UFC Fight Night: Moreno vs. Kavanagh · Feb 28, 2026 · Middleweight · Completed
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Age 31
Height 6' 1"
Reach 74"
Weight 185 lbs.
Stance Orthodox
Age 35
Height 6' 0"
Reach 74"
Weight 185 lbs.
Stance Orthodox
Career Averages - Ryan Gandra
13.02 SLpM
50.0% Str. Acc.
1.7 SApM
81.0% Str. Def.
0.0 TD Avg
0.0% TD Acc.
100.0% TD Def.
0.0 Sub. Avg
Career Averages - José Daniel Medina
2.13 SLpM
36.0% Str. Acc.
5.34 SApM
46.0% Str. Def.
0.39 TD Avg
33.0% TD Acc.
27.0% TD Def.
0.0 Sub. Avg
Ryan Gandra - Fight History
SCHED vs Zachary Reese
UFC 329 · Jul 11, 2026
Play-by-Play
View on Sherdog
Ryan Gandra vs. Zachary Reese
BETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Gandra (-130), Reese (+110)

Round 1
Fists are sure to fly in this middleweight smash-em-up derby between two men who tend not to waste much time in the cage with dueling finish rates right around 80% a pop. Gandra (9-1, 1-0 UFC) has earned most of his wins via strikes, while half of the victories for Reese (10-3, 1 NC; 4-3, 1 NC UFC) occurred in this similar fashion. Referee Mike Beltran takes charge of the cage, stepping back as the 185ers touch ‘em up.
Reese meanders directly to the center of the cage, dancing away the moment Gandra swats at him with range-finders. Reese catches Gandra coming in with a left hand and a body kick, and he slips a punch to the body. Reese slips and counters again, remaining elusive but not moving too far away so that he is out of range with responses. This allows him to catch Gandra a few times, but Gandra has also landed on both sides of his temple to redden him up. The Terminator that is Gandra winds up a massive left hand, leaping into it with everything he has. Boop. Taking it flush on the jaw, Reese goes flying, hitting his back and shelling up in a hurry. Gandra rains down some punches, and it does not take long for Beltran to step in. The stoppage may have been a little premature given that Reese stood back up and immediately started jawing at Beltran, but he might have also been flashed knocked out and trying to still fight. No matter how one feels about the intervention, to quote the inimitable Mike Goldberg, it is all over. Mulleted athletes no longer remain undefeated tonight, as the blonde-locked Brazilian wipes out the man with business in the front and a party in the back.

The Official Result
Ryan Gandra def. Zachary Reese R1 1:15 via TKO (Punches)
AJ
AJ DeVito Expert Confident picked Jul 1, 2026 (10 days before fight)
Ryan Gandra

AJ picks Gandra, stating he thinks Gondrez (likely Gandra) will knock Reese out flat. He mentions money line odds at minus 190.

Money line odds at minus 190
"I think Gondrez knocking Reese out. Do we have odds for that on the knockout prop yet? No, I don't have them. Money line odds have them at minus 190. I think Gondrez is going to knock you out flat …"
AJ
AJ DeVito Expert Confident picked Jun 29, 2026 (12 days before fight)
Ryan Gandra

AJ picks Ryan Gandra by first-round knockout, highlighting Gandra's power and pressure boxing. He believes Gandra's close-range boxing and overhand shots will overwhelm Zachary Reese, who is a kicker but susceptible to being walked down. He notes Gandra's quick UFC debut knockout and expects a violent finish.

KO prop at plus 200 would be nice
"I'm going Ryan Gondra for the first round knockout."
AJ
AJ DeVito Expert Confident picked Jul 7, 2026 (4 days before fight)
Ryan Gandra

AJ picks Gandra to win by knockout, emphasizing his power, forward pressure, and physicality. He believes Reese's striking defense is suspect and that Gandra's aggressive style will overwhelm him. AJ notes that Gandra's power is a major factor and that Reese's recent loss to Pereira shows vulnerability.

Gandra by KO at -120; under 1.5 rounds at +115
"I'm gonna say Gandra's knockout power is pretty live to thrive here."
AJ
AJ DeVito Expert Confident picked Jul 10, 2026 (1 day before fight)
Ryan Gandra

AJ sees this as a close-range boxing mismatch where Gandra will blitz Reese. He thinks Gandra has sensational knockout power and will start fast, likely winning by KO. He notes that Gandra KO is at +100 and under 1.5 rounds at +135. He also mentions Gandra by decision at +1000 as a long shot.

Gandra by KO +100; Gandra under 1.5 +135; Gandra KO under 1.5 +175; Gandra KO round 1 +200; Gandra by decision +1000; Reese by KO +375; Reese by submission +425
"I think this is a pretty big close-range boxing mismatch. I feel like Gandra is going to blitz Reese, but I will tell you, Ryan Gandra is a round one bully."
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Confident picked Jul 8, 2026 (3 days before fight)
Ryan Gandra

Angelo picks Ryan Gandra because he is a busy forward pressure striker who lets his hands go and is tough. He notes that Zack Reese is inconsistent and has a special place in his heart for the wrong reasons, having cost him a parlay. He believes Gandra is too tough and will move forward, making him the pick, but sees live bet opportunity if Reese survives early.

"I think Ryan Gond is going to get the win here. Zack Ree has a special place in my heart. Not a good place, a bad place."
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Confident picked Jul 5, 2026 (6 days before fight)
Ryan Gandra

Angelo picks Ryan Gandra, believing he will land whatever he wants and keep coming forward. He respects Zachary Reese's toughness but thinks he won't have an answer, especially on the ground where Gandra can control and strike. He notes the fight is low stakes but fun.

"Ryan's the pick. This is a really fun fight and we could have an upset here just because of how tough Zach Ree is."
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked Jul 10, 2026 (1 day before fight)
Ryan Gandra

Big Brady picks Ryan Gandra to win in round one at +215 for 1 unit. He believes Gandra has a couple minutes of explosive offense to finish the chinny Zach Reese, who has poor striking defense and gets hurt often. If the fight extends past round one, he favors Reese's experience and cardio. He also suggests a live bet on Reese if he survives the first round.

