vs
-118 +143
UFC Fight Night: Du Plessis vs. Usman · Jul 18, 2026 · Featherweight · Scheduled
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Age 24
Height 5' 6"
Reach 70.0"
Weight 145 lbs.
Stance Orthodox
Age 28
Height 5' 11"
Reach 73.0"
Weight 145 lbs.
Stance Switch
Career Averages - Austin Bashi
1.75 SLpM
47.0% Str. Acc.
2.34 SApM
48.0% Str. Def.
7.81 TD Avg
41.0% TD Acc.
62.0% TD Def.
1.7 Sub. Avg
Career Averages - Jose Delgado
7.48 SLpM
54.0% Str. Acc.
4.95 SApM
50.0% Str. Def.
1.51 TD Avg
40.0% TD Acc.
50.0% TD Def.
0.0 Sub. Avg
Austin Bashi
Moneyline
Nordic Bet -118
KO/TKO
Cloudbet 11.46
Submission
Cloudbet 6.37
Decision
FanDuel +210
Jose Delgado
Moneyline
Unibet Eu +143
KO/TKO
FanDuel +340
Submission
Cloudbet 8.89
Decision
FanDuel +500
Austin Bashi - Fight History
SCHED vs Jose Delgado
AJ
AJ DeVito Expert Confident picked Jul 13, 2026 (5 days before fight)
Jose Delgado

AJ picks Jose Delgado by knockout, believing his striking, size, and reach advantage will be too much for Austin Bashi. He notes Delgado's past performances (except the Andre Fili fight) and thinks Bashi's grappling threat is neutralized by Delgado's takedown defense. He is surprised by the betting lines and considers Delgado mispriced.

Delgado by KO, over 1.5 rounds (-215), over 2.5 rounds (-150), Bashi by submission
"I'm going Jose Delgado by knockout. I think this is going to be a bit of a y'all must have forgot type of performance."
AJ
AJ DeVito Expert Confident picked Jul 17, 2026 (1 day before fight)
Jose Delgado

AJ picks Jose Delgado, believing he can win by knockout or decision. He notes Delgado's range advantage and power, while Bashi may be overrated as a grappler. He thinks the fight ends inside the distance and likes Delgado's versatility. He also mentions the KO prop at +275.

Delgado by KO (+275), fight ends inside distance (-130)
"I'm picking Delgato. And maybe it's a Delgato decision. Maybe we're obsessing about the finish threat, but maybe Delgado goes out and gets a crafty decision."
AJ
AJ DeVito Expert Confident picked Jul 14, 2026 (4 days before fight)
Jose Delgado

AJ picks Jose Delgado by KO, citing Delgado's striking power, range, and size advantage (5'11" vs 5'6"). He notes Delgado's sensational KOs and believes he can keep range and hurt Bashi, despite Bashi's strong grappling. AJ acknowledges Bashi's path via submission but favors Delgado's striking.

Delgado by KO +300, Bashi by submission +525
"I'm going Delgado by knockout. Delgado's striking's gnarly."
AJ
AJ DeVito Expert Lean picked Jul 15, 2026 (3 days before fight)
Jose Delgado

AJ mentions Delgado by knockout as a Degen prop, noting his height and reach advantage. He acknowledges Bashi could win by submission but sees Delgado's kickboxing as a live threat for a KO.

Delgado knockout +300
"Delgado knockout plus 300... a big Delgado knee up the center or a power right hand."
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Lean picked Jul 12, 2026 (6 days before fight)
Austin Bashi

Angelo leans toward Austin Bashi, citing the location in Oklahoma where wrestling might be valued more by judges. He expects Bashi to get multiple takedowns while Delgado wins the striking, making it a close decision. He thinks the commission's preference for wrestling could swing the fight to Bashi.

"I'm going to be on the Austin Bashy side. This is going to be a very stressful one. ... I think Austin Bashy could steal a close one."
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Hesitant picked Jul 17, 2026 (1 day before fight)
Austin Bashi

Angelo picks Austin Bashi to win a close decision, believing his wrestling will be rewarded by Oklahoma judges. However, he is fading Bashi in DFS because his scoring potential is low unless he gets a submission, which he doesn't expect against Delgado.

"I am going to pick him just a straight up and down pick because I think he'll get the takedowns. I think these judges will care about the takedowns."
BI
Big Brady Expert Lean picked Jul 12, 2026 (6 days before fight)
Jose Delgado

Big Brady leans toward Jose Delgado, citing his significant size, reach, and striking advantages. He believes Delgado can stuff takedowns or get back up, and on the feet it's one-way traffic. He acknowledges Austin Bashi's path via grappling but expects Delgado to win by decision.

"I'm going to lean Delgado here. ... I'll say he gets it done by decision."
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Lean picked Jul 15, 2026 (3 days before fight)
Jose Delgado

Cody picks Delgado but prefers a live bet after the first round. He thinks Bashi will get early takedowns but Delgado will get up and land bigger shots as the fight goes on. He notes Delgado's striking advantage and Bashi's potential cardio issues, making Delgado a good live underdog.

Live bet Delgado after round 1
"I actually going to take Jose Delgado, but I'm looking at it better from I want better plus money after this first round, lose the first round, second and the third, you know, work your way back into it."
DA
Daniel Levi Expert Lean picked Jul 14, 2026 (4 days before fight)
Austin Bashi

Daniel Levi leans toward Austin Bashi as a plus-money underdog, citing Bashi's elite grappling and Delgado's takedown defense issues. He notes Delgado has been taken down eight times in three UFC fights and Bashi should be able to take him down and control him. However, he acknowledges Delgado's improved get-up game and the fight could be decided in scrambles, making it a close matchup.

betting advice: plus money on a prospect
"I gotta go Austin Bashy here for this upset."
LU
Lucrative James Expert Confident picked Jul 12, 2026 (6 days before fight)
Austin Bashi

Lucrative James picks Austin Bashi to win by decision, citing Bashi's superior grappling and cardio. He notes that Delgado is a dangerous striker but Bashi should be able to take him down and grind out a decision over three rounds. He trusts Bashi's grappling game more over 15 minutes.

"I will pick Austin Bashi to win this fight. And I'll say that he gets it done via decision."
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Jul 14, 2026 (4 days before fight)
Jose Delgado

Delgado has good enough grappling defense to get back to his feet quickly if taken down, and he holds a significant striking advantage with height and reach. Bashi relies on wrestling but has struggled to control higher-level opponents. Delgado should out-strike Bashi over three rounds and win a decision.

"I find myself leaning pretty heavily towards the Jose Delgado side. I believe he has good enough grappling defense to even if he gets taken down, work right back to his feet."
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Lean picked Jul 15, 2026 (3 days before fight)
Jose Delgado

The host leans with Delgado's damage-heavy style despite giving up takedowns, as Delgado works back to his feet quickly and has a striking advantage. He predicts a decision victory.

"I have to lean with the damage heavy style of Jose Delgado. Even though he can give up takedowns, he has constantly worked back to his feet pretty quickly and from there we know he'll have the striking advantage over …"
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Lean picked Jul 15, 2026 (3 days before fight)
Austin Bashi

Paul picks Bashi, citing his wrestling advantage and ability to get takedowns. He thinks Bashi's takedowns and control time will win rounds, though he acknowledges Delgado's get-up game. He is not heavily confident and says it's a pick'em for a reason.

"I'm going to say I'm going to go against the current market movement and pick Austin Bashy."
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Jul 16, 2026 (2 days before fight)
Jose Delgado

The MMA Guru picks Jose Miguel Delgado over Austin Bashi, citing Delgado's size, power, and dangerous striking. He worries Bashi may struggle on the feet if he can't secure takedowns. He predicts Delgado wins by decision or late finish.

