vs
-275 +250
UFC Fight Night: Walker vs. Zhang · Aug 23, 2025 · Lightweight · Completed
Prev Fight UFC Fight Night: Walker vs. Zhang Next Fight
Age 26
Height 5' 9"
Reach 71"
Weight 155 lbs.
Stance Orthodox
Age 34
Height 5' 10"
Reach 71.0"
Weight 155 lbs.
Stance Orthodox
Career Averages - Rong Zhu
6.02 SLpM
51.0% Str. Acc.
5.44 SApM
52.0% Str. Def.
1.35 TD Avg
62.0% TD Acc.
84.0% TD Def.
0.1 Sub. Avg
Career Averages - Austin Hubbard
3.97 SLpM
42.0% Str. Acc.
4.1 SApM
55.0% Str. Def.
1.63 TD Avg
28.0% TD Acc.
68.0% TD Def.
0.1 Sub. Avg
Rong Zhu
Moneyline
BetWay -275
KO/TKO
FanDuel +430
Submission
Unibet +1400
Decision
Unibet -107
Austin Hubbard
Moneyline
Caesars +250
KO/TKO
Unibet +1050
Submission
Unibet +1900
Decision
FanDuel +400
Rong Zhu - Fight History
Decision R3 5:00 · UFC Fight Night: Walker vs. Zhang · Aug 23, 2025
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Rong Zhu 0 101 of 197 51% 104 of 201 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Austin Hubbard 0 75 of 226 33% 77 of 228 2 of 12 16% 0 0 1:02
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Rong Zhu 0 20 of 46 43% 21 of 47 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Austin Hubbard 0 18 of 59 30% 18 of 59 1 of 3 33% 0 0 0:29
2 Rong Zhu 0 29 of 62 46% 31 of 64 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Austin Hubbard 0 28 of 68 41% 29 of 69 1 of 3 33% 0 0 0:33
3 Rong Zhu 0 52 of 89 58% 52 of 90 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Austin Hubbard 0 29 of 99 29% 30 of 100 0 of 6 0% 0 0 0:00
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Rong Zhu 101 of 197 51% 65 of 154 21 of 28 15 of 15 98 of 189 3 of 8 0 of 0
Austin Hubbard 75 of 226 33% 43 of 169 30 of 54 2 of 3 71 of 215 4 of 10 0 of 1
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Rong Zhu 20 of 46 43% 9 of 32 1 of 4 10 of 10 19 of 43 1 of 3 0 of 0
Austin Hubbard 18 of 59 30% 10 of 46 7 of 11 1 of 2 18 of 59 0 of 0 0 of 0
2 Rong Zhu 29 of 62 46% 15 of 47 11 of 12 3 of 3 27 of 57 2 of 5 0 of 0
Austin Hubbard 28 of 68 41% 13 of 48 14 of 19 1 of 1 25 of 62 3 of 6 0 of 0
3 Rong Zhu 52 of 89 58% 41 of 75 9 of 12 2 of 2 52 of 89 0 of 0 0 of 0
Austin Hubbard 29 of 99 29% 20 of 75 9 of 24 0 of 0 28 of 94 1 of 4 0 of 1
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Lean picked Aug 17, 2025 (6 days before fight)
Rong Zhu

Angelo slightly leans Rong Zhu due to his volume and striking, but is surprised by the -300 odds, calling them berserk. He notes that Austin Hubbard is gritty and decent everywhere, and just had a close loss to a very good fighter. He thinks Hubbard could make it tricky if he marches forward and fakes takedowns.

Odds are -300, which Angelo calls berserk; he thinks Austin Hubbard is not a 3-to-1 dog.
"I'm going to slightly lean wrong only because of his volume and how insane that can be. But if Austin marches forward, fakes some takedowns, things could absolutely get tricky here. I three to one favorite seems berserk in a …"
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked Aug 21, 2025 (2 days before fight)
Rong Zhu

Big Brady picks Rong Zhu to win by decision, citing his youth, rapid improvement, and striking power. He notes that Zhu has been working on takedown defense and anti-grappling, which will be key against Hubbard's wrestling. He believes Zhu will win a damage-based decision over 15 minutes, as Hubbard has never been knocked out.

Rong Zhu by decision
"Give me Ranju to win. I'll take him to win by decision."
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Aug 21, 2025 (2 days before fight)
Rong Zhu

The host is historically higher on Hubbard than most, but thinks this is a horrible stylistic matchup for him. He doesn't think Hubbard will be able to get to his wrestling game, allowing Rong Zhu to dictate the striking and eventually land a big knockout.

win by KO/TKO
"I think this is a horrible stylistic matchup for him. I don't think he'll be able to get to his wrestling game and that should allow Ronghu to dictate the striking which is eventually going to lead to him finding …"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Hesitant picked Aug 22, 2025 (1 day before fight)
Rong Zhu

The MMA Guru picks Rong Zhu to win by 29-28 decision, but notes that he thinks Zhu is a bit of a big favorite and that there is value on Austin Hubbard. He believes Zhu is more talented and works well on the back foot, but acknowledges Hubbard could win the third round. He mentions that Zhu is young (25) and has had mixed results, including a loss to an underrated lightweight prospect.

Rong Zhu by 29-28 decision; Hubbard wins third round
"I think Ronghu is more talented... I think he should be a very slight favorite over Austin Hubbed. So there is a lot of value on Austin Hubbed here."
WIN vs Kody Steele
Decision R3 5:00 · UFC 312: du Plessis vs. Strickland 2 · Feb 09, 2025
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Rong Zhu 1 125 of 241 51% 126 of 243 0 of 0 --- 0 1 0:18
Kody Steele 0 59 of 209 28% 59 of 209 1 of 4 25% 0 0 0:06
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Rong Zhu 0 33 of 75 44% 34 of 76 0 of 0 --- 0 1 0:08
Kody Steele 0 27 of 86 31% 27 of 86 1 of 3 33% 0 0 0:06
2 Rong Zhu 1 32 of 64 50% 32 of 65 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:10
Kody Steele 0 9 of 36 25% 9 of 36 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:00
3 Rong Zhu 0 60 of 102 58% 60 of 102 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Kody Steele 0 23 of 87 26% 23 of 87 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Rong Zhu 125 of 241 51% 108 of 220 4 of 8 13 of 13 125 of 241 0 of 0 0 of 0
Kody Steele 59 of 209 28% 47 of 194 10 of 11 2 of 4 58 of 205 1 of 4 0 of 0
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Rong Zhu 33 of 75 44% 27 of 69 2 of 2 4 of 4 33 of 75 0 of 0 0 of 0
Kody Steele 27 of 86 31% 21 of 79 4 of 4 2 of 3 26 of 82 1 of 4 0 of 0
2 Rong Zhu 32 of 64 50% 28 of 59 1 of 2 3 of 3 32 of 64 0 of 0 0 of 0
Kody Steele 9 of 36 25% 8 of 33 1 of 2 0 of 1 9 of 36 0 of 0 0 of 0
3 Rong Zhu 60 of 102 58% 53 of 92 1 of 4 6 of 6 60 of 102 0 of 0 0 of 0
Kody Steele 23 of 87 26% 18 of 82 5 of 5 0 of 0 23 of 87 0 of 0 0 of 0
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked Feb 3, 2025 (6 days before fight)
Kody Steele

Big Brady is a fan of Kody Steele, noting his BJJ black belt and improved striking. He believes Steele has a massive grappling advantage over Rong Zhu, who has been submitted four times. However, he worries that Steele might fall in love with his hands and stand and bang, which could give Rong a chance. Brady predicts a second-round submission if Steele mixes in takedowns.

"I like Cody steel here um rangu could be live early on especially if they stand in bang a little bit but especially as this fight goes on whether steel grapples or not as this fight goes on I like …"
DA
Daniel Levi Expert picked Feb 4, 2025 (5 days before fight)

Daniel Levi discusses Kody Steele's UFC debut, noting his impressive Contender Series performance and Dana White's praise. He mentions Steele's opponent Rong Zhu, who has been in the UFC before. He does not pick a winner, only advising viewers to pay attention to Steele.

