Career Averages - Zachary Reese
Career Averages - Duško Todorović
Zachary Reese
Duško Todorović
Zachary Reese - Fight History
Play-by-Play
View on SherdogBETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Gandra (-130), Reese (+110)
Round 1
Fists are sure to fly in this middleweight smash-em-up derby between two men who tend not to waste much time in the cage with dueling finish rates right around 80% a pop. Gandra (9-1, 1-0 UFC) has earned most of his wins via strikes, while half of the victories for Reese (10-3, 1 NC; 4-3, 1 NC UFC) occurred in this similar fashion. Referee Mike Beltran takes charge of the cage, stepping back as the 185ers touch ‘em up.
Reese meanders directly to the center of the cage, dancing away the moment Gandra swats at him with range-finders. Reese catches Gandra coming in with a left hand and a body kick, and he slips a punch to the body. Reese slips and counters again, remaining elusive but not moving too far away so that he is out of range with responses. This allows him to catch Gandra a few times, but Gandra has also landed on both sides of his temple to redden him up. The Terminator that is Gandra winds up a massive left hand, leaping into it with everything he has. Boop. Taking it flush on the jaw, Reese goes flying, hitting his back and shelling up in a hurry. Gandra rains down some punches, and it does not take long for Beltran to step in. The stoppage may have been a little premature given that Reese stood back up and immediately started jawing at Beltran, but he might have also been flashed knocked out and trying to still fight. No matter how one feels about the intervention, to quote the inimitable Mike Goldberg, it is all over. Mulleted athletes no longer remain undefeated tonight, as the blonde-locked Brazilian wipes out the man with business in the front and a party in the back.
The Official Result
Ryan Gandra def. Zachary Reese R1 1:15 via TKO (Punches)
AJ picks Gandra, stating he thinks Gondrez (likely Gandra) will knock Reese out flat. He mentions money line odds at minus 190.
AJ sees this as a close-range boxing mismatch where Gandra will blitz Reese. He thinks Gandra has sensational knockout power and will start fast, likely winning by KO. He notes that Gandra KO is at +100 and under 1.5 rounds at +135. He also mentions Gandra by decision at +1000 as a long shot.
AJ picks Gandra to win by knockout, emphasizing his power, forward pressure, and physicality. He believes Reese's striking defense is suspect and that Gandra's aggressive style will overwhelm him. AJ notes that Gandra's power is a major factor and that Reese's recent loss to Pereira shows vulnerability.
AJ picks Ryan Gandra by first-round knockout, highlighting Gandra's power and pressure boxing. He believes Gandra's close-range boxing and overhand shots will overwhelm Zachary Reese, who is a kicker but susceptible to being walked down. He notes Gandra's quick UFC debut knockout and expects a violent finish.
Angelo picks Ryan Gandra, believing he will land whatever he wants and keep coming forward. He respects Zachary Reese's toughness but thinks he won't have an answer, especially on the ground where Gandra can control and strike. He notes the fight is low stakes but fun.
Angelo picks Ryan Gandra because he is a busy forward pressure striker who lets his hands go and is tough. He notes that Zack Reese is inconsistent and has a special place in his heart for the wrong reasons, having cost him a parlay. He believes Gandra is too tough and will move forward, making him the pick, but sees live bet opportunity if Reese survives early.
Big Brady picks Lone'er Kavanagh, citing Brandon Royval's age (33), accumulated damage, poor striking defense, and questionable chin. He believes Kavanagh is on the rise, with sharp, accurate, and powerful striking, and will clip Royval. He expects a knockout or a damage-based decision, and is surprised the KO prop is plus money.
Big Brady is confident Gandra wins by first-round KO, but only at the right price. He laughs at the +190 opener, saying Gandra should be -250 or -300. He thinks Gandra will knock out Reese early, but if it goes past round one, it gets gross due to Gandra's poor cardio. He might bet under 1.5 rounds or KO1, but won't lay -200 on the moneyline.
Big Brady picks Ryan Gandra to win by first-round knockout. He praises Gandra's power and takedown defense, expecting him to walk down Reese and land big shots. He criticizes Reese's poor striking defense and suspect chin, noting he has been hurt and knocked out before. He believes Gandra will stuff takedowns and finish early.
Big Brady picks Ryan Gandra to win in round one at +215 for 1 unit. He believes Gandra has a couple minutes of explosive offense to finish the chinny Zach Reese, who has poor striking defense and gets hurt often. If the fight extends past round one, he favors Reese's experience and cardio. He also suggests a live bet on Reese if he survives the first round.
Cody picks Ryan Gandra, citing his power and Reese's durability issues. He notes Reese's poor cardio and defensive liabilities. He expects a finish, likely by Gandra, and recommends under 2.5 rounds.
Daniel Levi leans toward Zachary Reese, citing his experience and recent strong performance against Michelle Pereira. He acknowledges Gandra's power and physicality but wants to see more from him against real competition. Levi believes Reese can find his range and take over if he weathers the early storm.
Jacob picks Ryan Gandra by first round knockout. He criticizes Zach Reese's defense, saying he doesn't move his head and has typical tall guy defense with his chin up. He believes Gandra's right hand down the middle will connect and hurt Reese, leading to an early knockout. He is not worried about the moneyline and specifically plays the first round knockout prop.
Lucrative James picks Zachary Reese via KO, despite Reese's chin issues. He believes Reese is more proven with a diverse skill set and that Gandra's wild striking will be exposed. He notes Gandra's early knockout power but thinks Reese's experience against higher-level competition will prevail.
The host believes Gandra is technically superior and that will be the difference maker, leading to a stoppage. He specifically picks Gandra by submission.
The host leans with Gandra due to his superior all-around skills, judo, and top control, predicting a submission in the first two rounds. However, he acknowledges Reese's early power and speed could cause an upset, and he would need a better price than -150 to bet.
Paul picks Ryan Gandra, agreeing with Cody. He notes the line movement and believes Gandra's power will be decisive. He plans to bet Gandra round 1 at plus money.
The MMA Guru picks Ryan Gandra to win by KO in the first round. He criticizes Zachary Reese's coordination and chin, noting that Reese has a long neck and tiny head, making him hittable. He trusts Gandra's knockout ability and momentum, but acknowledges that if the fight goes to later rounds, Reese's grappling could be a factor.
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zachary Reese | 0 | 74 of 148 | 50% | 81 of 160 | 1 of 3 | 33% | 1 | 0 | 0:47 |
| Michel Pereira | 0 | 63 of 132 | 47% | 70 of 139 | 2 of 2 | 100% | 0 | 0 | 0:48 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Zachary Reese | 0 | 23 of 51 | 45% | 26 of 56 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Michel Pereira | 0 | 18 of 40 | 45% | 25 of 47 | 1 of 1 | 100% | 0 | 0 | 0:42 | |
| 2 | Zachary Reese | 0 | 24 of 44 | 54% | 28 of 49 | 1 of 1 | 100% | 0 | 0 | 0:44 |
| Michel Pereira | 0 | 22 of 42 | 52% | 22 of 42 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:03 | |
| 3 | Zachary Reese | 0 | 27 of 53 | 50% | 27 of 55 | 0 of 2 | 0% | 1 | 0 | 0:03 |
| Michel Pereira | 0 | 23 of 50 | 46% | 23 of 50 | 1 of 1 | 100% | 0 | 0 | 0:03 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zachary Reese | 74 of 148 | 50% | 24 of 90 | 30 of 38 | 20 of 20 | 72 of 142 | 2 of 6 | 0 of 0 |
| Michel Pereira | 63 of 132 | 47% | 29 of 75 | 31 of 53 | 3 of 4 | 53 of 119 | 9 of 11 | 1 of 2 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Zachary Reese | 23 of 51 | 45% | 4 of 29 | 8 of 11 | 11 of 11 | 23 of 50 | 0 of 1 | 0 of 0 |
| Michel Pereira | 18 of 40 | 45% | 8 of 21 | 10 of 19 | 0 of 0 | 15 of 35 | 2 of 4 | 1 of 1 | |
| 2 | Zachary Reese | 24 of 44 | 54% | 9 of 25 | 11 of 15 | 4 of 4 | 23 of 41 | 1 of 3 | 0 of 0 |
| Michel Pereira | 22 of 42 | 52% | 12 of 25 | 9 of 16 | 1 of 1 | 16 of 35 | 6 of 6 | 0 of 1 | |
| 3 | Zachary Reese | 27 of 53 | 50% | 11 of 36 | 11 of 12 | 5 of 5 | 26 of 51 | 1 of 2 | 0 of 0 |
| Michel Pereira | 23 of 50 | 46% | 9 of 29 | 12 of 18 | 2 of 3 | 22 of 49 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 0 |
Play-by-Play
View on SherdogRound 1
Herb Dean is the referee. Pereira lands a hard body kick to begin the main card. Pereira counters a kick with a glancing overhand, but Reese seems to be OK. Pereira jabs the body. Pereira counters another kick with a right hand and Reese goes down. Pereira welcomes Reese back to his feet. Reese lands a body kick. Pereira with a front kick down the middle. Pereira jabs the body. Reese moves in and lands a knee to the body. Reese attempts an inside leg kick, but Herb Dean calls time because it apparently landed low. The crowd isn’t buying it but Pereira takes about a minute. Pereira tries for that same overhand counter following a Reese kick but it’s not as successful as it was earlier. Reese moves in and lands a combination to the body. Reese kicks the body, and Pereira grimaces, as it landed below the belt again. A replay review determines that it was indeed a foul, despite the protests of the fans. Reese lands a kick and they engage in the clinch, with both men swinging wildly during a brief exchange. An errant spinning attack by Reese results in a takedown for Pereira. Reese stands, but Pereira grabs the neck and lands a couple knees on the break. Pereira stabs the body with a front kick. Reese leaps in wildly, but Pereira can’t capitalize. Reese makes his foe stumble with a low kick before the horn.
Sherdog Scores
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Pereira
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Pereira
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Pereira
Round 2
Reese targets the body with kicks. They clinch, and Pereira lands a pair of hard knees to the gut. They clinch and Pereira lands another knee before pushing Reese to the wire. They separate in short order. Pereira lands a right followed by a knee. Reese had his fingers extended during an exchange, and he poked Pereira in the eye. This results in the third timeout of the fight due to a foul by Reese. No point is taken and the action resumes. Reese quickly lands a takedown in the center of the cage. Reese peppers the Brazilian with left hands from half guard. Reese maintains a body lock as Pereira stands. Reese is busted open. Reese lands a body kick. A counter left freezes Pereira where he stands. Pereira throws a right to the body. Reese moves in and Pereira land a leaping knee. They crash forward, with both men landing in an exchange. Reese is holding his hands low as he lands a right. Pereira jabs the body while avoiding a high kick. Another body kick for Reese. Reese lands a two-punch combination. Reese throws a front kick to the body and Pereira urges him on. Reese just misses with a flying knee. Pereira responds with a rolling somersault kick at the horn.
Sherdog Scores
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Reese
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Reese
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Reese
Round 3
Reese opens with a body kick. Pereira throws a push kick to the body. Reese lands a leg kick and is warned to keep his hands closed. Reese attacks the body with another kick. They collide in the clinch and separate. Reese closes distance and lands a knee. Pereira connects with a straight right. A lead leg head kick lands for Reese, as these two keep trading one-off attacks. Reese with a two-punch solid combination. Pereira sticks a jab. Reese kicks the body. Pereira lands a counter right. Reese lands a right uppercut to the body followed by a left hand over the top. Pereira closes the distance and Reese nearly had a choke locked. Periera was a ble to scramble up. That sets the stage for another exchange. Both men land heavy shots initially, but they’re mostly swinging and missing in the waning seconds, save for a Pereira knee down the middle.
