UFC Fight Night: Tuivasa vs. Tybura · Mar 16, 2024 · Light Heavyweight · Completed
Prev Fight UFC Fight Night: Tuivasa vs. Tybura Next Fight
Age 43
Height 6' 3"
Reach 80.0"
Weight 205 lbs.
Stance Southpaw
Age 33
Height 6' 5"
Reach 83.0"
Weight 236 lbs.
Stance Southpaw
Career Averages - Ovince Saint Preux
3.03 SLpM
47.0% Str. Acc.
3.33 SApM
47.0% Str. Def.
1.09 TD Avg
36.0% TD Acc.
67.0% TD Def.
0.5 Sub. Avg
Career Averages - Kennedy Nzechukwu
4.96 SLpM
46.0% Str. Acc.
4.58 SApM
51.0% Str. Def.
0.5 TD Avg
45.0% TD Acc.
80.0% TD Def.
0.2 Sub. Avg
Ovince Saint Preux
Moneyline
FanDuel +520
KO/TKO
FanDuel +1200
Submission
FanDuel +1400
Decision
BetRivers +1500
Kennedy Nzechukwu
Moneyline
DraftKings -625
KO/TKO
BetRivers -200
Submission
BetRivers +575
Decision
FanDuel +650
Ovince Saint Preux - Fight History
LOSS vs Ryan Spann
Submission (guillotine choke) R1 1:35 · UFC 307: Pereira vs. Rountree Jr. · Oct 05, 2024
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Ryan Spann 0 9 of 20 45% 9 of 20 0 of 0 --- 1 0 0:03
Ovince Saint Preux 0 7 of 10 70% 7 of 10 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:03
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Ryan Spann 0 9 of 20 45% 9 of 20 0 of 0 --- 1 0 0:03
Ovince Saint Preux 0 7 of 10 70% 7 of 10 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:03
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Ryan Spann 9 of 20 45% 5 of 13 2 of 5 2 of 2 9 of 20 0 of 0 0 of 0
Ovince Saint Preux 7 of 10 70% 2 of 3 0 of 2 5 of 5 7 of 10 0 of 0 0 of 0
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Ryan Spann 9 of 20 45% 5 of 13 2 of 5 2 of 2 9 of 20 0 of 0 0 of 0
Ovince Saint Preux 7 of 10 70% 2 of 3 0 of 2 5 of 5 7 of 10 0 of 0 0 of 0
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Lean picked Sep 29, 2024 (6 days before fight)
Ryan Spann

Angelo picks Ryan Spann, citing his youth, danger, and finishing ability. He notes Ovince Saint Preux is older and hesitant. However, he is not betting on this fight due to the short notice and elevation, which could lead to a staring contest. He thinks the under 1.5 rounds line is tempting but unreliable.

Not betting due to uncertainty
"I'm going to pick Ryan span here... I'm not betting on this fight"
BI
Big Brady Expert Hesitant picked Oct 3, 2024 (2 days before fight)
Ryan Spann

Big Brady picks Ryan Spann to win by first-round knockout, acknowledging that Spann is dangerous early but fades if the fight goes past the first round. He notes that OSP is 41 and has been knocked out by lesser fighters like Tanner Boser and Philipe Lins, so Spann's power should be enough. He understands why people are betting OSP but trusts Spann's first-round finishing ability.

first round knockout
"I'm going take a Ryan span here to win this fight by first round knockout it's hard to trust him I see why people are betting OSP but I I mean I think Ryan span should I mean Ryan span …"
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Lean picked Oct 2, 2024 (3 days before fight)
Ovince Saint Preux

Cody picks OSP, citing Spann's cardio issues and tendency to quit. He thinks OSP's durability and experience at altitude will allow him to outlast Spann. He expects a late finish or decision.

"OSP will be the pick"
CO
Connor Ruebusch Expert Confident picked Oct 4, 2024 (1 day before fight)
Ryan Spann

Connor picks Spann, arguing that OSP's recent wins have come against smaller or slower opponents, while Spann is neither. Spann is fast and huge, and OSP's age and decline make him a poor bet. He notes that Spann's losses are bad, but he has the physical tools to beat OSP.

"I convinced you to pick Ryan's bond. Because OSP is... the fights that he's won are either against guys much smaller than him in the past or much slower than him."
DA
Daniel Vreeland Expert Lean picked Oct 1, 2024 (4 days before fight)
Ovince Saint Preux

Daniel Vreeland leans toward Ovince Saint Preux, citing his unorthodox style and veteran tactics. He notes that Ryan Spann is a talented flake with a weak chin and poor decision-making. Vreeland points out that OSP has beaten other Forest MMA fighters and had a career-high output in his last fight. He expects OSP to win if he survives the early rounds.

"I think ovince uh is going to complete the trifecta of the and be the forest MMA killer"
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Oct 4, 2024 (1 day before fight)
Ovince Saint Preux

The host believes Ovince Saint Preux will avoid the early finishing power of Ryan Spann and then chip away at him in the second and third rounds, winning on the scorecards. He notes that the moneyline is very juicy at the current price, indicating value.

moneyline is very juicy at the current price
"I do believe same PR will do a good enough job in terms of avoiding the early finishing power of Ryan span and then chipping away at him in the second and third rounds where he should be able to …"
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Lean picked Oct 2, 2024 (3 days before fight)
Ovince Saint Preux

Paul picks OSP but with less confidence than before. He notes the altitude and Spann's cardio problems. He thinks OSP can find a finish or win a decision if he conserves energy.

"OSP will be the pick but I like it less"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Oct 1, 2024 (4 days before fight)
Ryan Spann

The MMA Guru picks Ryan Spann to KO Ovince Saint Preux, despite acknowledging Spann's poor decision-making. He believes Spann's explosive power and size will be too much for the 41-year-old OSP, who he considers finished. He expects Spann to land a brutal knockout on the early prelims, as OSP is unlikely to get takedowns and the fight will stay standing.

"I'm going to go with Ryan span you guys I've got a good feeling that he's going to KO oin St PR he's a big Power Striker he's very explosive"
ZA
Zane Simon Expert Confident picked Oct 4, 2024 (1 day before fight)
Ryan Spann

Zane agrees with Connor, noting that OSP's recent wins are unimpressive and Spann has the size and speed advantage. He acknowledges Spann's inconsistency but believes he will win this matchup.

"Fine. I'll, I'll, you're gaslighting me right now. I'm quite sure I picked OSP. You're just lying to me, but you can pick him."
Decision R3 5:00 · UFC Fight Night: Tuivasa vs. Tybura · Mar 16, 2024
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Ovince Saint Preux 1 143 of 276 51% 143 of 276 0 of 2 0% 0 0 0:06
Kennedy Nzechukwu 0 106 of 250 42% 106 of 250 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:08
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Ovince Saint Preux 0 26 of 57 45% 26 of 57 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Kennedy Nzechukwu 0 22 of 57 38% 22 of 57 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
2 Ovince Saint Preux 0 44 of 79 55% 44 of 79 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Kennedy Nzechukwu 0 29 of 80 36% 29 of 80 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:00
3 Ovince Saint Preux 1 73 of 140 52% 73 of 140 0 of 2 0% 0 0 0:06
Kennedy Nzechukwu 0 55 of 113 48% 55 of 113 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:08
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Ovince Saint Preux 143 of 276 51% 98 of 223 32 of 39 13 of 14 131 of 262 11 of 13 1 of 1
Kennedy Nzechukwu 106 of 250 42% 85 of 213 19 of 35 2 of 2 93 of 235 13 of 15 0 of 0
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Ovince Saint Preux 26 of 57 45% 10 of 38 7 of 10 9 of 9 26 of 57 0 of 0 0 of 0
Kennedy Nzechukwu 22 of 57 38% 14 of 37 6 of 18 2 of 2 22 of 57 0 of 0 0 of 0
2 Ovince Saint Preux 44 of 79 55% 30 of 62 10 of 12 4 of 5 44 of 79 0 of 0 0 of 0
Kennedy Nzechukwu 29 of 80 36% 25 of 73 4 of 7 0 of 0 28 of 79 1 of 1 0 of 0
3 Ovince Saint Preux 73 of 140 52% 58 of 123 15 of 17 0 of 0 61 of 126 11 of 13 1 of 1
Kennedy Nzechukwu 55 of 113 48% 46 of 103 9 of 10 0 of 0 43 of 99 12 of 14 0 of 0
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Lock picked Mar 11, 2024 (5 days before fight)
Kennedy Nzechukwu

Angelo calls this his most confident pick on the card. Nzechukwu is long, powerful, has solid takedown defense, and is never out of a fight, though he can be gun-shy. Saint Preux is 40, has no chin, and is frustratingly low-volume, rarely letting his hands go. Angelo sees no path to victory for Saint Preux outside a Hail Mary bomb, which is unlikely given his low output. He thinks Nzechukwu will win easily.

"the pick is quite frankly very easy to be Kennedy here and he's my most confident pick on this entire card"
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked Mar 12, 2024 (4 days before fight)
Kennedy Nzechukwu

Big Brady picks Kennedy Nzechukwu to win by first-round knockout. He believes OSP is past his prime and not motivated, while Nzechukwu is a big favorite for a reason. He expects a quick finish despite Nzechukwu's history of weird outcomes.

by first round knockout
"Give me Kennedy here Kennedy to win this fight by first round knockout"
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Confident picked Mar 13, 2024 (3 days before fight)
Kennedy Nzechukwu

Cody is confident in Kennedy Nzechukwu, believing OSP is completely washed and on his way out. He details OSP's decline: missing weight, looking flat, and being knocked out in recent fights. He acknowledges Kennedy's chin issues but thinks OSP lacks the power to exploit them. He warns against the minus 500 line but still picks Kennedy.

"I'd go with Kennedy because I really do think OSP is completely washed... he's on the back nine."
LU
Lucrative James Expert Confident picked Mar 12, 2024 (4 days before fight)
Kennedy Nzechukwu

Lucrative James sees Kennedy Nzechukwu as a massive favorite and expects him to finish the fight. He notes that OSP has looked washed recently, with poor cardio and chin, and that Kennedy can knock him out on the feet, with elbows, or in the clinch. He dismisses OSP's chances, stating that the only way OSP wins is if Kennedy makes a huge mistake.

Kennedy Nzechukwu by finish
"I think Kennedy's gonna finish this fight."
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Mar 15, 2024 (1 day before fight)
Kennedy Nzechukwu

The host notes that Saint Preux is nearing 41 and fighting a young, hungry fighter in Nzechukwu, who should have speed and power advantages. He expects Nzechukwu to light up Saint Preux early and get a TKO, but mentions that the -500 or -700 odds are too much given the weight class and Saint Preux's experience. He still thinks the under 1.5 rounds should come through easily.

under 1.5 rounds
"I think that will see en zuku light up same prw early and eventually get him out of there by TKO minus 500 orus 700 is a little bit too much for me"
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Confident picked Mar 13, 2024 (3 days before fight)
Kennedy Nzechukwu

Paul also picks Kennedy, echoing that OSP is done. He notes Kennedy's physical advantages (size, speed, reach) and OSP's inability to take punches anymore. He calls it an 'apple pie situation' where fading OSP is tempting but warns about Kennedy's own flaws. He still expects Kennedy to win.

