vs
-400 +475
UFC Fight Night: Imavov vs. Borralho · Sep 06, 2025 · Light Heavyweight · Completed
Prev Fight UFC Fight Night: Imavov vs. Borralho Next Fight
Age 30
Height 6' 4"
Reach 83.0"
Weight 205 lbs.
Stance Orthodox
Age 29
Height 6' 3"
Reach 81.0"
Weight 205 lbs.
Stance Orthodox
Career Averages - Oumar Sy
3.41 SLpM
48.0% Str. Acc.
1.87 SApM
66.0% Str. Def.
2.45 TD Avg
35.0% TD Acc.
66.0% TD Def.
0.3 Sub. Avg
Career Averages - Brendson Ribeiro
3.04 SLpM
42.0% Str. Acc.
3.91 SApM
53.0% Str. Def.
0.85 TD Avg
42.0% TD Acc.
21.0% TD Def.
0.6 Sub. Avg
Oumar Sy
Moneyline
Bookmaker, Betway -400
KO/TKO
Cloudbet +253
Submission
BetOnline +190
Decision
BetRivers +300
Brendson Ribeiro
Moneyline
BetMGM +475
KO/TKO
BetRivers +1000
Submission
Cloudbet +1410
Decision
Cloudbet +2012
Oumar Sy - Fight History
LOSS vs Ion Cuțelaba
Submission R1 4:24 · UFC Fight Night: Emmett vs. Vallejos · Mar 14, 2026
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Ion Cuțelaba 0 14 of 20 70% 40 of 49 1 of 2 50% 1 0 2:27
Oumar Sy 0 5 of 11 45% 5 of 11 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:18
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Ion Cuțelaba 0 14 of 20 70% 40 of 49 1 of 2 50% 1 0 2:27
Oumar Sy 0 5 of 11 45% 5 of 11 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:18
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Ion Cuțelaba 14 of 20 70% 4 of 9 4 of 5 6 of 6 10 of 15 1 of 1 3 of 4
Oumar Sy 5 of 11 45% 1 of 7 0 of 0 4 of 4 5 of 11 0 of 0 0 of 0
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Ion Cuțelaba 14 of 20 70% 4 of 9 4 of 5 6 of 6 10 of 15 1 of 1 3 of 4
Oumar Sy 5 of 11 45% 1 of 7 0 of 0 4 of 4 5 of 11 0 of 0 0 of 0
Play-by-Play
View on Sherdog
Ion Cutelaba vs. Oumar Sy
BETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Sy (-200); Cutelaba (+170)

Round 1
Herb Dean is the referee. Cutelaba opens with an inside leg kick followed by a body kick. Sy with a leg kick of his own. Cutelaba is utilizing a variety of kicks early. Sy jabs then throws a leg kick. A right lands for Cutelaba. They collide in the clinch and Cutelaba drives his man into the fence. A knee lands for Cutelaba. Sy reverses the position, but Cutelaba trips him down and lands in half guard. Sy scoots toward the fence and reverses into a takedown attempt against the cage. Sy lifts and slams Cutelaba, who assumes top position in a scramble. Cutelaba is in half guard, looking to advance. Cutelaba hovers and drops a right. Sy eats more standing to ground shots as Sy threatens with a heel hook. Cutelaba isn’t too woried about the submission possibility, but Sy falls back, forcing his foe to defend the manuever.. Cutelaba frees his leg and dives back into top position. Now Sy is pushing forward for a takedown, but he finds himself quickly ensnared in a guillotine.
Cutelaba rolls into full mount, forcing Sy to tap almost instantly.
Cutelaba has won three of his last four UFC appearances.

The Official Result
Ion Cutelaba def. Oumar Sy via Submission (Guillotine Choke) R1 4:24
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Hesitant picked Mar 8, 2026 (6 days before fight)
Oumar Sy

Angelo picks Oumar Sy but is nervous. He acknowledges Sy's athleticism and dangerous grappling, but worries about his tendency to not pull the trigger, as seen in the Alonzo Menifield fight. He thinks Sy should win if he wrestles early, but if he waits too long or stands and bangs, it could be a problem.

"Umar is going to be the pick. The guy's good and if he just starts doing more faster he could be a genuine star."
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked Mar 9, 2026 (5 days before fight)
Oumar Sy

Big Brady picks Oumar Sy to win by second-round submission. He identifies three problems with Cutelaba: bad cardio, poor fight IQ, and weak jiu-jitsu off his back. He believes Sy should take the fight to the mat and exploit the grappling gap, especially as Cutelaba slows down.

"give me Omar Sy to win this fight. I'll take him to win this fight by second round submission."
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Hesitant picked Mar 11, 2026 (3 days before fight)
Oumar Sy

Cody picks Sy but is hesitant. He notes Sy's size, reach, and wrestling advantage, but acknowledges Cuțelaba's experience and durability. He thinks Sy can get takedowns and grind out a win, but the price is not great. He expects a split decision.

split decision +550
"I'm gonna take him, but he's low down the list this week."
CO
Connor Ruebusch Expert Confident picked Mar 12, 2026 (2 days before fight)
Oumar Sy

Connor picks Sy, agreeing that Cuțelaba needs an opponent who implodes to win, and Sy is not that. He notes Cuțelaba's wins are over fighters who implode, and Sy has enough survival instinct.

Odds: Sy opened at -200, currently -240; Cuțelaba opened at +170, currently +205.
"I'm going to pick him as well."
LU
Lucrative James Expert Confident picked Mar 8, 2026 (6 days before fight)
Oumar Sy

James picks Oumar Sy to win by finish, likely via ground and pound. He notes that Cuțelaba will expend all his energy in round one and gas out, while Sy's size, athleticism, and physicality will allow him to take over. He expects Sy to get on top and finish a tired Cuțelaba in the second round.

"I am predicting Umar S to go out there and get another finish in this fight."
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Mar 10, 2026 (4 days before fight)
Oumar Sy

The host picks Sy to win by submission, expecting his grappling to dominate. He notes Sy's size and reach advantage, and believes he will take Cuțelaba down and find a finish. He highlights Cuțelaba's cardio issues and tendency to lose to grapplers, making Sy a strong pick.

Sy by submission within two rounds
"I'm fully expecting C to dominate this matchup and I expect it to come... by submission."
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Lean picked Mar 11, 2026 (3 days before fight)
Ion Cuțelaba

Paul is tempted by Cuțelaba as a dog, noting his striking and takedown defense. He thinks Cuțelaba can give Sy problems, but ultimately passes due to inconsistency. He mentions Sy's size and wrestling could be too much.

"I'm tempted to take a dog shot here."
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Mar 14, 2026 (fight day)
Oumar Sy

The Guru picks Oumar Sy, comparing him to Ciryl Gane and noting his grappling awareness and striking defense. He thinks Cuțelaba will struggle if he can't get early takedowns, and that Sy will find a finish in the late second or third round as Cuțelaba gets wild.

Prediction: finish in late second or third round
"I think Umar Sy is going to find the finish in the late second or third round."
ZA
Zane Simon Expert Confident picked Mar 12, 2026 (2 days before fight)
Oumar Sy

Zane picks Sy, noting that Cuțelaba is prone to imploding and even when he doesn't, he makes mistakes that allow Sy to take him down and ride him. Sy showed determination in his loss to Menefield.

Odds: Sy opened at -200, currently -240; Cuțelaba opened at +170, currently +205.
"I still have to pick C here. There's clearly enough survival instinct."
KO R1 4:42 · UFC Fight Night: Imavov vs. Borralho · Sep 06, 2025
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Oumar Sy 0 17 of 43 39% 21 of 49 2 of 4 50% 0 0 3:28
Brendson Ribeiro 0 5 of 14 35% 11 of 22 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:03
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Oumar Sy 0 17 of 43 39% 21 of 49 2 of 4 50% 0 0 3:28
Brendson Ribeiro 0 5 of 14 35% 11 of 22 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:03
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Oumar Sy 17 of 43 39% 14 of 38 0 of 1 3 of 4 4 of 11 0 of 0 13 of 32
Brendson Ribeiro 5 of 14 35% 2 of 10 1 of 2 2 of 2 5 of 14 0 of 0 0 of 0
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Oumar Sy 17 of 43 39% 14 of 38 0 of 1 3 of 4 4 of 11 0 of 0 13 of 32
Brendson Ribeiro 5 of 14 35% 2 of 10 1 of 2 2 of 2 5 of 14 0 of 0 0 of 0
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Confident picked Aug 31, 2025 (6 days before fight)
Oumar Sy

Angelo picks Oumar Sy confidently, despite holding a grudge from Sy's previous loss. He acknowledges Sy's athleticism, speed, and power, and believes he can weather Ribeiro's early danger and then dominate with wrestling. He criticizes Ribeiro's quit button and susceptibility to being hit. He expects Sy to win, likely by wrestling, but warns that if he loses, he should be cut.