Sherdog Scores
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Reese (29-28 Reese)
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Reese (29-28 Reese)
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Reese (29-28 Reese)
The Official Result
Michel Pereira def. Zachary Reese via Split Decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28) R3 5:00
Angelo picks Michel Pereira despite recent poor form, citing his superior athleticism, speed, wrestling, and training partners. He acknowledges Pereira's mental state is a question mark after a public divorce, but believes the version from 2024 would dominate. He goes with his brain over his gut.
Big Brady picks Zachary Reese to defeat Michel Pereira, but with clear disgust and hesitation. He believes Pereira is washed, citing his terrible performances against Abus Magomedov and a 40-second knockout loss to Kyle Daukaus. He calls the fight 'disgusting' and hopes it gets canceled. He notes Reese is the underdog but feels he has more faith in Reese at this point. He predicts a first-round knockout, reasoning that if Daukaus could KO Pereira, Reese can too.
Cody thinks Pereira's desperation and flashy style will lead to an early finish. He notes Reese's durability issues and poor cardio. He expects Pereira to win by KO or submission in the first round.
Connor picks Pereira despite acknowledging he looks shot. He notes that Pereira has better technique and experience, and that Reese has never beaten a good fighter. He points out that Pereira's creativity and speed could still be enough against a limited opponent like Reese, but admits it's a terrible fight and Pereira could lose if he's truly broken.
The host heavily leans towards Pereira, citing his superior striking, cardio, and ground game compared to Reese. However, he cannot bet Pereira at -155 because of the red flag from Pereira's passive performance against Abus Magomedov, which may indicate decline. He notes that if Pereira shows up and fights to his potential, he wins easily, but the inconsistency makes him unbettable.
James picks Michel Pereira to win by first-round finish, but with hesitation due to Pereira's recent poor performances and questionable chin. He notes that Pereira has far better tools and competition wins, but if he doesn't get an early finish, Reese could take over. James prefers the under 1.5 rounds as a betting angle.
Pereira is on a three-fight losing streak but has faced tough competition and should be motivated to save his roster spot. He is the better fighter on paper with more experience. Reese is dangerous but has durability questions. If Pereira comes back at 80% of his former self, he should find a finish. The under 1.5 rounds is also a good play as both are finishers.
Paul agrees, citing Pereira's ability to finish fights early and Reese's tendency to get knocked out. He thinks Pereira's wrestling is underrated and that he can win on the ground if needed. He expects a first-round finish.
The MMA Guru hesitantly picks Michel Pereira, trusting his ability despite a recent loss to Hernandez. He notes Pereira's cardio issues but thinks he can find Reese's chin. He is unsure due to Pereira's inconsistency but believes Reese's fundamental ability is lacking.
Zane picks Reese as a counter to Connor, arguing that Pereira's confidence is shattered after the Hernandez loss and he has looked terrible in his last two fights. He notes that Reese is dangerous early and that Pereira's recent performances suggest he no longer knows how to fight. He admits it's a terrible fight and that Reese could easily lose, but he's willing to take the chance.
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jackson McVey | 0 | 32 of 42 | 76% | 81 of 97 | 3 of 3 | 100% | 1 | 0 | 2:24 |
| Zachary Reese | 0 | 56 of 73 | 76% | 68 of 86 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 1 | 2:23 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jackson McVey | 0 | 31 of 40 | 77% | 61 of 74 | 1 of 1 | 100% | 0 | 0 | 0:58 |
| Zachary Reese | 0 | 53 of 67 | 79% | 65 of 79 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 1 | 2:23 | |
| 2 | Jackson McVey | 0 | 1 of 2 | 50% | 20 of 23 | 2 of 2 | 100% | 1 | 0 | 1:26 |
| Zachary Reese | 0 | 3 of 6 | 50% | 3 of 7 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jackson McVey | 32 of 42 | 76% | 21 of 31 | 5 of 5 | 6 of 6 | 15 of 19 | 16 of 21 | 1 of 2 |
| Zachary Reese | 56 of 73 | 76% | 28 of 39 | 27 of 33 | 1 of 1 | 9 of 19 | 47 of 54 | 0 of 0 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jackson McVey | 31 of 40 | 77% | 21 of 30 | 5 of 5 | 5 of 5 | 14 of 18 | 16 of 21 | 1 of 1 |
| Zachary Reese | 53 of 67 | 79% | 26 of 34 | 26 of 32 | 1 of 1 | 8 of 16 | 45 of 51 | 0 of 0 | |
| 2 | Jackson McVey | 1 of 2 | 50% | 0 of 1 | 0 of 0 | 1 of 1 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 1 |
| Zachary Reese | 3 of 6 | 50% | 2 of 5 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 0 | 1 of 3 | 2 of 3 | 0 of 0 |
Play-by-Play
View on SherdogBETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Valentin (-160); McVey (+130)
Round 1
It’s fight day, like many Saturdays before this one. With a dozen bouts playing out the next six-ish hours at the UFC Apex, ranked talents may be at a premium but hopefully the action makes this night worthwhile. The broadcast kicks off without touching on the betting scandal that blossomed last week, so it’s anyone’s guess which direction that will take. Bring on the mutual combat. With this pairing coming together this week, a pair of middleweights elected to set this bout at 195 pounds to alleviate some of the pain of weight cutting. McVey (6-1, 0-1 UFC) was planning on Robert Valentin, but in his injured stead will be Texas’ Reese (9-2, 1 NC; 3-2, 1 NC UFC). The athletes bump fists in front of referee Chris Tognoni to open up the festivities.
McVey offers out an oblique kick, and Reese immediately counters with a left hand over the top. Reese sits down on a nasty calf kick and takes McVey off-balance, prompting McVey to surge forward and attack. McVey bashes his man from up close with elbows and short strikes, and Reese shakes them off and delivers a plethora of damaging uppercuts to shake McVey up. The two proceed to rip into one another, hammering one another in a brutal muay thai fashion with blood already flowing a minute in and some harm inflicted on both sides. Reese takes a few elbows up top and pushes McVey from one side of the cage to the other, but it is McVey who is still in the driver’s seat. McVey punishes his opponent with knees to the body, and one particularly effective one puts Reese on his knees. Reese explodes back to his feet and comes back firing, but it is McVey who is hitting harder.
Reese has some success when under fire, and he gets a bit of unwelcome relief when McVey drives a knee directly into his cup. Reese groans, and Tognoni immediately calls time as McVey apologizes. Reese walks off to recover, and Tognoni calls in the doctor to check on the fresh cut above his eyebrow that spans nearly halfway from end to end. Reese is cleared to continue, and he paces back and forth to keep getting his wind back. A mouse starts to develop on the forehead of “Savage,” who does not appear compromised but may have gassed himself out in the first few minutes of fury so he gets some of that back. The Apex is quiet so there is no external pressure for him to hurry back to placate bloodthirsty fans, allowing Reese to comfortably walk back and forth adjusting his cup. Tognoni keeps him informed, and after 2:30 of time off, they resume and immediately start brawling.
McVey’s swings back Reese up quickly, and they proceed to tie one another up and trade to bash one another with clinch strikes. Reese keeps McVey honest with a few elbows, and he drives a shot to the body to open up more attacks upstairs. Reese presses forward and his momentum bowls McVey over as he lands on top. McVey defends off his back with feeble elbows, because Reese easily clears his hips and moves to side control to isolate one arm for a kimura. Reese goes over a little too far, so he sets up an inverted triangle choke and flirts with an armbar as well. McVey rolls him over and stacks Reese up, and they ride the round out. McVey has now officially completed one round of combat for the first time as a pro.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 McVey
Devin Tejada scores the round: 10-9 McVey
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 McVey
Round 2
The fighters bump fists to reintroduce themselves, and Reese starts off with a sticking leg kick. McVey responds by powering forward to set up his preferred clinch range to let loose with elbows and knees to the body. As Reese sees this coming, he trips “The Moose” up and puts him on his back to take most of his weapons away. Reese postures up to drive down a huge strike, and McVey times him perfectly to spin to the side and get to his knees. Rather than fight back up, however, McVey instead tries to snatch onto a guillotine choke and jump for it. Reese pops out of it almost immediately, and he looks to engage with ground-and-pound. McVey turns to get out, but in the process, he gives up his back.
Reese gladly accepts it, locks up the body triangle and secures a rear-naked choke. McVey’s corner shouts that he cannot give up, but the choke has him dead to rights with no way out. Rather than go out on his shield, “The Moose” calls it quits by tapping out on Reese’s arm a few times.
This marks the first time that Reese had ever performed a stoppage out of the first round.
The Official Result
Zachary Reese def. Jackson McVey R2 1:38 via Submission (Rear-Naked Choke)
Angelo picks Robert Valentin because he has seen him be tough and get after it, and he knows he can work in takedowns. However, he is not confident and advises against betting on this fight, calling it a mess. He notes that both fighters are not UFC level and it's a win-or-go-back-to-regional matchup.
Big Brady is not sold on Jackson McVey after his poor debut where he looked atrocious and got armbarred in the first round. He notes that Zachary Reese has powerful striking and a sneaky submission game, though his chin and cardio are questionable. Despite not wanting to lay -300, he believes Reese should finish McVey easily, predicting a first-round submission.
Lucrative James picks Robert Valentine, but the matchup is actually Jackson McVey vs Zachary Reese. He mistakenly refers to Valentine as the opponent. He notes Valentine's superior grappling and predicts an inside-the-distance win, likely by submission. He criticizes McVey's UFC debut loss via armbar and questions his level.
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zachary Reese | 0 | 2 of 7 | 28% | 2 of 7 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Sedriques Dumas | 0 | 3 of 10 | 30% | 3 of 10 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Zachary Reese | 0 | 2 of 7 | 28% | 2 of 7 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Sedriques Dumas | 0 | 3 of 10 | 30% | 3 of 10 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zachary Reese | 2 of 7 | 28% | 0 of 3 | 1 of 3 | 1 of 1 | 2 of 7 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Sedriques Dumas | 3 of 10 | 30% | 1 of 8 | 0 of 0 | 2 of 2 | 3 of 10 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Zachary Reese | 2 of 7 | 28% | 0 of 3 | 1 of 3 | 1 of 1 | 2 of 7 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Sedriques Dumas | 3 of 10 | 30% | 1 of 8 | 0 of 0 | 2 of 2 | 3 of 10 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
Play-by-Play
View on SherdogBETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Reese (-240); Dumas (+200)
Round 1
Mike Beltran is the referee. Dumas comes out aggressively, with a double jab-straight combination. Fighting from opposing stances, the middleweights trade low kicks. A hard inside low kick lands for Dumas, but moments later, “The Reaper” absorbs an audible kick to the groin from Reese. Dumas immediately collapses to the canvas in agony and the crowd groans upon viewing the replay. Now a doctor has come in to talk to Dumas, who remains on his knees. He informs the doctor that, “I cannot feel my right ball.” Beltran tries to encourage Dumas to stand up, but he says he can’t get up. After that revelation, Beltran waves off the fight. Reese yells in frustration before walking over to apologize to Dumas. This one will be a no contest due to the accidental foul.
The Official Result
Zachary Reese vs. Sedriques Dumas is Ruled a No Contest (Accidental Foul) R1 0:51
Angelo picks Reese confidently, calling Dumas a disaster and not very good. He notes Reese is a massive middleweight with size and strength, well-rounded, though his wrestling is inconsistent. He says Dumas is scrappy but not skilled or dangerous, and if Reese lands a takedown or big bomb, he finds a finish. He mentions Reese is almost a 3-to-1 favorite and should be.
Big Brady picks Reese because Dumas has shown no durability, heart, or volume in the UFC. He criticizes Dumas's training environment and legal issues. He predicts Reese finishes Dumas in the first round by submission, though he notes Reese himself has questionable durability and cardio.
