UFC Fight Night: Tuivasa vs. Tybura · Mar 16, 2024 · Catchweight (148.5 lb) · Completed
Prev Fight UFC Fight Night: Tuivasa vs. Tybura Next Fight
Age 29
Height 5' 11"
Reach 70.0"
Weight 145 lbs.
Stance Switch
Age 32
Height 5' 10"
Reach 73"
Weight 145 lbs.
Stance Orthodox
Career Averages - Danny Silva
6.35 SLpM
54.0% Str. Acc.
7.1 SApM
61.0% Str. Def.
2.06 TD Avg
36.0% TD Acc.
75.0% TD Def.
0.2 Sub. Avg
Career Averages - Josh Culibao
3.41 SLpM
44.0% Str. Acc.
3.04 SApM
59.0% Str. Def.
0.0 TD Avg
0.0% TD Acc.
65.0% TD Def.
0.3 Sub. Avg
Danny Silva - Fight History
KO R2 0:31 · UFC Fight Night: Evloev vs. Murphy · Mar 21, 2026
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Kurtis Campbell 0 17 of 41 41% 17 of 43 2 of 5 40% 0 0 1:56
Danny Silva 2 16 of 32 50% 20 of 36 1 of 1 100% 0 1 1:05
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Kurtis Campbell 0 15 of 36 41% 15 of 38 2 of 5 40% 0 0 1:56
Danny Silva 0 6 of 20 30% 9 of 23 1 of 1 100% 0 1 0:56
2 Kurtis Campbell 0 2 of 5 40% 2 of 5 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Danny Silva 2 10 of 12 83% 11 of 13 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:09
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Kurtis Campbell 17 of 41 41% 12 of 29 2 of 8 3 of 4 15 of 39 2 of 2 0 of 0
Danny Silva 16 of 32 50% 11 of 26 4 of 5 1 of 1 11 of 23 4 of 7 1 of 2
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Kurtis Campbell 15 of 36 41% 10 of 24 2 of 8 3 of 4 13 of 34 2 of 2 0 of 0
Danny Silva 6 of 20 30% 3 of 16 2 of 3 1 of 1 5 of 17 0 of 2 1 of 1
2 Kurtis Campbell 2 of 5 40% 2 of 5 0 of 0 0 of 0 2 of 5 0 of 0 0 of 0
Danny Silva 10 of 12 83% 8 of 10 2 of 2 0 of 0 6 of 6 4 of 5 0 of 1
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Confident picked Mar 15, 2026 (6 days before fight)
Kurtis Campbell

Angelo picks Kurtis Campbell because of his excellent wrestling and BJJ, expecting him to shoot takedowns repeatedly. He acknowledges Danny Silva is tough and has good takedown defense, but believes Campbell's wrestling will be the difference, especially fighting in England.

"I am picking Curtis. I think I mean I love myself a good wrestler. I think he gets it done especially in England."
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked Mar 16, 2026 (5 days before fight)
Kurtis Campbell

Big Brady is confident in Kurtis Campbell, praising his well-rounded skills, nasty ground and pound, and high ceiling. He notes that Campbell is only 23 and the hometown favorite. He thinks Campbell will mix in takedowns and get into dominant positions, but Danny Silva is extremely tough and won't be knocked out. He predicts a decision win for Campbell.

Kurtis Campbell by decision
"I like Curtis Campbell here. I like Curtis Campbell to win this fight by decision."
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Confident picked Mar 18, 2026 (3 days before fight)
Charlie Campbell

Cody echoes Paul, noting Campbell's diverse arsenal and Silva's defensive liabilities. He expects Campbell to get the job done.

"Curtis Campbell seems like he might be one of those prospects that does. So uh we'll see how long this one lasts, but I'm on the train."
CO
Connor Ruebusch Expert Hesitant picked Mar 19, 2026 (2 days before fight)
Danny Silva

Connor picks Silva as well, echoing Zane's reasoning. He notes that Silva is a fast athlete with volume, but has no sense of pace and makes exchanges he doesn't need to. Connor trusts Silva's athleticism and technique over Campbell's, but admits Campbell could win if Silva fails to dissuade his pressure. He calls Campbell a 'male Jillian Robertson' who relies on grappling.

Campbell opened at -150, currently -235; Silva opened at +130, currently +200.
"Yeah, I'll take Silva too, though. When in doubt, take the athletic, take the athlete."
DA
Daniel Vreeland Expert Confident picked Mar 17, 2026 (4 days before fight)
Charlie Campbell

Daniel Vreeland picks Charlie Campbell to win his UFC debut. He praises Campbell's wrestling, top pressure, and mental toughness, while criticizing Silva's tendency to fade after the first round. He expects Campbell to take Silva down and control the fight.

"Give me Curtis Campbell. The question is, will it be a finish or a decision? I'm not sure, but I'm going to pick Curtis Campbell to win his UFC debut."
DA
Daniel Vreeland Expert Confident picked Mar 18, 2026 (3 days before fight)
Charlie Campbell

Daniel likes Campbell's maturity and mindset, comparing him to younger prospects like Vallejos. He thinks Campbell's pressure and mixing of strikes will overwhelm Silva, who tends to fade after the first round. He expects Campbell to win by decision or submission.

"I feel like Campbell's got the style required to put that pressure on Silva. ... I think Campbell is going to win the fight."
DI
Diary of a Pro Gambler Expert Confident picked Mar 20, 2026 (1 day before fight)
Danny Silva

Silva has elite cardio, toughness, and durability, which will trouble debutant Campbell. Campbell is more skilled but hasn't faced someone with Silva's pressure. Silva should win if he can survive early rounds and push pace. The odds are too wide; Silva is the value bet.

Fight spread +3.5 on Silva is a phenomenal bet; fight likely goes over 2.5 rounds.
"I am extremely tempted to back Danny Silva this weekend."
LU
Lucrative James Expert Confident picked Mar 15, 2026 (6 days before fight)
Charlie Campbell

James picks Charlie Campbell, praising his high fight IQ and well-rounded skills. He thinks Campbell's grappling and ability to make the right decisions will be key. He notes that Silva is tough but lacks standout skills, while Campbell has multiple weapons.

"I'm picking Curtis Campbell and I'm going to I'm going to give you the reasons for that now. But I'm picking him out right."
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Mar 17, 2026 (4 days before fight)
Kurtis Campbell

The host is confident in Kurtis Campbell winning by finish (TKO or submission). He praises Campbell's relentless pressure, grappling, and strength, while Silva is seen as a technical striker without knockout power. He expects Campbell to mix in takedowns and dominate on the ground, leading to a finish.

"I really like Curtis Campbell in this fight."
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Confident picked Mar 18, 2026 (3 days before fight)
Charlie Campbell

Paul likes Campbell's power, volume, and youth, while Silva is a generalist who struggles in close fights. He expects Campbell to win by decision or late finish.

"I got the Pink Panther Curtis Campbell. I think for a 23-year-old, this guy's a legitimate prospect."
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Mar 19, 2026 (2 days before fight)
Kurtis Campbell

The MMA Guru picks Kurtis Campbell to win by second-round submission. He praises Campbell's well-roundedness and ability to hurt opponents with seemingly light shots. He notes Silva has a good chin but has taken damage and has scar tissue, and Campbell's dynamic striking and grappling will be too much. He expects Campbell to open Silva up and find a rear-naked choke.

second round submission
"I could see a second or third round submission win from Curtis Campbell. Blinky himself."
ZA
Zane Simon Expert Hesitant picked Mar 19, 2026 (2 days before fight)
Danny Silva

Zane picks Silva but is hesitant because Silva has a tendency to keep opponents in fights despite being athletically superior. He notes that Silva is faster and stronger than anyone Campbell has faced, and has good striking, but he lets opponents stay competitive. Zane trusts Silva's skills over Campbell's, as Campbell's wins are against low-level competition and he relies on bullying. However, he acknowledges Campbell could win if Silva makes characteristic mistakes.

