Career Averages - Steve Garcia
Career Averages - David Onama
Steve Garcia
David Onama
Steve Garcia - Fight History
AJ is leaning towards Steve Garcia, citing Garcia's terrifying hands and cardio to go three hard rounds. He thinks Garcia could outstrike Lopes and notes that Lopes is not a grapple smotherer, making it hard for him to control Garcia. He also mentions Garcia's chin and finishing ability.
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Steve Garcia | 1 | 33 of 62 | 53% | 43 of 72 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:04 |
| David Onama | 0 | 2 of 16 | 12% | 2 of 16 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Steve Garcia | 1 | 33 of 62 | 53% | 43 of 72 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:04 |
| David Onama | 0 | 2 of 16 | 12% | 2 of 16 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Steve Garcia | 33 of 62 | 53% | 28 of 56 | 5 of 6 | 0 of 0 | 26 of 52 | 5 of 7 | 2 of 3 |
| David Onama | 2 of 16 | 12% | 1 of 14 | 0 of 1 | 1 of 1 | 2 of 16 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Steve Garcia | 33 of 62 | 53% | 28 of 56 | 5 of 6 | 0 of 0 | 26 of 52 | 5 of 7 | 2 of 3 |
| David Onama | 2 of 16 | 12% | 1 of 14 | 0 of 1 | 1 of 1 | 2 of 16 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
Play-by-Play
View on SherdogBETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Garcia (-130); Onama (+110)
Round 1
It’s time for the main event, a ranked featherweight five-rounder that should be a banger. After what has happened so far tonight, one can hope that Herb Dean can keep things legitimate because there have been some
serious
questions of integrity tonight. Garcia (18-5, 7-2 UFC) and Onama (14-2, 6-2 UFC) are about to let their hands go, and before they do, Dean brings them to the center of the cage to issue final instructions. Will they follow them? Who the heck knows.
The main event opens with a fist bump from the athletes. The featherweights are jittery and trying to figure things out early, so Garcia breaks that silence about 15 seconds in with a clubbing right hand. He walks Onama down, peppering him with his jab and follow-up left hook. Onama bounces off the fence, so Garcia chases him down with a bouquet of blistering left hands. Garcia mixes up body shots, and he snaps out a jab to intercept a front kick. Garcia reaches out with a left hook, shaking Onama up, and he continues to chain together his lefts. Onama fires back when he back, but Garcia’s volume and looping lefts are getting Onama’s attention time and time again.
Garcia steps in behind a left hand, and Onama is tough but quickly becoming a heavy bag. Garcia beats his man to the punch with a combo featuring his left, and when Onama bounces back up, Garcia comes right after him. “Mean Machine” does not let Onama off the hook, blasting him with a number of left hands that knock him from one side of the cage to another. Garcia lets fly a head kick as well, and he continues to rush at “Silent Assassin” with a barrage of brutal lefts. Onama fires back and shreds open a cut on Garcia’s eyebrow, but Garcia is a man on a mission and wants to finish the job.
Garcia’s offense wilts Onama, bending him over with a liver kick. He sees his opening to put the Factory X fighter away and takes it, swarming him with punches that topple Onama to the floor. From there, Garcia keeps pounding away as Onama turtles up, and only a few hammerfists are needed for “Mean Machine” to seal the deal.
Onama protests when Dean calls a halt to the match, but he soon realizes that he will not be convincing anyone after his performance. This was one-way traffic for the Jackson-Wink fighter, who prevails in under four minutes and punches his ticket to greater things coming soon. While the triumphant man calls out Max Holloway for the BMF belt, he may have to look elsewhere to climb the ladder before getting there. When he does compete next, however, we will be here for it. We hope you are too.
The Official Result
Steve Garcia def. David Onama R1 3:34 via TKO (Punches)
Angelo picks Steve Garcia, citing his awkward, lurching movement and sheer size for the weight class as problematic for David Onama. He notes Garcia's power and forward pressure, but acknowledges Onama is faster and more technical. He mentions Garcia has been knocked out before, while Onama hasn't, but doesn't see Onama knocking him out. He calls it a close competitive fight and leans Garcia.
Big Brady leans toward David Onama, citing Steve Garcia's tendency to leave openings and get dropped, as seen in fights against Charlie Ontiveros and Maheshate. He acknowledges Garcia hits hard and is all violence, but believes Onama is more durable and can take advantage. He predicts a second-round knockout for Onama.
Connor picks Onama, reasoning that Garcia's losses are worse than Onama's, with more randomness. He notes that Onama has lost to wild brawlers like Nate Landwehr and Mason Jones, which could be Steve Garcia, but those were exhausting fights. He thinks Onama may find success with wrestling and is a better athlete than Garcia's recent opponents.
Lucrative James picks David Onama to win by knockout, but he is not confident. He notes that both fighters have questionable chins and get hurt often, but Onama has never been finished while Garcia has been knocked out before. He also mentions Onama's superior training partners, including Justin Gaethje, and his wrestling upside as potential advantages. However, he emphasizes that this is a pick'em fight and he will not bet the moneyline, instead looking at under props.
The fight is a coin flip; whoever lands the big punch first wins. The host leans slightly to Onama's speed and more tools, thinking he will land a big shot and put Garcia away. But it could easily go the other way, so confidence is low.
The MMA Guru picks Steve Garcia, citing his recent impressive wins over Melquizael Costa, Kyle Nelson, and Calvin Kattar. He believes Garcia's pressure and volume will break David Onama, who has struggled against similar styles (e.g., Romero). He notes Onama's lack of consistent finishes and potential work ethic issues. He predicts a second or third round TKO.
Zane picks Garcia because he has seen Onama get hurt badly and fail to focus from the start. He notes that if Garcia can't knock Onama out, it will be a wild war, but he is more willing to believe Onama will never find comfort against Garcia than that Onama can lock Garcia down. He acknowledges the high chaos and randomness in both fighters' careers.
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Calvin Kattar | 0 | 26 of 123 | 21% | 26 of 123 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:21 |
| Steve Garcia | 1 | 85 of 250 | 34% | 85 of 250 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:03 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Calvin Kattar | 0 | 8 of 26 | 30% | 8 of 26 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Steve Garcia | 0 | 22 of 71 | 30% | 22 of 71 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 | |
| 2 | Calvin Kattar | 0 | 5 of 47 | 10% | 5 of 47 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Steve Garcia | 0 | 32 of 87 | 36% | 32 of 87 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 | |
| 3 | Calvin Kattar | 0 | 13 of 50 | 26% | 13 of 50 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:21 |
| Steve Garcia | 1 | 31 of 92 | 33% | 31 of 92 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:03 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Calvin Kattar | 26 of 123 | 21% | 21 of 116 | 3 of 5 | 2 of 2 | 26 of 123 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Steve Garcia | 85 of 250 | 34% | 52 of 208 | 23 of 29 | 10 of 13 | 85 of 249 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 1 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Calvin Kattar | 8 of 26 | 30% | 4 of 22 | 2 of 2 | 2 of 2 | 8 of 26 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Steve Garcia | 22 of 71 | 30% | 11 of 53 | 5 of 10 | 6 of 8 | 22 of 71 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | |
| 2 | Calvin Kattar | 5 of 47 | 10% | 5 of 47 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | 5 of 47 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Steve Garcia | 32 of 87 | 36% | 19 of 72 | 10 of 11 | 3 of 4 | 32 of 87 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | |
| 3 | Calvin Kattar | 13 of 50 | 26% | 12 of 47 | 1 of 3 | 0 of 0 | 13 of 50 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Steve Garcia | 31 of 92 | 33% | 22 of 83 | 8 of 8 | 1 of 1 | 31 of 91 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 1 |
Play-by-Play
View on SherdogBETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Garcia (-120); Kattar (+100)
Round 1
On a career-long four-fight skid, Kattar (23-9, 7-7 UFC) has not gotten his hand raised since outdueling Giga Chikadze in 2022. Possibly in the later stages of his career at 37 years old, he is being matched up against a dangerous brawler in Garcia (17-5, 6-2 UFC) who is knocking on the door of ludicrous status should he clock “The Boston Finisher.” Referee Jason Herzog understands his assignment, and the fighters do too, as they touch gloves to engage.
The two featherweight strikers measure one another in the early going, with Garcia eventually leading the dance with a looping pair of punches and some awkward kicks to any target he can find. Kattar ducks and swings hard on an overhand right counter that zips right past the Jackson-Wink representative. Garcia is in the driver’s seat but his connect rate remains low a minute in. Garcia wraps a right around the guard, but his left goes wide. Woots, whoops and cries rain down throughout the Bridgestone Arena, and Garcia silences them with a long punch combination and three head kicks in a row. Kattar defends well but stumbles, and he gets back to his feet and takes a left hand on the jaw. Garcia scores with a left hand and kicks after it.
Katter misses with a huge left hand, and Garcia races through it and lands a combination on Kattar’s face. Kattar is stuck not hitting anything of note, while Garcia is scoring to the head, body and legs. Garcia spins with a sudden wheel kick, and Kattar shells up but his nose takes the brunt of it. Kattar steps in with an elbow on the chin after Garcia hits him a few times, and he partially connects with a lead hook. Garcia forces Kattar to constantly defend himself, and his power drives “The Boston Finisher” back a few steps. Kattar starts to put his jab together, and he is answered with a Jackson-Wink-style oblique kick to the knee. One more kick to the lead leg ends the tepid round.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Garcia
Dayne Fox scores the round: 10-9 Garcia
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Garcia
Round 2
Both featherweights trade right hands as the round begins, and Garcia stays in Kattar’s face but walks into a left hand on the jaw. Garcia shrugs it off and bounces around before settling down, planting a one-two on Kattar’s visage. Kattar’s looping punches continue to miss, as he is telegraphing his big right and Garcia is able to dodge or stay away from them. Garcia walks Kattar down, spinning with a clean back kick to the ribs, and he drives home several rib-roasters as well. This fires up Kattar, who cracks the favorite. Garcia gives it right back, happy to be getting the brawl he was seeking. Garcia beats Kattar to the jab time and time again.