"Definitely pay attention to this kid cody Steel because he looked very promising in his Regional and Dana White's Contender series footage"
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Feb 6, 2025 (3 days before fight)
Rong Zhu

Rong Zhu's experience and striking advantage are expected to overcome Steele's undefeated record. Steele will struggle to get the fight to the ground due to Rong Zhu's improved defensive grappling. The pick is for Rong Zhu to win by decision.

decision
"I do believe the experience and striking advantage of rangu will allow him to overcome The Undefeated record of Cody steel"
LOSS vs Chris Padilla
TKO (doctor stoppage) R2 4:14 · UFC Fight Night: Burns vs. Brady · Sep 07, 2024
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Chris Padilla 0 49 of 88 55% 49 of 88 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:12
Rong Zhu 0 68 of 105 64% 73 of 110 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:00
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Chris Padilla 0 27 of 54 50% 27 of 54 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Rong Zhu 0 35 of 53 66% 35 of 53 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
2 Chris Padilla 0 22 of 34 64% 22 of 34 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:12
Rong Zhu 0 33 of 52 63% 38 of 57 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:00
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Chris Padilla 49 of 88 55% 26 of 61 12 of 13 11 of 14 43 of 81 6 of 7 0 of 0
Rong Zhu 68 of 105 64% 36 of 51 8 of 12 24 of 42 62 of 98 6 of 7 0 of 0
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Chris Padilla 27 of 54 50% 15 of 38 4 of 5 8 of 11 27 of 54 0 of 0 0 of 0
Rong Zhu 35 of 53 66% 16 of 22 4 of 7 15 of 24 35 of 53 0 of 0 0 of 0
2 Chris Padilla 22 of 34 64% 11 of 23 8 of 8 3 of 3 16 of 27 6 of 7 0 of 0
Rong Zhu 33 of 52 63% 20 of 29 4 of 5 9 of 18 27 of 45 6 of 7 0 of 0
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Confident picked Sep 1, 2024 (6 days before fight)
Chris Padilla

Angelo picks Chris Padilla as an underdog because he is well-rounded, explosive, and composed, with multiple ways to win. He notes that Rong Zhu's wins are on the regional scene and he headhunts, while Chris can scramble and snatch submissions. He plans to wait for prop bets like plus 3.5 rounds or win inside distance.

Angelo says he will wait for prop bets such as Chris Padilla plus 3.5 rounds or win inside distance (decision no action).
"I'm going out on a limb I'm picking the dog Chris Padilla"
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked Sep 5, 2024 (2 days before fight)
Rong Zhu

Big Brady picks Rong Zhu to win by decision. He notes Zhu is a big favorite at -265 and is improving at 24 years old. Brady thinks Zhu is the much better striker and his takedown defense is improving. He acknowledges Padilla can wrestle but lacks top control, so he expects Zhu to keep it on the feet and win a decision.

"I'll go rangu to win this fight by decision"
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Confident picked Sep 4, 2024 (3 days before fight)
Chris Padilla

Cody picks Padilla, arguing that Zhu's competition on Road to UFC is weak and he has been taken down by lesser fighters. He notes Padilla's wrestling and submission skills, and believes he can neutralize Zhu's striking. He sees the -220 line on Zhu as too wide and takes the plus money.

"I'm G take Chris Padilla this is another PRP type long shot play"
DA
Daniel Vreeland Expert Confident picked Sep 5, 2024 (2 days before fight)
Rong Zhu

Daniel thinks Rong Zhu has matured since his first UFC stint and is now ready. He believes Zhu's takedown defense is good enough to keep the fight standing, and that his volume, calf kicks, and athleticism will overwhelm Padilla. He expects Zhu to stuff takedowns and chip away at Padilla, possibly winning a decision.

"I think Rong zoo is gonna stuff this man's takedowns and bust him up... I'm going Rong zooo here to get back on track."
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Sep 4, 2024 (3 days before fight)
Rong Zhu

Rong Zhu is a dangerous striker with improved takedown defense and get-ups. Padilla is a power puncher who relies on grappling, but Rong Zhu should nullify that and find a finish within two rounds. The host sees a more mature version of Rong Zhu now.

Rong Zhu by finish within 2 rounds
"I'm going to go uh wrong zuu here and I think he eventually finds the Finish within possibly two rounds or so."
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Lean picked Sep 4, 2024 (3 days before fight)
Chris Padilla

Paul is interested in Padilla's submission prop at +600, noting his recent submission wins and wrestling advantage. He believes Padilla can take Zhu down and control him, as Zhu has been taken down by lesser competition. He sees value at plus money and picks Padilla as an underdog.

Chris Padilla by submission +600 (playable)
"Padilla I was interested in his submission prop it's obviously early in the week so numbers aren't the greatest six plus 600 is the best on Market which I think is like playable"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Sep 3, 2024 (4 days before fight)
Rong Zhu

The MMA Guru picks Rong Zhu over Chris Padilla. He criticizes Padilla's recent losses and long career, while praising Zhu's youth (24), activity, and evolution as a fighter. He notes Zhu has been fighting higher-level competition and is on a streak since being cut from the UFC. He expects Zhu to have a good performance.

"I think he's going to go out there and have a good performance against Chris Pilla... I think he's going to get this one done over Chris Padilla"
Submission (brabo choke) R3 1:40 · UFC Fight Night: Makhachev vs. Green · Feb 26, 2022
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Ignacio Bahamondes 0 48 of 129 37% 49 of 130 1 of 4 25% 0 0 0:20
Rong Zhu 0 126 of 194 64% 133 of 204 0 of 0 --- 2 0 1:21
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Ignacio Bahamondes 0 9 of 17 52% 9 of 17 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:06
Rong Zhu 0 42 of 66 63% 48 of 75 0 of 0 --- 1 0 1:11
2 Ignacio Bahamondes 0 31 of 83 37% 31 of 83 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Rong Zhu 0 60 of 97 61% 61 of 98 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
3 Ignacio Bahamondes 0 8 of 29 27% 9 of 30 1 of 3 33% 0 0 0:14
Rong Zhu 0 24 of 31 77% 24 of 31 0 of 0 --- 1 0 0:10
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Ignacio Bahamondes 48 of 129 37% 34 of 114 9 of 10 5 of 5 46 of 126 1 of 2 1 of 1
Rong Zhu 126 of 194 64% 86 of 151 25 of 28 15 of 15 117 of 178 3 of 3 6 of 13
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Ignacio Bahamondes 9 of 17 52% 6 of 14 0 of 0 3 of 3 8 of 16 0 of 0 1 of 1
Rong Zhu 42 of 66 63% 24 of 46 11 of 13 7 of 7 36 of 53 0 of 0 6 of 13
2 Ignacio Bahamondes 31 of 83 37% 20 of 71 9 of 10 2 of 2 30 of 81 1 of 2 0 of 0
Rong Zhu 60 of 97 61% 43 of 80 11 of 11 6 of 6 59 of 96 1 of 1 0 of 0
3 Ignacio Bahamondes 8 of 29 27% 8 of 29 0 of 0 0 of 0 8 of 29 0 of 0 0 of 0
Rong Zhu 24 of 31 77% 19 of 25 3 of 4 2 of 2 22 of 29 2 of 2 0 of 0
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked Feb 21, 2022 (5 days before fight)
Ignacio Bahamondes

Big Brady picks Ignacio Bahamondes to win by decision. He praises Bahamondes' takedown defense shown against Roosevelt Roberts, where he stuffed 12 takedowns. He notes Bahamondes throws high volume (over 7.5 significant strikes per minute) and has a significant reach advantage. He criticizes Rong Zhu's striking, pointing out that he was outlanded 94-40 by Kazula Vargas at distance. Brady believes Bahamondes will keep the fight on the feet and outwork Zhu.

Bahamondes by decision
"I like baja monas to win here i like baja monas to win probably by decision"
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Confident picked Feb 23, 2022 (3 days before fight)
Ignacio Bahamondes

Cody picks Bahamondes by decision, citing his size, volume, and takedown defense. He notes Bahamondes' improvement and ability to stuff takedowns, while Zhu is still raw. Cody likes the decision prop at +150 and plans to bet it later in the week.

Bahamondes by decision +150 (DraftKings)
"baja mondez by decision i haven't bet it yet it's something i wanted to talk through with you"
DA
Daniel Levi Expert Lean picked Feb 24, 2022 (2 days before fight)
Ignacio Bahamondes

Daniel Levi leans Ignacio Bahamondes but is cautious. He notes Bahamondes has a tendency to fight to the level of his competition and sometimes underperforms. Levi praises Bahamondes' striking and chin, but worries about Rong Zhu's talent and youth. He calls it a dog-or-pass situation and says if Bahamondes performs to his potential, he wins.

"i lean ignacio but this is one of the fights that i'm very curious to see how it plays out"
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Feb 23, 2022 (3 days before fight)
Ignacio Bahamondes

The host is confident in Bahamondes, citing his volume striking, takedown defense, and ability to overwhelm opponents. He notes that Bahamondes stuffed takedowns from Roosevelt Roberts and expects similar success against Rong Zhu. He thinks Rong Zhu's only chance is a knockout, but Bahamondes should control the fight and win by decision.

"i do like bahamut in the spot i do think he goes out there and has a classic ignacio uh performance"
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Confident picked Feb 23, 2022 (3 days before fight)
Ignacio Bahamondes

Paul agrees with Bahamondes by decision, noting his pressure, volume, and takedown defense. He acknowledges Zhu's power but believes Bahamondes' size and output will win rounds. Paul also likes the decision prop at +150.

