UFC 247: Jones vs. Reyes

Daniel Levi picks Jon Jones, citing his unparalleled skill set, fight IQ, and durability. He notes that Jones has a 7-inch reach advantage and gets better as fights go on, while Reyes may fade after the first round. He expects Jones to pick Reyes apart and possibly get a ground-and-pound finish.

The host picks Jon Jones, likely by decision or late finish, citing his reach, kicks, wrestling, and experience. He believes Jones will establish his range and wear down Reyes, who has not faced anyone of Jones' caliber. He plans to parlay Jones with Andrea Lee as his lock of the night play.

The MMA Guru picks Jon Jones to win, noting that Jones has a massive reach advantage and is more focused after time off. He warns not to sleep on Reyes but believes Jones will win. He also suggests betting small on Reyes as an underdog parlay.

Daniel Levi picks Valentina Shevchenko, stating she is head and shoulders above everyone in the division. He mentions her devastating body kicks and high kicks, and expects her to finish the elusive Kaitlyn Chookagian, possibly by fourth-round finish.

The host picks Valentina Shevchenko by decision, noting her superior counter-striking, power, and overall game. He acknowledges the 'banana peel' theory but is confident Shevchenko will win. He is not willing to bet her at -1100 but expects her to dominate and win a decision.

The MMA Guru picks Valentina Shevchenko to win by dominant decision. He believes Shevchenko is too technical and has a different genetic makeup. He expects Chookagian to be hesitant and not engage, leading to a boring decision win for Shevchenko.

Daniel Levi picks Justin Tafa to get a huge upset. He questions Juan Adams' mental state and work ethic, noting that Adams flew home for the holidays while Tafa stayed in Thailand. He believes Tafa can survive the first round and then knock out Adams in the second.

The host leans toward Justin Tafa as a dog, citing his better technical striking and power. He questions Juan Adams' fight IQ and ability to close distance without eating shots. He notes that Tafa's chin may be suspect but believes he can knock out Adams. He suggests a small 0.5 unit play.

The MMA Guru picks Juan Adams, citing his massive reach and size advantage, athleticism, and more experienced record. He notes both are coming off bad losses but Adams has better attributes. He expects Adams to get the job done.

Daniel Levi picks Mirsad Bektić by split decision, but is hesitant due to Bektić's suspect chin. He acknowledges Dan Ige's power and momentum, but believes Bektić's physicality and wrestling will be the difference. He warns against betting heavily on Bektić.

The host picks Mirsad Bektić by decision, believing he is undervalued due to recency bias. He notes that Bektić has better grappling and athleticism than Dan Ige, and that Ige's wins have come against lower-level competition. He expects Bektić to outgrapple Ige and control the fight, and plans to bet 1.5-2 units on him.

The MMA Guru picks Dan Ige to win by TKO in the second round. He likes Ige's reach, range control, and recent win streak. He is concerned about Bektić's KO loss to Josh Emmett via jab, which makes it hard to back him. Ige is a monster and will get a big win.

Daniel Levi picks Derrick Lewis to knock out Ilir Latifi, likely in the first round. He notes that Latifi is too small for heavyweight and has been knocked out by lesser hitters. He praises Lewis's get-up game and finishing ability, and sees no way Lewis loses in Houston.

The host does not pick a side, citing the unpredictability of Derrick Lewis and the difficulty in trusting either fighter. He notes that Lewis has power but questionable cardio and technique, while Latifi has a wrestling advantage but may not keep Lewis down. He advises caution and suggests staying away.

The MMA Guru picks Derrick Lewis to win by KO, citing Lewis's experience, power, and ability to find knockouts in later rounds. He notes Latifi is too muscle-bound, has injury issues, and will gas after the first round. Lewis has a massive reach advantage.

Daniel Levi picks Trevin Giles to edge out a close decision. He notes that Giles is more athletic and has a reach advantage, and will mix in takedowns. However, he acknowledges that Arroyo has good submission defense and that Giles has let people down in his last two fights.

The host leans toward Antonio Hoyo (James Krause) as a dog, noting that Trevin Giles has lost two straight and that Hoyo has power and size. He is not fully confident but sees value at plus money. He also mentions the under 2.5 rounds as a possible bet.