Kattar employs a step-in elbow that graces Garcia’s melon, and Garcia gives him back several body shots to think about. Garcia dips and dodges the oncoming fire to crack Kattar with a huge left, smashing Kattar’s nose and forcing Kattar to paw at it. Garcia strikes the body when he sees an opening, and he skips forward to deliver two lefts on the chin. Garcia misses a right and left hook by a matter of inches, and he kicks the front of Kattar’s thigh to back him off. The body work from Garcia is getting Kattar to drop his hands, and he winds up with a bomb of a left that buzzes past the longtime vet. Garcia keeps doing work until the bell rings.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Garcia
Dayne Fox scores the round: 10-9 Garcia
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Garcia
Round 3
Garcia immediately engages to start the last round, putting hands in Kattar’s face early and often. A heavy left hand drives Kattar back a ways, and he times a head kick and a spinning back fist that Garcia is able to defend. Kattar hops back and forth switching stances, but he does not engage and is just backpedaling when Garcia comes at him. Garcia reaches him with a left hand, and he loads up a subsequent bomb that nearly separates Kattar from his senses. Kattar bounces off the fence to stay afloat, and he clinches Garcia to get his head right. Garcia breaks off and chases the wounded man down, stabbing body kicks and following with liver punches that draw reactions almost every time he connects. Garcia fearlessly walks “The Boston Finisher” down, hurling one-twos and any open strike he can lob. Garcia tries for two clubbing lefts that do not get through, and he parries a front kick and pushes a left hand down the pipe.
Kattar appears to have recovered, but Garcia is not about to let him of the hook and hacks at him with a tomahawk elbow. Garcia kicks Kattar’s leg out, and he lets him back up to swing heavy leather. Kattar bites down on his mouthpiece and walks into a left hand, and he spins with an elbow that bangs square into Garcia’s temple. Garcia, blood now streaking from the bridge of his nose, boots Kattar upside the head and follows him with a left hand. He pushes Kattar back and pops him with a front kick, staying up close and looping lefts. Kattar stands him up with a right hand, and he strikes with a knee and a spinning back fist that both get part of the betting favorite. Garcia tosses windmills, and he waits for Kattar to spin so he can blast him when he plants. Garcia lets loose with a head kick and a spinning wheel kick, and Kattar knocks him back with a fierce overhand right. The two trade last strikes until time expires, and Garcia’s knockout streak has officially ended. Despite that, he still has soundly beaten a legitimate force at featherweight, and has announced himself as a new contender.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Garcia (30-27 Garcia)
Dayne Fox scores the round: 10-9 Garcia (30-27 Garcia)
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Garcia (30-27 Garcia)
The Official Result
Steve Garcia def. Calvin Kattar via Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Angelo picks Steve Garcia but was initially not confident at higher odds. He notes Calvin Kattar is still a good striker with good takedown defense, but hasn't won in three years and is 37. At even money, he thinks Garcia is a decent play because he's younger and on a knockout streak, but he acknowledges Kattar has never been knocked out.
Big Brady is a fan of Steve Garcia but picks Calvin Kattar due to durability. He notes Garcia has been dropped multiple times, while Kattar has never been knocked out in over 30 fights. He expects a stand-up war and believes Kattar will finish what Charlie Ontiveros started, picking Kattar by first-round knockout.
Connor picks Kattar despite his losing streak, reasoning that Kattar has fought only elite fighters and has an incredible chin that has never been cracked. He views Steve Garcia as a 'bad fighter' who closes his eyes and swings wildly, and believes Kattar's durability and experience will carry him. Connor admits he is tired of being wrong about Garcia but trusts the pattern of Kattar losing only to top-tier opponents.
The host acknowledges recency bias making Garcia a slight favorite, but notes that Kattar has never been finished by knockout (except an injury). He believes this is a perfect stylistic matchup for Kattar to counter Garcia effectively and find a knockout, reminding people of his quality. The pick is based on Kattar's durability and counter-striking.
The MMA Guru picks Steve Garcia, citing his recent finishes (Chase Hooper, Shalan Nerd Beck) and his pressure style. He criticizes Calvin Kattar's recent performances, noting poor footwork and takedown defense since his leg injury. He expects Garcia to get in Kattar's face immediately, mix in wrestling, and finish him, though he acknowledges Kattar could win if he finds his rhythm late.
Zane picks Garcia, partly to avoid being mocked by a friend named Eddie for always picking against Garcia. He acknowledges that Garcia is a wild, unhinged fighter who frequently gets into trouble but has been winning. Zane notes that Kattar has slowed down and lost venom, and that Garcia's aggressive blitz could overwhelm him, similar to how Arnold Allen attacked Kattar. However, he admits Garcia is not a good technical fighter.
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Steve Garcia | 0 | 22 of 37 | 59% | 39 of 62 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 1 | 1:36 |
| Kyle Nelson | 0 | 1 of 2 | 50% | 31 of 36 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 2:13 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Steve Garcia | 0 | 22 of 37 | 59% | 39 of 62 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 1 | 1:36 |
| Kyle Nelson | 0 | 1 of 2 | 50% | 31 of 36 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 2:13 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Steve Garcia | 22 of 37 | 59% | 20 of 35 | 1 of 1 | 1 of 1 | 2 of 3 | 0 of 0 | 20 of 34 |
| Kyle Nelson | 1 of 2 | 50% | 0 of 1 | 0 of 0 | 1 of 1 | 1 of 2 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Steve Garcia | 22 of 37 | 59% | 20 of 35 | 1 of 1 | 1 of 1 | 2 of 3 | 0 of 0 | 20 of 34 |
| Kyle Nelson | 1 of 2 | 50% | 0 of 1 | 0 of 0 | 1 of 1 | 1 of 2 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
Play-by-Play
View on SherdogBETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Garcia (-192), Nelson (+160)
Round 1
Garcia (16-5, 5-2 UFC) is hungry, and he wants to share his lunch of knuckle sandwiches as the short-notice substitute against Nelson (16-5-1, 4-4-1 UFC). Both men come into this pairing on win streaks, so someone’s momentum is about to come to a grinding halt. Garcia has notably recorded four straight knockouts, a rarity for the weight class. This bout will officially take place at 149 pounds due to the Canadian missing weight, but that should not preclude the two from slugging it out as expected. Gloves are not touched under the watchful eye of referee Mark Smith, and instead they want to fight. Garcia lets fly a kick and a few punches, and he gets pushed back to the wall and trips. Nelson jumps on top to take Garcia’s back in a hurry, and he gets both hooks in without effort. Garcia hand-fights to prevent Nelson from setting up a submission, so the Canadian smacks him in the forehead several times. Nelson tries to set up the body triangle, but Garcia is able to fight off the first setup while he twists to one side and uses two-on-one wrist control. Garcia explodes to spin around, and he falls into an armbar. Garcia unloads with punches with his free arm, and he strikes his way out of the submission and lets Nelson have it with an onslaught of punches and elbows. Nelson turns to his side and shells up, and he slows Garcia down. Garcia elects to grind his elbow on the cheek, and he thumps it down every so often. Garcia slams down a few punches, and he nails Nelson with an elbow that makes Nelson turn to turtle up. As Garcia unleashes a fury, Nelson keeps his wits about him and kicks off Garcia to force him upright. Garcia leaps down and elbows Nelson in the back of the head, and a lump develops in a hurry. Nelson sits up with his back to the cage, and Garcia rails him with an elbow that makes Nelson crumble to his side. Garcia releases a final flurry of elbows and punches, and Smith sees that Nelson is no longer defending himself and intervenes. Nelson tries to stand back up after the fight has been called off, and Smith is there to make sure he does not fall over. This is a statement performance for the ultraviolent Garcia, who has earned five straight knockouts and pounds his way into contender status.
The Official Result
Steve Garcia def. Kyle Nelson R1 3:59 via TKO (Elbows and Punches)
Angelo picks Steve Garcia because he hits very hard, has good wrestling, and is on a four-fight knockout streak. However, he is hesitant because Kyle Nelson has been looking good lately and has power and toughness. He plans to have very little exposure on this fight if he bets.
Big Brady picks Steve Garcia to win by knockout in round one. He highlights Garcia's four-fight knockout streak and his dog mentality, but acknowledges Garcia gets dropped often. Brady thinks Garcia will get dropped but get back up and finish Nelson. He favors Garcia more as the fight goes into later rounds.
Cody picks Nelson on the moneyline, citing Garcia's poor chin and tendency to get dropped, while Nelson has improved cardio, wrestling, and durability. He notes Garcia's wins are often against tired or compromised opponents, and that Nelson's pressure and pace can overwhelm Garcia. He sees value at plus money and is confident Nelson can win.
Daniel acknowledges Kyle Nelson's improved style but thinks Garcia's kill-or-be-killed pressure will force Nelson to fight, potentially bringing back his old issues. He admits he hasn't been good at predicting the new Kyle Nelson, but he picks Garcia to extend his knockout streak. He notes Garcia is a killer who either knocks you out or gets knocked out.
Garcia is on a four-fight KO streak and has awkward angles that could trouble Nelson. Nelson is also on a roll but Garcia's power is a threat. The under 1.5 rounds is the preferred bet, as Garcia tends to finish early. Garcia by first-round KO is the pick.
Paul likes the over 1.5 rounds at +140, believing Nelson's improved cardio and fight IQ will avoid an early knockout. He thinks Nelson can make it competitive and potentially win a decision. He is not confident in betting Garcia at nearly -200, so he leans Nelson but prefers the over prop.
The MMA Guru picks Steve Garcia over Kyle Nelson, citing a bias against Canadian men. He notes Garcia's weird look as an advantage and his training at Jackson Wink and Soul Focus. He mentions Garcia has beaten good opponents like Melquizael Costa and Saimon Oliveira, but was finished by Chase Hooper. He predicts a decision or KO win.