Gandra wins in round 1 (+215, 1 unit); suggests live bet on Reese if fight reaches round 2
"I personally took Ryan Gond to win in round one at plus 215 for one unit because I think if it gets out of round one, I I won't feel great about a Ryan Gander bet at all."
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked Jun 27, 2026 (14 days before fight)
Ryan Gandra

Big Brady picks Ryan Gandra to win by first-round knockout. He praises Gandra's power and takedown defense, expecting him to walk down Reese and land big shots. He criticizes Reese's poor striking defense and suspect chin, noting he has been hurt and knocked out before. He believes Gandra will stuff takedowns and finish early.

Ryan Gonder to win by first round knockout
"I'm going to go with Ryan Gonder to win this fight by first round knockout."
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked Jul 7, 2026 (4 days before fight)

Big Brady picks Lone'er Kavanagh, citing Brandon Royval's age (33), accumulated damage, poor striking defense, and questionable chin. He believes Kavanagh is on the rise, with sharp, accurate, and powerful striking, and will clip Royval. He expects a knockout or a damage-based decision, and is surprised the KO prop is plus money.

Kavanagh by knockout (+240)
"I like Kavanaaugh here. And I like Kavanagh by knockout. I was surprised to see the knockout prop at like plus 240."
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked Jun 30, 2026 (11 days before fight)
Ryan Gandra

Big Brady is confident Gandra wins by first-round KO, but only at the right price. He laughs at the +190 opener, saying Gandra should be -250 or -300. He thinks Gandra will knock out Reese early, but if it goes past round one, it gets gross due to Gandra's poor cardio. He might bet under 1.5 rounds or KO1, but won't lay -200 on the moneyline.

Gandra KO1; under 1.5 rounds; fight won't start round 2
"If Gond's paying off this price tag, he's knocking out Zach Reese in round one. If he does not knock out Zachary Reese in round one, it's going to get gross."
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Confident picked Jul 8, 2026 (3 days before fight)
Ryan Gandra

Cody picks Ryan Gandra, citing his power and Reese's durability issues. He notes Reese's poor cardio and defensive liabilities. He expects a finish, likely by Gandra, and recommends under 2.5 rounds.

Under 2.5 rounds; Gandra round 1 at +224
"I do have Gandra. I think that this fight doesn't go to decision. I think under two and a half. I think someone's getting blasted."
DA
Daniel Levi Expert Lean picked Jun 30, 2026 (11 days before fight)
Zachary Reese

Daniel Levi leans toward Zachary Reese, citing his experience and recent strong performance against Michelle Pereira. He acknowledges Gandra's power and physicality but wants to see more from him against real competition. Levi believes Reese can find his range and take over if he weathers the early storm.

"I'm going lean a little bit towards Zach Reese."
JA
Jacob Lines Expert Confident picked Jul 8, 2026 (3 days before fight)
Ryan Gandra

Jacob picks Ryan Gandra by first round knockout. He criticizes Zach Reese's defense, saying he doesn't move his head and has typical tall guy defense with his chin up. He believes Gandra's right hand down the middle will connect and hurt Reese, leading to an early knockout. He is not worried about the moneyline and specifically plays the first round knockout prop.

first round knockout
"I'm all over Ryan Gandra. I'm just playing a first round knockout and that's how I'm going to play it."
LU
Lucrative James Expert Lean picked Jul 4, 2026 (7 days before fight)
Zachary Reese

Lucrative James picks Zachary Reese via KO, despite Reese's chin issues. He believes Reese is more proven with a diverse skill set and that Gandra's wild striking will be exposed. He notes Gandra's early knockout power but thinks Reese's experience against higher-level competition will prevail.

Zachary Reese by KO
"I'm picking the underdog here. I'm picking Zach Ree to win this fight. And I'll say he wins this one via knockout."
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Hesitant picked Jul 4, 2026 (7 days before fight)
Ryan Gandra

The host leans with Gandra due to his superior all-around skills, judo, and top control, predicting a submission in the first two rounds. However, he acknowledges Reese's early power and speed could cause an upset, and he would need a better price than -150 to bet.

Gandra by submission, inside the distance, first two rounds
"I'll go with Gandra to win this fight. I think he gets the win inside the distance within the first two rounds. I'm going to even say by submission."
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Jul 8, 2026 (3 days before fight)
Ryan Gandra

The host believes Gandra is technically superior and that will be the difference maker, leading to a stoppage. He specifically picks Gandra by submission.

Gandra by submission
"I'm going to go Gandra by submission."
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Confident picked Jul 8, 2026 (3 days before fight)
Ryan Gandra

Paul picks Ryan Gandra, agreeing with Cody. He notes the line movement and believes Gandra's power will be decisive. He plans to bet Gandra round 1 at plus money.

Gandra round 1 at plus 224
"Gander round one plus over plus 200. It's like, okay, I can see how that gets me invested."
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Jul 8, 2026 (3 days before fight)
Ryan Gandra

The MMA Guru picks Ryan Gandra to win by KO in the first round. He criticizes Zachary Reese's coordination and chin, noting that Reese has a long neck and tiny head, making him hittable. He trusts Gandra's knockout ability and momentum, but acknowledges that if the fight goes to later rounds, Reese's grappling could be a factor.

