UFC Fight Night: Barboza vs. Murphy · May 18, 2024 · Women's Bantamweight · Completed
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Age 30
Height 5' 5"
Reach 69.0"
Weight 135 lbs.
Stance Orthodox
Age 27
Height 5' 6"
Reach 68.0"
Weight 135 lbs.
Stance Orthodox
Career Averages - Melissa Gatto
3.47 SLpM
49.0% Str. Acc.
2.67 SApM
54.0% Str. Def.
1.77 TD Avg
27.0% TD Acc.
58.0% TD Def.
0.4 Sub. Avg
Career Averages - Tamires Vidal
2.91 SLpM
53.0% Str. Acc.
4.46 SApM
49.0% Str. Def.
0.0 TD Avg
0.0% TD Acc.
35.0% TD Def.
0.7 Sub. Avg
Melissa Gatto - Fight History
LOSS vs Dione Barbosa
Decision R3 5:00 · UFC Fight Night: Moicano vs. Duncan · Apr 04, 2026
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Dione Barbosa 0 30 of 67 44% 108 of 154 3 of 6 50% 1 1 6:06
Melissa Gatto 0 33 of 67 49% 64 of 109 3 of 12 25% 0 1 4:48
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Dione Barbosa 0 16 of 37 43% 35 of 58 0 of 3 0% 0 0 1:15
Melissa Gatto 0 21 of 48 43% 27 of 59 1 of 5 20% 0 0 1:11
2 Dione Barbosa 0 9 of 20 45% 34 of 51 2 of 2 100% 0 0 2:20
Melissa Gatto 0 5 of 7 71% 23 of 30 2 of 6 33% 0 0 1:55
3 Dione Barbosa 0 5 of 10 50% 39 of 45 1 of 1 100% 1 1 2:31
Melissa Gatto 0 7 of 12 58% 14 of 20 0 of 1 0% 0 1 1:42
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Dione Barbosa 30 of 67 44% 19 of 53 9 of 12 2 of 2 16 of 49 5 of 7 9 of 11
Melissa Gatto 33 of 67 49% 14 of 40 9 of 15 10 of 12 30 of 62 2 of 4 1 of 1
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Dione Barbosa 16 of 37 43% 12 of 31 2 of 4 2 of 2 12 of 30 3 of 5 1 of 2
Melissa Gatto 21 of 48 43% 7 of 26 7 of 13 7 of 9 20 of 45 1 of 3 0 of 0
2 Dione Barbosa 9 of 20 45% 6 of 17 3 of 3 0 of 0 4 of 14 2 of 2 3 of 4
Melissa Gatto 5 of 7 71% 2 of 4 1 of 1 2 of 2 4 of 6 1 of 1 0 of 0
3 Dione Barbosa 5 of 10 50% 1 of 5 4 of 5 0 of 0 0 of 5 0 of 0 5 of 5
Melissa Gatto 7 of 12 58% 5 of 10 1 of 1 1 of 1 6 of 11 0 of 0 1 of 1
Play-by-Play
View on Sherdog
Dione Barbosa vs. Melissa Gatto
BETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Barbosa (-145); Gatto (+125)

Round 1
The night presses on as a pair of women’s flyweights meet in hopes of keeping or lifting their respective promotional record above .500. Barbosa (8-4, 2-2 UFC) would like a victory to elevate it over that midpoint mark, while bantamweight part-timer Gatto (9-2-2, 3-2 UFC) is looking for success back in her natural weight class. Referee Chris Tognoni draws the charge for this preliminary contest, one that does not open with a glove touch.
The ladies measure one another in the early going, testing out their jabs while not committing to much else. Gatto opens up a bit more with her overhand right, and when she finally scores one, she has to back off when a one-two pinpoints her nose. Gatto slings her right hand down the pipe, faking a takedown shot and ultimately walk into a spinning back kick counter. Barbosa gets her attention with a left hand after the kick connects, and she is greeted with a stern right hand. Barbosa shakes it off and offers a low kick followed by two punches, and the two start trading hands in a brief exchange with Barbosa landing at the beginning and ending. Gatto works her way behind her right hand, and she shoots in for takedown that is shut down before it can come close to materializing.
Barbosa bullies the taller woman to the wall, pressing her shoulder tightly before kneeing her a couple times to the stomach. Barbosa trips Gatto up to drag her to the floor, and Gatto springs back up with the fencing behind her. Barbosa stomps Gatto’s toes, and Gatto breaks off with a knee. Gatto takes a punch and times the spin she sees coming to grab Barbosa from behind and wrangle her to the mat. Gatto advances to an awkward position that places her in leglock danger, but she is close to securing the mount position. Barbosa hacks with elbows off her back, and she uses butterfly hooks to stave Gatto from claiming a dominant posture. Gatto lowers herself down maintain control, and Barbosa’s leg slides up an around to snatch up an armbar. Gatto leans to her side to free the pressure on her limb, and she drills Barbosa with a number of hammerfists as the round ends.

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

Round 2
Gatto assumes control of the center of the cage to get going first, pushing out her jab a few times before snatching up a Barbosa low kick to trip her up and take her to the mat. Barbosa flips her all the way over to wind up on top, and Gatto is stuck flat on her back. Gatto keeps a high guard when Barbosa postures up, but Barbosa does not fall into a trap and stands back up. Gatto turns to her knees to stand back up, and Barbosa blasts her with an illegal soccer kick to the neck and chin that knocks Gatto completely out. Barbosa walks off celebrating, as if she thinks that she has won the fight, while Gatto is splayed out lifelessly in an eerie scene reminiscent of Maycee Barber getting knocked out last week. As a medical professional or two rush in to tend to Gatto, she comes to and has to be told what happened. The replay official flips the light to signal that they are going to use instant replay to review the footage, but it appeared that Gatto’s knee was down right before she took the soccer kick that rendered her unconscious. Tognoni discusses his options with the officiating team, and he deducts one point from Barbosa for the foul. Shockingly, the fight somehow continues, even though Gatto was knocked unconscious from the strike. This is complete nonsense. This fight should be over, period. What happened to fighter safety being the primary concern of officials? Gatto, who apparently is back with her wits again, runs forward at the restart to take the fight down. Barbosa is grounded for a time before fighting her way back up, and she turns the tables to take Gatto down.
Gatto works her way up after absorbing some hammerfists, and she breaks out of the clinch to take a spinning back fist on the chin. Gatto shakes it out and tackles Barbosa to the floor. Thankfully, with Gatto on top, it means she is not currently absorbing much brain trauma after being knocked out from the illegal soccer kick that only resulted in a single point being deducted. Barbosa fights off her back with a high guard in hopes of catching Gatto in something, and she grips hold of a triangle armbar but is punched out of it. The round somehow ends.

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

Round 3
Between rounds, it is explained that the officials and medical staff determined Gatto was able to continue a fistfight despite already getting knocked all the way out. What are rules anymore? It does not take long for the ladies to go for grappling, and Barbosa succeeds in taking Gatto to the mat. Gatto keeps her left leg wrapped on the side in hopes of setting something up, and Barbosa ignores it and starts elbowing her in the side. Gatto turns to her side with a two-on-one wrist control of Barbosa, who counters her by rolling all the way over to snatch up an armbar.
Gatto turns over to stack Barboza up, squeezing her elbow and forearm on the throat while exerting as much pressure down as she can to stifle the submission. Barbosa cannot hold the submission much longer as she is getting squished, and Gatto breaks out of it and busts her in the chops with a strong right hand. Barbosa sits up and flips her opponent over to her back, and she starts hunting for a leglock. Gatto sits up to stop it, and she tries to muscle Barbosa over and use a kimura grip to reverse position. She succeeds in turning Barbosa over and keeps control of the limb, and she steps over the body with her rear leg to establish herself in top control. As the ladies roll around on the mat looking for positional advantages, Gatto snags hold of the left arm of her opponent to hunt for her own armbar. Barbosa elbows Gatto on the back of the calf, and this fight somehow makes it 15 minutes. This is not a good day for the Nevada State Athletic Commission. A draw may be in play, but that depends on the scoring of the first round.

Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Barbosa (28-28)
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Barbosa (28-28)
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Barbosa (28-28)

The Official Result
Dione Barbosa def. Melissa Gatto via Majority Decision (28-28, 29-27, 29-27)
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Confident picked Mar 29, 2026 (6 days before fight)
Dione Barbosa

Angelo picks Dione Barbosa, citing her superior takedown ability as a judoka. He notes that Melissa Gatto has poor takedowns and that Barbosa can close the distance, take her down, and control on top. He worries about potential judging bias similar to Barbosa's last loss but believes Barbosa will win a close decision.

"Dion Barbosa is going to be the pick. We probably end up in a 2928 type situation."
BI
Big Brady Expert Lean picked Mar 30, 2026 (5 days before fight)
Melissa Gatto

Big Brady picks Melissa Gatto as a slight underdog. He notes Barbosa has power and can get takedowns early, but fades as the fight goes on. He likes Gatto's cardio, volume, and kicks, and expects her to take over in later rounds. He predicts a close decision win for Gatto.

Gatto by decision
"I'll take Gatto here. I like the cardio, I like the kicks, I like the volume."
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Confident picked Apr 2, 2026 (2 days before fight)
Melissa Gatto

Cody picks Gatto, citing her youth, improved skills, and ability to scramble and strike. He expects her to win a decision, as Barbosa's grappling-heavy style may not score well.

"It's got by decision for me."
CO
Connor Ruebusch Expert Lean picked Apr 3, 2026 (1 day before fight)
Dione Barbosa

Connor leans toward Barbosa, agreeing that she is more disciplined. He notes that Gatto's footwork is worse and she tends to collapse when pressured, leading her to wrestle. Barbosa is as big as Gatto and a better grappler, which should neutralize Gatto's advantages.

Barbosa opened +105, now -127; Gatto opened -125, now +107.
"Barboza actually has some a little bit of boxing footwork... Gatto just doesn't know how to like keep herself lined up."
LU
Lucrative James Expert Lean picked Mar 30, 2026 (5 days before fight)
Melissa Gatto

James leans toward Melissa Gatto as the underdog, citing her striking kicks and cardio advantage, while noting Barbosa's tendency to tire. He admits he hasn't done tape study and is unsure about the grappling dynamics. He predicts a decision win for Gatto but emphasizes low confidence and the need for further analysis.

"I'll say Melissa Gate. She's the underdog. I lean to the underdog in a fight like this where I think it's very close."
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Mar 31, 2026 (4 days before fight)
Melissa Gatto

The host picks Gatto as a dog, citing her damage-based striking and grappling advantage. He notes Barbosa's recent loss where control wasn't enough, and trusts Gatto's volume and damage to win on the scorecards despite a two-year layoff. He sees a good stylistic matchup for Gatto.

"I feel like Gateau is the perfect dog to start off this card."
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Lean picked Apr 2, 2026 (2 days before fight)
Melissa Gatto

Paul leans towards Gatto, noting her two-year layoff may have helped her improve. He expects her to win a close decision due to her striking and scrambling.

"I do have Melissa God. I think Melissa is a decent fighter."
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Hesitant picked Apr 4, 2026 (fight day)
Dione Barbosa

The MMA Guru picks Dione Barbosa but seems hesitant, acknowledging that her win over Diana Belbita isn't impressive. He notes that Melissa Gatto has a body kick KO win but lost to Tracy Cortez. He thinks Barbosa is slightly more well-rounded but doesn't sound fully convinced.

"I think she'll win this one, though. I think she'll beat Melissa Gatto, okay? Don't grill me on it."
ZA
Zane Simon Expert Lean picked Apr 3, 2026 (1 day before fight)
Dione Barbosa

Zane leans toward Barbosa, noting she is more disciplined and has better footwork. He thinks Gatto has good tools but doesn't stick to them, and tends to win when opponents make catastrophic mistakes. Barbosa's boxing footwork and grappling should allow her to keep the fight in her favor.

Barbosa opened +105, now -127; Gatto opened -125, now +107.
"I'm tempted to pick Barboza. I think she's a little more... she's just a more disciplined fighter."
WIN vs Tamires Vidal
TKO (punch to the body) R3 0:37 · UFC Fight Night: Barboza vs. Murphy · May 18, 2024
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Melissa Gatto 0 15 of 29 51% 50 of 66 0 of 0 --- 1 0 0:53
Tamires Vidal 0 30 of 52 57% 120 of 163 2 of 2 100% 1 0 6:58
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Melissa Gatto 0 3 of 3 100% 32 of 34 0 of 0 --- 1 0 0:00
Tamires Vidal 0 6 of 9 66% 72 of 85 1 of 1 100% 0 0 4:33
2 Melissa Gatto 0 11 of 20 55% 17 of 26 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:53
Tamires Vidal 0 21 of 35 60% 45 of 70 1 of 1 100% 1 0 2:25
3 Melissa Gatto 0 1 of 6 16% 1 of 6 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Tamires Vidal 0 3 of 8 37% 3 of 8 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Melissa Gatto 15 of 29 51% 7 of 21 2 of 2 6 of 6 14 of 28 1 of 1 0 of 0
Tamires Vidal 30 of 52 57% 13 of 30 16 of 20 1 of 2 22 of 40 1 of 5 7 of 7
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Melissa Gatto 3 of 3 100% 1 of 1 0 of 0 2 of 2 3 of 3 0 of 0 0 of 0
Tamires Vidal 6 of 9 66% 4 of 7 2 of 2 0 of 0 4 of 7 0 of 0 2 of 2
2 Melissa Gatto 11 of 20 55% 5 of 14 2 of 2 4 of 4 10 of 19 1 of 1 0 of 0
Tamires Vidal 21 of 35 60% 9 of 21 11 of 12 1 of 2 15 of 25 1 of 5 5 of 5
3 Melissa Gatto 1 of 6 16% 1 of 6 0 of 0 0 of 0 1 of 6 0 of 0 0 of 0
Tamires Vidal 3 of 8 37% 0 of 2 3 of 6 0 of 0 3 of 8 0 of 0 0 of 0
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Confident picked May 12, 2024 (6 days before fight)
Tamires Vidal

Angelo is shocked that Melissa Gatto is the biggest favorite on the card at -820 despite being on a two-fight losing streak, moving up in weight, and having poor takedown accuracy (0 for 7 in her last fight). He believes Tamires Vidal is big, strong, and has a grappling advantage. He plans to bet on Vidal, watching the line movement to decide when to place the bet.

bet on Vidal (timing based on line movement)
"I already thought vial was going to win let alone at these odds I'm going to continue to watch this"
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Confident picked May 15, 2024 (3 days before fight)
Melissa Gatto

Cody views this as a clear bounceback fight for Gatto, who has lost two close decisions to top competition. He notes Vidal has massive limitations in every area: poor footwork, no head movement, low volume, and no power. Gatto is stronger, more technical, and a better wrestler. Cody believes Gatto will dominate on the ground and get back in the win column.

"Gatto is way strong at 125 that won't finish at 135 she's a way more polished way more powerful way more technical Striker than Vidal."
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked May 14, 2024 (4 days before fight)
Melissa Gatto

Vidal is reckless with wide hooks and was out-grinded in her last fight. Gatto is the toughest opponent Vidal has faced and should provide a ton of resistance. Expects Gatto to pressure Vidal, use the clinch, take her down, and eventually find a finish. The line should be closer to -400 or -500.

Inside the distance for Gatto.
"I think the minus 300 on Melissa got to is more than worthy here as I think that she should be closer to minus 400 maybe evenus 500"
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Confident picked May 15, 2024 (3 days before fight)
Melissa Gatto

Paul sees Gatto as much more powerful and technical than Vidal. He notes Vidal's only UFC win came via flying knee against a low-level opponent, and she was dominated by Montserrat Ruiz. Paul expects Gatto to manhandle Vidal with her grappling and physicality, despite moving up a weight class.

"It's goto for me."
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked May 14, 2024 (4 days before fight)
Melissa Gatto

The MMA Guru picks Melissa Gatto over Tamires Vidal, despite going against his rule of picking 'thems' in women's MMA. He notes that Gatto had a close fight with Tracy Cortez and that Vidal was taken down three times by a smaller opponent in her last fight. He expects Gatto to use her reach and grappling to control Vidal and win by decision.