"I would definitely take Kenny Nzechukwu in this fight but minus 500 screams... we're fading OSP being so bad."
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Mar 12, 2024 (4 days before fight)
Kennedy Nzechukwu

The Guru picks Kennedy Nzechukwu by TKO, citing OSP's age (40) and recent KO loss to Philipe Lins. He notes Nzechukwu is chinny but has youth and momentum. He dismisses OSP's win over Shogun as controversial and believes Nzechukwu will get the finish.

TKO win
"I'm going to go Nuku gets a TKO win here although he is maybe the chest fighter in UFC history I'm going to trust him to win against ENT St PR in 2024."
LOSS vs Philipe Lins
KO (punches) R1 0:49 · UFC Fight Night: Andrade vs. Blanchfield · Feb 18, 2023
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Philipe Lins 0 1 of 3 33% 1 of 3 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Ovince Saint Preux 1 18 of 44 40% 18 of 44 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:02
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Philipe Lins 0 1 of 3 33% 1 of 3 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Ovince Saint Preux 1 18 of 44 40% 18 of 44 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:02
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Philipe Lins 1 of 3 33% 0 of 1 0 of 0 1 of 2 1 of 3 0 of 0 0 of 0
Ovince Saint Preux 18 of 44 40% 17 of 43 1 of 1 0 of 0 13 of 38 4 of 5 1 of 1
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Philipe Lins 1 of 3 33% 0 of 1 0 of 0 1 of 2 1 of 3 0 of 0 0 of 0
Ovince Saint Preux 18 of 44 40% 17 of 43 1 of 1 0 of 0 13 of 38 4 of 5 1 of 1
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Confident picked Feb 14, 2023 (4 days before fight)
Philipe Lins

Angelo picks Lins because OSP is infuriatingly low-volume, often not letting his hands go and throwing one punch at a time. Lins has power, a BJJ black belt, and showed wrestling in his last fight with four takedowns. Angelo believes Lins will win by simply outworking OSP, who doesn't push the pace. He notes the line movement reflects public agreement.

"I like Felipe to get it done... I just can't pick a guy that doesn't go out there and try to win these fights."
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked Feb 13, 2023 (5 days before fight)
Philipe Lins

Big Brady is not high on Lins but thinks OSP looks disinterested and has been in terrible fights recently. He notes Lins looked better at light heavyweight in his last fight, while OSP has been knocked out by Tanner Boser. He predicts Lins wins by first-round knockout, but warns against betting the -220 line.

Lins by KO, round 1
"I'm gonna say Lynn's knocks out OSP I'm gonna say knocks him out"
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Hesitant picked Feb 15, 2023 (3 days before fight)
Philipe Lins

Cody picks Lins but doesn't love the -200. He details OSP's decline: leg injury, weight-cutting issues, missing weight for the first time in his career, and poor performances. He says Lins is a better technical striker and should stand on the outside and out-volume OSP. He notes Lins has wrestling advantage and is younger with fewer fights. However, he says he needs to see weigh-ins because OSP has to make 205 and Lins has been out with injuries. He says he'll pick Lins but won't bet it.

Cody mentions OSP has 40+ pro fights and his body is broken down. He says Lins is 37 but has less than 20 pro fights. He says he'll pick Lins but doesn't love it.
"I will take lens but you know do you love it minus 200 definitely not could you see yourself losing I could but what am I supposed to do pass on all these chalky spots got a bite down at …"
CO
Connor Ruebusch Expert Confident picked Feb 16, 2023 (2 days before fight)
Philipe Lins

Connor agrees, noting that Lins looked fast and powerful at light heavyweight, with a good boxing game based on straight punches and efficient combinations. He points out that OSP is incredibly passive and will give Lins space to build confidence. Connor also mentions that OSP's recent performances show a lack of confidence and a tendency to back up without offering a counter threat. He sees no reason to pick OSP.

"Yeah, absolutely. See, no reason to pick OSP like Liz looked more than fast enough to be a light heavyweight."
JA
Jacob Lines Expert Lean picked Feb 14, 2023 (4 days before fight)
Philipe Lins

Jacob trusts Lins more than OSP because OSP is comfortable being inactive. He thinks the odds at +200 are a bit disrespectful to OSP, as Lins isn't a dominant wrestler or powerful striker. Jacob expects a boring fight with Lins hanging on OSP's hips and winning a decision. He notes both have been knocked out by Tanner Boser, but Lins is the better overall fighter.

"Lins is definitely gonna be picking this matchup... I think these odds are a little bit disrespectful at plus 200."
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Lean picked Feb 14, 2023 (4 days before fight)
Philipe Lins

Lins has a grinding style with good forward pressure and clinch work, which should wear down OSP. OSP's cardio and aggression have declined, and he relies on a fading left hook. Lins can close distance, avoid the hook, and win a decision by controlling the cage and landing takedowns.

Lins wins by decision
"I lean a little bit to the Philippe Lins side... I think he gets his job done and gets the job done via decision."
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Hesitant picked Feb 15, 2023 (3 days before fight)
Philipe Lins

Paul picks Lins but won't bet it. He notes Lins leaned on wrestling against Prachnio, which could get him in trouble against OSP. He says OSP is not the same guy from 5-6 years ago; he's slow and has slowed down significantly. He says he doesn't see many advantages for OSP and this might be his last fight in the UFC. He says he'll pick Lins but needs to see weigh-ins.

Paul mentions Lins made weight and looked fine against Prachnio but slowed down. He says OSP's speed is gone.
"I'll pick lens as well I don't love it either I definitely won't be betting it."
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Hesitant picked Feb 14, 2023 (4 days before fight)
Philipe Lins

The MMA Guru picks Philipe Lins, but with hesitation. He notes Lins' losses outside the UFC were to Vadim Nemkov, and he had a good PFL career. He criticizes OSP for taking Shogun to a close decision and getting ragdolled by Andre Petroski. He thinks Lins is younger, more motivated, and hungry after many canceled fights, predicting a decision or late second-round TKO.

decision or late round second round TKO
"I'll go with Felipe Lins if he can make light heavyweight and make it healthily I'll trust him to win this one"
ZA
Zane Simon Expert Confident picked Feb 16, 2023 (2 days before fight)
Philipe Lins

Zane sees Lins as a confident, aggressive fighter who looked great at light heavyweight, with good boxing and power. He notes that OSP is passive and often relies on a single moment of power to win, but that ability is diminishing with age. Zane believes Lins will be able to walk OSP down and bully him, as OSP tends to back himself into the cage and abandon his guard. He also mentions that Lins is not giving up size and power to OSP, and that OSP's confidence is low.

"I just got to pick Lynn's to go out there. And as long as he's just, even if all he wants to do is throw punches, as long as he's willing to stock forward and throw punches the way he …"
WIN vs Maurício Rua
Decision (split) (28–29, 29–28, 30–27) R3 5:00 · UFC 274: Oliveira vs. Gaethje · May 07, 2022
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Ovince Saint Preux 0 54 of 99 54% 54 of 99 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Maurício Rua 0 62 of 112 55% 62 of 112 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:15
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Ovince Saint Preux 0 20 of 38 52% 20 of 38 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Maurício Rua 0 20 of 34 58% 20 of 34 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
2 Ovince Saint Preux 0 21 of 33 63% 21 of 33 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Maurício Rua 0 20 of 39 51% 20 of 39 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
3 Ovince Saint Preux 0 13 of 28 46% 13 of 28 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Maurício Rua 0 22 of 39 56% 22 of 39 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:15
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Ovince Saint Preux 54 of 99 54% 18 of 53 11 of 17 25 of 29 54 of 99 0 of 0 0 of 0
Maurício Rua 62 of 112 55% 18 of 57 36 of 43 8 of 12 62 of 112 0 of 0 0 of 0
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Ovince Saint Preux 20 of 38 52% 4 of 20 6 of 7 10 of 11 20 of 38 0 of 0 0 of 0
Maurício Rua 20 of 34 58% 4 of 15 13 of 14 3 of 5 20 of 34 0 of 0 0 of 0
2 Ovince Saint Preux 21 of 33 63% 8 of 14 4 of 8 9 of 11 21 of 33 0 of 0 0 of 0
Maurício Rua 20 of 39 51% 4 of 19 13 of 15 3 of 5 20 of 39 0 of 0 0 of 0
3 Ovince Saint Preux 13 of 28 46% 6 of 19 1 of 2 6 of 7 13 of 28 0 of 0 0 of 0
Maurício Rua 22 of 39 56% 10 of 23 10 of 14 2 of 2 22 of 39 0 of 0 0 of 0
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Hesitant picked Apr 30, 2022 (7 days before fight)
Ovince Saint Preux

Angelo picks Ovince Saint Preux despite his gut feeling for Shogun. He reasons that Saint Preux's athleticism and 66% takedown defense will make it tough for Shogun to take him down. He admits it goes against his childhood watching fights but goes with Saint Preux. He makes no bet on this fight.

No bet
"I got to go with oven st prue here but i'm not no no bet i am not making a bet here"
BI
Big Brady Expert Hesitant picked May 2, 2022 (5 days before fight)
Ovince Saint Preux

Big Brady picks Ovince Saint Preux to win by first-round finish, but he is hesitant. He believes OSP is the less washed fighter and that Shogun has looked poor recently, getting knocked out by Paul Craig and struggling with aging opponents. Stylistically, OSP has the advantage on the feet and can also take Shogun down. However, OSP is 39 and has lost two in a row by knockout, so confidence is low. Brady expects OSP to finish Shogun early, but he would not recommend betting on this fight due to the red flags.

first round finish
"I gotta go osp here I'm going to say osp wins I'm going to say he kind of runs through shogun whether it's a knockout on the feet whether it's a grounded pound tko whether it's a submission on the …"
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Confident picked May 4, 2022 (3 days before fight)
Ovince Saint Preux

Cody picks OSP, but emphasizes that weigh-ins are crucial. He notes OSP's recent weight misses and injuries, but believes OSP has been fighting better competition lately and giving a better account of himself. In contrast, Shogun is a shell of his former self, with poor performances in his last three fights. Cody thinks OSP's recent activity and level of competition give him the edge, despite the weight concerns.

"i gotta retain with osb here"
DA
Daniel Levi Expert Lean picked May 5, 2022 (2 days before fight)
Maurício Rua

Daniel Levi picks Shogun Rua as a slight underdog, acknowledging he is a fanboy but also seeing a path to victory. He thinks Shogun has the better process and technique, and may be more motivated after being knocked out quickly in their first fight. However, he is not confident because Shogun's durability is a major concern. He considers a small half-unit bet on Shogun moneyline but does not commit to a bet in the transcript.

Daniel mentions he is not comfortable laying -250 on OSP. He considers a small bet on Shogun but does not confirm placing it. He notes OSP by KO at +250 is a decent prop but prefers moneyline.
"I'm picking Shogun to win this fight. I don't hate it man, and if you are gonna bet the fight, I mean with you if you're betting the money line no chance I'm laying chalk on OSP."
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked May 6, 2022 (1 day before fight)
Ovince Saint Preux

The host picks Ovince Saint Preux to win by knockout, likely early. He references their first fight where OSP starched Shogun in 34 seconds. He notes Shogun's age and slowed striking, and OSP's desire to replicate the finish. He prefers betting 'fight doesn't go to decision' at similar odds to OSP moneyline, and likes OSP round 1 at +200. He expects OSP to land on Shogun's chin and put him out.

fight doesn't go to decision; OSP round 1 +200
"same proof decide here he's going to go out there he's going to land on the chin and put him out"
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert picked May 4, 2022 (3 days before fight)

Paul does not make a clear pick for this fight. He discusses OSP's weight issues and Shogun's decline, noting that OSP hasn't looked great and Shogun is a shell of himself. He considers it a dogger pass situation and cannot pull the trigger on Shogun. He does not express a preference for either fighter.