Campbell opened at -150, currently -235; Silva opened at +130, currently +200.
"I think I'm still going to pick Danny Silva because I simply do not trust the skills that Curtis Campbell is coming in with. But that seems, it feels like a mistake."
LOSS vs Kevin Vallejos
DEC R3 5:00 · UFC Fight Night: Taira vs. Park · Aug 02, 2025
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Kevin Vallejos 0 69 of 164 42% 73 of 168 1 of 9 11% 0 0 0:22
Danny Silva 0 90 of 229 39% 90 of 230 2 of 5 40% 0 0 1:14
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Kevin Vallejos 0 10 of 39 25% 10 of 39 1 of 1 100% 0 0 0:10
Danny Silva 0 19 of 54 35% 19 of 55 0 of 2 0% 0 0 0:19
2 Kevin Vallejos 0 22 of 50 44% 25 of 53 0 of 3 0% 0 0 0:04
Danny Silva 0 35 of 81 43% 35 of 81 1 of 2 50% 0 0 0:33
3 Kevin Vallejos 0 37 of 75 49% 38 of 76 0 of 5 0% 0 0 0:08
Danny Silva 0 36 of 94 38% 36 of 94 1 of 1 100% 0 0 0:22
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Kevin Vallejos 69 of 164 42% 51 of 135 12 of 17 6 of 12 68 of 160 1 of 4 0 of 0
Danny Silva 90 of 229 39% 60 of 184 27 of 41 3 of 4 81 of 217 9 of 12 0 of 0
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Kevin Vallejos 10 of 39 25% 4 of 25 4 of 7 2 of 7 10 of 39 0 of 0 0 of 0
Danny Silva 19 of 54 35% 9 of 40 7 of 10 3 of 4 18 of 53 1 of 1 0 of 0
2 Kevin Vallejos 22 of 50 44% 15 of 41 3 of 4 4 of 5 22 of 49 0 of 1 0 of 0
Danny Silva 35 of 81 43% 21 of 59 14 of 22 0 of 0 31 of 76 4 of 5 0 of 0
3 Kevin Vallejos 37 of 75 49% 32 of 69 5 of 6 0 of 0 36 of 72 1 of 3 0 of 0
Danny Silva 36 of 94 38% 30 of 85 6 of 9 0 of 0 32 of 88 4 of 6 0 of 0
CO
Connor Ruebusch Expert Lean picked Jul 31, 2025 (2 days before fight)
Kevin Vallejos

Connor leans toward Vallejos, citing his clear pressure-counter game and methodical aggression. He believes Vallejos's sense of goal and pressure will help him win rounds, even if Silva is a faster athlete. Connor acknowledges Silva's tricky pot-shotting but thinks Vallejos's style is more likely to impose itself.

"I feel like I kind of have to naturally lean towards Vallejos."
LU
Lucrative James Expert Confident picked Jul 26, 2025 (7 days before fight)
Kevin Vallejos

Lucrative James admits bias as a fan of Kevin Vallejos but provides analysis. He highlights Vallejos' impressive performance against Jean Silva, taking round one and showing durability. He believes Vallejos has superior power and boxing, and will land the harder shots, possibly scoring a knockdown or knockout. He acknowledges Danny Silva's wider skill set and takedowns but trusts Vallejos' pressure and power to win a decision or finish. He calls it a potential fight of the night.

Fight of the Night candidate; Vallejos by KO or decision
"I think Vallejo is going to win the fight. I think Vallejo's going to knock Danny down."
ZA
Zane Simon Expert Lean picked Jul 31, 2025 (2 days before fight)
Danny Silva

Zane picks Silva, noting his good defensive instincts, angle cutting, and ability to frustrate opponents with pot shots. He believes Silva's style is well-suited to counter Vallejos's pressure, and that Vallejos may need to show more initiative to win. Zane also mentions Silva's only loss was a majority decision, indicating competitiveness.

"I think I'll take Silva in this one actually. I think he has a style which seems pretty well suited to frustrate Vallejos more than the slow pace might frustrate him."
WIN vs Lucas Almeida
Decision R3 5:00 · UFC Fight Night 253 · Mar 01, 2025
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Danny Silva 0 82 of 137 59% 85 of 141 1 of 3 33% 0 0 0:49
Lucas Almeida 0 74 of 240 30% 78 of 244 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:17
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Danny Silva 0 24 of 43 55% 27 of 46 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:24
Lucas Almeida 0 17 of 52 32% 18 of 53 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:10
2 Danny Silva 0 36 of 55 65% 36 of 56 1 of 2 50% 0 0 0:15
Lucas Almeida 0 29 of 89 32% 32 of 92 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
3 Danny Silva 0 22 of 39 56% 22 of 39 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:10
Lucas Almeida 0 28 of 99 28% 28 of 99 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:07
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Danny Silva 82 of 137 59% 45 of 96 14 of 18 23 of 23 81 of 133 0 of 2 1 of 2
Lucas Almeida 74 of 240 30% 49 of 203 14 of 23 11 of 14 73 of 239 1 of 1 0 of 0
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Danny Silva 24 of 43 55% 9 of 27 2 of 3 13 of 13 24 of 42 0 of 1 0 of 0
Lucas Almeida 17 of 52 32% 8 of 37 7 of 11 2 of 4 16 of 51 1 of 1 0 of 0
2 Danny Silva 36 of 55 65% 21 of 38 9 of 11 6 of 6 35 of 52 0 of 1 1 of 2
Lucas Almeida 29 of 89 32% 21 of 78 2 of 5 6 of 6 29 of 89 0 of 0 0 of 0
3 Danny Silva 22 of 39 56% 15 of 31 3 of 4 4 of 4 22 of 39 0 of 0 0 of 0
Lucas Almeida 28 of 99 28% 20 of 88 5 of 7 3 of 4 28 of 99 0 of 0 0 of 0
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Confident picked Feb 23, 2025 (6 days before fight)
Danny Silva

Angelo picks Danny Silva, noting his durability and the fact that he showed wrestling as a backup plan in his last fight. He acknowledges that Silva's striking defense is terrible and he will get hit, but believes he can outlast Lucas Almeida and potentially use takedowns. He is hesitant due to Silva's poor striking defense and the high price tag.

"Danny Silva is going to be the pick but until he cleans up his striking defense he's a hard sell at minus 190 minus 180 whatever those odds are"
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked Feb 24, 2025 (5 days before fight)
Danny Silva

Big Brady picks Danny Silva, citing his youth, durability, volume, and wrestling/grappling upside. He questions Lucas Almeida's ground game, noting he gets stuck on his back. He predicts Silva will mix in takedowns and submit Almeida in the second round.

Silva by submission round 2
"I like Danny Silva here this has potential to be fight of the night... give me Danny Silva by second round submission"
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Feb 26, 2025 (3 days before fight)
Lucas Almeida

The host believes many are overlooking the Brazilian's chances, especially at plus 160 odds. He expects Almeida to utilize his Muay Thai approach to cut up Danny Silva and impress the judges, winning a decision.

plus 160 odds
"I believe a lot of people are overlooking the Brazilian chances here especially with him at plus 160 and I think we'll see him utilize that Muay Thai approach to really cut up Danny Silva make it look good enough …"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Feb 28, 2025 (1 day before fight)
Danny Silva

The Guru picks Danny Silva over Lucas Almeida. He likes Silva's toughness, grit, and cardio shown on the contender series and in his UFC debut. He views Almeida as a 50/50 fighter with mixed results, and favors the prospect Silva. He predicts a 29-28 decision in a back-and-forth scrap.

"I'm going to go Danny Silva like his striking like his durability his cardio his toughness... I think it's going to be a 2928 decision yet again."
WIN vs Josh Culibao
Decision R3 5:00 · UFC Fight Night: Tuivasa vs. Tybura · Mar 16, 2024
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Danny Silva 0 87 of 202 43% 89 of 205 0 of 4 0% 0 0 0:03
Josh Culibao 0 45 of 107 42% 56 of 119 4 of 9 44% 1 0 5:28
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Danny Silva 0 32 of 80 40% 32 of 80 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:00
Josh Culibao 0 11 of 28 39% 12 of 29 1 of 2 50% 1 0 1:25
2 Danny Silva 0 27 of 55 49% 28 of 57 0 of 2 0% 0 0 0:03
Josh Culibao 0 11 of 30 36% 13 of 32 2 of 4 50% 0 0 1:59
3 Danny Silva 0 28 of 67 41% 29 of 68 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:00
Josh Culibao 0 23 of 49 46% 31 of 58 1 of 3 33% 0 0 2:04
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Danny Silva 87 of 202 43% 59 of 168 20 of 26 8 of 8 86 of 199 1 of 3 0 of 0
Josh Culibao 45 of 107 42% 28 of 82 11 of 18 6 of 7 44 of 106 1 of 1 0 of 0
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Danny Silva 32 of 80 40% 23 of 69 7 of 9 2 of 2 32 of 80 0 of 0 0 of 0
Josh Culibao 11 of 28 39% 6 of 22 4 of 5 1 of 1 11 of 28 0 of 0 0 of 0
2 Danny Silva 27 of 55 49% 17 of 44 6 of 7 4 of 4 27 of 55 0 of 0 0 of 0
Josh Culibao 11 of 30 36% 10 of 25 0 of 3 1 of 2 11 of 30 0 of 0 0 of 0
3 Danny Silva 28 of 67 41% 19 of 55 7 of 10 2 of 2 27 of 64 1 of 3 0 of 0
Josh Culibao 23 of 49 46% 12 of 35 7 of 10 4 of 4 22 of 48 1 of 1 0 of 0
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Confident picked Mar 11, 2024 (5 days before fight)
Josh Culibao

Angelo is surprised the line is -170 for Culibao, but he thinks Culibao is the much better fighter everywhere. Culibao is a solid, aggressive striker who throws with heat and is always live for a knockout, while Silva has clean technique but is not dangerous and can be taken down. He notes Culibao looked terrible in his last loss but still expects him to win, and advises jumping on the line early as it may widen.