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Steve Garcia | 1 | 15 of 27 | 55% | 18 of 34 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:37 |
| SeungWoo Choi | 0 | 9 of 15 | 60% | 9 of 16 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Steve Garcia | 1 | 15 of 27 | 55% | 18 of 34 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:37 |
| SeungWoo Choi | 0 | 9 of 15 | 60% | 9 of 16 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Steve Garcia | 15 of 27 | 55% | 10 of 19 | 2 of 5 | 3 of 3 | 9 of 19 | 1 of 2 | 5 of 6 |
| SeungWoo Choi | 9 of 15 | 60% | 7 of 13 | 0 of 0 | 2 of 2 | 9 of 15 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Steve Garcia | 15 of 27 | 55% | 10 of 19 | 2 of 5 | 3 of 3 | 9 of 19 | 1 of 2 | 5 of 6 |
| SeungWoo Choi | 9 of 15 | 60% | 7 of 13 | 0 of 0 | 2 of 2 | 9 of 15 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
Play-by-Play
View on SherdogBETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Garcia (-148), Choi (+124)
Round 1
Finding himself in the unexpected situation of serving as the co-main event after the cancelation of Brad Tavares vs. Jun Yong Park, “Mean Machine” Garcia (15-5, 4-2 UFC) is ready to rise the occasion and lock down his fourth win in a row. The Jackson-Wink fighter will try to hand Choi (11-6, 4-5 UFC) his fourth loss in five fights, and the two featherweights will likely meet in the middle and throw down. When they do, referee Herb Dean will be hanging on tight. There is a touch of gloves, and Garcia is the initial aggressor as he gets into the center of the cage and lands a stomp kick to the knee. Garcia ducks back to avoid two looping hooks, only to race forward and bump into Choi’s forehead to tie him up. Garcia ties up a leg but is unable to put the South Korean down, and when Choi escapes, he throws hands. Garcia welcomes the exchange, and when things settle down, he lands another kick to the knee. Choi chambers and fires a low kick that puts Garcia down to a knee, and Garcia climbs back up and gets swept with another kick. Garcia wades forward, thinks about throwing a front kick and lets it go to stand and bang. Stand and bang is exactly what “Mean Machine” does, rocking Choi and getting clipped in a destructive exchange.
Garcia lands the cleaner of the blows as he continues to slug it out, and he knocks Choi off-balance with a left hand and floors him with another bomb of a left. Choi turns to his side and then knees in an effort to shell up and survive, but Garcia is a man possessed at getting the win. Garcia stings “Sting” repeatedly with hammerfists, raining down a seemingly unending onslaught of fists until Dean has no choice but to stop the fight.
Choi looks up at Dean quizzically as blood streams from his mouth, and Garcia runs to the cage wall to scream and then scales it to shout even louder. This is a big moment for Garcia, who has now picked up four straight knockout victories. The triumphant Garcia calls for an MMA fight against Dan Ige, a popular name lately, while also calling out commentator Daniel Cormier for a golf match.
The Official Result
Steve Garcia def. Seung Woo Choi R1 1:36 via TKO (Punches)
Angelo picks Steve Garcia because he is sneaky good with five UFC wins all by KO/TKO. He believes Garcia's striking and wrestling are there, and that Choi Seung-woo has been finished before. He has placed a bet on Garcia at -140 and expects the line to move.
Cody also picks Garcia but with less confidence, noting Garcia's own durability issues and the fact that both fighters have been dropped. He sees the fight as close to 50/50 and suggests taking Choi if plus money is available. He emphasizes the under 2.5 rounds as the best bet, expecting a violent finish.
Daniel Vreeland picks Steve Garcia by knockout, comparing the fight to a coin flip but ultimately choosing Garcia. He notes both fighters have high knockdown rates and can be dropped, but Garcia's size (6'0", 75" reach) and recent form (5 knockdowns in last 3 fights) give him the edge. He expects a stand-up war ending in a Garcia knockout.
Garcia is a -140 favorite. He relies on his knockout power and has a three-fight KO streak. Choi is more technical but has been finished before. Garcia can survive early pressure and land a big shot to get the KO. I prefer Garcia by knockout rather than moneyline, as his KO line is around +130.
Paul likes Garcia's momentum and power, noting his three-fight winning streak with five knockdowns. He questions Choi's durability, pointing out Choi has been knocked down five times in his last three fights. Paul thinks Garcia's power is the difference and expects a knockout, though he acknowledges both have shaky chins.
The MMA Guru picks Steve Garcia, noting he has doubted Garcia before but he keeps winning. He highlights Garcia's recent finishes over Malik El Kousa, Shannon Nurnbeck, and Chase Hooper, and his training at Jackson Wink. He points out Choi Seung-woo's questionable chin, getting wobbled in most fights, and believes Garcia's power and size at 145 will be too much.
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Steve Garcia | 1 | 29 of 49 | 59% | 41 of 66 | 0 of 0 | --- | 1 | 0 | 0:46 |
| Melquizael Costa | 0 | 6 of 10 | 60% | 20 of 25 | 2 of 10 | 20% | 0 | 0 | 4:41 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Steve Garcia | 0 | 4 of 11 | 36% | 12 of 23 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Melquizael Costa | 0 | 5 of 7 | 71% | 19 of 22 | 2 of 9 | 22% | 0 | 0 | 4:41 | |
| 2 | Steve Garcia | 1 | 25 of 38 | 65% | 29 of 43 | 0 of 0 | --- | 1 | 0 | 0:46 |
| Melquizael Costa | 0 | 1 of 3 | 33% | 1 of 3 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Steve Garcia | 29 of 49 | 59% | 26 of 45 | 2 of 3 | 1 of 1 | 4 of 10 | 3 of 8 | 22 of 31 |
| Melquizael Costa | 6 of 10 | 60% | 1 of 5 | 2 of 2 | 3 of 3 | 2 of 3 | 4 of 7 | 0 of 0 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Steve Garcia | 4 of 11 | 36% | 3 of 9 | 1 of 2 | 0 of 0 | 3 of 7 | 1 of 4 | 0 of 0 |
| Melquizael Costa | 5 of 7 | 71% | 0 of 2 | 2 of 2 | 3 of 3 | 1 of 2 | 4 of 5 | 0 of 0 | |
| 2 | Steve Garcia | 25 of 38 | 65% | 23 of 36 | 1 of 1 | 1 of 1 | 1 of 3 | 2 of 4 | 22 of 31 |
| Melquizael Costa | 1 of 3 | 33% | 1 of 3 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 2 | 0 of 0 |
Play-by-Play
View on SherdogBETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Costa (-275), Garcia (+225)
Round 1
The predominant method of victory for these two fighters—now competing at lightweight due to the short-notice nature of their rescheduled pairing—is the knockout. Referee Chris Tognoni should don his hard hat before going out against these two sluggers. “Mean Machine” Garcia (14-5, 3-2 UFC) has performed his last six victories via strikes, while LFA vet Costa (20-6, 1-1 UFC) has earned two of his last three wins by knockout. Before the fists fly, they meet together in a sporting manner. Garcia springs forward, but he pulls back before engaging. On his second advance, Garcia throws caution to the wind, winging big punches. Costa shimmies to the side and allows Garcia to push past him, and he hooks his leg around Garcia’s and tries to drag him down to the floor. Costa elects to lift Garcia up and slam him to the mat, but “Mean Machine” moves back up to his feet quickly. Costa clings to Garcia from behind relentlessly, and Garcia tries to defend with no-look elbows. Costa knees Garcia in the backside and upper thigh as he pressures his man, and Garcia responds with elbows on the thigh. Costa whips Garcia to a knee, and Garcia considers grabbing the fence but at the last second just points at it. Costa forces his man down to a knee again, but Garcia springs up with no ill effects. Costa continues to embrace the grind from behind, shutting down any offense from Garcia and forcing him to spend energy in strange exchanges. When Costa looks to get a hook in, Garcia shucks it off. Costa peppers with knees until scooping Garcia up and dumping him down once more. Garcia powers back upright, and he wiggles and wriggles but cannot escape. Costa trips Garcia out but is unable to keep him grounded for more than a second, and he stays in this position until the bell.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Costa
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Costa
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Costa
Round 2
Garcia comes out of his corner angrily, and he swings violently and connects with a few of his shots. Costa responds as the two engage in a mad brawl, with punches and elbows flailing in all directions. Garcia wings a left and a right, catching Costa and knocking him down to the canvas. “Mean Machine” follows him to the mat and drives down a vicious elbow, splitting Costa wide open, and Costa is in a bad way. Garcia smashes his man with fists and sharp elbows, and blood sprays around the canvas. Costa turns over and gives up his back, and Garcia snatches up a rear-naked choke. Perhaps due to the blood flow, Costa is able to slide out of the choke and turns to his back.
Garcia postures up, in full mount, and he demolishes “Melky” with three ruthless elbows. Tognoni halts the fight, with Costa out or very nearly out.
When Garcia dismounts his defeated adversary, Costa tries to take Tognoni down, and he is deep in on a single. Tognoni displays excellent takedown defense as officials flood the cage, with one very loud shouting at Costa to wake him back up. Costa realizes that he is trying to take down a referee and that the fight is over, and he surrenders.
The Official Result
Steve Garcia def. Melquizael Costa R2 1:01 via KO (Elbows)
Cody picks Melquizael Costa. He notes that Costa is a volume puncher and Garcia is a knockout-or-bust fighter. Cody points out that Garcia has poor defense and gets rocked in his wins and losses. He thinks Costa's volume and durability will be key. Cody is suspicious that the line hasn't moved despite Garcia pulling out last week due to illness and moving up a weight class. He still favors Costa.
Paul picks Melquizael Costa. He notes that he liked Costa last week and nothing has changed. Paul points out that Garcia has a history of missing weight and was sick last week, but now fights at lightweight without cutting weight. He thinks Garcia's power is a threat but Costa's volume and durability should win out. Paul is not taking Garcia just because of the circumstances.