"I'm going to go with Jose Miguel Delgado... I think he's too dangerous on the feet and his damage will carry him if it does go to a competitive decision here."
WIN vs John Yannis
SUB R1 3:39 · UFC Fight Night: Taira vs. Park · Aug 02, 2025
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Austin Bashi 0 2 of 7 28% 48 of 67 1 of 1 100% 1 0 2:53
John Yannis 0 0 of 5 0% 2 of 9 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Austin Bashi 0 2 of 7 28% 48 of 67 1 of 1 100% 1 0 2:53
John Yannis 0 0 of 5 0% 2 of 9 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Austin Bashi 2 of 7 28% 2 of 7 0 of 0 0 of 0 2 of 6 0 of 0 0 of 1
John Yannis 0 of 5 0% 0 of 4 0 of 1 0 of 0 0 of 5 0 of 0 0 of 0
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Austin Bashi 2 of 7 28% 2 of 7 0 of 0 0 of 0 2 of 6 0 of 0 0 of 1
John Yannis 0 of 5 0% 0 of 4 0 of 1 0 of 0 0 of 5 0 of 0 0 of 0
Play-by-Play
View on Sherdog
Austin Bashi vs. John Yannis
BETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Bashi (-550); Yannis (+400)

Round 1
On ultra-short notice, Michigan native Bashi (13-1, 0-1 UFC) finds himself staring across the Octagon from Yannis (9-3, 0-0 UFC), a striker by trade. This shifted stylistic clash to one more in line with the grappler-striker archetype will be overseen by referee Mark Smith, and the featherweights opt to bump fists.
The newcomer takes to the center of the cage, keeping his guard up to block a head kick from the massive betting favorite Bashi. Yannis whiffs with a big punch, and Bashi responds with a mighty hook that knocks Yannis back to the wall. Yannis ricochets off to retaliate, but Bashi is nowhere to be struck. Bashi rushes at his foe and completes a single-leg takedown, lifting Yannis in the air and slamming him to the mat. Yannis scrambles, but he gives his back up along the way. Bashi takes it, and he lets Yannis stand up so he can cling to him like a malevolent backpack that hits him in the face. Bashi softens his foe up while Yannis lowers himself back to the floor, and the underdog tries all he might to shake Bashi of him. Bashi stays on the back spamming heavy right hands, allowing Yannis to turn so he can gain control of a traditional back take.
Bashi secures a body triangle while beating on Yannis on either side of the head. Yannis breaks out of the body lock while under fire, and he crawls the fence to wall-walk with Bashi still behind him.
Bashi, still on Yannis’ back, grips hold of a rear-naked choke and torques his way back to put ample pressure on Yannis’ throat. The submission is tight as a drum and going nowhere, and before Yannis drops to the floor and goes out, he surrenders.
The crowd in the Apex loudly cheers the victory of the Michigan native, with a fair number of fans in the building for the biggest favorite of the evening cashing without likely absorbing a single significant strike. That is one way to bounce back from your first career loss, by running over the next person placed in front of you.

The Official Result
Austin Bashi def. John Yannis R1 3:39 via Submission (Rear-Naked Choke)
CO
Connor Ruebusch Expert Confident picked Aug 1, 2025 (1 day before fight)
Austin Bashi

Connor picks Bashi confidently, noting that Yannis is a weak defensive wrestler with a front-foot boxing style that doesn't protect him from takedowns. Bashi is an overwhelming wrestling and grappling prospect who should easily take Yannis down and control him. Yannis coming in on short notice makes this even more favorable for Bashi.

"This seems like a lock for Austin Bashi to get back on the winning track."
ZA
Zane Simon Expert Confident picked Aug 1, 2025 (1 day before fight)
Austin Bashi

Zane agrees, stating that Yannis has weak defensive wrestling and a low-output striking game. Bashi is a super talent as a wrestler-grappler and should easily impose his game. Zane notes that Yannis's best wins have come against lesser competition and he struggles against wrestlers.

"This seems like a lock for Austin Bashi to get back on the winning track."
Decision (unanimous) (29–28, 29–28, 29–28) R3 5:00 · UFC Fight Night: Dern vs. Ribas 2 · Jan 11, 2025
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Christian Rodriguez 0 44 of 82 53% 55 of 93 2 of 4 50% 2 2 3:20
Austin Bashi 0 23 of 50 46% 32 of 60 3 of 18 16% 0 0 5:41
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Christian Rodriguez 0 7 of 18 38% 9 of 20 1 of 2 50% 2 1 1:14
Austin Bashi 0 8 of 13 61% 11 of 16 1 of 6 16% 0 0 2:16
2 Christian Rodriguez 0 14 of 18 77% 19 of 23 0 of 0 --- 0 1 0:24
Austin Bashi 0 5 of 15 33% 11 of 22 2 of 7 28% 0 0 2:44
3 Christian Rodriguez 0 23 of 46 50% 27 of 50 1 of 2 50% 0 0 1:42
Austin Bashi 0 10 of 22 45% 10 of 22 0 of 5 0% 0 0 0:41
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Christian Rodriguez 44 of 82 53% 32 of 68 12 of 14 0 of 0 32 of 66 8 of 12 4 of 4
Austin Bashi 23 of 50 46% 12 of 34 9 of 11 2 of 5 17 of 43 5 of 6 1 of 1
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Christian Rodriguez 7 of 18 38% 5 of 16 2 of 2 0 of 0 3 of 14 4 of 4 0 of 0
Austin Bashi 8 of 13 61% 3 of 7 3 of 4 2 of 2 5 of 10 3 of 3 0 of 0
2 Christian Rodriguez 14 of 18 77% 13 of 16 1 of 2 0 of 0 11 of 15 1 of 1 2 of 2
Austin Bashi 5 of 15 33% 2 of 10 3 of 3 0 of 2 4 of 13 1 of 2 0 of 0
3 Christian Rodriguez 23 of 46 50% 14 of 36 9 of 10 0 of 0 18 of 37 3 of 7 2 of 2
Austin Bashi 10 of 22 45% 7 of 17 3 of 4 0 of 1 8 of 20 1 of 1 1 of 1
Play-by-Play
View on Sherdog
Austin Bashi vs. Christian Rodriguez

Round 1
In three of his last four outings, Rodriguez (11-2, 4-2 UFC) has donned his prospect-killer hat while staving off an undefeated opponent. This comes to a head once more for “CeeRod,” as this time he battles Michigan-based up-and-comer Bashi (13-0, 0-0 UFC) in hopes of spoiling one more flawless record. Whether he succeeds or fails, referee Chris Tognoni will be on top of things from start to finish. There is a sporting glove touch to commence the featherweight scrap, and Rodriguez nails the newcomer with a right hand and a flying knee. Bashi takes them on the chin and attempts a takedown, only to be easily stuffed by the underdog. Bashi pushes Rodriguez up against the fence and goes all-in for a takedown, as Rodriguez sets him down in 50-50 position. Rodriguez snatches hold of a power guillotine choke, turning Bashi to the side and wrenching him to the floor. Bashi, still in submission danger, works his way up to his feet, and he wriggles out of the choke and backs Rodriguez off with strikes. Rodriguez feints with loud stomps, drawing reactions out of the newcomer every time. A head kick from Rodriguez gets up quick, and he changes levels to ground Bashi. Rodriguez waits to line up a legal knee when Bashi stands, planting one on the torso and retreating. Bashi follows him, considers a takedown and elects to leap on Rodriguez’ back standing up. Rodriguez controls Bashi’s right arm with both hands, looking to shake Bashi off of him. When he does not fall off, Bashi resets and hooks a triangle around Rodriguez’ hips. Rodriguez fights the leg grip and does not let Bashi get a choke in, and he forces Bashi to release him. Rodriguez pushes back to get enough space to strike, and he follows a strafing Bashi and flusters him with a stomp on the mat before spurring into action. Bashi clings to “CeeRod” where he elevates and dumps Rodriguez to the ground. Rodriguez sweeps him with relative ease, but he does not establish top control as he wishes to engage on the feet. Bashi ties him up with the clinch and pushes him to the wire, but it is Rodriguez who takes advantage of the close proximity with a spinning back elbow. Bashi tags him back with a right hand before the bell.

Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Rodriguez
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Rodriguez
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Rodriguez

Round 2
A calm Rodriguez meanders out of his corner to commence the round, and he skillfully tags Bashi from afar without letting the relative neophyte score much back. Bashi dives in deep for a single and succeeds in putting Rodriguez on his seat, only for Rodriguez to get back up before one second elapses. Bashi goes for a double and scoops Rodriguez off the ground to put him down, and this time, he lowers himself into top position. Rodriguez elbows his man off his back while scrambling, and this allows Bashi to take his back and wrap his legs around the waist again. Rodriguez grips the ankle to turn Bashi about, and he uses elbows to further break the leg grip. Rodriguez peels his foe off of him and knees him in the belly, and he takes an elbow on the break. Rodriguez peppers out a jab and evades a swinging right hand, preparing himself for a takedown that inevitably comes. An irritated Rodriguez falls to his back, and Bashi quickly advances to three-quarter mount so he can hop to the side instead of full mount. Bashi works the body with knees all while maintaining heavy chest pressure, and Rodriguez still turns him around and thwarts a submission setup. Rodriguez pushes Bashi over and nearly sneaks into mount, and he pushes off the back of the neck to stand. Bashi tries to follow him with a spinning back elbow, and he is met with a knee on the jaw. Rodriguez cracks the newcomer with an uppercut and a right hand, and Bashi takes a breath and shoots. Rodriguez sprawls to keep himself upright, turning the corner to put Bashi on his knees. Bashi reasserts going for his takedown attempt, and the round ends.

Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Bashi
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Bashi
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Bashi

Round 3
In three of his last four outings, Rodriguez (11-2, 4-2 UFC) has donned his prospect-killer hat while staving off an undefeated opponent. This comes to a head once more for “CeeRod,” as this time he battles Michigan-based up-and-comer Bashi (13-0, 0-0 UFC) in hopes of spoiling one more flawless record. Whether he succeeds or fails, referee Chris Tognoni will be on top of things from start to finish. There is a sporting glove touch to commence the featherweight scrap, and Rodriguez nails the newcomer with a right hand and a flying knee. Bashi takes them on the chin and attempts a takedown, only to be easily stuffed by the underdog. Bashi pushes Rodriguez up against the fence and goes all-in for a takedown, as Rodriguez sets him down in 50-50 position. Rodriguez snatches hold of a power guillotine choke, turning Bashi to the side and wrenching him to the floor. Bashi, still in submission danger, works his way up to his feet, and he wriggles out of the choke and backs Rodriguez off with strikes. Rodriguez feints with loud stomps, drawing reactions out of the newcomer every time. A head kick from Rodriguez gets up quick, and he changes levels to ground Bashi. Rodriguez waits to line up a legal knee when Bashi stands, planting one on the torso and retreating. Bashi follows him, considers a takedown and elects to leap on Rodriguez’ back standing up. Rodriguez controls Bashi’s right arm with both hands, looking to shake Bashi off of him. When he does not fall off, Bashi resets and hooks a triangle around Rodriguez’ hips. Rodriguez fights the leg grip and does not let Bashi get a choke in, and he forces Bashi to release him. Rodriguez pushes back to get enough space to strike, and he follows a strafing Bashi and flusters him with a stomp on the mat before spurring into action. Bashi clings to “CeeRod” where he elevates and dumps Rodriguez to the ground. Rodriguez sweeps him with relative ease, but he does not establish top control as he wishes to engage on the feet. Bashi ties him up with the clinch and pushes him to the wire, but it is Rodriguez who takes advantage of the close proximity with a spinning back elbow. Bashi tags him back with a right hand before the bell.

Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Rodriguez (29-28 Rodriguez)
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Rodriguez (29-28 Rodriguez)
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Rodriguez (29-28 Rodriguez)

The Official Result
Christian Rodriguez def. Austin Bashi via Unanimous Decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Confident picked Jan 5, 2025 (6 days before fight)
Austin Bashi

Angelo picks Austin Bashi, believing he is a better prospect than those Christian Rodriguez has beaten before. He notes Bashi's well-rounded skills, particularly his grappling and improved striking. He thinks Bashi's wrestling and cardio will be too much for Rodriguez, who has been submitted before. He considers Bashi safe to bet on despite being a UFC debutant.

"I think Austin bashy is better than those other guys because of the Striking first of all ... Austin bashley should win this fight and I think he gets it done and I actually think he's safe to bet on …"
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked Jan 8, 2025 (3 days before fight)
Austin Bashi

Big Brady is extremely high on Bashi, calling him the number one prospect from contender series. He notes Bashi is well-rounded, has great cardio, and can wrestle for 15 minutes, unlike previous undefeated prospects who gassed against Rodriguez. He acknowledges Rodriguez has beaten undefeated prospects before, but believes Bashi's cardio and durability will be the difference. He predicts Bashi wins by decision in a close fight.

"I'm going to go Bashi here I'm going to take Bashi to probably win this fight by decision"
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Confident picked Jan 8, 2025 (3 days before fight)
Austin Bashi

Cody picks Bashi despite the high price, believing his wrestling and youth will overwhelm Rodriguez. He notes Rodriguez's poor takedown defense and weight misses at 135. He expects Bashi to secure takedowns and win two of three rounds.

"for my personal take he's the pick I got Austin bosy to pick up his first UFC win"
CO
Connor Ruebusch Expert Confident picked Jan 9, 2025 (2 days before fight)
Christian Rodriguez

Connor picks Rodriguez because of his experience and craft, despite being physically outmatched. Rodriguez is an excellent scrambler, patient, and persistent, and he has shown he can outlast stronger opponents like Dulgarian. Bashi is a great prospect, but this is a tough stylistic matchup for him. Connor notes that Rodriguez's boxing and positional grappling are high-level, and he believes Rodriguez's determination and fight IQ will carry him through.

"I just think I'm going to go with Rodriguez."
DA
Daniel Levi Expert Confident picked Jan 9, 2025 (2 days before fight)
Austin Bashi

Daniel thinks Rodriguez is in the wrong weight class (too small for featherweight) and has had issues with grapplers who gas, but Bashi has endless cardio and strong grappling. He predicts Bashi will have grappling success and win a decision, similar to Rodriguez's previous fights but without the gas issue. He notes the odds have moved from -190 to -270, making it a pass for betting.

pass on betting due to odds movement
"I'm going to just tell you I'm picking Austin bashy here but minus 270 is trash"
LU
Lucrative James Expert Lean picked Jan 8, 2025 (3 days before fight)
Christian Rodriguez

Lucrative James leans toward Christian Rodriguez at plus 250, citing Rodriguez's proven track record against undefeated prospects. He believes Rodriguez is the better striker and has improved his anti-wrestling. He notes that Bashi is a strong grappler but making his UFC debut, which often leads to underperformance. He also mentions that Rodriguez is not a natural featherweight, which is a concern. He hasn't fully decided on a bet yet but sees value.

"I think Cod is the better striker in this matchup right I think if the fight is on the feet cod's going to win and he definitely won't look plus 250"
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Jan 10, 2025 (1 day before fight)
Christian Rodriguez

Rodriguez is a good scrambler and defensive grappler who can cause Bashi trouble in establishing dominant positions. He can then get the fight to striking, where he is the cleaner and superior striker, landing more damage and winning on the scorecards.

"I believe Rodriguez is a good enough Scrambler and good enough defensive Grappler that he should be able to cause bashy trouble in terms of trying to establish a dominant position and from there Rodriguez should be able to get …"
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Lean picked Jan 8, 2025 (3 days before fight)
Christian Rodriguez

Paul leans toward Rodriguez as a dog, questioning Bashi's readiness despite his potential. He notes Rodriguez's experience against prospects and Bashi's greenness. He suggests live betting Bashi after round one if he comes out hot.

live bet on Bashi after round 1
"another dogger pass situation here for me"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Jan 9, 2025 (2 days before fight)
Austin Bashi

The Guru picks Bashi, impressed by his wrestling and experience. He notes Bashi's undefeated record (13-0) and better competition compared to Rodriguez's loss to Julian Erosa. He thinks Bashi's standup is better than R. Rosas Jr.'s and predicts a 29-28 decision, with Rodriguez having a good third round but not enough. He warns that Bashi sometimes fails to capitalize on takedowns and is open on the feet.

29-28 decision
"I'm going to side with him to win this fight and I think he'll get it done I don't think he'll get a finish though"
ZA
Zane Simon Expert Confident picked Jan 9, 2025 (2 days before fight)
Austin Bashi

Zane picks Bashi despite acknowledging it's the wrong matchup for him. He believes Bashi's athletic upside, endless motor, and physicality will allow him to get early advantages and maintain them. Bashi is stronger and better put together than fighters like Raul Rosas, and he doesn't gas out like Dulgarian. Zane thinks Bashi's superior athleticism and cardio will be the difference, even if Rodriguez is more experienced.

"I am actually going to pick Bashi here."
Jose Delgado - Fight History
SCHED vs Austin Bashi
AJ
AJ DeVito Expert Confident picked Jul 14, 2026 (4 days before fight)
Jose Delgado

AJ picks Jose Delgado by KO, citing Delgado's striking power, range, and size advantage (5'11" vs 5'6"). He notes Delgado's sensational KOs and believes he can keep range and hurt Bashi, despite Bashi's strong grappling. AJ acknowledges Bashi's path via submission but favors Delgado's striking.

