UFC Fight Night: Burns vs. Morales · May 17, 2025 · Featherweight · Completed
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Age 29
Height 5' 9"
Reach 69"
Weight 145 lbs.
Stance Southpaw
Age 34
Height 5' 8"
Reach 71.0"
Weight 145 lbs.
Stance Switch
Career Averages - Yadier Del Valle
4.05 SLpM
60.0% Str. Acc.
2.16 SApM
55.0% Str. Def.
1.23 TD Avg
42.0% TD Acc.
58.0% TD Def.
2.0 Sub. Avg
Career Averages - Connor Matthews
4.82 SLpM
43.0% Str. Acc.
6.06 SApM
55.0% Str. Def.
3.24 TD Avg
55.0% TD Acc.
46.0% TD Def.
0.7 Sub. Avg
Yadier Del Valle
Moneyline
DraftKings -500
KO/TKO
FanDuel +210
Submission
BetRivers +460
Decision
BetRivers +150
Connor Matthews
Moneyline
FanDuel +460
KO/TKO
BetWay +1400
Submission
FanDuel +1900
Decision
DraftKings +1000
Yadier Del Valle - Fight History
LOSS vs Jordan Leavitt
Decision R3 5:00 · UFC Fight Night: Strickland vs. Hernandez · Feb 21, 2026
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Jordan Leavitt 0 17 of 45 37% 45 of 86 4 of 8 50% 0 0 7:57
Yadier Del Valle 0 13 of 42 30% 76 of 112 0 of 0 --- 0 0 2:17
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Jordan Leavitt 0 7 of 14 50% 20 of 33 3 of 4 75% 0 0 4:04
Yadier Del Valle 0 3 of 7 42% 32 of 38 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
2 Jordan Leavitt 0 7 of 19 36% 15 of 33 0 of 2 0% 0 0 3:02
Yadier Del Valle 0 5 of 17 29% 10 of 23 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:05
3 Jordan Leavitt 0 3 of 12 25% 10 of 20 1 of 2 50% 0 0 0:51
Yadier Del Valle 0 5 of 18 27% 34 of 51 0 of 0 --- 0 0 2:12
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Jordan Leavitt 17 of 45 37% 7 of 18 3 of 19 7 of 8 12 of 36 0 of 0 5 of 9
Yadier Del Valle 13 of 42 30% 4 of 26 8 of 8 1 of 8 7 of 36 1 of 1 5 of 5
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Jordan Leavitt 7 of 14 50% 4 of 8 2 of 5 1 of 1 4 of 7 0 of 0 3 of 7
Yadier Del Valle 3 of 7 42% 0 of 4 2 of 2 1 of 1 2 of 6 1 of 1 0 of 0
2 Jordan Leavitt 7 of 19 36% 2 of 5 1 of 10 4 of 4 6 of 18 0 of 0 1 of 1
Yadier Del Valle 5 of 17 29% 4 of 12 1 of 1 0 of 4 4 of 16 0 of 0 1 of 1
3 Jordan Leavitt 3 of 12 25% 1 of 5 0 of 4 2 of 3 2 of 11 0 of 0 1 of 1
Yadier Del Valle 5 of 18 27% 0 of 10 5 of 5 0 of 3 1 of 14 0 of 0 4 of 4
Play-by-Play
View on Sherdog
Jordan Leavitt vs. Yadier Del Valle

Round 1
Kerry Hatley is the referee. Del Valle leaps in with a front kick, and Leavitt catches it, shoves his foe into the fence and drags him to the mat. Del Valle scoots to a seated position against the cage. He posts and gets to his feet, and Leavitt maintains his body lock. However, a knee from Leavitt lands below the belt and the bout is paused so Del Valle can recover. Del Valle takes about 30 seconds and he’s good to go. Leavitt with a series of front kicks, then an inside leg kick. Del Valle moves in with a heavy combination, but that allows Leavitt to secure the clinch. Moments later, he takes “The Cuban Problem” down. Leavitt passes to side control, and the Houston crowd is booing already. Del Valle stands, but Leavitt trips him down immediately. Del Valle has full guard and Leavitt responds with a mini slam. Another short slam for Leavitt, as he tries to open up his foe’s guard. Leavitt hovers over Del Valle and drops a few punches before diving back into guard. A heavy elbow lands for Leavitt from above. Del Valle prevents Leavitt from passing guard, but “The Monkey King” peppers him with a few shots. Leavitt drops back for a leg lock in the waning seconds, but nothing comes of it.