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Steve Garcia | 1 | 18 of 35 | 51% | 31 of 63 | 1 of 2 | 50% | 0 | 0 | 3:34 |
| Shayilan Nuerdanbieke | 1 | 17 of 40 | 42% | 50 of 77 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:15 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Steve Garcia | 1 | 16 of 32 | 50% | 29 of 60 | 1 of 2 | 50% | 0 | 0 | 3:33 |
| Shayilan Nuerdanbieke | 0 | 6 of 23 | 26% | 39 of 60 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:07 | |
| 2 | Steve Garcia | 0 | 2 of 3 | 66% | 2 of 3 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:01 |
| Shayilan Nuerdanbieke | 1 | 11 of 17 | 64% | 11 of 17 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:08 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Steve Garcia | 18 of 35 | 51% | 15 of 31 | 3 of 4 | 0 of 0 | 8 of 16 | 0 of 0 | 10 of 19 |
| Shayilan Nuerdanbieke | 17 of 40 | 42% | 14 of 37 | 3 of 3 | 0 of 0 | 12 of 35 | 1 of 1 | 4 of 4 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Steve Garcia | 16 of 32 | 50% | 13 of 29 | 3 of 3 | 0 of 0 | 6 of 13 | 0 of 0 | 10 of 19 |
| Shayilan Nuerdanbieke | 6 of 23 | 26% | 5 of 22 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 0 | 6 of 23 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | |
| 2 | Steve Garcia | 2 of 3 | 66% | 2 of 2 | 0 of 1 | 0 of 0 | 2 of 3 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Shayilan Nuerdanbieke | 11 of 17 | 64% | 9 of 15 | 2 of 2 | 0 of 0 | 6 of 12 | 1 of 1 | 4 of 4 |
Play-by-Play
View on SherdogBETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Nuerdanbieke (-200), Garcia (+170)
Round 1
Moving right along, this next fight takes place in the featherweight category. Fresh off some sort of controversy from his last match with Darrick Minner – you can look it up – Shayilan (39-10, 3-1 UFC) wants to move on from that messiness and keep his win streak going. In his 50th professional MMA bout at the tender age of 28, Shayilan battles Garcia (13-5, 2-2 UFC), who has been on the giving and receiving ends of rough knockouts as of late. Before the fists fly, referee Larry Folsom clocks them in, and the fighters do not elect to touch gloves first. Garcia goes after a front kick, but Shayilan is well out of the way. Shayilan intercepts a kick to land a solid one-two, and Garcia pushes off with a front kick that slams into the cup. Folsom sees this and pauses the action immediately. After a little under a minute, Shayilan clears his pain and discomfort and is good to go. They crash together with big punches, and Shayilan backs off to coil back his big right hand. Garcia rushes in, and Shayilan unloads it, blasting Garcia in the face and sending him crumpling to the mat. Shayilan looks to finish the job with a barrage of punches, but Garcia ties him up and holds on to clear his wits. Shayilan postures up to nail Garcia with an elbow, and Garcia scoots his way back to the fencing. Garcia wall-walks to stand back up, and Shayilan drags him back to a knee in short order. Shayilan sneaks around to take the back of “Mean Machine,” and Garcia slides back into the clinch and pushes the Chinese fighter to the wire. Shayilan throws him to the mat and slashes down with an elbow, and he lowers himself into the guard. Garcia hangs on from on bottom to quell the bludgeoning, and Shayilan methodically opens up every so often to connect with a solid shot. Garcia works his way back up and bursts to his feet, and he has busted Shayilan open with his own strikes. Garcia rushes out, pushing the pace on “Wolverine” and unloading with a few punches. Garcia belts Shayilan in the face, stunning him and forcing Shayilan to shoot for a desperation takedown. Garcia, from his back, kicks a downed Shayilan in the face illegally, and the round ends.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Shayilan
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Shayilan
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Shayilan
Round 2
Garcia is amped up to start off the second round, rushing after the Chinese competitor and throwing bombs. Shayilan ducks down, and Garcia times a perfect kick that smashes Shayilan in the face and relocates his nose. Sensing that his opponent is in big, big trouble, Garcia unleashes a high kick, a right hand and a left that knock Shayilan back to the wall.
Garcia digs a stabbing, toe-first kick to the liver, and he punches the exact same spot, and “Wolverine” crumples to the mat. Any subsequent ground-and-pound is purely academic, and “Mean Machine” hammers the nail with a couple follow-up punches.
This is a mighty comeback for Garcia, who got cracked at the beginning of the fight and recovered to come on strong and pull off the solid stoppage.
The Official Result
Steve Garcia def. Nuerdanbieke Shayilan R2 0:36 via KO (Body Kick and Punches)
Angelo picks Shayilan Nuerdanbieke but is hesitant to bet because of his low volume output. He notes that Shayilan is a powerful grappler with a bully style, but Steve Garcia is a high-volume striker who could steal rounds if Shayilan doesn't push the pace early. He is waiting for significant strike prop bets to drop, as he believes Steve Garcia will land more significant strikes even if Shayilan wins.
Big Brady picks Shayilan Nuerdanbieke due to his wrestling advantage and durability concerns with Steve Garcia. He notes Garcia has been dropped multiple times in recent fights, questioning his chin. He believes Nuerdanbieke can mix takedowns and control the fight, potentially winning by decision or even knocking out Garcia. He predicts a decision win for Nuerdanbieke.
Cody also picks Garcia, agreeing with Paul's reasoning. He notes Garcia's improvements and power, and that Nuerdanbieke's wrestling may not be enough to control Garcia. Cody mentions that Garcia has never been taken down in the UFC. He is cautious but sees value at +155. He says he took a shot on Garcia but warns it's a risky bet.
Connor agrees with Zane, picking Nuerdanbieke. He notes that Garcia is fun and dangerous but his path to win leads him into his opponent's offense.
Jacob is confident in Shayilan, noting that he trusts his chin more and believes he has the wrestling to slow down Steve Garcia's pressure. He thinks Garcia will come out aggressively, but Shayilan can counter him or take him down. He mentions that Garcia gets dropped often, so Shayilan has a good chance of a knockout. However, he wouldn't bet it because Garcia is a dangerous opponent who risks it all.
Nuerdanbieke uses his stocky frame to grind opponents with takedowns and top pressure, but his striking is wild and he slows down. Garcia has knockout power and unorthodox angles, but his consistency is questionable. I'm skeptical but think the grappling-heavy fighter is the smarter pick, though I have low confidence due to Garcia's power and unknowns.
Paul picks Garcia but with very low confidence. He notes Garcia's tendency to run into punches and get dropped, but believes Nuerdanbieke is not a power puncher and relies on wrestling. Paul argues that Garcia has good takedown defense and power, and that Nuerdanbieke's low striking output could lead to a decision loss if he can't hold Garcia down. He also mentions the Florida crowd may favor Garcia's aggression. He calls it a 'fool pick of the week' and warns not to bet much.
The MMA Guru picks Shayilan Nuerdanbieke to win by 29-28 decision. He expects Nuerdanbieke to get a takedown in the first round, control the grappling, and mix in strikes. He thinks Garcia will have some success on the feet in the third round but not enough to overcome the earlier rounds. The prediction is detailed with round-by-round scenarios.
Zane picks Nuerdanbieke because Garcia has terrible wrestling defense and Nuerdanbieke is persistent and strong. He notes that Nuerdanbieke will work hard and take Garcia down, which is too much of a hole for Garcia to overcome.
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Steve Garcia | 0 | 10 of 30 | 33% | 10 of 32 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Chase Hooper | 3 | 29 of 44 | 65% | 31 of 46 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:17 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Steve Garcia | 0 | 10 of 30 | 33% | 10 of 32 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Chase Hooper | 3 | 29 of 44 | 65% | 31 of 46 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:17 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Steve Garcia | 10 of 30 | 33% | 7 of 25 | 2 of 4 | 1 of 1 | 10 of 30 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Chase Hooper | 29 of 44 | 65% | 19 of 33 | 7 of 8 | 3 of 3 | 26 of 40 | 0 of 0 | 3 of 4 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Steve Garcia | 10 of 30 | 33% | 7 of 25 | 2 of 4 | 1 of 1 | 10 of 30 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Chase Hooper | 29 of 44 | 65% | 19 of 33 | 7 of 8 | 3 of 3 | 26 of 40 | 0 of 0 | 3 of 4 |
Play-by-Play
View on SherdogRound 1
The quintessential “striker vs. grappler” label certainly applies to this next pairing at 145 pounds, when the submission-minded Hooper (11-2-1, 3-2 UFC) comes to blows with “Mean Machine” Garcia (12-5, 1-2 UFC). The third man in the cage for this fight that could end suddenly is referee Herb Dean, and he prepares himself should he need to step in. The fighters touch gloves, and Hooper is immediately the aggressor. He walks into a few punches from Garcia, and Hooper is stung in a hurry. Garcia follows a combination with a knee, and Hooper shakes it off and backs off. Garcia sets him down with a left hand, and he does not follow him down. When Hooper stands back up, “Mean Machine” blasts him with another left hand, and Hooper hits the mat for the third time in under a minute. The youngster Hooper keeps his wits about him and works his way back up, and Garcia is not about to let him off the hook. Hooper flails and spins with a back fist, but the power of Garcia is vastly more significant.
The Jackson-Wink fighter chains together a right to the body and a left to the head, and “The Dream” becomes a nightmare as he crumples to the mat from a thudding left hand. While he might still be able to keep going, Dean recognizes that the last knockdown was a bad one as Hooper’s face is busted and swelling fast. The onslaught has ripped open Hooper's left eyebrow to leak blood in the young man's eye, and it does not take more than a few mean hammerfists from “Mean Machine” to prompt Dean’s intervention.
This was largely one-way traffic for Garcia, who registered an instant contender for “Beatdown of the Year” by demolishing the 23-year-old in a hair over 90 seconds.
The Official Result
Steve Garcia def. Chase Hooper R1 1:32 via TKO (Punches)
Big Brady picks Chase Hooper to win by second-round TKO. He highlights Hooper's improved wrestling and striking, and his dangerous ground game, noting that Hooper finished the tough Felipe Colares in his last fight. He contrasts Garcia's sketchy chin and poor grappling defense, referencing Garcia's fight against Luis Pena where he was controlled for 14 minutes. Brady believes Hooper will get the fight to the mat and finish Garcia.