"he's the much better fighter everywhere Danny Silva has solid Bodywork good technique but he's not dangerous and can be taken down if he has success on the feet Josh is the pick"
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked Mar 12, 2024 (4 days before fight)
Danny Silva

Big Brady picks Danny Silva to win by third-round knockout. He likes Silva's relentless pressure and high volume, and thinks he can break Culibao, who has been finished before. He acknowledges Culibao's power but believes Silva's chin and pace will be too much.

by third round knockout
"I'm going to take Danny Silva to win this fight by third round knockout"
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Lean picked Mar 13, 2024 (3 days before fight)
Danny Silva

Cody picks Danny Silva as the underdog, citing his high volume and durability. He notes Culibao has low output (career high 53 significant strikes) and no takedowns in the UFC. Silva throws volume and can outwork Culibao, though he may get caught. He sees Silva's activity swaying the judges.

"Danny Silva is the underdog and I I see a world where Danny Silva just out volumes them just scraps with them."
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Mar 15, 2024 (1 day before fight)
Josh Culibao

The host expects a firefight on the feet but believes Culibao will eventually drag the fight to the ground and implement a submission-heavy game. He predicts Culibao will snatch a submission and mentions that the under 2.5 rounds is likely the best value.

under 2.5 rounds
"I do think that it'll be koui who eventually drags this fight to the ground and tries to implement a submission heavy game which should allow him to go out there and snatch that submission"
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Lean picked Mar 13, 2024 (3 days before fight)
Josh Culibao

Paul picks Josh Culibao, citing his experience and power. He is not impressed by Silva's regional competition and thinks Culibao can intercept Silva's recklessness with his own power. He acknowledges Silva's volume but believes Culibao's power and experience give him the edge.

"I'm in on a little Culibao because he's got a little more experience and maybe he intercepts Danny Silva being reckless on the way in."
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Mar 12, 2024 (4 days before fight)
Danny Silva

The Guru picks Danny Silva, impressed by his contender series performance and pace. He criticizes Culibao's recent wins as unimpressive, noting he was manhandled by Jai Herbert and struggled against low-level opponents. He believes Silva's body shots and power will be key, and that Culibao is 'soft-bodied' and vulnerable. He also mentions Culibao took a beating from Lerone Murphy.

"I'm going with Danny Silva over Joshua cibau... I think Danny Silva's got this one he's tough he's powerful he's got insane endurance."
Josh Culibao - Fight History
LOSS vs Ricardo Ramos
Decision (split) (29–28, 28–29, 29–28) R3 5:00 · UFC 305: du Plessis vs. Adesanya · Aug 18, 2024
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Ricardo Ramos 1 70 of 127 55% 92 of 150 0 of 0 --- 0 0 1:30
Josh Culibao 0 27 of 118 22% 39 of 134 1 of 1 100% 1 0 4:09
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Ricardo Ramos 0 10 of 21 47% 20 of 31 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:02
Josh Culibao 0 2 of 31 6% 3 of 32 0 of 0 --- 1 0 2:41
2 Ricardo Ramos 1 34 of 61 55% 36 of 64 0 of 0 --- 0 0 1:28
Josh Culibao 0 10 of 33 30% 12 of 39 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
3 Ricardo Ramos 0 26 of 45 57% 36 of 55 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Josh Culibao 0 15 of 54 27% 24 of 63 1 of 1 100% 0 0 1:28
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Ricardo Ramos 70 of 127 55% 40 of 91 9 of 10 21 of 26 58 of 112 1 of 1 11 of 14
Josh Culibao 27 of 118 22% 16 of 92 6 of 11 5 of 15 25 of 116 2 of 2 0 of 0
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Ricardo Ramos 10 of 21 47% 3 of 13 2 of 2 5 of 6 10 of 21 0 of 0 0 of 0
Josh Culibao 2 of 31 6% 1 of 21 0 of 2 1 of 8 2 of 31 0 of 0 0 of 0
2 Ricardo Ramos 34 of 61 55% 19 of 43 1 of 2 14 of 16 23 of 47 0 of 0 11 of 14
Josh Culibao 10 of 33 30% 5 of 28 2 of 2 3 of 3 10 of 33 0 of 0 0 of 0
3 Ricardo Ramos 26 of 45 57% 18 of 35 6 of 6 2 of 4 25 of 44 1 of 1 0 of 0
Josh Culibao 15 of 54 27% 10 of 43 4 of 7 1 of 4 13 of 52 2 of 2 0 of 0
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Lean picked Aug 11, 2024 (7 days before fight)
Josh Culibao

Angelo picks Josh Culibao but is hesitant, acknowledging that Ricardo Ramos is dangerous everywhere and a live underdog. He thinks Culibao is a bit chinny and has mediocre takedown defense, but trusts his cardio and toughness to survive early chaos and find his rhythm. He notes that Ramos was just submitted in the first round but is still very good, and suggests the under 2.5 rounds might be a good bet.

Suggests under 2.5 rounds might make sense
"I'm picking kulow because I think he can defend a few of those takedowns and he is just such a dog and I trust his cardio and all that butardo hamos is very good and I think he's a great …"
BI
Big Brady Expert Hesitant picked Aug 14, 2024 (4 days before fight)
Ricardo Ramos

Big Brady picks Ricardo Ramos to win by decision, but is hesitant. He believes skill-for-skill Ramos can hang on the feet and has all the grappling upside, as he is a BJJ black belt and Culibao has made mistakes on the mat. However, he is terrified because Ramos has a history of quitting and has been finished in all five of his UFC losses, including back-to-back guillotine submissions. He notes Culibao seems tough as nails. He expects a close, competitive fight with Ramos mixing in takedowns, but says he might not bet this one.

"I'm going to still go with Ricardo Ramos I'm going to take him to win this fight by decision mixing in the takedowns"
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Lean picked Aug 14, 2024 (4 days before fight)
Ricardo Ramos

Cody sees Ramos as the more skilled fighter with good wrestling and BJJ, and notes that Culibao has poor takedown defense and has been controlled in recent fights. He acknowledges Ramos has been submitted in his last two but believes Culibao doesn't have the same submission threat. Cody calls it a dogger pass and takes the plus money.

"give me Ramos for no other good reason then he's plus money into a doger pass fight"
DA
Daniel Vreeland Expert Lean picked Aug 15, 2024 (3 days before fight)
Ricardo Ramos

Daniel Vreeland picks Ricardo Ramos as an underdog, believing he has a clear path to victory via grappling and back takes. He notes that Culibao gives up his back and that Ramos is the more talented fighter, though durability and mental toughness are concerns. Vreeland sees this as a dog-or-pass situation and thinks the line should be closer to pick'em.

"we go uh Ramos there"
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Lean picked Aug 14, 2024 (4 days before fight)
Ricardo Ramos

The host picks Ramos but with very low confidence, noting his gritty style and ability to dictate pace. He questions Ramos' technical advantages and recent performances, and also doubts Culibao's ability to thrive in wars. He expects a decision win for Ramos, but hopes Culibao wins.

"I am going to go Koli B I'm going to go Koli B by decision"
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Confident picked Aug 14, 2024 (4 days before fight)
Josh Culibao

Paul likes Culibao's brawling style and forward pressure, and questions Ramos' weight cut and recent performances. He notes that Culibao has been competitive in losses and that Ramos has been submitted quickly in his last two fights. Paul believes Culibao's volume and pressure will be enough to win a decision.

"for my money he's the guy to be backing"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Aug 12, 2024 (6 days before fight)
Josh Culibao

The MMA Guru picks Josh Culibao over Ricardo Ramos. He criticizes Ramos as a quitter who makes dumb decisions, such as rolling for legs and ending up on bottom, or jumping into guillotines. He praises Culibao as consistently good, with a good chin, pace, and rarely getting caught. He notes Culibao doesn't gas out or put himself in bad positions. He expects Ramos to make a mistake and get finished.