"I'm going to go with Melissa GTO here I think she'll be able to take down um tamires vdal"
LOSS vs Ariane da Silva
Decision (split) (28–29, 30–27, 29–28) R3 5:00 · UFC on ESPN: Strickland vs. Magomedov · Jul 01, 2023
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Ariane da Silva 0 66 of 149 44% 81 of 166 1 of 1 100% 0 0 0:47
Melissa Gatto 0 85 of 186 45% 100 of 201 0 of 7 0% 0 0 2:57
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Ariane da Silva 0 16 of 49 32% 18 of 52 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Melissa Gatto 0 28 of 53 52% 28 of 53 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:17
2 Ariane da Silva 0 26 of 46 56% 39 of 60 1 of 1 100% 0 0 0:12
Melissa Gatto 0 33 of 66 50% 45 of 78 0 of 3 0% 0 0 2:16
3 Ariane da Silva 0 24 of 54 44% 24 of 54 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:35
Melissa Gatto 0 24 of 67 35% 27 of 70 0 of 3 0% 0 0 0:24
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Ariane da Silva 66 of 149 44% 28 of 101 27 of 36 11 of 12 53 of 131 12 of 15 1 of 3
Melissa Gatto 85 of 186 45% 39 of 117 34 of 50 12 of 19 70 of 165 15 of 21 0 of 0
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Ariane da Silva 16 of 49 32% 3 of 30 9 of 15 4 of 4 14 of 45 2 of 4 0 of 0
Melissa Gatto 28 of 53 52% 13 of 31 10 of 15 5 of 7 25 of 49 3 of 4 0 of 0
2 Ariane da Silva 26 of 46 56% 10 of 27 12 of 14 4 of 5 18 of 37 8 of 9 0 of 0
Melissa Gatto 33 of 66 50% 11 of 37 17 of 21 5 of 8 23 of 52 10 of 14 0 of 0
3 Ariane da Silva 24 of 54 44% 15 of 44 6 of 7 3 of 3 21 of 49 2 of 2 1 of 3
Melissa Gatto 24 of 67 35% 15 of 49 7 of 14 2 of 4 22 of 64 2 of 3 0 of 0
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Hesitant picked Jun 25, 2023 (6 days before fight)
Ariane da Silva

Angelo picks Ariane Lipski (da Silva) based on her last performance against JJ Aldrich, where her hands and wrestling looked great. He acknowledges the logical pick is Melissa Gatto due to Lipski's history of being outgrappled, but he goes against logic. He suggests a plus 3.5 point buy on the scorecard for Lipski as a safer bet.

plus 3.5 points on judges scorecard (potential bet)
"I'm going to go against the logic I'm going to pick lipsky like she looked so good against JJ Aldridge"
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked Jun 26, 2023 (5 days before fight)
Melissa Gatto

Big Brady picks Melissa Gatto to win by first-round submission. He notes Gatto has improved significantly, with better striking and takedown defense, and has power. He points out that Ariane da Silva (Lipski) has been dominated on the ground by fighters like Montana De La Rosa and Antonina Shevchenko, and Gatto's top game is dangerous. He expects Gatto to get on top and finish early.

first round submission
"give me got her to win this fight by first round I'll say sub"
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Confident picked Jun 28, 2023 (3 days before fight)

Cody sees Lipski as a live underdog. He notes Gatto's low volume (17 significant strikes in nearly 3 rounds against Eubanks) and poor defensive wrestling. Lipski showed improved wrestling at ATT and has high volume (101 significant strikes against Aldrich). Cody thinks if Lipski can stuff takedowns, she wins the striking battle. He also notes Lipski is only 29 and improving.

"I too will take lip ski all right"
DA
Daniel Levi Expert Confident picked Jun 29, 2023 (2 days before fight)
Melissa Gatto

Daniel confidently picks Gatto, citing her superior heart, durability, and grappling. He notes Lipski's history of quitting when pressured and her poor defensive grappling, while Gatto showed toughness against Tracy Cortez, reversing positions and landing takedowns. He believes Gatto's chin and submission threat are key, and that Lipski's recent win over JJ Aldrich is overrated. However, he missed the opening line (-150) and won't bet at -230, but expects Gatto to win.

missed the line at -150; Gatto minus 230
"I definitely favorite gato here it's just you know all you guys that came in on that minus 150. that minus 170. you all did your job"
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Confident picked Jun 28, 2023 (3 days before fight)

Paul is tempted by the CF dog model. He notes Lipski's last performance against Aldrich was impressive and that Gatto's wins are over low-level competition. He questions if Lipski has turned the corner and thinks the line is off. Paul believes Lipski has a legitimate chance.

"I am tempted for uh to to enact the CF dot model on this one Cody is has ariani lipsky turned the corner here"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Jun 27, 2023 (4 days before fight)
Melissa Gatto

The Guru picks Melissa Gatto, noting her impressive win over Ariane Lipski via front kick to the body and her submission win over Karol Rosa. He acknowledges her loss to Tracy Cortez but believes she has improved during her year off. He predicts a submission off her back, possibly an armbar.

submission off her back, armbar
"all the logic in the world is pointing me towards Melissa gato here"
LOSS vs Tracy Cortez
Decision (unanimous) (29–28, 29–28, 29–28) R3 5:00 · UFC 274: Oliveira vs. Gaethje · May 07, 2022
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Tracy Cortez 0 36 of 66 54% 70 of 102 2 of 3 66% 1 1 7:54
Melissa Gatto 0 30 of 73 41% 49 of 95 3 of 6 50% 1 1 3:17
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Tracy Cortez 0 11 of 16 68% 23 of 29 1 of 1 100% 0 1 3:16
Melissa Gatto 0 7 of 20 35% 14 of 28 1 of 2 50% 0 0 0:38
2 Tracy Cortez 0 9 of 23 39% 20 of 34 0 of 0 --- 0 0 1:35
Melissa Gatto 0 15 of 35 42% 25 of 47 2 of 3 66% 1 0 2:04
3 Tracy Cortez 0 16 of 27 59% 27 of 39 1 of 2 50% 1 0 3:03
Melissa Gatto 0 8 of 18 44% 10 of 20 0 of 1 0% 0 1 0:35
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Tracy Cortez 36 of 66 54% 25 of 51 6 of 9 5 of 6 14 of 37 2 of 2 20 of 27
Melissa Gatto 30 of 73 41% 25 of 61 3 of 7 2 of 5 27 of 69 0 of 1 3 of 3
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Tracy Cortez 11 of 16 68% 8 of 13 0 of 0 3 of 3 5 of 7 0 of 0 6 of 9
Melissa Gatto 7 of 20 35% 6 of 17 0 of 0 1 of 3 7 of 20 0 of 0 0 of 0
2 Tracy Cortez 9 of 23 39% 4 of 16 4 of 6 1 of 1 5 of 18 1 of 1 3 of 4
Melissa Gatto 15 of 35 42% 13 of 30 2 of 4 0 of 1 14 of 33 0 of 1 1 of 1
3 Tracy Cortez 16 of 27 59% 13 of 22 2 of 3 1 of 2 4 of 12 1 of 1 11 of 14
Melissa Gatto 8 of 18 44% 6 of 14 1 of 3 1 of 1 6 of 16 0 of 0 2 of 2
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Hesitant picked Apr 30, 2022 (7 days before fight)
Tracy Cortez

Angelo picks Tracy Cortez based on her wrestling, expecting her to grind out a decision. However, he admits his bet will be on Melissa Gatto to win inside the distance (decision no action), indicating a lack of full confidence in Cortez. He notes Cortez's layoff and Gatto's submission threat.

Bet on Melissa Gatto to win inside the distance (decision no action) at BetOnline
"she's the pick because of the wrestling my my bet is actually going to be on gatto so my pick is tracy cortez"
BI
Big Brady Expert Hesitant picked May 2, 2022 (5 days before fight)
Tracy Cortez

Big Brady picks Tracy Cortez to win by decision, but he is hesitant. He acknowledges that Gatto has shown impressive striking and grappling, but her takedown defense is poor. Cortez will look to take Gatto down and control her, and Brady believes she will succeed in getting takedowns. However, Gatto is dangerous off her back with submissions, so Cortez will have to fight off submissions for 15 minutes. Brady thinks Cortez will win by controlling the fight on the ground, but he would not count out Gatto completely.

decision
"I'm gonna take cortez to take godo down in each and every round controller for the majority of the fight but god is going to most definitely have her moments this is a very interesting fight I like both fighters …"
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Confident picked May 4, 2022 (3 days before fight)
Tracy Cortez

Cody picks Tracy Cortez, but emphasizes monitoring the scales. He notes Cortez's wrestling advantage and that she trains at Fight Ready MMA. Cody believes Cortez can get takedowns and stay on top, avoiding Gatto's submissions. He thinks Gatto's guard is active but Cortez's wrestling and pace will prevail. Cody is confident if Cortez makes weight.