"I think Omar Sai wins here. I'm pretty confident that he wins here."
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked Sep 4, 2025 (2 days before fight)
Oumar Sy

Big Brady is very confident in Oumar Sy, calling it a layup. He highlights Ribeiro's 0% takedown defense and poor ground game. He expects Sy to take him down easily and finish via submission or TKO in the first round, despite Sy's previous failure as a heavy favorite.

Sy by submission, round 1
"I'll say Omar C wins this fight by first round sub."
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Sep 4, 2025 (2 days before fight)
Oumar Sy

The host thinks this is a great matchup for Sy to bounce back after his first pro defeat. He expects Sy to put pressure on Ribeiro, drag him to the ground, and open up a finishing position via ground and pound or submission.

ground and pound or submission
"Look for C to really put the pressure on Hibetto, eventually drag him to the ground, and I think he'll be able to open up a finishing position, whether it is by ground and pound or by submission."
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Sep 3, 2025 (3 days before fight)
Oumar Sy

The Guru picks Oumar Sy, citing his well-roundedness, patience, and footwork. He believes Sy can control the pace and avoid Ribeiro's wildness, similar to how Alonzo Menifield couldn't finish Sy. He predicts a 30-27 decision win, with Sy's movement neutralizing Ribeiro's chaos.

"I'm going to go with Umar Sai. I think a lot of people are going with Umar Sai here."
Decision R3 5:00 · UFC on ESPN: Usman vs. Buckley · Jun 14, 2025
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Alonzo Menifield 0 29 of 86 33% 34 of 91 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Oumar Sy 0 34 of 96 35% 37 of 99 1 of 5 20% 0 0 4:13
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Alonzo Menifield 0 8 of 34 23% 8 of 34 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Oumar Sy 0 16 of 41 39% 16 of 41 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
2 Alonzo Menifield 0 2 of 6 33% 7 of 11 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Oumar Sy 0 5 of 12 41% 8 of 15 1 of 4 25% 0 0 4:13
3 Alonzo Menifield 0 19 of 46 41% 19 of 46 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Oumar Sy 0 13 of 43 30% 13 of 43 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:00
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Alonzo Menifield 29 of 86 33% 17 of 71 6 of 8 6 of 7 29 of 86 0 of 0 0 of 0
Oumar Sy 34 of 96 35% 16 of 69 9 of 15 9 of 12 34 of 96 0 of 0 0 of 0
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Alonzo Menifield 8 of 34 23% 5 of 31 2 of 2 1 of 1 8 of 34 0 of 0 0 of 0
Oumar Sy 16 of 41 39% 6 of 27 5 of 8 5 of 6 16 of 41 0 of 0 0 of 0
2 Alonzo Menifield 2 of 6 33% 1 of 5 0 of 0 1 of 1 2 of 6 0 of 0 0 of 0
Oumar Sy 5 of 12 41% 2 of 7 2 of 4 1 of 1 5 of 12 0 of 0 0 of 0
3 Alonzo Menifield 19 of 46 41% 11 of 35 4 of 6 4 of 5 19 of 46 0 of 0 0 of 0
Oumar Sy 13 of 43 30% 8 of 35 2 of 3 3 of 5 13 of 43 0 of 0 0 of 0
Play-by-Play
View on Sherdog
Alonzo Menifield vs. Oumar Sy
BETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Sy (-700), Menifield (+500)

Round 1
The main card opens up with a match that could end anywhere at any time. Light heavyweight bombardier Menifield (16-5-1, 9-5-1 UFC) practically only knows one speed, sometimes to his detriment. He will try to ply his explosive trade against Sy (11-0, 2-0 UFC) and look to hand the undefeated Frenchman his first loss. Referee Blake Grice knows he might be needed at a moment’s notice, so he is not far away when the two tap their hands together to signal they are ready to engage. Sy takes the center of the Octagon and pushes out a front kick to get started, and Sy pushes off and grazes the eye as Menifield swats at his hand. Sy meanders towards the UFC vet but does not throw anything, instead chasing him and whiffing badly with a spinning back fist. Menifield responds with a lunging right hand, and he steps to the side as a front kick misses him. Menifield times a right hand over the top when Sy commits to a kick, and Sy barely rolls with it in time. Sy has a head kick blocked, and he splits the guard with a jab. Menifield’s head movement keeps him out of danger, and he unloads a massive right hand that skims the jaw. Sy breathes a sigh of relief but the big swings are getting closer. The Frenchman tries to keep the heavy swinger at bay with a front kick, and he stays in place a little too long and gets caught with a right. Sy pitches out a head kick, and Menifield charges at him with four or five flurrying fists. Menifield tracks Sy down and wings a left hand at him, and Sy showboats and pokes Menifield in the eye. Menifield protests, and Grice calls time. Menifield jokingly says he sees two of Grice, and Grice chides him for saying something like that or else he will have to take action. They resume, and Menifield gets back to chasing after the French fighter. Sy stays at the end of his jab to keep Menifield from reaching him, and the telegraphed right hand is still out of flush range. Sy slaps the front leg with a few kicks, and Menifield responds with one that is much heavier. Sy goes to the body with a kick, and Menifield stumbles him with a left. Menifield smells blood and swings with everything he has, clipping Sy with a right hand at the end but not hurting him. The round ends.

Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Menifield
Devin Tejada scores the round: 10-9 Menifield
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Menifield

Round 2
The fighters tap gloves to get going in the second stanza, and Sy reintroduces himself with a pair of front kicks. Menifield offers a low kick back, and he is off-balance when he looks to unload his right. Sy jabs and kicks, and he leans back as a right hand buzzes his chin. Sy closes in to tie up the Texan, driving him to the wall and searching for a single. The Frenchman transitions to a double, and Menifield wraps around him on the other side around his back. Menifield sprawls to defend, and he wraps his arms around Sy’s neck to hold him from getting anywhere. Menifield latches onto a guillotine choke, switching grip from one arm to the other but nearly losing balance. Sy stays attacking a single or a double, going from attempt to attempt as Menifield defends each one. Sy sells out for a double, dropping down to his knees, and that too does not work. Menifield’s strength stops Sy from getting him down, and his guillotine choke makes Sy not go all-out for the takedown. Menifield elbows him in the side of the head, and Sy stays pressed looking for that takedown. As Grice asks for more action, Sy completes it and dumps the Texan on the mat. Menifield gets to his knees, and Sy tries to grab him from behind. Menifield turns and stands, defending another try to ground him as Grice claps for them to fight. Menifield does not get taken down again as the horn sounds, and the audience is not impressed.

Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Sy
Devin Tejada scores the round: 10-9 Sy
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Sy

Round 3
There is a final glove touch, and Menifield leads off with a body kick. Sy bounces a few punches off the guard and pushes off with a front kick. Menifield sinks in a heavy low kick, swiping out with a left and a right as Sy closes in. “Atomic Alonzo” ducks his way in, allowing Sy to windmill a right hand past him as he regains ground. A right hand from Menifield sneaks over the top, and he pierces the guard with a left. Menifield counters a kick with a right hand and lets go with two chopping kicks. Sy’s one-two down the pipe partially lands, and his jab snaps the head back. Menifield evades a front kick and pushes off from a Sy takedown effort, and fans in the building take their phones out and light up their screens, waving them around in protest of the lackluster fight. The fighters trade single punches one after the other, and with Menifield raising his hand once to signal he scored it the way he wanted to. Menifield punts the front leg and scores with a right and a left, and he wraps a right hand around the guard but off the shoulder. Menifield sticks out a number of jabs, and he checks a low kick aimed at him. Menifield has a few fists rebound off the guard and dodges a front kick. The booing gets louder as the light heavyweights do not turn it up, until Menifield surges into action with a winging right. He misses with that but cracks Sy with a left. Swarming forward, Menifield knocks air around but misses the mark with much more. Two more right hands from Menifield connect, and the dreadful match ends. It is not been the best night for action thus far, and the crowd is reacting to that. It could be anyone’s fight, but at least it is over.

Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Menifield (29-28 Menifield)
Devin Tejada scores the round: 10-9 Menifield (29-28 Menifield)
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Menifield (29-28 Menifield)

The Official Result
Alonzo Menifield def. Oumar Sy via Unanimous Decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Confident picked Jun 8, 2025 (6 days before fight)
Oumar Sy

Angelo picks Oumar Sy because he is a young, dangerous prospect with explosive power and improving cardio. He believes Oumar will be a step ahead of the aging Menifield and beat him to the punch.

"I think Umar is going to be a giant, very fast step ahead of Alonzo Menfield this entire fight."
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked Jun 10, 2025 (4 days before fight)
Oumar Sy

Big Brady picks Oumar Sy by decision. He likes Sy's well-rounded game and striking improvement, but notes that Alonzo Menifield has strong takedown defense (78%). He believes Sy's youth and cardio will be key, and that Menifield's last war with Julius Walker was not a good look.