Sherdog Scores
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Leavitt
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Leavitt
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Leavitt

Round 2
Leavitt lands a pair of leg kicks. Leavitt extends both arms in an awkward fighting stance. Del Valle counters a kick and sprawls on a takedown. Leavitt kicks the body twice and then fires off a series of push kicks. Del Valle rips the body with a right. Leavitt changes levels, but Del Valle sprawls. However, the Houston-based Cuban gambles for a guillotine and ends up surrendering top position instead. Now Leavitt goes to work in half guard and the boo birds are out again. Leavitt postures up and lands a short elbow. Del Valle is doing well to neutralize much of Leavitt’s offense with his guard. Leavitt passes to half guard again. Del Valle scoots to a seated position and Leavitt drives a shoulder into his chin. Leavitt shoves Del Valle to his back as he continues to impose his will. Leavitt periodically creates openings for ground-and-pound while continuing to control position. With about 15 seconds left, Del Valle lands an illegal upkick while Leavitt is still on his knees. They resume in the same position, with Dal Valle on his back. Leavitt again finishes the round by dropping back for a leg lock.

Sherdog Scores
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Leavitt
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Leavitt
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Leavitt

Round 3
Del Valle likely needs a finish. Leavitt goes back to work, controlling the range with a variety of kicks. Del Valle is still struggling to connect with his punches. Leavitt circles away then kicks his foe’s legs. Hatley calls for action about 90 seconds in. Del Valle stalks Leavitt and then throws his arms out in frustration. Leavitt follows a right with a takedown. He eats a knee from Del Valle but pulls the Cuban into his guard. Now it’s Del Valle in half guard. Leavitt is hanging on, hoping to force a standup. Del Valle lands a few short strikes to the body. Leavitt continues to cling to Del Valle, who nearly achieves full mount against the fence. Leavitt is content to try and neutralize Del Valle, as he realizes he is likely up on the scorecards. Del Valle stands and lands a few shots, before Leavitt reverses position and puts his opponent on his back with less than a mintue remaining. Leavitt gathers the leg and throws some hammerfists to Del Valle’s rear. Leavitt ends with a heavy elbow from side control.

Sherdog Scores
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Del Valle (29-28 Leavitt)
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Leavitt (30-27 Leavitt)
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Leavitt (30-27 Leavitt)

The Official Result
Jordan Leavitt def. Yadier Del Valle via Unanimous Decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28) R3 5:00
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Confident picked Feb 15, 2026 (6 days before fight)
Yadier Del Valle

Angelo picks Yadier Del Valle, noting his solid grappling and striking, while criticizing Jordan Leavitt as a one-dimensional jiu-jitsu nerd with poor takedowns. He dismisses Del Valle's last fight as illegitimate and focuses on his prior work. He believes Del Valle's strength and grappling will prevail.

"Yadiy is going to be the pick."
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked Feb 8, 2026 (13 days before fight)
Yadier Del Valle

Big Brady picks Yadier Del Valle to defeat Jordan Leavitt, citing Del Valle's superior skills everywhere and Leavitt's poor takedown defense. He notes Leavitt has been submitted by better grapplers like Chase Hooper and Paddy Pimblett. He believes Del Valle will take Leavitt down and finish him, predicting a first-round submission. He mentions the controversy around Del Valle's last fight but says it doesn't change his opinion of Del Valle's talent.

Yadier Del Valle by first-round submission
"I think Dalvi is is more than deserving of being this big of a favorite. ... I'm going to go Yadier Dal Via to win this fight. I'll say first-round submission."
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Confident picked Feb 18, 2026 (3 days before fight)
Yadier Del Valle

Cody thinks Del Valle is a legitimate prospect with power and grappling. He notes Leavitt is a one-round fighter who gets outmuscled. He expects Del Valle to win by submission or decision.

"Delv Val for me worst case scenario they buried it on the undercard so I can rebuild."
CO
Connor Ruebusch Expert Confident picked Feb 20, 2026 (1 day before fight)
Yadier Del Valle

Connor picks Del Valle, agreeing that Leavitt is a 'meme fighter' who gets trick submissions on non-grapplers but loses to actual grapplers. Del Valle is a potent athlete with a coherent game. Connor notes that Leavitt sacrifices position for wacky moves and will lose scrambles to a better athlete.