Bahamondes by decision +150 (DraftKings)
"i got the same pick"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Feb 21, 2022 (5 days before fight)
Ignacio Bahamondes

The MMA Guru picks Ignacio Bahamondes to win by 29-28 decision. He believes Bahamondes has more potential and a higher ceiling than Rong Zhu, citing Bahamondes' impressive performance against Roosevelt Roberts and his toughness in the John McDermott fight. He criticizes Zhu's loss to Rodrigo Vargas and thinks Bahamondes will pressure Zhu, lose the first round, but come back in the second and third with better pacing to take Zhu into deep waters and win the last two rounds.

29-28 decision
"i'm going to go with ignacio baramondez 29-28 based on the last two rounds"
TKO (punches) R3 4:35 · UFC Fight Night: Smith vs. Spann · Sep 18, 2021
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Rong Zhu 1 86 of 134 64% 134 of 198 6 of 8 75% 0 0 9:27
Brandon Jenkins 0 41 of 105 39% 67 of 138 0 of 0 --- 0 1 0:04
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Rong Zhu 1 35 of 51 68% 38 of 55 1 of 1 100% 0 0 2:01
Brandon Jenkins 0 22 of 56 39% 23 of 58 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
2 Rong Zhu 0 30 of 46 65% 57 of 74 3 of 5 60% 0 0 4:00
Brandon Jenkins 0 10 of 22 45% 27 of 43 0 of 0 --- 0 1 0:04
3 Rong Zhu 0 21 of 37 56% 39 of 69 2 of 2 100% 0 0 3:26
Brandon Jenkins 0 9 of 27 33% 17 of 37 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Rong Zhu 86 of 134 64% 71 of 118 8 of 9 7 of 7 43 of 74 1 of 1 42 of 59
Brandon Jenkins 41 of 105 39% 17 of 69 7 of 16 17 of 20 36 of 98 3 of 5 2 of 2
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Rong Zhu 35 of 51 68% 24 of 40 4 of 4 7 of 7 18 of 31 1 of 1 16 of 19
Brandon Jenkins 22 of 56 39% 5 of 32 3 of 8 14 of 16 20 of 54 1 of 1 1 of 1
2 Rong Zhu 30 of 46 65% 28 of 44 2 of 2 0 of 0 18 of 28 0 of 0 12 of 18
Brandon Jenkins 10 of 22 45% 7 of 18 3 of 4 0 of 0 7 of 17 2 of 4 1 of 1
3 Rong Zhu 21 of 37 56% 19 of 34 2 of 3 0 of 0 7 of 15 0 of 0 14 of 22
Brandon Jenkins 9 of 27 33% 5 of 19 1 of 4 3 of 4 9 of 27 0 of 0 0 of 0
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Confident picked Sep 15, 2021 (3 days before fight)
Brandon Jenkins

Angelo picks Dakota Bush (Brandon Jenkins) because he thinks Zhu Rong is the better striker but needs to dictate the pace. He believes Dakota's willingness to come forward, mix in wrestling, and make it a dirty fight will put Zhu on the back foot, causing him to react rather than inflict. He notes Zhu's record is a bit hollow.

"dakota bush is my pick"
BI
Big Brady Expert Hesitant picked Sep 14, 2021 (4 days before fight)
Rong Zhu

Big Brady picks underdog Rong Zhu, believing he is better than his poor UFC debut showed. He thinks Zhu has cardio and striking advantages, and can stuff Jenkins' takedowns. He notes Jenkins has poor takedown defense and may slow down. He predicts a decision win for Zhu but is not overly confident.

"i'm gonna say that wrong zoo is a lot better than we saw in that first fight"
CO
Cody Saftic Expert picked Sep 15, 2021 (3 days before fight)

Cody does not make a firm pick, noting that Rong Zhu looked shell-shocked in his debut but has potential, while Brandon Jenkins is a short-notice replacement with mediocre technique. He suggests the under might be the best play if the price is right, as both fighters are aggressive finishers.

Under 2.5 rounds (if price is right)
"i would be interested in taking wrong but we don't have a line in front of us"
DA
Daniel Levi Expert Lean picked Sep 17, 2021 (1 day before fight)
Rong Zhu

Daniel Levi picks Rong Zhu to win but calls it a dog-or-pass situation. He notes Zhu underperformed in his last fight due to the flight from China, but this time he trained at ATT in Florida, so the flight won't be an issue. He thinks Zhu should be around -175 to -200, not -350. He acknowledges Jenkins is an opportunistic finisher and hittable, but if he were to bet a side, he would bet Jenkins. As a pure pick, he goes with Zhu.

dog-or-pass situation; if betting, would take Brandon Jenkins
"if i were to bet a side here i would bet brandon jenkins i'm not gonna lay minus 350 on wrong shoe here but i'll pick as a pure pick wrong shoe this is a dogger pass situation guys"
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Lean picked Sep 17, 2021 (1 day before fight)
Rong Zhu

Preet leans Rong Zhu but thinks the line is too wide. He believes Zhu is a crisper striker and may have a grappling advantage, but Jenkins is durable and has better timing. He expects chaos and likes the under 2.5 rounds at -125.

Under 2.5 rounds -125
"I'm still coming out on the other side pickings are wrong to win this fight I just can't trust him at this match 335"
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert picked Sep 15, 2021 (3 days before fight)

Paul does not make a pick, noting that the fight was just booked and he hasn't studied it. He mentions he would be interested in the under if the total is set reasonably, as both fighters have finishing ability.

"i'll be paying close attention to what the total gets set on this because i probably want to bed and under"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Sep 12, 2021 (6 days before fight)
Rong Zhu

The MMA Guru picks Rong Zhu over Brandon Jenkins, noting Zhu's youth (21) and experience (18-5). He criticizes Jenkins' lack of notable wins and believes Zhu will improve from his debut. He predicts a TKO win for Zhu.

TKO
"i'm gonna go with wrongzhu here dakota bush is kind of like they're offering up a hey chinese guy that we want to win"
LOSS vs Kazula Vargas
Decision (unanimous) (30–26, 29–28, 29–28) R3 5:00 · UFC 261: Usman vs. Masvidal 2 · Apr 24, 2021
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Kazula Vargas 0 96 of 176 54% 111 of 192 0 of 1 0% 1 1 1:10
Rong Zhu 0 42 of 105 40% 49 of 114 3 of 4 75% 0 0 2:44
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Kazula Vargas 0 47 of 82 57% 47 of 82 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Rong Zhu 0 13 of 32 40% 13 of 32 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
2 Kazula Vargas 0 8 of 13 61% 23 of 29 0 of 0 --- 1 1 1:10
Rong Zhu 0 2 of 7 28% 7 of 12 2 of 3 66% 0 0 2:32
3 Kazula Vargas 0 41 of 81 50% 41 of 81 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:00
Rong Zhu 0 27 of 66 40% 29 of 70 1 of 1 100% 0 0 0:12
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Kazula Vargas 96 of 176 54% 50 of 121 29 of 34 17 of 21 94 of 174 1 of 1 1 of 1
Rong Zhu 42 of 105 40% 40 of 101 2 of 4 0 of 0 40 of 100 0 of 0 2 of 5
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Kazula Vargas 47 of 82 57% 17 of 47 18 of 21 12 of 14 47 of 82 0 of 0 0 of 0
Rong Zhu 13 of 32 40% 11 of 29 2 of 3 0 of 0 13 of 32 0 of 0 0 of 0
2 Kazula Vargas 8 of 13 61% 3 of 8 2 of 2 3 of 3 6 of 11 1 of 1 1 of 1
Rong Zhu 2 of 7 28% 2 of 7 0 of 0 0 of 0 1 of 5 0 of 0 1 of 2
3 Kazula Vargas 41 of 81 50% 30 of 66 9 of 11 2 of 4 41 of 81 0 of 0 0 of 0
Rong Zhu 27 of 66 40% 27 of 65 0 of 1 0 of 0 26 of 63 0 of 0 1 of 3
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked Apr 20, 2021 (4 days before fight)
Rong Zhu

Big Brady picks Rong Zhu to win by second-round knockout. He believes Rong Zhu is a much more technical striker with harder hits, and that Vargas is wild and low-output. He also notes Rong Zhu has good ground and pound if he takes Vargas down. He expects a finish because both fighters have high finish rates.

Rong Zhu by KO in round 2
"i'm gonna take wrong zoo to win this fight i'm going to say he wins by second round knockout"
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Lean picked Apr 22, 2021 (2 days before fight)
Rong Zhu

Cody leans toward Zhu, noting his youth and striking. He acknowledges Vargas's wrestling but thinks Zhu's aggression and cardio will be factors. He is not confident due to the lack of tape on Zhu and the -255 price. He passes on betting.

"i think this kid's gonna outlast him i think this kid's gonna last him the strike is gonna be a little bit better he's aggressive he's got a good gasoline"
DA
Daniel Levi Expert Confident picked Apr 23, 2021 (1 day before fight)
Rong Zhu

Daniel picks Rong Zhu, believing he is the best Chinese prospect on the card and that Kazula Vargas is not UFC caliber. He notes Zhu's length and aggression, and expects him to land better shots. He is not sure about the -250 line but still picks Zhu to win.