KO in first round
"I'm going to go with Ryan Gandra. Zachary Reese is hitable. His chin's there to be smacked. He's got a tiny head. He's got a long neck. It's not a build that you need to to take punishment with."
KO R1 0:41 · UFC Fight Night: Moreno vs. Kavanagh · Feb 28, 2026
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Ryan Gandra 1 14 of 29 48% 14 of 29 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
José Daniel Medina 0 0 of 3 0% 0 of 3 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Ryan Gandra 1 14 of 29 48% 14 of 29 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
José Daniel Medina 0 0 of 3 0% 0 of 3 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Ryan Gandra 14 of 29 48% 14 of 27 0 of 2 0 of 0 13 of 28 0 of 0 1 of 1
José Daniel Medina 0 of 3 0% 0 of 2 0 of 1 0 of 0 0 of 3 0 of 0 0 of 0
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Ryan Gandra 14 of 29 48% 14 of 27 0 of 2 0 of 0 13 of 28 0 of 0 1 of 1
José Daniel Medina 0 of 3 0% 0 of 2 0 of 1 0 of 0 0 of 3 0 of 0 0 of 0
Play-by-Play
View on Sherdog
Ryan Gandra vs. Jose Medina
BETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Gandra (-550); Medina (+450)

Round 1
It’s another showcase match, this time at 185 pounds, as Brazilian newcomer Gandra (8-1, 0-0 UFC) looks to hunt down the hapless Medina (11-6, 0-3 UFC). Someone’s going to get their first win in the UFC, and referee Horacio Lopez Villanueva will be there for it every step of the way. Gloves are touched before they are traded.
Medina rushes forward, only to be backed up by a long one-two. Gandra reaches out with a long left hand and follows with a push kick to the stomach. He lashes out with a flurry of punches, and Medina puts his back to the wall and takes a flush knee to the chest.
Gandra unloads with a long salvo of punches, and he decks “Chicho” with a brutal right hand on the button that shuts his lights out for a second. When Medina hits the mat, he switches back online, but Villanueva is on him intervening.
Medina grabs hold of Villanueva’s leg on autopilot, but he realizes his error and starts to protest the stoppage while blood leaks down his right eyebrow. Medina is upset but there is nothing left for him to do or say, as he has lost five fights in a row with three of those by stoppage. Gandra declares that he called his shot, as he hunted for a first-round knockout and achieved it in a bit over 40 seconds.

The Official Result
Ryan Gandra def. Jose Medina R1 0:41 via TKO (Punches)
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Confident picked Feb 22, 2026 (6 days before fight)
Ryan Gandra

Angelo picks Ryan Gandra because José Medina is one of the worst fighters in the UFC, on a four-fight losing streak. He describes Gandra as a busy forward-pressure striker who throws volume. He expects Gandra to overwhelm Medina with punches, though he notes Medina is tough and could survive into the later rounds.

Suggests a sneaky over 1.5 rounds bet because Medina is tough and might survive a round and a half.
"Ryan Gond is going to be the pick. Maybe a sneaky over one and a half here because even though Medina can't find a win in the UFC, he's actually pretty tough."
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked Feb 22, 2026 (6 days before fight)
Ryan Gandra

Big Brady picks Ryan Gandra, calling José Medina the worst signing in Contender Series history and noting he is 0-3 in the UFC. He admits Gandra is wild and reckless but believes he will win easily, likely by first-round knockout. He notes the line is crazy but cannot picture Medina winning any UFC fight.

first round knockout
"Ryan Gondra first round knockout for me."
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Confident picked Feb 25, 2026 (3 days before fight)
Ryan Gandra

Cody picks Gandra, highlighting his finishing ability and Medina's lack of defense. He notes Gandra can win by KO or submission and expects a dominant performance. He sees this as a showcase for Gandra.

"I think he gets the job done. The UFC would like to build up middleweights... This Gandra Kids could look well, he's not kid, he's 30 years old, but he's good enough looking."
CO
Connor Ruebusch Expert Confident picked Feb 27, 2026 (1 day before fight)
Ryan Gandra

Connor agrees with Zane, calling Gandra a promising prospect with a raw game built on power. He criticizes Medina as a normal person who is slow and lacks power, and notes that Gandra should walk through him. Connor expects a quick finish or a dominant decision.

Same odds commentary as Zane.
"Yeah, Gondra seems like a normal prospect. Athletic, powerful, aggressive, doesn't have any defense or any real technical center of his game, but he should walk through Medina."
DA
Daniel Vreeland Expert picked Feb 20, 2024 (739 days before fight)

Daniel does not discuss this fight in the transcript.

DI
Diary of a Pro Gambler Expert picked Feb 28, 2026 (fight day)

The host notes that Gandra is a heavy favorite but the odds are too wide to bet on him. He points out that Medina has a path to victory through his toughness and cardio, especially at high altitude where Gandra may gas out. However, the host is not betting Medina himself, as he expects Gandra to win most of the time. He considers it a dog-or-pass fight.

"I'm not personally betting Medina this weekend because I do think he loses a very high percentage of the time, but this is a matchup where the odds feel very very wide."
LU
Lucrative James Expert Confident picked Feb 22, 2026 (6 days before fight)
Ryan Gandra

James sees Gandra as a much better fighter with real power, while Medina's only attribute is durability. He believes Gandra will eventually finish Medina, possibly by KO or submission. James predicts a Gandra win, likely by KO.

"I'm picking Ryan Gandra all day here."
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Feb 24, 2026 (4 days before fight)
Ryan Gandra

The host picks Ryan Gandra by submission, citing his BJJ brown belt and judo. He notes that Medina has lost 8 straight rounds and is not UFC caliber. He expects Gandra to take the fight to the ground and submit Medina, similar to Dusko Todorovic's win. He warns about Medina's durability but believes Gandra's grappling will prevail.

"Give me Ryan Gandra and Gandra by submission."
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Confident picked Feb 25, 2026 (3 days before fight)
Ryan Gandra

Paul expects Gandra to finish Medina early, noting Medina's poor record and lack of skills. He recommends the Gandra round 1 prop at +180, but is not fully confident due to Gandra's late arrival at altitude.

Gandra round 1 +180
"I expect Gander to ab to probably get him out of there in round one. The price on that is probably pretty short. Um, you know, because Medina has been finished in the first round. It's plus 180."
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Feb 28, 2026 (fight day)
Ryan Gandra

The MMA Guru picks Ryan Gandra, calling José Medina a fighter who should not be in the UFC after being dominated by Zachary Reese and Teemu Kärkkäinen. He notes Gandra's impressive Contender Series win and predicts a destructive TKO in the first round.

first round TKO
"Should be a Ryan Gandara destructive TKO in the first round."
ZA
Zane Simon Expert Confident picked Feb 27, 2026 (1 day before fight)
Ryan Gandra

Zane picks Ryan Gandra based on his athleticism, power, and aggression. He notes that Gandra is a raw prospect but should overwhelm José Medina, who is slow, lacks power, and has lost four straight. Zane expects Gandra to win by landing bigger shots, possibly finishing early.