Cody picks Chase Hooper, noting his improvements in wrestling and striking, and his physical maturity. He criticizes Steve Garcia's poor chin, striking defense, and lack of X-factor. Cody expects Hooper to take Garcia down, backpack him with a body triangle, and finish with ground and pound. He likes Hooper by knockout at +475.
Connor picks Hooper confidently, highlighting his improved understanding of MMA grappling and his aggressive ground and pound. He notes that Garcia's game is built on getting to the pocket and taking people down, which will give Hooper opportunities to wrap him up and do damage. Connor compares it to Garcia's fight against Luis Pena, but with more damage coming back.
Daniel Levi picks Chase Hooper, citing his heart, improvement, and grappling skills. He notes Garcia's weight issues and recent KO losses. He references the Luis Pena fight where Pena backpacked Garcia, giving confidence in Hooper's grappling. He is not interested in laying -260.
Jacob is very confident in Chase Hooper, citing his improved striking, toughness, and elite grappling. He notes Steve Garcia gets dropped often and has chin issues, and if Garcia wrestles, that plays into Hooper's strengths. Jacob sees a potential TKO or submission for Hooper.
Hooper is a jiu-jitsu ace but his striking is still developing. Garcia has power but poor takedown defense and can be controlled against the cage. Hooper should be able to take Garcia down and work for a submission, similar to Luis Pena's performance. However, the heavy chalk on Hooper is concerning given his past struggles. The submission prop at +250 is appealing.
Paul picks Chase Hooper but is hesitant to bet at -300. He notes Hooper's youth and development, but is concerned about his wrestling and stand-up still being works in progress. Paul says he will pick Hooper for the show but may not bet him.
The MMA Guru picks Chase Hooper over Steve Garcia, impressed by Hooper's last performance where he gassed out and finished Felipe Colares. He notes Hooper's grappling pace and ability to drown opponents on the ground. He believes Garcia, coming off a brutal KO loss, will struggle with Hooper's pressure and that Hooper will win by 29-28 decision, losing the first but winning the last two rounds.
Zane picks Hooper confidently, noting his huge improvements in striking and grappling aggression. He describes Hooper as a super technical grappler who now uses ground and pound effectively. Zane argues that Garcia's style of pushing into the pocket and clinching plays directly into Hooper's strengths, and that Garcia is not a great athlete, making him vulnerable to Hooper's submissions and control.
David Onama - Fight History
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Steve Garcia | 1 | 33 of 62 | 53% | 43 of 72 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:04 |
| David Onama | 0 | 2 of 16 | 12% | 2 of 16 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Steve Garcia | 1 | 33 of 62 | 53% | 43 of 72 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:04 |
| David Onama | 0 | 2 of 16 | 12% | 2 of 16 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Steve Garcia | 33 of 62 | 53% | 28 of 56 | 5 of 6 | 0 of 0 | 26 of 52 | 5 of 7 | 2 of 3 |
| David Onama | 2 of 16 | 12% | 1 of 14 | 0 of 1 | 1 of 1 | 2 of 16 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Steve Garcia | 33 of 62 | 53% | 28 of 56 | 5 of 6 | 0 of 0 | 26 of 52 | 5 of 7 | 2 of 3 |
| David Onama | 2 of 16 | 12% | 1 of 14 | 0 of 1 | 1 of 1 | 2 of 16 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
Play-by-Play
View on SherdogBETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Garcia (-130); Onama (+110)
Round 1
It’s time for the main event, a ranked featherweight five-rounder that should be a banger. After what has happened so far tonight, one can hope that Herb Dean can keep things legitimate because there have been some
serious
questions of integrity tonight. Garcia (18-5, 7-2 UFC) and Onama (14-2, 6-2 UFC) are about to let their hands go, and before they do, Dean brings them to the center of the cage to issue final instructions. Will they follow them? Who the heck knows.
The main event opens with a fist bump from the athletes. The featherweights are jittery and trying to figure things out early, so Garcia breaks that silence about 15 seconds in with a clubbing right hand. He walks Onama down, peppering him with his jab and follow-up left hook. Onama bounces off the fence, so Garcia chases him down with a bouquet of blistering left hands. Garcia mixes up body shots, and he snaps out a jab to intercept a front kick. Garcia reaches out with a left hook, shaking Onama up, and he continues to chain together his lefts. Onama fires back when he back, but Garcia’s volume and looping lefts are getting Onama’s attention time and time again.
Garcia steps in behind a left hand, and Onama is tough but quickly becoming a heavy bag. Garcia beats his man to the punch with a combo featuring his left, and when Onama bounces back up, Garcia comes right after him. “Mean Machine” does not let Onama off the hook, blasting him with a number of left hands that knock him from one side of the cage to another. Garcia lets fly a head kick as well, and he continues to rush at “Silent Assassin” with a barrage of brutal lefts. Onama fires back and shreds open a cut on Garcia’s eyebrow, but Garcia is a man on a mission and wants to finish the job.
Garcia’s offense wilts Onama, bending him over with a liver kick. He sees his opening to put the Factory X fighter away and takes it, swarming him with punches that topple Onama to the floor. From there, Garcia keeps pounding away as Onama turtles up, and only a few hammerfists are needed for “Mean Machine” to seal the deal.
Onama protests when Dean calls a halt to the match, but he soon realizes that he will not be convincing anyone after his performance. This was one-way traffic for the Jackson-Wink fighter, who prevails in under four minutes and punches his ticket to greater things coming soon. While the triumphant man calls out Max Holloway for the BMF belt, he may have to look elsewhere to climb the ladder before getting there. When he does compete next, however, we will be here for it. We hope you are too.
The Official Result
Steve Garcia def. David Onama R1 3:34 via TKO (Punches)
Angelo picks Steve Garcia, citing his awkward, lurching movement and sheer size for the weight class as problematic for David Onama. He notes Garcia's power and forward pressure, but acknowledges Onama is faster and more technical. He mentions Garcia has been knocked out before, while Onama hasn't, but doesn't see Onama knocking him out. He calls it a close competitive fight and leans Garcia.
Big Brady leans toward David Onama, citing Steve Garcia's tendency to leave openings and get dropped, as seen in fights against Charlie Ontiveros and Maheshate. He acknowledges Garcia hits hard and is all violence, but believes Onama is more durable and can take advantage. He predicts a second-round knockout for Onama.
Connor picks Onama, reasoning that Garcia's losses are worse than Onama's, with more randomness. He notes that Onama has lost to wild brawlers like Nate Landwehr and Mason Jones, which could be Steve Garcia, but those were exhausting fights. He thinks Onama may find success with wrestling and is a better athlete than Garcia's recent opponents.
Lucrative James picks David Onama to win by knockout, but he is not confident. He notes that both fighters have questionable chins and get hurt often, but Onama has never been finished while Garcia has been knocked out before. He also mentions Onama's superior training partners, including Justin Gaethje, and his wrestling upside as potential advantages. However, he emphasizes that this is a pick'em fight and he will not bet the moneyline, instead looking at under props.
The fight is a coin flip; whoever lands the big punch first wins. The host leans slightly to Onama's speed and more tools, thinking he will land a big shot and put Garcia away. But it could easily go the other way, so confidence is low.
The MMA Guru picks Steve Garcia, citing his recent impressive wins over Melquizael Costa, Kyle Nelson, and Calvin Kattar. He believes Garcia's pressure and volume will break David Onama, who has struggled against similar styles (e.g., Romero). He notes Onama's lack of consistent finishes and potential work ethic issues. He predicts a second or third round TKO.
Zane picks Garcia because he has seen Onama get hurt badly and fail to focus from the start. He notes that if Garcia can't knock Onama out, it will be a wild war, but he is more willing to believe Onama will never find comfort against Garcia than that Onama can lock Garcia down. He acknowledges the high chaos and randomness in both fighters' careers.