"i tend to go with the wrestler so i'm gonna go with tracy cortez at home"
DA
Daniel Levi Expert Lean picked May 5, 2022 (2 days before fight)
Melissa Gatto

Daniel Levi leans toward Melissa Gatto as an underdog, citing her cleaner striking, power, and opportunistic submissions. He expects Cortez to have early wrestling success but thinks Gatto can survive and turn the fight in later rounds. He is worried about Cortez's top control but sees value in Gatto at plus money. He has not bet yet, noting he missed better lines.

Daniel considers a Gatto submission prop but has not bet. He mentions the line moved from +170 to +130.
"I do like the potential in Gato. It's just this fight is one of those that I truly believe is gonna come down to the wire and oftentimes in fights like that I like to take the dog."
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Lean picked May 6, 2022 (1 day before fight)
Melissa Gatto

The host picks Melissa Gatto but is not betting the fight due to volatility. He notes Cortez's strong wrestling but concerns about her weight miss and cardio. He highlights Gatto's impressive UFC performances, her ability to work from bottom, and her vicious striking. He expects Gatto to pressure, attack the body, and possibly find a submission or win via striking. He acknowledges Cortez will land takedowns but thinks Gatto will do enough to win.

"i am picking her to win she will be my prediction to win this fight"
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Lean picked May 4, 2022 (3 days before fight)
Melissa Gatto

Paul picks Melissa Gatto as an underdog at +147. He believes the fight is more 50/50 and that Gatto's grappling is legit, with an active guard and submission threats. He fears Cortez's wrestling could control the fight, but thinks Gatto's strength and jiu-jitsu could lead to a submission. Paul acknowledges the Arizona home cooking factor but took the dog shot.

"i took the underdog shot on melissa gatto uh plus 147."
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked May 2, 2022 (5 days before fight)
Melissa Gatto

The MMA Guru picks Melissa Gatto as an underdog, citing her underrated skills, youth, and physical advantages. He notes Gatto has a reach advantage, submission ability, and finishing power, as seen in her wins over Carol Rosa and Sijara Eubanks. He criticizes Cortez for pitter-patter striking and lack of finishing ability. He predicts Gatto will win on the feet and then secure a submission, possibly an armbar in the second round.

"i'm going with the underdog melissa garter moving on up the card"
TKO (body kick and punches) R3 0:45 · UFC Fight Night: Lewis vs. Daukaus · Dec 18, 2021
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Melissa Gatto 0 14 of 45 31% 32 of 68 1 of 4 25% 0 1 6:05
Sijara Eubanks 1 17 of 34 50% 64 of 91 0 of 1 0% 0 1 3:04
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Melissa Gatto 0 8 of 18 44% 23 of 37 0 of 1 0% 0 1 4:30
Sijara Eubanks 0 2 of 5 40% 20 of 23 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:08
2 Melissa Gatto 0 4 of 11 36% 7 of 15 1 of 3 33% 0 0 1:35
Sijara Eubanks 0 9 of 13 69% 37 of 51 0 of 1 0% 0 1 2:53
3 Melissa Gatto 0 2 of 16 12% 2 of 16 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Sijara Eubanks 1 6 of 16 37% 7 of 17 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:03
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Melissa Gatto 14 of 45 31% 10 of 37 4 of 8 0 of 0 5 of 33 2 of 2 7 of 10
Sijara Eubanks 17 of 34 50% 11 of 27 2 of 2 4 of 5 13 of 29 2 of 2 2 of 3
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Melissa Gatto 8 of 18 44% 8 of 16 0 of 2 0 of 0 1 of 8 0 of 0 7 of 10
Sijara Eubanks 2 of 5 40% 1 of 4 0 of 0 1 of 1 2 of 5 0 of 0 0 of 0
2 Melissa Gatto 4 of 11 36% 1 of 8 3 of 3 0 of 0 2 of 9 2 of 2 0 of 0
Sijara Eubanks 9 of 13 69% 7 of 11 1 of 1 1 of 1 6 of 10 2 of 2 1 of 1
3 Melissa Gatto 2 of 16 12% 1 of 13 1 of 3 0 of 0 2 of 16 0 of 0 0 of 0
Sijara Eubanks 6 of 16 37% 3 of 12 1 of 1 2 of 3 5 of 14 0 of 0 1 of 2
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Confident picked Dec 15, 2021 (3 days before fight)
Melissa Gatto

Angelo picks Melissa Gatto with a half-unit bet at +190. He believes Gatto is a young up-and-comer with real potential, while Eubanks is a .500 fighter whose cardio issues may not be fully resolved. He notes that Gatto has good striking, can set up takedowns, and is aggressive on top. However, he cautions that if Eubanks' cardio holds up, she is a giant beast at 125 and could be a problem. He emphasizes that Gatto must stay on top and not pull guard.

0.5 units on moneyline at +190
"i like melissa gatto i put a half a unit on the money line i got it at plus 190"
BI
Big Brady Expert Hesitant picked Dec 15, 2021 (3 days before fight)
Sijara Eubanks

Big Brady picks Sijara Eubanks by decision, citing her experience, BJJ black belt, and path to victory via takedowns and ground control. He has concerns about Eubanks' age (36) and cardio if the fight extends. He notes Gatto's poor takedown defense and submission-over-position style, but acknowledges Gatto looked improved in her last fight. He says he may not bet Eubanks due to cardio worries.

decision
"I'm gonna pick cru banks to win by decision but um I don't think I'm gonna be betting her"
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Lean picked Dec 16, 2021 (2 days before fight)
Sijara Eubanks

Cody leans Eubanks due to her BJJ, size, and physicality. He notes her wrestling is solid for the division and she is aggressive. However, he worries about her cardio and weight cuts. Gatto is more wily and could pressure late. Cody says it's not a high-confidence play and wants to see weigh-ins.

"I think I would lean towards eubanks it's not something I'm going to put finalized in bam bam but yeah as far as the show picks right now I would go you banks"
DA
Daniel Levi Expert Lean picked Dec 16, 2021 (2 days before fight)
Melissa Gatto

Daniel Levi picks Melissa Gatto as an underdog. He likes Gatto's scrappiness, aggression, and improvement, especially her arm submissions. Levi is concerned that Eubanks's jiu-jitsu could neutralize Gatto's sub attempts, but he believes Gatto's tenacity and desire to prove herself after a layoff will carry her. He thinks Gatto can make it close if she doesn't get held down for two rounds, and sees value in the plus money.

Gatto by submission; underdog play
"I'm gonna end up actually taking the dog because I think she's got a little bit more tenacity more ferocity."
JA
Jacob Lines Expert Lock picked Dec 15, 2021 (3 days before fight)
Melissa Gatto

Jacob is extremely confident in Melissa Gatto, calling it his lock of the week. He placed 5 units on her moneyline at +146, 4 units on her inside the distance (decision no action) at +170, and 2 units on under 2.5 rounds at +165. He believes Eubanks cannot bully Gatto, who has good striking and aggressive grappling. He compares it to the Miranda Maverick fight where the favorite was dominated. Jacob thinks Gatto will finish Eubanks, possibly by submission, and that the odds are moving fast.

5 units moneyline at +146, 4 units inside distance decision no action at +170, 2 units under 2.5 rounds at +165, 1 unit Gatto by submission at +1000
"i've never been so confident in a lock of the week pick in my entire life"
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Dec 17, 2021 (1 day before fight)
Sijara Eubanks

The host picks Eubanks by decision, highlighting her superior wrestling and jiu-jitsu. He notes that Gatto plays off her back and Eubanks should be able to control her on top. He likes the decision prop at +150, as Eubanks is not a proactive finisher.

Eubanks by decision (+150)
"I like me some eubanks i like her at minus 160 but i even like her prop here at decision uh via decision which i currently believe is plus 150"
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert picked Dec 16, 2021 (2 days before fight)

Paul does not give a clear pick for this fight. He mentions that Eubanks is the rightful favorite but notes concerns about her cardio and weight cuts. He says to pay attention to weigh-ins. He does not commit to a pick.