Gandra opened at -550, now -725; Medina opened at +420, now +525. Betting heavily favors Gandra.
"I'd still pick him to win that fight. By virtue of aggression and athleticism."
José Daniel Medina - Fight History
LOSS vs Ryan Gandra
KO R1 0:41 · UFC Fight Night: Moreno vs. Kavanagh · Feb 28, 2026
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Ryan Gandra 1 14 of 29 48% 14 of 29 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
José Daniel Medina 0 0 of 3 0% 0 of 3 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Ryan Gandra 1 14 of 29 48% 14 of 29 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
José Daniel Medina 0 0 of 3 0% 0 of 3 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Ryan Gandra 14 of 29 48% 14 of 27 0 of 2 0 of 0 13 of 28 0 of 0 1 of 1
José Daniel Medina 0 of 3 0% 0 of 2 0 of 1 0 of 0 0 of 3 0 of 0 0 of 0
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Ryan Gandra 14 of 29 48% 14 of 27 0 of 2 0 of 0 13 of 28 0 of 0 1 of 1
José Daniel Medina 0 of 3 0% 0 of 2 0 of 1 0 of 0 0 of 3 0 of 0 0 of 0
Play-by-Play
View on Sherdog
Ryan Gandra vs. Jose Medina
BETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Gandra (-550); Medina (+450)

Round 1
It’s another showcase match, this time at 185 pounds, as Brazilian newcomer Gandra (8-1, 0-0 UFC) looks to hunt down the hapless Medina (11-6, 0-3 UFC). Someone’s going to get their first win in the UFC, and referee Horacio Lopez Villanueva will be there for it every step of the way. Gloves are touched before they are traded.
Medina rushes forward, only to be backed up by a long one-two. Gandra reaches out with a long left hand and follows with a push kick to the stomach. He lashes out with a flurry of punches, and Medina puts his back to the wall and takes a flush knee to the chest.
Gandra unloads with a long salvo of punches, and he decks “Chicho” with a brutal right hand on the button that shuts his lights out for a second. When Medina hits the mat, he switches back online, but Villanueva is on him intervening.
Medina grabs hold of Villanueva’s leg on autopilot, but he realizes his error and starts to protest the stoppage while blood leaks down his right eyebrow. Medina is upset but there is nothing left for him to do or say, as he has lost five fights in a row with three of those by stoppage. Gandra declares that he called his shot, as he hunted for a first-round knockout and achieved it in a bit over 40 seconds.

The Official Result
Ryan Gandra def. Jose Medina R1 0:41 via TKO (Punches)
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Confident picked Feb 22, 2026 (6 days before fight)
Ryan Gandra

Angelo picks Ryan Gandra because José Medina is one of the worst fighters in the UFC, on a four-fight losing streak. He describes Gandra as a busy forward-pressure striker who throws volume. He expects Gandra to overwhelm Medina with punches, though he notes Medina is tough and could survive into the later rounds.

Suggests a sneaky over 1.5 rounds bet because Medina is tough and might survive a round and a half.
"Ryan Gond is going to be the pick. Maybe a sneaky over one and a half here because even though Medina can't find a win in the UFC, he's actually pretty tough."
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked Feb 22, 2026 (6 days before fight)
Ryan Gandra

Big Brady picks Ryan Gandra, calling José Medina the worst signing in Contender Series history and noting he is 0-3 in the UFC. He admits Gandra is wild and reckless but believes he will win easily, likely by first-round knockout. He notes the line is crazy but cannot picture Medina winning any UFC fight.

first round knockout
"Ryan Gondra first round knockout for me."
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Confident picked Feb 25, 2026 (3 days before fight)
Ryan Gandra

Cody picks Gandra, highlighting his finishing ability and Medina's lack of defense. He notes Gandra can win by KO or submission and expects a dominant performance. He sees this as a showcase for Gandra.

"I think he gets the job done. The UFC would like to build up middleweights... This Gandra Kids could look well, he's not kid, he's 30 years old, but he's good enough looking."
CO
Connor Ruebusch Expert Confident picked Feb 27, 2026 (1 day before fight)
Ryan Gandra

Connor agrees with Zane, calling Gandra a promising prospect with a raw game built on power. He criticizes Medina as a normal person who is slow and lacks power, and notes that Gandra should walk through him. Connor expects a quick finish or a dominant decision.

Same odds commentary as Zane.
"Yeah, Gondra seems like a normal prospect. Athletic, powerful, aggressive, doesn't have any defense or any real technical center of his game, but he should walk through Medina."
DA
Daniel Vreeland Expert picked Feb 20, 2024 (739 days before fight)

Daniel does not discuss this fight in the transcript.

DI
Diary of a Pro Gambler Expert picked Feb 28, 2026 (fight day)

The host notes that Gandra is a heavy favorite but the odds are too wide to bet on him. He points out that Medina has a path to victory through his toughness and cardio, especially at high altitude where Gandra may gas out. However, the host is not betting Medina himself, as he expects Gandra to win most of the time. He considers it a dog-or-pass fight.

"I'm not personally betting Medina this weekend because I do think he loses a very high percentage of the time, but this is a matchup where the odds feel very very wide."
LU
Lucrative James Expert Confident picked Feb 22, 2026 (6 days before fight)
Ryan Gandra

James sees Gandra as a much better fighter with real power, while Medina's only attribute is durability. He believes Gandra will eventually finish Medina, possibly by KO or submission. James predicts a Gandra win, likely by KO.