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Giga Chikadze | 0 | 43 of 91 | 47% | 71 of 127 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| David Onama | 0 | 49 of 87 | 56% | 72 of 127 | 3 of 3 | 100% | 0 | 0 | 6:15 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Giga Chikadze | 0 | 21 of 43 | 48% | 26 of 48 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| David Onama | 0 | 13 of 26 | 50% | 13 of 30 | 1 of 1 | 100% | 0 | 0 | 0:44 | |
| 2 | Giga Chikadze | 0 | 11 of 20 | 55% | 19 of 29 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| David Onama | 0 | 18 of 32 | 56% | 28 of 43 | 1 of 1 | 100% | 0 | 0 | 3:07 | |
| 3 | Giga Chikadze | 0 | 11 of 28 | 39% | 26 of 50 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| David Onama | 0 | 18 of 29 | 62% | 31 of 54 | 1 of 1 | 100% | 0 | 0 | 2:24 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Giga Chikadze | 43 of 91 | 47% | 23 of 66 | 8 of 11 | 12 of 14 | 40 of 88 | 2 of 2 | 1 of 1 |
| David Onama | 49 of 87 | 56% | 29 of 55 | 1 of 6 | 19 of 26 | 38 of 75 | 1 of 1 | 10 of 11 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Giga Chikadze | 21 of 43 | 48% | 9 of 26 | 4 of 7 | 8 of 10 | 21 of 43 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| David Onama | 13 of 26 | 50% | 9 of 17 | 0 of 2 | 4 of 7 | 13 of 26 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | |
| 2 | Giga Chikadze | 11 of 20 | 55% | 8 of 17 | 1 of 1 | 2 of 2 | 8 of 17 | 2 of 2 | 1 of 1 |
| David Onama | 18 of 32 | 56% | 8 of 19 | 1 of 2 | 9 of 11 | 11 of 24 | 1 of 1 | 6 of 7 | |
| 3 | Giga Chikadze | 11 of 28 | 39% | 6 of 23 | 3 of 3 | 2 of 2 | 11 of 28 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| David Onama | 18 of 29 | 62% | 12 of 19 | 0 of 2 | 6 of 8 | 14 of 25 | 0 of 0 | 4 of 4 |
Play-by-Play
View on SherdogBETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Onama (-180), Chikadze (+150)
Round 1
One fight tonight takes place outside of normal weight divisions, and it does so because Chikadze (15-4, 8-2 UFC) clocked in a pound heavy. The Georgian gives 20% of his purse to local fellow striker Onama (13-2, 5-2 UFC), and this one should be a whole lot of fun. Before an all-out brawl ensues, referee Keith Peterson takes charge of the cage. The fighters meet in the middle without a glove touch or any nonsense. Chikadze works from a range with a long punch, three kicks and one more punch upstairs. Chikadze chambers and fires a body kick, and Onama walks him down and reaches him with two kicks. Chikadze beats Onama to the punch with a one-two, and after a lull in the action, he quickly releases two head kicks that bang into the guard. Chikadze swings a right and then a left into the guard, with Onama shelling up just in time. Chikadze hand-fights to prevent Onama from firing anything of note, and he puts together a combination of punches ending with a kick. Onama parries a kick but has a left hand wrapped around his guard. Chikadze spins with a wheel kick that is blocked, and he lands and sneaks in a left hand. The Georgian hammers the front leg with a kick, and he aims one to the other leg before Onama can get to him. Onama reaches his target with a sharp right hand, snapping the head back and stunning the former kickboxer. Chikadze gathers a full head of steam and lashes out with a flurry of feet and fists, and Onama is able to stay right in front of him lunging with his powerful right hand. Chikadze steps in with a knee that clatters off the guard, and Onama’s long left gets in. Onama walks through a low kick to put punches on his opponent, and Chikadze is quick to reply with a step-in knee. Chikadze cracks Onama with a straight right hand, and Onama is on baby deer legs trying to stay upright. As Chikadze moves in for the kill, Onama wraps him up and gets behind him, lowering “Ninja” to the floor and taking most of his weapons away. Onama lands in half guard, with Chikadze actively attacking off his back with punches. Chikadze wraps up the guard, and he hacks with elbows until the horn sounds.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Chikadze
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Chikadze
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Chikadze
Round 2
The strikers resume in the second round, with Onama walking Chikadze down pecking at his lead leg with kicks. The low kicks are in part to set up a left hand for “Silent Assassin,” and Chikadze recognizes this and plants his fist on Onama’s face. Onama chips at the front leg and blocks a spinning back elbow, with his guard raised to defend a subsequent left hook. Onama gives Chikadze chase, catching him with an uppercut in the midst of a combination. Chikadze nails the front leg with a kick, and Onama shoots in for a double that he easily lands. Chikadze lands an elbow to the back of the head, and Onama hooks his legs between Chikadze’s to shut down his escape attempt. Onama steps over to the side, and Chikadze uses his feet to push off the wall and try to find a better position. Onama smothers until the Atlanta Braves’ chant is sung again from the crowd. Chikadze is desperate to stand, and Onama stops his efforts even if he does not otherwise attack with anything. Chikadze thinks about a guillotine choke, and when he moves and sits up, Onama bowls him over to his back. Onama in half guard loops his right arm behind Chikadze’s head for an arm-triangle setup, letting it go to drop down two harsh elbows. “Silent Assassin” quietly nullifies Chikadze with his top control, getting off the occasional strike until the clapper sounds with 10 seconds left. Onama lets Chikadze back up so he can measure a body kick, and backs off until the horn. He then raises his arms in the air to pump up the crowd, as they did not have a lot to cheer about in that last round otherwise.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Onama
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Onama
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Onama
Round 3
Onama again tries to pump up the audience to start the final frame, but when Peterson clocks them in, they do not do much for the first 30 seconds. Onama slowly works up his pace, landing punches and kicks until Chikadze retaliates. The Georgian responds with multiple head kicks, and his short left hook is out of reach. Onama knocks him back with two punches, and Chikadze stands in the pocket and bangs back. Chikadze lets fly a body kick, and he strikes the same spot with a left hand. When Onama lands, Chikadze gives him back a flurry of punches to think about and an axe kick for good measure. Chikadze is quicker than Onama at leading into exchanges, and he does not bite on the feints. Chikadze sneaks in a right hand just before Onama can get him, and Onama shoots in for a takedown and crashes straight into Chikadze’s dome with a loud clacking sound. Onama successfully tackles his man to the mat, foul not assessed as Chikadze was lowering himself down to defend the entry. Onama controls his man until Chikadze bursts his way to his feet. In the process, Chikadze gives up his back, and Onama leaps on it and uses it to wrangle Chikadze down to the ground again. Onama starts getting busy with his free left hand and arm, punching until an elbow presents itself. When Onama postures up, Chikadze times him with butterfly hooks to momentarily push him off. Onama gets back on top and lashes out with elbows, and Chikadze responds with a few of his own. Onama punches until time expires, with this final round likely the swing that determines the victor.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Onama (29-28 Onama)
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Onama (29-28 Onama)
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Onama (29-28 Onama)
The Official Result
David Onama def. Giga Chikadze via Unanimous Decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Angelo picks David Onama, citing his activity and pressure against a inactive Giga Chikadze. He notes that Giga is one-dimensional and has been out for two years, while Onama is a kickboxer who should stay busy and win. The odds have moved from -150 to -183 in Onama's favor.
Big Brady leans toward David Onama, assuming he will grapple. He notes Giga Chikadze's takedown defense is poor and he has been controlled on the ground before. If Onama strikes, he favors Chikadze. He predicts Onama will get takedowns, wear on Chikadze, and find a submission in the second round.
Connor picks Chikadze because he has a significant spatial advantage over Onama, who struggles at range and needs to brawl to be effective. Chikadze's movement and ability to keep distance will make it hard for Onama to force the kind of fight he needs. Connor also notes that Chikadze is a dangerous striker who can hurt Onama, as seen in Onama's previous fights where he got hurt but survived.
The host expects Onama to meet Chikadze's jab with bigger power, mix in grappling, and land more damage over 15 minutes to win on the scorecards.
The MMA Guru picks Giga Chikadze as an underdog. He believes Chikadze is a better striker and underrated, citing his close fight with Arnold Allen. He criticizes Onama's low fight IQ, poor training habits, and vulnerability to pressure. He expects Chikadze to win by TKO, as Onama has been dropped by lesser opponents.
Zane picks Chikadze, agreeing with Connor that Chikadze's spatial advantage and ability to keep Onama at range will be key. Onama's only path to victory is to brawl, but Chikadze won't let him get close. Zane also notes that Onama has been hurt in almost every fight and Chikadze is a very dangerous striker who can finish him early. However, if Onama survives the early onslaught, he could win round three.
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| David Onama | 1 | 121 of 213 | 56% | 145 of 242 | 1 of 3 | 33% | 1 | 0 | 4:23 |
| Roberto Romero | 1 | 74 of 155 | 47% | 79 of 165 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 1:14 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | David Onama | 1 | 44 of 69 | 63% | 48 of 73 | 0 of 0 | --- | 1 | 0 | 0:15 |
| Roberto Romero | 1 | 39 of 68 | 57% | 42 of 72 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 1:14 | |
| 2 | David Onama | 0 | 36 of 74 | 48% | 47 of 87 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 1:26 |
| Roberto Romero | 0 | 26 of 61 | 42% | 26 of 61 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 | |
| 3 | David Onama | 0 | 41 of 70 | 58% | 50 of 82 | 1 of 3 | 33% | 0 | 0 | 2:42 |
| Roberto Romero | 0 | 9 of 26 | 34% | 11 of 32 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| David Onama | 121 of 213 | 56% | 91 of 171 | 18 of 28 | 12 of 14 | 85 of 153 | 8 of 11 | 28 of 49 |
| Roberto Romero | 74 of 155 | 47% | 30 of 97 | 14 of 21 | 30 of 37 | 68 of 144 | 5 of 8 | 1 of 3 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | David Onama | 44 of 69 | 63% | 29 of 50 | 7 of 10 | 8 of 9 | 31 of 50 | 8 of 10 | 5 of 9 |
| Roberto Romero | 39 of 68 | 57% | 14 of 38 | 6 of 11 | 19 of 19 | 33 of 59 | 5 of 8 | 1 of 1 | |
| 2 | David Onama | 36 of 74 | 48% | 30 of 62 | 3 of 8 | 3 of 4 | 32 of 67 | 0 of 1 | 4 of 6 |
| Roberto Romero | 26 of 61 | 42% | 13 of 43 | 5 of 7 | 8 of 11 | 26 of 60 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 1 | |
| 3 | David Onama | 41 of 70 | 58% | 32 of 59 | 8 of 10 | 1 of 1 | 22 of 36 | 0 of 0 | 19 of 34 |
| Roberto Romero | 9 of 26 | 34% | 3 of 16 | 3 of 3 | 3 of 7 | 9 of 25 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 1 |
Big Brady is very confident in David Onama, criticizing the UFC for matching him against a short-notice opponent with poor striking defense. He notes that Roberto Romero eats punches with his face and has terrible striking defense, while Onama has legitimate power. He predicts a first-round knockout, as Romero has never been finished but will likely be overwhelmed.
Cody picks David Onama, noting Romero's weak resume and questionable UFC signing. He expects Onama to win easily, possibly by submission or knockout. Cody likes Onama inside the distance, but is not betting the money line due to the steep price.
Connor agrees with Zane, stating that Romero's style is ill-suited for a short-notice fight against Onama. He notes that Onama is unflappable and never gets more tired after a certain point, while Romero walks into the clinch and throws without defense. Connor expects Onama to win by overwhelming Romero.
The host notes Romero is on short notice making his UFC debut against a tough and powerful Onama. He expects Onama to stifle Romero's clinch-heavy approach and eventually land a big shot at range to win by knockout.
Paul picks David Onama, agreeing with Cody. He notes Romero has no notable wins and is a short-notice replacement. Paul expects Onama to win by finish, possibly by submission or knockout, but is not betting the money line due to the price.
Zane picks Onama confidently, noting that Romero is slow, lacks defense, and has no process other than aggression. He believes Onama's chaotic style and cardio will overwhelm Romero, who is taking the fight on short notice. Zane expects Onama to eventually take over by using his athleticism and wrestling.