"Ricardo Ramos is a quitter um he puts himself in bad positions all the time... I'm going Josh kibba to win this fight"
LOSS vs Danny Silva
Decision R3 5:00 · UFC Fight Night: Tuivasa vs. Tybura · Mar 16, 2024
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Danny Silva 0 87 of 202 43% 89 of 205 0 of 4 0% 0 0 0:03
Josh Culibao 0 45 of 107 42% 56 of 119 4 of 9 44% 1 0 5:28
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Danny Silva 0 32 of 80 40% 32 of 80 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:00
Josh Culibao 0 11 of 28 39% 12 of 29 1 of 2 50% 1 0 1:25
2 Danny Silva 0 27 of 55 49% 28 of 57 0 of 2 0% 0 0 0:03
Josh Culibao 0 11 of 30 36% 13 of 32 2 of 4 50% 0 0 1:59
3 Danny Silva 0 28 of 67 41% 29 of 68 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:00
Josh Culibao 0 23 of 49 46% 31 of 58 1 of 3 33% 0 0 2:04
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Danny Silva 87 of 202 43% 59 of 168 20 of 26 8 of 8 86 of 199 1 of 3 0 of 0
Josh Culibao 45 of 107 42% 28 of 82 11 of 18 6 of 7 44 of 106 1 of 1 0 of 0
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Danny Silva 32 of 80 40% 23 of 69 7 of 9 2 of 2 32 of 80 0 of 0 0 of 0
Josh Culibao 11 of 28 39% 6 of 22 4 of 5 1 of 1 11 of 28 0 of 0 0 of 0
2 Danny Silva 27 of 55 49% 17 of 44 6 of 7 4 of 4 27 of 55 0 of 0 0 of 0
Josh Culibao 11 of 30 36% 10 of 25 0 of 3 1 of 2 11 of 30 0 of 0 0 of 0
3 Danny Silva 28 of 67 41% 19 of 55 7 of 10 2 of 2 27 of 64 1 of 3 0 of 0
Josh Culibao 23 of 49 46% 12 of 35 7 of 10 4 of 4 22 of 48 1 of 1 0 of 0
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Confident picked Mar 11, 2024 (5 days before fight)
Josh Culibao

Angelo is surprised the line is -170 for Culibao, but he thinks Culibao is the much better fighter everywhere. Culibao is a solid, aggressive striker who throws with heat and is always live for a knockout, while Silva has clean technique but is not dangerous and can be taken down. He notes Culibao looked terrible in his last loss but still expects him to win, and advises jumping on the line early as it may widen.

"he's the much better fighter everywhere Danny Silva has solid Bodywork good technique but he's not dangerous and can be taken down if he has success on the feet Josh is the pick"
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked Mar 12, 2024 (4 days before fight)
Danny Silva

Big Brady picks Danny Silva to win by third-round knockout. He likes Silva's relentless pressure and high volume, and thinks he can break Culibao, who has been finished before. He acknowledges Culibao's power but believes Silva's chin and pace will be too much.

by third round knockout
"I'm going to take Danny Silva to win this fight by third round knockout"
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Lean picked Mar 13, 2024 (3 days before fight)
Danny Silva

Cody picks Danny Silva as the underdog, citing his high volume and durability. He notes Culibao has low output (career high 53 significant strikes) and no takedowns in the UFC. Silva throws volume and can outwork Culibao, though he may get caught. He sees Silva's activity swaying the judges.

"Danny Silva is the underdog and I I see a world where Danny Silva just out volumes them just scraps with them."
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Mar 15, 2024 (1 day before fight)
Josh Culibao

The host expects a firefight on the feet but believes Culibao will eventually drag the fight to the ground and implement a submission-heavy game. He predicts Culibao will snatch a submission and mentions that the under 2.5 rounds is likely the best value.

under 2.5 rounds
"I do think that it'll be koui who eventually drags this fight to the ground and tries to implement a submission heavy game which should allow him to go out there and snatch that submission"
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Lean picked Mar 13, 2024 (3 days before fight)
Josh Culibao

Paul picks Josh Culibao, citing his experience and power. He is not impressed by Silva's regional competition and thinks Culibao can intercept Silva's recklessness with his own power. He acknowledges Silva's volume but believes Culibao's power and experience give him the edge.

"I'm in on a little Culibao because he's got a little more experience and maybe he intercepts Danny Silva being reckless on the way in."
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Mar 12, 2024 (4 days before fight)
Danny Silva

The Guru picks Danny Silva, impressed by his contender series performance and pace. He criticizes Culibao's recent wins as unimpressive, noting he was manhandled by Jai Herbert and struggled against low-level opponents. He believes Silva's body shots and power will be key, and that Culibao is 'soft-bodied' and vulnerable. He also mentions Culibao took a beating from Lerone Murphy.

"I'm going with Danny Silva over Joshua cibau... I think Danny Silva's got this one he's tough he's powerful he's got insane endurance."
LOSS vs Lerone Murphy
Decision (unanimous) (30–26, 30–26, 30–27) R3 5:00 · UFC Fight Night: Aspinall vs. Tybura · Jul 22, 2023
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Lerone Murphy 1 59 of 109 54% 87 of 144 3 of 5 60% 2 0 7:38
Josh Culibao 0 23 of 59 38% 40 of 77 0 of 2 0% 0 0 1:30
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Lerone Murphy 0 18 of 37 48% 18 of 37 0 of 1 0% 0 0 1:13
Josh Culibao 0 11 of 34 32% 20 of 43 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:08
2 Lerone Murphy 0 12 of 23 52% 24 of 38 1 of 1 100% 0 0 2:39
Josh Culibao 0 7 of 16 43% 14 of 24 0 of 2 0% 0 0 0:48
3 Lerone Murphy 1 29 of 49 59% 45 of 69 2 of 3 66% 2 0 3:46
Josh Culibao 0 5 of 9 55% 6 of 10 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:34
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Lerone Murphy 59 of 109 54% 37 of 81 15 of 18 7 of 10 24 of 61 12 of 14 23 of 34
Josh Culibao 23 of 59 38% 16 of 48 5 of 6 2 of 5 19 of 53 4 of 6 0 of 0
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Lerone Murphy 18 of 37 48% 8 of 25 5 of 6 5 of 6 15 of 33 3 of 4 0 of 0
Josh Culibao 11 of 34 32% 7 of 26 2 of 3 2 of 5 10 of 33 1 of 1 0 of 0
2 Lerone Murphy 12 of 23 52% 6 of 15 4 of 5 2 of 3 7 of 18 3 of 3 2 of 2
Josh Culibao 7 of 16 43% 5 of 14 2 of 2 0 of 0 5 of 13 2 of 3 0 of 0
3 Lerone Murphy 29 of 49 59% 23 of 41 6 of 7 0 of 1 2 of 10 6 of 7 21 of 32
Josh Culibao 5 of 9 55% 4 of 8 1 of 1 0 of 0 4 of 7 1 of 2 0 of 0
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Confident picked Jul 16, 2023 (6 days before fight)
Lerone Murphy

Angelo favors Lerone Murphy's fluid striking and power, noting that Josh Culibao gets hit often. He mentions Murphy's takedown defense is low but he scrambles well, and the judges seem to favor him. He has a half-unit bet on Murphy at -145.

half unit bet at -145
"I've got to go with larone here though his striking is insanely fluid he's got a ton of power"
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked Jul 18, 2023 (4 days before fight)
Lerone Murphy

Big Brady picks Lerone Murphy by decision. He notes this is a different matchup than Murphy's last fight against a grappler, as Culibao has zero takedowns in the UFC. He thinks Murphy's striking and volume will be key, and he has hometown advantage in London. He believes even if it's close, the judges will favor the undefeated fighter in London.

by decision
"give me Murphy give me Murphy by decision"
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Confident picked Jul 19, 2023 (3 days before fight)
Lerone Murphy

Cody picks Murphy, noting his well-roundedness, accurate striking, and wrestling. He thinks Murphy's volume and home crowd advantage will secure a decision. He is surprised by the line movement and thinks Murphy is being disrespected.

"minus 130 seems very very fair for Laurel Murphy so he's a guy that I've had circled"
DA
Daniel Levi Expert Lean picked Jul 20, 2023 (2 days before fight)
Lerone Murphy

Daniel leans toward Lerone Murphy, primarily due to potential hometown judging bias in London. He acknowledges Josh Culibao is a tough, scrappy fighter who finds ways to win, but thinks Murphy's volume and well-roundedness give him a slight edge. He notes that if the fight were in neutral territory, he'd view it as a pick'em, but in the UK, he gives Murphy a slight advantage. He expects a close fight, possibly a split decision.

Daniel says 'I'm gonna go later on by split decision' and mentions the line: Murphy -130, Culibao +110. He does not bet.
"I'm gonna go later on by split decision"
LU
Lucrative James Expert Lean picked Jul 18, 2023 (4 days before fight)
Josh Culibao

James leans towards Josh Culibao as the underdog side. He thinks the fight is close and likely to go to a split decision. He notes that Culibao may have some advantages like takedowns but is open on the feet. He mentions that Murphy has power but Culibao has good recovery. James says whoever is the underdog is probably the side, and at +130, Culibao has value.