"i guess it's a dogger pass situation again for me here like osp hasn't been looking great himself he's super slow it's probably pretty good matchmaking but like are you really gonna have the cajones to pull the trigger on …"
LOSS vs Tanner Boser
KO (punches) R2 2:31 · UFC Fight Night: Gane vs. Volkov · Jun 26, 2021
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Tanner Boser 1 33 of 72 45% 33 of 72 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:16
Ovince Saint Preux 0 9 of 21 42% 12 of 26 1 of 5 20% 0 0 1:12
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Tanner Boser 0 25 of 53 47% 25 of 53 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Ovince Saint Preux 0 8 of 18 44% 8 of 18 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:00
2 Tanner Boser 1 8 of 19 42% 8 of 19 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:16
Ovince Saint Preux 0 1 of 3 33% 4 of 8 1 of 4 25% 0 0 1:12
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Tanner Boser 33 of 72 45% 10 of 44 10 of 15 13 of 13 31 of 69 1 of 1 1 of 2
Ovince Saint Preux 9 of 21 42% 2 of 13 6 of 7 1 of 1 9 of 21 0 of 0 0 of 0
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Tanner Boser 25 of 53 47% 4 of 29 9 of 12 12 of 12 25 of 53 0 of 0 0 of 0
Ovince Saint Preux 8 of 18 44% 2 of 11 5 of 6 1 of 1 8 of 18 0 of 0 0 of 0
2 Tanner Boser 8 of 19 42% 6 of 15 1 of 3 1 of 1 6 of 16 1 of 1 1 of 2
Ovince Saint Preux 1 of 3 33% 0 of 2 1 of 1 0 of 0 1 of 3 0 of 0 0 of 0
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Confident picked Jun 23, 2021 (3 days before fight)
Ovince Saint Preux

Angelo picks Ovince Saint Preux, hoping that Boser's forward pressure will bring out volume in OSP. He notes OSP has more ways to win and hits hard, but his issue is low output. Angelo has a moneyline bet on OSP at plus odds. He likes more/more on the strike line.

"i think tanner boser comes in here brings the pressure puts it on oven saint prue but i'm hoping that that forward pressure and sort of the weirdness in some of his style brings out the volume in osp and …"
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked Jun 22, 2021 (4 days before fight)
Tanner Boser

Big Brady picks Tanner Boser to win by decision, citing his superior striking output (4.21 sig strikes/min) and defense (63%), while OSP has low volume and negative strike differential. He notes OSP's reach advantage but thinks Boser's speed and youth will be key. He worries about judges after Boser's recent close losses but believes Boser should win if he out-lands OSP. He is not confident betting Boser due to judging.

by decision, not confident betting due to judges
"i'm gonna take bose to win by decision i think he's gonna out point osp"
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Hesitant picked Jun 23, 2021 (3 days before fight)
Tanner Boser

Cody picks Tanner Boser but with low confidence. He notes Boser has lost his last two as a favorite, but those were questionable decisions. He argues Boser has speed and size advantages, and OSP is past his prime, missing weight recently, and looked lethargic. He thinks Boser can stuff takedowns and keep the fight standing. However, he warns against heavy exposure due to Boser's recent losses and OSP's veteran savvy.

"i gotta go with bozer but i i want to say i've learned my lesson on those last two losses so i don't want too much exposure on him"
JA
Jacob Lines Expert picked Jun 23, 2021 (3 days before fight)
Ovince Saint Preux

Jacob says he has no idea who will win this fight but hopes OSP wins. He picks OSP with heart rather than logic. He would stay away from both guys in DraftKings.

"i have no idea who's gonna win this fight i think it's gonna be a ton of fun i hope uh osp wins you know i like osp nothing against tanner bozer but i think this is gonna be a …"
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Jun 24, 2021 (2 days before fight)
Tanner Boser

Boser's leg kick is the main ingredient in his wins, and he should establish it against Saint Preux. OSP's cardio issues will surface after the first round, allowing Boser to take over with bigger strikes. Boser will shuck off desperation takedowns and outstrike OSP over 15 minutes. The longer the fight goes, the more it favors Boser. OSP's submission threat is there but his top control and wrestling aren't good enough to keep Boser down.

Boser by decision plus 175; fight goes to decision plus 110
"I think bozo will start to take over with you know starting off with that leg kick... I do expect him to go out there and outstrike saint prue over 15 minutes and take home a unanimous decision victory"
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Lean picked Jun 23, 2021 (3 days before fight)
Tanner Boser

Paul leans toward Tanner Boser, citing speed advantage and OSP's poor performance at heavyweight. He notes OSP missed weight and is 37, with his best days behind him. However, he is not confident because Boser didn't look great against Latifi and has lost two straight as a favorite. He thinks OSP's path is takedowns, but Boser's takedown defense should hold.

"i would lean towards tanner bozer here but he didn't look great against elir letifi so it's not a spot that i really love"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Jun 21, 2021 (5 days before fight)
Tanner Boser

The MMA Guru picks Tanner Boser by first-round KO, citing OSP's hesitancy and declining chin. He notes Boser's anger from his loss to Ilir Latifi and believes he will come out aggressive. He criticizes OSP's grappling and aging, predicting Boser will land combination punches against the cage and finish him early.

first round KO
"i'm going with tanabosa by ko"
LOSS vs Jamahal Hill
TKO (punches) R2 3:37 · UFC on ESPN: Hermansson vs. Vettori · Dec 05, 2020
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Jamahal Hill 0 36 of 72 50% 37 of 73 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Ovince Saint Preux 0 68 of 128 53% 68 of 128 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:15
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Jamahal Hill 0 21 of 41 51% 22 of 42 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Ovince Saint Preux 0 27 of 51 52% 27 of 51 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:09
2 Jamahal Hill 0 15 of 31 48% 15 of 31 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Ovince Saint Preux 0 41 of 77 53% 41 of 77 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:06
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Jamahal Hill 36 of 72 50% 7 of 36 14 of 17 15 of 19 35 of 70 1 of 2 0 of 0
Ovince Saint Preux 68 of 128 53% 39 of 92 23 of 28 6 of 8 62 of 120 6 of 8 0 of 0
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Jamahal Hill 21 of 41 51% 2 of 17 8 of 10 11 of 14 21 of 41 0 of 0 0 of 0
Ovince Saint Preux 27 of 51 52% 7 of 25 15 of 20 5 of 6 27 of 51 0 of 0 0 of 0
2 Jamahal Hill 15 of 31 48% 5 of 19 6 of 7 4 of 5 14 of 29 1 of 2 0 of 0
Ovince Saint Preux 41 of 77 53% 32 of 67 8 of 8 1 of 2 35 of 69 6 of 8 0 of 0
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked Dec 2, 2020 (3 days before fight)
Ovince Saint Preux

Big Brady picks Ovince Saint Preux as an underdog, citing Jamahal Hill's unproven level of competition. He notes Hill's takedown defense is questionable, as he was taken down multiple times by Darko Stosic. He believes OSP's veteran savvy and submission threat will be the difference, predicting OSP will take Hill down and submit him. He acknowledges OSP has been hurt in fights but only knocked out twice in 39 fights.

OSP by submission; Hill's takedown defense suspect; OSP's submission rate 36%
"I'm gonna go with OSP... I think Hill's takedown defense is suspect... I think OSP takes him down I think he's gonna submit him"
DA
Daniel Levi Expert Confident picked Dec 2, 2020 (3 days before fight)
Jamahal Hill

Daniel is high on Jamahal Hill, calling him one of the brightest light heavyweight prospects with top-five potential. He highlights Hill's exceptional output and volume, noting he can land over 100 strikes in 15 minutes and has a bantamweight-like pace. He praises Hill's get-up game, having gotten up from all six takedowns against Darko Stosic, and his varied striking including jabs, straight lefts, body shots, and kicks. He believes OSP's sparring partner Douglas Usher, a shorter southpaw, is not ideal preparation for Hill's length and reach. He predicts Hill will either knock out OSP or win a dominant decision via volume, similar to Dominick Reyes' win over OSP.

"I think that saturday night is gonna be jamal hill's coming out party I think he's gonna take ovins to a place he likes to call touch him up university and I think he comes out here and I think …"
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Nov 30, 2020 (5 days before fight)
Jamahal Hill

The host picks Jamahal Hill to win, likely by first or second round KO. He believes Hill's diverse striking and size advantage will be a nightmare matchup for OSP, who struggles against bigger, varied strikers. He notes OSP's age and suspect chin, and that Hill's chin-up style is a concern but OSP's counters may not be as effective. He likes Hill at -165 and thinks the line is getting better.

Hill by KO in first or second round; OSP's ground game advantage if fight goes there.
"I do like jamal hill i think he gets it done probably first or second round"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Nov 30, 2020 (5 days before fight)
Jamahal Hill

The MMA Guru picks Jamahal Hill by TKO in the first or second round, noting that Hill's size and explosiveness will be key against OSP. He believes Hill's youth and fast improvement will allow him to get inside and finish, while OSP has not been KO'd recently but is vulnerable. He acknowledges OSP is a good underdog but sticks with Hill.

method: TKO, round: 1-2
"i think we're going to see him get the job done by tko in the first or second round"
KO (punch) R2 4:07 · UFC Fight Night: Overeem vs. Sakai · Sep 05, 2020
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Ovince Saint Preux 1 33 of 80 41% 33 of 80 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:03
Alonzo Menifield 0 19 of 40 47% 21 of 43 0 of 2 0% 0 0 0:36
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Ovince Saint Preux 0 13 of 42 30% 13 of 42 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Alonzo Menifield 0 11 of 23 47% 13 of 26 0 of 2 0% 0 0 0:36
2 Ovince Saint Preux 1 20 of 38 52% 20 of 38 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:03
Alonzo Menifield 0 8 of 17 47% 8 of 17 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Ovince Saint Preux 33 of 80 41% 12 of 44 17 of 31 4 of 5 33 of 80 0 of 0 0 of 0
Alonzo Menifield 19 of 40 47% 12 of 31 3 of 5 4 of 4 17 of 38 2 of 2 0 of 0
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Ovince Saint Preux 13 of 42 30% 7 of 25 6 of 16 0 of 1 13 of 42 0 of 0 0 of 0
Alonzo Menifield 11 of 23 47% 9 of 19 1 of 3 1 of 1 10 of 22 1 of 1 0 of 0
2 Ovince Saint Preux 20 of 38 52% 5 of 19 11 of 15 4 of 4 20 of 38 0 of 0 0 of 0
Alonzo Menifield 8 of 17 47% 3 of 12 2 of 2 3 of 3 7 of 16 1 of 1 0 of 0
Play-by-Play
View on Sherdog
Ovince St. Preux vs. Alonzo Menifield

Round 1
Kicking up to 205 pounds for the recently rescheduled co-main event, former light heavyweight title challenger and one-off heavyweight St. Preux (24-14, 12-9 UFC) comes to blows with the knockout-minded Menifield (9-1, 2-1 UFC). With a touch of gloves between the two, referee Jason Herzog checks in the contest and it’s on with the show! Menifield races forward with punches and shoots in for a low takedown, but “OSP” shrugs it off and gets Menifield to back off. Menifield lands a hard right hand, and “OSP” responds with a slapping low kick as he plods forward. St. Preux connects with a piercing jab, and Menifield rushes in at him to land some bombs but bounces off the side of his opponent. Menifield crashes in to pursue a body lock, and after stalling out, he backs away. “OSP” lets him have it with a thudding body kick, and he backs away when Menifield tries to counter him. St. Preux winds up with a right hand that nearly makes him topple over, and Menifield slams a right hand into his man’s guard. St. Preux lands a long left hand and backs Menifield away, but “Atomic” comes back at him hard. “OSP” kicks to the body a few more times to halt an advancing Menifield, and he scoots back to let a leg kick ricochet off his shin. A long jab finds its home for St. Preux, and he gets off another body kick as Menifield struggles to find his range. Menifield connects with a right hand that buckles St. Preux’s knees, but he keeps his composure and throws back in the form of some kicks. Menifield lands another left hand, and blocks a sweeping body kick. St. Preux swats him in the face but takes a few power punches as the round ends.

Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 St. Preux
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 St. Preux
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 St. Preux

Round 2
Menifield opens the round with a big right hand, and “OSP” backs away before getting a kick up. St. Preux nearly falls over with a looping right hand, and Menifield does not take advantage of it but avoids the zooming strike. Menifield lands a low kick and may have hurt his foot as he stumbles backwards, and “OSP” stands before him and slowly walks him down. St. Preux chips away at him with kicks low and high, and Menifield is once more finding himself backing himself away and circling on the cage wall. St. Preux stings him with two more kicks to the body, and he does not stop throwing them. “OSP” ducks away from a punch and lands a kick that may have glanced off the cup, but the action does not pause as Herzog checks on the fighters. “OSP” scores with a right hand, and he has slowed to landing single power strikes while Menifield swings and misses. Menifield loads up with all he has with a booming right hand, and “OSP” is stumbled and possibly hurt as he falls into the fence.
Menifield charges at him after St. Preux gets his bearings, and a short check left hook out of nowhere puts Menifield’s lights out. Menifield crumbles face-first to the ground, and “OSP” stands still to admire his work, knowing there is nothing more he needs to do in the cage tonight. Wakanda Forever.

The Official Result
Ovince St. Preux def. Alonzo Menifield R2 4:07 via KO (Punch)
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked Sep 2, 2020 (3 days before fight)
Alonzo Menifield

Big Brady is confident in Menifield, citing his takedown defense (85%) and power. He believes Menifield has worked on his cardio after gassing against Devin Clark and looks in great shape. He thinks OSP is hittable, low volume, and has a questionable chin. He predicts a first-round knockout but says Menifield is live even if it goes past the first round.

Menifield by knockout, first round
"i'm going to pick minefield to win by first round knockout here"
DA
Daniel Levi Expert Hesitant picked Sep 3, 2020 (2 days before fight)
Ovince Saint Preux

Daniel Levi sticks with Ovince Saint Preux despite concerns about a second weight cut in two weeks and a COVID scare. He believes OSP is a much better fighter than Devin Clark, who Menifield lost to, and that OSP's wrestling for MMA is superior. However, he is not confident and expects a close fight that could go three rounds, noting Menifield's power and OSP's tendency to slow down.

Fight goes to decision
"i'm not as confident as i was the first time but i'm not gonna switch my pick i'm going to stick with o vince i think if he can get past this first round not getting knocked out you can …"
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Sep 3, 2020 (2 days before fight)
Ovince Saint Preux

The host picks OSP as a +115 underdog, expecting him to survive the first round and then take over. He notes OSP's experience, durability, and submission threat, while Menifield has cardio issues and is one-dimensional. He predicts a second or third round stoppage via ground and pound or submission.

OSP inside the distance at +220; OSP by submission at +325; OSP by TKO at +715
"i'm taking one speed here i'm going to take him to win by second or third round"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Aug 31, 2020 (5 days before fight)
Ovince Saint Preux

The MMA Guru picks Ovince Saint Preux, arguing that OSP has shown durability and avoids getting KO'd despite a perceived weak chin. He believes Menifield's power is overrated and that OSP will take the fight to the ground and secure a submission (von Flue choke) in the first or second round. He references OSP's recent wins over Michal Oleksiejczuk and Tyson Pedro.

submission in first or second round
"i'm gonna go with osp you know i don't think he's there to be ko'd like everyone seems to think he is"
LOSS vs Ben Rothwell
Decision (split) (28–29, 29–28, 29–28) R3 5:00 · UFC Fight Night: Smith vs. Teixeira · May 13, 2020
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Ben Rothwell 0 56 of 110 50% 86 of 142 1 of 3 33% 0 0 5:49
Ovince Saint Preux 1 42 of 82 51% 46 of 87 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:22
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Ben Rothwell 0 7 of 14 50% 18 of 26 1 of 1 100% 0 0 1:35
Ovince Saint Preux 0 9 of 19 47% 9 of 19 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
2 Ben Rothwell 0 19 of 41 46% 24 of 47 0 of 2 0% 0 0 1:30
Ovince Saint Preux 1 13 of 27 48% 16 of 31 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:22
3 Ben Rothwell 0 30 of 55 54% 44 of 69 0 of 0 --- 0 0 2:44
Ovince Saint Preux 0 20 of 36 55% 21 of 37 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Ben Rothwell 56 of 110 50% 37 of 89 15 of 17 4 of 4 40 of 79 14 of 29 2 of 2
Ovince Saint Preux 42 of 82 51% 27 of 62 13 of 15 2 of 5 33 of 70 9 of 12 0 of 0
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Ben Rothwell 7 of 14 50% 3 of 10 4 of 4 0 of 0 5 of 12 0 of 0 2 of 2
Ovince Saint Preux 9 of 19 47% 2 of 7 6 of 8 1 of 4 9 of 19 0 of 0 0 of 0
2 Ben Rothwell 19 of 41 46% 13 of 35 5 of 5 1 of 1 13 of 30 6 of 11 0 of 0
Ovince Saint Preux 13 of 27 48% 6 of 20 6 of 6 1 of 1 10 of 23 3 of 4 0 of 0
3 Ben Rothwell 30 of 55 54% 21 of 44 6 of 8 3 of 3 22 of 37 8 of 18 0 of 0
Ovince Saint Preux 20 of 36 55% 19 of 35 1 of 1 0 of 0 14 of 28 6 of 8 0 of 0
BI
Big Brady Expert Lean picked May 11, 2020 (2 days before fight)
Ben Rothwell

Big Brady leans with Ben Rothwell as an underdog, believing Rothwell's power and chin give him a good chance to knock out Ovince Saint Preux. He thinks OSP will struggle to take Rothwell down and that the fight will stay on the feet, where Rothwell has the advantage. He acknowledges OSP could win a decision if Rothwell fights poorly, but sees a knockout as more likely and considers betting on Rothwell at plus odds.

Rothwell wins by knockout; considering a bet at +120
"I am thinking about placing a bet on Ben Rothwell especially at those odds"
DA
Daniel Levi Expert Lean picked May 12, 2020 (1 day before fight)
Ovince Saint Preux

Daniel Levi picks OSP, citing his athleticism and speed advantage over Rothwell, who has looked slow since his suspension. He notes OSP's suspect chin and cardio at heavyweight, and says he won't bet him at -140 due to those concerns, but still picks him for the win.

I will not play him at that line with that extra weight with that suspect cardio in that suspect chin
"I Eileen OSP but from a betting perspective I will not play him at that line"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked May 6, 2020 (7 days before fight)
Ben Rothwell

The MMA Guru picks Ben Rothwell, noting that OSP is moving up to heavyweight and his chin won't magically improve. He highlights Rothwell's durability, having taken shots from Junior dos Santos and Blagojevich, and believes Rothwell will smother OSP and finish him in the second round. He also points out that OSP is 37 and has been rocked in recent fights.

TKO in the second round
"I'm gonna go with Ben Rothwell... he's gonna go out there put the pressure on OSP smother him... KO him in the second round."
Kennedy Nzechukwu - Fight History
Draw vs Marcus Buchecha
Draw R3 5:00 · UFC on ESPN: Royval vs. Kape · Dec 13, 2025
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Kennedy Nzechukwu 0 24 of 48 50% 58 of 87 0 of 0 --- 0 0 3:37
Marcus Buchecha 0 27 of 44 61% 47 of 66 3 of 13 23% 0 0 6:20
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Kennedy Nzechukwu 0 9 of 18 50% 23 of 32 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:38
Marcus Buchecha 0 2 of 9 22% 3 of 10 2 of 9 22% 0 0 2:22
2 Kennedy Nzechukwu 0 7 of 18 38% 7 of 18 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:10
Marcus Buchecha 0 25 of 35 71% 40 of 52 1 of 2 50% 0 0 3:39
3 Kennedy Nzechukwu 0 8 of 12 66% 28 of 37 0 of 0 --- 0 0 2:49
Marcus Buchecha 0 0 of 0 --- 4 of 4 0 of 2 0% 0 0 0:19
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Kennedy Nzechukwu 24 of 48 50% 21 of 43 3 of 5 0 of 0 13 of 32 2 of 2 9 of 14
Marcus Buchecha 27 of 44 61% 23 of 38 4 of 6 0 of 0 2 of 12 2 of 4 23 of 28
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Kennedy Nzechukwu 9 of 18 50% 7 of 16 2 of 2 0 of 0 8 of 16 1 of 1 0 of 1
Marcus Buchecha 2 of 9 22% 0 of 5 2 of 4 0 of 0 1 of 8 1 of 1 0 of 0
2 Kennedy Nzechukwu 7 of 18 38% 6 of 15 1 of 3 0 of 0 5 of 15 1 of 1 1 of 2
Marcus Buchecha 25 of 35 71% 23 of 33 2 of 2 0 of 0 1 of 4 1 of 3 23 of 28
3 Kennedy Nzechukwu 8 of 12 66% 8 of 12 0 of 0 0 of 0 0 of 1 0 of 0 8 of 11
Marcus Buchecha 0 of 0 --- 0 of 0 0 of 0 0 of 0 0 of 0 0 of 0 0 of 0
Play-by-Play
View on Sherdog
Marcus Almeida vs. Kennedy Nzechukwu
BETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Nzechukwu (-130); Almeida (+110)

Round 1
There is only one more heavyweight fight tonight, and it is as quintessential “striker vs. grappler” as it gets. Former light heavyweight power puncher Nzechukwu (14-6, 8-6 UFC) would like nothing more than to shut the lights out of ex-One Championship fighter Almeida (5-2, 0-0 UFC). Submission specialist “Buchecha” has recorded all of his wins in Round 1 while his two losses came on the scorecards, and he will hope he does not earn a third defeat tonight. The third man in the cage for this clash that could go anywhere will be referee Herb Dean. The big men bump fists.
Almeida strikes first with a body kick, and he uses it to close in on the Fortis MMA fighter to pursue a single. Nzechukwu sees it coming from a mile away and hops to the side to stop it. They feint and fake at one another, with Nzechukwu staying extremely low expecting another shot. It comes, and “Buchecha” wrangles Nzechukwu to his knees and slips around to briefly take his back standing. Nzechukwu rolls over the moment that Almeida drops down to pursue a leglock, and he gets his leg far enough out so that he is not in danger. While waiting for Almeida to knock it off, Nzechukwu hammers the back of his thigh with powerful elbows. Nzechukwu bursts back to his feet by rushing towards the wall and walking up it, and Almeida clings to him from behind for a possible mat return. Almeida transitions from a double to a single and gets it, stepping right into half guard. Nzechukwu scoots back upright again, only for Almeida to chuck him back to the mat like a side of beef.
This time, Almeida takes his back, and he hooks up a partial body triangle but lets it go to maintain control when Nzechukwu starts to scramble. Nzechukwu crawls to the fencing and back upright, and he keeps himself afloat while Almeida wrestles him from behind. With Nzechukwu’s back to the wall, Almeida leans on him until Nzechukwu turns him around. Nzechukwu plants a knee square on the groin, clacking off the cup with an audible popping sound as Dean instantly calls time. Almeida wanders to a neutral corner and drops to a crouch, grimacing as he massages his sore groin. He stands back up and drapes his arms over the cage to try to get his wind back. Jostling his cup around, he is good to go after about a minute. Dean tells Nzechukwu to keep it clean, and they get back to business. Nzechukwu drives home a right hand around the guard, backing Almeida up but getting his lead leg grabbed in the single attempt from “Buchecha.” Nzechukwu hops around and manages to get out of it, and Almeida sells out for a sacrifice throw and falls to his back. Nzechukwu drops down on top of his foe to land hammerfists until Almeida is about to scramble, so Nzechukwu abandons ship and stands back up. Nzechukwu times a crisp knee on the jaw, and he starts laying into Almeida with power punches. The Fortis MMA-trained athlete drops Almeida with his punch combination and opens a cut on the cheek, and as he is battering the former One athlete, the round ends.

Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Nzechukwu
Dayne Fox scores the round: 10-9 Nzechukwu
Scottie Smith scores the round: 10-9 Nzechukwu

Round 2
The fighters clap hands, but as soon as they do, Nzechukwu grabs his opponent’s hand and jacks him in the jaw with his other. Almeida backs off, and he suddenly shoots in for a takedown. As he ducks in to change levels, Nzechukwu inadvertently pokes him in one if not both eyes. “Buchecha” falls over to his back, and the commentary booth quizzically wonders whether he injured himself during the shot. The replay shows Nzechukwu’s fingers jamming into both of his opponent’s eyes, and he needs the doctor to come in so he can wipe his eye out with a cloth. Almeida is clearly compromised from it and none too thrilled by the foul, and he blows his nose in frustration. While Almeida recovers, Dean sighs heavily and brings Nzechukwu to the center of the cage to deduct a point. After three minutes pass, the round resumes with less than 30 seconds gone on the timer. Nzechukwu reintroduces himself with a clubbing left hand on the temple, and he goes for another but misses the mark. When he tries a third, Almeida changes levels to shoot in on his hips. Nzechukwu backs off to lean on the fence to keep his balance, and Almeida circles around from behind to hold on and possibly wrest him to the mat. Almeida breaks off, gets off a right hand and then falls over lobbing a kick. Nzechukwu races after him and starts bombarding him when Almeida stands, and Almeida topples over to his back. Nzechukwu signals for him to get back up, so Almeida answers him and sprints forward to tackle Nzechukwu to the floor. During the ensuing scramble, “Buchecha” secures back control, and this time he hooks up a low body triangle.
Rather than attack from the back, Almeida attempts to slither over to get mount, all while searching for an arm-triangle setup. He manages to get into full mount and starts hammering his opponent with elbows and powerful punches. Nzechukwu shells up to defend his face, but “Buchecha” is slowly pummeling him. Almeida chooses his strikes carefully rather than blowing out his gas tank going for broke, but this means that Dean just watches on as Nzechukwu blocks the worst of the strikes. The impact is still noteworthy, and Almeida picks up on volume and intensity as he tries to drum Nzechukwu out of there. Before gassing himself, he transitions to an armbar with seconds left in the round. He falls to his back to lock the limb lock down, but time expires before he can land it completely.

Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-8 Almeida
Dayne Fox scores the round: 10-8 Almeida
Scottie Smith scores the round: 10-8 Almeida

Round 3
To pick up where he left off, Almeida sells out almost immediately out of the gate for a takedown. He manages to get the fight down, but Nzechukwu is on top of him sitting on his chest. Almeida tries to get hold of Nzechukwu’s ankle for a possible sub, but there is nothing there while a 250-pound man sits on him uncomfortably. Nzechukwu threatens with his own unusual foot lock, but he realizes that he has limbs and can hit the grappler with his elbows. He lands a few, and then tries for his toe hold again before stepping into full mount. Nzechukwu puts his fingers in the fence but pulls them out and apologizes to Dean, who signals that Nzechukwu did not actually grab on it and just pushed off.
Nzechukwu is seated while Almeida has him from behind, and he gets away with a cheeky fence grab while Almeida is looking to get top control. Both men stand, and Almeida pulls guard and gets elbowed square in the face for his effort. Nzechukwu starts pummeling Almeida with strikes until Almeida grabs hold of Nzechukwu’s leg for a leglock of some kind. Nzechukwu pulls his leg out of danger and the two result in an uncomfortable, strange position where Almeida cannot swirl around to get on top because Nzechukwu has his arm hooked around Almeida’s elbow. Almeida rolls over, and Nzechukwu takes his back. Nzechukwu beats down on Almeida until the final horn sounds, and a draw is very much in play because of the point deduction in Round 2.

Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Nzechukwu (28-28)
Dayne Fox scores the round: 10-9 Nzechukwu (28-28)
Scottie Smith scores the round: 10-9 Almeida (29-27 Almeida)

The Official Result
Kennedy Nzechukwu vs. Marcus Almeida is Scored a Unanimous Draw (28-28, 28-28, 28-28)
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Confident picked Dec 10, 2025 (3 days before fight)
Marcus Buchecha

Cody picks Buchecha, believing his BJJ will be decisive. He notes Nzechukwu's poor grappling and Buchecha's improved conditioning. He expects Buchecha to get a takedown and submit Nzechukwu, liking the submission prop.

Buchecha by sub +240
"The play for me is Marcus Buchecha."
LU
Lucrative James Expert Hesitant picked Dec 7, 2025 (6 days before fight)
Marcus Buchecha

Lucrative James picks Marcus Buchecha, citing his elite grappling and the fact that Kennedy Nzechukwu has been submitted multiple times. He acknowledges Nzechukwu's striking advantage but believes Buchecha's takedown ability and submission threat are too strong to ignore. He projects Buchecha as a +120 underdog.

"I'm actually going to come out and pick Marcus Bache here. I just feel like the grappling upside is too much for me to ignore."
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Confident picked Dec 10, 2025 (3 days before fight)
Marcus Buchecha

Paul also picks Buchecha, citing his world-class jiu-jitsu and the favorable matchup against a tall, lanky opponent. He thinks Buchecha's takedown ability and top control will be too much for Nzechukwu, and likes the submission prop.

Buchecha by sub +240
"The plus 240, plus 230 Buchecha by sub is of interest to me in this fight."
LOSS vs Valter Walker
Submission R1 0:54 · UFC on ESPN: Lewis vs. Teixeira · Jul 12, 2025
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Kennedy Nzechukwu 0 0 of 0 --- 0 of 0 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:03
Valter Walker 0 4 of 11 36% 4 of 11 1 of 2 50% 1 0 0:28
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Kennedy Nzechukwu 0 0 of 0 --- 0 of 0 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:03
Valter Walker 0 4 of 11 36% 4 of 11 1 of 2 50% 1 0 0:28
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Kennedy Nzechukwu 0 of 0 --- 0 of 0 0 of 0 0 of 0 0 of 0 0 of 0 0 of 0
Valter Walker 4 of 11 36% 4 of 11 0 of 0 0 of 0 1 of 4 3 of 7 0 of 0
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Kennedy Nzechukwu 0 of 0 --- 0 of 0 0 of 0 0 of 0 0 of 0 0 of 0 0 of 0
Valter Walker 4 of 11 36% 4 of 11 0 of 0 0 of 0 1 of 4 3 of 7 0 of 0
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Confident picked Jul 6, 2025 (6 days before fight)
Valter Walker

Angelo thinks Valter Walker can close the distance and get the fight to the ground, where his grappling is a problem for Kennedy Nzechukwu. He notes Kennedy can be gunshy and has lost staring contests, while Walker has transformed his body and has back-to-back heel hook finishes. He plans to bet on Walker, monitoring the line movement to find the peak.

Plans to bet on Valter Walker; monitoring line movement to find peak odds.
"Valter is going to be the pick. Plus 180."
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked Jul 8, 2025 (4 days before fight)
Kennedy Nzechukwu

Big Brady sees this as a striker vs wrestler matchup. He expects Valter Walker to take Kennedy down early and win the first round, but questions Walker's cardio and striking. He believes Walker will gas out, allowing Kennedy to take over in the second and third rounds. He picks Kennedy by second-round knockout.

second round knockout
"I think we see Kennedy and Duku win by second late second round knockout here against Walter Walker. So Kennedy Kennedy KO2."
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Jul 9, 2025 (3 days before fight)
Kennedy Nzechukwu

The host expects Nzechukwu to make it 3-0 at heavyweight by stuffing Walker's takedowns and outworking him on the feet. He notes that Nzechukwu is not a title contender but should win a decision. The pick is based on Nzechukwu's ability to keep the fight standing and outpoint Walker.

"And Zachuku looking to make it 3 and 0 at heavyweight now. And I think he can do it successfully. Is he chockworthy? Probably not, but I think he'll be able to stuff the takedowns of Walker and Badger him …"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Jul 10, 2025 (2 days before fight)
Kennedy Nzechukwu

The MMA Guru picks Kennedy Nzechukwu, citing Valter Walker's poor debut against Lucas Brzeski where he looked lost on the feet and had sloppy takedown entries. He notes Nzechukwu's ability to stuff takedowns, referencing his fight with Paul Craig where he shut down 16 attempts. He expects Nzechukwu to survive a first round of danger, then piece up Walker on the feet for a second or third round TKO.

second or third round TKO
"I'm going to go with Kennedy Nachuku over VA Walker. I think VA Walker is pretty good though and in his debut... he looked awful against Lucas Berski."
CANCEL vs Martin Buday
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Confident picked Mar 30, 2025 (6 days before fight)
Kennedy Nzechukwu

Angelo initially wanted to pick Martin Buday but changed his mind after rewatching Buday's fight against Andre Arlovski, where Buday struggled to outwork a 45-year-old. He notes Kennedy Nzechukwu has power and takedown defense, and despite being gun-shy at times, he can turn fights around. Angelo picks Kennedy but suggests a prop bet for better value due to the steep odds.

maybe a prop bet here to get some better value
"Kennedy is the pick maybe a prop bet here to get some better value minus 325 seems tough dude."
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked Apr 1, 2025 (4 days before fight)
Kennedy Nzechukwu

Big Brady picks Kennedy Nzechukwu despite acknowledging his inconsistency. He believes Martin Buday's game is limited to cage pushing and that Nzechukwu is the much better striker with more power and cardio. He expects a late finish, possibly a third-round KO.

third round KO
"I'll say third round KO for Kennedy and zuku"
CO
Connor Ruebusch Expert Confident picked Apr 3, 2025 (2 days before fight)
Kennedy Nzechukwu

Connor agrees with Zane, picking Nzechukwu. He shares concerns about Nzechukwu's mental fragility but thinks Buday is not the fighter to exploit it. Connor notes that Buday's record is unimpressive and he hasn't faced killers, while Nzechukwu is a good athlete for his size. He warns that Nzechukwu starts slow, which could allow Buday to get comfortable, but ultimately sees Nzechukwu's skills prevailing.