"i'm gonna pick him to win this fight"
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Apr 23, 2021 (1 day before fight)
Rong Zhu

I think Rong Zhu has the most potential among the Chinese debutants. He's well-rounded with solid grappling and striking, and he's only 21 with 20 pro fights. Vargas is durable but limited; he's been finished only by Jose Caceres. I expect the fight to stay standing and Zhu to outpoint him, possibly finishing late. The prop I like is Zhu by KO at +135, but I'm not investing serious money due to the unknowns.

Zhu by KO +135
"i think that we'll get wrong uh having the upper hand pretty much at all times in this fight"
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Lean picked Apr 22, 2021 (2 days before fight)
Kazula Vargas

Paul picks Vargas as a dog, citing Zhu's takedown defense issues and Vargas's wrestling. He notes Zhu's youth and potential but thinks Vargas can exploit the grappling gap. He likes the plus money and thinks the line should be closer to a pick 'em. He also mentions that Zhu is on the card because of the Chinese market.

"i took a shot on the duck and i don't hate it you know what i wouldn't hate it either it's plus 215 it's a dog shot"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Apr 16, 2021 (8 days before fight)
Rong Zhu

The MMA Guru picks Rong Zhu by TKO in the second round. He is impressed by Zhu's highlight reel and activity, noting he has a 10-fight win streak and disguises his wins among lesser competition. He thinks Vargas is older and not as good, and that Zhu will finish him via ground and pound after Vargas survives a bit.

TKO in second round
"i'm going with wrong zhu"
Austin Hubbard - Fight History
LOSS vs Rong Zhu
Decision R3 5:00 · UFC Fight Night: Walker vs. Zhang · Aug 23, 2025
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Rong Zhu 0 101 of 197 51% 104 of 201 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Austin Hubbard 0 75 of 226 33% 77 of 228 2 of 12 16% 0 0 1:02
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Rong Zhu 0 20 of 46 43% 21 of 47 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Austin Hubbard 0 18 of 59 30% 18 of 59 1 of 3 33% 0 0 0:29
2 Rong Zhu 0 29 of 62 46% 31 of 64 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Austin Hubbard 0 28 of 68 41% 29 of 69 1 of 3 33% 0 0 0:33
3 Rong Zhu 0 52 of 89 58% 52 of 90 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Austin Hubbard 0 29 of 99 29% 30 of 100 0 of 6 0% 0 0 0:00
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Rong Zhu 101 of 197 51% 65 of 154 21 of 28 15 of 15 98 of 189 3 of 8 0 of 0
Austin Hubbard 75 of 226 33% 43 of 169 30 of 54 2 of 3 71 of 215 4 of 10 0 of 1
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Rong Zhu 20 of 46 43% 9 of 32 1 of 4 10 of 10 19 of 43 1 of 3 0 of 0
Austin Hubbard 18 of 59 30% 10 of 46 7 of 11 1 of 2 18 of 59 0 of 0 0 of 0
2 Rong Zhu 29 of 62 46% 15 of 47 11 of 12 3 of 3 27 of 57 2 of 5 0 of 0
Austin Hubbard 28 of 68 41% 13 of 48 14 of 19 1 of 1 25 of 62 3 of 6 0 of 0
3 Rong Zhu 52 of 89 58% 41 of 75 9 of 12 2 of 2 52 of 89 0 of 0 0 of 0
Austin Hubbard 29 of 99 29% 20 of 75 9 of 24 0 of 0 28 of 94 1 of 4 0 of 1
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Lean picked Aug 17, 2025 (6 days before fight)
Rong Zhu

Angelo slightly leans Rong Zhu due to his volume and striking, but is surprised by the -300 odds, calling them berserk. He notes that Austin Hubbard is gritty and decent everywhere, and just had a close loss to a very good fighter. He thinks Hubbard could make it tricky if he marches forward and fakes takedowns.

Odds are -300, which Angelo calls berserk; he thinks Austin Hubbard is not a 3-to-1 dog.
"I'm going to slightly lean wrong only because of his volume and how insane that can be. But if Austin marches forward, fakes some takedowns, things could absolutely get tricky here. I three to one favorite seems berserk in a …"
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked Aug 21, 2025 (2 days before fight)
Rong Zhu

Big Brady picks Rong Zhu to win by decision, citing his youth, rapid improvement, and striking power. He notes that Zhu has been working on takedown defense and anti-grappling, which will be key against Hubbard's wrestling. He believes Zhu will win a damage-based decision over 15 minutes, as Hubbard has never been knocked out.

Rong Zhu by decision
"Give me Ranju to win. I'll take him to win by decision."
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Aug 21, 2025 (2 days before fight)
Rong Zhu

The host is historically higher on Hubbard than most, but thinks this is a horrible stylistic matchup for him. He doesn't think Hubbard will be able to get to his wrestling game, allowing Rong Zhu to dictate the striking and eventually land a big knockout.

win by KO/TKO
"I think this is a horrible stylistic matchup for him. I don't think he'll be able to get to his wrestling game and that should allow Ronghu to dictate the striking which is eventually going to lead to him finding …"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Hesitant picked Aug 22, 2025 (1 day before fight)
Rong Zhu

The MMA Guru picks Rong Zhu to win by 29-28 decision, but notes that he thinks Zhu is a bit of a big favorite and that there is value on Austin Hubbard. He believes Zhu is more talented and works well on the back foot, but acknowledges Hubbard could win the third round. He mentions that Zhu is young (25) and has had mixed results, including a loss to an underrated lightweight prospect.

Rong Zhu by 29-28 decision; Hubbard wins third round
"I think Ronghu is more talented... I think he should be a very slight favorite over Austin Hubbed. So there is a lot of value on Austin Hubbed here."
LOSS vs Marquel Mederos
Decision R3 5:00 · UFC Fight Night: Moreno vs. Erceg · Mar 29, 2025
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Marquel Mederos 0 44 of 68 64% 57 of 81 0 of 1 0% 0 1 1:33
Austin Hubbard 0 26 of 65 40% 62 of 121 2 of 9 22% 1 0 7:34
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Marquel Mederos 0 23 of 35 65% 23 of 35 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Austin Hubbard 0 17 of 39 43% 19 of 41 0 of 3 0% 0 0 0:50
2 Marquel Mederos 0 6 of 11 54% 6 of 11 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:05
Austin Hubbard 0 3 of 9 33% 18 of 35 1 of 2 50% 1 0 4:12
3 Marquel Mederos 0 15 of 22 68% 28 of 35 0 of 0 --- 0 1 1:28
Austin Hubbard 0 6 of 17 35% 25 of 45 1 of 4 25% 0 0 2:32
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Marquel Mederos 44 of 68 64% 21 of 41 7 of 7 16 of 20 32 of 55 4 of 4 8 of 9
Austin Hubbard 26 of 65 40% 16 of 51 6 of 9 4 of 5 22 of 60 3 of 3 1 of 2
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Marquel Mederos 23 of 35 65% 9 of 19 4 of 4 10 of 12 21 of 33 2 of 2 0 of 0
Austin Hubbard 17 of 39 43% 10 of 28 4 of 7 3 of 4 15 of 37 2 of 2 0 of 0
2 Marquel Mederos 6 of 11 54% 3 of 7 1 of 1 2 of 3 6 of 11 0 of 0 0 of 0
Austin Hubbard 3 of 9 33% 2 of 8 1 of 1 0 of 0 2 of 8 1 of 1 0 of 0
3 Marquel Mederos 15 of 22 68% 9 of 15 2 of 2 4 of 5 5 of 11 2 of 2 8 of 9
Austin Hubbard 6 of 17 35% 4 of 15 1 of 1 1 of 1 5 of 15 0 of 0 1 of 2
CO
Connor Ruebusch Expert Confident picked Mar 27, 2025 (2 days before fight)
Marquel Mederos

Connor picks Mederos, noting his Tony Ferguson-like style of fighting in the pocket with high activity and creativity. He thinks Mederos's pressure will overwhelm Hubbard, who is reactive and lacks power. He acknowledges that Mederos's style puts him in danger but believes he can go far before a potential fall.

"I think I'm gonna pick him over Austin Hubbard. The pressure that Mederos puts on especially against something like Hubbard who invites pressure... he's gonna get hit a ton but there's a lot of ways that Mederos can kind of …"
ZA
Zane Simon Expert Confident picked Mar 27, 2025 (2 days before fight)
Marquel Mederos

Zane picks Mederos, agreeing that his aggressive pocket fighting will be too much for Hubbard. He notes that Hubbard's game is reactive and low-power, and that Mederos's willingness to eat a shot and come back is a key advantage. Zane thinks the matchup favors Mederos's mentality.