"I think whoever is an underdog in that spot is probably the side so I'd say cool about the side here"
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Lean picked Jul 17, 2023 (5 days before fight)
Lerone Murphy

The host leans with Lerone Murphy, citing his physical advantages, explosiveness, speed, and power. He expects Murphy to land big shots and possibly knockdowns to thwart Culibao's pressure. He predicts a decision win but says he'll likely stay off the fight for betting.

likely stay off it for betting
"I'm gonna lean on the Murphy side here I believe his physical advantages his explosivity his speed his power will allow him to land those big shots on [ __ ] bow and grind this fight out"
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Confident picked Jul 19, 2023 (3 days before fight)
Lerone Murphy

Paul picks Murphy, citing his heart and ability to overcome adversity in his last fight. He thinks Murphy's jab and accuracy will win rounds, and that Culibao's level of opposition is low. He expects Murphy to chip away and win.

"I will take a little Murphy at home to get the job done"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Jul 17, 2023 (5 days before fight)
Lerone Murphy

The MMA Guru picks Lerone Murphy, initially considering Josh Culibao but reasoning that Murphy's poor performance against Gabriel Santos was due to short notice and injuries. He believes Murphy's composure and technical striking will outpoint Culibao, and notes the UK crowd advantage. The Guru also mentions Murphy's ability to find top position and his difficulty to finish.

"I've got to go with larone Murphy"
Submission (rear-naked choke) R2 2:02 · UFC 284: Makhachev vs. Volkanovski · Feb 12, 2023
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Josh Culibao 0 16 of 45 35% 16 of 45 0 of 0 --- 1 0 0:14
Melsik Baghdasaryan 0 26 of 44 59% 26 of 44 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Josh Culibao 0 11 of 31 35% 11 of 31 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Melsik Baghdasaryan 0 18 of 30 60% 18 of 30 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
2 Josh Culibao 0 5 of 14 35% 5 of 14 0 of 0 --- 1 0 0:14
Melsik Baghdasaryan 0 8 of 14 57% 8 of 14 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Josh Culibao 16 of 45 35% 3 of 24 3 of 8 10 of 13 15 of 43 1 of 2 0 of 0
Melsik Baghdasaryan 26 of 44 59% 6 of 19 8 of 10 12 of 15 24 of 41 2 of 3 0 of 0
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Josh Culibao 11 of 31 35% 1 of 15 1 of 5 9 of 11 11 of 30 0 of 1 0 of 0
Melsik Baghdasaryan 18 of 30 60% 3 of 12 5 of 7 10 of 11 18 of 30 0 of 0 0 of 0
2 Josh Culibao 5 of 14 35% 2 of 9 2 of 3 1 of 2 4 of 13 1 of 1 0 of 0
Melsik Baghdasaryan 8 of 14 57% 3 of 7 3 of 3 2 of 4 6 of 11 2 of 3 0 of 0
Play-by-Play
View on Sherdog
Melsik Baghdasaryan vs. Joshua Culibao
BETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Culibao (-120), Baghdasaryan (+100)

Round 1
Featherweights take center stage next in a matchup where neither man has ever landed a submission, so fists and feet are sure to fly. Repping his home country, Culibao (10-1-1, 2-1-1 UFC) collides with one of Glendale Fighting Club’s few remaining members in a major organization, Baghdasaryan (7-1, 2-0 UFC). Chins are sure to be tested early and often, so referee Peter Hickmott has strapped on his hard hat and is ready for the action. Despite the bad blood that developed on fight week, fists are bumped before they are swung. Baghdasaryan leads off with a leg kick, and he fires off a second in rapid succession. Culibao loops a head kick back in response, and he comes up short. Baghdasaryan pokes at the calf with his shin again, and Culibao winds up to make him pay with two of his own. The two trade low kicks one after the other, and Culibao changes stances after taking a particularly solid one. Culibao goes up high with a kick that is blocked, and he gets spun around from a chopping kick from “The Gun.” Culibao tries to close in and swipe out with a left hook, but Baghdasaryan is out of the way before it reaches him. Baghdasaryan digs a kick right to the liver, and Culibao winds up with one up high to respond but is just short. Baghdasaryan kicks the body again, and he settles down with a right hand when recoiling. Baghdasaryan gest off a low kick before Culibao can catch him back, and Culibao peppers him with three more as Baghdasaryan nods and smiles at him. The two get fired up and launch big left hooks, and Culibao begins to start checking the kick. Baghdasaryan goes up top with a kick and pulls back before Culibao can reach him in a reply. The two are trapped in a form of a mirror match, where one lands and the other tries to give the same blow back almost immediately. Baghdasaryan connects with a clean right hand to draw a stream of blood out of the nose, and he checks an oncoming low kick to follow. Baghdasaryan times a low kick to launch a left hand over the top, and Culibao just barely rolls it. Baghdasaryan spins with a back kick, and the heel smashes square into the cup and Culibao hits the mat in excruciating pain. Hickmott splits them up and informs Culibao he has five minutes to recover. Baghdasaryan tries to signal that it was not a groin shot, but on replay, he is informed of the foul. Baghdasaryan goes to apologize, and Culibao, still in agony, recognizes it was not at all intentional and holds no ill will. Culibao signals that after about two minutes, he is good to go, and the doctor is ushered out of the cage. Upon restart, Culibao lets fly a head kick, Baghdasaryan does the same, and the latter uses the momentum to fire off a tornado kick right before the horn sounds.

Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Baghdasaryan
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Baghdasaryan
Jack Dankoff scores the round: 10-9 Baghdasaryan

Round 2
Baghdasaryan offers a fist bump, and Culibao accepts it. Baghdasaryan comes up short by a matter of inches with an axe kick, and they crash together in an exchange and clash heads. Culibao protests, and Hickmott to tells them to fight on as Culibao reels. Baghdasaryan does not give chase, and instead appears to take a little time to clear his own head. Baghdasaryan reaches out with his right hand outstretched to hand-fight, and Culibao winds up with two kicks that make Baghdasaryan nod at him. They trade low kicks, and Baghdasaryan targets the body with his shin. Baghdasaryan kicks low, and
Culibao stabs out a jab and tackles him over to the floor to grab hold of his man in an instant. Baghdasaryan turns to his knees to stand back up, but this is the worst decision he can make, as Culibao takes his back and latches on to a rear-naked choke. The forearm begins to crush Baghdasaryan’s bottom jaw with the Californian’s mouth open, and Culibao sneakily slides it under the chin to cinch it up completely. Baghdasaryan does not need more than a second or two before he surrenders,
and Culibao has now landed the first submission of his career. The crowd goes wild, and Culibao leaps atop the cage and motions to the crowd to give him a beer. “Kuya” does not end up getting one in time, but he will likely be treated to many on the way out and more celebrating tonight.

The Official Result
Joshua Culibao def. Melsik Baghdasaryan R2 2:02 via Submission (Rear-Naked Choke)
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Lean picked Feb 5, 2023 (7 days before fight)
Josh Culibao

Angelo leans towards Josh Culibao, citing his impressive striking defense in his last fight and speed advantage. He notes that Melsik Baghdasaryan has raw power but struggled against a short-notice opponent. He expects a close fight and suggests betting on the plus 3.5 points line for the underdog, as it's likely a 29-28 decision.

Bet on plus 3.5 points for underdog
"I'm gonna lean [__] bow here melsic is likely the guy with more raw power but [__] about should be faster"
BI
Big Brady Expert Lean picked Feb 6, 2023 (6 days before fight)
Melsik Baghdasaryan

Big Brady thinks this is a close fight and has no strong lean. He picks Baghdasaryan as the better striker with more tools on the feet, but notes Baghdasaryan's cardio issues. He expects a close decision, possibly split, and acknowledges Culibao's underrated skills.

"I'm gonna take the better Striker ... Mel sick bogus sorry in here I'll take him to win by a very close and competitive decision"
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Lean picked Feb 8, 2023 (4 days before fight)
Josh Culibao

Cody picks Culibao, noting he is young (28) and has shown power and wrestling. He thinks Culibao can mix in takedowns and pressure, and has the crowd on his side. He is not confident because Culibao is even money and he doesn't like betting him at that price. He sees Baghdasaryan as one-dimensional and injury-prone.

"I think cool about Springs what I would say was the upset but it's even money so we just Springs the win I guess"
CO
Connor Ruebusch Expert Confident picked Feb 9, 2023 (3 days before fight)
Josh Culibao

Connor picks Culibao, emphasizing that Baghdasaryan's kicks are not a great way to maintain distance and that Culibao can pressure him, put a pace on him, and work his boxing. He notes that Baghdasaryan resets after every strike, giving Culibao opportunities to counter. Connor also points out that Culibao has remarkable poise and determination, and that Baghdasaryan's fights often look closer than they should because he doesn't finish people.