"I'm going to go see C to win this fight by decision, but I feel like it could be a little little greasy."
CO
Connor Ruebusch Expert Confident picked Jun 12, 2025 (2 days before fight)
Oumar Sy

Connor picks Sy, noting that Menifield's technical improvements have come too late and his physicality is declining. He highlights that Sy is a better athlete and more composed, with functional kickboxing and a strong wrestling base. Connor believes Menifield will struggle to maintain output and will be outworked, as Sy's confidence will grow as the fight goes on.

Sy opened at -522, now -688; Menifield opened at +341, now +543. Connor says this is a good test for Sy.
"c just seems like a you know he's turned into a pretty solid consistent fighter so yeah doesn't look like the kind of guy who's going to uh who's going to collapse and let menafield win"
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Jun 12, 2025 (2 days before fight)
Oumar Sy

Menifield is declining while Sy is on the rise. Sy will use his physicality and strength to keep Menifield against the cage, drag him to the ground, and grind out a decision win.

"I think C is clearly on the comeup... we'll see C utilize his physicality and his strength... grinding this fight out, winning it on the scorecards."
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Jun 13, 2025 (1 day before fight)
Oumar Sy

The Guru picks Oumar Sy, calling him a top prospect who fights like Ciryl Gane. He notes Sy's movement, teeps, and ability to stay elusive, contrasting with Menifield's low fight IQ. He expects Sy to win by decision, possibly 30-27 or 29-28, and thinks Menifield will struggle to land his power shots.

"I'm going with Umar Sai. I think he's really good. I think Umarasai is very good and I even mentioned him a while ago. ... He fights very much like Sirill Gah at like heavyweight."
ZA
Zane Simon Expert Confident picked Jun 12, 2025 (2 days before fight)
Oumar Sy

Zane picks Sy, arguing that Menifield is a mentally broken fighter who has only beaten self-destructive opponents. He notes that Sy is a consistent, well-rounded fighter with good kickboxing and wrestling, and that Menifield's cardio and composure will fail him. Zane points out that Sy handled Da Un Jung's pressure well and that Menifield's power is a new test, but Sy's durability and output should win.

Sy opened at -522, now -688; Menifield opened at +341, now +543. Zane thinks the odds are too wide given Menifield's power.
"I'm picking umar c i just think alonzo menafield is uh more or less the same kind of mentally broken fighter he's been the whole time"
WIN vs Da Woon Jung
Decision (unanimous) (30–27, 30–27, 30–27) R3 5:00 · UFC Fight Night: Moicano vs. Saint Denis · Sep 28, 2024
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Oumar Sy 0 90 of 150 60% 97 of 160 2 of 7 28% 0 0 3:02
Da Woon Jung 0 29 of 117 24% 36 of 124 0 of 1 0% 0 1 0:09
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Oumar Sy 0 23 of 42 54% 23 of 42 1 of 4 25% 0 0 1:27
Da Woon Jung 0 14 of 40 35% 21 of 47 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
2 Oumar Sy 0 43 of 75 57% 43 of 76 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:04
Da Woon Jung 0 8 of 43 18% 8 of 43 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:06
3 Oumar Sy 0 24 of 33 72% 31 of 42 1 of 2 50% 0 0 1:31
Da Woon Jung 0 7 of 34 20% 7 of 34 0 of 1 0% 0 1 0:03
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Oumar Sy 90 of 150 60% 44 of 98 19 of 23 27 of 29 78 of 136 12 of 14 0 of 0
Da Woon Jung 29 of 117 24% 18 of 92 5 of 12 6 of 13 25 of 113 4 of 4 0 of 0
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Oumar Sy 23 of 42 54% 8 of 23 4 of 6 11 of 13 19 of 38 4 of 4 0 of 0
Da Woon Jung 14 of 40 35% 9 of 26 1 of 5 4 of 9 10 of 36 4 of 4 0 of 0
2 Oumar Sy 43 of 75 57% 24 of 55 11 of 12 8 of 8 36 of 66 7 of 9 0 of 0
Da Woon Jung 8 of 43 18% 4 of 37 3 of 4 1 of 2 8 of 43 0 of 0 0 of 0
3 Oumar Sy 24 of 33 72% 12 of 20 4 of 5 8 of 8 23 of 32 1 of 1 0 of 0
Da Woon Jung 7 of 34 20% 5 of 29 1 of 3 1 of 2 7 of 34 0 of 0 0 of 0
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Confident picked Sep 22, 2024 (6 days before fight)
Oumar Sy

Angelo picks Oumar Sy, noting that the UFC is building him as a star by giving him a fight against a dangerous-looking opponent who is on a losing streak. He believes Sy's explosiveness and finishing ability will be too much for Da-woon, who has lost three in a row. He expects the line to move further in Sy's favor.

"Umar Sai wins this fight... the UFC knows how to build a superstar... he's kind of affordable in the minus 400 range, that's not going to last long."
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked Sep 27, 2024 (1 day before fight)
Oumar Sy

Big Brady picks Oumar Sy by second-round submission, noting Sy is a relentless wrestler who takes opponents down immediately and keeps them there. He criticizes Jung's takedown defense against wrestlers and points out Jung was submitted by Carlos Ulberg. He expects Sy to dominate on the ground.

Sy by submission round 2
"this should be c c by submission I'll say second round"
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Confident picked Sep 27, 2024 (1 day before fight)
Oumar Sy

Cody likes Oumar Sy as his matchup of the week, citing his strong wrestling and submission win in his UFC debut. He notes Sy is a big favorite at minus 600 and has a great inside the distance line at minus 160. Cody believes Sy's aggressive grappling style gives him a high ceiling and floor combination. He acknowledges Jung's experience and knockout upside but thinks Sy's wrestling will be the difference.

win inside the distance (-160)
"I'll go with Oumar Sy... he's a big favorite pushing minus 600... he's got a great inside the distance line at minus 160."
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Confident picked Sep 24, 2024 (4 days before fight)
Oumar Sy

Cody is high on Sy as a legitimate prospect with excellent grappling and size. He notes Sy's length (6'4", 83" reach) and ability to take down opponents and submit them. He expects Sy to take down Jung, who has poor takedown defense and submission defense, and finish via rear-naked choke.

"sign me up for C to hopefully keep the hype train and the undefeated record going"
CO
Connor Ruebusch Expert Confident picked Sep 27, 2024 (1 day before fight)
Oumar Sy

Connor agrees, pointing out that Da Woon Jung has looked shell-shocked in three fights running and may actively clinch with Sy to avoid striking, leading to a frustrating grind. He thinks Sy's grappling will be too much for Jung's current state.

"If he's going to go in there and like actively of his own volition, clinch up with Z because he doesn't like the stress of continuing to strike with him, you know, begging to be dragged down and controlled against …"
DA
Daniel Vreeland Expert Confident picked Sep 24, 2024 (4 days before fight)
Oumar Sy

Daniel Vreeland picks Oumar Sy to win. He thinks Sy's grappling and physicality will be too much for Da-woon, who has lost confidence since the Jacoby fight. He notes Sy's takedown ability and ground game, and that Da-woon has been easily taken down recently. He is not interested in the price at -450.

"I think C should should have his way with this guy"
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Sep 25, 2024 (3 days before fight)
Oumar Sy

JP picks Oumar Sy because he is undefeated and has a huge reach advantage. He notes Sy's opponents often cancel fights, indicating they don't want to fight him. He thinks Sy will finish Da-woon inside the distance, possibly by submission or TKO. He says the line should be much higher.

inside the distance
"give me Umar club and sub knock out this fight's not going the distance either way"
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Confident picked Sep 24, 2024 (4 days before fight)
Oumar Sy

Paul agrees, noting Sy's grappling is a clear advantage. He points out Jung's inconsistency and vulnerability to submissions, as seen in his loss to Carlos Alberg. Paul expects Sy to dominate with takedowns and control, though he acknowledges the risk of Jung landing a lucky shot.

"I think umari is the real deal with you so he's a pick for me as well"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Sep 24, 2024 (4 days before fight)
Oumar Sy

The MMA Guru picks Oumar Sy over Jung Da-woon, highlighting Sy's reach (83 inches) and his recent first-round finishes. He notes Sy's grappling from Bulgarian Top Team and predicts a first-round submission via rear-naked choke.

first round rear-naked choke
"I'm going to go with Umar side getting this one done by first round run naked choke"
ZA
Zane Simon Expert Confident picked Sep 27, 2024 (1 day before fight)
Oumar Sy

Zane notes that Da Woon Jung's confidence is badly shot after recent losses, and he expects Jung to get blanketed by Sy's grinding takedown and control game. He thinks Sy might even get a submission, as jiu-jitsu is a 'magic bullet' at light heavyweight.

