UFC Fight Night: Allen vs. Craig

Angelo is very confident in Brendan Allen, citing his five-fight win streak and well-rounded game. He notes Allen has better striking and wrestling than Paul Craig, and is putting everything together at the right time. He has bets on Allen and expects him to win.

Big Brady thinks the odds are silly because Paul Craig is always a live dog with his guard-pulling submissions. He questions Allen's fight IQ, expecting him to grapple despite the smarter path being striking. He picks Allen to win by submission, possibly a club and sub, but notes Craig is dangerous and can never be counted out. He says Allen has more ways to win but the fight could get tricky.

Cody picks Brendan Allen confidently, citing his significant advantages on the feet and well-rounded grappling. He notes that Paul Craig's only path is a submission via pulling guard, but Allen's top control and BJJ training make that unlikely. Cody mentions the line is wide but expects Allen to smash Craig, possibly by TKO. He acknowledges Craig's opportunistic submission game but sees Allen as too well-rounded.

Allen is the far superior striker with improved striking defense and a dangerous submission game. Craig has sketchy striking and relies on Jiu-Jitsu, but Allen can keep the fight standing and pick him apart. Allen will eventually find a TKO after posturing up with ground and pound, likely in the second or third round.

Paul agrees with Cody, fading Paul Craig as usual. He acknowledges Craig's magic touch and opportunistic submissions but notes that Craig's wins come against opponents with glaring weaknesses. Brendan Allen is young, well-rounded, and trains at a top gym. Paul highlights Allen's submission win over Andre Muniz and his ability to wrestle, grapple, and strike. He sees Craig's suspect gas tank as a liability in a five-round fight and expects Allen to win, likely by TKO.

The MMA Guru picks Brendan Allen to win by TKO at the end of round one after grappling exchanges. He believes Allen is a better jiu-jitsu player than Andre Muniz and has better takedown defense. He praises Allen's striking, including kicks and boxing, and notes his finishes over Bruno Silva and Krzysztof Jotko. He criticizes Paul Craig's standup and chin, and thinks Allen will land on him.

Angelo is very confident in Michael Morales, calling him an incredible prospect with wrestling and Muay Thai credentials. He notes Morales has cardio and finishes fights. He thinks -255 feels like a discount and that Morales can be parlayed. He expects Morales to dominate.

Big Brady thinks Matthews' wins are against low-level competition and that Morales has a massive reach advantage (7 inches), higher volume, and power. He notes Matthews gets knocked down often, as in the Semelsberger fight. He predicts Morales wins by decision, citing the reach, volume, and strength as key differences.

Cody picks Michael Morales confidently, citing his youth, physical strength, and 92% takedown defense. He notes that Jake Matthews struggles against decent competition, has low striking volume, and poor durability. Morales has a 6-inch reach advantage and can win by knockout or decision. Cody expects Morales to out-strike Matthews and stuff takedowns, leading to a win.

Morales is a physical specimen with power and takedown defense. Matthews is inconsistent and may struggle to take Morales down, forcing him to strike where Morales has the advantage. Morales is faster and stronger, and will likely land a knockout in the first or second round.

Paul agrees with Cody, noting Morales' reach advantage and ability to keep the fight at range. He mentions Morales' judo background and confidence on the ground. Paul thinks the line is a bit wide but expects Morales to show improvements and win.

The MMA Guru picks Michael Morales over Jake Matthews, predicting a decision win with Matthews getting knocked down in key moments. He criticizes Matthews as a boxer with a double leg who doesn't surprise opponents. He notes Morales' reach, power, and dynamism as the difference, and compares Matthews' performance to a Matt Semelsberger-like showing.

Angelo picks Jordan Leavitt, expecting him to be more physical and have slightly better wrestling. He notes both are similar grapplers with poor striking, but thinks Leavitt's power in his hands and ability to get takedowns will be the difference. He may bet if Leavitt becomes a bigger dog.