"I'm picking Ryan Gandra all day here."
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Feb 24, 2026 (4 days before fight)
Ryan Gandra

The host picks Ryan Gandra by submission, citing his BJJ brown belt and judo. He notes that Medina has lost 8 straight rounds and is not UFC caliber. He expects Gandra to take the fight to the ground and submit Medina, similar to Dusko Todorovic's win. He warns about Medina's durability but believes Gandra's grappling will prevail.

"Give me Ryan Gandra and Gandra by submission."
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Confident picked Feb 25, 2026 (3 days before fight)
Ryan Gandra

Paul expects Gandra to finish Medina early, noting Medina's poor record and lack of skills. He recommends the Gandra round 1 prop at +180, but is not fully confident due to Gandra's late arrival at altitude.

Gandra round 1 +180
"I expect Gander to ab to probably get him out of there in round one. The price on that is probably pretty short. Um, you know, because Medina has been finished in the first round. It's plus 180."
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Feb 28, 2026 (fight day)
Ryan Gandra

The MMA Guru picks Ryan Gandra, calling José Medina a fighter who should not be in the UFC after being dominated by Zachary Reese and Teemu Kärkkäinen. He notes Gandra's impressive Contender Series win and predicts a destructive TKO in the first round.

first round TKO
"Should be a Ryan Gandara destructive TKO in the first round."
ZA
Zane Simon Expert Confident picked Feb 27, 2026 (1 day before fight)
Ryan Gandra

Zane picks Ryan Gandra based on his athleticism, power, and aggression. He notes that Gandra is a raw prospect but should overwhelm José Medina, who is slow, lacks power, and has lost four straight. Zane expects Gandra to win by landing bigger shots, possibly finishing early.

Gandra opened at -550, now -725; Medina opened at +420, now +525. Betting heavily favors Gandra.
"I'd still pick him to win that fight. By virtue of aggression and athleticism."
Submission R1 4:21 · UFC Fight Night: Lopes vs. Silva · Sep 13, 2025
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
José Daniel Medina 0 9 of 25 36% 13 of 29 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Duško Todorović 0 16 of 24 66% 27 of 36 2 of 2 100% 1 0 2:16
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 José Daniel Medina 0 9 of 25 36% 13 of 29 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Duško Todorović 0 16 of 24 66% 27 of 36 2 of 2 100% 1 0 2:16
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
José Daniel Medina 9 of 25 36% 5 of 17 3 of 7 1 of 1 9 of 24 0 of 1 0 of 0
Duško Todorović 16 of 24 66% 10 of 18 6 of 6 0 of 0 10 of 18 6 of 6 0 of 0
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 José Daniel Medina 9 of 25 36% 5 of 17 3 of 7 1 of 1 9 of 24 0 of 1 0 of 0
Duško Todorović 16 of 24 66% 10 of 18 6 of 6 0 of 0 10 of 18 6 of 6 0 of 0
Play-by-Play
View on Sherdog
Jose Medina vs. Dusko Todorovic
BETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Todorovic (-300); Medina (+250)

Round 1
Dan Miragliotta is the referee. Both fighters working behind their jabs. Todorovic pressures and clinches behind a left hand. Todorovic grinds away here, but Medina is able to free himself. Both men land jabs. A straight right from Todorovic counters a Medina low kick. Todorovic shoves Medina back into the fence, where he lands a shoulder strike. Medina is already cut as they’re back at range. Medina lands a combination. Todorovic clinches behind a right, then shoves his foe away. A right connects for Medina, but Todorovic answers with a combination to the body. Todorovic follows another hard right into the clinch. He presses Medina into the wire, landing some short shots. A knee to the midsection lands for Todorovic, who takes Medina down. The Bolivian stands and Todorovic wants to take the back.
They go back to the floor and Todorovic gets both hooks in and slides his arm under the chin. The choke is tight and Medina has no choice but to tap out.
That snaps a three-fight skid for the Serbian.

The Official Result
Dusko Todorovic def. Jose Media via Submission (Rear-Naked Choke) R1 4:21
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Confident picked Sep 7, 2025 (6 days before fight)
Duško Todorović

Angelo picks Dusko because he is the more well-rounded guy and has fought better competition. He calls the odds 'stupid as hell' and says there's no way Dusko wins 74 out of 100 times. He notes Medina is a ground-and-pound fighter with decent striking but not particularly fast or powerful, while Dusko is a technical striker with power and takedowns, though his chin is questionable. He says neither guy is very good.

Odds are stupid as hell
"I'm going to pick Dusco because he is the more well-rounded guy. He's fought the better slate of competition."
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked Sep 11, 2025 (2 days before fight)
Duško Todorović

Big Brady picks Todorović despite his poor chin and striking defense, because Medina is even worse. He notes Todorović has good wrestling and ground-and-pound, while Medina has 31% takedown defense and no ground game. He predicts Todorović wins by second-round TKO via ground-and-pound.

Second round TKO
"I'm going to say Dusk wins this fight and wins it by second round TKO."
CO
Connor Ruebusch Expert Hesitant picked Sep 12, 2025 (1 day before fight)
Duško Todorović

Connor also picks Todorović but is hesitant because Todorović's technique doesn't survive resistance. He notes that Medina is tough but has no power, and Todorović has been one-shot KO'd before. He says it's a testament to how low-level the matchup is that he isn't 100% certain.

Todorović opened at -400, Medina at +180, now +300
"I'm gonna do the same but even you there's so much more of a chance than there should be given."
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Sep 10, 2025 (3 days before fight)
Duško Todorović

Despite Todorovic's durability issues, the host sees this as a winnable matchup. He expects Todorovic to utilize his grappling, control Medina from top position, and eventually secure a submission.

win by submission
"I think we'll see him get to his grappling, look to control Medina from that top position, and I think it's just a matter of time before he ends up pulling off a submission."
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Sep 10, 2025 (3 days before fight)
Duško Todorović

The MMA Guru confidently picks Duško Todorović, noting he is a -325 favorite in 2025, which he sees as a clear sign. He dismisses José Medina as lacking power, athleticism, grappling, and jiu-jitsu, calling him a 'flabby big Latin guy' who shouldn't be in the UFC. He believes Todorović is more well-rounded and a better fighter.