Connor also picks Reese, agreeing that Dumas is technically poor and lacks coordination. He notes that Reese is not great but is an aggressive grappler, and Dumas has no finishing ability. He mentions that Reese lost to Cody Brundage, but Dumas is even worse.
Reese is expected to return to his early finishing ways after defending Dumas's takedowns. The host believes Reese will dictate the pace, land big shots, and produce a round one knockout, showing strong confidence in his power and timing.
The MMA Guru picks Zachary Reese, citing his athleticism, kicks at range, and ability to finish. He expects Reese to hurt Dumas with body kicks and predicts a finish late in the first or second round. He also questions Dumas's discipline and commitment due to legal issues, making him untrustworthy.
Zane picks Reese, noting that Dumas is awkward and uncoordinated on the feet, and Reese is an aggressive grappler who can find a submission. He mentions that Dumas only beats bad opponents and has no finishing ability, while Reese has shown some submission skills.
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zachary Reese | 0 | 50 of 108 | 46% | 73 of 135 | 2 of 3 | 66% | 0 | 0 | 1:19 |
| Duško Todorović | 0 | 35 of 65 | 53% | 73 of 109 | 4 of 13 | 30% | 1 | 1 | 5:30 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Zachary Reese | 0 | 6 of 11 | 54% | 19 of 27 | 2 of 2 | 100% | 0 | 0 | 1:06 |
| Duško Todorović | 0 | 10 of 15 | 66% | 31 of 38 | 3 of 4 | 75% | 1 | 1 | 3:01 | |
| 2 | Zachary Reese | 0 | 17 of 30 | 56% | 25 of 38 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Duško Todorović | 0 | 8 of 16 | 50% | 18 of 29 | 1 of 4 | 25% | 0 | 0 | 2:10 | |
| 3 | Zachary Reese | 0 | 27 of 67 | 40% | 29 of 70 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:13 |
| Duško Todorović | 0 | 17 of 34 | 50% | 24 of 42 | 0 of 5 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:19 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zachary Reese | 50 of 108 | 46% | 21 of 72 | 20 of 23 | 9 of 13 | 43 of 98 | 7 of 10 | 0 of 0 |
| Duško Todorović | 35 of 65 | 53% | 22 of 50 | 8 of 10 | 5 of 5 | 22 of 50 | 6 of 6 | 7 of 9 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Zachary Reese | 6 of 11 | 54% | 3 of 7 | 3 of 4 | 0 of 0 | 2 of 6 | 4 of 5 | 0 of 0 |
| Duško Todorović | 10 of 15 | 66% | 8 of 12 | 1 of 2 | 1 of 1 | 2 of 6 | 1 of 1 | 7 of 8 | |
| 2 | Zachary Reese | 17 of 30 | 56% | 7 of 19 | 7 of 7 | 3 of 4 | 15 of 27 | 2 of 3 | 0 of 0 |
| Duško Todorović | 8 of 16 | 50% | 2 of 10 | 4 of 4 | 2 of 2 | 4 of 11 | 4 of 4 | 0 of 1 | |
| 3 | Zachary Reese | 27 of 67 | 40% | 11 of 46 | 10 of 12 | 6 of 9 | 26 of 65 | 1 of 2 | 0 of 0 |
| Duško Todorović | 17 of 34 | 50% | 12 of 28 | 3 of 4 | 2 of 2 | 16 of 33 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 0 |
Play-by-Play
View on SherdogBETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Reese (-238), Todorovic (+195)
Round 1
The prelims were short at just four bouts, and the main card kicks off with a middleweight action fight that practically promises that referee Herb Dean will get involved before too long. Reese (8-2, 2-2 UFC) and Todorovic (12-5, 3-5 UFC) combine for 18 stoppages in their 20 pro wins, with knockouts their preferred method of victory. Before they try to lop one another’s head off, the two 185ers bump fists. Reese introduces himself with a body kick, and Todorovic does the same. Todorovic doubles up on a kick with another and shoots for a takedown. Reese scrambles and finds his way on top, with Todorovic sitting up for a guillotine choke. Reese lifts Todorovic up and tosses him down, and Todorovic mounts him with the guillotine intact. Reese fights his way through it, his neck still in jeopardy, and he works his way to his feet. Todorovic uses the choke to maintain control and impose his weight, and lowers Reese down to the ground to knee him in the side. When Reese gets up, Todorovic muscles him back to his knees. The Texan explodes back to his feet, kneeing his man in the gut and fighting off a trip to thump “Thunder” with a hard shoulder strike. Reese backs off and avoids a pair of hooks, fires off a head kick that misses the mark and resets. Todorovic charges at him with a swarm of fists, and Reese blocks most of them and gives one back until he gets clinched. Todorovic trips Reese out, and when Todorovic stands above him, Reese searches for a leglock. Todorovic fights it off, and he ignores an upkick on the side of the dome so he can lower himself down to top position. Reese closes his guard, and he hacks with elbows off his back. Todorovic responds with a few right hands from above, and he elbows down to club “Savage” a few times. Todorovic stacks his man up and unleashes nasty hammerfists that drill into his foe’s jaw again and again. The horn sounds.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Todorovic
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Todorovic
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Todorovic
Round 2
A glove touch begins the second round, where Reese wants to start off hot and cracks Todorovic with a three-punch combo. Reese reaches his man with a fierce right hand, forcing Todorovic to engage a clinch. Reese breaks away and slaps his foe in the ribs with a kick. When Todorovic shoots for a takedown, Reese counters him with an uppercut but does not break his stride. They share short strikes on one another, and Reese leans back and drives a knee to the stomach that allows him to break off. Todorovic fakes a right hand to shoots for an awkward takedown, and Reese ignores it and counters with an overhand right. Reese stands firm with a one-two on the chin, walking through a body kick to jump at him with a knee. When he misses, Todorovic offers him a high-five. Reese leans back to avoid an overhand right, and Todorovic grabs hold of him and bullies him to the wall. Reese breaks free and catches Todorovic coming in with a short left, but it is one-and-done as he chambers and fires a body kick. What follow is a front kick, and an evasive maneuver when Todorovic rushes him. Todorovic fakes high for a level change, and Reese tosses him aside and wings a right hand and puts a front kick on the chest. Todorovic shoots for and lands a takedown, and Reese defends with a guillotine choke, only to find himself in Von Preux choke danger. Todorovic stacks him up rather than looking for the counter sub, and this lets Reese burst upright to get up. Todorovic stays pressed to him, ripping the body with a few punches and getting uppercutted for his handiwork. The two clinch up and end the round.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Reese
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Reese
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Reese
Round 3
The fighters walk towards one another cautiously to start off the final frame, offering a glove touch and getting back to swinging. Reese loops wider shots, but when they land, they do with audible thuds. Todorovic gets him back with a couple of calf kicks, and Reese splits his guard with a long left hand. Reese twirls Todorovic around when the Serbian fighter shoots in on the hips, and he chains a few punches behind it. When Todorovic scores, Reese clubs him with a right on the ear. Reese spins with a kick to the body, and Todorovic smiles and high-fives him. Reese gathers himself and boots his man in the body and tries one up high, while Todorovic’s volume has plummeted. Reese stays on the outside potshotting his foe with body kicks, and when Todorovic charges him, Reese is light on his feet popping him here and there. Todorovic lashes out with a right hand that busts open Reese’s nose, and Reese responds with a leaping takedown shot that is stonewalled. Todorovic sweeps the leg and connects with another power right hand, using the strikes to set up a takedown. Reese gets pushed to the wall and spins out, sneaking a knee to the body on his way out. Todorovic looks for one final takedown, and Reese stops it and uppercuts him a few times before the grueling match concludes.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Reese (29-28 Reese)
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Reese (29-28 Reese)
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Reese (29-28 Reese)
The Official Result
Zachary Reese def. Dusko Todorovic via Unanimous Decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Angelo picks Zachary Reese but is hesitant due to Reese's tendency to play jiu-jitsu off his back and give up positions. He acknowledges Reese's power and size advantages and Todorović's questionable chin, but worries Reese might make bad decisions. He rates it as medium confidence on the website.
Big Brady fades Zachary Reese despite being a favorite, citing Reese's poor takedown defense (33%) and tendency to get finished. He notes Todorović has good ground-and-pound and can take Reese down. Although Todorović has terrible striking defense, Brady thinks Reese lacks the power to knock him out. He picks Todorović by second-round TKO.
Connor agrees with Zane, picking Reese because Todorović is a technical mess and easy to hit. He notes that Reese is also flawed but has more aggression and power. Connor emphasizes that this is a low-level fight and hard to pick with confidence.
Matt picks Zachary Reese to win by knockout in round one. He expects a short fight, noting that Reese is explosive and violent with 7 of 8 wins in the first round, while Todorović has deteriorating durability and often gets finished. Matt likes the under 1.5 rounds and Reese round one knockout prop, and also mentions Reese by submission round one as a long shot.
The MMA Guru picks Zachary Reese by first-round TKO, very confident. He notes Reese's size advantage (6'4") and Todorović's poor durability and chin. He mentions Todorović has been KO'd many times and Reese's pace is strong. He also had a PrizePicks bet on Reese under 5.25 minutes.
Zane picks Reese because he thinks Reese still has unchecked aggression and faith in his game, whereas Todorović seems to have lost confidence after a brutal loss. He notes that both fighters are low-level, but Todorović's tendency to knock himself out and his poor technical game make him the riskier pick.
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Azamat Bekoev | 0 | 13 of 24 | 54% | 22 of 35 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Zachary Reese | 0 | 21 of 26 | 80% | 52 of 59 | 1 of 2 | 50% | 0 | 0 | 2:14 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Azamat Bekoev | 0 | 13 of 24 | 54% | 22 of 35 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Zachary Reese | 0 | 21 of 26 | 80% | 52 of 59 | 1 of 2 | 50% | 0 | 0 | 2:14 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Azamat Bekoev | 13 of 24 | 54% | 13 of 22 | 0 of 2 | 0 of 0 | 1 of 7 | 1 of 1 | 11 of 16 |
| Zachary Reese | 21 of 26 | 80% | 16 of 19 | 3 of 4 | 2 of 3 | 3 of 6 | 0 of 0 | 18 of 20 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Azamat Bekoev | 13 of 24 | 54% | 13 of 22 | 0 of 2 | 0 of 0 | 1 of 7 | 1 of 1 | 11 of 16 |
| Zachary Reese | 21 of 26 | 80% | 16 of 19 | 3 of 4 | 2 of 3 | 3 of 6 | 0 of 0 | 18 of 20 |
Play-by-Play
View on SherdogBETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Bekoev (-198), Reese (+168)
Round 1
As recent as a week ago, Reese (8-1, 2-1 UFC) was planning on facing Sedriques Dumas. Unfortunately for the latter, he was forced to withdraw, and in steps a former LFA middleweight champion—but not Eryk Anders, Markus Perez, Anthony Hernandez, Ian Heinisch, Brendan Allen, Gregory Rodrigues, Josh Silveira, Osman Diaz or Lucas Fernando. It is all about the self-proclaimed “Iron” Bekoev (18-3, 0-0 UFC), a Russian in the American Top Team pipeline that can end a fight any way he chooses. Referee Blake Grice draws the charge for the 185ers, sealing the cage as the combatants come together to gingerly touch their tips—of their gloves. Bekoev pushes the pace immediately, and he walks straight into a head kick. The Russian wears it well and then absorbs a right hand, and he responds with a high kick that bangs into the pectoral. Reese reaches out with a knee and swipes out with a left hook, and he sways back to avoid a counter. Reese knees the body, and Bekoev responds by attacking a single-leg takedown. When Reese connects with an elbow, he falls to his back and almost instantly sets up an armbar. Bekoev punches his way out of it but cannot quite establish top control, holding on as he slides into the guard landing strikes. Reese replies with sharp elbows off his back and an upkick anywhere he can find the space to hit. Both fighters trade surprisingly heavy blows, with Reese hacking with elbows while Bekoev beats on him with his fists. Reese pushes off but cannot get Bekoev off of him, so he resorts to spamming more elbows while absorbing punishment from above. Reese rolls for an armbar, but there is nothing to it as Bekoev starts to work Reese over with punches.