"I think it's mostly a positional thing. Like he's he just goes for wacky moves completely sacrificing position and that shit just doesn't fly against actual grapplers"
LU
Lucrative James Expert Confident picked Feb 14, 2026 (7 days before fight)
Yadier Del Valle

James picks Yadier Del Valle to win by submission, citing his superior grappling and toughness. He notes that Leavitt is one-dimensional and will likely get reversed and submitted after an initial takedown. James believes Del Valle's cardio and jiu-jitsu will be too much for Leavitt.

"I've got Yad Delv to win this fight inside the distance. Submission or TKO? I'll go with a submission."
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Feb 17, 2026 (4 days before fight)
Yadier Del Valle

Del Valle is better everywhere except maybe pure jiu-jitsu, but fights start on the feet where he has a huge advantage. He is strong, pressures forward, and has good wrestling to defend takedowns. Leavitt will try to create chaos to get to the ground, but Del Valle's strength and striking should overwhelm him. Expect a TKO finish inside the distance.

"I'm going to go Yadier Delval inside the distance. more than likely the finish coming by TKO."
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Confident picked Feb 18, 2026 (3 days before fight)
Yadier Del Valle

Paul agrees, calling Del Valle a top prospect. He thinks Leavitt's physicality and cardio are lacking. He expects Del Valle to win by submission or dominant decision.

"Delval is now fighting Jordan Levit. I agree with him at being now the big favorite himself."
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Feb 19, 2026 (2 days before fight)
Yadier Del Valle

The MMA Guru picks Yadier Del Valle, noting his physical strength, athleticism, and powerful striking. He believes Del Valle can stuff takedowns and deal with Leavitt's sticky grappling style. He also mentions that Leavitt has been out-scrambled and submitted by jiu-jitsu guys before, and predicts a first round TKO or submission for Del Valle.

first round TKO, submission
"I'm going to say that Yair Rodriguez del Valle destroys him here. I'm going to say that Yair Rodriguez del Valle gets a first round TKO finish over Jordan Leavitt."
ZA
Zane Simon Expert Confident picked Feb 20, 2026 (1 day before fight)
Yadier Del Valle

Zane picks Del Valle, noting that Leavitt is a terrible striker and not athletic. Del Valle is a strong positional grappler and a solid slugger who pressures and isn't afraid of the pocket. Zane acknowledges Del Valle's UFC wins are against low-level opponents, but he still looks technically coherent and athletic.

"I'm still gonna pick del val because he seems like he has a lot of fundamental stuff. He does well... he's confident and he pressures and he isn't afraid of the pocket"
Submission R1 3:41 · UFC Fight Night: Garcia vs. Onama · Nov 01, 2025
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Isaac Dulgarian 0 0 of 1 0% 3 of 6 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:16
Yadier Del Valle 0 1 of 1 100% 28 of 43 0 of 0 --- 3 0 2:56
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Isaac Dulgarian 0 0 of 1 0% 3 of 6 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:16
Yadier Del Valle 0 1 of 1 100% 28 of 43 0 of 0 --- 3 0 2:56
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Isaac Dulgarian 0 of 1 0% 0 of 1 0 of 0 0 of 0 0 of 1 0 of 0 0 of 0
Yadier Del Valle 1 of 1 100% 0 of 0 0 of 0 1 of 1 1 of 1 0 of 0 0 of 0
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Isaac Dulgarian 0 of 1 0% 0 of 1 0 of 0 0 of 0 0 of 1 0 of 0 0 of 0
Yadier Del Valle 1 of 1 100% 0 of 0 0 of 0 1 of 1 1 of 1 0 of 0 0 of 0
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Confident picked Oct 31, 2025 (1 day before fight)
Isaac Dulgarian

Angelo picks Isaac Dulgarian, highlighting his collegiate wrestling background, aggression, and control. He warns that Dulgarian should not experiment with striking against a dangerous opponent like Del Valle, who has power and good grappling. He trusts Dulgarian's coaching and athleticism to get takedowns and find a finish, hoping for the version that came forward against Christian Rodriguez.