"I'll take Mederos too. This is not one that it would shock me if Hubbard managed to outpoint him, but I just don't like how Hubbard fights."
Decision (split) (27–30, 29–28, 29–28) R3 5:00 · UFC 307: Pereira vs. Rountree Jr. · Oct 05, 2024
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Alexander Hernandez 0 63 of 191 32% 65 of 193 0 of 12 0% 0 0 0:05
Austin Hubbard 0 79 of 204 38% 91 of 217 0 of 2 0% 0 0 0:40
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Alexander Hernandez 0 10 of 44 22% 11 of 45 0 of 2 0% 0 0 0:00
Austin Hubbard 0 23 of 60 38% 23 of 60 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:00
2 Alexander Hernandez 0 22 of 66 33% 22 of 66 0 of 7 0% 0 0 0:05
Austin Hubbard 0 26 of 71 36% 32 of 77 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:09
3 Alexander Hernandez 0 31 of 81 38% 32 of 82 0 of 3 0% 0 0 0:00
Austin Hubbard 0 30 of 73 41% 36 of 80 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:31
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Alexander Hernandez 63 of 191 32% 32 of 142 25 of 42 6 of 7 60 of 177 3 of 14 0 of 0
Austin Hubbard 79 of 204 38% 41 of 144 22 of 38 16 of 22 78 of 203 1 of 1 0 of 0
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Alexander Hernandez 10 of 44 22% 2 of 27 7 of 15 1 of 2 10 of 42 0 of 2 0 of 0
Austin Hubbard 23 of 60 38% 10 of 43 4 of 7 9 of 10 23 of 60 0 of 0 0 of 0
2 Alexander Hernandez 22 of 66 33% 12 of 53 7 of 10 3 of 3 19 of 58 3 of 8 0 of 0
Austin Hubbard 26 of 71 36% 13 of 48 8 of 16 5 of 7 26 of 71 0 of 0 0 of 0
3 Alexander Hernandez 31 of 81 38% 18 of 62 11 of 17 2 of 2 31 of 77 0 of 4 0 of 0
Austin Hubbard 30 of 73 41% 18 of 53 10 of 15 2 of 5 29 of 72 1 of 1 0 of 0
Play-by-Play
View on Sherdog
Alexander Hernandez vs. Austin Hubbard
BETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Hernandez (-215), Hubbard (+170)

Round 1
When this lightweight affair concludes, one of these two fighters will lift their UFC records to .500 while the other will drift further in the wrong direction. Hoping this second stint courtesy of a finals appearance in TUF 31 will go swimmingly, Hubbard (16-7, 4-5 UFC) comes to blows with Texas native Hernandez (14-8, 6-7 UFC). There is no plan of a glove touch to the precede the action while referee Tyler Tomlinson watches on. Don’t worry, fight fans, ref Dave Seljestad is done for the night. He can’t hurt you anymore. Hubbard presses forward right out of the gate, pursuing Hernandez all across the cage after him. The two trade leg kicks until Hernandez lashes out with a right hand down the pipe. Hernandez tosses out a high kick that is blocked, and a right hand is not. Hubbard ducks down and directly into a right hand, and Hernandez keeps it going with a solid uppercut. Hubbard remains in front of Hernandez, but Hernandez is quicker and beats him to the punch. Hubbard jabs his foe in the chest with a kick, and Hernandez responds with a one-two. Hubbard slips back and tags “The Great Ape” with a left hook, backing Hernandez off. Hubbard chases, going for a single and then attacking up high with a kick. Even getting countered often, Hubbard remains right in front of the Texan, and he dings him with a step-in knee as Hernandez goes after a single. The knee busts Hernandez’ nose open, and a thin trickle of blood leak out of it. Hernandez pays it no mind and connects with a one-two, only for Hubbard to come back firing with a body kick. Hubbard misses a front kick by a whisker, and Hernandez’ body shot finds its home. Hubbard whiffs on a right hook and his front kick pushes off the chest, but the active Hernandez tags him with a few kicks and a left hand. Hubbard skims a right hand over the top, and Hernandez is there with two hooks that buckle Hubbard’s knees but do not send him down. “Thud” gathers his thoughts and has a thudding kick bounce off the guard. Hernandez rushes forward with a left hand and a one-two, and Hubbard barely bats an eye and instead attempts an axe kick. The horn sounds.

Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Hernandez
Mike Fridley scores the round: 10-9 Hernandez
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Hernandez

Round 2
Striking exchanges from both men open up the round, with both fighters landing at the end of a few successful blows. Hubbard punches his way into a takedown attempt, and Hernandez rebuffs him with ease and attacks the body. They let go with hooks at the same time, and Hernandez manages to get the better of it. Hubbard continues to maintain heavy pressure, and Hernandez beats him to the punch and drops him to his hands with a straight right hand down the pipe. Hernandez clips Hubbard with a pair of punches, and Hubbard sits down on a low kick that turns “The Great Ape” around. Hubbard drops for a single, and Hernandez manages to fight it off and hop around the cage to stay upright. Hubbard strings together a few punches into a body kick, and Hernandez swats him back with a kick to the thigh. Hernandez sneaks a high kick up, and a left hand gives Hubbard some pause, but Hubbard’s durability holds up. Going after a single, Hubbard turns the corner and takes Hernandez down to his seat from behind but cannot keep him there. Hernandez bounces back up and flashes out a few jabs. Hubbard drills him with a shovel uppercut, and he goes after a takedown, misses and blasts a leaning Hernandez in the face with a crisp knee. Hernandez appears no worse for wear from the destructive blow, and he reaches Hubbard with a left hook. Hubbard slides back and lifts up a knee, and the foot bounces into Hernandez’ cup as Hernandez does not say a word. They do not take a break, instead taking turns to throw at one another. Hernandez punches his way into a double-leg takedown, and Hubbard scoots his way to the fencing to not get taken off his feet. Hubbard breaks free and further bloodies Hernandez’ nose with a left hand. Body shots are traded from the fighters, and they crack one another with right hooks to follow. Hubbard drives forward with a body kick, and Hernandez stands firm and blasts him with a left hand at the bell.

Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Hernandez
Mike Fridley scores the round: 10-9 Hernandez
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Hernandez

Round 3
Fists fly almost immediately to start the last round, and Hernandez charges at Hubbard throwing hands and ending a string of strikes with a knee. Hubbard’s own nose is marked up from oncoming fire, but he is right in there readying himself for a firefight. When a Hubbard takedown is rebuffed once more, he is shoved back and does not eat a strike on the way out this time. Hernandez chains a body shot into two lunging punches, throwing himself off-balance while missing with the strikes. Hubbard catches him with a front kick, two clean punches and a spinning back kick, and Hernandez has to shake it off before responding. When Hernandez darts in, Hubbard has a right hand ready to pop him. Hubbard punches a few times, and Hernandez ducks and eats a knee flush. Hubbard stabs a front kick to the body, fails on a takedown and wings a right hand over the top. Hubbard’s front kick finds its home again, and they jab at the same time. Hernandez dodges a front kick to put a left hand in Hubbard’s face, and Hubbard sells out for a takedown he just cannot find. Hernandez circles around in hopes of taking Hubbard’s back during the attempt, and Hubbard stands and leans against the cage. The two split, and Hernandez connects with an elbow. Hubbard digs a knee to the breadbasket while Hernandez throws hammers, and “Thud” knocks his head around with a combo of hooks. Hubbard’s front kick lands cleanly again, and he hurts Hernandez with another short flurry. Hernandez bites down on his mouthpiece and throws back hard, and they slug it out with punches, kicks, knees and a spinning kick for good measure. The round ends as they go for broke, blood flowing out of Hernandez’ face from numerous clean connects.

Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Hubbard (29-28 Hernandez)
Mike Fridley scores the round: 10-9 Hubbard (29-28 Hernandez)
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Hubbard (29-28 Hernandez)

The Official Result
Alexander Hernandez def. Austin Hubbard via Split Decision (27-30, 29-28, 29-28)
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Lean picked Sep 29, 2024 (6 days before fight)
Alexander Hernandez

Angelo picks Alexander Hernandez, acknowledging his talent but inconsistency. He notes Hernandez has all the tools but often makes poor decisions. He believes this matchup allows Hernandez to be himself, but he is not confident enough to bet on Hernandez as a favorite. He would only bet if Hernandez is an underdog.

Would only bet if Hernandez is an underdog
"I'm picking Alexander Hernandez here... I am not going to bet on him as a favorite"
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked Oct 3, 2024 (2 days before fight)
Austin Hubbard

Big Brady picks Austin Hubbard as a live dog, citing Hernandez's poor cardio, lack of heart, and short-notice fight at elevation. He expects Hernandez to win the first round but fade, while Hubbard's toughness and cardio will allow him to take over and win a decision, possibly with a late finish.

"I like Hubbert here as a dog I'm going to pick him to win this fight by decision but I wouldn't rule out like a late finish because Hernandez just crumbles time and time again at elevation short notice um …"
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Confident picked Oct 2, 2024 (3 days before fight)
Austin Hubbard

Cody picks Hubbard, citing Hernandez's inconsistency and cardio issues. He notes Hubbard's toughness and experience at altitude, believing Hubbard can outlast Hernandez and win a decision or late finish.

