UFC 275: Teixeira vs. Prochazka

Angelo picks Glover, admitting bias but also providing objective reasoning. He notes Glover has multiple paths to victory (KO, submission, decision) while Jiri only has KO. He highlights Glover's takedown ability and Jiri's poor takedown defense. He believes Glover's chin will hold up and he can weather Jiri's early storm.

Big Brady picks Jiří Procházka to win by first-round knockout. He notes that Procházka has a significant advantage in striking power and reach, while Teixeira's chin is questionable at 42 years old. Although Teixeira has a path to victory via takedowns and ground control, Brady believes Procházka's unorthodox style and power will be too much.

Cody is torn on this fight. He acknowledges Glover's grappling and submission threat, but thinks Procházka's dynamic striking and youth will be too much. He notes Procházka's takedown defense is an unknown but expects improvements. He leans Procházka by KO, but plans to hedge with Glover if needed.

Daniel Levi picks Jiří Procházka but is very hesitant. He acknowledges the value on Glover Teixeira at plus money and admits he has been wrong on Glover many times before. He worries about Procházka's defensive liabilities and small UFC sample size, but ultimately leans on Procházka's unique style, speed, and finishing ability. He also mentions jet lag favoring Procházka since the Czech Republic is closer to Singapore than the US.

Procházka has dynamic striking and power, and Glover's head movement is poor. Glover's path is grappling, but Procházka's length and movement make it hard to take him down. Glover has been knocked out by rangy strikers before. I see Procházka winning by knockout, likely in the first two rounds. The under 2.5 rounds is a strong play.

Paul leans Glover by submission, citing Glover's superior grappling and top control. He questions Procházka's ground game and believes Glover will get a takedown and submit him. He notes Glover's chin issues but thinks his experience and BJJ will prevail.

The MMA Guru picks Glover Teixeira to win by first-round rear-naked choke. He believes Procházka has defensive flaws on the ground and gets hit often on the feet. He notes that many fighters have taken Procházka down, and Teixeira's grappling will be a major threat. He expects Procházka to be aggressive and switch stances, leaving openings for Teixeira's double-leg takedown. He mentions Teixeira's lack of damage in his last fight and championship experience as advantages. He admits he wants Procházka to win but thinks Teixeira has it.

Angelo picks Shevchenko confidently, acknowledging she is the best in the division. He notes Santos is dangerous and the toughest opponent Shevchenko has faced recently, but still believes Shevchenko wins. He mentions the odds are wide but doesn't recommend a bet due to the high price.

Big Brady picks Valentina Shevchenko to win by TKO, expressing high confidence. He notes that Santos' best wins are against lower-level competition and that she lost to Mara Romero Barela. He believes Shevchenko is superior everywhere and will break Santos down, finishing her mid-to-late in the fight.

Cody is confident in Shevchenko, citing her elite skills, wrestling advantage, and championship experience. He questions Santos' level of competition and output, noting she hasn't faced anyone near Shevchenko's caliber. He expects Shevchenko to win by decision.

Daniel Levi confidently picks Valentina Shevchenko, dismissing Taila Santos's chances due to her poor performance against Mara Romero Barella. He believes Shevchenko is in her prime and has never been dominated in any facet. He notes that Santos's best win is against Joanne Calderwood, who gets finished repeatedly, and that Santos's nerves against Barella indicate she cannot handle the pressure of fighting Shevchenko. He expects Shevchenko to impose her will and win decisively.

Shevchenko is the better fighter everywhere. Santos has not shown enough to suggest she can compete with Shevchenko's level. Santos struggled to finish lesser opponents and lost to Mara Romero Borella. Shevchenko has fought Amanda Nunes closely and is on another level. The line is too high to bet, but Shevchenko wins easily.

Paul is confident in Shevchenko, calling her the most skilled female fighter. He dismisses Santos' resume and believes Shevchenko's wrestling, striking, and cardio are superior. He expects a decision win for the champion.

The MMA Guru confidently picks Valentina Shevchenko to win, citing her elite level and experience. He expects Shevchenko to outstrike Santos at range, chopping legs and jabbing. He acknowledges Santos has power and could land some shots, but believes Shevchenko's defense and composure will prevail. He thinks the fight will be competitive but Shevchenko will win clearly. He criticizes the title shot timing for Santos, suggesting she needed another fight.