"I'm going to pick Isaac. I will have Isaac in my lineup because I think Isaac can get the takedowns, can find a finish."
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked Oct 31, 2025 (1 day before fight)
Isaac Dulgarian

Big Brady is excited about Isaac Dulgarian, calling him a phenomenal wrestler with championship potential. He notes Yadier Del Valle has poor takedown defense and often accepts takedowns, defending with guillotines. He believes Dulgarian's top game is disgusting and he will have no problem taking Del Valle down. He predicts a second-round submission, though he notes Del Valle could win if Dulgarian gasses.

second round submission
"Give me Isaac Dargaryen. I'll say Isaac Dgaren by second round submission."
CO
Connor Ruebusch Expert Lean picked Oct 30, 2025 (2 days before fight)
Isaac Dulgarian

Connor also picks Dulgarian, agreeing with Zane. He notes that Dulgarian's simple, high-pressure wrestling game is likely to overwhelm Del Valle, who hasn't faced such a difficult test. He mentions that if Del Valle can survive, Dulgarian might gas, but he leans toward Dulgarian.

"Yeah me too."
LU
Lucrative James Expert Confident picked Oct 27, 2025 (5 days before fight)
Isaac Dulgarian

Lucrative James picks Isaac Dulgarian, citing his dominant wrestling and round-one finishing ability. He believes Dulgarian will secure takedowns early and control the fight, while Del Valle's tendency to jump guillotines could leave him on bottom. James predicts a close decision (29-28) but acknowledges a finish is possible. He respects Del Valle's striking but favors Dulgarian's grappling advantage.

Isaac Dulgarian wins by decision
"I'm going to go with Isaac Dolgaren here."
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Oct 31, 2025 (1 day before fight)
Isaac Dulgarian

Dulgarian's smothering grappling style will cause Del Valle issues, keeping him on the defensive. Dulgarian will land takedowns and damage, winning on the scorecards. The host also likes the over 2.5 at plus money.

over 2.5 rounds at plus money
"I love the over two and a half at plus money in this matchup, but I think it's Dolgarian smothering grappling style that's going to cause Dvali too much issues. And that will often keep Dvali on the defensive, and …"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Oct 30, 2025 (2 days before fight)
Isaac Dulgarian

The MMA Guru picks Isaac Dulgarian, impressed by his grappling and ability to ragdoll Christian Rodriguez. He doubts Yadier Del Valle's grappling defense and thinks Dulgarian will dominate on the ground. He predicts a decision win or late-round finish, noting Dulgarian's strong American prospect hype.

"I'm going to go with Isaac Dulgarian here. I've been high on Isaac Dulgarian for a while."
ZA
Zane Simon Expert Lean picked Oct 30, 2025 (2 days before fight)
Isaac Dulgarian

Zane picks Dulgarian because he trusts his straightforward, aggressive wrestling game over Del Valle's more technical but less tested approach. He notes that Del Valle has shown defensive flaws and may struggle against a relentless wrestler. He acknowledges Dulgarian's risk of gassing if his initial attack fails.

"I really just don't trust that doe wall has had to deal with something that difficult yet."
Submission R1 2:54 · UFC Fight Night: Burns vs. Morales · May 17, 2025
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Yadier Del Valle 0 9 of 12 75% 28 of 34 1 of 1 100% 1 0 1:21
Connor Matthews 0 3 of 10 30% 3 of 10 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Yadier Del Valle 0 9 of 12 75% 28 of 34 1 of 1 100% 1 0 1:21
Connor Matthews 0 3 of 10 30% 3 of 10 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Yadier Del Valle 9 of 12 75% 4 of 6 1 of 1 4 of 5 6 of 8 0 of 0 3 of 4
Connor Matthews 3 of 10 30% 0 of 5 0 of 1 3 of 4 3 of 10 0 of 0 0 of 0
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Yadier Del Valle 9 of 12 75% 4 of 6 1 of 1 4 of 5 6 of 8 0 of 0 3 of 4
Connor Matthews 3 of 10 30% 0 of 5 0 of 1 3 of 4 3 of 10 0 of 0 0 of 0
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Hesitant picked May 11, 2025 (6 days before fight)
Yadier Del Valle

Angelo picks Yadier Del Valle but with hesitation, noting that the line feels wide at more than 4:1 favorite. He acknowledges that Connor Matthews is not top-tier but not garbage either. He points out that Matthews has a chin issue and that Del Valle doesn't have knockout power, so Matthews could get an early takedown. Angelo advises against betting on this fight.

