cole Shelton scores the round: 10-9 Trinaldo

Round 2
Round two begins. Trinaldo pushes forward and lands a high kick. Hernandez pushes forward and grabs a hold of Trinaldo, but shakes him off. Hernandez is unable to land anything on Trinaldo right now, but Trinaldo isn’t doing much either. Hernandez lands an overhand right. Trinaldo walks forward and lands a high kick. Neither guy really landed much that round and it’s soon over.

Sherdog Scores
Adam Martin scores the round: 10-9 Trinaldo
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Trinaldo
Cole Shelton scores the round: 10-9 Hernandez

Round 3
The third round begins and right now it could be in either guy’s favor. Hernandez shoves Trinaldo against the fence. They break. Trinaldo throws a kick but slips and Hernandez is unable to take advantage of the slip. There just really isn’t much happening in this fight. Trinaldo has been planted in the center of the Octagon while Hernandez has danced around him. Hernandez finally starts to pick it up near the end of the round but he just hasn’t landed much of anything. Weird fight, and who knows how the judges will score it.

Sherdog Scores
Adam Martin scores the round: 10-9 Hernandez (29-28 Hernandez)
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Hernandez (29-28 Trinaldo)
Cole Shelton scores the round: 10-9 Hernandez (29-28 Hernandez)

The Official Result
Alexander Hernandez def. Francisco Trinaldo via Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)