"I kind of have trouble seeing it to be honest... I'll pick in such a crew as well."
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Apr 3, 2025 (2 days before fight)
Kennedy Nzechukwu

Buday will make the fight close by engaging in the clinch, but Nzechukwu's athleticism advantage and damage once back in space will cause problems. Nzechukwu is expected to win on the scorecards.

decision
"I think budai will make this fight very close by engaging in the clinch But ultimately it'll be the damage of enzu once he gets back out into space that will cause budai problems look for enzu to win this …"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Apr 3, 2025 (2 days before fight)
Kennedy Nzechukwu

The Guru is confident in Kennedy Nzechukwu, mocking Martin Buday's poor physique and calling him out of shape. He believes Nzechukwu's reach and dynamism will be too much for Buday, and predicts a first-round TKO via big shots. He notes Buday's training with Tom Aspinall but doesn't think it will help.

Kennedy Nzechukwu wins by TKO in round 1
"I'm going with Kennedy as a Chuku. TKO finish round one. Big shots put away Martin Bedair."
ZA
Zane Simon Expert Confident picked Apr 3, 2025 (2 days before fight)
Kennedy Nzechukwu

Zane picks Nzechukwu, noting he is more technical, diverse, and athletic than Buday. He acknowledges Nzechukwu's confidence issues and tendency to get scared off by aggression, but believes Buday's slow, steady pressure won't overwhelm him. Zane points out that Buday is durable but not powerful, and Nzechukwu has many options to win, though he could still lose if Buday just leans on him.

Nzechukwu opened -274, now -336; Buday opened +219, now +292. Zane says the line is too wide.
"I'll pick in such a crew as well, but it flies in the face of the dadliness theory of heavyweight and I won't be at all surprised if Budai just gets out there grabs him and mashes him on the …"
TKO (punches) R1 4:51 · UFC 310: Pantoja vs. Asakura · Dec 07, 2024
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Kennedy Nzechukwu 1 29 of 70 41% 29 of 70 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:04
Łukasz Brzeski 0 32 of 69 46% 32 of 69 0 of 2 0% 0 0 0:00
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Kennedy Nzechukwu 1 29 of 70 41% 29 of 70 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:04
Łukasz Brzeski 0 32 of 69 46% 32 of 69 0 of 2 0% 0 0 0:00
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Kennedy Nzechukwu 29 of 70 41% 19 of 55 10 of 13 0 of 2 26 of 67 0 of 0 3 of 3
Łukasz Brzeski 32 of 69 46% 16 of 50 6 of 9 10 of 10 32 of 69 0 of 0 0 of 0
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Kennedy Nzechukwu 29 of 70 41% 19 of 55 10 of 13 0 of 2 26 of 67 0 of 0 3 of 3
Łukasz Brzeski 32 of 69 46% 16 of 50 6 of 9 10 of 10 32 of 69 0 of 0 0 of 0
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Confident picked Nov 30, 2024 (7 days before fight)
Kennedy Nzechukwu

Angelo picks Kennedy Nzechukwu, noting he is a massive heavyweight with an 83-inch reach, decent takedown defense, and power. He believes Nzechukwu's physicality and power will overwhelm Brzeski, who is chinny and coming off a knockout loss. Angelo mentions Nzechukwu is not a true heavyweight but looked fine in his last fight. He considers the odds of -500 fair and might include Nzechukwu in a parlay.

Might throw in a parlay
"Kennedy should win here... minus 500 seems fair to me I might honestly throw that in a parlay"
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Confident picked Dec 4, 2024 (3 days before fight)
Kennedy Nzechukwu

Cody picks Nzechukwu, citing his size, reach, and power advantage. He notes Brzeski's poor record and suspect chin. He expects Nzechukwu to win by knockout, though he acknowledges heavyweight volatility.

"I think Kennedy kills him... he goes out there and romps him."
CO
Connor Ruebusch Expert Confident picked Dec 6, 2024 (1 day before fight)
Kennedy Nzechukwu

Connor picks Nzechukwu confidently, noting that Brzeski cannot take shots and has low output. He points out that Nzechukwu is huge and can build into a fight, and that Brzeski does not have the power or volume to hurt him early. Connor believes Nzechukwu's size and durability will be too much for Brzeski.

Connor says the odds are too wide but Brzeski is not good, so it doesn't matter.
"I don't think it's in such a cool even on a bad night... I think he can handle that."
DA
Daniel Vreeland Expert Confident picked Dec 3, 2024 (4 days before fight)
Kennedy Nzechukwu

Daniel picks Nzechukwu, citing his size and skill advantage at heavyweight. He believes Nzechukwu's reach and southpaw stance will be key, and expects a knockout given Brzeski's recent losses. He notes Nzechukwu's improved durability without the weight cut.

by KO
"I'm going to go Kennedy and Zetu to win the first fight of the night."
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Dec 6, 2024 (1 day before fight)
Kennedy Nzechukwu

Nzechukwu is never really super reliable as a -500 favorite, but I expect him to touch up Brzeski from distance and eventually open up a knockout opportunity for himself in the second or third round.

knockout in rounds 2-3
"I expect him to touch up dry from distance and eventually open up a knockout opportunity for himself in the second or third round"
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Confident picked Dec 4, 2024 (3 days before fight)
Kennedy Nzechukwu

Paul picks Nzechukwu, citing his physical advantages and Brzeski's lack of skills. He notes Nzechukwu's move to heavyweight and improved comfort. He expects a dominant win, but warns against heavy betting due to heavyweight unpredictability.

"Kennedy Nzechukwu... I think he goes out there and romps him."
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Dec 3, 2024 (4 days before fight)
Kennedy Nzechukwu

The MMA Guru picks Kennedy Nzechukwu, citing his size, reach advantage, and skill difference on the feet. He thinks Nzechukwu will be bigger and more skilled than Brzeski, who is a smaller heavyweight. He believes Nzechukwu will win and could go far in the division.

"I'm going with Kennedy as a chukwu this was supposed to be someone called talison toera versus Lucas Bersy however Kennedy Nuku steps in on short note"
ZA
Zane Simon Expert Confident picked Dec 6, 2024 (1 day before fight)
Kennedy Nzechukwu

Zane agrees, picking Nzechukwu. He notes that Brzeski is a low-output volume fighter who cannot take shots, and that Nzechukwu is a giant who can come back into fights. Zane believes Brzeski will not be able to do enough damage to stop Nzechukwu from finding his rhythm.

"Agreed that's really it."
WIN vs Chris Barnett
TKO (knee to the body and punches) R1 4:27 · UFC 308: Topuria vs. Holloway · Oct 26, 2024
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Kennedy Nzechukwu 0 51 of 74 68% 51 of 74 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Chris Barnett 0 12 of 34 35% 12 of 34 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:00
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Kennedy Nzechukwu 0 51 of 74 68% 51 of 74 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Chris Barnett 0 12 of 34 35% 12 of 34 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:00
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Kennedy Nzechukwu 51 of 74 68% 28 of 50 22 of 23 1 of 1 50 of 73 0 of 0 1 of 1
Chris Barnett 12 of 34 35% 3 of 22 2 of 3 7 of 9 12 of 34 0 of 0 0 of 0
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Kennedy Nzechukwu 51 of 74 68% 28 of 50 22 of 23 1 of 1 50 of 73 0 of 0 1 of 1
Chris Barnett 12 of 34 35% 3 of 22 2 of 3 7 of 9 12 of 34 0 of 0 0 of 0
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Hesitant picked Oct 20, 2024 (6 days before fight)
Kennedy Nzechukwu

Angelo picks Kennedy Nzechukwu but is very hesitant. He notes Kennedy is taller, longer, and had a full camp, but warns that Kennedy 'kind of sucks' and was a massive favorite who lost to an older opponent in his last fight. He advises staying far away from betting on this fight due to the risk.

Stay far away from this fight; no bet recommended.
"I'm going to pick Kennedy he should win... but leave it the hell alone."
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked Oct 23, 2024 (3 days before fight)
Kennedy Nzechukwu

Big Brady picks Nzechukwu, noting his significant size advantage (6'5" vs 5'9" on paper, but Barnett is likely shorter). He believes Kennedy has many ways to win: knockout, submission, or decision. He acknowledges Kennedy can be inconsistent but cannot pick Barnett. He predicts a second-round submission.

second round submission
"I think he does look minus 750 with a second round submission so I'll take Kennedy to win this fight"
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Confident picked Oct 23, 2024 (3 days before fight)
Kennedy Nzechukwu

Cody picks Kennedy Nzechukwu, citing his massive reach and height advantage. He notes that Barnett is old, overweight, and has low volume. Cody believes Nzechukwu's length and striking will keep Barnett at range, and that he will win by knockout in the second round. However, he warns that heavyweight fights are unpredictable.

"I got Kenny at the number"
CO
Connor Ruebusch Expert Confident picked Oct 25, 2024 (1 day before fight)
Kennedy Nzechukwu

Connor picks Nzechukwu, agreeing that Barnett is a total mess who can't consistently win rounds. He notes that Nzechukwu has the size to dominate but lacks confidence, but against Barnett, he should be able to use his reach and size to win. Connor is not confident in Nzechukwu long-term but sees this as a favorable matchup.

"Yeah, I guess I'm with you, but I do not think, no, I don't think in such a cool long-term, like the data is not there. It just doesn't have the confidence to be a heavyweight. You gotta be a …"
DA
Daniel Vreeland Expert Confident picked Oct 23, 2024 (3 days before fight)
Chris Barnett

Daniel Vreeland is taking the huge underdog Chris Barnett. He argues that Nzechukwu has awful cardio, no motivation to come in shape now that he doesn't have to cut weight, and gets knocked out. Barnett is a heavy puncher who has won two of his last three by knockout, and Vreeland sees value at +500.

"Chris Barnett you at plus 500 let's make this the fourth week in a row that I hit a plus 400 or better"
DA
Daniel Vreeland Expert Confident picked Oct 23, 2024 (3 days before fight)
Kennedy Nzechukwu

Daniel Vreeland picks Kennedy Nzechukwu to win, citing massive advantages in size, reach, and level of competition. He notes that Barnett does not belong in the UFC and that Nzechukwu can win easily by takedown or striking. Vreeland believes the true price is around -900 and that Nzechukwu is a much worse matchup for Barnett than Junior Tafa.

"Kennedy's you know bigger better like an actual fighter"
JE
Jeff Fox Expert Hesitant picked Oct 23, 2024 (3 days before fight)
Kennedy Nzechukwu

Jeff Fox is reluctantly picking Nzechukwu, pushed into a corner by Vreeland's strong argument for Barnett. He acknowledges Nzechukwu's cardio issues and lack of motivation but still believes he is better than Barnett's previous opponents. Fox seems uncomfortable with the pick but sticks with Nzechukwu.

"I just can't I can't stand here and let somebody talk about that Kennedy and zugu is much better than insert most UFC have"
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Oct 25, 2024 (1 day before fight)
Kennedy Nzechukwu

Nzechukwu is a big favorite but tough to trust after his last performance. He should keep Barnett at bay and possibly find a finish after the 1.5 round mark. However, minus 700 is a bit too wide for comfort.