"I think he's just going to get to kind of blanket him and it's just going to be a three round grind."
WIN vs Tuco Tokkos
Submission (face crank) R1 3:43 · UFC Fight Night: Barboza vs. Murphy · May 18, 2024
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Oumar Sy 0 0 of 2 0% 1 of 8 2 of 3 66% 1 0 3:30
Tuco Tokkos 0 3 of 4 75% 4 of 5 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Oumar Sy 0 0 of 2 0% 1 of 8 2 of 3 66% 1 0 3:30
Tuco Tokkos 0 3 of 4 75% 4 of 5 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Oumar Sy 0 of 2 0% 0 of 2 0 of 0 0 of 0 0 of 2 0 of 0 0 of 0
Tuco Tokkos 3 of 4 75% 1 of 1 0 of 1 2 of 2 3 of 4 0 of 0 0 of 0
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Oumar Sy 0 of 2 0% 0 of 2 0 of 0 0 of 0 0 of 2 0 of 0 0 of 0
Tuco Tokkos 3 of 4 75% 1 of 1 0 of 1 2 of 2 3 of 4 0 of 0 0 of 0
Play-by-Play
View on Sherdog
Oumar Sy vs. George Tokkos
BETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: N/A

Round 1
A pair of UFC newcomers will collide in hopes of storming the light heavyweight division. Undefeated Frenchman Sy (9-0, 0-0 UFC) has earned the lion’s share of his pro wins via stoppage, and the same can be said about “Tuco” Tokkos (10-3, 0-0 UFC). Referee Dan Miragliotta will need to keep his head on a swivel for as long as it lasts. Before they come out guns blazing, they touch ‘em up. Tokkos prods out an early jab and two low kicks, and he tests his might with a high kick. Sy punches once and shoots in for a deep double, lifting Tokkos off his feet and depositing him to the mat effortlessly. Tokkos gets stuck in an awkward position on the corner of the fence and the floor, and he tries to use upkicks to push Sy away. Tokkos rolls over to his knees, and Sy clings to him from behind and steps over to get around and sneak his hooks in. With only one hook in, Sy elects to snatch up a rear-naked choke that is more of a face and neck crank, and Tokkos explodes out of the bad position and loudly says, “you’re heavier than me.” Sy does not acknowledge him, instead keeping tightly pressed to his back as Tokkos sits up. Tokkos says it again, and Sy is not listening, instead dragging Tokkos right down to the mat once more. Sy snakes his right arm around the head, but he lets it go and pulls Tokkos down from behind so he can lock up a body triangle. Tokkos once more remarks about the weight of his opponent, and Sy takes advantage of this “Hello, Japan” type moment and squeezes one arm around the chin and locks down the rear-naked choke grip. The face crank RNC is tight as a drum, and Sy’s clutch is not about to loosen. Sy leans back to make this submission academic, and Tokkos thinks about tapping out but waits a few seconds longer. Tokkos surrenders from the submission, and Sy remains unbeaten as a professional as he picks up his 10th pro victory.

The Official Result
Oumar Sy def. George Tokkos R1 3:43 via Submission (Face Crank)
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Confident picked May 12, 2024 (6 days before fight)
Oumar Sy

Angelo is high on Oumar Sy, describing him as a 6'5" beast with knockout power and explosive action. He believes Sy will dominate Antonio Trocoli, who is returning from a three-year USADA suspension. Sy has shown he can go to decisions without gassing out. Angelo expects a finish but warns against including Sy in parlays due to his UFC debut.

"Sai should dominate this fight do dominate this fight"
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Confident picked May 15, 2024 (3 days before fight)
Oumar Sy

Cody provides a detailed scouting report: Sy is a natural grappler with heavy hands, similar to Kevin Randleman in terms of raw power. He notes Tokkos has been knocked out by lower-level competition and has poor durability. Cody believes Sy will take Tokkos down and finish him, or knock him out on the feet. He also mentions Tokkos is taking the fight on short notice for a payday.

"I think he goes out there and smashes up a Toco set."
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked May 14, 2024 (4 days before fight)
Oumar Sy

Tokkos is a short-notice replacement who has been knocked out before and lacks substance in his wins. Sy is a UFC debutant with solid wrestling and a good gas tank. He can rely on his grappling defensively and put power punches on Tokkos to break him. Expects Sy to grind out a decision or find a finish from top position.

If line is around -150 to -185, Sy is worth a shot.
"I think he actually he could either grind this out or eventually find that finish from that top position but for the sake of this podcast I'm going to take C and C by decision"
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Confident picked May 15, 2024 (3 days before fight)
Oumar Sy

Paul notes Sy is a very green prospect but should get through this fight against a short-notice opponent. He highlights Sy's grappling-heavy game and physical strength. Paul expects Sy to take Tokkos down and ground-and-pound him out, though he warns the line may move and Sy's lack of recent activity is a concern.

"I'll be picking Umar C."
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked May 14, 2024 (4 days before fight)
Oumar Sy

The MMA Guru picks Oumar Sy over Tuco Tokkos, citing Sy's experience in KSW against tough opponents and his reach advantage. He criticizes Tokkos' career, including a failed drug test for nandrolone and a loss to a chinless welterweight. He believes Sy's striking and grappling are superior and that Tokkos has many red flags.

"I'm going to go with Umar Sai he's the favorite here this is a very close fight though"
Brendson Ribeiro - Fight History
Submission R1 2:52 · UFC Fight Night: Moicano vs. Duncan · Apr 04, 2026
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Abdul-Rakhman Yakhyaev 0 7 of 15 46% 23 of 38 2 of 3 66% 1 0 1:56
Brendson Ribeiro 0 8 of 17 47% 8 of 17 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Abdul-Rakhman Yakhyaev 0 7 of 15 46% 23 of 38 2 of 3 66% 1 0 1:56
Brendson Ribeiro 0 8 of 17 47% 8 of 17 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Abdul-Rakhman Yakhyaev 7 of 15 46% 6 of 14 1 of 1 0 of 0 3 of 11 0 of 0 4 of 4
Brendson Ribeiro 8 of 17 47% 5 of 13 1 of 1 2 of 3 8 of 17 0 of 0 0 of 0
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Abdul-Rakhman Yakhyaev 7 of 15 46% 6 of 14 1 of 1 0 of 0 3 of 11 0 of 0 4 of 4
Brendson Ribeiro 8 of 17 47% 5 of 13 1 of 1 2 of 3 8 of 17 0 of 0 0 of 0
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Lock picked Mar 29, 2026 (6 days before fight)
Abdul-Rakhman Yakhyaev

Angelo is extremely confident in Abdul-Rakhman Yakhyaev, calling it the easiest pick on the card. He notes Yakhyaev is a good prospect with wrestling, striking, and power, while Brendson Ribeiro is hitable and has a quit button. However, he strongly advises against betting at -1400 odds, calling it not worth the risk.

Angelo mentions the odds -1400 and says 'Do nothing with this. You cannot bet on a minus400 favorite.' He suggests finding a prop instead.
"Yakayv, no discussion. He wins this fight 10 out of 10 times."
BI
Big Brady Expert Lock picked Mar 30, 2026 (5 days before fight)
Abdul-Rakhman Yakhyaev

Big Brady is extremely confident Yakhyaev will win, calling it 'dumb matchmaking.' He expects Yakhyaev to knock out Ribeiro within the first minute, as he has done in recent fights. He notes Ribeiro has no chin and that Yakhyaev finishes fights quickly.

Yakhyaev by KO in first minute
"Yakhyaev's going to come forward and he's going to knock out Brendson Ribeiro in the first a minute of the fight."
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Confident picked Apr 2, 2026 (2 days before fight)
Abdul-Rakhman Yakhyaev

Cody is confident Yakhyaev wins by first-round knockout, given Ribeiro's history of first-round KO losses. He notes Yakhyaev's well-rounded skills and the mismatch, but warns about the prohibitive moneyline.

first round knockout +130
"I got first round knockout for Yaki being that he is probably he's wellrounded. He can submit you just as easily can knock you out. But I think in Brenson Rivero's case, his last five knockout or his last five …"
LU
Lucrative James Expert Lock picked Mar 30, 2026 (5 days before fight)
Abdul-Rakhman Yakhyaev

James is extremely confident in Yakhyaev, calling it a 'murder scene.' He highlights Yakhyaev's explosiveness, wrestling, and finishing ability, while noting Ribeiro's lack of durability and short-notice camp. He predicts a round one KO, stating Yakhyaev is a legitimate prospect who will run through Ribeiro. He mentions the odds are too high to bet but is certain of the outcome.

Round 1 KO prediction
"I'm calling a round one finish for Yaky. The guy is minus 1,400 on a money line. I don't really want to speak too much in depth about this one, boys."
LU
Lucrative James Expert Confident picked Apr 1, 2026 (3 days before fight)
Abdul-Rakhman Yakhyaev

James is very high on Yakhyaev, calling him one of the greatest fighters in the division and predicting he will steamroll Ribeiro and become a champion. He compares his confidence to his previous correct call on Loena Cavana.