"I think I'm gonna take hubard"
CO
Connor Ruebusch Expert Hesitant picked Oct 4, 2024 (1 day before fight)
Alexander Hernandez

Connor picks Hernandez despite his confidence issues, noting that Hernandez has the physical tools to win. He points out that Hubbard is a talentless bully who only wins by being more physical, and Hernandez has the speed and power to overwhelm him. However, he acknowledges the altitude and short notice could be factors.

"I'm going to take Hernandez though. I'm going to take Hernandez to any, any fight where it seems even remotely possible that Hernandez could win it by mistake."
DA
Daniel Vreeland Expert Hesitant picked Oct 1, 2024 (4 days before fight)
Austin Hubbard

Daniel Vreeland hesitantly picks Austin Hubbard, despite calling him 'harmless Hubbard.' He dislikes Alexander Hernandez, calling him a fraud and a bust. Vreeland notes that Hernandez has lost four of his last five and that Hubbard is durable and has shown output. He is not confident but refuses to bet on Hernandez.

"I'm going hubard here not confidently because how can you be confident in and harmless hubard"
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Lean picked Oct 4, 2024 (1 day before fight)
Alexander Hernandez

The host leans with the physicality and explosiveness of Alexander Hernandez, believing he will land better shots, defend Hubbard's grappling, and eventually find a knockout in the second or third round. He notes both fighters are from Colorado but gives the edge to Hernandez.

"I do have to lean with the physicality and explosiveness of Alexander Hernandez which should allow him to land better shots defend the grappling of hubard and eventually find a Knockout in the second or third round"
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Confident picked Oct 2, 2024 (3 days before fight)
Austin Hubbard

Paul picks Hubbard, agreeing with Cody about Hernandez's cardio and durability. He thinks Hubbard's pressure and altitude advantage will be key. He expects Hubbard to win by decision or submission.

"hubard will be the pick for me"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Lean picked Oct 1, 2024 (4 days before fight)
Alexander Hernandez

The MMA Guru picks Alexander Hernandez after flipping a bottle of mayonnaise, which landed on Hernandez's side. He acknowledges Hernandez is better at lightweight and dangerous, but worries about altitude and Hernandez's tendency to gas out. He notes Hubbard trains at elevation but believes Hernandez's lightweight performances are superior. He predicts a TKO early in the fight.

"We're going with Alexander Hernandez here over Austin hubard TKO early in the fight"
ZA
Zane Simon Expert Hesitant picked Oct 4, 2024 (1 day before fight)
Austin Hubbard

Zane picks Hubbard, citing the altitude and Hernandez's short notice as key factors. He notes that Hernandez has confidence problems and may struggle with the weight cut and altitude. Hubbard is a big strong guy who can grind out a decision if he imposes his physicality.

"I'm going to pick Hubbard with this fight being at altitude, and Hernandez coming in on short notice with his confidence problems."
Decision (unanimous) (29–28, 29–28, 29–28) R3 5:00 · UFC on ESPN: Nicolau vs. Perez · Apr 27, 2024
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Austin Hubbard 0 88 of 206 42% 99 of 220 3 of 7 42% 0 0 0:48
Michał Figlak 0 92 of 210 43% 100 of 218 0 of 3 0% 0 0 1:37
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Austin Hubbard 0 19 of 57 33% 27 of 67 1 of 2 50% 0 0 0:18
Michał Figlak 0 26 of 59 44% 27 of 60 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
2 Austin Hubbard 0 37 of 85 43% 37 of 86 0 of 2 0% 0 0 0:00
Michał Figlak 0 30 of 81 37% 30 of 81 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:21
3 Austin Hubbard 0 32 of 64 50% 35 of 67 2 of 3 66% 0 0 0:30
Michał Figlak 0 36 of 70 51% 43 of 77 0 of 3 0% 0 0 1:16
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Austin Hubbard 88 of 206 42% 55 of 162 22 of 29 11 of 15 85 of 203 3 of 3 0 of 0
Michał Figlak 92 of 210 43% 60 of 173 16 of 19 16 of 18 88 of 204 4 of 6 0 of 0
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Austin Hubbard 19 of 57 33% 11 of 45 3 of 5 5 of 7 18 of 56 1 of 1 0 of 0
Michał Figlak 26 of 59 44% 15 of 47 4 of 5 7 of 7 26 of 59 0 of 0 0 of 0
2 Austin Hubbard 37 of 85 43% 23 of 65 11 of 15 3 of 5 37 of 85 0 of 0 0 of 0
Michał Figlak 30 of 81 37% 18 of 68 6 of 7 6 of 6 30 of 81 0 of 0 0 of 0
3 Austin Hubbard 32 of 64 50% 21 of 52 8 of 9 3 of 3 30 of 62 2 of 2 0 of 0
Michał Figlak 36 of 70 51% 27 of 58 6 of 7 3 of 5 32 of 64 4 of 6 0 of 0
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Confident picked Apr 21, 2024 (6 days before fight)
Michał Figlak

Angelo has a half-unit bet on Michał Figlak at -125, beating the line movement. He thinks Figlak is the much better and more dangerous fighter, with powerful striking and solid wrestling used defensively. He worries about Figlak's two-year layoff, noting that strikers with long layoffs often struggle to find rhythm. However, he believes Figlak's talent outweighs the risk at the current odds, though he cautions if Figlak reaches -170 or higher the layoff becomes too risky.

Bet: 0.5 units at -125
"I think mall figl is the much better fighter in this matchup certainly the more dangerous guy ... I'm on him I have a half a unit on him at minus 125"
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Confident picked Apr 24, 2024 (3 days before fight)
Michał Figlak

Cody picks Figlak, believing he will show improvement after a poor debut. He likes Figlak's pressure style and volume, and thinks Hubbard is a warm body with no standout skills. He expects Figlak to win by decision or late finish.

"sign me up for the minus 170 favorite here"
DA
Daniel Vreeland Expert Confident picked Apr 24, 2024 (3 days before fight)
Michał Figlak

Daniel calls Hubbard 'harmless Hubbard' – durable but not a finisher. He thinks Figlak has had two years to improve and has the physicality and takedown defense to outwork Hubbard. He predicts Figlak by decision, noting Hubbard's lack of threat.

by decision
"I'm going figl by decision here"
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Apr 26, 2024 (1 day before fight)
Austin Hubbard

Hubbard has a wrestling and grappling advantage and should be able to dictate the pace, take Figlak down, and grind him out from top position. Figlak struggled against a striker in his UFC debut and may not have the resistance to stop Hubbard's pressure. Hubbard wins on the scorecards.

"I think the more experienced fighter here in Austin hubard and the style that he brings to the table with his wrestling and uh mixing his wrestling behind and striking will cause figl some issues once again and that will …"
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Confident picked Apr 24, 2024 (3 days before fight)
Michał Figlak

Paul also picks Figlak, citing his potential and Hubbard's limited ceiling. He notes Figlak's youth and room for growth, and believes the 16-month layoff will help him. He is worried about Hubbard's wrestling but trusts Figlak's improvements.

"I'm on team figl will he let me down again we'll have to find out"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Apr 23, 2024 (4 days before fight)
Michał Figlak

The MMA Guru picks Michał Figlak, noting he has been high on him for a long time. He mentions Figlak's training at Renegades with Leon Edwards and Arnold Allen, and his unrelenting pressure. He criticizes Austin Hubbard for looking awful against Kurt Holobaugh and beating low-level competition. He predicts Figlak will finish Hubbard with body shots to head shots in the late second or third round.

finish in late second or third round
"I'm going to go with maau figl I think he's a more technically sound fighter"
LOSS vs Kurt Holobaugh
Submission (triangle choke) R2 2:39 · UFC 292: Sterling vs. O'Malley · Aug 19, 2023
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Kurt Holobaugh 0 61 of 119 51% 85 of 144 0 of 0 --- 2 0 1:08
Austin Hubbard 0 44 of 107 41% 61 of 125 2 of 6 33% 0 0 2:23
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Kurt Holobaugh 0 37 of 78 47% 58 of 100 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Austin Hubbard 0 31 of 74 41% 48 of 92 2 of 4 50% 0 0 2:06
2 Kurt Holobaugh 0 24 of 41 58% 27 of 44 0 of 0 --- 2 0 1:08
Austin Hubbard 0 13 of 33 39% 13 of 33 0 of 2 0% 0 0 0:17
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Kurt Holobaugh 61 of 119 51% 46 of 101 10 of 12 5 of 6 50 of 106 9 of 10 2 of 3
Austin Hubbard 44 of 107 41% 25 of 86 17 of 19 2 of 2 31 of 87 9 of 12 4 of 8
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Kurt Holobaugh 37 of 78 47% 26 of 64 6 of 8 5 of 6 30 of 71 7 of 7 0 of 0
Austin Hubbard 31 of 74 41% 16 of 58 14 of 15 1 of 1 20 of 57 7 of 9 4 of 8
2 Kurt Holobaugh 24 of 41 58% 20 of 37 4 of 4 0 of 0 20 of 35 2 of 3 2 of 3
Austin Hubbard 13 of 33 39% 9 of 28 3 of 4 1 of 1 11 of 30 2 of 3 0 of 0
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Confident picked Aug 13, 2023 (6 days before fight)
Kurt Holobaugh

Angelo likes Kurt Holobaugh as an underdog despite his 0-6 UFC record, noting that his losses were to top competition like Thiago Moises, Shane Burgos, and Humberto Bandenay. He believes Holobaugh's striking combinations and power will be too much for Austin Hubbard, though he acknowledges Hubbard's chin and takedown ability as concerns. He expects Holobaugh to win and become the Ultimate Fighter champion.