"I think cool about has even more than a lot of these fighters a pretty remarkable sort of poise and a determination to his approach."
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Lean picked Feb 8, 2023 (4 days before fight)
Melsik Baghdasaryan

Baghdasaryan has heavy hands and good power. Culibao's pressure style could walk into a knockout. Baghdasaryan has shown discipline and patience, finishing Colin England in round two. Culibao is durable but has been hurt before. Baghdasaryan's power should be the difference early. If it goes longer, Culibao's pressure could cause issues, but Baghdasaryan likely lands a big shot in the first round.

"I do think though that coolibow is gonna walk himself into getting knocked out in the early goings of this fight"
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Lean picked Feb 8, 2023 (4 days before fight)
Melsik Baghdasaryan

Paul slightly leans Baghdasaryan if the fight becomes a 15-minute standup battle, citing his more complex striking and higher volume. He notes Culibao's low output in recent fights. However, he is not betting the fight and rates neither fighter's wrestling highly.

"if this fight turns into a 15 minute stand-up fight I'll ever slightly lean towards Mel sic bag disarion"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Lean picked Feb 6, 2023 (6 days before fight)
Melsik Baghdasaryan

The MMA Guru picks Melsik Baghdasaryan over Josh Culibao, noting that Culibao's success comes from opponents getting wild, while Baghdasaryan is composed and fundamental. He expects a tactical fight with Baghdasaryan winning by decision 29-28, landing more strikes without getting into scrambles.

decision 29-28
"I'm gonna go melt it back to Syrian by decision 29-28"
ZA
Zane Simon Expert Confident picked Feb 9, 2023 (3 days before fight)
Josh Culibao

Zane picks Culibao because he is a prepared and disciplined fighter who sticks to his game plan. He notes that Culibao has a knack for creating gritty wins and that Baghdasaryan's kicking-heavy style is vulnerable to pressure and clinch work. Zane believes Culibao can crash through Baghdasaryan's range, take him down, or grind him against the fence, and that Baghdasaryan's finishing ability has dried up at the UFC level.

"I think this is a very winnable, you know, it's certainly a more dissectable opponent than Charles Jordain, who Koolabow fought his way to a very, you know, hard battled draw."
WIN vs SeungWoo Choi
Decision (split) (28–29, 29–28, 29–28) R3 5:00 · UFC 275: Teixeira vs. Prochazka · Jun 12, 2022
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Josh Culibao 0 46 of 163 28% 64 of 184 1 of 2 50% 0 0 2:30
SeungWoo Choi 2 51 of 111 45% 69 of 132 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:58
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Josh Culibao 0 17 of 62 27% 18 of 63 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:25
SeungWoo Choi 1 23 of 47 48% 35 of 62 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:20
2 Josh Culibao 0 16 of 59 27% 16 of 59 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:00
SeungWoo Choi 1 19 of 43 44% 19 of 43 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:02
3 Josh Culibao 0 13 of 42 30% 30 of 62 1 of 1 100% 0 0 2:05
SeungWoo Choi 0 9 of 21 42% 15 of 27 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:36
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Josh Culibao 46 of 163 28% 29 of 137 6 of 14 11 of 12 39 of 147 4 of 10 3 of 6
SeungWoo Choi 51 of 111 45% 40 of 97 7 of 9 4 of 5 40 of 95 6 of 8 5 of 8
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Josh Culibao 17 of 62 27% 13 of 56 1 of 3 3 of 3 15 of 58 2 of 4 0 of 0
SeungWoo Choi 23 of 47 48% 20 of 42 3 of 4 0 of 1 17 of 36 2 of 4 4 of 7
2 Josh Culibao 16 of 59 27% 10 of 50 2 of 4 4 of 5 15 of 56 1 of 3 0 of 0
SeungWoo Choi 19 of 43 44% 16 of 39 1 of 2 2 of 2 17 of 41 1 of 1 1 of 1
3 Josh Culibao 13 of 42 30% 6 of 31 3 of 7 4 of 4 9 of 33 1 of 3 3 of 6
SeungWoo Choi 9 of 21 42% 4 of 16 3 of 3 2 of 2 6 of 18 3 of 3 0 of 0
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Confident picked Jun 5, 2022 (7 days before fight)
SeungWoo Choi

Angelo picks Choi, expecting him to keep the fight technical and avoid a brawl. He notes Culibao is tough and has power but is willing to fight dirty, which could be dangerous. However, he believes Choi's technical striking and ability to mix in takedowns will secure a decision win.

"i like joining this fight i think he can keep it technical avoid that phone booth brawl and cruise to a solid striking showcase win"
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked Jun 6, 2022 (6 days before fight)
SeungWoo Choi

Big Brady picks SeungWoo Choi to win by decision. He notes that Choi is a very good Muay Thai striker with power, while Culibao has zero takedown accuracy in the UFC and is unlikely to take Choi down. He expects the fight to stay on the feet, where Choi has the advantage.

"I got to favor SeungWoo Choi here I think he's the better striker so yeah pretty simple fight to break down for me pretty straightforward pick here give me SeungWoo Choi to win by decision."
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Confident picked Jun 8, 2022 (4 days before fight)
SeungWoo Choi

Cody picks Choi, citing his length, Muay Thai background, and improved takedown defense. He thinks Choi's striking will be too much for Culibao, who is shorter and less technical. He expects Choi to win by decision or late stoppage.

"i think this is a good spot for him to jump back on track"
DA
Daniel Levi Expert Lean picked Jun 9, 2022 (3 days before fight)
SeungWoo Choi

Daniel Levi picks SeungWoo Choi, citing his physicality, knockout power, and technical striking. He is not fully convinced about Josh Culibao's ceiling and sees Choi as the better athlete. He notes that Culibao's best chance is to win competitive striking exchanges, but Choi's advantages should prevail. He is not betting the fight.

"my pick is gonna be song and also the size difference here I'm very curious to see how apparent that is"
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Jun 10, 2022 (2 days before fight)
SeungWoo Choi

Choi is the better striker with range and power. Culibao wants to brawl, but Choi can stay on the outside and pick him apart. Culibao's chin is granite, so a decision is likely. Choi is a solid parlay piece. I think Choi wins by decision.

Choi by decision (+175)
"I think troy is the better fighter better striker and if culibao's chin wasn't made of granite i think he'd be able to knock him out here but i think he's going to style on him for the majority of …"
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Confident picked Jun 8, 2022 (4 days before fight)
SeungWoo Choi

Paul agrees with Cody, noting Choi's length and striking advantage. He thinks Culibao's takedowns won't be effective and that Choi will control the distance. He sees Choi as the rightful favorite.

"choi is the rightful favor minus 235 seems like a high price to be paying"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Hesitant picked Jun 6, 2022 (6 days before fight)
SeungWoo Choi

The MMA Guru picks SeungWoo Choi by 29-28 decision, but warns not to sleep on Josh Culibao. He acknowledges Culibao's skills and close fight with Jordan, but believes Choi's superior stand-up, reach advantage, and Muay Thai credentials will give him the edge. He expects Choi to win the first two rounds clearly, with Culibao possibly taking the third due to volume. He rates Choi's chances at 6.5-7 out of 10, not higher.

"i'm gonna go sung wu choy but do not sleep on joshua calibal"
Decision (unanimous) (29–28, 29–28, 29–28) R3 5:00 · UFC Fight Night: Font vs. Garbrandt · May 22, 2021
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Josh Culibao 0 53 of 104 50% 87 of 140 0 of 1 0% 1 0 0:04
Shayilan Nuerdanbieke 0 17 of 63 26% 23 of 71 2 of 14 14% 0 0 6:06
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Josh Culibao 0 11 of 14 78% 21 of 25 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Shayilan Nuerdanbieke 0 6 of 18 33% 9 of 21 1 of 6 16% 0 0 3:40
2 Josh Culibao 0 21 of 44 47% 34 of 58 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:02
Shayilan Nuerdanbieke 0 5 of 21 23% 5 of 22 0 of 3 0% 0 0 0:54
3 Josh Culibao 0 21 of 46 45% 32 of 57 0 of 0 --- 1 0 0:02
Shayilan Nuerdanbieke 0 6 of 24 25% 9 of 28 1 of 5 20% 0 0 1:32
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Josh Culibao 53 of 104 50% 34 of 82 1 of 1 18 of 21 51 of 101 2 of 3 0 of 0
Shayilan Nuerdanbieke 17 of 63 26% 13 of 55 3 of 4 1 of 4 12 of 53 5 of 10 0 of 0
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Josh Culibao 11 of 14 78% 6 of 9 0 of 0 5 of 5 10 of 13 1 of 1 0 of 0
Shayilan Nuerdanbieke 6 of 18 33% 4 of 13 2 of 3 0 of 2 2 of 12 4 of 6 0 of 0
2 Josh Culibao 21 of 44 47% 12 of 32 1 of 1 8 of 11 20 of 43 1 of 1 0 of 0
Shayilan Nuerdanbieke 5 of 21 23% 4 of 20 0 of 0 1 of 1 4 of 19 1 of 2 0 of 0
3 Josh Culibao 21 of 46 45% 16 of 41 0 of 0 5 of 5 21 of 45 0 of 1 0 of 0
Shayilan Nuerdanbieke 6 of 24 25% 5 of 22 1 of 1 0 of 1 6 of 22 0 of 2 0 of 0
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked May 18, 2021 (4 days before fight)
Josh Culibao

Big Brady picks Culibao based on superior competition and a strong performance against Charles Jourdain (a draw he thought Culibao won). He expects a decision win but notes a knockout wouldn't shock him. He acknowledges Nuerdanbieke's solid wrestling and striking but questions his level of opposition.