Delgado by KO +300, Bashi by submission +525
"I'm going Delgado by knockout. Delgado's striking's gnarly."
AJ
AJ DeVito Expert Lean picked Jul 15, 2026 (3 days before fight)
Jose Delgado

AJ mentions Delgado by knockout as a Degen prop, noting his height and reach advantage. He acknowledges Bashi could win by submission but sees Delgado's kickboxing as a live threat for a KO.

Delgado knockout +300
"Delgado knockout plus 300... a big Delgado knee up the center or a power right hand."
AJ
AJ DeVito Expert Confident picked Jul 17, 2026 (1 day before fight)
Jose Delgado

AJ picks Jose Delgado, believing he can win by knockout or decision. He notes Delgado's range advantage and power, while Bashi may be overrated as a grappler. He thinks the fight ends inside the distance and likes Delgado's versatility. He also mentions the KO prop at +275.

Delgado by KO (+275), fight ends inside distance (-130)
"I'm picking Delgato. And maybe it's a Delgato decision. Maybe we're obsessing about the finish threat, but maybe Delgado goes out and gets a crafty decision."
AJ
AJ DeVito Expert Confident picked Jul 13, 2026 (5 days before fight)
Jose Delgado

AJ picks Jose Delgado by knockout, believing his striking, size, and reach advantage will be too much for Austin Bashi. He notes Delgado's past performances (except the Andre Fili fight) and thinks Bashi's grappling threat is neutralized by Delgado's takedown defense. He is surprised by the betting lines and considers Delgado mispriced.

Delgado by KO, over 1.5 rounds (-215), over 2.5 rounds (-150), Bashi by submission
"I'm going Jose Delgado by knockout. I think this is going to be a bit of a y'all must have forgot type of performance."
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Hesitant picked Jul 17, 2026 (1 day before fight)
Austin Bashi

Angelo picks Austin Bashi to win a close decision, believing his wrestling will be rewarded by Oklahoma judges. However, he is fading Bashi in DFS because his scoring potential is low unless he gets a submission, which he doesn't expect against Delgado.

"I am going to pick him just a straight up and down pick because I think he'll get the takedowns. I think these judges will care about the takedowns."
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Lean picked Jul 12, 2026 (6 days before fight)
Austin Bashi

Angelo leans toward Austin Bashi, citing the location in Oklahoma where wrestling might be valued more by judges. He expects Bashi to get multiple takedowns while Delgado wins the striking, making it a close decision. He thinks the commission's preference for wrestling could swing the fight to Bashi.

"I'm going to be on the Austin Bashy side. This is going to be a very stressful one. ... I think Austin Bashy could steal a close one."
BI
Big Brady Expert Lean picked Jul 12, 2026 (6 days before fight)
Jose Delgado

Big Brady leans toward Jose Delgado, citing his significant size, reach, and striking advantages. He believes Delgado can stuff takedowns or get back up, and on the feet it's one-way traffic. He acknowledges Austin Bashi's path via grappling but expects Delgado to win by decision.

"I'm going to lean Delgado here. ... I'll say he gets it done by decision."
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Lean picked Jul 15, 2026 (3 days before fight)
Jose Delgado

Cody picks Delgado but prefers a live bet after the first round. He thinks Bashi will get early takedowns but Delgado will get up and land bigger shots as the fight goes on. He notes Delgado's striking advantage and Bashi's potential cardio issues, making Delgado a good live underdog.

Live bet Delgado after round 1
"I actually going to take Jose Delgado, but I'm looking at it better from I want better plus money after this first round, lose the first round, second and the third, you know, work your way back into it."
DA
Daniel Levi Expert Lean picked Jul 14, 2026 (4 days before fight)
Austin Bashi

Daniel Levi leans toward Austin Bashi as a plus-money underdog, citing Bashi's elite grappling and Delgado's takedown defense issues. He notes Delgado has been taken down eight times in three UFC fights and Bashi should be able to take him down and control him. However, he acknowledges Delgado's improved get-up game and the fight could be decided in scrambles, making it a close matchup.

betting advice: plus money on a prospect
"I gotta go Austin Bashy here for this upset."
LU
Lucrative James Expert Confident picked Jul 12, 2026 (6 days before fight)
Austin Bashi

Lucrative James picks Austin Bashi to win by decision, citing Bashi's superior grappling and cardio. He notes that Delgado is a dangerous striker but Bashi should be able to take him down and grind out a decision over three rounds. He trusts Bashi's grappling game more over 15 minutes.

"I will pick Austin Bashi to win this fight. And I'll say that he gets it done via decision."
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Lean picked Jul 15, 2026 (3 days before fight)
Jose Delgado

The host leans with Delgado's damage-heavy style despite giving up takedowns, as Delgado works back to his feet quickly and has a striking advantage. He predicts a decision victory.

"I have to lean with the damage heavy style of Jose Delgado. Even though he can give up takedowns, he has constantly worked back to his feet pretty quickly and from there we know he'll have the striking advantage over …"
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Jul 14, 2026 (4 days before fight)
Jose Delgado

Delgado has good enough grappling defense to get back to his feet quickly if taken down, and he holds a significant striking advantage with height and reach. Bashi relies on wrestling but has struggled to control higher-level opponents. Delgado should out-strike Bashi over three rounds and win a decision.

"I find myself leaning pretty heavily towards the Jose Delgado side. I believe he has good enough grappling defense to even if he gets taken down, work right back to his feet."
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Lean picked Jul 15, 2026 (3 days before fight)
Austin Bashi

Paul picks Bashi, citing his wrestling advantage and ability to get takedowns. He thinks Bashi's takedowns and control time will win rounds, though he acknowledges Delgado's get-up game. He is not heavily confident and says it's a pick'em for a reason.

"I'm going to say I'm going to go against the current market movement and pick Austin Bashy."
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Jul 16, 2026 (2 days before fight)
Jose Delgado

The MMA Guru picks Jose Miguel Delgado over Austin Bashi, citing Delgado's size, power, and dangerous striking. He worries Bashi may struggle on the feet if he can't secure takedowns. He predicts Delgado wins by decision or late finish.

"I'm going to go with Jose Miguel Delgado... I think he's too dangerous on the feet and his damage will carry him if it does go to a competitive decision here."
Decision R3 5:00 · UFC Fight Night: Moicano vs. Duncan · Apr 04, 2026
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Jose Delgado 0 107 of 172 62% 127 of 193 0 of 5 0% 0 0 0:38
Robert Ruchała 0 67 of 198 33% 69 of 200 0 of 3 0% 0 0 1:08
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Jose Delgado 0 21 of 42 50% 26 of 47 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:00
Robert Ruchała 0 25 of 62 40% 25 of 62 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:35
2 Jose Delgado 0 44 of 65 67% 51 of 72 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:00
Robert Ruchała 0 20 of 65 30% 20 of 65 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:03
3 Jose Delgado 0 42 of 65 64% 50 of 74 0 of 3 0% 0 0 0:38
Robert Ruchała 0 22 of 71 30% 24 of 73 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:30
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Jose Delgado 107 of 172 62% 71 of 132 34 of 37 2 of 3 84 of 143 23 of 29 0 of 0
Robert Ruchała 67 of 198 33% 40 of 149 20 of 32 7 of 17 60 of 188 7 of 10 0 of 0
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Jose Delgado 21 of 42 50% 10 of 30 10 of 11 1 of 1 16 of 36 5 of 6 0 of 0
Robert Ruchała 25 of 62 40% 12 of 37 9 of 16 4 of 9 24 of 60 1 of 2 0 of 0
2 Jose Delgado 44 of 65 67% 36 of 55 7 of 8 1 of 2 34 of 52 10 of 13 0 of 0
Robert Ruchała 20 of 65 30% 9 of 48 8 of 10 3 of 7 16 of 60 4 of 5 0 of 0
3 Jose Delgado 42 of 65 64% 25 of 47 17 of 18 0 of 0 34 of 55 8 of 10 0 of 0
Robert Ruchała 22 of 71 30% 19 of 64 3 of 6 0 of 1 20 of 68 2 of 3 0 of 0
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Confident picked Mar 29, 2026 (6 days before fight)
Jose Delgado

Angelo picks Jose Delgado, praising his footwork, tight guard, and ability to stay at range. He acknowledges Robert Ruchała's pressure and toughness but believes Delgado's superior technique and movement will allow him to avoid trouble and win. He notes the odds are -400 and that it could get weird if Ruchała's pressure frustrates Delgado, but he is squarely on Delgado.