"I think this guy is going to steamroll Brener Ribeiro and I think he's going to become either a champion or fight for the belt in the next 3 years."
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Mar 31, 2026 (4 days before fight)
Abdul-Rakhman Yakhyaev

The host is extremely confident in Yakhyaev, citing his insane ceiling, dangerous grappling and striking, and a horrible stylistic matchup for Ribeiro. He expects a first-round finish and advises against parlaying the heavy chalk, instead looking for props. He notes Ribeiro's recent losses and lack of success against similar competition.

under 1.5 rounds at -380; round 1 prop on Yakhyaev
"I think Yaky runs through him as well. I think he finishes him in the first round."
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Confident picked Apr 2, 2026 (2 days before fight)
Abdul-Rakhman Yakhyaev

Paul is confident Yakhyaev wins, likely by submission or KO in the first round. He notes the price is prohibitive but suggests playing the round one prop or parlay.

round one prop
"Maybe maybe the move is just eat the chalk on the the round one prop, which is super like minus 227 is the best I can play on that. Um I can parlay that up. That's probably how I go …"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Apr 4, 2026 (fight day)
Abdul-Rakhman Yakhyaev

The MMA Guru confidently picks Abdul-Rakhman Yakhyaev, citing his undefeated record, fast starts, and nasty finishes. He notes that Brendson Ribeiro has been finished multiple times early in fights and expects Yakhyaev to secure a first-round TKO.

First-round TKO predicted
"Against someone like Yakhyaev who starts so fast and so dangerous, it's a recipe for a first round TKO for him."
LOSS vs Oumar Sy
KO R1 4:42 · UFC Fight Night: Imavov vs. Borralho · Sep 06, 2025
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Oumar Sy 0 17 of 43 39% 21 of 49 2 of 4 50% 0 0 3:28
Brendson Ribeiro 0 5 of 14 35% 11 of 22 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:03
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Oumar Sy 0 17 of 43 39% 21 of 49 2 of 4 50% 0 0 3:28
Brendson Ribeiro 0 5 of 14 35% 11 of 22 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:03
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Oumar Sy 17 of 43 39% 14 of 38 0 of 1 3 of 4 4 of 11 0 of 0 13 of 32
Brendson Ribeiro 5 of 14 35% 2 of 10 1 of 2 2 of 2 5 of 14 0 of 0 0 of 0
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Oumar Sy 17 of 43 39% 14 of 38 0 of 1 3 of 4 4 of 11 0 of 0 13 of 32
Brendson Ribeiro 5 of 14 35% 2 of 10 1 of 2 2 of 2 5 of 14 0 of 0 0 of 0
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Confident picked Aug 31, 2025 (6 days before fight)
Oumar Sy

Angelo picks Oumar Sy confidently, despite holding a grudge from Sy's previous loss. He acknowledges Sy's athleticism, speed, and power, and believes he can weather Ribeiro's early danger and then dominate with wrestling. He criticizes Ribeiro's quit button and susceptibility to being hit. He expects Sy to win, likely by wrestling, but warns that if he loses, he should be cut.

"I think Omar Sai wins here. I'm pretty confident that he wins here."
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked Sep 4, 2025 (2 days before fight)
Oumar Sy

Big Brady is very confident in Oumar Sy, calling it a layup. He highlights Ribeiro's 0% takedown defense and poor ground game. He expects Sy to take him down easily and finish via submission or TKO in the first round, despite Sy's previous failure as a heavy favorite.

Sy by submission, round 1
"I'll say Omar C wins this fight by first round sub."
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Sep 4, 2025 (2 days before fight)
Oumar Sy

The host thinks this is a great matchup for Sy to bounce back after his first pro defeat. He expects Sy to put pressure on Ribeiro, drag him to the ground, and open up a finishing position via ground and pound or submission.

ground and pound or submission
"Look for C to really put the pressure on Hibetto, eventually drag him to the ground, and I think he'll be able to open up a finishing position, whether it is by ground and pound or by submission."
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Sep 3, 2025 (3 days before fight)
Oumar Sy

The Guru picks Oumar Sy, citing his well-roundedness, patience, and footwork. He believes Sy can control the pace and avoid Ribeiro's wildness, similar to how Alonzo Menifield couldn't finish Sy. He predicts a 30-27 decision win, with Sy's movement neutralizing Ribeiro's chaos.

"I'm going to go with Umar Sai. I think a lot of people are going with Umar Sai here."
KO R1 3:25 · UFC 316: Dvalishvili vs. O'Malley 2 · Jun 07, 2025
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Azamat Murzakanov 1 27 of 36 75% 29 of 38 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:27
Brendson Ribeiro 0 8 of 22 36% 8 of 22 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Azamat Murzakanov 1 27 of 36 75% 29 of 38 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:27
Brendson Ribeiro 0 8 of 22 36% 8 of 22 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Azamat Murzakanov 27 of 36 75% 23 of 32 4 of 4 0 of 0 7 of 10 0 of 0 20 of 26
Brendson Ribeiro 8 of 22 36% 3 of 16 2 of 2 3 of 4 8 of 22 0 of 0 0 of 0
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Azamat Murzakanov 27 of 36 75% 23 of 32 4 of 4 0 of 0 7 of 10 0 of 0 20 of 26
Brendson Ribeiro 8 of 22 36% 3 of 16 2 of 2 3 of 4 8 of 22 0 of 0 0 of 0
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Confident picked Jun 1, 2025 (6 days before fight)
Azamat Murzakanov

Angelo picks Azamat Murzakanov confidently, noting his power, wrestling, and durability. He highlights that Azamat has a knockdown in all five UFC fights and showed a second gear when rocked by Alonzo Menifield. He thinks Brendson Ribeiro is hittable and has a quit button. He includes Azamat in a parlay as one of his most confident picks.

Parlayed with Yoo Joo-sang.
"Azimat Makonov is the pick. I do have him in a parlay."
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked Jun 3, 2025 (4 days before fight)
Azamat Murzakanov

Big Brady is confident in Murzakanov despite his age (jokes he is in his 70s). He praises Murzakanov's striking and well-rounded game, and thinks Ribeiro is hittable and doesn't like getting hit. He expects Murzakanov to find a knockout early, possibly in the first round, noting his history of second- and third-round KOs but thinking this one comes sooner.

Murzakanov by KO in round 1
"I think Mzakana probably puts this guy to sleep. So I'm going to take uh the old man Ozamot Mzakonov. He's 90 years old, but I think he gets it done. I think he gets it done by first round …"
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Jun 4, 2025 (3 days before fight)
Azamat Murzakanov

The fight might be closer than the odds indicate, especially if Murzakanov leans on his striking. Ribeiro has a huge height and reach advantage that could cause trouble, but Murzakanov is expected to eventually get to his grappling and find a ground-and-pound finish.

win by ground and pound
"I think it's just a matter of time before Makonov decides to get to his grappling, eventually taking this fight to the ground and finding that ground and pound finish."
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Jun 4, 2025 (3 days before fight)
Azamat Murzakanov

The MMA Guru picks Azamat Murzakanov, praising his deceptive speed, composure, and power. He compares his striking to Fedor and notes he beat Dustin Jacoby and destroyed Yorgan De Castro. He believes Murzakanov sets traps and will finish Ribeiro by TKO in round one or two. He calls the matchmaking dumb as Murzakanov is a level above.

Finish prediction: TKO in round one or two.
"I'm going to go with Azamat Makanov. I just think his striking's too quick."
Submission R2 1:28 · UFC Fight Night: Vettori vs. Dolidze 2 · Mar 15, 2025
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Diyar Nurgozhay 0 17 of 39 43% 20 of 42 2 of 2 100% 0 0 0:49
Brendson Ribeiro 1 28 of 58 48% 29 of 60 0 of 1 0% 1 1 0:14
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Diyar Nurgozhay 0 15 of 35 42% 16 of 36 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Brendson Ribeiro 1 23 of 50 46% 24 of 52 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:11
2 Diyar Nurgozhay 0 2 of 4 50% 4 of 6 2 of 2 100% 0 0 0:49
Brendson Ribeiro 0 5 of 8 62% 5 of 8 0 of 0 --- 1 1 0:03
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Diyar Nurgozhay 17 of 39 43% 5 of 21 7 of 13 5 of 5 16 of 36 1 of 3 0 of 0
Brendson Ribeiro 28 of 58 48% 13 of 35 5 of 10 10 of 13 28 of 58 0 of 0 0 of 0
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Diyar Nurgozhay 15 of 35 42% 4 of 19 7 of 12 4 of 4 14 of 32 1 of 3 0 of 0
Brendson Ribeiro 23 of 50 46% 12 of 32 5 of 9 6 of 9 23 of 50 0 of 0 0 of 0
2 Diyar Nurgozhay 2 of 4 50% 1 of 2 0 of 1 1 of 1 2 of 4 0 of 0 0 of 0
Brendson Ribeiro 5 of 8 62% 1 of 3 0 of 1 4 of 4 5 of 8 0 of 0 0 of 0
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Confident picked Mar 9, 2025 (6 days before fight)
Diyar Nurgozhay

Angelo picks Diyar Nurgozhay over Brendson Ribeiro. He is very high on Nurgozhay as a prospect, praising his wrestling, finishing ability, and quality wins. He notes Ribeiro is hittable and has a quit button. Angelo recommends betting on Nurgozhay now before the line skyrockets.