Angelo advises against betting on this fight.
"I am gonna pick him. I'm picking Yadier... but no way should people be betting on this fight."
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked May 15, 2025 (2 days before fight)
Yadier Del Valle

Big Brady picks Yadier Del Valle, calling Connor Matthews a 'punching bag' who has been beaten down in the UFC. He notes Del Valle is well-rounded with solid grappling and volume. He predicts Del Valle will finish Matthews by knockout in the second round.

Del Valle by KO, round 2
"I'll take Devi to win this fight and I think he probably finishes Matthews. ... give me DVI to win the fight by second round uh beatd down."
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked May 16, 2025 (1 day before fight)
Yadier Del Valle

The host thinks both fighters have questions, but Del Valle seems better than what Matthews brings. He expects Del Valle to use his physicality, forward pressure, and grinding ability to wear out Matthews and win on the scorecards. The pick is confident but not a lock.

Del Valle by decision
"Look for Dvali to utilize his physicality, forward pressure, and just grinding ability to wear Matthews out and win this fight on the scorecards."
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Hesitant picked May 16, 2025 (1 day before fight)
Yadier Del Valle

The Guru picks Yadier Del Valle but is not high on him as a prospect. He notes Del Valle has good cardio and poured it on in his Contender Series win, but worries about takedown defense against Connor Matthews. He thinks the odds are too wide (Matthews around +400) and says Del Valle should be a 2-to-1 favorite, not a huge favorite. He predicts a TKO.

Odds comment: Matthews at +400 is good value but not picking him
"I'm going to go with Yadya Delval. I think he should win this. I think he should be a two to one favorite, though."
Connor Matthews - Fight History
Submission R1 2:54 · UFC Fight Night: Burns vs. Morales · May 17, 2025
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Yadier Del Valle 0 9 of 12 75% 28 of 34 1 of 1 100% 1 0 1:21
Connor Matthews 0 3 of 10 30% 3 of 10 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Yadier Del Valle 0 9 of 12 75% 28 of 34 1 of 1 100% 1 0 1:21
Connor Matthews 0 3 of 10 30% 3 of 10 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Yadier Del Valle 9 of 12 75% 4 of 6 1 of 1 4 of 5 6 of 8 0 of 0 3 of 4
Connor Matthews 3 of 10 30% 0 of 5 0 of 1 3 of 4 3 of 10 0 of 0 0 of 0
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Yadier Del Valle 9 of 12 75% 4 of 6 1 of 1 4 of 5 6 of 8 0 of 0 3 of 4
Connor Matthews 3 of 10 30% 0 of 5 0 of 1 3 of 4 3 of 10 0 of 0 0 of 0
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Hesitant picked May 11, 2025 (6 days before fight)
Yadier Del Valle

Angelo picks Yadier Del Valle but with hesitation, noting that the line feels wide at more than 4:1 favorite. He acknowledges that Connor Matthews is not top-tier but not garbage either. He points out that Matthews has a chin issue and that Del Valle doesn't have knockout power, so Matthews could get an early takedown. Angelo advises against betting on this fight.

Angelo advises against betting on this fight.
"I am gonna pick him. I'm picking Yadier... but no way should people be betting on this fight."
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked May 15, 2025 (2 days before fight)
Yadier Del Valle

Big Brady picks Yadier Del Valle, calling Connor Matthews a 'punching bag' who has been beaten down in the UFC. He notes Del Valle is well-rounded with solid grappling and volume. He predicts Del Valle will finish Matthews by knockout in the second round.

Del Valle by KO, round 2
"I'll take Devi to win this fight and I think he probably finishes Matthews. ... give me DVI to win the fight by second round uh beatd down."
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked May 16, 2025 (1 day before fight)
Yadier Del Valle

The host thinks both fighters have questions, but Del Valle seems better than what Matthews brings. He expects Del Valle to use his physicality, forward pressure, and grinding ability to wear out Matthews and win on the scorecards. The pick is confident but not a lock.

Del Valle by decision
"Look for Dvali to utilize his physicality, forward pressure, and just grinding ability to wear Matthews out and win this fight on the scorecards."
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Hesitant picked May 16, 2025 (1 day before fight)
Yadier Del Valle

The Guru picks Yadier Del Valle but is not high on him as a prospect. He notes Del Valle has good cardio and poured it on in his Contender Series win, but worries about takedown defense against Connor Matthews. He thinks the odds are too wide (Matthews around +400) and says Del Valle should be a 2-to-1 favorite, not a huge favorite. He predicts a TKO.