"Jose Delano is going to be the pick. Minus 400. I'm honestly that could get weird fast."
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked Mar 30, 2026 (5 days before fight)
Jose Delgado

Big Brady picks Jose Delgado by decision. He praises Delgado as a great prospect with well-rounded skills, good striking, cardio, and takedown defense. He expects Delgado to stuff takedowns and out-strike Ruchała over 15 minutes, noting Ruchała is tough but outmatched.

Delgado by decision
"Give me De Leon. Give me De Leon by decision in this one."
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Confident picked Apr 2, 2026 (2 days before fight)
Jose Delgado

Cody picks Delgado due to his high-volume, accurate striking and takedown defense. He expects Delgado to outwork Ruchała on the feet and win a decision, as Ruchała is tough but slower and lower volume.

"Delano is a guy to me that I do think is a legitimate prospect and and a guy that's going to have some success, but this is not an easy UFC debut. This is one where you're going to have …"
CO
Connor Ruebusch Expert Confident picked Apr 2, 2026 (2 days before fight)
Jose Delgado

Connor also picks Delgado, noting his love for Delgado's body punching and overall skill. He acknowledges Ruchała is a proven pro with a KSW title, but believes Delgado's striking is superior and that he can handle Ruchała's takedown attempts. Connor thinks the odds should be closer but Delgado deserves to be a healthy favorite.

"I'm also picking Delano in case I didn't make that clear."
DI
Diary of a Pro Gambler Expert picked Apr 4, 2026 (fight day)

The host finds the odds wide but is not interested in betting pre-fight. He notes Delgado is more technical on the feet but Ruchała is tough and mixes in grappling, which could cause problems. He sees it as a good live betting fight but not for pre-fight.

"So, it's a good one for live betting but a difficult one from a pre-fight betting point of view."
LU
Lucrative James Expert Confident picked Mar 30, 2026 (5 days before fight)
Jose Delgado

James confidently picks Jose Delgado, stating he is better everywhere and should dominate. He notes Delgado's composure, decision wins, and ability to read opponents, while Ruchała is limited outside of top position. He predicts a decision win but expects a beatdown in round three. He mentions Delgado's past fight where a corner stoppage didn't happen due to Contender Series rules.

Decision win prediction
"We have to pick Jose Delano in this fight. I mean, he's the biggest favorite on the card."
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Mar 31, 2026 (4 days before fight)
Jose Delgado

The host believes Delgado's striking edge will be too much for Ruchała, who will struggle to get takedowns and will get countered. He expects Delgado to win by decision, as Ruchała is durable but outmatched on the feet. He likes the over 2.5 rounds as a betting spot instead of taking the heavy chalk on Delgado.

over 2.5 rounds at -150
"I think Dulano's uh striking edge is going to be too much for Rutala here... I expect this to go 15 minutes."
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Confident picked Apr 2, 2026 (2 days before fight)
Jose Delgado

Paul picks Delgado, noting his accuracy and volume. He believes Delgado's footwork and striking will be too much for Ruchała, who is flat-footed and slower.

"I got Jose Delino. When you watch him fight uh you know, a lot of his LFA run, it's like the guy's a very accurate striker. He's high volume, but just like he has a very good high uh accuracy."
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Apr 4, 2026 (fight day)
Jose Delgado

The MMA Guru picks Jose Delgado, praising his skills as an LFA champion and noting his close loss to Gabriel Santos. He believes Delgado's experience and recent wins make him the better fighter, predicting a decision victory.

Decision win predicted
"I think I'm going to go with Jose Delano by decision."
ZA
Zane Simon Expert Confident picked Apr 2, 2026 (2 days before fight)
Jose Delgado

Zane picks Delgado, impressed by his technical power striking and ability to maintain distance. He notes that Delgado has fast hands and sharp tools, and that Ruchała's striking relies on physicality and takedown threats. Zane believes Delgado can stuff takedowns and out-strike Ruchała, especially if he stays disciplined as a sprawl-and-brawler.

"I think I have to take Delano here. Just because I am really impressed with what I see from him."
WIN vs Andre Fili
Decision R3 5:00 · UFC Fight Night: Emmett vs. Vallejos · Mar 14, 2026
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Andre Fili 0 62 of 141 43% 70 of 154 4 of 6 66% 0 1 0:59
Jose Delgado 0 94 of 169 55% 103 of 179 1 of 3 33% 0 0 0:36
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Andre Fili 0 19 of 39 48% 19 of 39 1 of 1 100% 0 0 0:23
Jose Delgado 0 23 of 46 50% 26 of 49 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:00
2 Andre Fili 0 18 of 39 46% 19 of 41 1 of 1 100% 0 1 0:11
Jose Delgado 0 30 of 62 48% 34 of 66 1 of 2 50% 0 0 0:31
3 Andre Fili 0 25 of 63 39% 32 of 74 2 of 4 50% 0 0 0:25
Jose Delgado 0 41 of 61 67% 43 of 64 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:05
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Andre Fili 62 of 141 43% 46 of 121 11 of 13 5 of 7 61 of 139 0 of 0 1 of 2
Jose Delgado 94 of 169 55% 37 of 99 34 of 47 23 of 23 83 of 153 9 of 14 2 of 2
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Andre Fili 19 of 39 48% 15 of 32 2 of 4 2 of 3 19 of 39 0 of 0 0 of 0
Jose Delgado 23 of 46 50% 7 of 26 7 of 11 9 of 9 23 of 46 0 of 0 0 of 0
2 Andre Fili 18 of 39 46% 16 of 36 2 of 2 0 of 1 18 of 39 0 of 0 0 of 0
Jose Delgado 30 of 62 48% 9 of 35 15 of 21 6 of 6 22 of 49 6 of 11 2 of 2
3 Andre Fili 25 of 63 39% 15 of 53 7 of 7 3 of 3 24 of 61 0 of 0 1 of 2
Jose Delgado 41 of 61 67% 21 of 38 12 of 15 8 of 8 38 of 58 3 of 3 0 of 0
Play-by-Play
View on Sherdog
Jose Delgado vs. Andre Fili
BETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Delgado (-310); Fili (+250)

Round 1
Chris Tognoni is the referee. Early leg kick for Delgado, who follows with a jab. Delgado jabs the body then lands a hard body kick. Fili answers with a combination to back his foe up. Delgado is using a variety of kicks early. Delgado jabs the body, then alternates between an inside and ouside leg kick. Delgado moves forward on the attack and Fili buckles him with a short right hand. Delgado seems to have recovered. Delgado kicks the body. Fili answers with a body kick of his own. A straight left lands for Fili. Delgado goes back to the calf kick. Fili with another long left. Fili counters a low kick with a jab. A nice counter right lands for Fili. Fili flicks out a jab. Fili is doing well keeping Delgado guessing with stance switches and intelligent movement. Fili with a solid right hand. Shortly thereafter, he lands a takedown late in the round. Delgado stands, and the round ends with Fili attached to his opponent against the cage.

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

Round 2
Delgado kicks the body and is immediately countered. Delgago targets the legs as he circles. Fili works behind his jab. Delgado wants a takedown, but Fili denies it. Fili fires off a jab. Delgado kicks the body. Fili finds the range on a right. Delgado lands a spinning back kick to the body, and he follows it with a rear kick ot the body. He backs up Fili with a head kick, but it’s blocked. Delgado steps in with a right and he ups the aggression. He tested off with punches and elbows, then moves into the clinch with knees. Fili frees himself after a barrage from his opponent. Fili jabs high and low. Another jab lands for Fili. A high kick glances off Delgado’s head. They trade in the center of the cage, with both men landing. A hard inside low kick lands for Delgado. Delgado goes upstairs with a kick. Fili steps in with a right. Delgado shifts gears and secures a single leg takedown. He’s in half guard with a minute to go. Delgado drops a forceful elbow. Fili explodes to his feet and lands a right hand. A front kick digs into Fili’s body. Fili ducks under a punch and closes out the round with a takedown.