"I think I would lean towards eubanks it's not something I'm going to put finalized in bam bam but yeah as far as the show picks right now I would go you banks want to see the weigh-ins though"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Dec 13, 2021 (5 days before fight)
Melissa Gatto

The MMA Guru picks Melissa Gatto as an upset winner, predicting a first-round armbar submission. He notes Gatto has good jiu-jitsu and submitted Carol Rosa with a kimura. He thinks Eubanks is getting older and may entertain the ground game too much. He sees Eubanks ending up on top but getting caught in an armbar from bottom.

first round armbar submission
"i'm gonna go with melissa gato in an upset win here"
TKO (doctor stoppage) R2 5:00 · UFC 265: Lewis vs. Gane · Aug 07, 2021
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Melissa Gatto 0 43 of 91 47% 59 of 110 0 of 3 0% 0 2 2:27
Victoria Leonardo 0 70 of 121 57% 96 of 148 1 of 5 20% 0 1 1:50
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Melissa Gatto 0 13 of 27 48% 27 of 44 0 of 1 0% 0 2 1:59
Victoria Leonardo 0 13 of 21 61% 36 of 45 1 of 4 25% 0 1 1:48
2 Melissa Gatto 0 30 of 64 46% 32 of 66 0 of 2 0% 0 0 0:28
Victoria Leonardo 0 57 of 100 57% 60 of 103 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:02
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Melissa Gatto 43 of 91 47% 14 of 58 13 of 17 16 of 16 38 of 84 3 of 4 2 of 3
Victoria Leonardo 70 of 121 57% 42 of 83 12 of 19 16 of 19 63 of 110 6 of 10 1 of 1
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Melissa Gatto 13 of 27 48% 4 of 17 3 of 4 6 of 6 9 of 22 2 of 2 2 of 3
Victoria Leonardo 13 of 21 61% 7 of 12 2 of 5 4 of 4 9 of 14 3 of 6 1 of 1
2 Melissa Gatto 30 of 64 46% 10 of 41 10 of 13 10 of 10 29 of 62 1 of 2 0 of 0
Victoria Leonardo 57 of 100 57% 35 of 71 10 of 14 12 of 15 54 of 96 3 of 4 0 of 0
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Confident picked Aug 8, 2021 (fight day)
Victoria Leonardo

Angelo picks Leonardo, citing Gatto's long layoff (2.5 years due to USADA suspension) and that Gatto is a grappler who likes to fight off her back. He thinks Leonardo will be on top and win a decision. He calls Leonardo a solid underdog pick.

"I really like Victoria Leonardo in this fight... there's too many unknowns with Melissa Gatto, she's been out for too long."
BI
Big Brady Expert Hesitant picked Aug 3, 2021 (4 days before fight)
Victoria Leonardo

Big Brady is hesitant on this fight due to many question marks. He thinks Melissa Gatto is sub-or-bust and has poor takedown defense, while Victoria Leonardo is more active and likely the better striker. He picks Leonardo to win by decision but warns that Gatto could pull off an armbar from guard. He advises staying away from betting this fight.

armbar from guard possibility; stay away from betting
"I will pick her to win, I'll pick her to win by decision but honestly this has armbar from guard written all over it."
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Lean picked Aug 4, 2021 (3 days before fight)
Melissa Gatto

Cody picks Gatto, citing the narrative of Brazilian fighters improving after long layoffs. He notes her BJJ skills and potential improvements in wrestling. He thinks she can get the fight to the ground and submit Leonardo.

Gatto by submission
"i actually just got to take that shot in the dark and i'm going to end up going with gato here"
DA
Daniel Levi Expert Confident picked Aug 6, 2021 (1 day before fight)
Melissa Gatto

Daniel Levi picks Melissa Gatto to win by opportunistic submission, citing that Victoria Leonardo is a punching bag on the feet and has been stopped multiple times. He notes that Gatto is young and may have improved during her USADA suspension, and that Leonardo's takedown attempts could lead to submissions. He does not put much stock into the suspension for a young fighter and believes Gatto has the skills to finish.

Says Gatto by opportunistic submission
"I'ma go Gatta opportunistic submission somewhere along the way"
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Aug 5, 2021 (2 days before fight)
Victoria Leonardo

Gatto is a BJJ specialist who relies on takedowns, but Leonardo has a purple belt and good enough grappling to nullify submissions. Leonardo is stronger, has better striking, and better cardio. The longer the fight goes, the more success Leonardo will have, likely finishing Gatto in the third round via ground and pound.

Leonardo by KO/TKO +550; Leonardo in round 3 +1475; under 2.5 rounds
"I think that the longer that this fight goes Leonardo will have more and more success and I think that ultimately we'll actually see Leonardo get her out of there probably in the third round."
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert picked Aug 4, 2021 (3 days before fight)

Paul does not make a clear pick. He is surprised by the pick'em line and notes the lack of tape on both fighters.

TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Aug 1, 2021 (6 days before fight)
Melissa Gatto

The MMA Guru picks Melissa Gatto to win by first-round submission. He highlights Gatto's undefeated record (6-0 with two draws) and her win over Carol Rosa, who is now on a four-fight win streak in the UFC. He criticizes Victoria Leonardo's lack of technical skill and poor chin, noting she has been knocked out twice recently. He predicts Gatto will submit Leonardo, possibly off her back.

first round submission
"i'm going to call her first round submission for melissa gatto here over leonardo"
Tamires Vidal - Fight History
Submission (face crank) R3 4:33 · UFC Fight Night: Hernandez vs. Pereira · Oct 19, 2024
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Joselyne Edwards 0 81 of 134 60% 151 of 212 4 of 7 57% 2 0 4:30
Tamires Vidal 0 34 of 69 49% 53 of 91 0 of 1 0% 0 0 2:35
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Joselyne Edwards 0 41 of 65 63% 70 of 98 2 of 5 40% 0 0 0:45
Tamires Vidal 0 18 of 41 43% 24 of 47 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:42
2 Joselyne Edwards 0 14 of 22 63% 35 of 45 1 of 1 100% 0 0 1:38
Tamires Vidal 0 5 of 10 50% 17 of 25 0 of 0 --- 0 0 1:51
3 Joselyne Edwards 0 26 of 47 55% 46 of 69 1 of 1 100% 2 0 2:07
Tamires Vidal 0 11 of 18 61% 12 of 19 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:02
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Joselyne Edwards 81 of 134 60% 48 of 94 20 of 26 13 of 14 61 of 108 9 of 11 11 of 15
Tamires Vidal 34 of 69 49% 15 of 44 9 of 14 10 of 11 25 of 57 9 of 12 0 of 0
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Joselyne Edwards 41 of 65 63% 24 of 44 11 of 14 6 of 7 39 of 63 2 of 2 0 of 0
Tamires Vidal 18 of 41 43% 9 of 28 4 of 7 5 of 6 15 of 36 3 of 5 0 of 0
2 Joselyne Edwards 14 of 22 63% 5 of 12 3 of 4 6 of 6 8 of 15 6 of 7 0 of 0
Tamires Vidal 5 of 10 50% 1 of 6 1 of 1 3 of 3 4 of 9 1 of 1 0 of 0
3 Joselyne Edwards 26 of 47 55% 19 of 38 6 of 8 1 of 1 14 of 30 1 of 2 11 of 15
Tamires Vidal 11 of 18 61% 5 of 10 4 of 6 2 of 2 6 of 12 5 of 6 0 of 0
Play-by-Play
View on Sherdog
Joselyne Edwards (139: Missed Weight) vs. Tamires Vidal
BETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Edwards (-258), Vidal (+210)