Odds comment: Matthews at +400 is good value but not picking him
"I'm going to go with Yadya Delval. I think he should win this. I think he should be a two to one favorite, though."
LOSS vs Jose Delgado
KO R1 2:58 · UFC Fight Night: Cannonier vs. Rodrigues · Feb 15, 2025
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Connor Matthews 0 6 of 23 26% 9 of 31 2 of 3 66% 0 0 0:47
Jose Delgado 1 21 of 40 52% 22 of 42 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:08
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Connor Matthews 0 6 of 23 26% 9 of 31 2 of 3 66% 0 0 0:47
Jose Delgado 1 21 of 40 52% 22 of 42 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:08
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Connor Matthews 6 of 23 26% 6 of 20 0 of 3 0 of 0 6 of 23 0 of 0 0 of 0
Jose Delgado 21 of 40 52% 14 of 29 6 of 7 1 of 4 14 of 30 0 of 0 7 of 10
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Connor Matthews 6 of 23 26% 6 of 20 0 of 3 0 of 0 6 of 23 0 of 0 0 of 0
Jose Delgado 21 of 40 52% 14 of 29 6 of 7 1 of 4 14 of 30 0 of 0 7 of 10
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Confident picked Feb 9, 2025 (6 days before fight)
Jose Delgado

Angelo picks Jose Delgado, noting that Delgado is well-rounded with good power, control, and grappling. He thinks Delgado is slightly better than Connor Matthews, except maybe cardio. He expects Delgado to be the favorite and would bet him if he's an underdog. He notes that Matthews is 'just okay' while Delgado is 'okay plus five.'

"Jose is going to be the pick I obviously need to wait for odds to decide what the next steps are going to be and maybe he ends up being an underdog and we get ourselves a nice little payday"
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked Feb 12, 2025 (3 days before fight)
Jose Delgado

Big Brady picks Delgado by second-round knockout, calling Matthews a walking punching bag who is not UFC caliber. Delgado is much more skilled and aggressive, though defensively irresponsible. Matthews may be tough but will take a beating; the fight could be hard to watch.

knockout in round 2
"give me dogado by second round knockout"
CO
Connor Ruebusch Expert Confident picked Feb 13, 2025 (2 days before fight)
Jose Delgado

Connor picks Jose Delgado, agreeing with Zane that Matthews has no defensive instincts and a weak chin. He compares Matthews to Phil Hawes but with less technique and athleticism. Connor notes that Delgado is a violent fighter who will exploit Matthews' vulnerabilities, and that Matthews' only path to victory would be a lucky shot, which is unlikely given his lack of power and defense. He also criticizes the matchmaking, suggesting Matthews should not be in the UFC.

Connor notes the odds: Delgado opened at -289 and is now -343, Matthews opened at +214 and is now +298.
"I'm with you. I do not think Matthews is really cut out for it."
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Feb 15, 2025 (fight day)
Jose Delgado

Delgado is the superior striker and overall mixed martial artist. Matthews' physicality and power will not translate. Delgado touches him up from distance even off his back foot and wins on the scorecards.

"I think Delgado is the superior striker and overall mixed martial artist and the physicality and power of Matthews will not translate in this fight."
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Feb 13, 2025 (2 days before fight)
Jose Delgado

The MMA Guru picks Jose Delgado over Connor Matthews, trusting in Delgado's gym (MMA Lab) and its history of producing good fighters. He notes Matthews' loss to Dennis Buzukja and believes Delgado will be more well-rounded and cleaner on the feet, predicting a decision win.

decision
"I'm going to side with Jose delgardo here I think he's going to be more well-rounded and a little bit cleaner on the field I reckon he'll get this one done by decision"
ZA
Zane Simon Expert Confident picked Feb 13, 2025 (2 days before fight)
Jose Delgado

Zane picks Jose Delgado confidently, stating that Connor Matthews is not cut out for UFC-level fighting. He details Matthews' lack of defensive awareness, poor chin, and inability to see strikes coming, as evidenced in his fight against Dennis Buzukja. Zane notes that Delgado is a violent fighter who will sit down in front of Matthews and hammer him with combinations, clinch elbows, and takedowns. He believes Matthews' win condition is nonexistent against a decent UFC featherweight.