Big Brady likes Hooper, noting he's putting it together with incredible pace and cardio, as seen in his wins over Felipe Colares and Nick Fiore. He thinks Leavitt has solid wrestling and striking but slows down, as in the Claudio Puelles fight. He predicts Hooper will push a pace Leavitt can't keep up with and finish him late in the third round by TKO.

Cody picks Chase Hooper, noting his high volume striking and improved grappling. He mentions Hooper's durability and ability to win by submission or decision. Cody sees Leavitt as one-dimensional with low output and believes Hooper's size and skill advantage will prevail.

Hooper has improved his pressure fighting and can get the fight to the ground where he has a slick submission game. Leavitt has a weird submission game but questionable cardio and striking. Hooper can land better damage and control on top, winning by decision. However, both fighters are flaky, so confidence is low.

Paul is high on Chase Hooper, citing his youth, size advantage at lightweight, and improved wrestling. He notes Hooper's legitimate jiu-jitsu and cardio, and believes Leavitt is one-dimensional with no standout skills. Paul expects Hooper to drown Leavitt with pressure and volume.

The MMA Guru picks Jordan Leavitt over Chase Hooper, believing Leavitt is further along in his MMA career. He notes Leavitt's improved striking since 2021 and his competitive grappling with Claudio Puelles, which he thinks Leavitt won. He believes Leavitt's grappling is good enough to stop Hooper and that Hooper's win over Nick Fiore is not impressive.

Angelo picks Payton Talbott, noting he is a flashy striker with power and movement. He acknowledges Talbott can be out-grappled but expects him to starch his opponent. He comments that the odds at 4-to-1 or 5-to-1 seem wide but the UFC is building him up.

Big Brady thinks Talbott is a big favorite for a reason, with incredible striking and improved takedown defense. He notes Aguirre's striking is non-existent and that Dan Arretta out struck him 27-13. He predicts Talbott will drown Aguirre with volume and finish him in the second round, unless Aguirre gets a first-round submission. He says the price is wide but warranted.

Cody does not make a clear pick for this fight. He notes that Talbott is a huge favorite at -700 but is making his UFC debut, which makes him hesitant. He considers a sprinkle on Aguirre by submission as a dog play but does not commit to a pick.

Aguirre is a slick submission specialist with crafty BJJ. Talbott is a striker who has struggled with grappling control in the past. Aguirre can get the fight to the ground via clinch or pulling guard and find a submission. The line is too wide; a small poke on Aguirre by submission at +1000 is a steal.

Paul also does not make a clear pick. He discusses the line being too high for an unproven debutant and mentions that Aguirre has a chance via submission. He leans towards not betting the favorite but does not pick a side.

The MMA Guru picks Payton Talbott to win by TKO, calling Nick Aguirre 'garbage' and criticizing the matchup as a gimme for Talbott. He praises Talbott's striking from the Contender Series and believes he will easily win.

Angelo picks Amanda Ribas, expecting her to use her size and strength to grind out a win. He notes she is well-rounded with solid takedown defense and cardio. He warns she must stay controlled and not get sucked into a brawl. He also mentions a prop bet on Luana Pinheiro inside the distance.

Big Brady thinks Ribas is better everywhere—striking, wrestling, grappling, cardio—but her chin is very bad, having been dropped and knocked out multiple times. He finds it hard to pick Pinheiro, who he doesn't think is that great, to win by knockout. He predicts Ribas wins by decision but calls it a sketchy fight due to durability concerns.

Cody picks Amanda Ribas, citing her takedown offense and volume striking. He notes that Pinheiro is a front-runner who tires, and Ribas can mix in takedowns and striking to win. He acknowledges Ribas took damage in her last fight but believes she has the dog in her to win.

Pinheiro has good striking power and can hurt Ribas on the feet. Ribas's grappling is a threat, but Pinheiro is strong enough to keep it standing. Pinheiro's power punches can find the button and knock Ribas out, likely in the second round. The line is too wide; Pinheiro has value at plus money.