"I do like Kurt as the underdog here... I do think Kurt's striking combinations and power are going to be too much for Austin."
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Lean picked Aug 15, 2023 (4 days before fight)
Kurt Holobaugh

Cody likes Holobaugh's momentum from The Ultimate Fighter, his durability, and power. He thinks Hubbard is a volume pressure fighter but Holobaugh has a chip on his shoulder and nothing to lose. He picks Holobaugh as an underdog to win a decision or late finish.

"I will take the underdog shot here on Kurt Hall about to get the job done"
DA
Daniel Levi Expert Lean picked Aug 17, 2023 (2 days before fight)
Austin Hubbard

Daniel Levi picks Austin Hubbard to do his typical thing, turning the fight into a sparring match and not taking risks. He notes that Hubbard is hard to finish and has survived bad spots against high-level grapplers. However, Levi is not laying the price and calls it a dog-or-pass situation. He prefers the over and Holobaugh decision props.

Goes the distance minus 130; Holobaugh decision plus 400
"Pure pick I'll go Hubbard to do his typical thing but I'm not laying this price on him"
LU
Lucrative James Expert Lean picked Aug 18, 2023 (1 day before fight)
Kurt Holobaugh

Lucrative James sees value on Kurt Holobaugh as an underdog, believing the fight should be a pick'em. He notes Holobaugh has more finishing threat and has faced better competition, while Austin Hubbard relies on toughness and volume but lacks major skills. However, he acknowledges Holobaugh's age (36) and potential to be out-volumed.

"I think there's value on the dog again Kurt holliber"
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Aug 15, 2023 (4 days before fight)
Austin Hubbard

Hubbard has added wrinkles to his game, mixing striking with takedowns. He should be competitive on the feet and then use his wrestling to grind out Holobaugh, who struggles with defensive grappling. Hubbard's kicks and range control will set up takedowns. The line has moved to a reasonable -160/-170 range, making him a good play.

"I'm more than happy to take a shot on him at that point as I believe he grinds this fight out has the better grappling here offensively speaking and that should allow him to pick up a decision Victory"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Aug 14, 2023 (5 days before fight)
Austin Hubbard

The MMA Guru picks Austin Hubbard over Kurt Holobaugh. He acknowledges Holobaugh's pocket boxing skills but believes Hubbard's straight punches, front kicks, and low kicks will keep him from standing in the pocket. Hubbard also has offensive grappling and excellent takedown defense, allowing him to dictate where the fight takes place. The Guru sees Hubbard's versatility as too much for Holobaugh.

"I'm gonna go with Austin Hubbard over Kurt hollabaugh"
LOSS vs Vinc Pichel
Decision (unanimous) (30–27, 30–27, 30–27) R3 5:00 · UFC on ESPN: Cannonier vs. Gastelum · Aug 21, 2021
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Vinc Pichel 0 71 of 160 44% 96 of 187 0 of 4 0% 0 0 2:29
Austin Hubbard 0 56 of 152 36% 66 of 171 4 of 7 57% 0 0 2:14
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Vinc Pichel 0 21 of 55 38% 27 of 61 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:13
Austin Hubbard 0 22 of 58 37% 24 of 61 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:10
2 Vinc Pichel 0 27 of 63 42% 34 of 70 0 of 2 0% 0 0 0:08
Austin Hubbard 0 19 of 52 36% 24 of 58 2 of 3 66% 0 0 0:51
3 Vinc Pichel 0 23 of 42 54% 35 of 56 0 of 1 0% 0 0 2:08
Austin Hubbard 0 15 of 42 35% 18 of 52 2 of 4 50% 0 0 1:13
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Vinc Pichel 71 of 160 44% 28 of 108 16 of 23 27 of 29 59 of 145 10 of 12 2 of 3
Austin Hubbard 56 of 152 36% 29 of 110 17 of 31 10 of 11 51 of 145 4 of 6 1 of 1
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Vinc Pichel 21 of 55 38% 4 of 34 5 of 8 12 of 13 20 of 54 1 of 1 0 of 0
Austin Hubbard 22 of 58 37% 9 of 38 8 of 15 5 of 5 22 of 58 0 of 0 0 of 0
2 Vinc Pichel 27 of 63 42% 11 of 44 8 of 10 8 of 9 24 of 59 3 of 4 0 of 0
Austin Hubbard 19 of 52 36% 10 of 36 5 of 11 4 of 5 16 of 49 3 of 3 0 of 0
3 Vinc Pichel 23 of 42 54% 13 of 30 3 of 5 7 of 7 15 of 32 6 of 7 2 of 3
Austin Hubbard 15 of 42 35% 10 of 36 4 of 5 1 of 1 13 of 38 1 of 3 1 of 1
BI
Big Brady Expert Hesitant picked Aug 17, 2021 (4 days before fight)
Vinc Pichel

Big Brady picks Vinc Pichel, citing his grappling advantage. He notes Pichel averages 3.83 takedowns per 15 minutes with 60% accuracy, and believes he will win the grappling exchanges. He is concerned about Pichel's age (38) but thinks his gas tank is fine. He predicts a decision win.

"i'm going to take vince michelle to win i think he's going to win the grappling exchanges"
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Confident picked Aug 18, 2021 (3 days before fight)
Vinc Pichel

Cody picks Pichel, having already bet him. He highlights Pichel's cardio, top control, and BJJ black belt, and notes Hubbard's tendency to fade in later rounds. He believes Pichel's wrestling and pressure will be key, and mentions the value on Pichel by submission at 20-1.

Pichel by submission 20-1 (DraftKings); also +575 at another book
"i've already made a bet on it... i think we see a lot of cage control for vince i think we see a lot of you know pushing forward hopefully the takedowns are there"
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Aug 18, 2021 (3 days before fight)
Vinc Pichel

Pichel is a grappler who should have success taking Hubbard down, especially by catching Hubbard's kicks. Hubbard has only fought grapplers recently and has struggled. Pichel's age (38) is a concern but he has low fight mileage. I'm picking Pichel by decision, but the moneyline at even odds is fine.

Pichel by decision (+140)
"i do like vince michelle on the spot don't look too hard at that 38 year old uh spot that he's at right now fight mouse is not that high"
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Confident picked Aug 18, 2021 (3 days before fight)
Vinc Pichel

Paul picks Pichel, citing his strong top game and ability to grind out wins. He notes Pichel's slow starts but finishing strong, and Hubbard's susceptibility to takedowns. He mentions Pichel's training at Factory X and believes his cardio will hold up.

Pichel by submission 20-1 is egregious, worth a sprinkle
"i'm gonna have faith in my boy he hasn't done you wrong so far and i do think he's live in the spot"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Aug 15, 2021 (6 days before fight)
Austin Hubbard

The MMA Guru picks Austin Hubbard as an underdog. He cites Hubbard's takedown defense and volume striking as keys. He notes Pichel is 38 and coming off a year layoff, while Hubbard is younger and has shown improvement. He expects Hubbard to win the later rounds via decision, possibly 29-28.

"i'm gonna go with austin hubbard over vince pacquiao in all honesty"
WIN vs Dakota Bush
Decision (unanimous) (29–28, 29–28, 29–28) R3 5:00 · UFC on ESPN: Whittaker vs. Gastelum · Apr 17, 2021
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Austin Hubbard 0 67 of 115 58% 126 of 181 1 of 1 100% 0 2 6:42
Dakota Bush 0 41 of 104 39% 54 of 122 1 of 6 16% 0 1 1:31
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Austin Hubbard 0 34 of 65 52% 34 of 65 1 of 1 100% 0 0 0:02
Dakota Bush 0 30 of 73 41% 30 of 73 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
2 Austin Hubbard 0 13 of 22 59% 30 of 42 0 of 0 --- 0 0 3:21
Dakota Bush 0 7 of 15 46% 16 of 26 0 of 2 0% 0 0 0:33
3 Austin Hubbard 0 20 of 28 71% 62 of 74 0 of 0 --- 0 2 3:19
Dakota Bush 0 4 of 16 25% 8 of 23 1 of 4 25% 0 1 0:58
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Austin Hubbard 67 of 115 58% 32 of 76 10 of 12 25 of 27 49 of 91 2 of 3 16 of 21
Dakota Bush 41 of 104 39% 17 of 59 6 of 20 18 of 25 41 of 104 0 of 0 0 of 0
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Austin Hubbard 34 of 65 52% 11 of 38 4 of 6 19 of 21 32 of 63 2 of 2 0 of 0
Dakota Bush 30 of 73 41% 10 of 37 4 of 15 16 of 21 30 of 73 0 of 0 0 of 0
2 Austin Hubbard 13 of 22 59% 7 of 16 3 of 3 3 of 3 8 of 15 0 of 0 5 of 7
Dakota Bush 7 of 15 46% 3 of 8 2 of 4 2 of 3 7 of 15 0 of 0 0 of 0
3 Austin Hubbard 20 of 28 71% 14 of 22 3 of 3 3 of 3 9 of 13 0 of 1 11 of 14
Dakota Bush 4 of 16 25% 4 of 14 0 of 1 0 of 1 4 of 16 0 of 0 0 of 0
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked Apr 15, 2021 (2 days before fight)
Austin Hubbard

Big Brady picks Austin Hubbard to win by decision. He notes that Bush is coming in on short notice and that Hubbard has faced tough grapplers throughout his UFC career, which should prepare him for Bush's wrestling. He believes Hubbard has superior cardio and toughness, and can survive Bush's early storm. He expects Hubbard to take over in rounds 2 and 3, possibly with a late finish. He is not surprised by the close odds but thinks Hubbard should be a bigger favorite.