Round 1
For the third time in her UFC career, Edwards (13-6, 4-4 UFC) comes into a matchup after missing weight. She surrenders a significant portion of her purse to Brazil’s Vidal (7-3, 1-2 UFC), who would like to make her pay even more for that perceived disrespect. Referee Herb Dean will be in there to keep things clean, and perhaps due to the weight miss—Edwards was three pounds heavy for their bantamweight tilt—there is no glove touch. Both women stand in the pocket and trade reaching strikes, with jabs that transition into leg kicks on both sides. Edwards whips a right hand over the top that misses, although her jab and front kick split the guard. Edwards works the body, and Vidal crashes the pocket, ignores a few strikes and pushes her foe to the wall. Edwards flips her over to deflate a takedown effort, and Vidal climbs back to her feet to push Edwards against the fence. Vidal goes low for an unorthodox single on the other side, and Edwards turns her around and tries to mash her up against the fencing. When they break free. Edwards kicks the body on one side and a low kick on the other. Edwards chops at the front leg and jabs, and Vidal is drawn out into spamming big overhand rights. Edwards points at the floor to initiate a brawl, and brawl they do. The ladies wind up on huge power shots, with Vidal getting off multiple overhand rights while Edwards smacks her upside the head with a spinning back fist. Edwards chops at the front leg a few times, spins with another back fist and is grabbed and forced into a clinch. Vidal knees her in the head repeatedly until Edwards can break free, and Edwards scores another back fist. Vidal’s low kick gets checked, and Edwards jabs her in the belly to respond. “La Pantera” tries one more spinning back fist, and Vidal sees it coming and swarms her opponent with punches. Edwards kicks her in the liver, and Vidal waves her on for more. Edwards takes a moment to gather her wind, and Vidal uses this moment to pounce. Vidal lands, Edwards fires back, and Vidal keeps on throwing. When Vidal overswings, Edwards grabs hold of her and throws her down to the floor with emphasis. As soon as Edwards takes her opponent’s back, the violent round ends.

Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Edwards
Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-9 Edwards
Scottie Smith scores the round: 10-9 Edwards

Round 2
The kicks come early and often from the ladies, with Edwards throwing them high and low until Vidal closes in briefly. Edwards slides back and kicks Vidal in the gut, and she dances away from an overhand right to drill the Brazilian with a spinning back fist. Vidal’s chin is made of sterner stuff, and these women are throwing with everything they have. Vidal rushes forward to tie the longer woman up, getting hold of a body lock on the side while pushing Edwards to the wall. Vidal ducks under to take the Panamanian’s back standing, and she gets a hook in. Edwards hacks at the thigh with several elbows before whipping one behind her head, making Vidal blink it out. Vidal is warned for grabbing the inside of the gloves, and Edwards complains as Dean is on top of it. Vidal remains tight against her adversary, kneeing her in the back of the thigh like a mean-spirited body suit. Vidal breaks away to kick Edwards upside the head, and Edwards shakes it off, rushes after her and bowls Vidal over with a solid body lock takedown. Edwards lands in half guard and maintains top position, fighting off an effort for Vidal to scramble so she can stay in control. Edwards softens Vidal up with short ground-and-pound, more to stay busy than to inflict damage. Vidal hits a sweep with seconds to go, and Edwards tackles her back down to conclude the round.

Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Edwards
Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-9 Edwards
Scottie Smith scores the round: 10-9 Edwards

Round 3
Edwards comes out of her corner with purpose, walking Vidal down and jabbing her way into a number of front kicks. Vidal slips away, and she gets kicked in the ribs and swings her way into a clinch. They both knee one another before splitting, and Edwards tries for a back fist on the break and is blocked. Edwards jabs the body and has her front leg kicked hard twice. Edwards counters with an overhand right and pitches a front kick, and Vidal is after her loaded for bear. Edwards allows her to get up close and personal so she can deliver several solid uppercuts, and she frames off to nail Vidal with a back fist. When Vidal attempts her own spin, Edwards tackles her to the floor, and Vidal appears frustrated with herself as her opponent is in half guard. Edwards postures up and starts battering Vidal with elbows, and Vidal keeps her hands up and threatens with a leglock as Edwards attempts to advance position. This results in Edwards falling to her back, keeping her left leg safe from getting cranked or torqued the wrong direction. Vidal looks to her corner for ideas, and Edwards times this moment of awkwardness with an explosion and a number of fierce right hands. Vidal turns over, and Edwards happily takes her back to wrap up a rear-naked choke. The Brazilian turns her head to the side, and she hand-fights to try to get out of the move.
Edwards has her forearm fastened on the jaw and not beneath it, and she squeezes with all her might. The crushing grip gives Vidal issues, who quickly realizes she is not in a good place and there is no more hand to fight. Even as it does not become a choke and remains a crank, it is more than enough to force Vidal to surrender.
Arguably the best performance of Edwards’ career is marred by an egregious weight miss, but it might save her place on the roster.

The Official Result
Joselyne Edwards def. Tamires Vidal R3 4:33 via Submission (Face Crank)
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Confident picked Oct 13, 2024 (6 days before fight)
Joselyne Edwards

Angelo is high on Joselyne Edwards, praising her kickboxing, range management, and grit. He acknowledges her takedown defense is a weakness but thinks she can keep the fight standing by using leg kicks to slow down Tamires Vidal's pressure. He notes Vidal's striking is almost non-existent and she has lost to BJJ specialists recently. He believes Edwards can dance around on the outside and pick Vidal apart, making Edwards the pick. He also sees the over 2.5 rounds as safe.

over 2.5 rounds
"Jin Edwards is going to be the pick and I think we have another safe over two and a half"
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked Oct 17, 2024 (2 days before fight)
Joselyne Edwards

Big Brady picks Joselyne Edwards by third-round TKO. He criticizes Vidal's quit in previous fights, poor cardio, and durability. He believes Edwards is better everywhere and can finish Vidal, possibly due to a quit job. He notes Edwards often goes to split decision but expects a finish here.

third round TKO
"I got to go Edwards here and I think Edwards is live for a potential finish potential quit job from vial in the third round so I'm going to go Edwards uh third round uh TKO"
CO
Connor Ruebusch Expert Confident picked Oct 18, 2024 (1 day before fight)
Joselyne Edwards

Connor agrees with Zane, picking Edwards. He notes that Edwards is a better athlete and has an instinct to get back when someone has success against her. He thinks Vidal is a bully who doesn't want to try hard and will likely lose to Edwards' size and power.

"I think she's probably going to lose to Jocelyn Edwards."
LU
Lucrative James Expert picked Feb 21, 2026 (fight day)

This fight was not discussed in the transcript.

MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Oct 17, 2024 (2 days before fight)
Joselyne Edwards

Edwards has the technical striking advantage over the slugger Vidal, but a grapple-heavy approach could open up a submission opportunity. Edwards will defeat Vidal inside the distance.

submission
"I think we'll actually see a grapple heavy approach here from Edwards to utilize which could open up a submission opportunity and her to defeat Vidal inside the distance"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Lean picked Oct 15, 2024 (4 days before fight)
Joselyne Edwards

The Guru flips a tin of multivitamins to decide but ultimately picks Joselyne Edwards based on her experience and wins in the UFC. He notes Vidal is huge for the weight class but hasn't proven she is good. He considers Edwards rangy and closer to her prime.

"I'm gonna go Joselyn Edwards more experienced in the UFC she at least has some wins in the UFC"
ZA
Zane Simon Expert Confident picked Oct 18, 2024 (1 day before fight)
Joselyne Edwards

Zane picks Edwards because she is bigger and a better athlete than Vidal. He notes that Edwards has an instinct to answer back when hit, which he thinks will break Vidal's spirit. He criticizes Vidal for quitting in fights and lacking courage, and believes Edwards' size and awkwardness on the ground will be too much for Vidal.