Culibao by decision
"i'm going to take josh cole about to win i'm going to say by decision"
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Confident picked May 19, 2021 (3 days before fight)
Josh Culibao

Cody Saftic picks Josh Culibao, noting that Nuerdanbieke's record is built on low-level Chinese competition and that he looked out of place in his UFC debut. He believes Culibao's boxing and takedown defense will be enough to win, likely by knockout. Saftic is interested in the under 2.5 rounds at plus money, as he expects a finish.

under 2.5 rounds (+155)
"under under i'm gonna bet the under"
DA
Daniel Levi Expert Confident picked May 20, 2021 (2 days before fight)
Josh Culibao

Daniel Levi picks Josh Culibao, noting that Culibao has faced tough competition in the UFC (Jalin Turner, Charles Jourdain) and has paid his dues training with Volkanovski. He believes Shayilan Nuerdanbieke is not ready for the UFC, citing the poor performances of Chinese male prospects and the difficulty of the long flight from China. He expects Culibao to get his first UFC win.

"i think that this is a fight he's going to come out here show off all his hard work he's been training with volkanovsky he's been doing the right things he's paid his dues come out here and take care …"
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Lean picked May 19, 2021 (3 days before fight)
Josh Culibao

Matt picks Josh Culibao by KO, but is not betting the fight due to the high price (-250). He thinks Culibao's toughness and pressure will be too much for Shayilan, who has faced weak competition. He notes Chinese fighters have not performed well in the UFC recently. He sees Culibao landing better strikes and possibly mixing in takedowns, and likes the KO prop at +350.

Josh Culibao by KO (+350)
"i'm gonna go coolibao ko uh as my official prediction for this fight"
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Confident picked May 19, 2021 (3 days before fight)
Josh Culibao

Paul Shaughnessy picks Culibao, echoing Saftic's concerns about Nuerdanbieke's level of competition. He notes that Culibao has fought tougher opponents and that his boxing looked improved in his last fight. He believes Culibao will win by knockout or decision, but prefers the under 2.5 rounds as a bet.

under 2.5 rounds
"under is what i'm drawn to right now what's your take here"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked May 22, 2021 (fight day)
Josh Culibao

The MMA Guru predicts Josh Culibao will win by first-round TKO via a straight right hand. He believes Culibao will be too fast and powerful in the opening round, and that Nuerdanbieke's only chance is a first-round finish. Culibao will land a straight right down the pipe to put Nuerdanbieke down and finish him.

"joshua khalibal is going to win this one first round tko"
Draw (split) (30–27, 28–29, 28–28) R3 5:00 · UFC on ESPN: Holm vs. Aldana · Oct 04, 2020
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Charles Jourdain 0 44 of 101 43% 68 of 126 0 of 0 --- 3 0 2:51
Josh Culibao 1 46 of 124 37% 51 of 130 0 of 7 0% 0 0 2:28
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Charles Jourdain 0 7 of 14 50% 8 of 15 0 of 0 --- 1 0 0:18
Josh Culibao 1 10 of 34 29% 10 of 34 0 of 4 0% 0 0 2:10
2 Charles Jourdain 0 16 of 43 37% 23 of 51 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:34
Josh Culibao 0 21 of 55 38% 21 of 55 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:00
3 Charles Jourdain 0 21 of 44 47% 37 of 60 0 of 0 --- 2 0 1:59
Josh Culibao 0 15 of 35 42% 20 of 41 0 of 2 0% 0 0 0:18
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Charles Jourdain 44 of 101 43% 17 of 63 10 of 19 17 of 19 34 of 81 0 of 0 10 of 20
Josh Culibao 46 of 124 37% 19 of 78 22 of 40 5 of 6 40 of 115 2 of 2 4 of 7
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Charles Jourdain 7 of 14 50% 0 of 4 2 of 5 5 of 5 7 of 14 0 of 0 0 of 0
Josh Culibao 10 of 34 29% 4 of 17 3 of 14 3 of 3 7 of 30 2 of 2 1 of 2
2 Charles Jourdain 16 of 43 37% 4 of 24 5 of 11 7 of 8 15 of 42 0 of 0 1 of 1
Josh Culibao 21 of 55 38% 9 of 37 12 of 17 0 of 1 21 of 55 0 of 0 0 of 0
3 Charles Jourdain 21 of 44 47% 13 of 35 3 of 3 5 of 6 12 of 25 0 of 0 9 of 19
Josh Culibao 15 of 35 42% 6 of 24 7 of 9 2 of 2 12 of 30 0 of 0 3 of 5
Play-by-Play
View on Sherdog
Charles Jourdain vs. Joshua Culibao

Round 1
Churning right along to a featherweight contest between two men hungry for a win, massive favorite “Air” Jourdain (10-3, 1-2 UFC) takes on Culibao (8-1, 0-1 UFC) in a scrap that has only seen them go the distance three times across their 18 wins. Referee Jason Herzog is charge of the cage for this one, and a glove touch precedes the action. Jourdain embraces his nickname by flying out of his corner with a flying kick that would make Liu Kang proud. Culibao evades it and backs off, and Jourdain is on him throwing kicks and a flying knee. Culibao grabs hold of him as he blocks part of the knee, pushing the Canadian into the cage and pursuing a trip takedown. Jourdain keeps his balance as he hops around while Culibao locks up a knee, and the two push off. Culibao throws up a head kick that gets blocked, and “Air” Jourdain slaps the lead leg with his own kick. They punch at the same time, and Jourdain targets the leg again. Culibao fires back with kicks to the body and head, and Jourdan walks through them but takes another kick to his waist. Jourdain hammers a leg kick that makes Culibao stumble, and Culibao blasts Jourdain in the face with a right hand to send the Canadian crashing to the ground. When Jourdain stands up, he gives up his neck and Culibao snatches on with a choke. Jourdain stands up as his nose is busted, and Culibao pushes him to the cage. Jourdain defends it by sprawling and fishing for a guillotine choke of his own, and Culibao pulls his head out and falls back into the same place. Jourdan wrenches him down and locks up the mounted guillotine choke before rolling to north-south position. Culibao scrambles wildly, bucking and yanking his neck out of danger. Jourdain gets up and allows his foe to stand, where he fires off one last kick to end the round.

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

Round 2
Jourdain attacks the body in the early going, landing a few shots and avoiding a flying strike from the Aussie. Culibao connects with a right hand, and then a left-right catches Jourdain on the chin. Jourdain lures him in and leaps forward with a knee, but Culibao evades it in time. Jourdain switches to a pair of body kicks, and Culibao comes back at him with a lunging left hand. Culibao sticks out a few jabs and gets kicked in the leg, where Jourdain follows through with a left to the gut. Jourdain fires off a head kick and ducks a left hand, and he commits to another left head kick. Jourdain pushes off, and Culibao clutches his eye. When the action pauses as Culibao rubs his eye, Culibao admits that he poked himself in the eye. A surprised Herzog restarts the fight immediately, and Williams charges in and throws a few kicks. Culibao is ready waiting for him with a few thumping body kicks, and Jourdain presses forward but gets countered coming in. “Air” Jourdain lands another leg kick, and he barely blocks a one-two that comes screaming at his face. Culibao jumps forward with a few punches, and Jourdain slings a wild left hook. Three punches from Culibao end with a punch to the body, and Culibao stumbles and falls forward. Trying to turn this into a takedown, Jourdain latches on to the neck and turns Culibao over. Jourdain cannot sink the choke in as Culibao gets back to his knees, so Jourdain stays content to work the body until the horn halts the round.