"Dr is going to be the pick and I would bet on him now before this line absolutely Skyrock."
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked Mar 10, 2025 (5 days before fight)
Diyar Nurgozhay

Big Brady picks Diyar Nurgozhay, praising his wrestling, vicious ground and pound, and power. He is not sold on Brendson Ribeiro, citing poor striking defense, durability, ground game, and heart, noting that Ribeiro's loss to Magomed Gadzhiyasulov is aging poorly. Brady believes if Nurgozhay gets on top, he will pound Ribeiro out. He predicts a second-round knockout for Nurgozhay.

Nurgozhay second round KO
"I like nuro here... nuro second round KO."
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Confident picked Aug 6, 2025 (fight day)

Cody picks Jean Matsumoto, citing his youth, volume, and improved wrestling. He notes that Miles Johns has abandoned his wrestling and is low volume. He believes Matsumoto's performance against Rob Font showed he can compete at a higher level and that he will outwork Johns.

"John Masumoto, meanwhile, he's six years younger, right? 25 versus 31, but he he was 16 and0 prior to the Rob Font fight. Rob Font fought half of the best guys in the division. He's a 10-year vet, very tricky, …"
CO
Connor Ruebusch Expert Confident picked Mar 13, 2025 (2 days before fight)
Diyar Nurgozhay

Connor agrees, describing Nurgozhay as a pillar-like fighter with Sambo timing and a devastating uppercut. He notes that Ribeiro is a classic light heavyweight with all power and no breaks, and that he will likely get caught by Nurgozhay's counters. He also mentions that Nurgozhay is durable and has a coherent striking game.

"I suspect Habero unless he gets very lucky is going to get nuked."
DA
Daniel Vreeland Expert picked Jan 31, 2024 (409 days before fight)

Daniel does not make a clear pick for this fight. He discusses the matchup briefly but does not state a preference or bet.

MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Mar 12, 2025 (3 days before fight)
Diyar Nurgozhay

The host believes Nurgozhay will walk through Ribeiro using a grapple-heavy approach, taking him down and finding a dominant position to finish.

finish
"I believe noazi will walk through hio in this matchup utilizing his grapple heavy approach taking hio to the ground and eventually finding a dominant enough position to find the finish."
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Confident picked Aug 6, 2025 (fight day)

Paul picks Matsumoto, noting that Miles Johns has been trying to strike more but lacks volume and power. He believes Matsumoto's wrestling and volume will be too much for Johns, who has not been using his wrestling effectively.

"Pick for me is Jean Matsumoto. Your thoughts?"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Mar 14, 2025 (1 day before fight)
Diyar Nurgozhay

The MMA Guru picks Diyar Nurgozhay, citing his well-rounded game, power, and submission ability. He notes Nurgozhay has a win over a PFL winner and knocked out a guy on the Contender Series with a head kick. He criticizes Brendson Ribeiro's mixed results, including a loss to Mingyang Zhang, and thinks Nurgozhay will knock him out on the feet. He predicts a first-round TKO debut win.

First round TKO
"I'm going to go with the momentum of uh nurer I think for this fight and I'm gonna say TKO win in the first round big debut win"
ZA
Zane Simon Expert Confident picked Mar 13, 2025 (2 days before fight)
Diyar Nurgozhay

Zane picks Nurgozhay as a top light heavyweight prospect with a complete game. He notes that Nurgozhay has excellent counter-striking, particularly his uppercut, and that Ribeiro is formless and likely to get nuked. He compares Nurgozhay to Ankalaev in terms of patience and defensive boxing, and notes that Ribeiro has been knocked out in three of his four recent losses.

Odds: Nurgozhay opened -249, now -368; Ribeiro opened +201, now +284. Zane says it could be wider.
"Nurgle is a genuinely good pickup for the UFC... I don't think it's even too soon for him right now."
WIN vs Caio Machado
Decision (split) (29–28, 28–29, 29–28) R3 5:00 · UFC Fight Night: Moreno vs. Albazi · Nov 02, 2024
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Brendson Ribeiro 0 76 of 184 41% 79 of 187 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:02
Caio Machado 0 49 of 131 37% 49 of 131 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Brendson Ribeiro 0 22 of 43 51% 22 of 43 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Caio Machado 0 16 of 34 47% 16 of 34 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
2 Brendson Ribeiro 0 22 of 58 37% 22 of 58 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Caio Machado 0 12 of 36 33% 12 of 36 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
3 Brendson Ribeiro 0 32 of 83 38% 35 of 86 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:02
Caio Machado 0 21 of 61 34% 21 of 61 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Brendson Ribeiro 76 of 184 41% 24 of 114 33 of 47 19 of 23 76 of 184 0 of 0 0 of 0
Caio Machado 49 of 131 37% 25 of 93 16 of 25 8 of 13 49 of 130 0 of 1 0 of 0
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Brendson Ribeiro 22 of 43 51% 3 of 21 7 of 10 12 of 12 22 of 43 0 of 0 0 of 0
Caio Machado 16 of 34 47% 6 of 21 5 of 6 5 of 7 16 of 34 0 of 0 0 of 0
2 Brendson Ribeiro 22 of 58 37% 6 of 31 11 of 18 5 of 9 22 of 58 0 of 0 0 of 0
Caio Machado 12 of 36 33% 5 of 22 4 of 9 3 of 5 12 of 36 0 of 0 0 of 0
3 Brendson Ribeiro 32 of 83 38% 15 of 62 15 of 19 2 of 2 32 of 83 0 of 0 0 of 0
Caio Machado 21 of 61 34% 14 of 50 7 of 10 0 of 1 21 of 60 0 of 1 0 of 0
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Confident picked Oct 27, 2024 (6 days before fight)
Caio Machado

Angelo picks Caio Machado as the cleaner fighter with more ways to win. He notes Machado is well-rounded, has volume and footwork, good clinch work, and underrated BJJ. He acknowledges Brendson Ribeiro could come in wild and connect, but outside of that, Machado is the better fighter. He shares a funny anecdote about accidentally messaging Machado instead of another fighter.

"I think Kyle should win he's the cleaner fighter he's more buttoned up he has more ways to win obviously Breon could come in wild and connect but outside of that Kyle's just the better fighter so Kyle's going to …"
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked Oct 30, 2024 (3 days before fight)
Caio Machado

Big Brady picks Caio Machado to win by decision. He notes that Ribeiro has poor cardio (about 7.5 minutes of gas) and that Machado, moving down from heavyweight, should have better cardio and volume. Brady thinks Machado can take over as the fight progresses, either by outworking Ribeiro on the feet or by taking him down. He mentions Ribeiro's takedown defense looked awful in his last fight.

"I'm going Machado here I'm going Machado to win this fight by decision"
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Confident picked Oct 30, 2024 (3 days before fight)
Caio Machado

Cody picks Caio Machado, noting his improved physique at light heavyweight and his volume striking. He criticizes Ribeiro as a glass cannon with poor cardio and durability, and believes Machado's cardio, volume, and grappling advantage will allow him to outwork Ribeiro. He also mentions Machado's experience and the favorable judging in Canada.

over 1.5 rounds
"I think Machado will either win the decision or just beat him late when he Fades so sign me up for bigfoot first time ever I'm back at him."
DA
Daniel Vreeland Expert Lean picked Oct 30, 2024 (3 days before fight)
Caio Machado

Daniel Vreeland picks Caio Machado to win his light heavyweight debut, despite acknowledging his poor technique. He notes that Brendson Ribeiro has a questionable chin and heart, getting hurt in every fight and covering up when in trouble. Vreeland believes Machado's toughness and willingness to push through adversity will overcome Ribeiro's technical edge, especially since Ribeiro has shown a tendency to quit.

"I'm gonna go Kyle Machado to come out here and win his uh light heavyweight debut"
LU
Lucrative James Expert Confident picked Oct 30, 2024 (3 days before fight)
Brendson Ribeiro

Lucrative James picks Brendson Ribeiro, citing his early finishing upside and Machado's questionable durability. He notes Machado is moving down from heavyweight, which may zap his speed advantage, and that Ribeiro has power to finish early. He also mentions Ribeiro's poor fight IQ and cardio but believes he can get the win.