Nzechukwu wins by finish after 1.5 rounds; odds -700 considered too wide
"I do expect him to keep Barnett at Bay possibly find a finish over the one and a half round mark but I do think that en zuku wins this fight minus 700 is just a little bit too wide"
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Confident picked Oct 23, 2024 (3 days before fight)
Kennedy Nzechukwu

Paul picks Nzechukwu, agreeing that Barnett is a freak show fighter past his prime. He notes that Nzechukwu's reach and volume will be too much, and that Barnett's durability is questionable. Paul is confident Nzechukwu wins but avoids betting at heavy odds.

"Kennedy should have absolutely the volume the skill the reach"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Oct 22, 2024 (4 days before fight)
Kennedy Nzechukwu

The Guru picks Kennedy Nzechukwu, citing Barnett's long layoff (over two years), age (38), and questionable conditioning. He believes Nzechukwu's athleticism and range will allow him to pick apart Barnett. He notes Barnett's past fight cancellations and weight issues. The Guru predicts Nzechukwu will win by decision or late finish.

"I'm going to go with Kennedy Nzechukwu I think it'll take an athletic heavyweight with some pop behind his shots to put away Kennedy Nzechukwu."
ZA
Zane Simon Expert Confident picked Oct 25, 2024 (1 day before fight)
Kennedy Nzechukwu

Zane picks Nzechukwu despite his lack of power and confidence, because Barnett is a tiny heavyweight with no real tools besides confidence. Nzechukwu's size and reach will allow him to crowd Barnett and overwhelm him, though he expects a messy fight. Zane notes that Barnett has lost to other former light heavyweights and lacks durability.

"I'm going to pick him against Chris Barnett. I mean, it's very comical that we, we're talking about how he's more than big enough to be a big heavyweight. And his first opponent in the division is going to be …"
ZA
Zane Simon Expert Confident picked Oct 26, 2024 (fight day)
Kennedy Nzechukwu

Zane picked Nzechukwu, noting that Barnett is a fun fighter but not going to beat big heavyweights. He highlighted that Barnett injured his leg in the pre-fight intro and further during a wheel kick, which was predictable given his rushed recovery from an Achilles injury. Zane praised Nzechukwu's size and form but questioned his confidence, suggesting he may struggle against other big heavyweights.

"if he's fighting guys like barnet i'm gonna pick him every time because barnet is a ton of fun and a fun mean fighter but he's not gonna beat big heavyweights"
Decision R3 5:00 · UFC Fight Night: Tuivasa vs. Tybura · Mar 16, 2024
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Ovince Saint Preux 1 143 of 276 51% 143 of 276 0 of 2 0% 0 0 0:06
Kennedy Nzechukwu 0 106 of 250 42% 106 of 250 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:08
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Ovince Saint Preux 0 26 of 57 45% 26 of 57 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Kennedy Nzechukwu 0 22 of 57 38% 22 of 57 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
2 Ovince Saint Preux 0 44 of 79 55% 44 of 79 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Kennedy Nzechukwu 0 29 of 80 36% 29 of 80 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:00
3 Ovince Saint Preux 1 73 of 140 52% 73 of 140 0 of 2 0% 0 0 0:06
Kennedy Nzechukwu 0 55 of 113 48% 55 of 113 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:08
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Ovince Saint Preux 143 of 276 51% 98 of 223 32 of 39 13 of 14 131 of 262 11 of 13 1 of 1
Kennedy Nzechukwu 106 of 250 42% 85 of 213 19 of 35 2 of 2 93 of 235 13 of 15 0 of 0
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Ovince Saint Preux 26 of 57 45% 10 of 38 7 of 10 9 of 9 26 of 57 0 of 0 0 of 0
Kennedy Nzechukwu 22 of 57 38% 14 of 37 6 of 18 2 of 2 22 of 57 0 of 0 0 of 0
2 Ovince Saint Preux 44 of 79 55% 30 of 62 10 of 12 4 of 5 44 of 79 0 of 0 0 of 0
Kennedy Nzechukwu 29 of 80 36% 25 of 73 4 of 7 0 of 0 28 of 79 1 of 1 0 of 0
3 Ovince Saint Preux 73 of 140 52% 58 of 123 15 of 17 0 of 0 61 of 126 11 of 13 1 of 1
Kennedy Nzechukwu 55 of 113 48% 46 of 103 9 of 10 0 of 0 43 of 99 12 of 14 0 of 0
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Lock picked Mar 11, 2024 (5 days before fight)
Kennedy Nzechukwu

Angelo calls this his most confident pick on the card. Nzechukwu is long, powerful, has solid takedown defense, and is never out of a fight, though he can be gun-shy. Saint Preux is 40, has no chin, and is frustratingly low-volume, rarely letting his hands go. Angelo sees no path to victory for Saint Preux outside a Hail Mary bomb, which is unlikely given his low output. He thinks Nzechukwu will win easily.

"the pick is quite frankly very easy to be Kennedy here and he's my most confident pick on this entire card"
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked Mar 12, 2024 (4 days before fight)
Kennedy Nzechukwu

Big Brady picks Kennedy Nzechukwu to win by first-round knockout. He believes OSP is past his prime and not motivated, while Nzechukwu is a big favorite for a reason. He expects a quick finish despite Nzechukwu's history of weird outcomes.

by first round knockout
"Give me Kennedy here Kennedy to win this fight by first round knockout"
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Confident picked Mar 13, 2024 (3 days before fight)
Kennedy Nzechukwu

Cody is confident in Kennedy Nzechukwu, believing OSP is completely washed and on his way out. He details OSP's decline: missing weight, looking flat, and being knocked out in recent fights. He acknowledges Kennedy's chin issues but thinks OSP lacks the power to exploit them. He warns against the minus 500 line but still picks Kennedy.

"I'd go with Kennedy because I really do think OSP is completely washed... he's on the back nine."
LU
Lucrative James Expert Confident picked Mar 12, 2024 (4 days before fight)
Kennedy Nzechukwu

Lucrative James sees Kennedy Nzechukwu as a massive favorite and expects him to finish the fight. He notes that OSP has looked washed recently, with poor cardio and chin, and that Kennedy can knock him out on the feet, with elbows, or in the clinch. He dismisses OSP's chances, stating that the only way OSP wins is if Kennedy makes a huge mistake.

Kennedy Nzechukwu by finish
"I think Kennedy's gonna finish this fight."
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Mar 15, 2024 (1 day before fight)
Kennedy Nzechukwu

The host notes that Saint Preux is nearing 41 and fighting a young, hungry fighter in Nzechukwu, who should have speed and power advantages. He expects Nzechukwu to light up Saint Preux early and get a TKO, but mentions that the -500 or -700 odds are too much given the weight class and Saint Preux's experience. He still thinks the under 1.5 rounds should come through easily.

under 1.5 rounds
"I think that will see en zuku light up same prw early and eventually get him out of there by TKO minus 500 orus 700 is a little bit too much for me"
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Confident picked Mar 13, 2024 (3 days before fight)
Kennedy Nzechukwu

Paul also picks Kennedy, echoing that OSP is done. He notes Kennedy's physical advantages (size, speed, reach) and OSP's inability to take punches anymore. He calls it an 'apple pie situation' where fading OSP is tempting but warns about Kennedy's own flaws. He still expects Kennedy to win.

"I would definitely take Kenny Nzechukwu in this fight but minus 500 screams... we're fading OSP being so bad."
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Mar 12, 2024 (4 days before fight)
Kennedy Nzechukwu

The Guru picks Kennedy Nzechukwu by TKO, citing OSP's age (40) and recent KO loss to Philipe Lins. He notes Nzechukwu is chinny but has youth and momentum. He dismisses OSP's win over Shogun as controversial and believes Nzechukwu will get the finish.

TKO win
"I'm going to go Nuku gets a TKO win here although he is maybe the chest fighter in UFC history I'm going to trust him to win against ENT St PR in 2024."
LOSS vs Dustin Jacoby
TKO (punches) R1 1:22 · UFC on ESPN: Sandhagen vs. Font · Aug 05, 2023
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Dustin Jacoby 1 10 of 33 30% 10 of 33 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:04
Kennedy Nzechukwu 0 4 of 18 22% 4 of 18 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Dustin Jacoby 1 10 of 33 30% 10 of 33 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:04
Kennedy Nzechukwu 0 4 of 18 22% 4 of 18 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Dustin Jacoby 10 of 33 30% 5 of 28 0 of 0 5 of 5 10 of 26 0 of 0 0 of 7
Kennedy Nzechukwu 4 of 18 22% 3 of 14 0 of 3 1 of 1 4 of 18 0 of 0 0 of 0
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Dustin Jacoby 10 of 33 30% 5 of 28 0 of 0 5 of 5 10 of 26 0 of 0 0 of 7
Kennedy Nzechukwu 4 of 18 22% 3 of 14 0 of 3 1 of 1 4 of 18 0 of 0 0 of 0
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Hesitant picked Jul 30, 2023 (6 days before fight)
Kennedy Nzechukwu

Angelo picks Kennedy Nzechukwu despite acknowledging Dustin Jacoby is the better striker. He notes that Kennedy is bigger, more dangerous, and has fought higher competition. He warns that Kennedy is never out of a fight and can come from behind, but also mentions that Jacoby was dropped in his last fight, which is concerning. Angelo admits he would love Jacoby as an underdog if not for that, but ultimately goes with Kennedy's danger factor.

"the pick's gonna be Kennedy but I'm going to be rooting for Dustin"
BI
Big Brady Expert Hesitant picked Aug 1, 2023 (4 days before fight)
Kennedy Nzechukwu

Big Brady is uncertain but leans toward Nzechukwu. He argues that if Nzechukwu strikes with Jacoby he'll lose, but his path to victory is wrestling. He notes Nzechukwu's takedown defense is good and his grappling has improved, as seen in recent fights. He thinks Nzechukwu can take Jacoby down and control him, especially since Jacoby has been taken down many times before. He predicts a decision win but admits Nzechukwu fights are hard to predict.

Nzechukwu by decision
"I'll pick him to win by decision but the more I think about this one the more I don't feel amazing about it"
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Lean picked Aug 2, 2023 (3 days before fight)
Kennedy Nzechukwu

Cody leans towards Nzechukwu on the moneyline, but his main interest is a small poke on Kennedy by submission at +950. He believes Kennedy will rely on grappling and can submit Jacoby, who has faced few grapplers. He notes Jacoby's kickboxing base and cardio, but thinks Kennedy's improvements in grappling and size could be decisive.

Kennedy by submission +950 (small poke)
"I see like a plus 950 on Kennedy by sub... I'm probably gonna take a little small poke on that"
DA
Daniel Levi Expert Lean picked Aug 2, 2023 (3 days before fight)
Kennedy Nzechukwu

Daniel Levi leans toward Kennedy Nzechukwu but is not confident. He acknowledges Jacoby's striking credentials and past success, but worries about Jacoby's age (35-36) and potential decline. Levi notes Nzechukwu's physical advantages (7-inch reach, southpaw) and his knack for comebacks, but also his slow starts and durability concerns. He sees this as a dog-or-pass situation and prefers Nzechukwu at the current price, though he would have picked Jacoby two years ago.