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

Round 3
When the third round begins, Culibao kicks the body and pushes forward to press Jourdain into the cage wall. The Aussie pursues a body lock takedown, but he cannot secure it and the Canadian frees himself from his grip. Jourdain bites down on his mouthpiece and wings a right hand, where he hurts Culibao. Jourdain pours it on as he swings with reckless abandon in the form of wild punches and flying knees. Culibao backs to the fence and turtles up, where he waits for Jourdain to stop striking so he can unleash a few punches. Culibao manages to get him backed off, but Jourdain kicks at him a few times. Culibao lands a kick to the groin, but Jourdain is amped up and asks to keep going. Culibao shoots in low for a takedown, and Jourdain goes hunting for the guillotine choke again. The Canadian jumps down with the choke on top, but it is not tight, so he breaks the grip and lands some punches from half guard. When Jourdain tries to get off some more strikes from on top, Culibao recovers full guard and defends against most of the strikes that come his way. Jourdain postures up after scoring a few punches to the body by landing some huge shots. Culibao rolls over in pain, and Herzog thinks it might have been an illegal blow so he does not stop the fight. Jourdain hops on top to grab hold of an armbar, and while he is looking to secure it, he hammers Culibao on the top of the head with elbows. Jourdain tightens up his legs to turn the submission into a triangle armbar, and Culibao powers his way out and miraculously gets to his feet. Jourdain stumbles a little as he might have gassed his legs, and Culibao comes out firing. Jourdain leaps and misses with a pair of flying knees as Culibao points to the center of the cage to embody Max Holloway. The two oblige, trading right to the final bell to end this close fight with a flourish.

Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Jourdain (29-28 Culibao)
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Jourdain (29-28 Jourdain)
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Jourdain (29-28 Jourdain)

The Official Result
Charles Jourdain vs. Joshua Culibao is ruled a Split Draw (30-27, 28-29, 28-28)
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked Sep 30, 2020 (4 days before fight)
Charles Jourdain

Big Brady confidently picks Charles Jourdain to win by knockout. He highlights Jourdain's durability, power, and technical striking, while noting Culibao was dominated by Jalen Turner and is not UFC caliber. He sees Jourdain as better everywhere.

knockout
"give me charles jordan to win by knockout here"
DA
Daniel Levi Expert Confident picked Oct 2, 2020 (2 days before fight)
Charles Jourdain

Daniel picks Jourdain, citing his higher level of competition and flashy striking style. He expects Jourdain to either stop Culibao or style on him, noting that Culibao will look better at featherweight but Jourdain's pace and spirit will take over late. He mentions Jourdain's wrestling defense is shaky but believes his striking will be the difference.

"i'm going to go with air jordan and get it done"
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Hesitant picked Oct 1, 2020 (3 days before fight)
Charles Jourdain

The host acknowledges Jourdain's skill advantage but is concerned about his poor takedown defense, which could be exploited by Culibao. He predicts a first or second-round KO for Jourdain but finds the -440 line too steep to bet. He suggests inside the distance at -140 as a better option.

Under 2.5 rounds -145; Jourdain inside distance -140
"i still will go with jordan to win this fight via tko... but uh yeah i'm a little skeptical of that -440 line"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Sep 28, 2020 (6 days before fight)
Charles Jourdain

The Guru picks Charles Jourdain, praising his last performance against Andre Fili and his improved wrestling defense. He criticizes Culibao's competition and believes Jourdain will win in dominant fashion, predicting a TKO in the second round.

Prediction: TKO round 2
"i'm going to be going with charles jordan getting it done against joshua khalibal by being a little bit too switched on"
LOSS vs Jalin Turner
TKO (punches) R2 3:01 · UFC Fight Night: Felder vs. Hooker · Feb 23, 2020
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Jalin Turner 0 55 of 91 60% 90 of 129 0 of 1 0% 3 0 4:21
Josh Culibao 0 12 of 28 42% 12 of 30 0 of 3 0% 0 0 0:09
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Jalin Turner 0 22 of 39 56% 25 of 43 0 of 1 0% 2 0 2:53
Josh Culibao 0 8 of 18 44% 8 of 20 0 of 2 0% 0 0 0:09
2 Jalin Turner 0 33 of 52 63% 65 of 86 0 of 0 --- 1 0 1:28
Josh Culibao 0 4 of 10 40% 4 of 10 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:00
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Jalin Turner 55 of 91 60% 38 of 65 17 of 25 0 of 1 14 of 37 9 of 15 32 of 39
Josh Culibao 12 of 28 42% 7 of 21 4 of 6 1 of 1 9 of 23 3 of 5 0 of 0
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Jalin Turner 22 of 39 56% 9 of 19 13 of 20 0 of 0 7 of 19 6 of 11 9 of 9
Josh Culibao 8 of 18 44% 4 of 12 3 of 5 1 of 1 5 of 14 3 of 4 0 of 0
2 Jalin Turner 33 of 52 63% 29 of 46 4 of 5 0 of 1 7 of 18 3 of 4 23 of 30
Josh Culibao 4 of 10 40% 3 of 9 1 of 1 0 of 0 4 of 9 0 of 1 0 of 0
DA
Daniel Levi Expert Confident picked Feb 21, 2020 (2 days before fight)
Josh Culibao

Daniel Levi picks Josh Culibao for the upset, citing Jalin Turner's questionable chin and takedown defense. He notes that Turner has been knocked out multiple times and takes unnecessary hard shots. Levi believes Culibao, despite being undersized, has knockout power and can exploit Turner's defensive flaws. He predicts Culibao will get a knockout win and possibly a Performance of the Night bonus.

knockout, Performance of the Night
"I'm actually gonna go as far as picking him for a shock upset, so I'm gonna pick Josh Culibao to come out here upset Jalin Turner."
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Feb 14, 2020 (9 days before fight)
Josh Culibao

The host picks Josh Culibao, initially unsure but after learning Culibao is a featherweight, he sticks with him. He calls Jalin Turner 'complete trash' with an 8-5 record, and believes Culibao will get the job done despite being smaller.

"Joshua Kelly Bao is gonna get the job done over Joe Lynn Turner"
Expert Picks (6)
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Confident picked Mar 11, 2024 (5 days before fight)
Josh Culibao

Angelo is surprised the line is -170 for Culibao, but he thinks Culibao is the much better fighter everywhere. Culibao is a solid, aggressive striker who throws with heat and is always live for a knockout, while Silva has clean technique but is not dangerous and can be taken down. He notes Culibao looked terrible in his last loss but still expects him to win, and advises jumping on the line early as it may widen.

"he's the much better fighter everywhere Danny Silva has solid Bodywork good technique but he's not dangerous and can be taken down if he has success on the feet Josh is the pick"
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked Mar 12, 2024 (4 days before fight)
Danny Silva

Big Brady picks Danny Silva to win by third-round knockout. He likes Silva's relentless pressure and high volume, and thinks he can break Culibao, who has been finished before. He acknowledges Culibao's power but believes Silva's chin and pace will be too much.

by third round knockout
"I'm going to take Danny Silva to win this fight by third round knockout"
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Lean picked Mar 13, 2024 (3 days before fight)
Danny Silva

Cody picks Danny Silva as the underdog, citing his high volume and durability. He notes Culibao has low output (career high 53 significant strikes) and no takedowns in the UFC. Silva throws volume and can outwork Culibao, though he may get caught. He sees Silva's activity swaying the judges.

"Danny Silva is the underdog and I I see a world where Danny Silva just out volumes them just scraps with them."
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Mar 15, 2024 (1 day before fight)
Josh Culibao

The host expects a firefight on the feet but believes Culibao will eventually drag the fight to the ground and implement a submission-heavy game. He predicts Culibao will snatch a submission and mentions that the under 2.5 rounds is likely the best value.

under 2.5 rounds
"I do think that it'll be koui who eventually drags this fight to the ground and tries to implement a submission heavy game which should allow him to go out there and snatch that submission"
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Lean picked Mar 13, 2024 (3 days before fight)
Josh Culibao

Paul picks Josh Culibao, citing his experience and power. He is not impressed by Silva's regional competition and thinks Culibao can intercept Silva's recklessness with his own power. He acknowledges Silva's volume but believes Culibao's power and experience give him the edge.

"I'm in on a little Culibao because he's got a little more experience and maybe he intercepts Danny Silva being reckless on the way in."
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Mar 12, 2024 (4 days before fight)
Danny Silva

The Guru picks Danny Silva, impressed by his contender series performance and pace. He criticizes Culibao's recent wins as unimpressive, noting he was manhandled by Jai Herbert and struggled against low-level opponents. He believes Silva's body shots and power will be key, and that Culibao is 'soft-bodied' and vulnerable. He also mentions Culibao took a beating from Lerone Murphy.

"I'm going with Danny Silva over Joshua cibau... I think Danny Silva's got this one he's tough he's powerful he's got insane endurance."