"i'm going to take austin hubbard to win by a decision"
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Confident picked Apr 14, 2021 (3 days before fight)
Austin Hubbard

Cody thinks Hubbard has proven cardio and the ability to break down wrestlers. He notes that Bush is taking the fight on short notice and is not as good a wrestler as Hubbard's previous opponents. He expects Hubbard to stuff takedowns, pressure Bush, and win by decision or late finish. He is confident in Hubbard.

Hubbard by decision or third round finish
"hubbard eventually finds the way breaks him down either takes a decision or takes one of these third round finishes"
DA
Daniel Levi Expert Lean picked Apr 16, 2021 (1 day before fight)
Dakota Bush

Daniel Levi picks Dakota Bush for the upset, citing his power and momentum. He notes that Bush is taking the fight on short notice, which is a concern, but believes Bush is the more dangerous fighter and could steamroll Hubbard early. Levi mentions that Hubbard is average and has not shown much, while Bush has fought real competition. He thinks the line should be closer and that Bush has a good chance if he is in shape.

upset
"i'm going to i'm going to take dakota bush for the upset"
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Lean picked Apr 16, 2021 (1 day before fight)
Dakota Bush

Manpreet leans toward Bush by decision, citing his college wrestling background and Hubbard's history of struggling against grapplers. He believes Bush will take Hubbard down repeatedly and control the fight on the ground, despite coming in on short notice. He notes that Hubbard's takedown defense has been poor against wrestlers and that Bush has never been finished.

Bush by decision +485; over 2.5 rounds -175
"i do favor dakota bush here and i think he's actually grind this fight out and one of your decisions so uh the over two and a half minus 175 not a bad spot"
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Confident picked Apr 14, 2021 (3 days before fight)
Austin Hubbard

Paul agrees with Cody, noting that Hubbard has faced tough wrestlers and performed well. He thinks Bush is a step down in competition and that Hubbard's cardio and pressure will be too much. He is confident in Hubbard winning.

"i think hubbard is he's 29 years old he's 5 10 which is decent he's got a good frame for the weight class and he just keeps chugging along"
LOSS vs Joe Solecki
Submission (rear-naked choke) R1 3:51 · UFC on ESPN: Munhoz vs. Edgar · Aug 22, 2020
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Joe Solecki 0 9 of 14 64% 9 of 14 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Austin Hubbard 0 13 of 20 65% 36 of 43 0 of 2 0% 1 0 2:37
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Joe Solecki 0 9 of 14 64% 9 of 14 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Austin Hubbard 0 13 of 20 65% 36 of 43 0 of 2 0% 1 0 2:37
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Joe Solecki 9 of 14 64% 2 of 5 4 of 5 3 of 4 6 of 11 3 of 3 0 of 0
Austin Hubbard 13 of 20 65% 8 of 15 2 of 2 3 of 3 9 of 16 4 of 4 0 of 0
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Joe Solecki 9 of 14 64% 2 of 5 4 of 5 3 of 4 6 of 11 3 of 3 0 of 0
Austin Hubbard 13 of 20 65% 8 of 15 2 of 2 3 of 3 9 of 16 4 of 4 0 of 0
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked Aug 20, 2020 (2 days before fight)
Joe Solecki

Big Brady picks Joe Solecki to win by decision. He notes Hubbard has poor takedown defense (40%) and has been taken down by everyone in the UFC. Solecki has good wrestling and is slick on the ground with transitions to the back. On the feet, Hubbard has the advantage, but Brady expects Solecki to go for takedowns early and control the fight, provided his cardio holds up. He mentions Hubbard's win over Max Rohskopf is overrated because Rohskopf had only one round of gas.

"i gotta go to lucky here i think he's going to not mess around with the feet i think he's going to go for takedowns right away and as long as this gas tank holds up i think he's going …"
DA
Daniel Levi Expert Confident picked Aug 22, 2020 (fight day)
Joe Solecki

Daniel Levi picks Joe Solecki to win, citing his high-level jiu-jitsu and control on the ground. He notes that Solecki's takedowns may not be elite but he can get the fight to the mat, and Hubbard has been outgrappled before. Levi acknowledges Hubbard's improved conditioning and volume striking but believes Solecki will get takedowns early, build a lead, and survive the third round. He mentions Solecki's dominant performance against Matt Wyman as evidence.

"i'm gonna go with select you for the win i think he uh just gets more takedowns and you know probably controls him takes his back for a round and gets off to a big lead and gets the win"
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Hesitant picked Aug 20, 2020 (2 days before fight)
Joe Solecki

Solecki has great wrestling and jiu-jitsu, but his cardio and ability to finish are questionable. Hubbard has good leg kicks, cardio, and takedown defense, having survived wrestlers like Marco Madsen. Solecki should grind out a decision if he can maintain top control, but Hubbard's gas tank and striking could make it close. I'm pumping the brakes on Solecki until he proves more.

"i am going to pick him to win this fight because i do think he has a ton of potential"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Aug 17, 2020 (5 days before fight)
Austin Hubbard

The MMA Guru picks Austin Hubbard, citing his counter-grappling skills and takedown defense as seen in the Mark Madsen fight. He believes Hubbard can avoid submissions and reverse positions, eventually breaking Solecki down for a third-round TKO. He also notes Hubbard's reach advantage and that he should be the favorite.

third round tko
"i'm picking austin hubbard to win great counter grappling i think he can avoid the submissions"
Expert Picks (4)
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Lean picked Aug 17, 2025 (6 days before fight)
Rong Zhu

Angelo slightly leans Rong Zhu due to his volume and striking, but is surprised by the -300 odds, calling them berserk. He notes that Austin Hubbard is gritty and decent everywhere, and just had a close loss to a very good fighter. He thinks Hubbard could make it tricky if he marches forward and fakes takedowns.

Odds are -300, which Angelo calls berserk; he thinks Austin Hubbard is not a 3-to-1 dog.
"I'm going to slightly lean wrong only because of his volume and how insane that can be. But if Austin marches forward, fakes some takedowns, things could absolutely get tricky here. I three to one favorite seems berserk in a fight like this where Austin Hubard just got screwed in …"
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked Aug 21, 2025 (2 days before fight)
Rong Zhu

Big Brady picks Rong Zhu to win by decision, citing his youth, rapid improvement, and striking power. He notes that Zhu has been working on takedown defense and anti-grappling, which will be key against Hubbard's wrestling. He believes Zhu will win a damage-based decision over 15 minutes, as Hubbard has never been knocked out.

Rong Zhu by decision
"Give me Ranju to win. I'll take him to win by decision."
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Aug 21, 2025 (2 days before fight)
Rong Zhu

The host is historically higher on Hubbard than most, but thinks this is a horrible stylistic matchup for him. He doesn't think Hubbard will be able to get to his wrestling game, allowing Rong Zhu to dictate the striking and eventually land a big knockout.

win by KO/TKO
"I think this is a horrible stylistic matchup for him. I don't think he'll be able to get to his wrestling game and that should allow Ronghu to dictate the striking which is eventually going to lead to him finding that big shot and putting Hubard away by knockout."
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Hesitant picked Aug 22, 2025 (1 day before fight)
Rong Zhu

The MMA Guru picks Rong Zhu to win by 29-28 decision, but notes that he thinks Zhu is a bit of a big favorite and that there is value on Austin Hubbard. He believes Zhu is more talented and works well on the back foot, but acknowledges Hubbard could win the third round. He mentions that Zhu is young (25) and has had mixed results, including a loss to an underrated lightweight prospect.

Rong Zhu by 29-28 decision; Hubbard wins third round
"I think Ronghu is more talented... I think he should be a very slight favorite over Austin Hubbed. So there is a lot of value on Austin Hubbed here."