Bekoev continues to club Reese with vicious ground-and-pound, and as his strikes land, Reese goes out. Grice rushes between them to stop the fight, and he inadvertently tackles Reese to bang his head off the back of the mat.
Reese is totally unconscious, and it takes a frightening amount of time for him to regain his senses. He tries to sit up and then stand, but he does not have his legs beneath him as medical professionals tend to him. He has regained consciousness and is responsive to questions, but still looks around the arena wide-eyed as if he has no idea what just happened. Meanwhile, this is a statement introduction for Bekoev, who completely flatlined Reese with ground-and-pound while in the guard—a rare knockout indeed.
The Official Result
Azamat Bekoev def. Zachary Reese R1 3:04 via KO (Punches)
Angelo picks Zachary Reese, calling him the better fighter overall. He notes Reese's size, power, and well-rounded skills, while criticizing Cedric Dumas' lack of ground game and reliance on corner instructions. He believes the -260 price is a discount and expects the line to widen further.
Cody picks Zachary Reese as an underdog, citing his size (6'4", 77-inch reach) and well-rounded skills. He notes that Bekoev has been underwhelming in the US and has a split decision win over Dylan Budka, who has struggled in the UFC. Reese has shown good striking, grappling, and cardio in his recent fights. Cody believes Reese's length and submission threat will be problematic for Bekoev, especially if the fight goes to the ground. He plans to watch more tape but leans Reese.
The host notes Bekoev is the LFA middleweight champion making a short-notice UFC debut. If Bekoev can use his wrestling to stay safe early, he should put Reese through the ringer and win on the scorecards.
Paul leans Reese as a dog, noting the size advantage and that Bekoev's win over Budka is not impressive. He mentions that Reese has shown cardio and takedown ability in his last fight. Paul is skeptical of the 'Russian tax' and thinks the line is off. He plans to watch more tape but is leaning towards taking the shot on Reese at plus money.
The MMA Guru picks Azamat Bekoev over Zachary Reese but is hesitant. He notes Reese lost to Cody Brundage and is not impressed, while Bekoev has momentum and is coming into his prime. He acknowledges Reese could be too athletic and land shots early, but he sides with Bekoev's grappling and recent wins. He predicts a decision win for Bekoev.
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zachary Reese | 0 | 75 of 129 | 58% | 101 of 162 | 5 of 9 | 55% | 1 | 1 | 5:57 |
| José Daniel Medina | 0 | 32 of 74 | 43% | 53 of 97 | 1 of 2 | 50% | 0 | 0 | 1:12 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Zachary Reese | 0 | 34 of 54 | 62% | 40 of 63 | 1 of 3 | 33% | 1 | 1 | 2:08 |
| José Daniel Medina | 0 | 4 of 15 | 26% | 13 of 26 | 1 of 1 | 100% | 0 | 0 | 0:46 | |
| 2 | Zachary Reese | 0 | 26 of 53 | 49% | 31 of 58 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| José Daniel Medina | 0 | 18 of 41 | 43% | 20 of 43 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:26 | |
| 3 | Zachary Reese | 0 | 15 of 22 | 68% | 30 of 41 | 4 of 6 | 66% | 0 | 0 | 3:49 |
| José Daniel Medina | 0 | 10 of 18 | 55% | 20 of 28 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zachary Reese | 75 of 129 | 58% | 42 of 85 | 20 of 30 | 13 of 14 | 57 of 101 | 2 of 4 | 16 of 24 |
| José Daniel Medina | 32 of 74 | 43% | 20 of 55 | 5 of 12 | 7 of 7 | 30 of 72 | 1 of 1 | 1 of 1 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Zachary Reese | 34 of 54 | 62% | 23 of 42 | 9 of 10 | 2 of 2 | 20 of 33 | 1 of 2 | 13 of 19 |
| José Daniel Medina | 4 of 15 | 26% | 2 of 11 | 0 of 2 | 2 of 2 | 4 of 15 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | |
| 2 | Zachary Reese | 26 of 53 | 49% | 10 of 31 | 8 of 13 | 8 of 9 | 26 of 53 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| José Daniel Medina | 18 of 41 | 43% | 11 of 29 | 2 of 7 | 5 of 5 | 18 of 41 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | |
| 3 | Zachary Reese | 15 of 22 | 68% | 9 of 12 | 3 of 7 | 3 of 3 | 11 of 15 | 1 of 2 | 3 of 5 |
| José Daniel Medina | 10 of 18 | 55% | 7 of 15 | 3 of 3 | 0 of 0 | 8 of 16 | 1 of 1 | 1 of 1 |
Play-by-Play
View on SherdogBETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Reese (-500), Medina (+380)
Round 1
Seeing who is about to take the stage next, judges take a sigh of relief while referee Dan Miragliotta sharply inhales. Texas-based chaos agent Reese (7-1, 1-1 UFC) is about to sling leather with ultraviolent Bolivian Medina (11-3, 0-0 UFC) in a middleweight crash-em-up derby. Between the two, they celebrate one win on the scorecards. Before mayhem ensues, there is a brief shared glove touch. Medina wants to get to business, and immediately jabs to say hello. Reese doubles up on body kicks and clubs Medina with a left hand, backing the Bolivian to the wall. Reese dings him with a few punches and backs off rather than staying in firing range, instead coming forward when he finds the angle he seeks. Reese cracks his foe with a right hand, and he ducks down and secures a clean double-leg takedown to put “Chicho” on his back. Reese does not even get in the guard before pounding down with left hands, and he opens up with ground-and-pound that shreds Medina’s forehead open. Medina turns his back to get to his knees and wall-walk, and Reese clings to him from behind and lifts Medina in the air with a single-leg takedown. Medina again gets up, this time with less effort, and Reese attempts a mat return. Medina turns around and Reese lets him have it with three fiery punches. Medina backs off and absorbs a ferocious body kick that nearly doubles him over, and he keeps a stiff upper lip and guards against a head kick. Medina paws his way in with right hooks that miss the mark, and Reese kicks him in the side and then blasts him with a liver kick. Medina retreats to the cage wall, and Reese charges after him, unloading with fists of fury. Medina ducks underneath the power strikes, grabs the Texan from the side and slings him to the canvas. Medina lowers himself into the guard, and Reese sits up and starts to set up a guillotine choke. Reese rolls his man over with the choke, and he uses the painful submission to flip Medina over and nearly secure mount. Medina wriggles out of the submission and gets some space, and Reese stands up and allows Medina to stand. Medina slowly gets up as Miragliotta tells him to hurry, and he is quick to eat two punches and a liver kick. Medina shakes his hand and points at the ground to initiate a brawl, and he runs forward throwing hands. Reese backpedals and gets off a few punches, and he spins with a back fist and jumps with a knee as the horn sounds.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Reese
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Reese
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Reese
Round 2
Reese rushes out of his corner ready to attack, and he starts with a lunging right hand and a leg kick. This marks the longest fight of his young career, and he is not totally spent, as he lashes out with a jump knee and kicks Medina in the liver. Medina groans and drops his hands, and Reese goes after him with another jumping knee that misses. Reese hammers the side with a stern kick, and he checks a leg kick. Reese reaches the target with a long left hand and another vicious body kick, and he connects with two left hands as Medina wags his finger at him. Reese does not slow down when Medina plays, punching him in the face a few more times. Medina throws back a single low kick, and Reese boots him twice to the body. Medina offers a single jab and a leg kick, and Reese loops a right hand around the guard. Medina circles away and gets booted in the face, and he smiles and returns fire with a body shot. Medina rushes forward and Reese slips away, and Reese is slowing to throw one power strike rather than setting them up. He gets in another body kick, and then one more thuds to the side, but Medina is right in front of him throwing back. Medina shrugs at him when Reese lands a strike, and Reese comes over the top with a question-mark kick. Medina is as durable as they come, as he walks through a spinning kick to the body so he can wind up with a right hand and a left hook. Reese backs him away with a jab and step-in left hook, and his leg kick makes Medina point at the ground again. Reese kicks the same lead leg two more times as Medina does not like this strike, but Medina steels himself and releases a few punches. Reese counters and beats up the front leg, and Medina shrugs again, wings a right hand and shoots in for a double. Medina pushes Reese against the cage wall, and Reese separates with a second to spare and whiffs on an elbow.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Reese
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Reese
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Reese
Round 3
Medina raises both arms up to signal that he wants a hug, and Reese reluctantly accepts it. They start fighting, and Reese kicks him in the liver and pursues a takedown. Medina stops it and pushes him away, but Reese meets him with another body kick. When a knee from Reese nearly tags the Bolivian, “Chicho” motions to Reese and shares a laugh with Miragliotta that he managed to avoid it. Reese sprints forward and tackles Medina to the canvas, finding a few spots to land power punches before Medina kicks him off. Reese backs off and pushes forward to land another takedown, but Medina is once more able to push Reese off of him. Medina stands up without issue, and he gets belted in the face with a left hand and walks Reese down to land three punches including a liver shot. Medina connects with a left hand that hurts Reese, and Reese retaliates with a slamming takedown that bums Medina out and bloodies up his ear. Reese moves to half guard, and after taking a few seconds to catch his breath, he opens up with right hands. The Texan climbs to half guard on the other side to land strikes, and Medina answers him with hacking elbows off his back. Medina sits up, and Reese snatches up his neck and hunts for a one-arm submission that nearly transitions into a brabo choke. Reese holds on with a potential arm-triangle, and Medina complains that his glove is getting grabbed. Reese slugs away from on top, and Medina sits up to give his back up. Reese steps around to capitalize, but Medina gets to his feet by crawling to the fence. Reese pursues a single, and he deposits the Bolivian to the mat for a second. Medina is not about to go out like this, standing up once more, and he fights off a final takedown and slugs away until the fight concludes. Medina might have lost clearly, but he had a blast every step of the way.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Reese (30-27 Reese)
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Reese (30-27 Reese)
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Reese (30-27 Reese)
The Official Result
Zachary Reese def. Jose Medina via Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Angelo picks Zachary Reese, acknowledging that Reese burned him in the past but attributing that loss to a freak powerbomb. He notes Reese's size, power, and BJJ, but warns that if Reese plays the 'Jiu-Jitsu nerd game' and throws up triangles, he could get ground-and-pounded by Medina. He thinks Reese is the better fighter and should win, but is cautious.
Cody picks Reese because he is a finisher with power and submission skills. He notes that Medina has poor takedown defense and has been dominated on the ground. He thinks Reese will take him down and finish him early. He also mentions that Medina is dropping down to middleweight and may not handle the cut well.
Daniel Vreeland picks Zachary Reese but is not confident due to Reese's unknown cardio past the first round. He notes Medina is tough and could survive early onslaught and finish late, but believes Reese's power and aggression will likely get the job done early.
Brevin picks Reese by decision, dismissing his slam KO loss to Cody Brundage as a freak accident. He notes Reese was nearly submitting Brundage before the slam. He thinks Medina is unimpressive and will try to pressure grapple but Reese is better. JP is more confident, picking Reese by KO, calling Medina bad, out of shape, and noting Reese is much bigger and stronger. He calls the Brundage slam a one-off.