Zane notes the odds: Delgado opened at -289 and is now -343, Matthews opened at +214 and is now +298.
"So I got to take Delgado. I do not think Matthews is really cut out for it."
LOSS vs Dennis Buzukja
TKO (punches) R3 0:22 · UFC on ESPN: Blanchfield vs. Fiorot · Mar 30, 2024
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Dennis Buzukja 1 83 of 201 41% 84 of 202 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:07
Connor Matthews 0 60 of 138 43% 62 of 140 1 of 3 33% 0 0 0:40
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Dennis Buzukja 0 38 of 85 44% 38 of 85 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Connor Matthews 0 24 of 58 41% 24 of 58 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
2 Dennis Buzukja 0 37 of 98 37% 38 of 99 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Connor Matthews 0 36 of 76 47% 38 of 78 1 of 3 33% 0 0 0:40
3 Dennis Buzukja 1 8 of 18 44% 8 of 18 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:07
Connor Matthews 0 0 of 4 0% 0 of 4 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Dennis Buzukja 83 of 201 41% 44 of 145 18 of 34 21 of 22 77 of 186 2 of 3 4 of 12
Connor Matthews 60 of 138 43% 37 of 101 14 of 27 9 of 10 57 of 134 1 of 1 2 of 3
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Dennis Buzukja 38 of 85 44% 17 of 56 10 of 17 11 of 12 37 of 84 1 of 1 0 of 0
Connor Matthews 24 of 58 41% 13 of 38 5 of 14 6 of 6 24 of 58 0 of 0 0 of 0
2 Dennis Buzukja 37 of 98 37% 21 of 73 7 of 16 9 of 9 36 of 96 1 of 2 0 of 0
Connor Matthews 36 of 76 47% 24 of 59 9 of 13 3 of 4 33 of 72 1 of 1 2 of 3
3 Dennis Buzukja 8 of 18 44% 6 of 16 1 of 1 1 of 1 4 of 6 0 of 0 4 of 12
Connor Matthews 0 of 4 0% 0 of 4 0 of 0 0 of 0 0 of 4 0 of 0 0 of 0
Play-by-Play
View on Sherdog
Dennis Buzukja vs. Connor Matthews
BETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Buzukja (-115), Matthews (-115)

Round 1
Buzukja is in orthodox, Matthews in southpaw as they engage under the supervision of referee Keith Peterson. Both men freely switch between stances, however, as they reach out with long kicks and one-twos. Matthews catches Buzukja coming in with a left hand. Buzukja lands a hard calf kick to the left leg of Matthews, then another. Matthews has switched to orthodox stance. Buzukja catches him with a nice left jab. Buzukja backs Matthews up with a hand one-two. A Matthews kick lands on the cup of Buzukja, and Peterson calls time. Buzukja proclaims himself ready to go after just a few seconds, and they go back to work. Under a minute to go in the round and Buzukja’s jab is dictating the pace of the fight. Buzukja goes upstairs with a right high kick that bounces off the guard of Matthews. Buzukja lands a low kick and a one-two at the clapper, and the round ends.

Sherdog Scores
Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-9 Buzukja
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Buzukja
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Buzukja

Round 2
Buzukja scores first with a jab, then a counter left hook. Matthews backs his man up to the fence, but Buzukja slides out the side and they return to the center of the Octagon. Matthews is game, coming forward, but Buzukja’s combination punching is really giving him trouble. Buzukja punctuates his punches with a series of calf kicks. Matthews continues to work to back Buzukja to the cage. Buzukja gives ground willingly, but is catching Matthews with almost everything he throws. Buzukja steps in with a big overhand right that lands cleanly, then a kick and another trio of punches. Buzukja steps in but Matthews slides behind, takes his back standing and hauls him to the canvas. With under a minute to work, Matthews lands a series of blows from the back, before Buzukja escapes to his feet. They flurry at close range and Matthews shoots a double-leg right before the horn.

Sherdog Scores
Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-9 Buzukja
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Buzukja
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Buzukja

Round 3
Buzukja clips Matthews with a right cross and left hook, dropping him. Matthews covers up as Buzukja swarms with hammer fists.
With Matthews not offering any real defense, referee Peterson steps in for the stoppage.