Edwards opened at -211, now -260; Vidal opened at +184, now +222.
"I think she's probably going to lose to Jocelyn Edwards."
LOSS vs Melissa Gatto
TKO (punch to the body) R3 0:37 · UFC Fight Night: Barboza vs. Murphy · May 18, 2024
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Melissa Gatto 0 15 of 29 51% 50 of 66 0 of 0 --- 1 0 0:53
Tamires Vidal 0 30 of 52 57% 120 of 163 2 of 2 100% 1 0 6:58
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Melissa Gatto 0 3 of 3 100% 32 of 34 0 of 0 --- 1 0 0:00
Tamires Vidal 0 6 of 9 66% 72 of 85 1 of 1 100% 0 0 4:33
2 Melissa Gatto 0 11 of 20 55% 17 of 26 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:53
Tamires Vidal 0 21 of 35 60% 45 of 70 1 of 1 100% 1 0 2:25
3 Melissa Gatto 0 1 of 6 16% 1 of 6 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Tamires Vidal 0 3 of 8 37% 3 of 8 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Melissa Gatto 15 of 29 51% 7 of 21 2 of 2 6 of 6 14 of 28 1 of 1 0 of 0
Tamires Vidal 30 of 52 57% 13 of 30 16 of 20 1 of 2 22 of 40 1 of 5 7 of 7
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Melissa Gatto 3 of 3 100% 1 of 1 0 of 0 2 of 2 3 of 3 0 of 0 0 of 0
Tamires Vidal 6 of 9 66% 4 of 7 2 of 2 0 of 0 4 of 7 0 of 0 2 of 2
2 Melissa Gatto 11 of 20 55% 5 of 14 2 of 2 4 of 4 10 of 19 1 of 1 0 of 0
Tamires Vidal 21 of 35 60% 9 of 21 11 of 12 1 of 2 15 of 25 1 of 5 5 of 5
3 Melissa Gatto 1 of 6 16% 1 of 6 0 of 0 0 of 0 1 of 6 0 of 0 0 of 0
Tamires Vidal 3 of 8 37% 0 of 2 3 of 6 0 of 0 3 of 8 0 of 0 0 of 0
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Confident picked May 12, 2024 (6 days before fight)
Tamires Vidal

Angelo is shocked that Melissa Gatto is the biggest favorite on the card at -820 despite being on a two-fight losing streak, moving up in weight, and having poor takedown accuracy (0 for 7 in her last fight). He believes Tamires Vidal is big, strong, and has a grappling advantage. He plans to bet on Vidal, watching the line movement to decide when to place the bet.

bet on Vidal (timing based on line movement)
"I already thought vial was going to win let alone at these odds I'm going to continue to watch this"
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Confident picked May 15, 2024 (3 days before fight)
Melissa Gatto

Cody views this as a clear bounceback fight for Gatto, who has lost two close decisions to top competition. He notes Vidal has massive limitations in every area: poor footwork, no head movement, low volume, and no power. Gatto is stronger, more technical, and a better wrestler. Cody believes Gatto will dominate on the ground and get back in the win column.

"Gatto is way strong at 125 that won't finish at 135 she's a way more polished way more powerful way more technical Striker than Vidal."
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked May 14, 2024 (4 days before fight)
Melissa Gatto

Vidal is reckless with wide hooks and was out-grinded in her last fight. Gatto is the toughest opponent Vidal has faced and should provide a ton of resistance. Expects Gatto to pressure Vidal, use the clinch, take her down, and eventually find a finish. The line should be closer to -400 or -500.

Inside the distance for Gatto.
"I think the minus 300 on Melissa got to is more than worthy here as I think that she should be closer to minus 400 maybe evenus 500"
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Confident picked May 15, 2024 (3 days before fight)
Melissa Gatto

Paul sees Gatto as much more powerful and technical than Vidal. He notes Vidal's only UFC win came via flying knee against a low-level opponent, and she was dominated by Montserrat Ruiz. Paul expects Gatto to manhandle Vidal with her grappling and physicality, despite moving up a weight class.

"It's goto for me."
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked May 14, 2024 (4 days before fight)
Melissa Gatto

The MMA Guru picks Melissa Gatto over Tamires Vidal, despite going against his rule of picking 'thems' in women's MMA. He notes that Gatto had a close fight with Tracy Cortez and that Vidal was taken down three times by a smaller opponent in her last fight. He expects Gatto to use her reach and grappling to control Vidal and win by decision.

"I'm going to go with Melissa GTO here I think she'll be able to take down um tamires vdal"
LOSS vs Montse Rendon
Decision (split) (29–28, 28–29, 29–28) R3 5:00 · UFC Fight Night: Fiziev vs. Gamrot · Sep 23, 2023
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Montse Rendon 0 60 of 109 55% 78 of 131 0 of 3 0% 1 0 0:54
Tamires Vidal 0 69 of 182 37% 112 of 240 3 of 5 60% 0 0 4:51
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Montse Rendon 0 23 of 40 57% 31 of 48 0 of 3 0% 0 0 0:54
Tamires Vidal 0 17 of 54 31% 27 of 68 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:47
2 Montse Rendon 0 21 of 38 55% 21 of 38 0 of 0 --- 1 0 0:00
Tamires Vidal 0 25 of 61 40% 35 of 75 2 of 2 100% 0 0 1:43
3 Montse Rendon 0 16 of 31 51% 26 of 45 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Tamires Vidal 0 27 of 67 40% 50 of 97 1 of 2 50% 0 0 2:21
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Montse Rendon 60 of 109 55% 17 of 59 3 of 3 40 of 47 60 of 108 0 of 1 0 of 0
Tamires Vidal 69 of 182 37% 45 of 148 11 of 18 13 of 16 55 of 151 1 of 2 13 of 29
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Montse Rendon 23 of 40 57% 7 of 23 0 of 0 16 of 17 23 of 39 0 of 1 0 of 0
Tamires Vidal 17 of 54 31% 13 of 47 0 of 2 4 of 5 17 of 54 0 of 0 0 of 0
2 Montse Rendon 21 of 38 55% 5 of 18 1 of 1 15 of 19 21 of 38 0 of 0 0 of 0
Tamires Vidal 25 of 61 40% 17 of 50 6 of 9 2 of 2 20 of 48 1 of 1 4 of 12
3 Montse Rendon 16 of 31 51% 5 of 18 2 of 2 9 of 11 16 of 31 0 of 0 0 of 0
Tamires Vidal 27 of 67 40% 15 of 51 5 of 7 7 of 9 18 of 49 0 of 1 9 of 17
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Confident picked Sep 17, 2023 (6 days before fight)
Tamires Vidal

Angelo believes Vidal is better than Rendon at Rendon's best skill. He notes Vidal hits harder, is stronger, has more experience, and should be a much heavier favorite. He sees no path to victory for Rendon and considers Vidal parlayable.

"I love Vidal in this spot I think she is parlayable I really don't see her losing this fight"
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked Sep 21, 2023 (2 days before fight)
Tamires Vidal

Big Brady picks Tamires Vidal, citing her youth (25), improvements, brown belt in BJJ, and power on the feet. He notes she knocked out Ramona Pascual, who is tough, and believes Vidal can win by KO, sub, or decision. He is not betting at -220 but confidently picks her to win, predicting a second-round submission.

second round submission
"I'll take Vidal to win this fight and I'll say she gets it done by second round submission"
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Lean picked Sep 20, 2023 (3 days before fight)
Tamires Vidal

Cody picks Tamires Vidal as a live underdog, citing Rendon's age (34), poor wrestling, and close decisions. He notes Vidal's youth (25), explosiveness, and physicality. He thinks Vidal can mix in takedowns and win a decision or finish.

"I think I'm gonna take the small shot to Mira's Fidel... live Underdog live Underdog."
DA
Daniel Levi Expert Lean picked Sep 21, 2023 (2 days before fight)
Montse Rendon

Daniel picks Rendon as a dog, believing the odds are off. He criticizes Vidal's performance against Ailin Perez (a loss) and notes she was outstruck by a can. He thinks Rendon is tough, has decent volume, and can win a decision. He sees this as a low-level fight where the underdog has value.

plus 185 moneyline; mentions point spread +3.5
"I'm gonna go monra at renon Via decision uh but if I were to play it it would just be money line"
LU
Lucrative James Expert picked Sep 20, 2023 (3 days before fight)

Lucrative James explicitly says he hasn't taped this fight and is not going to speak about it. He skips it entirely, so no pick is made.

"I'm not even going to speak about them."
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Sep 21, 2023 (2 days before fight)
Montse Rendon

The host picks Rendon as a plus 185 underdog, questioning Vidal's skills and calling her a 'poor woman's Priscilla Cachoeira.' He notes Rendon's athleticism, tight boxing, and straight shots down the pipe to counter Vidal's wide hooks. He worries about Vidal's grappling but believes Rendon's strength and BJJ brown belt will keep the fight standing. He predicts a decision win.

"give me run down and run down by decision"
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert picked Sep 20, 2023 (3 days before fight)

Paul has no clear pick for this fight. He is interested in Vidal under 1.5 takedowns on PrizePicks, noting she is more of a striker and was dominated on the ground by Eileen Perez. He does not commit to a winner.