Paul leans towards Reese but is concerned about the price and Reese's cardio. He notes that Reese has never fought past the first round and could fade. He thinks Medina's durability could be a factor if Reese doesn't finish early. He prefers to look at live betting or late props on Medina.
The MMA Guru picks Zachary Reese because he considers José Medina not UFC-level and 'garbage'. He notes Reese is a talented finisher with good submissions off his back and KO power on the feet, despite a previous loss where he was slammed on his head. He dismisses Medina's resume as weak.
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zachary Reese | 0 | 1 of 1 | 100% | 1 of 1 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Julian Marquez | 1 | 6 of 9 | 66% | 6 of 9 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:03 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Zachary Reese | 0 | 1 of 1 | 100% | 1 of 1 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Julian Marquez | 1 | 6 of 9 | 66% | 6 of 9 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:03 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zachary Reese | 1 of 1 | 100% | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | 1 of 1 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Julian Marquez | 6 of 9 | 66% | 5 of 8 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 0 | 2 of 4 | 0 of 0 | 4 of 5 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Zachary Reese | 1 of 1 | 100% | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | 1 of 1 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Julian Marquez | 6 of 9 | 66% | 5 of 8 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 0 | 2 of 4 | 0 of 0 | 4 of 5 |
Play-by-Play
View on SherdogBETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Marquez (-130), Reese (+110)
Round 1
From one all-action fight to another we go, as dueling middleweights with 100% finish rates put referee Dan Miragliotta on notice. Marquez (9-4, 3-3 UFC) has not had his hand raised since putting Sam Alvey away in 2021, while Reese (6-1, 0-1 UFC) was unsuccessful in his promotional debut in December when Cody Brundage slammed him through the cage floor. The judges may be able to take this one off. The fighters clap hands, and Marquez reaches out with jabs and a low kick. Reese chambers and fires off a body kick, and Marquez backs away as that got him cleanly.
The mulleted fighter chases and unloads a left hand and an uppercut right on the button, and Marquez collapses to the canvas, already done. To seal the deal, “Savage” clobbers the Missouri native with a salvo of hammerfists, and Miragliotta calls a halt to the match as the crowd goes wild.
Marquez sits up and is a little upset by the stoppage, but he understands why Miragliotta had to get involved, as it was likely only to get worse from there. After eight fights, Reese has still yet to reach the second round, and this is easily his quickest stoppage to date.
The Official Result
Zachary Reese def. Julian Marquez R1 0:20 via TKO (Body Kick and Punches)
Angelo leans Zachary Reese, but with low confidence. He notes that Reese is massive for the weight class and has power, but he looked stiff in his last fight and was power bombed. Julian Marquez is tough and dangerous everywhere, but he has been knocked out in his last two fights and has a year layoff. Angelo thinks Reese can weather the early storm and beat a fading Marquez.
Big Brady picks Julian Marquez to win by first-round knockout. He is not sold on Zachary Reese's UFC caliber, noting his poor competition and tendency to end up on bottom. He thinks Marquez is the much better striker and will smoke Reese if his suspicions are correct.
Cody picks Reese as a slight underdog, noting that Marquez has significant health issues and has not looked good in recent fights. Reese is a big, athletic fighter with first-round finishing ability, but his cardio is untested. Cody believes if Reese can survive the first round, Marquez's poor cardio and durability issues will allow Reese to take over. He acknowledges it's a shot in the dark but leans towards Reese.
Daniel picks Marquez based on experience, noting that Reese has never faced real competition and was fraud-checked by Cody Brundage. He acknowledges Marquez has looked terrible since returning from injury but believes his durability and veteran tactics can overcome Reese's size and reach. He calls it a dart throw but leans Marquez.
Jacob picks Julian Marquez, noting that Reese eats right hands and was slammed by Cody Brundage. He thinks Marquez will come forward and land bombs, and Reese's chin is suspect. He also warns that going to the ground with Reese is dangerous due to his length, but Marquez's power should be enough. Jacob is confident Marquez gets the win.
Marquez is a veteran power puncher with a sneaky submission game, while Reese is reckless and was knocked out by a slam in his last fight. This should be a barn burner with both throwing heavy shots. Marquez should finish Reese quickly, making under 1.5 rounds a strong play at -155.
Paul picks Reese, citing Marquez's health issues and inactivity. He notes that Reese is younger, longer, and has more pop in his hands. Paul thinks this will be a sloppy fight and favors the younger fighter with less wear and tear. He expects Reese to have a chance if he can avoid Marquez's early power.
The Guru picks Reese because he questions Marquez's motivation, saying Marquez seems more focused on being a personality than fighting. He notes Marquez has taken a lot of damage in his last two fights (losses to Mark-Andre Barriault and Gregory Rodrigues). Reese is younger and hungrier, and the Guru thinks Reese will catch Marquez in the first round. He acknowledges Reese lost to Cody Brundage by slam KO but was going for a submission.
Duško Todorović - Fight History
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| José Daniel Medina | 0 | 9 of 25 | 36% | 13 of 29 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Duško Todorović | 0 | 16 of 24 | 66% | 27 of 36 | 2 of 2 | 100% | 1 | 0 | 2:16 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | José Daniel Medina | 0 | 9 of 25 | 36% | 13 of 29 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Duško Todorović | 0 | 16 of 24 | 66% | 27 of 36 | 2 of 2 | 100% | 1 | 0 | 2:16 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| José Daniel Medina | 9 of 25 | 36% | 5 of 17 | 3 of 7 | 1 of 1 | 9 of 24 | 0 of 1 | 0 of 0 |
| Duško Todorović | 16 of 24 | 66% | 10 of 18 | 6 of 6 | 0 of 0 | 10 of 18 | 6 of 6 | 0 of 0 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | José Daniel Medina | 9 of 25 | 36% | 5 of 17 | 3 of 7 | 1 of 1 | 9 of 24 | 0 of 1 | 0 of 0 |
| Duško Todorović | 16 of 24 | 66% | 10 of 18 | 6 of 6 | 0 of 0 | 10 of 18 | 6 of 6 | 0 of 0 |
Play-by-Play
View on SherdogBETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Todorovic (-300); Medina (+250)
Round 1
Dan Miragliotta is the referee. Both fighters working behind their jabs. Todorovic pressures and clinches behind a left hand. Todorovic grinds away here, but Medina is able to free himself. Both men land jabs. A straight right from Todorovic counters a Medina low kick. Todorovic shoves Medina back into the fence, where he lands a shoulder strike. Medina is already cut as they’re back at range. Medina lands a combination. Todorovic clinches behind a right, then shoves his foe away. A right connects for Medina, but Todorovic answers with a combination to the body. Todorovic follows another hard right into the clinch. He presses Medina into the wire, landing some short shots. A knee to the midsection lands for Todorovic, who takes Medina down. The Bolivian stands and Todorovic wants to take the back.
They go back to the floor and Todorovic gets both hooks in and slides his arm under the chin. The choke is tight and Medina has no choice but to tap out.
That snaps a three-fight skid for the Serbian.
The Official Result
Dusko Todorovic def. Jose Media via Submission (Rear-Naked Choke) R1 4:21
Angelo picks Dusko because he is the more well-rounded guy and has fought better competition. He calls the odds 'stupid as hell' and says there's no way Dusko wins 74 out of 100 times. He notes Medina is a ground-and-pound fighter with decent striking but not particularly fast or powerful, while Dusko is a technical striker with power and takedowns, though his chin is questionable. He says neither guy is very good.
Big Brady picks Todorović despite his poor chin and striking defense, because Medina is even worse. He notes Todorović has good wrestling and ground-and-pound, while Medina has 31% takedown defense and no ground game. He predicts Todorović wins by second-round TKO via ground-and-pound.
Connor also picks Todorović but is hesitant because Todorović's technique doesn't survive resistance. He notes that Medina is tough but has no power, and Todorović has been one-shot KO'd before. He says it's a testament to how low-level the matchup is that he isn't 100% certain.
Despite Todorovic's durability issues, the host sees this as a winnable matchup. He expects Todorovic to utilize his grappling, control Medina from top position, and eventually secure a submission.
The MMA Guru confidently picks Duško Todorović, noting he is a -325 favorite in 2025, which he sees as a clear sign. He dismisses José Medina as lacking power, athleticism, grappling, and jiu-jitsu, calling him a 'flabby big Latin guy' who shouldn't be in the UFC. He believes Todorović is more well-rounded and a better fighter.
Zane picks Todorović but acknowledges that Medina's toughness could be a factor. He notes that Todorović has poor technique and can't sustain control, but Medina is so slow and uncoordinated that Todorović should win. He mentions that Medina's only chance is landing a big shot, but Medina lacks power.