Angelo picks Zhang Weili, citing her activity and improvements since the first fight. He acknowledges Joanna arguably won the first fight and has better wins, but believes the two-year layoff will hurt Joanna's timing. He notes Zhang has added wrestling and has been fighting top competition, while Joanna has been inactive.

Big Brady picks Zhang Weili to win by decision, but is hesitant due to the close nature of their first fight and Joanna's two-year layoff. He notes that Zhang has power and has been more active, while Joanna relies on volume and movement. He expects a razor-close decision and is not confident in the judges.

Cody picks Zhang, believing the three-round fight favors her power and aggression. He notes Zhang's wrestling improvements with Henry Cejudo and thinks she can steal rounds with takedowns. He acknowledges Joanna's cardio but thinks Zhang's power will be decisive.

Daniel Levi is on the fence for this fight. He acknowledges that the first fight was very close and that Joanna won the early rounds on the scorecards. He notes that Zhang has power and could land a big shot, but also that Joanna has better volume and defense. He mentions the layoff for Joanna could be a positive or negative, and that the fight being in Singapore might favor Zhang. He ultimately picks Zhang but says he has no idea and is not betting the fight.

Weili has more power and her shots are more impactful. Joanna is coming off a long layoff and this is a three-round fight, which favors Weili's power. Joanna's output may not be enough to overcome the damage Weili lands. Weili also has a wrestling edge. I think Weili wins a close decision or late finish.

Paul takes Joanna as an underdog, citing her speed and volume. He thinks Joanna won two of the first three rounds in the first fight and that a three-round fight favors her. He acknowledges Zhang's power but believes Joanna's pace and experience can edge a decision.

The MMA Guru picks Zhang Weili to win by 29-28 decision. He argues that the three-round fight favors Zhang's power over Joanna's volume, and that Zhang has improved her grappling significantly, which she may mix in. He criticizes Joanna's two-year layoff and lack of dedication compared to Zhang's focused training. He expects Joanna to win the third round but too little too late. He notes that Zhang's power shots were more effective in their first fight.

Angelo picks Fialho despite his own gut feeling, citing Fialho's activity and recent knockout streak. He notes Fialho is hittable but believes Matthews' poor fight IQ will lead him to strike instead of wrestle. He acknowledges if Matthews wrestles, he could win, but he trusts Fialho's momentum.

Big Brady picks Jake Matthews as an underdog, expecting him to survive Fialho's early power and take over as the fight progresses. He notes that Fialho has poor cardio and is hittable, while Matthews is well-rounded with solid wrestling and cardio. He predicts a decision win for Matthews, barring a first-round knockout from Fialho.

Cody picks Matthews as a live underdog, citing Fialho's untested grappling and Matthews' improved striking and size at 170. He thinks Matthews can take Fialho down and control him, and notes Fialho's losses have come against grapplers. He is wary of Matthews' history but sees value.

Daniel Levi picks André Fialho, citing Jake Matthews' history of being broken in fights and his poor training situation with his dad. He believes Fialho has the left hook to knock Matthews out, as Matthews leaves openings. He notes that Matthews has been finished multiple times and that Fialho has overcome adversity. He is not crazy about the price but sees Fialho winning, possibly by knockout.

Matthews is the better grappler and has never been knocked out; his only TKO loss was due to grappling. Fialho is on a hot streak but his wins are over fighters with questionable chins. Matthews has the experience and the grappling to neutralize Fialho's power. The line is inflated due to recency bias. I'm all in on Matthews, and the submission prop at +900 is egregious value.

Paul also leans Matthews, agreeing that Fialho's grappling is unproven. He notes Matthews' improvements and thinks he can grind out a win. He acknowledges Matthews' past inconsistencies but sees this as a good spot.

The MMA Guru picks André Fialho to win by late second-round TKO. He argues that Fialho's activity (fourth fight this year) and pressure will be key against Jake Matthews, who has been out for over a year. He believes Matthews is a good all-rounder but doesn't excel in any area, and that Fialho's scrappy style will overwhelm him. He notes that Matthews was wobbled by Emil Meek, and Fialho is a better finisher. He expects Matthews to win the first round but Fialho to take over in the second.

Angelo picks Emeev, believing his chain wrestling and cardio will be too much for Della Maddalena. He notes Della Maddalena's takedown defense is the key, and Pettigrew was able to take him down despite being gassed. He thinks Emeev can get takedowns and control the fight, and he likes the over or fight goes the distance prop.