Paul picks Ribas, noting her takedown accuracy and ability to grind. He points out that Pinheiro gasses and has questionable durability. Paul believes Ribas can take her down, tire her, and open up striking. He mentions Ribas' loss to Barber but thinks Pinheiro lacks that finishing ability.

The MMA Guru picks Amanda Ribas despite concerns about her chin after being knocked out at flyweight. He criticizes Luana Pinheiro's record as padded, noting her controversial win over Michelle Waterson and a fake knockout against Randa Markos. He believes Ribas has a massive reach advantage and that Pinheiro lacks the power to finish her, predicting a 29-28 decision win.

Angelo picks Uroš Medić, expecting his technical striking and patience to light up the brawler Johnny Parsons. He notes Medić has speed, footwork, and a killer instinct. He warns that Parsons is always live for a knockout but does not think he will find it here.

Big Brady was impressed with Orolbai's skills but notes he's coming in on short notice, which affects his cardio for a wrestling-heavy game plan. He thinks Medić is dangerous, has shown three-round cardio, and can finish fights late. He picks Medić by third-round knockout, but says on a full camp he would pick Orolbai. He doesn't see himself betting this fight.

Cody does not make a clear pick due to lack of information on Orolbai. He notes the fight was added late and he hasn't studied it. He mentions Orolbai looks like a 'bad man' but is on short notice. He leans towards passing or taking the favorite but is uncertain.

Orolbai has relentless grappling and crushing top pressure, with improved striking leading to knockouts. Medić is a striker with questionable ground game. Orolbai will dictate the pace with wrestling, land big shots, and find a finish in the second round. The fight doesn't go to decision is a favorite prop.

Paul also does not make a clear pick, stating he hasn't looked into Orolbai enough. He mentions Medić's toughness and power but cannot confidently pick a side. He suggests the fight will be violent but passes on betting.

The MMA Guru picks Uroš Medić to finish Myktybek Orolbai with a body kick. He notes Medić's size at welterweight and his win over Matthew Semelsberger, where he survived a knockdown and finished him in the third round at altitude. He criticizes Orolbai for making Danny Roberts look competitive and believes Medić's reach and height advantage will lead to a finish.

Angelo picks Jonathan Pearce, citing his insane wrestling pressure and ability to take down Joanderson Brito. He notes Brito is a dangerous striker but expects Pearce to dive at legs immediately. He expresses some hesitation due to the Grant Dawson knockout, but still picks Pearce.

Big Brady calls this his favorite fight on the card. He thinks Brito is very live for a first-round knockout or submission because Pearce is very hitable and leaves himself in bad spots on the mat. He notes Pearce has great pressure and cardio but Brito has power and submission skills. He predicts Brito wins by first-round knockout, but acknowledges if it goes to the second round, Pearce takes over.

Cody picks Joanderson Brito as a slight underdog, calling it a 50/50 fight. He notes Brito's power and physicality, and believes he can catch Pearce with something. He acknowledges Pearce's wrestling and cardio but thinks Brito's power and submission threat early make him the value play.

Brito is a relentless pressure fighter who doesn't give opponents room to breathe. He has good takedown defense and gets back to his feet quickly. Pearce is a wrestler who may get takedowns early, but Brito's ability to scramble and return to striking will break Pearce. Brito will land big punches and eventually find a knockout in the third round.

Paul also picks Brito, citing his power and the danger he poses early. He notes that Pearce has been hurt before and Brito hits hard. Paul thinks Brito's submission threat, especially a guillotine, is real early. He sees this as a dog or pass and takes the plus money.

The MMA Guru picks Joanderson Brito to finish Jonathan Pearce in round one. He criticizes Pearce's competition and notes that Pearce struggled against Darren Elkins, Makwan Amirkhani, and Christian Rodriguez. He highlights Brito's finishing potential with first-round wins over Lucas Alexander, Andre Fili, and Weston Wilson, and believes Brito's run will continue.