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zachary Reese | 0 | 50 of 108 | 46% | 73 of 135 | 2 of 3 | 66% | 0 | 0 | 1:19 |
| Duško Todorović | 0 | 35 of 65 | 53% | 73 of 109 | 4 of 13 | 30% | 1 | 1 | 5:30 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Zachary Reese | 0 | 6 of 11 | 54% | 19 of 27 | 2 of 2 | 100% | 0 | 0 | 1:06 |
| Duško Todorović | 0 | 10 of 15 | 66% | 31 of 38 | 3 of 4 | 75% | 1 | 1 | 3:01 | |
| 2 | Zachary Reese | 0 | 17 of 30 | 56% | 25 of 38 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Duško Todorović | 0 | 8 of 16 | 50% | 18 of 29 | 1 of 4 | 25% | 0 | 0 | 2:10 | |
| 3 | Zachary Reese | 0 | 27 of 67 | 40% | 29 of 70 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:13 |
| Duško Todorović | 0 | 17 of 34 | 50% | 24 of 42 | 0 of 5 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:19 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zachary Reese | 50 of 108 | 46% | 21 of 72 | 20 of 23 | 9 of 13 | 43 of 98 | 7 of 10 | 0 of 0 |
| Duško Todorović | 35 of 65 | 53% | 22 of 50 | 8 of 10 | 5 of 5 | 22 of 50 | 6 of 6 | 7 of 9 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Zachary Reese | 6 of 11 | 54% | 3 of 7 | 3 of 4 | 0 of 0 | 2 of 6 | 4 of 5 | 0 of 0 |
| Duško Todorović | 10 of 15 | 66% | 8 of 12 | 1 of 2 | 1 of 1 | 2 of 6 | 1 of 1 | 7 of 8 | |
| 2 | Zachary Reese | 17 of 30 | 56% | 7 of 19 | 7 of 7 | 3 of 4 | 15 of 27 | 2 of 3 | 0 of 0 |
| Duško Todorović | 8 of 16 | 50% | 2 of 10 | 4 of 4 | 2 of 2 | 4 of 11 | 4 of 4 | 0 of 1 | |
| 3 | Zachary Reese | 27 of 67 | 40% | 11 of 46 | 10 of 12 | 6 of 9 | 26 of 65 | 1 of 2 | 0 of 0 |
| Duško Todorović | 17 of 34 | 50% | 12 of 28 | 3 of 4 | 2 of 2 | 16 of 33 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 0 |
Play-by-Play
View on SherdogBETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Reese (-238), Todorovic (+195)
Round 1
The prelims were short at just four bouts, and the main card kicks off with a middleweight action fight that practically promises that referee Herb Dean will get involved before too long. Reese (8-2, 2-2 UFC) and Todorovic (12-5, 3-5 UFC) combine for 18 stoppages in their 20 pro wins, with knockouts their preferred method of victory. Before they try to lop one another’s head off, the two 185ers bump fists. Reese introduces himself with a body kick, and Todorovic does the same. Todorovic doubles up on a kick with another and shoots for a takedown. Reese scrambles and finds his way on top, with Todorovic sitting up for a guillotine choke. Reese lifts Todorovic up and tosses him down, and Todorovic mounts him with the guillotine intact. Reese fights his way through it, his neck still in jeopardy, and he works his way to his feet. Todorovic uses the choke to maintain control and impose his weight, and lowers Reese down to the ground to knee him in the side. When Reese gets up, Todorovic muscles him back to his knees. The Texan explodes back to his feet, kneeing his man in the gut and fighting off a trip to thump “Thunder” with a hard shoulder strike. Reese backs off and avoids a pair of hooks, fires off a head kick that misses the mark and resets. Todorovic charges at him with a swarm of fists, and Reese blocks most of them and gives one back until he gets clinched. Todorovic trips Reese out, and when Todorovic stands above him, Reese searches for a leglock. Todorovic fights it off, and he ignores an upkick on the side of the dome so he can lower himself down to top position. Reese closes his guard, and he hacks with elbows off his back. Todorovic responds with a few right hands from above, and he elbows down to club “Savage” a few times. Todorovic stacks his man up and unleashes nasty hammerfists that drill into his foe’s jaw again and again. The horn sounds.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Todorovic
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Todorovic
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Todorovic
Round 2
A glove touch begins the second round, where Reese wants to start off hot and cracks Todorovic with a three-punch combo. Reese reaches his man with a fierce right hand, forcing Todorovic to engage a clinch. Reese breaks away and slaps his foe in the ribs with a kick. When Todorovic shoots for a takedown, Reese counters him with an uppercut but does not break his stride. They share short strikes on one another, and Reese leans back and drives a knee to the stomach that allows him to break off. Todorovic fakes a right hand to shoots for an awkward takedown, and Reese ignores it and counters with an overhand right. Reese stands firm with a one-two on the chin, walking through a body kick to jump at him with a knee. When he misses, Todorovic offers him a high-five. Reese leans back to avoid an overhand right, and Todorovic grabs hold of him and bullies him to the wall. Reese breaks free and catches Todorovic coming in with a short left, but it is one-and-done as he chambers and fires a body kick. What follow is a front kick, and an evasive maneuver when Todorovic rushes him. Todorovic fakes high for a level change, and Reese tosses him aside and wings a right hand and puts a front kick on the chest. Todorovic shoots for and lands a takedown, and Reese defends with a guillotine choke, only to find himself in Von Preux choke danger. Todorovic stacks him up rather than looking for the counter sub, and this lets Reese burst upright to get up. Todorovic stays pressed to him, ripping the body with a few punches and getting uppercutted for his handiwork. The two clinch up and end the round.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Reese
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Reese
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Reese
Round 3
The fighters walk towards one another cautiously to start off the final frame, offering a glove touch and getting back to swinging. Reese loops wider shots, but when they land, they do with audible thuds. Todorovic gets him back with a couple of calf kicks, and Reese splits his guard with a long left hand. Reese twirls Todorovic around when the Serbian fighter shoots in on the hips, and he chains a few punches behind it. When Todorovic scores, Reese clubs him with a right on the ear. Reese spins with a kick to the body, and Todorovic smiles and high-fives him. Reese gathers himself and boots his man in the body and tries one up high, while Todorovic’s volume has plummeted. Reese stays on the outside potshotting his foe with body kicks, and when Todorovic charges him, Reese is light on his feet popping him here and there. Todorovic lashes out with a right hand that busts open Reese’s nose, and Reese responds with a leaping takedown shot that is stonewalled. Todorovic sweeps the leg and connects with another power right hand, using the strikes to set up a takedown. Reese gets pushed to the wall and spins out, sneaking a knee to the body on his way out. Todorovic looks for one final takedown, and Reese stops it and uppercuts him a few times before the grueling match concludes.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Reese (29-28 Reese)
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Reese (29-28 Reese)
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Reese (29-28 Reese)
The Official Result
Zachary Reese def. Dusko Todorovic via Unanimous Decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Angelo picks Zachary Reese but is hesitant due to Reese's tendency to play jiu-jitsu off his back and give up positions. He acknowledges Reese's power and size advantages and Todorović's questionable chin, but worries Reese might make bad decisions. He rates it as medium confidence on the website.
Big Brady fades Zachary Reese despite being a favorite, citing Reese's poor takedown defense (33%) and tendency to get finished. He notes Todorović has good ground-and-pound and can take Reese down. Although Todorović has terrible striking defense, Brady thinks Reese lacks the power to knock him out. He picks Todorović by second-round TKO.
Connor agrees with Zane, picking Reese because Todorović is a technical mess and easy to hit. He notes that Reese is also flawed but has more aggression and power. Connor emphasizes that this is a low-level fight and hard to pick with confidence.
Matt picks Zachary Reese to win by knockout in round one. He expects a short fight, noting that Reese is explosive and violent with 7 of 8 wins in the first round, while Todorović has deteriorating durability and often gets finished. Matt likes the under 1.5 rounds and Reese round one knockout prop, and also mentions Reese by submission round one as a long shot.
The MMA Guru picks Zachary Reese by first-round TKO, very confident. He notes Reese's size advantage (6'4") and Todorović's poor durability and chin. He mentions Todorović has been KO'd many times and Reese's pace is strong. He also had a PrizePicks bet on Reese under 5.25 minutes.
Zane picks Reese because he thinks Reese still has unchecked aggression and faith in his game, whereas Todorović seems to have lost confidence after a brutal loss. He notes that both fighters are low-level, but Todorović's tendency to knock himself out and his poor technical game make him the riskier pick.
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mansur Abdul-Malik | 1 | 29 of 51 | 56% | 31 of 54 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 1:27 |
| Duško Todorović | 0 | 3 of 5 | 60% | 3 of 5 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:03 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mansur Abdul-Malik | 1 | 29 of 51 | 56% | 31 of 54 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 1:27 |
| Duško Todorović | 0 | 3 of 5 | 60% | 3 of 5 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:03 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mansur Abdul-Malik | 29 of 51 | 56% | 27 of 49 | 2 of 2 | 0 of 0 | 5 of 12 | 2 of 2 | 22 of 37 |
| Duško Todorović | 3 of 5 | 60% | 2 of 4 | 0 of 0 | 1 of 1 | 3 of 5 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mansur Abdul-Malik | 29 of 51 | 56% | 27 of 49 | 2 of 2 | 0 of 0 | 5 of 12 | 2 of 2 | 22 of 37 |
| Duško Todorović | 3 of 5 | 60% | 2 of 4 | 0 of 0 | 1 of 1 | 3 of 5 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
Play-by-Play
View on SherdogBETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Abdul-Malik (-375), Todorovic (+295)
Round 1
A dentist should be on standby, because one of these middleweights might lose some teeth after the expected slugfest ensues. With six wins, all finishes, on his ledger, Abdul-Malik (6-0, 0-0 UFC) knows one speed coming into his organizational debut. He will engage a man whose stoppage rate is only slightly lower than his, 92% for Todorovic (12-4, 3-4 UFC) compared to the neophyte’s 100%. Referee Mike Beltran dons his proverbial hard hat ahead of what could be a violent one, one that opens with a fist bump. Abdul-Malik assumes control of the center of the cage immediately, switching stances and looking for a jab on either side. Todorovic tosses out a single leg kick, and he works his way forward with a one-two. Abdul-Malik responds by bouncing off the cage and blasting “Thunder” in the face with a combination that sends Todorovic crashing to the mat. The lights are still in for Todorovic as he lands on his back and hunts for a leglock, but Abdul-Malik drills him with a number of heavy hammerfists to make him think twice. Abdul-Malik smashes his man in the face with a fierce right hand, and the two scramble while Todorovic still hangs onto the unbeaten fighter’s right leg. Abdul-Malik yanks his leg out of danger while beating on the man from Serbia, but Todorovic works his way back to his feet and walks through a knee while escaping. Swelling develops on his forehead like he is sprouting a third eye, and Abdul-Malik is aiming at it with lunging, looping strikes.
Todorovic defends against the punches, but Abdul-Malik blows him out of the water with a flush knee. Todorovic crumbles to the mat, and he still has the wherewithal to hunt for a leglock. Abdul-Malik wants nothing to do with that grappling, unleashing a flurry of standing-to-ground punches to knock Todorovic in and out of consciousness. A particularly potent right hand from the newcomer changes Todorovic’s expression and makes him turn to his side and shell up, and it only takes a few more hammerfists before Beltran has to step in.
Statement made for the now 7-0 Abdul-Malik, who celebrates all seven of his victories by stoppage.
The Official Result
Mansur Abdul-Malik def. Dusko Todorovic R1 2:44 via TKO (Knee and Punches)
Angelo is very confident in Mansur Abdul-Malik despite it being his UFC debut. He loves his high-level D1 wrestling, explosiveness, and ground work. He notes Todorović is a technical striker with chin questions. He has Mansur in a parlay but warns against overexposure, advising not to put him in multiple parlays.
Big Brady is very confident in Abdul-Malik, citing Todorović's poor striking defense, low takedown defense, and susceptibility to being knocked out. He highlights Abdul-Malik's wrestling background and devastating ground-and-pound. He predicts a first-round knockout but notes slight cardio concerns if the fight extends.
Cody is confident in Abdul-Malik due to Todorović's glaring holes: poor takedown defense and a weak chin. He notes Abdul-Malik's Division I wrestling background and athleticism, and expects him to take Todorović down and finish him. Cody sees this as a favorable matchup for the prospect.
Connor picks Abdul-Malik, noting he is a big favorite. He describes Abdul-Malik as a great prospect from MMA Masters with natural tools but lacking interstitial skills. He contrasts this with Todorović, who has bad habits and bad defense from a weak regional scene. Connor thinks Abdul-Malik's athleticism will overcome Todorović's flaws.
Daniel Vreeland picks Mansur Abdul-Malik, praising his athleticism, power, and potential. He notes Duško Todorović's defensive flaws (hands down, chin up) and believes Abdul-Malik's physicality will overwhelm him. Vreeland expects Abdul-Malik to get his first UFC win, possibly by knockout.
Todorović is returning from back surgeries and may struggle with ring rust against the large, explosive Abdul-Malik. Despite Todorović's experience, Abdul-Malik's physicality should lead to a knockout victory.
Paul agrees, pointing out Todorović's poor decision-making and chin. He mentions Todorović's leg injury in his last fight and his tendency to walk into danger. Paul thinks Abdul-Malik's wrestling and striking will be too much, but acknowledges the banana peel pricing risk.
The Guru picks Mansur Abdul-Malik but is hesitant, noting that Todorović is a good underdog value. He criticizes Abdul-Malik's contender series performance against Wes Schultz, but believes Todorović's long layoff and ACL tear make him vulnerable. He expects Abdul-Malik's offensive wrestling and ground and pound to be the difference, but warns that if the fight goes past round one, Todorović could make it competitive.
Zane agrees with Connor, picking Abdul-Malik. He describes Abdul-Malik as a big, powerful, fast athlete from MMA Masters, but notes his game lacks structure. He criticizes Todorović as hateable with bad defense and a wrestling game that only works against weak opponents. Zane thinks Abdul-Malik's physical advantages will prevail.