Big Brady picks Jack Della Maddalena to win by knockout in the second round, but expresses hesitation due to the step up in competition. He praises Maddalena's striking and power but notes that his takedown defense is untested. He believes that if the fight stays on the feet, Maddalena will hurt or knock out Emeev, and that judges are favoring damage over control time.

Cody confidently picks Della Maddalena, citing his superior striking, cardio, and pace. He notes that Emeev's smothering style is being judged less favorably now, and that Della Maddalena's volume and ability to fight at range will win rounds. He expects a decision win.

Daniel Levi picks Jack Della Maddalena, respecting his clean hands, volume, and toughness shown in escaping an arm triangle. He notes that Ramazan Emeev has declined and is not the same dominant clinch fighter. He believes Maddalena can get back to his feet if taken down and outwork Emeev with volume. However, he views the current price as a pass and is not betting the fight.

Emeev is a proven grappler who can drown opponents with his wrestling. Della Maddalena is untested against this level of grappling; he struggled with lesser grapplers on the regional scene. Emeev's style is a wet blanket, and he should be able to control the fight for three rounds. The plus money is great value. I'll take Emeev by decision.

Paul leans Emeev as a dog, thinking his wrestling and cage control could neutralize Della Maddalena. He is concerned about judging trends but thinks Emeev's style could work. He is not confident enough to bet it.

The MMA Guru picks Jack Della Maddalena to win by third-round TKO. He praises Della Maddalena's grappling defense and high pace, contrasting with Emeev's slow style. He believes Della Maddalena's body shots and pressure will slow Emeev down, leading to a finish against the cage. He notes that Emeev had a close fight with Danny Roberts, which he considers a bad sign. He also mentions the travel advantage for the Australian fighter fighting in Singapore.

Angelo picks Choi, expecting him to keep the fight technical and avoid a brawl. He notes Culibao is tough and has power but is willing to fight dirty, which could be dangerous. However, he believes Choi's technical striking and ability to mix in takedowns will secure a decision win.

Big Brady picks SeungWoo Choi to win by decision. He notes that Choi is a very good Muay Thai striker with power, while Culibao has zero takedown accuracy in the UFC and is unlikely to take Choi down. He expects the fight to stay on the feet, where Choi has the advantage.

Cody picks Choi, citing his length, Muay Thai background, and improved takedown defense. He thinks Choi's striking will be too much for Culibao, who is shorter and less technical. He expects Choi to win by decision or late stoppage.

Daniel Levi picks SeungWoo Choi, citing his physicality, knockout power, and technical striking. He is not fully convinced about Josh Culibao's ceiling and sees Choi as the better athlete. He notes that Culibao's best chance is to win competitive striking exchanges, but Choi's advantages should prevail. He is not betting the fight.

Choi is the better striker with range and power. Culibao wants to brawl, but Choi can stay on the outside and pick him apart. Culibao's chin is granite, so a decision is likely. Choi is a solid parlay piece. I think Choi wins by decision.

Paul agrees with Cody, noting Choi's length and striking advantage. He thinks Culibao's takedowns won't be effective and that Choi will control the distance. He sees Choi as the rightful favorite.

The MMA Guru picks SeungWoo Choi by 29-28 decision, but warns not to sleep on Josh Culibao. He acknowledges Culibao's skills and close fight with Jordan, but believes Choi's superior stand-up, reach advantage, and Muay Thai credentials will give him the edge. He expects Choi to win the first two rounds clearly, with Culibao possibly taking the third due to volume. He rates Choi's chances at 6.5-7 out of 10, not higher.

Angelo is confident in Steve Garcia, citing his grappling advantage and experience. He notes Maheshate is young and inexperienced, and Garcia has a clear path to victory by pressuring and using takedowns. He thinks the odds are close but the fighters are worlds apart in grappling and experience.

Big Brady picks Steve Garcia to win by first-round knockout. He notes that Maheshate has poor takedown defense and get-up game, while Garcia is the better striker and wrestler. He expects Garcia to take Maheshate down and finish him with ground and pound, though he acknowledges Garcia's chin is a concern after being dropped multiple times by Charlie Ontiveros.

Cody picks Maheshate as an underdog, believing he is the wrong fighter favorite. He notes Maheshate's youth, durability, and power, and thinks Garcia's wrestling is overrated. He made a bet on Maheshate at +135 and is willing to do a prop bet with Paul.

Daniel Levi confidently picks Steve Garcia, believing Maheshate does not belong in the UFC yet. He notes Garcia's experience against better competition, including a win over Ronnie Lawrence. He acknowledges Garcia's vulnerability to getting hurt but thinks Garcia's wrestling and volume will be too much. He is only concerned about jet lag and judges favoring the Asian fighter.