Angelo leans towards Chad Anheliger as a slight underdog, expecting him to power his way inside and land meaningful shots. He notes Jose Johnson has a reach and clinch advantage, but thinks Chad's pressure will be too much. He mentions the line may move and that Chad is a slight underdog.

Big Brady is a big fan of Jose Johnson, noting his size and reach advantages (8 years younger, 6-inch height, 7.5-inch reach). He thinks Johnson has ridiculous power for bantamweight but Anheliger has never been knocked out, so he predicts a decision. He notes Johnson's takedown defense is bad but Anheliger doesn't wrestle, so it should be a striking match where Johnson cruises.

Cody picks Jose Johnson, citing his reach and volume advantages. He notes that Anheliger is 37, injury-prone, and has poor takedown defense. Johnson's length and cardio should allow him to stay on the outside and out-point Anheliger. Cody sees this as better value than the big favorites.

Johnson has a significant height and reach advantage, using distance striking and good footwork. He can avoid Anheliger's power and stuff takedowns. Anheliger is 37 and has been inactive, relying on power but lacking volume. Johnson will batter Anheliger from range and win by decision.

Paul agrees, highlighting Johnson's reach and speed. He notes that Anheliger has been taken down by lower-level opponents and lacks the wrestling to exploit Johnson's weakness. Paul thinks Johnson's volume and range control will secure the win.

The MMA Guru picks Jose Johnson over Chad Anheliger, citing Johnson's massive reach advantage (7 inches) and height. He notes Johnson beat Jack Cartwright, who had wrestling credentials, and escaped submission attempts to work back to his feet. He believes Johnson's youth, talent, and range will be too much for Anheliger, and doesn't see Anheliger taking him down.

Angelo leans Christian Leroy Duncan, hoping his loss to Arman Petrosian woke him up to be less flashy and more focused. He notes Duncan is the better wrestler and should take the fight to the ground. He expects a finish and does not see it going the distance.

Big Brady thinks Tiuliulin is not UFC caliber, with no striking defense and the worst ground game in the UFC. He sees Duncan having multiple paths: picking him apart and knocking him out, or taking him down and submitting him. He predicts a first-round knockout, noting Tiuliulin's only chance is landing a big shot.

Cody picks Christian Leroy Duncan confidently, citing his movement, footwork, and counter-striking. He notes that Tiuliulin is a brawler with poor footwork and cardio, coming in on short notice. Duncan can pick him apart and likely get a TKO. Cody sees this as an excellent stylistic matchup for Duncan.

Duncan relies on speed, explosiveness, and early power to finish fights. Tiuliulin has been finished by grapplers but Duncan is a striker. Duncan's power and speed should be too much early, leading to a knockout in the first round. However, Duncan is reliant on finishes and may fade if it goes longer. Tiuliulin could make it closer if he survives the early onslaught.

Paul agrees, noting Tiuliulin's rudimentary style and poor grappling. He believes Duncan can hang out at range and avoid danger. Paul mentions Tiuliulin's history of getting finished and expects Duncan to win by TKO or submission.

The MMA Guru picks Christian Leroy Duncan to win by body kick KO in round two. He notes Tiuliulin is hittable and requires breaking opponents, and is coming off a nasty KO. He believes Duncan is a much better striker with good cardio and movement, and that Tiuliulin taking the fight on short notice makes it a no-brainer.

Angelo has a slight lean towards Mick Parkin because he can wrestle if needed, but he is very hesitant due to the wide odds (-330) and Parkin's unproven status. He notes Machado has more power and volume, and that the odds scare him. He advises passing or taking the underdog.

Big Brady thinks Parkin will stick to the outside and be the better striker across 15 minutes, similar to his fight against Jamal Pogues. He finds the line a bit crazy but believes Parkin is the better fighter and should win a very uneventful heavyweight decision. He's not fully convinced in Parkin yet but expects him to get the job done.