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Christian Leroy Duncan | 0 | 9 of 14 | 64% | 14 of 19 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:38 |
| Duško Todorović | 0 | 4 of 6 | 66% | 6 of 8 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Christian Leroy Duncan | 0 | 9 of 14 | 64% | 14 of 19 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:38 |
| Duško Todorović | 0 | 4 of 6 | 66% | 6 of 8 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Christian Leroy Duncan | 9 of 14 | 64% | 3 of 8 | 2 of 2 | 4 of 4 | 8 of 13 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 0 |
| Duško Todorović | 4 of 6 | 66% | 0 of 0 | 2 of 3 | 2 of 3 | 4 of 6 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Christian Leroy Duncan | 9 of 14 | 64% | 3 of 8 | 2 of 2 | 4 of 4 | 8 of 13 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 0 |
| Duško Todorović | 4 of 6 | 66% | 0 of 0 | 2 of 3 | 2 of 3 | 4 of 6 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
Play-by-Play
View on SherdogBETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Duncan (-215), Todorovic (+185)
Round 1
A whole 17 finishes in the 19 total wins for the debuting Duncan (7-0, 0-0 UFC) and heavy-handed Serbian Todorovic (12-3, 3-3 UFC) lead many to believe this one will not last long. There is little time to waste, as referee Lukasz Bosacki has already started the middleweight match. A quick fist bump leads to a series of stance switches for the newcomer, who looks to fluster Todorovic early. Todorovic sits down on a leg kick that almost buckles Duncan’s leg, so Duncan responds with one of his own. Duncan gives chase and hammers the lead of his opponent once more, and Todorovic is already wearing it. Duncan spears out with a side kick to the chest, and he easily blocks a counter high kick under his armpit. Duncan attempts to check a low kick, and he shrugs off a front kick to tie up “Thunder” against the wall. Duncan thumps some knees to the midsection, and Todorovic muscles out of the clinch.
As the Serbian fighter turns the corner, his knee visibly pops and he falls down on his back in agony. Duncan does not follow him to the ground to strike, and instead recognizes the injury and backs off as Bosacki waves the fight off.
While Todorovic does manage to get back to his feet, it might be due to adrenaline and he should probably not be standing on it. It is an unfortunate situation for both fighters, but Duncan is now a perfect 8-0 as a pro with the technical knockout on his ledger, and hopefully Todorovic is not on the mend for too long from that knee injury.
The Official Result
Christian Leroy Duncan def. Dusko Todorovic R1 1:52 via TKO (Knee Injury)
Angelo thinks Christian Leroy Duncan will win by coming forward and bombing on Todorović, who has a questionable chin. He notes Duncan is a powerful striker with pressure and creativity, while Todorović is more technical but can be chinny. He is not betting but likes the does not go the distance prop.
Big Brady picks Duncan, noting his power and Todorović's poor striking defense and chin. He acknowledges Todorović has good top game but poor wrestling (12% takedown accuracy). He believes Duncan can get back up if taken down and find a knockout. He predicts a second-round KO, calling Todorović's wins unimpressive.
Cody picks Todorović as a dog, noting his top game and ground-and-pound are strong if he can get takedowns. He thinks Duncan's takedown defense is questionable and he may get taken down. He acknowledges Todorović's chin is a liability and he could get knocked out, but he's taking a small sniff at the dog. He says the fight likely doesn't go the distance.
Connor picks Duncan, describing him as a big bully with powerful striking but poor grappling. He notes that Todorović is hittable and has struggled against aggressive fighters. Connor expects a messy fight where Duncan's power and durability will overcome Todorović's wrestling, as Duncan is comfortable in chaotic exchanges.
Jacob placed this as his first moneyline bet on the card, getting early value for premium members. He thinks Duncan has a huge advantage in striking and cardio, while Todorović needs to wrestle but has poor takedown control and gasses. He expects Duncan to dominate in front of the home crowd and likely finish.
Duncan is an unorthodox striker with power and a good gas tank, able to conserve energy early and explode later. Todorović has a grappling-heavy approach but tends to slow down if he doesn't get a finish. Duncan's speed and striking should be too much, and he will likely pull away in the second and third rounds. A knockout victory is predicted, possibly in the third round.
Paul picks Duncan, noting he looks good on tape as a Cage Warriors champion with training in Thailand. He thinks Duncan's striking and finishing ability are real, and Todorović's chin is a massive liability. He says if Todorović can't get wrestling going, he gets knocked out. He initially bet Todorović by mistake but cashed out after realizing it was the wrong Duncan.
The MMA Guru picks Christian Leroy Duncan to win by TKO, highlighting his impressive prospect pedigree and experience against tough competition. He notes Todorović has not beaten any UFC-level opponents and has been finished by everyone still in the UFC. Duncan's size, stand-up, and takedown defense are key advantages, and he predicts a highlight-reel finish via head kick or flying knee.
Zane agrees with Connor, noting that Duncan's disdain for grapplers and his counter-striking will be effective. He points out that Todorović is not a great athlete and has been exposed by similar fighters. Zane believes Duncan's power and willingness to trade will be too much for Todorović.
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Duško Todorović | 0 | 25 of 41 | 60% | 66 of 83 | 3 of 5 | 60% | 1 | 0 | 5:03 |
| Jordan Wright | 0 | 61 of 80 | 76% | 107 of 132 | 0 of 4 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 1:11 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Duško Todorović | 0 | 17 of 20 | 85% | 58 of 62 | 3 of 3 | 100% | 1 | 0 | 4:24 |
| Jordan Wright | 0 | 3 of 3 | 100% | 4 of 4 | 0 of 2 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:13 | |
| 2 | Duško Todorović | 0 | 8 of 21 | 38% | 8 of 21 | 0 of 2 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:39 |
| Jordan Wright | 0 | 58 of 77 | 75% | 103 of 128 | 0 of 2 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:58 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Duško Todorović | 25 of 41 | 60% | 20 of 35 | 5 of 6 | 0 of 0 | 7 of 18 | 7 of 9 | 11 of 14 |
| Jordan Wright | 61 of 80 | 76% | 49 of 68 | 12 of 12 | 0 of 0 | 19 of 29 | 28 of 31 | 14 of 20 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Duško Todorović | 17 of 20 | 85% | 16 of 18 | 1 of 2 | 0 of 0 | 1 of 1 | 5 of 5 | 11 of 14 |
| Jordan Wright | 3 of 3 | 100% | 1 of 1 | 2 of 2 | 0 of 0 | 1 of 1 | 2 of 2 | 0 of 0 | |
| 2 | Duško Todorović | 8 of 21 | 38% | 4 of 17 | 4 of 4 | 0 of 0 | 6 of 17 | 2 of 4 | 0 of 0 |
| Jordan Wright | 58 of 77 | 75% | 48 of 67 | 10 of 10 | 0 of 0 | 18 of 28 | 26 of 29 | 14 of 20 |
Play-by-Play
View on SherdogBETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Todorovic (-205), Wright (+175)
Round 1
One of these two middleweights now in the “featured fight of the night” slot should record their first win since 2021 – barring something strange – and it’s anyone’s guess if Wright (12-3, 1 NC; 2-3 UFC) or Todorovic (11-3, 2-3 UFC) will get it done when the dust settles. Combined, they have exactly one decision win among their 23 victories, so scorekeepers may be able to take a break for this one. Referee Chris Tognoni will not, however, be so lucky, as a fast finish could crop up out of nowhere with these two. They touch gloves before trying to lop the other’s head off, and Todorovic leads the dance and corners Wright. The American immediately has to fight off a takedown entry, and Wright shucks off the first attempt and turns Todorovic around. “The Beverly Hills Ninja” lands his own takedown, and he moves to half guard and starts punching Todorovic upside the head. Todorovic clings to him to stifle most of the offense, only to absorb an elbow on the forehead. Wright stays heavy even while Todorovic scrambles and gets butterfly hooks in to buck Wright off of him, and he transitions to a heel hook to give Wright a scare. The American rolls all the way through it, and Todorovic moves to set up a possible kneebar. As Todorovic’s attention is paid to the leglock, Wright smashes him in the face several times to make Todorovic’s face turn quite red. Wright knees Todorovic in the chest when pinning him to the wall, and he snags a single and deposits the Serbian fighter down to the canvas. Wright, in half guard, fastens an arm-triangle choke, and he hops over to side control to lock it down. Instead of securing the submission, however, Wright jumps to mount and slugs Todorovic in the face repeatedly. Todorovic bucks him at the right moment to get back to his feet, and Wright follows him in pursuit of a double-leg takedown. With 10 seconds to spare, Wright lands a takedown, and the round ends with “Thunder” on the mat.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Wright
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Wright
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Wright
Round 2
To the surprise of some, the two middleweights have reached the second round. They high-five to start off the round, and Todorovic is the aggressor as he backs Wright back. Todorovic tags Wright with a right hand over the top, and he lets loose a fury of punches to knock Wright’s head around. Wright defends himself well enough from a brawl, but Todorovic is teeing off on him and hurting Wright badly. Wright responds with a few punches, and he tries to kick Todorovic in the dome, but he gets elbowed right in the face. Todorovic tosses Wright to the mat, and Wright appears totally spent already. Just six minutes into the fight, and Wright is in full defensive mode. A labored takedown effort from Wright slows the offense from Todorovic, but not for long, as Todorovic shakes it off. Todorovic batters the body as Wright takes gasping breaths, and he blasts Wright with a long string of unanswered fists. Wright attempts to respond every so often, but he is more intent on clinching up to save himself from a further drubbing. A spent Wright gets pushed down to the floor, and Todorovic steps right into mount and rains down punches.
Wright gets elbowed repeatedly and turns to his side, and Todorovic is not letting up. Todorovic continues to bombard Wright, knowing the finish is around the corner, and the elbows start to pile up from the Serbian striker. As the elbows do not appear to be ceasing any time soon, Tognoni has seen enough, and he saves a defeated Wright from any further harm.
This roller coaster battle somehow made it past the midpoint of Round 2, but Todorovic dug deep, came back from adversity and recorded the finish to earn his 11th stoppage across 12 career wins.
The Official Result
Dusko Todorovic def. Jordan Wright R2 3:12 via TKO (Punches and Elbows)
Angelo picks Duško Todorović, believing he is the much better striker. He notes that Jordan Wright is a kill-or-be-killed fighter with big power but a karate style that can be exploited. He is confident in Duško but acknowledges that Jordan is always live and could push a wrestling-heavy game plan, as Duško has 50% takedown defense.
Big Brady picks Duško Todorović to win by first-round ground-and-pound finish. He notes that Jordan Wright is dangerous offensively but has terrible defense and chin, while Todorović has more paths to victory including takedowns and ground-and-pound. He expects Todorović to take the fight to the mat and dominate. He calls this his favorite fight on the card and mentions he has a bet on it.
Cody is very confident in the under 1.5 rounds, calling it his biggest bet in a while. He notes Jordan Wright has never been past 7.5 minutes in any fight, and Todorović has chin issues. He expects Todorović to take Wright down and finish him in the first round. He also likes the under as a standalone bet and in a parlay.
Connor picks Todorović, citing his love for fighting and aggression that will break Wright over time. He notes that Wright panics and gets exhausted, and Todorović's pressure will contribute to that. He acknowledges Todorović is very hittable but believes his durability and passion give him the edge in a longer fight.
Both fighters have power and suspect chins, making this a likely early finish. Todorović has poor striking defense, keeping his hands down, while Wright is explosive but fragile. The host leans Todorović to land the big strike first, but the under 1.5 rounds is the preferred play. Wright is a live underdog, and the fight is closer than the odds suggest.
Paul considers Jordan Wright as a PRP pick, noting Wright is a fast starter with decent power, as shown in his knockout of Jamie Pickett. He points out Todorović is hittable and has a questionable chin, and Wright could catch him early. However, he acknowledges Wright's own flaws and the under is the safer play.
The MMA Guru picks Jordan Wright as a juicy underdog, leaning towards him despite acknowledging his inconsistency. He notes that Wright has been training at Jackson Wink and is settling in. He believes Wright's size and reach advantage will allow him to manipulate the clinch and land knees to finish Todorović, calling it a 50/50 fight.
Zane picks Wright, acknowledging it's a coin flip. He notes that Wright hits very hard and has technical striking from his Anthony Hardonk disciple background, but his mentality is fragile. He thinks Wright's power could catch Todorović early, as Todorović is extremely hittable.