Garcia has the grappling edge and can take the fight to the ground if needed. He has UFC experience and has fought tougher competition. Maheshate is young and unproven, with wins over low-level opponents. Garcia should be able to grind out a win or find a finish. I'll be on Garcia side but no bet.

Paul picks Garcia, citing his wrestling and top pressure. He thinks Garcia can take Maheshate down and grind out a decision. He acknowledges Garcia's shaky performance against Charlie Ontiveros but believes his grappling will be the difference.

The MMA Guru picks Steve Garcia to win by late second or third round TKO via ground and pound. He criticizes Maheshate's competition level and suggests he was given a UFC contract for marketability. He notes Garcia's experience (fighting since 2012) and better opposition, including fights with Ricky Turcios and Louis Pena. He believes Garcia's pace and pressure will break Maheshate, who is too young and inexperienced. He also doubts Maheshate's ability to knock Garcia out.

Angelo picks Malkoun as an underdog, trusting his wrestling and takedown ability. He notes Allen is inconsistent and looked terrible against Sam Alvey despite winning. He believes Malkoun's grappling is as good or better than Allen's, and he likes the plus 3.5 round bet as a safer play.

Big Brady picks Brendan Allen to win by first-round knockout. He highlights Allen's superior grappling, having submitted Kevin Holland and outgrappled Kyle Daukaus, and notes that Malkoun's wins came against lower-level competition. He believes Allen has the striking advantage and will finish Malkoun early, either by TKO or submission.

Cody confidently picks Allen, citing his superior striking and grappling. He dismisses Malkoun's credentials, noting he is a purple belt and not a high-level grappler. He thinks Allen's wrestling is good enough to keep the fight standing and win by TKO or decision.

Daniel Levi picks Brendan Allen, citing his superior athleticism, experience, and grappling. He respects Malkoun's relentless takedown style but believes Allen has the tools to reverse or submit him. He notes that Allen is better everywhere and that Malkoun's path to victory is narrow. He is confident Allen will find a way to win.

Allen is the more complete fighter and should have advantages on the feet and in submission grappling. However, Malkoun is a pure wrestler who can grind out a decision. Allen is overpriced at -320; the value is on Malkoun. I predict Allen wins but the best bet is over 2.5 rounds at plus money.

Paul leans Allen but is not confident due to the price. He thinks Allen is the rightful favorite but the juice is too high. He considers Malkoun by decision at +800 but likely passes.

The MMA Guru picks Brendan Allen to win by 30-27 decision. He believes Allen is bigger and stronger than Malkoun's previous opponents, and that Malkoun's grappling-heavy style won't work against Allen. He notes that Malkoun has relied on takedowns and control, but Allen builds as the fight goes on and won't be out-hustled. He sees no path for Malkoun unless he gets a finish, which he doubts due to lack of explosiveness. He cites Allen's youth and experience advantage.

Angelo picks Kang as an underdog, citing his durability and grappling advantage. He worries about Kang's last performance but believes Batgerel may fade if he doesn't get an early stoppage, especially coming off a knockout loss. He notes Batgerel's speed and power are dangerous but thinks Kang can weather the storm and take over.

Big Brady picks Kyung Ho Kang as an underdog, citing his superior grappling and durability. He notes that Danaa Batgerel has poor takedown defense, as seen in his fight against Aletang Haili, and that Kang is a much better grappler. He expects Kang to take Batgerel down, control him, and grind out a decision, though he acknowledges Batgerel's power could lead to a knockout.

Cody picks Kang as an underdog, citing his wrestling and durability. He notes Batgerel's takedown defense is untested against grapplers and that Kang has a history of close decisions. He thinks Kang can grind out a win in Singapore.

Daniel Levi picks Danaa Batgerel but is not confident. He acknowledges Kang's scrambling and grappling skills but notes Kang's age and questionable fight IQ. He sees Batgerel's power as a game-changer and thinks if Batgerel can hurt Kang early, he can win. He is not betting the fight.

Batgerel has knockout power and should have the advantage on the feet. Kang is a grappler but has struggled to implement his game recently. If Batgerel keeps it standing, he can knock Kang out. However, I'm wary of picking slight favorites as it's a weak spot for me. I'll lean Batgerel but likely bet the under 2.5 rounds instead.