"Dasco Toddovich has been given an opponent in the UFC and he is a minus 325 favorite. ... If that don't tell you Dusco is going to win, I don't know what does."
ZA
Zane Simon Expert Hesitant picked Sep 12, 2025 (1 day before fight)
Duško Todorović

Zane picks Todorović but acknowledges that Medina's toughness could be a factor. He notes that Todorović has poor technique and can't sustain control, but Medina is so slow and uncoordinated that Todorović should win. He mentions that Medina's only chance is landing a big shot, but Medina lacks power.

Todorović opened at -400, Medina at +180, now +300
"I have to pick Todorovich... but even you there's so much more of a chance than there should be given."
LOSS vs Ateba Gautier
KO R1 3:32 · UFC Fight Night: Moreno vs. Erceg · Mar 29, 2025
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
José Daniel Medina 0 17 of 33 51% 17 of 33 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Ateba Gautier 1 28 of 50 56% 28 of 50 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 José Daniel Medina 0 17 of 33 51% 17 of 33 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Ateba Gautier 1 28 of 50 56% 28 of 50 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
José Daniel Medina 17 of 33 51% 6 of 21 6 of 7 5 of 5 17 of 33 0 of 0 0 of 0
Ateba Gautier 28 of 50 56% 24 of 43 3 of 6 1 of 1 26 of 48 2 of 2 0 of 0
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 José Daniel Medina 17 of 33 51% 6 of 21 6 of 7 5 of 5 17 of 33 0 of 0 0 of 0
Ateba Gautier 28 of 50 56% 24 of 43 3 of 6 1 of 1 26 of 48 2 of 2 0 of 0
CO
Connor Ruebusch Expert Confident picked Mar 27, 2025 (2 days before fight)
Ateba Gautier

Connor picks Gautier, calling him a 'monster' despite being unrefined. He believes Gautier's physicality will overwhelm Medina, who is underpowered and uncoordinated. Even if Medina wrestles, Connor expects Gautier to come back and knock him out.

"I'm gonna pick Gautier. Gautier is a monster. He's a completely unrefined monster but like he could get away with that against much better fighters."
ZA
Zane Simon Expert Confident picked Mar 27, 2025 (2 days before fight)
Ateba Gautier

Zane picks Gautier, agreeing with Connor that there is a huge physical gulf. He notes that Medina might try to wrestle but doubts he can do enough damage. Zane expects it to look like a man fighting a bear.

"I am picking Gautier too. It's gonna look like two different species fighting. This is just such a physical gulf between these two."
LOSS vs Zachary Reese
Decision (unanimous) (30–27, 30–27, 30–27) R3 5:00 · UFC on ESPN: Cannonier vs. Borralho · Aug 24, 2024
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Zachary Reese 0 75 of 129 58% 101 of 162 5 of 9 55% 1 1 5:57
José Daniel Medina 0 32 of 74 43% 53 of 97 1 of 2 50% 0 0 1:12
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Zachary Reese 0 34 of 54 62% 40 of 63 1 of 3 33% 1 1 2:08
José Daniel Medina 0 4 of 15 26% 13 of 26 1 of 1 100% 0 0 0:46
2 Zachary Reese 0 26 of 53 49% 31 of 58 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
José Daniel Medina 0 18 of 41 43% 20 of 43 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:26
3 Zachary Reese 0 15 of 22 68% 30 of 41 4 of 6 66% 0 0 3:49
José Daniel Medina 0 10 of 18 55% 20 of 28 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Zachary Reese 75 of 129 58% 42 of 85 20 of 30 13 of 14 57 of 101 2 of 4 16 of 24
José Daniel Medina 32 of 74 43% 20 of 55 5 of 12 7 of 7 30 of 72 1 of 1 1 of 1
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Zachary Reese 34 of 54 62% 23 of 42 9 of 10 2 of 2 20 of 33 1 of 2 13 of 19
José Daniel Medina 4 of 15 26% 2 of 11 0 of 2 2 of 2 4 of 15 0 of 0 0 of 0
2 Zachary Reese 26 of 53 49% 10 of 31 8 of 13 8 of 9 26 of 53 0 of 0 0 of 0
José Daniel Medina 18 of 41 43% 11 of 29 2 of 7 5 of 5 18 of 41 0 of 0 0 of 0
3 Zachary Reese 15 of 22 68% 9 of 12 3 of 7 3 of 3 11 of 15 1 of 2 3 of 5
José Daniel Medina 10 of 18 55% 7 of 15 3 of 3 0 of 0 8 of 16 1 of 1 1 of 1
Play-by-Play
View on Sherdog
Jose Medina vs. Zachary Reese
BETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Reese (-500), Medina (+380)

Round 1
Seeing who is about to take the stage next, judges take a sigh of relief while referee Dan Miragliotta sharply inhales. Texas-based chaos agent Reese (7-1, 1-1 UFC) is about to sling leather with ultraviolent Bolivian Medina (11-3, 0-0 UFC) in a middleweight crash-em-up derby. Between the two, they celebrate one win on the scorecards. Before mayhem ensues, there is a brief shared glove touch. Medina wants to get to business, and immediately jabs to say hello. Reese doubles up on body kicks and clubs Medina with a left hand, backing the Bolivian to the wall. Reese dings him with a few punches and backs off rather than staying in firing range, instead coming forward when he finds the angle he seeks. Reese cracks his foe with a right hand, and he ducks down and secures a clean double-leg takedown to put “Chicho” on his back. Reese does not even get in the guard before pounding down with left hands, and he opens up with ground-and-pound that shreds Medina’s forehead open. Medina turns his back to get to his knees and wall-walk, and Reese clings to him from behind and lifts Medina in the air with a single-leg takedown. Medina again gets up, this time with less effort, and Reese attempts a mat return. Medina turns around and Reese lets him have it with three fiery punches. Medina backs off and absorbs a ferocious body kick that nearly doubles him over, and he keeps a stiff upper lip and guards against a head kick. Medina paws his way in with right hooks that miss the mark, and Reese kicks him in the side and then blasts him with a liver kick. Medina retreats to the cage wall, and Reese charges after him, unloading with fists of fury. Medina ducks underneath the power strikes, grabs the Texan from the side and slings him to the canvas. Medina lowers himself into the guard, and Reese sits up and starts to set up a guillotine choke. Reese rolls his man over with the choke, and he uses the painful submission to flip Medina over and nearly secure mount. Medina wriggles out of the submission and gets some space, and Reese stands up and allows Medina to stand. Medina slowly gets up as Miragliotta tells him to hurry, and he is quick to eat two punches and a liver kick. Medina shakes his hand and points at the ground to initiate a brawl, and he runs forward throwing hands. Reese backpedals and gets off a few punches, and he spins with a back fist and jumps with a knee as the horn sounds.

Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Reese
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Reese
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Reese

Round 2
Reese rushes out of his corner ready to attack, and he starts with a lunging right hand and a leg kick. This marks the longest fight of his young career, and he is not totally spent, as he lashes out with a jump knee and kicks Medina in the liver. Medina groans and drops his hands, and Reese goes after him with another jumping knee that misses. Reese hammers the side with a stern kick, and he checks a leg kick. Reese reaches the target with a long left hand and another vicious body kick, and he connects with two left hands as Medina wags his finger at him. Reese does not slow down when Medina plays, punching him in the face a few more times. Medina throws back a single low kick, and Reese boots him twice to the body. Medina offers a single jab and a leg kick, and Reese loops a right hand around the guard. Medina circles away and gets booted in the face, and he smiles and returns fire with a body shot. Medina rushes forward and Reese slips away, and Reese is slowing to throw one power strike rather than setting them up. He gets in another body kick, and then one more thuds to the side, but Medina is right in front of him throwing back. Medina shrugs at him when Reese lands a strike, and Reese comes over the top with a question-mark kick. Medina is as durable as they come, as he walks through a spinning kick to the body so he can wind up with a right hand and a left hook. Reese backs him away with a jab and step-in left hook, and his leg kick makes Medina point at the ground again. Reese kicks the same lead leg two more times as Medina does not like this strike, but Medina steels himself and releases a few punches. Reese counters and beats up the front leg, and Medina shrugs again, wings a right hand and shoots in for a double. Medina pushes Reese against the cage wall, and Reese separates with a second to spare and whiffs on an elbow.

Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Reese
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Reese
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Reese

Round 3
Medina raises both arms up to signal that he wants a hug, and Reese reluctantly accepts it. They start fighting, and Reese kicks him in the liver and pursues a takedown. Medina stops it and pushes him away, but Reese meets him with another body kick. When a knee from Reese nearly tags the Bolivian, “Chicho” motions to Reese and shares a laugh with Miragliotta that he managed to avoid it. Reese sprints forward and tackles Medina to the canvas, finding a few spots to land power punches before Medina kicks him off. Reese backs off and pushes forward to land another takedown, but Medina is once more able to push Reese off of him. Medina stands up without issue, and he gets belted in the face with a left hand and walks Reese down to land three punches including a liver shot. Medina connects with a left hand that hurts Reese, and Reese retaliates with a slamming takedown that bums Medina out and bloodies up his ear. Reese moves to half guard, and after taking a few seconds to catch his breath, he opens up with right hands. The Texan climbs to half guard on the other side to land strikes, and Medina answers him with hacking elbows off his back. Medina sits up, and Reese snatches up his neck and hunts for a one-arm submission that nearly transitions into a brabo choke. Reese holds on with a potential arm-triangle, and Medina complains that his glove is getting grabbed. Reese slugs away from on top, and Medina sits up to give his back up. Reese steps around to capitalize, but Medina gets to his feet by crawling to the fence. Reese pursues a single, and he deposits the Bolivian to the mat for a second. Medina is not about to go out like this, standing up once more, and he fights off a final takedown and slugs away until the fight concludes. Medina might have lost clearly, but he had a blast every step of the way.

Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Reese (30-27 Reese)
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Reese (30-27 Reese)
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Reese (30-27 Reese)

The Official Result
Zachary Reese def. Jose Medina via Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Confident picked Aug 18, 2024 (6 days before fight)
Zachary Reese

Angelo picks Zachary Reese, acknowledging that Reese burned him in the past but attributing that loss to a freak powerbomb. He notes Reese's size, power, and BJJ, but warns that if Reese plays the 'Jiu-Jitsu nerd game' and throws up triangles, he could get ground-and-pounded by Medina. He thinks Reese is the better fighter and should win, but is cautious.

"Zach ree is going to be the pick I think he's the better fighter but we're going to see no way I lose two bets in one calendar year on this guy not happen"
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Confident picked Aug 20, 2024 (4 days before fight)
Zachary Reese

Cody picks Reese because he is a finisher with power and submission skills. He notes that Medina has poor takedown defense and has been dominated on the ground. He thinks Reese will take him down and finish him early. He also mentions that Medina is dropping down to middleweight and may not handle the cut well.

Zachary Reese by submission or KO/TKO (round 1)
"I think ree goes and handles business atus 400 is a little too much for a guy that's never really fought four five minutes into a fight yes minus 600 now"
DA
Daniel Vreeland Expert Lean picked Aug 22, 2024 (2 days before fight)
Zachary Reese

Daniel Vreeland picks Zachary Reese but is not confident due to Reese's unknown cardio past the first round. He notes Medina is tough and could survive early onslaught and finish late, but believes Reese's power and aggression will likely get the job done early.

"I'm going to pick Zack Reese but at this minus 600 price tag like I need assurances"
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Aug 21, 2024 (3 days before fight)
Zachary Reese

Brevin picks Reese by decision, dismissing his slam KO loss to Cody Brundage as a freak accident. He notes Reese was nearly submitting Brundage before the slam. He thinks Medina is unimpressive and will try to pressure grapple but Reese is better. JP is more confident, picking Reese by KO, calling Medina bad, out of shape, and noting Reese is much bigger and stronger. He calls the Brundage slam a one-off.