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| David Onama | 0 | 57 of 129 | 44% | 87 of 165 | 5 of 14 | 35% | 1 | 1 | 4:49 |
| Jonathan Pearce | 0 | 58 of 104 | 55% | 66 of 115 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 1 | 5 | 2:15 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | David Onama | 0 | 15 of 41 | 36% | 15 of 41 | 1 of 5 | 20% | 0 | 0 | 0:50 |
| Jonathan Pearce | 0 | 14 of 23 | 60% | 18 of 29 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 1 | 0:49 | |
| 2 | David Onama | 0 | 14 of 18 | 77% | 29 of 37 | 3 of 3 | 100% | 1 | 1 | 3:16 |
| Jonathan Pearce | 0 | 5 of 10 | 50% | 6 of 11 | 0 of 0 | --- | 1 | 3 | 0:36 | |
| 3 | David Onama | 0 | 28 of 70 | 40% | 43 of 87 | 1 of 6 | 16% | 0 | 0 | 0:43 |
| Jonathan Pearce | 0 | 39 of 71 | 54% | 42 of 75 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 0 | 1 | 0:50 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| David Onama | 57 of 129 | 44% | 37 of 102 | 13 of 19 | 7 of 8 | 44 of 114 | 1 of 1 | 12 of 14 |
| Jonathan Pearce | 58 of 104 | 55% | 50 of 94 | 6 of 8 | 2 of 2 | 54 of 99 | 4 of 5 | 0 of 0 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | David Onama | 15 of 41 | 36% | 6 of 28 | 6 of 9 | 3 of 4 | 12 of 37 | 0 of 0 | 3 of 4 |
| Jonathan Pearce | 14 of 23 | 60% | 11 of 20 | 1 of 1 | 2 of 2 | 12 of 21 | 2 of 2 | 0 of 0 | |
| 2 | David Onama | 14 of 18 | 77% | 10 of 13 | 2 of 3 | 2 of 2 | 5 of 8 | 0 of 0 | 9 of 10 |
| Jonathan Pearce | 5 of 10 | 50% | 4 of 8 | 1 of 2 | 0 of 0 | 5 of 10 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | |
| 3 | David Onama | 28 of 70 | 40% | 21 of 61 | 5 of 7 | 2 of 2 | 27 of 69 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 0 |
| Jonathan Pearce | 39 of 71 | 54% | 35 of 66 | 4 of 5 | 0 of 0 | 37 of 68 | 2 of 3 | 0 of 0 |
Angelo has a half-unit bet on Jonathan Pearce at -140, beating the line. He attributes the pick solely to wrestling: Pearce is a relentless wrestler who averages almost six takedowns per fight. He believes David Onama, a good kickboxer, will struggle to stop the takedowns, as Nate Landwehr was able to take him down. He notes Pearce dominated his last fight before a submission loss due to showboating, but expects him to dominate here.
Cody picks Onama as an underdog, citing his reach and striking advantage. He notes that judges score damage over control time, and if Onama can get back to his feet after takedowns, he can win rounds with strikes. He sees this as close to a 50/50 fight.
Daniel likes Pearce's high pace, cardio, and improved striking, but notes he's inconsistent and sticks his neck into guillotines. He thinks Pearce can grind out a win via takedowns and top control, but acknowledges Onama's power and heart make him dangerous. He leans Pearce but calls it a dog-or-pass situation.
Pearce has a dominant grappling style and should be able to nullify Onama's power punching by taking him down and keeping him in uncomfortable positions. Onama has shown defensive grappling improvements but may still struggle with Pearce's smothering style. I lean Pearce by decision, but Onama could find a finish late if Pearce slows down.
Paul picks Pearce, arguing his wrestling and top control will be decisive. He notes Pearce's chain wrestling and ability to improve position, and believes Onama's takedown defense is questionable. He expects a grinding decision win for Pearce.
The MMA Guru picks David Onama as an underdog. He criticizes Jonathan Pearce's striking as atrocious and lacking hand-eye coordination. He praises Onama's speed, grappling defense, and cardio, noting his KO of Gabriel Santos and competitive fight with Mason Jones. He predicts Onama will catch Pearce with a straight right in the second or third round for a TKO.
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| David Onama | 1 | 53 of 104 | 50% | 59 of 118 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 0 | 1 | 2:53 |
| Gabriel Santos | 0 | 39 of 73 | 53% | 56 of 90 | 2 of 4 | 50% | 2 | 0 | 1:31 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | David Onama | 0 | 27 of 52 | 51% | 30 of 57 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 1:23 |
| Gabriel Santos | 0 | 25 of 50 | 50% | 33 of 58 | 1 of 2 | 50% | 2 | 0 | 0:36 | |
| 2 | David Onama | 1 | 26 of 52 | 50% | 29 of 61 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 1 | 1:30 |
| Gabriel Santos | 0 | 14 of 23 | 60% | 23 of 32 | 1 of 2 | 50% | 0 | 0 | 0:55 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| David Onama | 53 of 104 | 50% | 47 of 95 | 3 of 6 | 3 of 3 | 42 of 86 | 3 of 5 | 8 of 13 |
| Gabriel Santos | 39 of 73 | 53% | 22 of 46 | 9 of 14 | 8 of 13 | 36 of 70 | 1 of 1 | 2 of 2 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | David Onama | 27 of 52 | 51% | 23 of 48 | 3 of 3 | 1 of 1 | 24 of 47 | 2 of 3 | 1 of 2 |
| Gabriel Santos | 25 of 50 | 50% | 14 of 32 | 5 of 8 | 6 of 10 | 23 of 48 | 0 of 0 | 2 of 2 | |
| 2 | David Onama | 26 of 52 | 50% | 24 of 47 | 0 of 3 | 2 of 2 | 18 of 39 | 1 of 2 | 7 of 11 |
| Gabriel Santos | 14 of 23 | 60% | 8 of 14 | 4 of 6 | 2 of 3 | 13 of 22 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 0 |
Angelo picks Gabriel Santos, citing his aggression and ability to back Onama up and grind him down like Nate Landwehr did. He notes Santos is fast, strong, and has slick submissions. He mentions David Onama is a great underdog at +195/+200 and hits hard, but Santos gets hit. He would bet the over 1.5 rounds if available.
Big Brady picks Gabriel Santos, impressed by his performance against Lerone Murphy despite the loss. He describes Santos as a killer with next-level grappling and dangerous striking, comparing him to Charles Oliveira. He notes Onama's poor performance against Nate Landwehr where he gassed out. He expects Santos to weather an early storm and finish Onama in the second round, possibly by submission.
Cody picks Santos, emphasizing his explosive style and wrestling. He notes Santos's ability to take down and control opponents, and thinks Onama's striking will be neutralized by Santos's pressure and takedowns. He expects Santos by decision.
Connor picks Santos, agreeing with Zane. He highlights Santos's impressive debut against Laron Murphy on short notice and his superior technique. Onama is reactive and lacks discipline, while Santos is a solid professional who will take advantage of Onama's mistakes. Connor notes that Onama's best wins are against lesser competition and that he struggles against disciplined fighters.
Daniel Levi picks Gabriel Santos, citing his technical soundness, heart, and grappling upside. He thinks Onama is athletic but defensively vulnerable, and Santos can win on feet or mat. He notes Santos's close fight with Lerone Murphy and his LFA title. He is not interested at -230 but picks Santos.
The host picks Gabriel Santos to win by submission in the second or third round. He believes Santos is the far superior fighter with great aggression, forward pressure, and a solid Jiu-Jitsu game. He thinks Santos will wear on Onama and eventually get him out of there, while Onama's only path to victory is a Hail Mary knockout. He expects Santos to dominate.
Paul picks Santos, impressed by his debut performance against Lauren Murphy on short notice. He highlights Santos's takedowns and grappling, and questions Onama's takedown defense. He expects Santos to win by decision and considers betting Santos by decision.
The Guru picks Gabriel Santos based on his performance against Lerone Murphy, which he believes Santos arguably won. He notes Santos has a good chin, took the Murphy fight on short notice, and showed grit. He criticizes Onama's cardio, saying he falls off after the first round, and points to Onama's losses to Mason Jones and Nate Landwehr as evidence. He predicts Santos wins by third-round finish or decision.
Zane picks Santos, praising his discipline, well-roundedness, and technical striking. He notes that Onama is talented but lacks control and makes terrible decisions, often turning fights into brawls. Santos is a finished product who controls pace, works the body, and has good wrestling. Zane expects Santos to exploit Onama's tendency to gas and scramble wildly.
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nate Landwehr | 0 | 91 of 185 | 49% | 133 of 253 | 3 of 4 | 75% | 2 | 1 | 5:05 |
| David Onama | 1 | 71 of 174 | 40% | 79 of 186 | 1 of 6 | 16% | 0 | 1 | 1:13 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nate Landwehr | 0 | 21 of 52 | 40% | 29 of 62 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 1 | 0:31 |
| David Onama | 1 | 46 of 91 | 50% | 53 of 101 | 1 of 2 | 50% | 0 | 0 | 0:43 | |
| 2 | Nate Landwehr | 0 | 43 of 76 | 56% | 65 of 116 | 3 of 3 | 100% | 2 | 0 | 3:08 |
| David Onama | 0 | 8 of 21 | 38% | 9 of 22 | 0 of 2 | 0% | 0 | 1 | 0:20 | |
| 3 | Nate Landwehr | 0 | 27 of 57 | 47% | 39 of 75 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 1:26 |
| David Onama | 0 | 17 of 62 | 27% | 17 of 63 | 0 of 2 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:10 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nate Landwehr | 91 of 185 | 49% | 73 of 154 | 10 of 18 | 8 of 13 | 52 of 120 | 22 of 35 | 17 of 30 |
| David Onama | 71 of 174 | 40% | 62 of 158 | 8 of 15 | 1 of 1 | 50 of 139 | 1 of 3 | 20 of 32 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nate Landwehr | 21 of 52 | 40% | 13 of 38 | 4 of 6 | 4 of 8 | 14 of 43 | 4 of 6 | 3 of 3 |
| David Onama | 46 of 91 | 50% | 39 of 80 | 6 of 10 | 1 of 1 | 29 of 64 | 1 of 3 | 16 of 24 | |
| 2 | Nate Landwehr | 43 of 76 | 56% | 35 of 66 | 4 of 6 | 4 of 4 | 22 of 37 | 7 of 12 | 14 of 27 |
| David Onama | 8 of 21 | 38% | 7 of 19 | 1 of 2 | 0 of 0 | 6 of 18 | 0 of 0 | 2 of 3 | |
| 3 | Nate Landwehr | 27 of 57 | 47% | 25 of 50 | 2 of 6 | 0 of 1 | 16 of 40 | 11 of 17 | 0 of 0 |
| David Onama | 17 of 62 | 27% | 16 of 59 | 1 of 3 | 0 of 0 | 15 of 57 | 0 of 0 | 2 of 5 |
Angelo picks David Onama due to his power and technical striking. He notes Landwehr is a live underdog with forward pressure but if Onama gets room, he will get the knockout. Onama is also a knockout kings pick.