The MMA Guru picks Trevin Giles over Antonio Arroyo (note: transcript says Antonio Arroyo but fight is James Krause; likely error). He notes Giles lost to good fighters like Gerald Meerschaert, but Arroyo is not as good. He expects Giles to use volume and break down the muscle-bound Arroyo.

Daniel Levi picks Andrea Lee by decision, stating she is the better striker with more volume. He notes that Lauren Murphy has improved but still has a basic fighting style. He warns against betting at -365, but expects Lee to win a decision, possibly with close rounds.

The host picks Andrea Lee by decision, citing her speed, striking, and improved grappling. He believes she is the quicker fighter and can outpoint Lauren Murphy, though he is not willing to bet her straight at -340. He considers her as a parlay piece with Jon Jones.

The MMA Guru picks Andrea Lee because she is younger, more technical, and will light up Lauren Murphy with combinations on the feet. He notes Murphy's questionable losses and expects Lee to win a unanimous decision.

Daniel Levi picks Alex Morono to win, but thinks the -325 line is too wide. He notes Morono's experience and recent improvements, but also his takedown defense issues. He expects Morono to capitalize on the feet and possibly get a submission or ground-and-pound stoppage.

The host picks Alex Morono by submission, likely in the mid-second round. He notes that Khaos Williams is wild and powerful but has suspect striking defense and may be vulnerable to Morono's jiu-jitsu. He also likes the under 2.5 rounds at plus money as a violence bet.

The MMA Guru picks Alex Morono over Khaos Williams, citing Morono's experience, cardio, and the fact that he hasn't been KO'd often. He expects a close first round but then Morono's experience takes over, leading to a second-round submission.

Daniel Levi picks Miles Johns by unanimous decision. He believes Johns' wrestling and power will make Bautista hesitant to throw volume. He expects Johns to mix takedowns with heavy shots and control the fight, capitalizing on Bautista's takedown defense issues.

The host picks Mario Bautista as a dog, citing his reach advantage, body kicks, and cardio. He believes Bautista can survive the first round and then outpoint Miles Johns in the later rounds, as Johns may fade. He notes that Bautista has good takedown defense and can get back up if taken down.

The MMA Guru picks Miles Johns because he is undefeated and has beaten decent guys, including Cole Smith. He expects a decision win, possibly a slow fight if Johns gets his way.

Daniel Levi picks Domingo Pilarte to win a decision. He notes Pilarte's size and reach advantage, and expects him to use his range to keep Newson at bay. He acknowledges Pilarte's defensive liabilities but believes Newson will hesitate to pull the trigger.

The host leans toward Journey Newson as a dog, citing his superior jiu-jitsu and ability to get the better of grappling exchanges. He notes that Pilarte is the better wrestler but Newson may have the edge on the ground. He expects the fight to be a grappling match and sees value in Newson at plus money.

The MMA Guru gives the edge to Journey Newson, noting that Domingo Pilarte's loss to Felipe Colares (who was destroyed by Montel Jackson) is a bad look, while Newson's loss to Ricardo Ramos is more acceptable. He sees a clear decision win for Newson.

Daniel Levi slightly leans with Jonathan Martinez, calling it a coin flip. He notes Martinez's improvement and striking angles, but also acknowledges Andre Ewell's left hand and improved grappling. He expects an exciting fight and thinks Martinez can capitalize on Ewell's mistakes.

The host likes Jonathan Martinez as a dog, citing his body kicks and southpaw stance as key advantages against Andre Ewell, who struggles with kick-heavy opponents. He notes that Martinez can mix in takedowns and that Ewell's hand speed from southpaw may be neutralized. He expects Martinez to win by decision, wearing Ewell down with kicks and grappling.

The MMA Guru picks Andre Ewell because he is bigger and has a much longer reach. He notes that Jonathan Martinez lost to Andre Soukhamthath, which he sees as a red flag. He predicts Ewell will get a finish in the first or second round.

Daniel Levi picks Austin Lingo to knock out Youssef Zalal. He highlights Lingo's knockout power and consistent pressure from Fortis, while noting Zalal's tendency to be bullied by physical fighters. He believes Lingo will go forward and land heavy shots, possibly finishing the fight.

The host does not pick a side but instead focuses on the under 2.5 rounds, citing both fighters' aggressive striking styles and finishing ability. He notes that both have only gone to decision twice in their careers, making the under a strong play. He mentions that if a side were forced, he would lean Zalal but the under is the primary bet.