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

Round 3
Fili comes out aggressive with a 1-2. A hard low kick lands for Fili. Delgado lands a jab to the body. A right gets through for Fili. Delgado has a high kick blocked. They trade in the pocket, but nothing clean lands. Fili is still leading the dance, but Delgado backs him up with a right, a kick to the body and a front kick down the middle. Fili moves forward behind a right. Another front kick to the body lands for Delgado. Delgado wraps a high kick around Fili’s gaurd. Fili fires back almost immediately. Fili attacks the calf. Fili with a glancing right hand. Fili pressures and kicks the body. Delgado moves forward and eats a knee. Delgado tags Fili with a right hand, and Fili clinches. Delgado rips an elbow on the break. Delgado lands a 1-2 and hten kicks the body. He backs Fili up with another right. Delgado jabs the body. An inside leg kick lands heavily for Delgado. Delgado stays busy with front kicks to the body. With about 30 seconds to go, Fili times a level change and gets Delgado down. Delgado gets up, but Fili plants him on his back again. Fili does his best to unleash ground and pound until the horn, but Delgado’s defenses are largely on point.

Sherdog Scores
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Delgado (29-28 Delgado)
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Delgado (29-28 Delgado)
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Delgado (29-28 Delgado)

The Official Result
Jose Delgado def. Andre Fili via Split Decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28) R3 5:00
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Confident picked Mar 8, 2026 (6 days before fight)
Jose Delgado

Angelo picks Jose Delgado, praising his spectacular striking and talent. He acknowledges Delgado's takedown defense issues but dismisses them because 'Las Vegas doesn't care about wrestling.' He notes that Andre Fili has been wrestling more lately but chooses not to warn viewers, implying that wrestling won't be scored heavily.

"Jose's going to be the pick. He's got to be the pick."
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked Mar 9, 2026 (5 days before fight)
Jose Delgado

Big Brady picks Jose Delgado to win by first-round knockout. He loves Delgado's power and aggression, and criticizes Fili's chin and striking defense (51%). He believes Delgado will come forward with reckless abandon and knock Fili out early, calling it the best fight on the card.

"I think he knocks out Feeley and I think he knocks him out in the very first round."
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Confident picked Mar 11, 2026 (3 days before fight)
Rolando Delgado

Cody picks Delgado confidently, citing his knockout power and improved cardio. He notes Fili's path is wrestling, but Delgado's knees and takedown defense are deterrents. He expects Delgado to catch Fili eventually.

"I got Delgato all day long. We'll talk about what could go wrong of course, but I think Delgato is prime for a knockout win here."
CO
Connor Ruebusch Expert Confident picked Mar 12, 2026 (2 days before fight)
Jose Delgado

Connor picks Delgado, agreeing that Fili will get caught taking pictures. He notes Delgado's flow state striking and that Fili's defensive habits make him vulnerable to being timed.

Odds: Delgado opened at -300, currently -350; Fili opened at +250, currently +285.
"Feli is going to get caught taking pictures, as you say."
LU
Lucrative James Expert Confident picked Mar 8, 2026 (6 days before fight)
Rolando Delgado

James picks Rolando Delgado to win by first-round knockout. He believes Delgado's dynamic striking, speed, and power will be too much for the older Fili, who has been knocked out early in recent fights. He notes that if Delgado doesn't finish early, Fili can compete over three rounds, but his prediction is a round one stoppage.

"I see Jose Delgado knocking him out in round one."
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Mar 10, 2026 (4 days before fight)
Jose Delgado

The host picks Delgado to win by knockout, citing his power and speed. He believes Delgado's striking will be too much for Fili, who is inconsistent and aging. However, he is hesitant about the high price and would prefer a line closer to -185. He suggests looking at the KO prop if it offers value.

Delgado by KO (if prop at +150 or better)
"I think Delgato finds a chin and and gets the knockout win here, but it's tough to get behind minus 340."
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Confident picked Mar 11, 2026 (3 days before fight)
Rolando Delgado

Paul agrees with Cody, noting Delgado's power and the old guard being replaced. He thinks Fili's wrestling path is possible but Delgado is working on it. He expects Delgado to win.

"I'm on the same page um with that."
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Mar 14, 2026 (fight day)
Jose Delgado

The Guru picks Jose Delgado, citing his finishing ability and size. He thinks Fili is finishable and may switch off in clinch exchanges, where Delgado can land elbows or knees. He predicts a nasty finish, noting Delgado's previous wins over Connor Matthews and Destroyer.

Prediction: finish (elbow, spinning elbow, or knee)
"I'm going to go with Jose Miguel Delgado... I think he'll destroy him. And I think he'll get a finish."
ZA
Zane Simon Expert Confident picked Mar 12, 2026 (2 days before fight)
Jose Delgado

Zane picks Delgado, citing his fluid combination punching and ability to catch Fili when he gets predictable. He notes Fili tends to get finished when facing dynamic finishers, and Delgado is a natural puncher.

Odds: Delgado opened at -300, currently -350; Fili opened at +250, currently +285.
"Delgado is just too fucking fluid on the attack."
LOSS vs Nathaniel Wood
Decision R3 5:00 · UFC 321 · Oct 25, 2025
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Nathaniel Wood 1 99 of 176 56% 101 of 178 2 of 3 66% 0 0 0:58
Jose Delgado 1 134 of 232 57% 141 of 239 0 of 2 0% 0 0 1:28
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Nathaniel Wood 1 24 of 59 40% 25 of 60 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:03
Jose Delgado 1 68 of 111 61% 75 of 118 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:54
2 Nathaniel Wood 0 36 of 61 59% 37 of 62 1 of 1 100% 0 0 0:38
Jose Delgado 0 29 of 55 52% 29 of 55 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
3 Nathaniel Wood 0 39 of 56 69% 39 of 56 1 of 2 50% 0 0 0:17
Jose Delgado 0 37 of 66 56% 37 of 66 0 of 2 0% 0 0 0:34
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Nathaniel Wood 99 of 176 56% 63 of 124 7 of 8 29 of 44 88 of 159 7 of 10 4 of 7
Jose Delgado 134 of 232 57% 92 of 178 35 of 46 7 of 8 100 of 190 14 of 16 20 of 26
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Nathaniel Wood 24 of 59 40% 15 of 43 2 of 2 7 of 14 19 of 50 2 of 4 3 of 5
Jose Delgado 68 of 111 61% 48 of 88 16 of 19 4 of 4 43 of 80 5 of 5 20 of 26
2 Nathaniel Wood 36 of 61 59% 25 of 44 1 of 2 10 of 15 33 of 57 3 of 4 0 of 0
Jose Delgado 29 of 55 52% 20 of 43 7 of 10 2 of 2 24 of 49 5 of 6 0 of 0
3 Nathaniel Wood 39 of 56 69% 23 of 37 4 of 4 12 of 15 36 of 52 2 of 2 1 of 2
Jose Delgado 37 of 66 56% 24 of 47 12 of 17 1 of 2 33 of 61 4 of 5 0 of 0
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Confident picked Oct 19, 2025 (6 days before fight)
Nathaniel Wood

Angelo picks Nathaniel Wood as an underdog, emphasizing his superior experience and resume with wins over fighters like John Castañeda, Charles Jourdain, and Andre Fili. He believes Wood is faster, busier, and more tested than Jose Delgado, who has only been a finisher and hasn't faced adversity. Angelo placed a half-unit bet on Wood at plus 133 odds.

I actually threw a little itty-bitty teeny-weeny half a unit on him at these plus 133 odds
"Nathaniel's faster. I think he's busier. He's certainly more experienced. Jose has only been a hammer. I'm interested to see what happens if he's the nail for a few minutes here. Nathaniel's going to be the pick."
BI
Big Brady Expert Hesitant picked Oct 22, 2025 (3 days before fight)
Jose Delgado

Big Brady picks Jose Delgado but with low confidence, calling it a 'minute winner vs moment winner' fight. He acknowledges Nathaniel Wood is more experienced and talented, with good striking, volume, and cardio. However, Wood is a small bantamweight moving up, has been hurt often, and Delgado has a 100% finish rate with significant power. Brady believes Delgado's power will eventually catch Wood's chin, predicting a second-round KO.

Delgado by second round KO
"I'm going to go with Delgado. Not a ton of confidence in him. I do like Delgado quite a bit as a prospect, but this is a massive test for him. Give me Jose Delgado to win. And I'll say …"
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Confident picked Oct 22, 2025 (3 days before fight)
Jose Delgado

Cody picks Jose Delgado, citing his height and reach advantage and powerful knees up the middle. He notes that Wood is short for 145 and has been knocked out before, and Delgado's striking is dynamic. Cody believes Delgado will win by KO, possibly early.