Paul picks Batgerel, believing his power striking will be too much for Kang. He thinks Batgerel's knockout power is real and that Kang's chin may not hold up. He is not fully confident but leans Batgerel.

The MMA Guru confidently picks Danaa Batgerel to win by first-round KO. He believes Kyung Ho Kang is past his prime, citing a loss to an older Rani Yahya. He praises Batgerel's physical strength and size for bantamweight, and notes that Kang's grinding grappling style won't be effective. He mentions Batgerel's cardio could be a concern in later rounds, but expects a quick finish. He calls it one of the locks of the card.

Angelo goes with his brain over his gut, picking Liang Na despite Juarez's power. He acknowledges Juarez's striking is deadly but her takedown defense is nonexistent, and Liang Na is a relentless wrestler. However, he notes Liang's record is padded and she has questionable toughness, making this a risky fight to bet on.

Big Brady picks Liang Na to submit Silvana Gómez Juárez in the first round. He highlights Liang Na's clear path to victory via takedown and submission, as Juárez has 16% takedown defense and has been submitted in both UFC losses. He notes that if the fight goes past the first round, Liang Na's poor cardio could lead to a knockout loss, but he expects an early finish.

Cody picks Liang as an underdog, citing her grappling and armbar threat. He notes Gómez Juárez has been submitted quickly in the past and thinks Liang can take her down and submit her. He is not confident but sees value.

Daniel Levi picks Liang Na but is not confident. He cannot get past the fact that Gómez Juárez has been finished in the first round twice in a row yet is favored. He thinks Liang has the grappling advantage and could get an early submission, but worries about her cardio and striking defense. He is not betting the fight.

Liang Na is a grappler with submission skills, while Gómez Juárez is a 37-year-old boxer who lost her last two by armbar. Liang Na's path to victory is a submission, likely early. The matchup heavily favors the grappler, and the plus money is great value. I'll take Liang Na straight up and also like the submission prop.

Paul also picks Liang, agreeing that her grappling and size advantage could be key. He notes Gómez Juárez's poor grappling defense and thinks Liang can get a takedown and submit her. He is not confident but takes the dog.

The MMA Guru picks Liang Na over Silvana Gómez Juárez, citing that Gómez Juárez is 37 and likely near the end of her career, with losses to Lupita Godinez and Vanessa Demopoulos. He notes that Liang Na is younger (25) and has a streak of armbar submissions, though against lower-level competition. He predicts Liang Na will win by armbar submission, as Gómez Juárez has lost by armbar twice in a row. He admits it's a difficult fight to pick due to limited information.

Angelo picks Ramona Pascual as an underdog, citing her size advantage, durability, and improved grappling. He notes that Edwards is a good kickboxer but has poor takedown defense and lacks the power of Joselyn Nunes, whom Pascual survived. He believes Pascual can use her Muay Thai and pressure to get the fight to the ground and control it there.

Big Brady picks Ramona Pascual as an underdog to start the card. He notes that Joselyne Edwards has poor takedown defense (47%) and has been controlled for over 11 minutes in multiple fights. Pascual's path to victory is getting the fight to the mat, though her cardio is a concern. He predicts a decision win for Pascual.

Cody picks Pascual as an underdog, citing her size, grappling, and experience in Asia. He thinks Edwards is undersized at 145 and that Pascual can use her wrestling to control the fight. He notes Pascual's toughness and learning experience from the Nunes fight.

Daniel Levi picks Joselyne Edwards, believing she is the better striker and will score enough points standing to override any takedowns from Pascual. He views the fight as a dog or pass situation but officially picks Edwards. He is not confident due to Edwards' takedown defense issues.

Edwards is the much better striker and will be offensive off her back. Pascual will likely land takedowns but is inactive on top, and Edwards can catch her in a submission. Edwards' takedown defense is poor, but Pascual's lack of damage and Edwards' submission threat should lead to a finish. I like Edwards inside the distance or under 2.5 rounds.

Paul picks Edwards, citing her superior striking and speed. He thinks Pascual showed little in her debut and that Edwards' boxing will be too much. He expects Edwards to win by decision or TKO.

The MMA Guru leans towards Joselyne Edwards due to her superior experience and technical striking. He notes that Ramona Pascual showed toughness against Josian Nunes but took significant damage. He believes Edwards' reach advantage (70 inches vs 66 inches) and better striking will allow her to win on damage, outweighing any grappling control from Pascual. He expresses slight concern about Edwards' past grappling issues but thinks she will do well at featherweight.