"I'm going to pick Brendan rero in this fight or Brenson rero I should say"
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Oct 31, 2024 (2 days before fight)
Caio Machado

Machado is going down to light heavyweight for the first time after starting 0-2 in the UFC, but this is a winnable fight where he should have the overall advantage and grind Ribeiro out, winning on the scorecards.

"I do think this is a very winnable fight for him where he should be able to have the overall advantage and grind Ribeiro out winning this fight on the scorecards."
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Confident picked Oct 30, 2024 (3 days before fight)
Caio Machado

Paul also picks Machado, citing his volume and cardio advantage over Ribeiro, who he sees as a power puncher with questionable durability. He notes that Machado has looked better at light heavyweight and should be able to outwork Ribeiro. He also mentions the over 1.5 rounds prop as a possibility.

over 1.5 rounds
"I think Machado will either win the decision or just beat him late when he Fades so sign me up for bigfoot first time ever I'm back at him."
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Oct 31, 2024 (2 days before fight)
Brendson Ribeiro

The Guru picks Brendson Ribeiro over Caio Machado, though he expresses disdain for heavyweights. He notes Ribeiro's close loss to Gadzhi Omargadzhiev and believes regional heavyweights are better athletes. He predicts a TKO win for Ribeiro.

TKO
"I'm going to go with Brenson riro getting a TKO win over Machado"
Decision (majority) (29–28, 29–28, 28–28) R3 5:00 · UFC on ABC: Whittaker vs. Aliskerov · Jun 22, 2024
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Magomed Gadzhiyasulov 0 26 of 39 66% 93 of 135 5 of 5 100% 0 0 9:59
Brendson Ribeiro 0 17 of 35 48% 29 of 51 3 of 6 50% 1 1 1:56
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Magomed Gadzhiyasulov 0 8 of 11 72% 29 of 42 1 of 1 100% 0 0 1:43
Brendson Ribeiro 0 11 of 22 50% 14 of 29 3 of 5 60% 0 0 1:36
2 Magomed Gadzhiyasulov 0 11 of 18 61% 33 of 53 1 of 1 100% 0 0 3:41
Brendson Ribeiro 0 5 of 10 50% 8 of 13 0 of 0 --- 1 1 0:20
3 Magomed Gadzhiyasulov 0 7 of 10 70% 31 of 40 3 of 3 100% 0 0 4:35
Brendson Ribeiro 0 1 of 3 33% 7 of 9 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:00
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Magomed Gadzhiyasulov 26 of 39 66% 15 of 25 4 of 4 7 of 10 12 of 23 4 of 4 10 of 12
Brendson Ribeiro 17 of 35 48% 6 of 19 4 of 4 7 of 12 13 of 29 3 of 5 1 of 1
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Magomed Gadzhiyasulov 8 of 11 72% 1 of 3 3 of 3 4 of 5 4 of 7 4 of 4 0 of 0
Brendson Ribeiro 11 of 22 50% 5 of 14 2 of 2 4 of 6 7 of 16 3 of 5 1 of 1
2 Magomed Gadzhiyasulov 11 of 18 61% 7 of 12 1 of 1 3 of 5 7 of 13 0 of 0 4 of 5
Brendson Ribeiro 5 of 10 50% 0 of 2 2 of 2 3 of 6 5 of 10 0 of 0 0 of 0
3 Magomed Gadzhiyasulov 7 of 10 70% 7 of 10 0 of 0 0 of 0 1 of 3 0 of 0 6 of 7
Brendson Ribeiro 1 of 3 33% 1 of 3 0 of 0 0 of 0 1 of 3 0 of 0 0 of 0
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Confident picked Jun 20, 2024 (2 days before fight)
Magomed Gadzhiyasulov

Angelo picks Magomed but expresses skepticism about the wide odds, noting Magomed's record includes many 'fake fights' on carpet in hotel lobbies. He acknowledges Magomed has solid striking, wrestling, and body work, but Ribeiro is dangerous and hitable. He decided not to include Magomed in the safety parlay due to the debut factor and unproven competition. He still expects Magomed to win because Ribeiro gets hit too much and has a quit button.

Not in safety parlay due to debut; $9,300 DraftKings salary mentioned
"maged should win this fight he's going to be the pick he's got power he's got long kicks got wrestling but Brenson can be dangerous hitable but dangerous"
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked Jun 19, 2024 (3 days before fight)
Magomed Gadzhiyasulov

Big Brady picks Magomed Gadzhiyasulov because he believes he has more paths to victory: on the feet with a big shot or on the ground with a TKO. He questions Ribeiro's durability, noting he has been finished five times, often in the first round. While Gadzhiyasulov's competition has been low-level, Brady thinks his skills are sufficient to exploit Ribeiro's weaknesses. He predicts a second-round TKO.

win by second round TKO
"I'm going to take the guy who I think has more pass to Victory and that's going to be gaji lulov I'll take him to win this fight by second round TKO"
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Confident picked Jun 19, 2024 (3 days before fight)
Magomed Gadzhiyasulov

Cody picks Gadzhiyasulov but suggests the over 1.5 rounds as a better play. He notes Gadzhiyasulov is a decision machine with questionable finishing ability, while Ribeiro is a glass cannon who either wins early or loses early. He expects Gadzhiyasulov to grind out a win past the first round.

over 1.5 rounds
"I think he wins I don't love the money line you want to get greasy with it the over one and a half plus 200 certainly got some value"
DA
Daniel Vreeland Expert Lean picked Jun 20, 2024 (2 days before fight)
Magomed Gadzhiyasulov

Daniel Vreeland leans with Magomed Gadzhiyasulov but is unsure due to unknowns. He notes Gadzhiyasulov's wrestling and grinding style, while Ribeiro is a banger with power but a questionable chin. He expects Gadzhiyasulov to win a decision but acknowledges Ribeiro's knockout potential.

"I'll lean with the favorite but I don't know I don't know"
JA
Jacob Lines Expert Hesitant picked Jun 20, 2024 (2 days before fight)
Magomed Gadzhiyasulov

Jacob agrees Magomed should win as the more technical and tactical fighter, but warns that Ribeiro is a dangerous puncher who will give himself a chance. He notes Magomed has wrestling as a plan B if he feels pressure, but if he eats a clean shot he could get put out. Jacob calls Magomed a 'parlay buster' waiting to happen and says picks and bets are different—he picks Magomed but understands betting on Ribeiro for the KO.

"Magan bed's that guy that this week should win could look like a minus 500 favorite if he does it or it's going to be a [ __ ] parlay Buster when he get [ __ ] sparked"
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Jun 19, 2024 (3 days before fight)
Magomed Gadzhiyasulov

JP picks Godzilla (Gadzhiyasulov) by decision, noting his undefeated record and Ribeiro's recent loss. He highlights Ribeiro's reach advantage but believes Godzilla's wrestling and control will be decisive. Brevan adds that Godzilla's Dagestani wrestling base gives him a huge ground advantage, though he warns about Godzilla's tendency to back up and engage in unnecessary exchanges, which could open a window for Ribeiro to land a KO. Both expect a decision win for Godzilla.

"I'm gonna pick Godzilla by probably decision because both of these guys what he's got three wins by decision the other guy's losses by a decision"
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Confident picked Jun 19, 2024 (3 days before fight)
Magomed Gadzhiyasulov

Paul picks Gadzhiyasulov, citing his wrestling and control. He notes Ribeiro's only path is a first-round knockout, but Gadzhiyasulov's style should neutralize that. He acknowledges the danger early but expects a win.

"I think gadzi YULA wins here"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Jun 18, 2024 (4 days before fight)
Magomed Gadzhiyasulov

The MMA Guru picks Magomed Gadzhiyasulov over Brendson Ribeiro, calling it straightforward. He notes that Ribeiro relies on KO power and reach but was recently knocked out by Mingyang Zhang. He believes Gadzhiyasulov is more technical on the feet and has a ground game, while Ribeiro has been KO'd in his last three losses. He expects a first-round finish, likely by TKO.

first round finish
"I think this is a pretty straightforward fight to predict dangerous dangerous [__] the pair of them nasty magam Med's really I think I would say a bit more technical on the fet okay whereas Brenson riro kind of just …"
LOSS vs Zhang Mingyang
KO (punches) R1 1:41 · UFC 298: Volkanovski vs. Topuria · Feb 17, 2024
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Zhang Mingyang 1 17 of 28 60% 17 of 28 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:02
Brendson Ribeiro 0 14 of 31 45% 14 of 31 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Zhang Mingyang 1 17 of 28 60% 17 of 28 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:02
Brendson Ribeiro 0 14 of 31 45% 14 of 31 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Zhang Mingyang 17 of 28 60% 13 of 19 2 of 5 2 of 4 14 of 25 0 of 0 3 of 3
Brendson Ribeiro 14 of 31 45% 14 of 31 0 of 0 0 of 0 14 of 31 0 of 0 0 of 0
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Zhang Mingyang 17 of 28 60% 13 of 19 2 of 5 2 of 4 14 of 25 0 of 0 3 of 3
Brendson Ribeiro 14 of 31 45% 14 of 31 0 of 0 0 of 0 14 of 31 0 of 0 0 of 0
Play-by-Play
View on Sherdog
Mingyang Zhang vs. Brendson Ribeiro
BETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Zhang (-142), Ribeiro (+120)