Delgado by KO
"I'm on I'm I'm going to end up on the uh on the Delgado side as well in this fight. What Delgado KO? Delgado KO, yeah."
CO
Connor Ruebusch Expert Hesitant picked Oct 24, 2025 (1 day before fight)
Jose Delgado

Connor picks Delgado based on a gut feeling, noting his fluid striking, calmness under pressure, and natural finishing instinct. He acknowledges that Wood is more proven but believes Delgado's flow and confidence could overwhelm Wood, especially if Wood loses focus as he did against Sharaa. Connor also notes that Wood tends to get crushed in moments and that Delgado is dangerous.

Delgado opened at +130, now -140; Wood opened -150, now +120.
"Honestly, my gut is kind of telling me to pick Delgado, it's a wild shot. He has not proven nearly as much as Nathaniel Wood has. But you feel very dangerous."
DA
Daniel Vreeland Expert Confident picked Oct 23, 2025 (2 days before fight)
Jose Delgado

Daniel Vreeland is high on Delgado's size, power, and finishing ability, and believes he is ready for this step up. He notes that Wood is smaller (former bantamweight), gets hurt often, and has mentioned retirement, which could affect his focus. He thinks Delgado's training at MMA Lab will help him handle Wood's leg kicks, and that Delgado's pressure and size will overwhelm Wood.

"I think that José Delgado's ready for this test. It's gonna be a tough fight, but I think at some point in this fight, Delgato can hurt Wood."
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Oct 22, 2025 (3 days before fight)
Nathaniel Wood

The host likes Wood in this spot, expecting him to thwart Delgado's power striking, be competitive on the feet, and use grappling opportunities to grind out a decision win.

decision
"I do like me some wood in this spot as I think that he's going to do a solid job of thwarting the power striking of Delgato..."
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Confident picked Oct 22, 2025 (3 days before fight)
Jose Delgado

Paul also picks Delgado, noting his training at MMA Lab and his dangerous knees. He believes Wood's chin may be compromised after moving up in weight, and Delgado's power will be too much. Paul suggests Delgado KO prop at plus 250 as a good bet.

Delgado by KO (+250)
"I think Wood may be in for a canvas nap."
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Oct 21, 2025 (4 days before fight)
Jose Delgado

The MMA Guru picks Jose Delgado by TKO in round two or late round one. He believes Delgado is a large featherweight with finishing ability, while Nathaniel Wood is small for the division and has been hurt in fights before. He notes that Wood often lets fights get too competitive and has been nearly finished by Charles Rosa and Andre Fili. He expects Delgado's knee up the middle and wild shots to catch Wood, and that Wood's clinch escapes won't work against a bigger opponent.

TKO round two or late round one
"I'm going to go with Jose Delgado to get a finish here over Nathaniel Wood, I reckon."
ZA
Zane Simon Expert Hesitant picked Oct 24, 2025 (1 day before fight)
Jose Delgado

Zane agrees with Connor, citing Delgado's smooth, flowing striking and ability to adapt. He notes that Wood has a tendency to lose focus in striking exchanges and that Delgado's pressure could cause Wood to revert to wrestling, which may not be enough. Zane also points out that Delgado has a natural feel for striking and has shown he can handle pressure.

"I'm going to go with you on this and I hate to do it because like wood really should be getting a lot more out of his career than this."
WIN vs Hyder Amil
KO R1 0:26 · UFC 317: Topuria vs. Oliveira · Jun 28, 2025
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Hyder Amil 0 3 of 5 60% 3 of 5 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:00
Jose Delgado 1 9 of 11 81% 9 of 11 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:02
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Hyder Amil 0 3 of 5 60% 3 of 5 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:00
Jose Delgado 1 9 of 11 81% 9 of 11 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:02
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Hyder Amil 3 of 5 60% 0 of 2 0 of 0 3 of 3 3 of 5 0 of 0 0 of 0
Jose Delgado 9 of 11 81% 7 of 9 2 of 2 0 of 0 4 of 5 2 of 3 3 of 3
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Hyder Amil 3 of 5 60% 0 of 2 0 of 0 3 of 3 3 of 5 0 of 0 0 of 0
Jose Delgado 9 of 11 81% 7 of 9 2 of 2 0 of 0 4 of 5 2 of 3 3 of 3
Play-by-Play
View on Sherdog
Hyder Amil vs. Jose Delgado
BETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Delgado (-180), Amil (+150)

Round 1
A protégé of Gilbert Melendez, Amil (11-0, 3-0 UFC) is hoping to represent the former Strikeforce champ well as he battles a man who has never won a fight on the scorecards. MMA Lab’s Delgado (9-1, 1-0 UFC) would love nothing more than to secure his sophomore UFC effort similar to his first, as he needed three minutes to demolish Connor Matthews in February. Referee Marc Goddard will keep tabs on this featherweight contest for as long as it lasts, and he steps back as the fighter clap hands.
Amil immediately tosses out a low kick after the glove touch. He throws another, leading Delgado to try to the fight down. The two scramble wildly when Amil counter-throws his foe to the mat, and they both explode back to their feet.
Delgado surges forward behind a three-punch salvo, and he looks to drive a knee straight through Amil’s head. Taking it square on the chin, Amil crashes to the ground in big trouble, and Delgado follows him and obliterates him with a bomb of a left hand and two crushing elbows. Amil goes out and comes back online, and Goddard steps in to stop the fight.
Amil is upset and stands right back up, but he is a little wobbled and confused. He has to be held up by Goddard and explained what happened to him. The previously undefeated fighter is crestfallen but calms himself down, while Delgado is on the map with a sub-30-second knockout over a man 11-0 mere moments before. In the throes of victory, Delgado calls for a fight against William Gomis at Noche UFC in September.

The Official Result
Jose Delgado def. Hyder Amil R1 0:26 via KO (Knee and Elbows)
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Lean picked Jun 22, 2025 (6 days before fight)
Hyder Amil

Angelo picks Hyder Amil because he believes Amil's durability and pace will be key against Jose Delgado, who is a dangerous finisher but untested in deep waters. He notes that Amil can take a beating and set a pace for 15 minutes, while Delgado may fade if he doesn't get an early finish. He thinks Amil's willingness to engage without hunting finishes will benefit him.

Angelo says bets are sketchy here and he is leaning on Amil's durability.
"Haider is going to be the pick. This is an exciting fight. The bets are probably sketchy here."
BI
Big Brady Expert Lean picked Jun 21, 2025 (7 days before fight)
Jose Delgado

Big Brady is torn because he likes both fighters but leans toward Jose Delgado due to his youth, size, and well-roundedness. He notes Delgado is eight years younger, has a reach advantage, and can wrestle and submit opponents. Brady expects a war and thinks Delgado might mix in wrestling to get a submission. He picks Delgado by second-round submission, but acknowledges it could be a fight to just enjoy as a fan.

Delgado wins by second round submission
"I'm leaning Delgado because he's younger, because he's bigger, because he's more well-rounded. He can get takedowns. He can get submissions."
CO
Connor Ruebusch Expert Confident picked Jun 27, 2025 (1 day before fight)
Hyder Amil

Connor agrees with Zane, picking Amil. He notes Delgado's wins are over low-level competition and that Amil's pressure and confidence will be too much. Connor calls the booking nonsense and says Amil should be a serious favorite.

Odds: Amil +141, Delgado -149. Connor says 'Heider Mill should be a serious favorite.'
"I think if you're trying to figure out what this should, you know, what this result should look like, Heider Mill should be a serious favorite."
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Jun 26, 2025 (2 days before fight)
Hyder Amil

The host likes Amil's pressure and pace to negate Delgado's technical striking advantage, similar to Delgado's previous loss. He expects Amil to win on the scorecards via grappling pressure.

win on scorecards
"I really like Emil in this spot because I feel like he can put enough pressure and pace on Delgato that Delgado won't be able to enjoy that technical striking advantage he holds here."
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Jun 26, 2025 (2 days before fight)
Hyder Amil

The host picks Hyder Amil, citing his durability and experience in tough fights. He notes that Delgado has not been tested when things go against him, while Amil has shown he can adjust and has a solid chin. He predicts Amil will lose the first round, win the second, and finish in the third by TKO.

third round TKO
"I'm going with Haidider Emil. I actually think Haidider Emil's got some star power as well."
ZA
Zane Simon Expert Confident picked Jun 27, 2025 (1 day before fight)
Hyder Amil

Zane picks Hyder Amil confidently, calling Delgado a fighter who beats bad opponents with creativity but lacks defense and power. Amil is a buzzsaw with unflappable confidence and aggression, and should overwhelm Delgado. Zane is shocked Amil is an underdog.