Big Brady picks David Onama to win by first-round knockout. He notes that Onama has a 100% finish rate and is the more dangerous striker with more power. Landwehr has good takedown defense (87%) but is hittable and has been knocked out twice in the UFC. Brady expects a stand-up war where Onama lands the bigger shots and finishes Landwehr.
Cody picks David Onama, acknowledging his bias for Landwehr but reasoning that Onama's power and athleticism will catch Landwehr coming forward. He notes Landwehr's durability issues and that Onama is getting more comfortable in the UFC. Cody believes Onama will clip Landwehr at some point.
Daniel Levi picks Nate Landwehr as a plus-265 underdog, acknowledging the risk of Onama's African power and raw talent. He believes Landwehr can win if he fights disciplined with his hands up, uses his experience, and drags Onama into deep waters. Levi notes that Onama is still green and that Landwehr showed improved technique in his last fight. However, he admits Landwehr could get knocked out early.
The host picks Landwehr as the biggest upset on the card based on odds. He notes Landwehr's takedowns, control time, and output, and believes he can pull it off at +290. He also mentions that Landwehr in front of a full crowd is very live.
Paul picks David Onama by TKO, citing Onama's power and reach advantage. He notes that Landwehr has been finished in the first round twice and tends to run into strikes. Paul likes Onama by TKO at +175 as a way to avoid the -315 moneyline.
The host picks David Onama by first-round TKO, comparing the fight to Onama's win over Gabriel BenĂtez. He notes Landwehr's tendency to get hit early and lack of head movement, and believes Onama's crisp shots will land. He initially had high confidence but lowered it after considering Landwehr's crowd energy, though he still picks Onama.
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| David Onama | 0 | 29 of 72 | 40% | 46 of 95 | 2 of 6 | 33% | 1 | 0 | 2:35 |
| Garrett Armfield | 0 | 21 of 72 | 29% | 29 of 83 | 0 of 2 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 1:52 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | David Onama | 0 | 20 of 49 | 40% | 34 of 66 | 1 of 4 | 25% | 0 | 0 | 0:34 |
| Garrett Armfield | 0 | 12 of 48 | 25% | 20 of 59 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 1:52 | |
| 2 | David Onama | 0 | 9 of 23 | 39% | 12 of 29 | 1 of 2 | 50% | 1 | 0 | 2:01 |
| Garrett Armfield | 0 | 9 of 24 | 37% | 9 of 24 | 0 of 2 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| David Onama | 29 of 72 | 40% | 16 of 55 | 13 of 17 | 0 of 0 | 27 of 66 | 1 of 3 | 1 of 3 |
| Garrett Armfield | 21 of 72 | 29% | 15 of 61 | 4 of 9 | 2 of 2 | 20 of 68 | 1 of 4 | 0 of 0 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | David Onama | 20 of 49 | 40% | 11 of 37 | 9 of 12 | 0 of 0 | 19 of 46 | 1 of 3 | 0 of 0 |
| Garrett Armfield | 12 of 48 | 25% | 10 of 44 | 2 of 4 | 0 of 0 | 12 of 48 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | |
| 2 | David Onama | 9 of 23 | 39% | 5 of 18 | 4 of 5 | 0 of 0 | 8 of 20 | 0 of 0 | 1 of 3 |
| Garrett Armfield | 9 of 24 | 37% | 5 of 17 | 2 of 5 | 2 of 2 | 8 of 20 | 1 of 4 | 0 of 0 |
Cody is very high on Onama, citing his dynamic striking, footwork, and finishing ability. He notes Onama already beat Armfield as an amateur and that Armfield is not UFC quality yet. He thinks Onama will win easily, possibly by finish.
The host takes a small 0.5 unit shot on Garrett Armfield at +572. He sees Armfield as a solid wrestler who could cause problems for Onama if he employs his grappling. He notes that Onama is great on the feet but if he can't get his power going due to being stuck under Armfield, the upset is possible. He also suggests that if betting Onama, the KO prop is better than the moneyline.
Paul thinks Onama is a great prospect and that the price, though high, is justified. He notes Armfield is taking the fight on short notice and is limited. He expects Onama to win, possibly by decision since Armfield has never been knocked out.
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| David Onama | 0 | 46 of 96 | 47% | 46 of 96 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Gabriel BenĂtez | 1 | 36 of 94 | 38% | 36 of 94 | 0 of 2 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:10 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | David Onama | 0 | 46 of 96 | 47% | 46 of 96 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Gabriel BenĂtez | 1 | 36 of 94 | 38% | 36 of 94 | 0 of 2 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:10 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| David Onama | 46 of 96 | 47% | 19 of 68 | 17 of 18 | 10 of 10 | 45 of 95 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 0 |
| Gabriel BenĂtez | 36 of 94 | 38% | 30 of 86 | 2 of 4 | 4 of 4 | 35 of 92 | 1 of 2 | 0 of 0 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | David Onama | 46 of 96 | 47% | 19 of 68 | 17 of 18 | 10 of 10 | 45 of 95 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 0 |
| Gabriel BenĂtez | 36 of 94 | 38% | 30 of 86 | 2 of 4 | 4 of 4 | 35 of 92 | 1 of 2 | 0 of 0 |
Angelo picks David Onama, citing his speed, power, and versatility advantage in a kickboxing match. He notes Benitez has grappling tools but rarely uses them (only one takedown in 11 UFC fights). He acknowledges Onama's grappling struggles but believes Benitez won't exploit them.
Big Brady picks David Onama but is not very confident, warning against overrating Onama's performance against Mason Jones. He notes Benitez has excellent striking defense and could pull off an upset. However, he likes Onama's youth, size, reach, and cardio, and predicts a late knockout as Benitez slows down.
Cody picks Onama, believing he is a legitimate prospect. He highlights Onama's impressive performance against Mason Jones, where he showed great cardio, durability, and the ability to get up from takedowns. Cody notes that BenĂtez is a gatekeeper on the decline, with low volume and questionable durability after being dropped by Billy Q. He thinks Onama will out-strike BenĂtez and possibly finish him.
Levi is confident in Onama, citing Benitez's decline after wars and weight issues. He notes Onama's impressive short-notice performance against Mason Jones and believes his African power will be too much for Benitez's chin. Levi compares this to other prospects beating faded veterans and expects Onama to find a clean knockout.
BenĂtez is the seasoned veteran with cleaner striking and a strong kicking game. Onama's hype is based on beating a low-level opponent; BenĂtez's durability is overstated as a concern. BenĂtez should outpoint Onama with his southpaw kicks and experience. The under 2.5 rounds and BenĂtez by KO at +500 are also live.
Paul picks Onama, impressed by his ferocity and durability in the Mason Jones fight. He notes that Onama will be massive at 145 and that BenĂtez's durability is questionable after being dropped by Billy Q. Paul thinks Onama's pace and power will be too much for BenĂtez.
The MMA Guru picks David Onama to win by first-round KO. He notes Onama's close fight with Mason Jones on short notice and believes Onama is a great prospect with a big reach advantage. He thinks Gabriel Benitez's durability has declined after several KO losses and that Onama will crack his chin early.
Expert Picks (7)
Angelo picks Steve Garcia, citing his awkward, lurching movement and sheer size for the weight class as problematic for David Onama. He notes Garcia's power and forward pressure, but acknowledges Onama is faster and more technical. He mentions Garcia has been knocked out before, while Onama hasn't, but doesn't see Onama knocking him out. He calls it a close competitive fight and leans Garcia.
Big Brady leans toward David Onama, citing Steve Garcia's tendency to leave openings and get dropped, as seen in fights against Charlie Ontiveros and Maheshate. He acknowledges Garcia hits hard and is all violence, but believes Onama is more durable and can take advantage. He predicts a second-round knockout for Onama.
Connor picks Onama, reasoning that Garcia's losses are worse than Onama's, with more randomness. He notes that Onama has lost to wild brawlers like Nate Landwehr and Mason Jones, which could be Steve Garcia, but those were exhausting fights. He thinks Onama may find success with wrestling and is a better athlete than Garcia's recent opponents.
Lucrative James picks David Onama to win by knockout, but he is not confident. He notes that both fighters have questionable chins and get hurt often, but Onama has never been finished while Garcia has been knocked out before. He also mentions Onama's superior training partners, including Justin Gaethje, and his wrestling upside as potential advantages. However, he emphasizes that this is a pick'em fight and he will not bet the moneyline, instead looking at under props.
The fight is a coin flip; whoever lands the big punch first wins. The host leans slightly to Onama's speed and more tools, thinking he will land a big shot and put Garcia away. But it could easily go the other way, so confidence is low.
The MMA Guru picks Steve Garcia, citing his recent impressive wins over Melquizael Costa, Kyle Nelson, and Calvin Kattar. He believes Garcia's pressure and volume will break David Onama, who has struggled against similar styles (e.g., Romero). He notes Onama's lack of consistent finishes and potential work ethic issues. He predicts a second or third round TKO.
Zane picks Garcia because he has seen Onama get hurt badly and fail to focus from the start. He notes that if Garcia can't knock Onama out, it will be a wild war, but he is more willing to believe Onama will never find comfort against Garcia than that Onama can lock Garcia down. He acknowledges the high chaos and randomness in both fighters' careers.
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