Cody picks Mick Parkin, noting his better striking and wrestling. He acknowledges the heavy price but believes Parkin is more well-rounded. He mentions Machado's low level of competition and suspect cardio. Cody thinks Parkin can win by decision or TKO.

Parkin is a well-rounded heavyweight prospect with good striking output and grappling. He can win on the feet with volume or take the fight to the ground and grind out Machado. Machado has faced low-level competition and has been in trouble before. Parkin wins convincingly by decision, and over 1.5 rounds is a good prop.

Paul picks Parkin but is not enthusiastic due to the price. He notes Machado's weak competition and Parkin's improvement. Paul thinks Parkin is better everywhere but the line is too high for comfort.

The MMA Guru picks Mick Parkin to win by TKO in round two. He praises Parkin's boxing and forward pressure, noting his easy win over Jamal Pogues. He criticizes Machado's Contender Series performance against a passive opponent and believes Parkin's crisp boxing and calf kicks will overwhelm Machado. He also mentions Parkin trains with Tom Aspinall.

Angelo picks Lucas Alexander, citing his superior technique, BJJ, and high-level experience. He notes that both fighters have one-punch power but believes Lucas is better everywhere. He mentions the odds at 3-to-1 seem a little wide because Jeka could end it at any moment, but still expects Lucas to win.

Big Brady notes that Saragih looked terrible against Anshul Jubilee and that Alexander has heavy kicks, including breaking someone's arm. He thinks Alexander is the much better striker and will break Saragih down with leg kicks, leading to an attritional TKO. He predicts a third-round knockout, noting Saragih is dangerous early but Alexander has never been knocked out.

Cody picks Lucas Alexander confidently, citing his performance against Steve Peterson and Saragih's poor showing against Anheliger. He notes Saragih's one-dimensional striking and poor wrestling. Alexander is stronger, more dynamic, and can win by striking or grappling.

Alexander is a technical striker with good anticipation and counter striking. He uses calf kicks and accurate punches to pick apart opponents. Saragih is reckless and lacks technical acumen, though he has durability. Alexander will chip away from distance and land big shots, likely winning by decision. Saragih's recklessness could lead to a knockout, but Alexander's power may not finish him.

Paul picks Alexander, noting Saragih's flat-footed style and poor takedown defense. He believes Alexander's power and grappling will be too much. Paul thinks Saragih's only chance is a puncher's chance, but Alexander is the better fighter.

The MMA Guru picks Lucas Alexander over Jeka Saragih, despite admitting he doubted Alexander early in his career. He criticizes Saragih as a 'diversity hire' who lost in the Road to UFC tournament final but got into the UFC anyway. He notes Alexander's reach and height advantage and expects him to score a decision win by keeping the fight rangy.

Angelo is very confident in Ailín Pérez, citing her incredible cardio and wrestling pressure from her last fight where she set the bantamweight record for takedowns. He notes Lucie Pudilová can be taken down and that -150 feels like a good deal. He plans to bet on her.

Big Brady finds Perez's nickname change to 'Nurmagomedov' hilarious but thinks she earned it with 10 takedowns in her last fight. He sees Perez as a bully who will come forward, push Pudilová against the cage, and take her down repeatedly. He notes Pudilová has better striking but has struggled with takedowns and control in the past. He believes the odds flip is correct and Perez should be the favorite, winning a grinding decision.

Cody picks Ailín Pérez, citing her takedown volume and pressure. He notes that Pudilová has poor takedown defense and low striking volume. Pérez can grind out a decision with takedowns and control. Cody also mentions a PrizePicks play on Pérez over 2.5 takedowns.

Pudilová has improved her grappling significantly since her first UFC stint, now using it offensively. She is the cleaner striker and can cut up Pérez on the feet. Even on the ground, Pudilová can throw up submissions and reverse positions. Pérez relies on strength and bullying, which may not work against a technically better grappler like Pudilová. Pudilová wins by decision.

Paul picks Pérez, noting her physical strength and relentless pressure. He highlights Pudilová's inability to defend takedowns and her tendency to lose decisions. Paul expects Pérez to control the fight with takedowns and cage work.