Odds: Amil +141, Delgado -149. Zane says 'I don't understand Heider Mill being no dog here at all.'
"I don't understand Heider Mill being no dog here at all. Not at all. Not at all. It feels like an incredibly easy call."
KO R1 2:58 · UFC Fight Night: Cannonier vs. Rodrigues · Feb 15, 2025
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Connor Matthews 0 6 of 23 26% 9 of 31 2 of 3 66% 0 0 0:47
Jose Delgado 1 21 of 40 52% 22 of 42 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:08
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Connor Matthews 0 6 of 23 26% 9 of 31 2 of 3 66% 0 0 0:47
Jose Delgado 1 21 of 40 52% 22 of 42 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:08
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Connor Matthews 6 of 23 26% 6 of 20 0 of 3 0 of 0 6 of 23 0 of 0 0 of 0
Jose Delgado 21 of 40 52% 14 of 29 6 of 7 1 of 4 14 of 30 0 of 0 7 of 10
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Connor Matthews 6 of 23 26% 6 of 20 0 of 3 0 of 0 6 of 23 0 of 0 0 of 0
Jose Delgado 21 of 40 52% 14 of 29 6 of 7 1 of 4 14 of 30 0 of 0 7 of 10
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Confident picked Feb 9, 2025 (6 days before fight)
Jose Delgado

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Zane notes the odds: Delgado opened at -289 and is now -343, Matthews opened at +214 and is now +298.
"So I got to take Delgado. I do not think Matthews is really cut out for it."
Expert Picks (14)
AJ
AJ DeVito Expert Confident picked Jul 17, 2026 (1 day before fight)
Jose Delgado

AJ picks Jose Delgado, believing he can win by knockout or decision. He notes Delgado's range advantage and power, while Bashi may be overrated as a grappler. He thinks the fight ends inside the distance and likes Delgado's versatility. He also mentions the KO prop at +275.

Delgado by KO (+275), fight ends inside distance (-130)
"I'm picking Delgato. And maybe it's a Delgato decision. Maybe we're obsessing about the finish threat, but maybe Delgado goes out and gets a crafty decision."
AJ
AJ DeVito Expert Lean picked Jul 15, 2026 (3 days before fight)
Jose Delgado

AJ mentions Delgado by knockout as a Degen prop, noting his height and reach advantage. He acknowledges Bashi could win by submission but sees Delgado's kickboxing as a live threat for a KO.

Delgado knockout +300
"Delgado knockout plus 300... a big Delgado knee up the center or a power right hand."
AJ
AJ DeVito Expert Confident picked Jul 14, 2026 (4 days before fight)
Jose Delgado

AJ picks Jose Delgado by KO, citing Delgado's striking power, range, and size advantage (5'11" vs 5'6"). He notes Delgado's sensational KOs and believes he can keep range and hurt Bashi, despite Bashi's strong grappling. AJ acknowledges Bashi's path via submission but favors Delgado's striking.

Delgado by KO +300, Bashi by submission +525
"I'm going Delgado by knockout. Delgado's striking's gnarly."
AJ
AJ DeVito Expert Confident picked Jul 13, 2026 (5 days before fight)
Jose Delgado

AJ picks Jose Delgado by knockout, believing his striking, size, and reach advantage will be too much for Austin Bashi. He notes Delgado's past performances (except the Andre Fili fight) and thinks Bashi's grappling threat is neutralized by Delgado's takedown defense. He is surprised by the betting lines and considers Delgado mispriced.

Delgado by KO, over 1.5 rounds (-215), over 2.5 rounds (-150), Bashi by submission
"I'm going Jose Delgado by knockout. I think this is going to be a bit of a y'all must have forgot type of performance."
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Hesitant picked Jul 17, 2026 (1 day before fight)
Austin Bashi

Angelo picks Austin Bashi to win a close decision, believing his wrestling will be rewarded by Oklahoma judges. However, he is fading Bashi in DFS because his scoring potential is low unless he gets a submission, which he doesn't expect against Delgado.

"I am going to pick him just a straight up and down pick because I think he'll get the takedowns. I think these judges will care about the takedowns."
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Lean picked Jul 12, 2026 (6 days before fight)
Austin Bashi

Angelo leans toward Austin Bashi, citing the location in Oklahoma where wrestling might be valued more by judges. He expects Bashi to get multiple takedowns while Delgado wins the striking, making it a close decision. He thinks the commission's preference for wrestling could swing the fight to Bashi.

"I'm going to be on the Austin Bashy side. This is going to be a very stressful one. ... I think Austin Bashy could steal a close one."
BI
Big Brady Expert Lean picked Jul 12, 2026 (6 days before fight)
Jose Delgado

Big Brady leans toward Jose Delgado, citing his significant size, reach, and striking advantages. He believes Delgado can stuff takedowns or get back up, and on the feet it's one-way traffic. He acknowledges Austin Bashi's path via grappling but expects Delgado to win by decision.

"I'm going to lean Delgado here. ... I'll say he gets it done by decision."
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Lean picked Jul 15, 2026 (3 days before fight)
Jose Delgado

Cody picks Delgado but prefers a live bet after the first round. He thinks Bashi will get early takedowns but Delgado will get up and land bigger shots as the fight goes on. He notes Delgado's striking advantage and Bashi's potential cardio issues, making Delgado a good live underdog.

Live bet Delgado after round 1
"I actually going to take Jose Delgado, but I'm looking at it better from I want better plus money after this first round, lose the first round, second and the third, you know, work your way back into it."
DA
Daniel Levi Expert Lean picked Jul 14, 2026 (4 days before fight)
Austin Bashi

Daniel Levi leans toward Austin Bashi as a plus-money underdog, citing Bashi's elite grappling and Delgado's takedown defense issues. He notes Delgado has been taken down eight times in three UFC fights and Bashi should be able to take him down and control him. However, he acknowledges Delgado's improved get-up game and the fight could be decided in scrambles, making it a close matchup.

betting advice: plus money on a prospect
"I gotta go Austin Bashy here for this upset."
LU
Lucrative James Expert Confident picked Jul 12, 2026 (6 days before fight)
Austin Bashi

Lucrative James picks Austin Bashi to win by decision, citing Bashi's superior grappling and cardio. He notes that Delgado is a dangerous striker but Bashi should be able to take him down and grind out a decision over three rounds. He trusts Bashi's grappling game more over 15 minutes.

"I will pick Austin Bashi to win this fight. And I'll say that he gets it done via decision."
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Lean picked Jul 15, 2026 (3 days before fight)
Jose Delgado

The host leans with Delgado's damage-heavy style despite giving up takedowns, as Delgado works back to his feet quickly and has a striking advantage. He predicts a decision victory.

"I have to lean with the damage heavy style of Jose Delgado. Even though he can give up takedowns, he has constantly worked back to his feet pretty quickly and from there we know he'll have the striking advantage over Austin Bashi and I believe that will lead to a …"
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Jul 14, 2026 (4 days before fight)
Jose Delgado

Delgado has good enough grappling defense to get back to his feet quickly if taken down, and he holds a significant striking advantage with height and reach. Bashi relies on wrestling but has struggled to control higher-level opponents. Delgado should out-strike Bashi over three rounds and win a decision.

"I find myself leaning pretty heavily towards the Jose Delgado side. I believe he has good enough grappling defense to even if he gets taken down, work right back to his feet."
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Lean picked Jul 15, 2026 (3 days before fight)
Austin Bashi

Paul picks Bashi, citing his wrestling advantage and ability to get takedowns. He thinks Bashi's takedowns and control time will win rounds, though he acknowledges Delgado's get-up game. He is not heavily confident and says it's a pick'em for a reason.

"I'm going to say I'm going to go against the current market movement and pick Austin Bashy."
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Jul 16, 2026 (2 days before fight)
Jose Delgado

The MMA Guru picks Jose Miguel Delgado over Austin Bashi, citing Delgado's size, power, and dangerous striking. He worries Bashi may struggle on the feet if he can't secure takedowns. He predicts Delgado wins by decision or late finish.

"I'm going to go with Jose Miguel Delgado... I think he's too dangerous on the feet and his damage will carry him if it does go to a competitive decision here."