Reese by KO (JP)
"I think Reese is going to go in there freaking starch media give me Zachary Reese by KO big KO prop there"
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Lean picked Aug 20, 2024 (4 days before fight)
Zachary Reese

Paul leans towards Reese but is concerned about the price and Reese's cardio. He notes that Reese has never fought past the first round and could fade. He thinks Medina's durability could be a factor if Reese doesn't finish early. He prefers to look at live betting or late props on Medina.

José Daniel Medina by KO/TKO (round 3) - live betting angle
"I'm looking at Medina like late props here maybe a live betting angle"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Aug 21, 2024 (3 days before fight)
Zachary Reese

The MMA Guru picks Zachary Reese because he considers José Medina not UFC-level and 'garbage'. He notes Reese is a talented finisher with good submissions off his back and KO power on the feet, despite a previous loss where he was slammed on his head. He dismisses Medina's resume as weak.

"Jose Medina is not UFC level he's garbage and Zachary ree is way better than him"
Expert Picks (11)
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Confident picked Feb 22, 2026 (6 days before fight)
Ryan Gandra

Angelo picks Ryan Gandra because José Medina is one of the worst fighters in the UFC, on a four-fight losing streak. He describes Gandra as a busy forward-pressure striker who throws volume. He expects Gandra to overwhelm Medina with punches, though he notes Medina is tough and could survive into the later rounds.

Suggests a sneaky over 1.5 rounds bet because Medina is tough and might survive a round and a half.
"Ryan Gond is going to be the pick. Maybe a sneaky over one and a half here because even though Medina can't find a win in the UFC, he's actually pretty tough."
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked Feb 22, 2026 (6 days before fight)
Ryan Gandra

Big Brady picks Ryan Gandra, calling José Medina the worst signing in Contender Series history and noting he is 0-3 in the UFC. He admits Gandra is wild and reckless but believes he will win easily, likely by first-round knockout. He notes the line is crazy but cannot picture Medina winning any UFC fight.

first round knockout
"Ryan Gondra first round knockout for me."
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Confident picked Feb 25, 2026 (3 days before fight)
Ryan Gandra

Cody picks Gandra, highlighting his finishing ability and Medina's lack of defense. He notes Gandra can win by KO or submission and expects a dominant performance. He sees this as a showcase for Gandra.

"I think he gets the job done. The UFC would like to build up middleweights... This Gandra Kids could look well, he's not kid, he's 30 years old, but he's good enough looking."
CO
Connor Ruebusch Expert Confident picked Feb 27, 2026 (1 day before fight)
Ryan Gandra

Connor agrees with Zane, calling Gandra a promising prospect with a raw game built on power. He criticizes Medina as a normal person who is slow and lacks power, and notes that Gandra should walk through him. Connor expects a quick finish or a dominant decision.

Same odds commentary as Zane.
"Yeah, Gondra seems like a normal prospect. Athletic, powerful, aggressive, doesn't have any defense or any real technical center of his game, but he should walk through Medina."
DA
Daniel Vreeland Expert picked Feb 20, 2024 (739 days before fight)
No clear pick

Daniel does not discuss this fight in the transcript.

DI
Diary of a Pro Gambler Expert picked Feb 28, 2026 (fight day)
No clear pick

The host notes that Gandra is a heavy favorite but the odds are too wide to bet on him. He points out that Medina has a path to victory through his toughness and cardio, especially at high altitude where Gandra may gas out. However, the host is not betting Medina himself, as he expects Gandra to win most of the time. He considers it a dog-or-pass fight.

"I'm not personally betting Medina this weekend because I do think he loses a very high percentage of the time, but this is a matchup where the odds feel very very wide."
LU
Lucrative James Expert Confident picked Feb 22, 2026 (6 days before fight)
Ryan Gandra

James sees Gandra as a much better fighter with real power, while Medina's only attribute is durability. He believes Gandra will eventually finish Medina, possibly by KO or submission. James predicts a Gandra win, likely by KO.

"I'm picking Ryan Gandra all day here."
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Feb 24, 2026 (4 days before fight)
Ryan Gandra

The host picks Ryan Gandra by submission, citing his BJJ brown belt and judo. He notes that Medina has lost 8 straight rounds and is not UFC caliber. He expects Gandra to take the fight to the ground and submit Medina, similar to Dusko Todorovic's win. He warns about Medina's durability but believes Gandra's grappling will prevail.

"Give me Ryan Gandra and Gandra by submission."
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Confident picked Feb 25, 2026 (3 days before fight)
Ryan Gandra

Paul expects Gandra to finish Medina early, noting Medina's poor record and lack of skills. He recommends the Gandra round 1 prop at +180, but is not fully confident due to Gandra's late arrival at altitude.

Gandra round 1 +180
"I expect Gander to ab to probably get him out of there in round one. The price on that is probably pretty short. Um, you know, because Medina has been finished in the first round. It's plus 180."
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Feb 28, 2026 (fight day)
Ryan Gandra

The MMA Guru picks Ryan Gandra, calling José Medina a fighter who should not be in the UFC after being dominated by Zachary Reese and Teemu Kärkkäinen. He notes Gandra's impressive Contender Series win and predicts a destructive TKO in the first round.

first round TKO
"Should be a Ryan Gandara destructive TKO in the first round."
ZA
Zane Simon Expert Confident picked Feb 27, 2026 (1 day before fight)
Ryan Gandra

Zane picks Ryan Gandra based on his athleticism, power, and aggression. He notes that Gandra is a raw prospect but should overwhelm José Medina, who is slow, lacks power, and has lost four straight. Zane expects Gandra to win by landing bigger shots, possibly finishing early.

Gandra opened at -550, now -725; Medina opened at +420, now +525. Betting heavily favors Gandra.
"I'd still pick him to win that fight. By virtue of aggression and athleticism."
Comments (1)
BR
brian 4 months, 3 weeks ago

arm trianglke 13