Mentions that he would take a comeback at dog odds but not at -150. No specific prop bet.
"I'm gonna lean Kennedy but it's a tough fight."
LU
Lucrative James Expert Confident picked Aug 4, 2023 (1 day before fight)
Kennedy Nzechukwu

James changed his mind after tape. He thinks Nzechukwu is younger, more athletic, and on an upward trajectory while Jacoby is declining. Nzechukwu's height and reach advantage will disrupt Jacoby's outside kickboxing game. He expects Nzechukwu to force pressure, clinch, and possibly finish inside the distance.

inside the distance
"I think Kennedy will win this fight... probably even inside the distance."
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Aug 4, 2023 (1 day before fight)
Dustin Jacoby

Jacoby loves combination striking, leg kicks, and body work. He had a 6-1-1 run until a split decision loss to Khalil Rountree and a bad KO loss. If he can stay safe and not get dropped, he should outpoint Nzechukwu, who is explosive but wears down. Jacoby's durability is a concern, but I'm sticking with Jacoby as a dog shot. He wins by decision.

"I'm going to stick with Jacoby here's the dog shot I think he's worth the play here"
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Lean picked Aug 2, 2023 (3 days before fight)
Dustin Jacoby

Paul takes Jacoby at plus money, citing his volume, leg kicks, and takedown defense. He notes Kennedy's suspect cardio and tendency to get rocked, and believes Jacoby can outland him in a kickboxing match. However, he acknowledges Jacoby's fights are often close decisions and only takes him at plus money.

"I'll take a dog poke here at Dustin Jacoby at the slight plus money"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Aug 1, 2023 (4 days before fight)
Kennedy Nzechukwu

The host picks Kennedy Nzechukwu, citing his youth (31), durability, and recent momentum. He believes Nzechukwu will out-volume Jacoby and has a granite chin. He notes Jacoby is 35 and coming off a loss. He thinks Nzechukwu wins by decision but could finish. He warns that if the line goes above -165, value shifts to Jacoby.

line opened -126, now -156; suggests decision win for Nzechukwu; value on Jacoby if line exceeds -165
"I gotta lean Kennedy and shaku in the spot"
WIN vs Devin Clark
Technical Submission (guillotine choke) R2 2:28 · UFC 288: Sterling vs. Cejudo · May 06, 2023
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Kennedy Nzechukwu 0 62 of 81 76% 79 of 98 0 of 1 0% 1 0 3:42
Devin Clark 0 36 of 58 62% 61 of 90 1 of 4 25% 0 0 1:04
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Kennedy Nzechukwu 0 41 of 53 77% 54 of 66 0 of 1 0% 0 0 2:35
Devin Clark 0 25 of 37 67% 47 of 65 1 of 3 33% 0 0 0:44
2 Kennedy Nzechukwu 0 21 of 28 75% 25 of 32 0 of 0 --- 1 0 1:07
Devin Clark 0 11 of 21 52% 14 of 25 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:20
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Kennedy Nzechukwu 62 of 81 76% 44 of 63 18 of 18 0 of 0 9 of 17 53 of 64 0 of 0
Devin Clark 36 of 58 62% 25 of 46 7 of 8 4 of 4 13 of 28 23 of 30 0 of 0
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Kennedy Nzechukwu 41 of 53 77% 34 of 46 7 of 7 0 of 0 2 of 3 39 of 50 0 of 0
Devin Clark 25 of 37 67% 18 of 29 3 of 4 4 of 4 5 of 10 20 of 27 0 of 0
2 Kennedy Nzechukwu 21 of 28 75% 10 of 17 11 of 11 0 of 0 7 of 14 14 of 14 0 of 0
Devin Clark 11 of 21 52% 7 of 17 4 of 4 0 of 0 8 of 18 3 of 3 0 of 0
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Confident picked Apr 30, 2023 (6 days before fight)
Kennedy Nzechukwu

Angelo picks Kennedy Nzechukwu, noting his length, power, and ability to come back from behind. He compares this fight to Kennedy's last win where he lost the first round before knocking out Jan Kutulaba. Angelo is hesitant because Kennedy can be a slow starter and gun-shy, which could allow Devin Clark to grind out early rounds. However, he believes Kennedy hits too hard and is never out of a fight, expecting a finish similar to his last performance.

"I've got to go Kennedy and chuckle here right well Devin could have some early success wrestling... Kennedy Just Hits too hard"
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked May 1, 2023 (5 days before fight)
Kennedy Nzechukwu

Big Brady picks Nzechukwu, citing his massive size and reach advantages. He notes Nzechukwu is finally putting it together, showing improved grappling and takedown defense. He believes Clark will struggle with the reach and power, and Nzechukwu's get-up game is excellent. He predicts a second-round knockout, as Nzechukwu starts slow but finishes strong.

Second round knockout prediction
"I like Kennedy here I like Kennedy to start slow... I think he finishes Devin Clark in that second or third round by knockout"
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Confident picked May 3, 2023 (3 days before fight)
Devin Clark

Cody sees value in Clark at plus money, noting his cardio and cage control are his best weapons. He believes Clark can press Nzechukwu against the fence, use outside trips to take him down, and grind out a win. He points out that Nzechukwu has been taken down by lesser wrestlers and Clark's style is perfectly suited to exploit that.

Live betting on Clark after first round
"I'm gonna go with the first option which is uh he holds on to him against the cage and wins two of the three rounds"
CO
Connor Ruebusch Expert Confident picked May 4, 2023 (2 days before fight)
Kennedy Nzechukwu

Connor picks Nzechukwu more confidently, arguing that Nzechukwu has a plan and can use pressure striking and reach, not just clinching. He notes Devin Clark has no technical foundation and relies on physicality, but Nzechukwu can adapt and find moments. Connor acknowledges Clark is tough and strong, but Nzechukwu should be able to outwork him.

Nzechukwu opened at -217, now -180; Clark opened +182, now +163.
"I do have to pick the Chukwu. He's a fighter with a plan and Devin Clark isn't."
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked May 1, 2023 (5 days before fight)
Kennedy Nzechukwu

The host picks Kennedy Nzechukwu by late first round stoppage. He believes Nzechukwu's improved striking and power will overcome Devin Clark's grappling. He notes Clark's durability issues and expects Nzechukwu to land big shots after a potentially sticky early grappling exchange.

Nzechukwu by stoppage, round 1
"I'm going to go in zatsuku here by late first round stoppage"
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Confident picked May 3, 2023 (3 days before fight)
Devin Clark

Paul also picks Clark, having bet him at +180. He notes Clark's chin concerns are overblown, as he's shown durability in recent fights. He expects Clark to use his wrestling and pressure to control the fight, similar to his win over Jung. He thinks the line is too wide.

"I took a shot at plus 180 on Devin Clark not exactly my favorite fighter historically I just thought the line is a little bit wide"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked May 1, 2023 (5 days before fight)
Kennedy Nzechukwu

The Guru picks Nzechukwu, citing his size and range advantage over Clark. He believes Nzechukwu will pick at Clark on the feet and land knees as Clark closes distance. He acknowledges Nzechukwu's questionable chin (KO by Dalton Young) but thinks Clark's wrestling won't be effective due to Nzechukwu's size. He predicts a TKO in the later rounds.

TKO in later rounds
"I'm gonna side with nazochukwu over Devon Clark ... I'm going with him by TKO in the later rounds"
ZA
Zane Simon Expert Hesitant picked May 4, 2023 (2 days before fight)
Kennedy Nzechukwu

Zane picks Nzechukwu but is hesitant because Nzechukwu is not a range fighter and may struggle to avoid Clark's physicality. He notes Clark is beatable if you don't fight his fight, but Nzechukwu tends to clinch and pressure, which could play into Clark's strengths. However, Nzechukwu gets stronger as fights go on and Clark is not a finisher, giving Nzechukwu time to grow into the fight.

Nzechukwu opened at -217, now -180; Clark opened +182, now +163; odds tightening.
"I'm going to pick the Chukwu because he does get stronger as fights go on and Clark is not a finisher."
Expert Picks (7)
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Lock picked Mar 11, 2024 (5 days before fight)
Kennedy Nzechukwu

Angelo calls this his most confident pick on the card. Nzechukwu is long, powerful, has solid takedown defense, and is never out of a fight, though he can be gun-shy. Saint Preux is 40, has no chin, and is frustratingly low-volume, rarely letting his hands go. Angelo sees no path to victory for Saint Preux outside a Hail Mary bomb, which is unlikely given his low output. He thinks Nzechukwu will win easily.

"the pick is quite frankly very easy to be Kennedy here and he's my most confident pick on this entire card"
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked Mar 12, 2024 (4 days before fight)
Kennedy Nzechukwu

Big Brady picks Kennedy Nzechukwu to win by first-round knockout. He believes OSP is past his prime and not motivated, while Nzechukwu is a big favorite for a reason. He expects a quick finish despite Nzechukwu's history of weird outcomes.

by first round knockout
"Give me Kennedy here Kennedy to win this fight by first round knockout"
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Confident picked Mar 13, 2024 (3 days before fight)
Kennedy Nzechukwu

Cody is confident in Kennedy Nzechukwu, believing OSP is completely washed and on his way out. He details OSP's decline: missing weight, looking flat, and being knocked out in recent fights. He acknowledges Kennedy's chin issues but thinks OSP lacks the power to exploit them. He warns against the minus 500 line but still picks Kennedy.

"I'd go with Kennedy because I really do think OSP is completely washed... he's on the back nine."
LU
Lucrative James Expert Confident picked Mar 12, 2024 (4 days before fight)
Kennedy Nzechukwu

Lucrative James sees Kennedy Nzechukwu as a massive favorite and expects him to finish the fight. He notes that OSP has looked washed recently, with poor cardio and chin, and that Kennedy can knock him out on the feet, with elbows, or in the clinch. He dismisses OSP's chances, stating that the only way OSP wins is if Kennedy makes a huge mistake.

Kennedy Nzechukwu by finish
"I think Kennedy's gonna finish this fight."
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Mar 15, 2024 (1 day before fight)
Kennedy Nzechukwu

The host notes that Saint Preux is nearing 41 and fighting a young, hungry fighter in Nzechukwu, who should have speed and power advantages. He expects Nzechukwu to light up Saint Preux early and get a TKO, but mentions that the -500 or -700 odds are too much given the weight class and Saint Preux's experience. He still thinks the under 1.5 rounds should come through easily.

under 1.5 rounds
"I think that will see en zuku light up same prw early and eventually get him out of there by TKO minus 500 orus 700 is a little bit too much for me"
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Confident picked Mar 13, 2024 (3 days before fight)
Kennedy Nzechukwu

Paul also picks Kennedy, echoing that OSP is done. He notes Kennedy's physical advantages (size, speed, reach) and OSP's inability to take punches anymore. He calls it an 'apple pie situation' where fading OSP is tempting but warns about Kennedy's own flaws. He still expects Kennedy to win.

"I would definitely take Kenny Nzechukwu in this fight but minus 500 screams... we're fading OSP being so bad."
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Mar 12, 2024 (4 days before fight)
Kennedy Nzechukwu

The Guru picks Kennedy Nzechukwu by TKO, citing OSP's age (40) and recent KO loss to Philipe Lins. He notes Nzechukwu is chinny but has youth and momentum. He dismisses OSP's win over Shogun as controversial and believes Nzechukwu will get the finish.

TKO win
"I'm going to go Nuku gets a TKO win here although he is maybe the chest fighter in UFC history I'm going to trust him to win against ENT St PR in 2024."