The MMA Guru picks Lucie Pudilová over Ailín Pérez, noting Pudilová's height and reach advantage as a rangier striker. He rates Pudilová's wins higher, including a close fight with Joselyne Edwards and a win over Yanan Wu, while criticizing Pérez's decision win over Ashley Evans-Smith as unimpressive. He believes Pudilová's improvement and range will be key if the fight stays standing, and doesn't see Pérez out-grappling her.

Angelo leans towards Nikolas Motta, expecting him to stay busy on the feet and keep Trey Ogden out of his wrestling rhythm. He notes Motta has solid takedown defense and explosive striking. He predicts a decision win for Motta.

Big Brady calls this a terrible fight, criticizing Trey Ogden for being a point striker who doesn't engage and has zero knockout wins. He thinks Motta has a questionable chin but will land big shots because Ogden will be running around. He predicts Motta wins by decision because he looks like he wants to be there, but he has little interest in the fight.

Cody picks Nikolas Motta, citing his superior striking and hand speed. He notes that Ogden has no knockout power and low volume. Motta's chin is a concern, but Ogden is unlikely to exploit it. Cody expects Motta to out-strike Ogden and win.

Ogden is a BJJ black belt who can implement his grappling pressure similar to his win over Zellhuber. He will walk Motta down, land kicks and punches, then change levels for takedowns. Motta has questionable durability and grappling acumen, having been knocked out recently and not tested on the ground. Ogden can find a submission victory.

Paul picks Motta, noting his better boxing and speed. He mentions Ogden's lack of power and inability to wrestle effectively. Paul thinks Motta can win by decision or TKO if he avoids getting hit clean.

The MMA Guru picks Trey Ogden over Nikolas Motta, citing Motta's lack of momentum after being knocked out by Manuel Torres and Jim Miller. He notes Ogden's tricky style and competitive fights against Ignacio Bahamondes and Daniel Zellhuber, and believes Ogden can outpoint Motta on the outside to a decision win.

Angelo picks Rafael Estevam with low confidence, citing Charles Johnson's recent lack of urgency and tendency to not do enough to impress judges. He notes Estevam's high-pressure grappling and relentless takedown attempts, though his takedowns are sloppy. He expects a decision and thinks Estevam will edge it.

Big Brady thinks people overrate Charles Johnson, noting he's been taken down frequently by wrestlers like Cody Durden and Mohammad Kayev. He believes Estevam is a solid wrestler who will stick to Johnson like glue and grind out a decision. However, he acknowledges this is Estevam's toughest fight by far and the decision could be close due to damage vs control arguments. He's staying away from betting on this fight.

Cody picks Rafael Estevam, citing his wrestling and takedown ability. He notes that Charles Johnson gives up takedowns frequently. Estevam can chain wrestle and control Johnson. Cody also mentions a PrizePicks play on Estevam over 2.5 takedowns.

Estevam has the grappling advantage and cardio edge to control the fight. He will dictate the pace with relentless grappling and clinch control, neutralizing Johnson's volume striking. Estevam's takedown defense and get-ups are solid, but he gets pinned in bad spots. Estevam wins by decision, as he lacks finishing ability but can outwork Johnson.

Paul initially leans towards Estevam but switches to Charles Johnson as an underdog. He notes Johnson's excellent get-up game and cardio advantage. Paul thinks if Estevam's debut nerves or weight cut issues arise, Johnson can out-strike him. He admits it's a risky pick and will wait for weigh-ins.

The MMA Guru picks Charles Johnson over Rafael Estevam, noting that Estevam's Contender Series win came against a fighter with a padded record and that Estevam relied on top position after escaping submissions. He highlights Johnson's experience against tough UFC opponents like Muhammad Mokaev, where Johnson out-struck Mokaev but was out-grappled. He believes Johnson's takedown defense, cardio, and ability to break Estevam in the third round will lead to a win.