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chidi Njokuani | 1 | 14 of 17 | 82% | 19 of 23 | 0 of 0 | --- | 1 | 0 | 0:50 |
| Duško Todorović | 0 | 5 of 7 | 71% | 9 of 11 | 2 of 7 | 28% | 0 | 0 | 3:13 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chidi Njokuani | 1 | 14 of 17 | 82% | 19 of 23 | 0 of 0 | --- | 1 | 0 | 0:50 |
| Duško Todorović | 0 | 5 of 7 | 71% | 9 of 11 | 2 of 7 | 28% | 0 | 0 | 3:13 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chidi Njokuani | 14 of 17 | 82% | 3 of 4 | 8 of 10 | 3 of 3 | 5 of 7 | 9 of 10 | 0 of 0 |
| Duško Todorović | 5 of 7 | 71% | 4 of 6 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 2 | 4 of 4 | 1 of 1 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chidi Njokuani | 14 of 17 | 82% | 3 of 4 | 8 of 10 | 3 of 3 | 5 of 7 | 9 of 10 | 0 of 0 |
| Duško Todorović | 5 of 7 | 71% | 4 of 6 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 2 | 4 of 4 | 1 of 1 |
Play-by-Play
View on SherdogBETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Njokuani (-190), Todorovic (+160)
Round 1
Mark Smith will be the third man in the cage for this middleweight scrap. Njokuani enters the matchup on the heels of a 16-second knockout of Marc-Andre Barriault in his UFC debut. Todorovic ducks under a punch for a takedown, but Njokuani sprawls nicely. He has a front headlock secured and he rolls over, briefly securing a nifty brabo choke. Njokuani has to bail on the choke as Todorovic gets top position. Njokuani tries to use the cage to his advantage and work his way up, but Todorovic is relentless as he moves to his foe’s back. Njokuani is standing with Todorovic hanging onto a waist lock. Njokuani works to break his opponent’s grip. Todorovic shoves his man into the fence and lands some short right hands to the head. It’s a grueling style of fight, with Todorovic giving Njokuani no room with which to work. Todorovic drops for a single leg. Njokuani sprawls and hits Todorovic with a knee on the exit. Njokuani lands a series of knees to the body in close, and now it’s Njokuani with a waist lock. They tie up and Njokuani lands another knee to the body. With time running out in the round,
Njokuani creates just enough space to unleash a vicious right elbow to the temple of his adversary. Todorovic drops like a sack of potatoes and this one is over in sudden fashion.
The Official Result
Chidi Njokuani def. Dusko Todorovic via KO (Elbow) R1 4:48
Angelo picks Chidi Njokuani because of his power, speed, and distance control. He notes that Todorović has questions about his chin and that Njokuani has solid takedown defense. He suggests a prop bet on Njokuani winning inside the distance, as he expects a finish.
Big Brady picks Chidi Njokuani to win by first-round knockout, citing Todorović's horrendous striking defense and tendency to keep his hands down. He notes Njokuani has power and improved takedown defense. He acknowledges Njokuani has been finished in the past but believes he has improved. He expects the fight to stay standing and Njokuani to land a knockout early.
Cody is impressed with Njokuani's improvements in grappling and cardio, noting his recent knockout of Marc-André Barriault. He highlights Todorović's poor head movement and susceptibility to getting hit, as seen in the Punahele Soriano fight. He believes Njokuani's striking acumen and upgraded ground game will lead to a finish, likely in the first two rounds.
The host predicts Duško Todorović via decision. He expects Todorović to control the fight by keeping Njokuani still and against the cage, leading to a potentially boring fight with a lot of control time. He is not fully confident, as he questions the pick slightly when discussing totals, but his official prediction is Todorović by decision.
Paul agrees with Cody, saying Njokuani's striking and improved cardio should be enough. He notes Todorović's defensive liabilities and that Njokuani likely lands a big strike in the first two rounds. He hates the moneyline at -220 but still picks Chidi.
The MMA Guru is very confident in Chidi Njokuani, citing his reach advantage and experience. He notes Duško Todorović leaves his chin up when exiting exchanges, and Njokuani's reach will allow him to land cleanly. He predicts a first-round KO for Njokuani.
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Duško Todorović | 0 | 13 of 29 | 44% | 13 of 29 | 0 of 0 | --- | 1 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Maki Pitolo | 0 | 30 of 53 | 56% | 67 of 91 | 1 of 1 | 100% | 0 | 0 | 2:46 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Duško Todorović | 0 | 13 of 29 | 44% | 13 of 29 | 0 of 0 | --- | 1 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Maki Pitolo | 0 | 30 of 53 | 56% | 67 of 91 | 1 of 1 | 100% | 0 | 0 | 2:46 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Duško Todorović | 13 of 29 | 44% | 5 of 20 | 5 of 6 | 3 of 3 | 12 of 28 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 0 |
| Maki Pitolo | 30 of 53 | 56% | 28 of 51 | 1 of 1 | 1 of 1 | 9 of 22 | 0 of 1 | 21 of 30 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Duško Todorović | 13 of 29 | 44% | 5 of 20 | 5 of 6 | 3 of 3 | 12 of 28 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 0 |
| Maki Pitolo | 30 of 53 | 56% | 28 of 51 | 1 of 1 | 1 of 1 | 9 of 22 | 0 of 1 | 21 of 30 |
Play-by-Play
View on SherdogRound 1
Finish rates above 75% for each fighter in this preliminary headliner make it one to watch at 185 pounds, even if the stakes are not as high as some other matchups on the card. Pitolo (13-8, 1-4 UFC) will try to throw his patented “Coconut Bombz” at Serbian striker Todorovic (10-2, 1-2 UFC), and referee Mark Smith will need to keep his head on a swivel for as long as these two trade leather. The gloves do get touched before the bombs drop, and Pitolo is the immediate aggressor coming forward but not the first to throw a strike. That comes as a front kick for Todorovic, and Pitolo sticks his hand out in response only to get warned for extended fingers. When Pitolo closes his fists and winds them up, Todorovic shoots in low for a takedown. The attempt is stuffed, and Todorovic backs off to let fly a pair of head kicks that get blocked. The Serbian fighter leaps forward with a punch, and Pitolo lands at the same time. Pitolo bears down on him and connects with a few punches and a knee. Pitolo nails his man with a right hand and a few leg kicks that make Todorovic spin around, and he has already marked Todorovic up in just 90 seconds. As Pitolo continues to attack the lead leg, Todorovic pursues a takedown. Todorovic gets it on the second attempt, only for him to fall into guillotine choke danger. Pitolo grabs hold of the choke and keeps it tight, keeping Todorovic stuck in this position without being able to pass guard. Todorovic escapes the submission danger but elects to go into Pitolo’s guard, which closes around him. Todorovic clubs Pitolo with a left hand, and he grinds down with an elbow to try to get some ground-and-pound going. When Todorovic elbows his foe a few times, the guard opens up, until Pitolo can close it back again to stifle the offense coming. “Thunder” strikes as he steps over to half guard, and he isolates an arm for a moment so he can distract Pitolo and continue to pass. Todorovic manages to turn the half guard position into a partial crucifix, which allows him to belt Pitolo a few more times before slicing over to full mount.
Todorovic sits up and nails Pitolo with ferocious ground-and-pound, and Smith asks Pitolo to keep moving only for the Hawaiian to get flattened out on his stomach. “Thunder” unleashes the thunder and lightning as he persistently pounds on Pitolo with powerful punches, until Smith has no choice but to stop the fight, thus saving “Coconut Bombz” from any further harm.
Todorovic successfully snaps a two-fight skid with a dominant win over a dangerous opponent.
The Official Result
Dusko Todorovic def. Maki Pitolo R1 4:34 via TKO (Punches)
Angelo picks Maki Pitolo but does not bet the moneyline; instead he takes inside the distance/decision no action at +140. He notes Maki has power, solid takedowns, and a tough chin, and that Dusko's chin is questionable. He believes Maki can win by stoppage, and if not, he gets a refund.
Big Brady picks Maki Pitolo as a dog, but with low confidence. He notes that neither fighter is reliable, but he likes Pitolo's game plan in his last fight against Julian Marquez, where he fought smart and used takedowns. He criticizes Todorović's terrible striking defense (48%) and poor takedown defense (50%), and believes Pitolo can exploit those weaknesses. However, he acknowledges Pitolo's inconsistency and loss to Callan Potter as red flags.
Cody also picks Pitolo, emphasizing Todorović's defensive flaws and Pitolo's sharper hands. He thinks Pitolo can beat him to the punch and potentially knock him out. Cody notes that Pitolo has cardio issues but believes he can win the first two rounds.
Daniel Levi leans towards Duško Todorović, citing his body work, clinch fighting, dirty boxing, and vicious ground and pound. He notes that Todorović fights with his hands down and relies on head movement, which could be exploited by Pitolo's power. He acknowledges that Pitolo can crack and that Todorović leaves his chin up, making him vulnerable. He thinks Todorović can make the right decisions in a close fight.
Jacob picks Dusko Todorovic, noting his striking confidence and head movement. He thinks Dusko can win by submission at +285, but the odds are too short. He believes Maki's path is wrestling but he will gas, and Dusko's guard is active. Jacob likes Dusko all the way.
I like Pitolo here. He is better on the feet, throws more volume, and has better striking stats across the board. Todorović has defensive issues and tends to lose minutes. Pitolo should win the striking exchanges and can mix in takedowns. I expect him to win a decision, and the decision prop at plus 450 offers great value.
Paul picks Pitolo, citing his cleaner boxing and power. He notes that Todorović is a defensive liability with poor head movement and has been rocked in recent fights. Paul thinks Pitolo can knock him out or win a decision, but worries about Pitolo's cardio in the third round.
The MMA Guru picks Maki Pitolo to win by split decision. He expects a back-and-forth war where Todorović may drop Pitolo in the first but uses too much energy. Pitolo will grind out the second and third rounds with better pacing, landing knees and takedowns. He calls it a close fight, 29-28 split decision.
Expert Picks (6)
Angelo picks Zachary Reese but is hesitant due to Reese's tendency to play jiu-jitsu off his back and give up positions. He acknowledges Reese's power and size advantages and Todorović's questionable chin, but worries Reese might make bad decisions. He rates it as medium confidence on the website.
Big Brady fades Zachary Reese despite being a favorite, citing Reese's poor takedown defense (33%) and tendency to get finished. He notes Todorović has good ground-and-pound and can take Reese down. Although Todorović has terrible striking defense, Brady thinks Reese lacks the power to knock him out. He picks Todorović by second-round TKO.
Connor agrees with Zane, picking Reese because Todorović is a technical mess and easy to hit. He notes that Reese is also flawed but has more aggression and power. Connor emphasizes that this is a low-level fight and hard to pick with confidence.
Matt picks Zachary Reese to win by knockout in round one. He expects a short fight, noting that Reese is explosive and violent with 7 of 8 wins in the first round, while Todorović has deteriorating durability and often gets finished. Matt likes the under 1.5 rounds and Reese round one knockout prop, and also mentions Reese by submission round one as a long shot.
The MMA Guru picks Zachary Reese by first-round TKO, very confident. He notes Reese's size advantage (6'4") and Todorović's poor durability and chin. He mentions Todorović has been KO'd many times and Reese's pace is strong. He also had a PrizePicks bet on Reese under 5.25 minutes.
Zane picks Reese because he thinks Reese still has unchecked aggression and faith in his game, whereas Todorović seems to have lost confidence after a brutal loss. He notes that both fighters are low-level, but Todorović's tendency to knock himself out and his poor technical game make him the riskier pick.
No comments yet. Be the first to share your thoughts!