Round 1
Opening up the ESPN prelims is likely to be an explosive one, as these two fighters come in with 31 finishes across their 31 pro wins. Zhang (16-6, 1-0 UFC) worked his way to the UFC courtesy of a spot on the Road to UFC qualifier, and Ribeiro (15-5, 1 NC; 0-0 UFC) is yet another DWCS pickup. With the majority of their combined victories via first-round stoppage, referee Mike Beltran cannot take his eyes off the prize for even a second. The light heavyweights hesitantly touch ‘em up, and Zhang moves forward to kick low to start off. Ribeiro swings for the bleachers, and when he comes up short, Zhang boots him in the ribs. Ribeiro flicks out a jab that stings Zhang, and Ribeiro is quick to follow with a one-two that stuns him and draws a smile from the Chinese contender. Ribeiro unloads a pair of punches, and Zhang stands right in front of him and is ready to hurl back with bad intentions. Ribeiro bloodies up Zhang’s mouth, and they both hurl huge shots at one another. Zhang takes a right hand on the eye socket, and he raises his arm to call time. Beltran tells him to keep fighting, and fight he does.
Zhang sticks out a jab, wings a right hook and chains it into a ferocious left hook that all land cleanly, and Ribeiro might be out before the back of his head bounces of the canvas. Just to seal the deal, Zhang drives down three jackhammering hammerfists, and Beltran recognizes that Ribeiro’s goose is cooked and waves the fight off.
In the hierarchy of the jungle, “Mountain Tiger” destroyed “Gorilla” tonight.

The Official Result
Mingyang Zhang def. Brendson Ribeiro R1 1:41 via KO (Punches)
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Lean picked Feb 11, 2024 (6 days before fight)
Brendson Ribeiro

Angelo picks Brendson Ribeiro as the underdog, citing his more dangerous offense and Zhang's hollow record. He notes Ribeiro is hittable and can be finished, so he won't bet on him unless the line moves further. He thinks Ribeiro's aggression and power can get the job done.

"I'm going the dog here I like robero I think his offense is more the more dangerous of the two"
BI
Big Brady Expert Lean picked Feb 13, 2024 (4 days before fight)
Brendson Ribeiro

Big Brady picks Brendson Ribeiro as a dog, citing his significant reach advantage (6 inches) and power. He notes that Zhang Mingyang is hitable and has been knocked out three times. He acknowledges both fighters have red flags but believes Ribeiro's offense and length will be too much. He says nobody should be favored here and has low confidence.

Ribeiro by KO, round 1
"I will take the dog here in Brenson robero just because this guy is going to have a pretty significant reach six inch reach Advantage he hits very very hard"
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Lean picked Feb 14, 2024 (3 days before fight)
Brendson Ribeiro

Cody picks Ribeiro, recalling his terrifying appearance on Contender Series. He notes Zhang's loss to a fraudulent fighter (Oscar Mova) as a red flag. He believes Ribeiro's ground game gives him an edge if he can land first. He sees this as a dog-or-pass fight and takes the plus money.

under 1.5 rounds (expected to be juiced)
"I'll go with the devil I know in the fact that like Brenson robero for 15 or he was 14 and five going into Contender series like I watched him and I'm like that's a dangerous man..."
DA
Daniel Vreeland Expert Confident picked Feb 14, 2024 (3 days before fight)
Brendson Ribeiro

Daniel picks Brendson Ribeiro as a dog. He dislikes Zhang's competition level, noting he has fought short heavy Chinese men he's never heard of. He also cites Zhang's inactivity (1.5 years). He likes Ribeiro's length, well-roundedness, and finishing ability. He acknowledges that Ribeiro's regional Brazilian competition isn't great either, but prefers his Contender Series performance over Zhang's Road to UFC wins.

"I'm going with the dog I'm going with hiier here um I really don't like jiang's competition when you look at it on paper... I like hi's length I like his well-roundedness obviously I like his finishing ability."
DA
Daniel Vreeland Expert Lean picked Feb 13, 2024 (4 days before fight)
Brendson Ribeiro

Daniel Vreeland picks Brendson Ribeiro, favoring the Brazilian over the Chinese fighter. He notes Ribeiro's better level of competition, training at a good camp, and six-inch reach advantage. He believes both are hittable but expects Ribeiro to knock out Zhang. He does not recommend a big wager.

"I slightly favor Brenson as well... just give me Brazil over China in MMA."
JE
Jeff Fox Expert Confident picked Feb 14, 2024 (3 days before fight)
Zhang Mingyang

Jeff picks Zhang Mingyang, disagreeing with Daniel. He was impressed by Zhang's performance on Road to UFC, where he beat George Tokos with sharp boxing and composure. He notes that Zhang's punches come in straight and he doesn't overextend, even when hurting opponents. In contrast, he criticizes Ribeiro for overextending on the Contender Series despite a reach advantage. He believes Zhang will pick Ribeiro apart and find a knockout.

"I'm gonna go with mingyang here and uh I you know I was in the same boat as you with mingy Yang's competition going into that road to the UFC fight... I was infinitely impressed."
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Feb 15, 2024 (2 days before fight)
Brendson Ribeiro

Ribeiro is calm under pressure and can throw power from his back foot. His key is taking Mingyang to the mat, where he can find dominant positions and land big shots for a TKO. Expects a finish in the first or second round.

"I think his key to victory in this match will be able to take mingyang to the mat and from there he does great work in terms of finding the dominant position required to posture up and land big shots …"
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Lean picked Feb 14, 2024 (3 days before fight)
Brendson Ribeiro

Paul picks Ribeiro as a dog, noting both fighters are glass cannons with first-round finishes. He mentions Ribeiro's ground game and ability to swarm with ground and pound. He sees this as a classic dog-or-pass fight and takes the plus money on Ribeiro.

under 1.5 rounds (expected to be juiced)
"I got to go with rerel plus 125 Underdog someone's getting cracked I take the under on this thing the fight doesn't go the distance."
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Feb 13, 2024 (4 days before fight)
Brendson Ribeiro

The MMA Guru picks Brendson Ribeiro, trusting his wins over better competition and his reach advantage (81 vs 75.5 inches). He notes Ribeiro's straight punches could counter Zhang's hooks. He worries about Zhang's ground game but trusts Ribeiro to get a KO. He also mentions Zhang's frustrating path to the UFC and Ribeiro's natural momentum.

"I am gonna go Brendson Ribeiro over Zhang Mingyang... I trust a western can over an Eastern can."
Expert Picks (4)
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Confident picked Aug 31, 2025 (6 days before fight)
Oumar Sy

Angelo picks Oumar Sy confidently, despite holding a grudge from Sy's previous loss. He acknowledges Sy's athleticism, speed, and power, and believes he can weather Ribeiro's early danger and then dominate with wrestling. He criticizes Ribeiro's quit button and susceptibility to being hit. He expects Sy to win, likely by wrestling, but warns that if he loses, he should be cut.

"I think Omar Sai wins here. I'm pretty confident that he wins here."
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked Sep 4, 2025 (2 days before fight)
Oumar Sy

Big Brady is very confident in Oumar Sy, calling it a layup. He highlights Ribeiro's 0% takedown defense and poor ground game. He expects Sy to take him down easily and finish via submission or TKO in the first round, despite Sy's previous failure as a heavy favorite.

Sy by submission, round 1
"I'll say Omar C wins this fight by first round sub."
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Sep 4, 2025 (2 days before fight)
Oumar Sy

The host thinks this is a great matchup for Sy to bounce back after his first pro defeat. He expects Sy to put pressure on Ribeiro, drag him to the ground, and open up a finishing position via ground and pound or submission.

ground and pound or submission
"Look for C to really put the pressure on Hibetto, eventually drag him to the ground, and I think he'll be able to open up a finishing position, whether it is by ground and pound or by submission."
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Sep 3, 2025 (3 days before fight)
Oumar Sy

The Guru picks Oumar Sy, citing his well-roundedness, patience, and footwork. He believes Sy can control the pace and avoid Ribeiro's wildness, similar to how Alonzo Menifield couldn't finish Sy. He predicts a 30-27 decision win, with Sy's movement neutralizing Ribeiro's chaos.

"I'm going to go with Umar Sai. I think a lot of people are going with Umar Sai here."
Comments (1)
BR
brian 8 months, 3 weeks ago

Oumar is too good for Brendson but needs more tune up fights.