The Official Result
Dennis Buzukja def. Connor Matthews R3 0:22 via TKO (Punches)
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Lean picked Mar 24, 2024 (6 days before fight)
Dennis Buzukja

Angelo leans Dennis Buzukja, praising his wrestling and striking. He notes Connor Matthews is durable and can snatch submissions in scrambles. He is hesitant because Buzukja has back-to-back UFC losses and hasn't proven himself yet. He holds off on betting.

"Dennis is going to be the pick but until we see an actual UFC win out of him I'm going to be holding on to my money"
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Lean picked Mar 28, 2024 (2 days before fight)
Connor Matthews

Cody picks Matthews due to Buzukja's low confidence, poor recent performances, and lack of power. He thinks Matthews' wrestling and volume will be enough, though he acknowledges the fight is close and the crowd could influence judges.

"I'm gonna take Matthews"
DA
Daniel Vreeland Expert Lean picked Mar 27, 2024 (3 days before fight)
Connor Matthews

Daniel Vreeland picks Connor Matthews, citing his better output and stats in the UFC. He notes Buzukja has low output and hasn't impressed, while Matthews has shown more volume and takedowns. He admits low confidence but thinks the dog has value.

"I'm gonna go Conor Matthews but not with a lot of confidence"
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Lean picked Mar 26, 2024 (4 days before fight)
Dennis Buzukja

Buzukja is more talented all-around with better experience. Matthews is physical but has a questionable gas tank and struggles if takedowns are stuffed. Buzukja can counter effectively and mix in wrestling to wear on Matthews. The minus 125-130 line is reasonable. Prediction: Buzukja by decision.

"give me bookia and I think he wins this fight on the scorecards"
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Lean picked Mar 28, 2024 (2 days before fight)
Connor Matthews

Paul tails Cody, citing Buzukja's struggles and Matthews' hunger. He notes Matthews' takedown numbers and believes he can outwork Buzukja, though he admits the fight is a toss-up.

"I'll tail you on the dogger pass there"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Mar 27, 2024 (3 days before fight)
Connor Matthews

The host picks Connor Matthews, believing he is better than Dennis Buzukja. He liked Matthews' performance on the Contender Series, where he grappled hard and established dominant positions. He criticizes Buzukja's previous losses, saying he looked out of his depth. He thinks Matthews' grappling will be a factor and that he is closer to his prime.

"I do think Conor Matthews is better than Dennis bazooka which is a great name by the way for fighting but um I do think he's better I think Conor Matthews is way better than him"
Expert Picks (4)
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Hesitant picked May 11, 2025 (6 days before fight)
Yadier Del Valle

Angelo picks Yadier Del Valle but with hesitation, noting that the line feels wide at more than 4:1 favorite. He acknowledges that Connor Matthews is not top-tier but not garbage either. He points out that Matthews has a chin issue and that Del Valle doesn't have knockout power, so Matthews could get an early takedown. Angelo advises against betting on this fight.

Angelo advises against betting on this fight.
"I am gonna pick him. I'm picking Yadier... but no way should people be betting on this fight."
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked May 15, 2025 (2 days before fight)
Yadier Del Valle

Big Brady picks Yadier Del Valle, calling Connor Matthews a 'punching bag' who has been beaten down in the UFC. He notes Del Valle is well-rounded with solid grappling and volume. He predicts Del Valle will finish Matthews by knockout in the second round.

Del Valle by KO, round 2
"I'll take Devi to win this fight and I think he probably finishes Matthews. ... give me DVI to win the fight by second round uh beatd down."
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked May 16, 2025 (1 day before fight)
Yadier Del Valle

The host thinks both fighters have questions, but Del Valle seems better than what Matthews brings. He expects Del Valle to use his physicality, forward pressure, and grinding ability to wear out Matthews and win on the scorecards. The pick is confident but not a lock.

Del Valle by decision
"Look for Dvali to utilize his physicality, forward pressure, and just grinding ability to wear Matthews out and win this fight on the scorecards."
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Hesitant picked May 16, 2025 (1 day before fight)
Yadier Del Valle

The Guru picks Yadier Del Valle but is not high on him as a prospect. He notes Del Valle has good cardio and poured it on in his Contender Series win, but worries about takedown defense against Connor Matthews. He thinks the odds are too wide (Matthews around +400) and says Del Valle should be a 2-to-1 favorite, not a huge favorite. He predicts a TKO.

Odds comment: Matthews at +400 is good value but not picking him
"I'm going to go with Yadya Delval. I think he should win this. I think he should be a two to one favorite, though."