Vidal under 1.5 takedowns on PrizePicks.
"I have no idea what to do with this one... I like the less than 1.5 takedowns I feel like that's how I'm gonna get access to this fight."
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Sep 19, 2023 (4 days before fight)
Tamires Vidal

The MMA Guru picks Tamires Vidal to win by TKO, citing her aggression and knockout power. He criticizes Montse Rendon's late start in MMA and unimpressive regional wins, including a split decision over a 4-4 opponent. He notes Vidal's only loss is to Carol Rosa and that she is 2-0 in the UFC, showing confidence from her team. He believes Vidal's power and aggression will overwhelm Rendon.

by TKO
"I'm gonna say that Tamir es Vidal is going to absolutely destroy Montserrat Rendon with a TKO in this fight"
TKO (flying knee to the body) R1 3:06 · UFC Fight Night: Rodriguez vs. Lemos · Nov 05, 2022
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Tamires Vidal 1 17 of 29 58% 22 of 34 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:56
Ramona Pascual 0 13 of 14 92% 17 of 18 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:23
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Tamires Vidal 1 17 of 29 58% 22 of 34 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:56
Ramona Pascual 0 13 of 14 92% 17 of 18 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:23
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Tamires Vidal 17 of 29 58% 6 of 17 7 of 8 4 of 4 13 of 25 4 of 4 0 of 0
Ramona Pascual 13 of 14 92% 3 of 4 5 of 5 5 of 5 10 of 10 3 of 4 0 of 0
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Tamires Vidal 17 of 29 58% 6 of 17 7 of 8 4 of 4 13 of 25 4 of 4 0 of 0
Ramona Pascual 13 of 14 92% 3 of 4 5 of 5 5 of 5 10 of 10 3 of 4 0 of 0
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Hesitant picked Oct 30, 2022 (6 days before fight)
Ramona Pascual

Angelo picks Ramona Pascual despite acknowledging she has lost previous picks. He notes Pascual is well-rounded and tough, with solid striking and takedown defense, but lacks cardio and elite skills. He questions why Vidal was signed, citing poor stand-up and takedowns, but admits Vidal could dominate if she gets takedowns. The pick is hesitant because he's been wrong on Pascual before.

"I think I gotta go with Ramona Pasquale here not because I think she's gonna be a contender but I I just don't know how Vidal got signed"
BI
Big Brady Expert Hesitant picked Nov 1, 2022 (4 days before fight)
Ramona Pascual

Big Brady sees no reason for Vidal to be favored, calling this a low-level fight where neither fighter deserves to be the favorite. He notes Vidal's poor striking and questionable wins, while Pascual has UFC experience and better striking. However, he has no confidence in the pick and expects a greasy decision, acknowledging Vidal's submission threat from guard.

Pascual wins by decision
"I think Pasquale should get it done but could you really have a ton of confidence in its Center I think her striking is probably better"
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Confident picked Nov 2, 2022 (3 days before fight)
Ramona Pascual

Cody picks Ramona Pascual, noting that Vidal's only win came via a sloppy heel hook at a very low level. He watched Vidal's fight against Eileen Perez, which was in a makeshift gym, and was unimpressed. Pascual has shown glimpses of improvement, getting three takedowns against Josiane Nunes and dropping Jocelyn Edwards with a body shot. At 135 pounds, Pascual may be more physical and have better Muay Thai and clinch work. Cody thinks Pascual is the better all-around fighter and is surprised she is the underdog.

"I most definitely gonna go Ramona possible on the spot and I'm surprised to see that she was the underdog"
CO
Connor Ruebusch Expert Lean picked Nov 3, 2022 (2 days before fight)
Tamires Vidal

Connor picks Vidal, noting that Pascual has never beaten anyone of note and is a dead end at 34. Vidal is younger and has room to grow, though her technique is raw. Connor acknowledges that Pascual has a better process but lacks the athleticism to execute.

"I'll pick tomorrow's Vidal. There's just cause she looks like she's like strong and she has finishing potential."
DA
Daniel Levi Expert Lean picked Nov 2, 2022 (3 days before fight)
Ramona Pascual

Daniel Levi picks Ramona Pascual based on her UFC experience and success getting takedowns in her UFC fights. He admits he doesn't have much analysis for this low-level fight but goes with the underdog.

"I'll go with Ramona Pasquale for the win"
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Oct 31, 2022 (4 days before fight)
Ramona Pascual

The host sees Vidal as overrated, noting her limited striking (mostly an overhand right) and reliance on grappling against weak competition. He highlights that Vidal's wins came against questionable opponents and she was losing on the feet in previous fights before getting takedowns. He believes Pascual has enough output and grappling to stay safe and grind out a decision, making the underdog line of +135 valuable.

Pascual via decision expected around +200
"give me Pasqual Pasqual via decision"
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Confident picked Nov 2, 2022 (3 days before fight)
Ramona Pascual

Paul picks Pascual, noting that she opened at +200 and has since moved to +120. He has seen her Instagram and she looks more defined at 135. He thinks Vidal's performance against Perez was horrible and that Pascual has shown she can hang in there. He is not betting it heavily but picks Pascual for the show.

Tamires Vidal under 1.5 takedowns (PrizePicks)
"Pascual for me"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Hesitant picked Nov 2, 2022 (3 days before fight)
Ramona Pascual

The MMA Guru picks Ramona Pascual as an underdog, citing her size advantage and experience against tougher competition. He notes that Tamires Vidal is unproven and lost to Karol Rosa, while Pascual trains at Syndicate MMA and has looked good against fighters like Josiane Nunes and Jocelyn Edwards. However, he admits uncertainty about Vidal's potential, making this a hesitant pick based on known factors.

"I'm gonna go with the underdog straight away of Ramona Pascal... I don't really know what to sort of give credit to tamira's Vidal 4."
ZA
Zane Simon Expert Lean picked Nov 3, 2022 (2 days before fight)
Tamires Vidal

Zane picks Vidal because she is more athletic and has finishing potential, while Pascual is slow and unathletic. Vidal's only loss is to a decent fighter, and she has beaten some opponents with wins. However, Zane notes that Vidal's striking is messy and she relies on overhands and takedowns.

"I'll pick tomorrow's Vidal. There's just cause she looks like she's like strong and she has finishing potential."
Expert Picks (5)
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Confident picked May 12, 2024 (6 days before fight)
Tamires Vidal

Angelo is shocked that Melissa Gatto is the biggest favorite on the card at -820 despite being on a two-fight losing streak, moving up in weight, and having poor takedown accuracy (0 for 7 in her last fight). He believes Tamires Vidal is big, strong, and has a grappling advantage. He plans to bet on Vidal, watching the line movement to decide when to place the bet.

bet on Vidal (timing based on line movement)
"I already thought vial was going to win let alone at these odds I'm going to continue to watch this"
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Confident picked May 15, 2024 (3 days before fight)
Melissa Gatto

Cody views this as a clear bounceback fight for Gatto, who has lost two close decisions to top competition. He notes Vidal has massive limitations in every area: poor footwork, no head movement, low volume, and no power. Gatto is stronger, more technical, and a better wrestler. Cody believes Gatto will dominate on the ground and get back in the win column.

"Gatto is way strong at 125 that won't finish at 135 she's a way more polished way more powerful way more technical Striker than Vidal."
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked May 14, 2024 (4 days before fight)
Melissa Gatto

Vidal is reckless with wide hooks and was out-grinded in her last fight. Gatto is the toughest opponent Vidal has faced and should provide a ton of resistance. Expects Gatto to pressure Vidal, use the clinch, take her down, and eventually find a finish. The line should be closer to -400 or -500.

Inside the distance for Gatto.
"I think the minus 300 on Melissa got to is more than worthy here as I think that she should be closer to minus 400 maybe evenus 500"
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Confident picked May 15, 2024 (3 days before fight)
Melissa Gatto

Paul sees Gatto as much more powerful and technical than Vidal. He notes Vidal's only UFC win came via flying knee against a low-level opponent, and she was dominated by Montserrat Ruiz. Paul expects Gatto to manhandle Vidal with her grappling and physicality, despite moving up a weight class.

"It's goto for me."
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked May 14, 2024 (4 days before fight)
Melissa Gatto

The MMA Guru picks Melissa Gatto over Tamires Vidal, despite going against his rule of picking 'thems' in women's MMA. He notes that Gatto had a close fight with Tracy Cortez and that Vidal was taken down three times by a smaller opponent in her last fight. He expects Gatto to use her reach and grappling to control Vidal and win by decision.

"I'm going to go with Melissa GTO here I think she'll be able to take down um tamires vdal"